Curious Notions

Hope everyone had a great Friday. I started the day off with an appointment at 11:30 and then off to lunch to celebrate FRYday with Dave. We had lunch at Flip Happy Crepes. He’s never been. I first discovered it in April of 2007. If you click on the link, you’ll see it only had 2 umbrellaed areas and now there’s PLENTY of seating. Bobby Flay did a throwdown with them last year and ever since, their business has exploded. Sadly, this means that they no longer time their sweet crepes to give you a chance to finish your savory crepes. Now they get both at the same time. Also, now there’s a dude with a mic yelling out your name. It used to be a cute girl sweetly calling out your name from the window. That said, I hardly go out there on the weekends anymore because the crowd is crazy! Weekday lunchtimes seems to be the way to go.

I had the Cuban (not my usual pork, Gruyere and caramelized onions). Dave had the Tarragon Mushroom (DIVINE. I’m going to order this next time). You know, Flip Happy is the only crepery I’ve had in Austin but I did notice a late night cart in the Warehouse District the last time we went out that I’m curious about. I think it’s called Crazy Crepes. San Francisco has kind of spoiled me for Flip Happy. I’m really sad to admit that because I was so enamored with Flip Happy before our San Fran trip.

We make do with what we have. I’m happy to come back and order my own Tarragon Mushroom crepe from Flip. The photos are as appetizing as they look.

He looks angry don’t he?

We anxiously stared at that window.

Doesn’t that look divine? Dave makes vegetarianism look tasty.

Then later I had dinner with Si Nae. We had Madam Mams. You know, it’s been about eight years since I’ve found Madam Mams. Things aren’t the same since we broke up. We got back together but the addiction is gone. It’s still very very very tasty to me. Perhaps my dependence on it will grow soon as they’re building a third Madam Mam’s up north!

Surprisingly, this only my second photo of Mams. Here’s my first.

Cindy came up to visit me Friday night. I introduced her to Clementine. They had new art on the walls and an amusing paper and I had her snap a picture for me. Sexy Tales! Basically what we did all Friday night and Saturday before she left. We chatted it up at Clementine, closed the shop and then migrated to Magnolia Cafe and had the Mag Queso and home fries! The home fries there are better than Kerbey Lane. When we got home, Roomie and I forced her into watching her first FULL episode of Friends. Seriously. Her first! She tells us not to judge her.. so don’t judge. Next day, I finally introduced her to Flip Happy Crepes. Man… they’ve expanded their seating area since the last time I went. I suspect it’s due to their Bobby Flay challenge not to long ago. I like that I found when it was a little more humble. Before, all they had to do was whisper their patrons’ names for us to hear our order. Now they have a new guy who screams!
Well, they deserve the recognition.

I do have one unsexy tale to share about yesterday’s experience at Flip Happy with Cindy. As she was circling the Flip Happy lot for parking, I was holding our place in line. There was a red headed main in a blazer (it was maybe 78 degrees outside) and a beanie. He rode his bike to Flip and I not only can feel him staring at me as I wait for Cindy to join me, I can SEE him staring with my peripheral vision. He finally asks me if I’m in line (I’m obviously in line with people behind me.) I go yes. He stands behind me.. but more by me than behind me. I eventually let him in ahead of me since it was taking Cindy a bit. He tries to make small talk with me which I normally welcome. I LOVE talking to strangers but this guy.. he’s just creepy.The way he’s staring. He asks me if I’m waiting for someone. I nodded politely. He jokes and tells me if Cindy takes any longer I might not be able to eat. I chuckle curtly. I let three more people in between which I ended up not needing to do. However, in hindsight, the more distance between Creepy Guy and us the better.

