About two months ago, I fell off the west coast edge of the planet - I did, however, manage to land more or less feet first, in Austin, Texas!
The wandering Blythe, never anywhere, but always popping up, is wandering in a strange -and not so strange- land.

Interestingly, Austin is superficially reminding me of Calgary, where my prairie roots will always lie. City on the edge of cowboyland, with a river, lined with joggers, running through it, nestled at the edge of the hills. Though there are certainly more cowboy hats in town here, and the accents sometimes make me cringe and/or smile, Austin is just like being home. ... Oh, except for the overabundance of Mexican food, the privatized healthcare (alberta's not far off), the wacky weather and Oak trees that never lose their leaves, the near-complete lack of friendly, familiar faces, and the fact that I'm living in the freaking US of A. Damn. Oh, and I can be drug tested at work on a whim. Sweet. Nothing like Freedom.

Besides the occasional panicky feelings that arise from living here, all is quite swell. The city is great. Very lively with lots of alternative folk running rampant. Now that 'winter' is over the weather is making me smile. The garden is planted with a ridiculous amount of veggies, and hell, the days are getting longer. I love that.

For those lightfooted among you, Austin boasts some wicked music festivals and a half-way to Burning Man event in called Flipside. A little west coast energy is always welcome in this neck of the woods. Really.

If not sooner, I'll be sweeping through Calgary and the coast at the end of June. I can't wait to see your beautiful faces!

If you feel so inspired, my digits here are: 512 745 0584.

love and peace and rauchy, rowdy 'Howdy Y'all's'

blythe on the wind