How to See Austin in 48 Hours

1. Arrive really late due to rain in San Diego - what.
2. Realize Uber drivers in Texas are the nicest people you've ever met. Literally.
3. Stay in Airbnb house in a quiet neighborhood outside the city limits. Too quiet. Check all closets and under beds for murderers.
4. Wake up and find tacos. Decide on Z'Tejas and embarrassingly pronounce it Z'Te-JOS instead of Te-HOS despite living basically in Mexico for the last four years. The Make Your Own Bloody Mary bar was the best - must add Slim Jim. But don't actually eat the Slim Jim - it will likely cause internal bleeding. Corn bread also good.
5. Notice that the birds are extremely creepy in Austin. Watch one snatch and eat an entire packet of Sweet'N Low.

Gross.

6. Walk around and around. In circles. Cuz that's what we did. The city isn't that big and I think we walked it twice at least based on my Health App.

7. Stop at the Driskill for a coffee if it's pre-noon or a cocktail if it's after-noon. Make sure you go upstairs and take a selfie with the taxidermy.
8. Freak out when a legit sheriff tips his 10-gallon hat to you and says, "Howdy."
9. Confirm that you probably could never live here because it's too humid and the birds are too scary.
10. Get doughnuts at Gourdough's (I think you pronounce it Gor-Doughs but it's spelled wrong)- I recommend the dessert one with coconut and cream. It's better than San Diego's Donut Bar but don't tell them I said that.
11. Get margaritas on a rooftop.
12. Let a homeless man tell you he crapped his pants. He seemed okay with it, so don't worry too much I guess.
13. Play beer pong in an arcade - it's like real beer pong, except without beer. And you have to pay.
14. Skip watching millions of bats fly out from under the bridge. There were like 4 and I swear it's a myth.
15. If you're 28+ - hang out on Rainey St. instead of 6th at night. It's a bunch of old houses converted into bars with yards. Bar 96 had corn hole and a taco truck. Another bar was built out of storage containers. It's really unpretentious.
16. Realize you forgot what weather was like and wake up terrified of the thunder and lightening at 4am.
17. Sadly, the Barton Springs Pool might be flooded the next day. Go on a food tour instead - brisket, ice cream, BBQ, everything. Take artsy, hipster pics.

18. Appreciate the weird. It's kind of awesome.

Credit: Thanks to Pat for being born and turning 30.

On Turning 30 and Other Frights and Delights

It's 11:11pm and in less than an hour, I'll be 30. I don't know - it feels weird. Maybe it's just the martinis I had tonight, but I think it's also just a weird feeling to leave behind my 20's. It was a long-ass decade. Holy man. Thinking back to when I turned 20 and thinking through college, graduation, four years in NYC, another four in San Diego, a few minute relationships and then a really long one, changing majors, career moves, cross-country moves. It's just a lot happened and I don't know if I should mourn or celebrate or both. I guess both.

They say 29 is your best year. I mean NY Mag wrote about it - plus Buzzfeed etc. It wasn't the best year for me to be honest - it was whatever but it feels sad to leave it behind and enter into THIRTY. Eww. Omg. No. What does this mean? I must make lists.

A few quick things I learned in my 20s:
1. Real friends know how to be friends when it's not convenient.
2. It's okay to change your mind about your goals - it's okay to want to travel or be a mom instead of a CMO.
3. Drinking water and not drinking vodka are both seriously necessary if you don't want wrinkles. So is sunscreen.
4. Go to the doctor. But then go get acupuncture and do yoga because drugs are probably not the answer. If you feel like you need medication to get through a work day, it's not the right work day for you.
5. Appreciate the moment because time starts speeding up after 25 and you might not get more time with your loved ones. I know it's heavy but it's important. Don't screw this one up. Prioritize.

Things I'm annoyed about: 
1. I'll never be on a 30 under 30 list. Like this SERIOUSLY bothers me. UGH.
2. I have to have kids soon - like yesterday. And I'm not ready. And I don't know if I ever will be.
3. I thought I'd be married in my 20's - and I really don't know how long this jig of eating cupcakes and doing yoga is going to last for me. I'm not looking forward to cardio and working out so I fit in a stupid dress.
4. My parents were younger than me when they had me. Terrifying.
5. It's no longer cute to be confused, hungover, whimsical, and erratic. I've now transitioned from young and restless to just plain crazy. It's like get it together or check yourself in now.

Things to look forward to in my 30's: 
1. No longer getting accused of being young and stupid, especially at work. Being 30 means you're mature and know stuff. Still a "Millennial" but now mature. This is good.
2. Probably having kids in this decade.WhoawhoaWhoa.
3. Actually having income to travel the world and not sacrificing groceries and paying bills. Kinda cool.
4. It's acceptable to stay in and watch Netflix, host wine and cheese parties, geek out on books with friends, and give advice. It's fun to give advice - and I enjoy telling kids who are about to graduate to seriously forget career and go travel. But really.
5. Botox? Gray hair? Idk what else?