I forget about him after he ordered and left. By the time Cindy and I ordered I had momentarily forgotten about him. Didn’t even mention him to Cindy. Cindy and I chose our seating to sit and chat while waiting for the Flip Happy guy to bellow out our names. I see Creepy Guy kind of a good distance away from us and again, had pretty much dismissed him in thought. UNTIL!! He spots us and then proceeds to PICK UP HIS TABLE! and move it but 2 feet away from us. HE MOVED HIS TABLE! I didn’t tell Cindy anything even though I was having a mini anxiety attack since he could hear everything we’re saying. I did my best to ignore him for a good 20 or so minutes (the crepes are really worth the wait). When he left to get his order, Cindy exclaimed “THAT GUY. He won’t stop. STARING!”

“I KNOW!!!”

We reshifted our chairs to have our backs to him kind of but he sat there and seriously and blatantly STARED at us the whole time. I so should have just turned around and asked him to stop. Ugg.. He finished his meal way before us and just sat there and it felt like he was just DRINKING us in. Yuck yuck yuck. Finally we finished our crepes and as we were departing in our respective cars, he had completely turned his body to face us as we drove off the lot. Staring. I’m so glad he didn’t have a motorized vehicle to follow us.. Because. I think he would.

Next time I will grow a pair and tell him a little something. Can’t believe that didn’t occur to me as it was happening.

Last Tuesday, my supervisor gave me Wednesday and Thursday off since I was going to San Diego for business meetings all weekend. Perfect timing since my friends Michael and Thomas were in town and that freed me up during the day to go on adventures.

Tuesday after work:
- Had pho with the boys
- Bubble tea
- I introduced them to the Domain

Wednesday
- Dropped Thomas off on campus so he could take care of grad school references
- Michael and I drove around and spontaneously visited Nicole, a former coworker of mine at my former work place. Brought her La Madeline Tomato Basil Soup
- Madam Mams for lunch with the boys
- Went to the mall, Thomas and I got matching friendship rings from James Avery
- Introduced them two to the Botanical Gardens at Zilker Park
- Michael parted ways, Thomas (who stayed at my place) went home and napped
- Thomas introduced me to Umi’s Sushi (I-35 South at Stassney)
- Walked around downtown
- Cedar Street and saw our favorite eighties cover band, the Spazmatics.

Thursday
- Went on a guitar adventure (HAD SO MUCH FUN). We tracked down 19 guitars and then Friday at the airport I got 2 more on my own.
- The guitar adventure also included Lunch at Flip Happy Crepes and a visit to the Blanton Art Museum (The biggest university art museum in the States, also the grand opening was one of my new things exactly a year ago)
- After our guitar adventure Thomas joined Joy Luck Club at Jessica’s

Friday to Sunday
I had business meetings in San Diego. I was so looking forward to going to the Zoo but the hotel spa resort we stayed in happened to be a bit secluded.. It would have cost 120 dollars round trip to get the cab ride :( I’m currently struggling with money problems so I sighed and settled with walking around Downtown La Jolla, California. Stayed at Estanica La Jolla Hotel and Spa. Beautiful estate. Unfortunately I could not afford any of the spa treatments (the outdoor treatments seem absolutely divine!) I must say my bed was by far the most satisfying bed I’ve ever experienced.

Click here for more snap shots.

New things of the week all occurred over the weekend.

Friday night after work and while fighting a virus, Thomas, Randy, Carol, Julie, and I (2 couples and yours truly, the fifth wheel) went to a killer KILLERS concert (such clever word play!) Follows are three obligatory blurry concert photos. They were absolutely awesome. My voice is still gone from belting. They were monsters. Kept going and going and didn’t take any breaks! An A+ performance. I still have them on repeat in my car, that’s how enthralled I am. After the show, I bought my first thirty dollar concert t-shirt. Now I can wear them on my skin. You can’t see me as I’m typing this but I’m beaming.

Next day I took Thomas and Julie to a CUTE crepe place I’ve been meaning to try for weeks now. They make the crepes in a TRAILER and FlipHappy Crepes is such a fun and fitting name for this digs. I want to go at night now when the Christmas lights are on. I now have a new place to take visitors. The crepes were delicious. I had the chicken, caramelized onions, scallions, and Gruyere savory crepe and a Nutella, banana and strawberry sweet crepe. Mmm mmm. My stomach is getting angsty just thinking about it.