Live from Taylor's Basement

[tiedyedave]

I am still alive. My grid presence is patchy; I have a UTCS account, but won't have internet at home until next week.

Herein I describe my recent adventures.

August 2-7:

I arrive at an empty, sight-unseen apartment in Austin with only a few suitcases, and proceed to move-in by a kind of bootstrapping process. I serendipitously discover a Target only five minutes' walk from my abode. I <3 TARGET. Screw you hippies, capitalism is fucking awesome.

I spend the week navigating the city, visiting campus daily to siphon precious Internet from the library, becoming accustomed to the UT shuttle and city bus systems, and further bootstrapping my apartment (microwave, groceries, dishes, etc).

August 7-14:

I go to a family reunion in Florida (Perdido Key, on the FL/AL border). The hurricane decides to hit central Florida instead, leaving us with very clement weather for most of the week.

August 15-present:

I am back in Austin. Move-in process is accelerating, I have now spent at least $700 at Target, and I have almost reached the furniture stage. I <3 WHOLE FOODS. Forgive me, hippies, your influence has improved the quality of my food.

Class registration is tomorrow. First day of class is next Wednesday. And from there, who knows?

Comments

[jcreed.livejournal.com]

I have almost reached the furniture stage.

It's been too long since I played video games. I don't remember that one at all.

[rupes.livejournal.com]

I think there's one level in Monster Party where tables and chairs chase you around. That might qualify.

[tiedyedave]

Makes me wish I could find a furniture store that sells Random Encounter Tables. :-)

[bpr.livejournal.com]

Target was kind enough to grant me 10% off during bootstrapping if I sign up for their credit card during that time. I agreed and spent about $700 there. Furthermore, they grant 10% for one session once the system is up and running, which I have yet to make advantage of.

[tiedyedave]

Yeah, I tried that. I got a nice little receipt saying "We're sorry, but our computers hate your bank account with venomous rage and anger for undisclosed reasons". Oh well.

[rehana.livejournal.com]

You should check out Central Market. More yuppie than hippie, but cheaper than Whole Foods. I've also been pretty impressed with HEB, but that'll vary depending which one you go to.

Let me know if you need any help moving in.

[tiedyedave]

Hmm...can I get there by bus? :-)

[rehana.livejournal.com]

Probably. I don't know the bus system. Central Market is at Lamar and... 41st, I think? HEB is all over the place.

[tiedyedave]

Located HEB. IH-35 and 41st. I took #21 there last night; the northbound stops are all at 38.5 and I had to walk a few blocks there and back, but it was worth it.

HEB is teh awesome! It is very large, and in proportion to its size all of the little niche food categories, such as asian food, have expanded and diversified. I found Nishiki rice and pork buns, neither of which I had ever seen at a non-asian grocer before. w3rd.

I will attempt to locate a busway to Central Market. Lamar and 41st sounds major enough that I would be surprised to _not_ find a bus that stops there. :-)

[yannaboo.livejournal.com]

a grad student can afford Whole Foods? Whoa!

I lucked out cause Alex *always* had a 10% discount cause his dad is a part time Target employee (it's worth working there one Saturday a month to keep the discount). We go to Target about twice a week, cause we keep realizing we need *more* hangers, or *more* storage, or *tape*....

[tiedyedave]

Yes, Whole Foods is technically well outside my income bracket. :-)

But I was hungry, the fridge was empty, and it's the only major grocery store I can reliably reach by bus.

Then again, I don't have a car, or any other major expenses besides basic rent and utilities, so I could probably afford to spend more than strictly necessary on food if I wanted to.

[naufiel.livejournal.com]

How strange. My primary reason for getting a car (other than, "I want") is to purchase foodstuffs at such places as Trader Joe's, Costco, and, if at all possible, Whole Foods.

[tiedyedave]

Trader Joe's and Costco are definitely in-bracket, cost-effective stores. Unfortunately, there are no Trader Joes in Austin, or for that matter anyhwere in Texas. This makes me very SADPANDA.