Category Archives: Uncategorized

Web 3.0

(Community Matters) Met this afternoon with two aspiring entrepreneurs, John Erik Metcalf & Melissa Sconyers who impressed me with their commitment to innovation and creativity. John Erik explained his interest in creating a Startup District in Austin, a place where young entrepreneurs working on Web 3.0 startups would congregate, connect and discover – Conjectured. Good gosh, I’m just figuring out what qualifies as Web 2.0. Now I’ve got to understand the Semantic Web and other Web 3.0 concepts.

It was refreshing to spend time with John Erik & Melissa. They are recent UT graduates (undergrads) full of dreams, ambition and energy – the kind who get things done, despite the rest of us “knowing” it’ll never happen. