I realize I’ve been excessively absent, and for the three of you that read my blog on a regular basis, I sincerely apologize.

As per usual, I’ll spare you too many details and lame excuses as to why I’ve been MIA, but here’s the general idea:

September marked the start of my new UW program, (surprise, surprise) Food, Health and Nutrition.  I anticipated this program to be an educational one, no doubt, but I failed to realize the intensity and the level of science necessary to be successful.  I do words — I don’t do science.  So beyond this program being a heavy work load, I also have to teach and re-teach myself everything science and math I willfully tuned out in college.  Right now I’m averaging about 25-30 hours/week on one class.  This floats around on top of my 45-50 hour work week.   Le program finale will be June 2013.  I’ll see y’all then!

And speaking of y’all:  The first week in October we ventured back to Austin — this time with an agenda other than food.

With our favorite pair, we made the pleasant drive out to Round Top, TX; population 81.

Mile after mile of forest destroyed by fires.  Very sad, but look at all that new growth!

Once we got through the charred parts, this was our breathtaking view.

If you’ve never heard of Round Top, TX, don’t blame your geography teacher — it’s only a grain of sand in the giant state of Texas.  It didn’t even make a blip on my radar until lil’ miss Susan Wheeler (of Susan Wheeler Home) enlightened us last year.  (We bumped into her on our flight home — she was returning from this very trip!)

You see, Round Top may be nothing (truthfully, I don’t think we even made it into Round Top proper — it was just the nearest “location.”), but twice a year this stretch of 5 miles in the middle of nowhere (about an hour and a half outside of Austin) is converted into the most wonderful and overwhelming antiques show you’ve ever seen.  Tent after tent, mile after mile.  Susan has a regular booth at the Marburger Farms show (the highest end collection of sellers).  Leading up to that very show are hundreds, if not thousands, of different booths in different shows.  It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen.  A true casing of this place would take you at least two weeks.

So we met dear Susan the day after we landed in Austin.  We timed our stay in Round Top around the “prom.”  The prom?  Yeah…the prom.  Texas style!  Amidst these booths and tents, there is an annual prom that takes place.  Booth owners, locals, sheriffs, vacationers, shoppers, children — you name it, they’re all gathered under one sky full of live music, booze, lights, junk, dancing, trannies, cowboys, food, costumes…

It was a magical (and very, very surreal) evening, to say the least, but made the trip all the more unique.

.the show.

.prom.

After our two days at the show, we made our way back to Austin to get in our share of face-stuffing and over-shopping.  Another successful trip in the books.  God bless Texas.

The remainder of October proved to be just as jam-packed, including a handful of birthdays, a Joshua Radin show, some pumpkin carving (you’ve seen that coverage), and a wedding for my dearest Lo.

Needless to say, I’m back (or at least going to try to be!).  In the meantime, here are the things you should know:

I’ve been eating more squash than you could ever believe (dice it, olive oil it, and roast it at 425 degrees.  Top it with sour cream and your insides will melt), enjoying my gym time, and LOVING the Fall colors in Seattle.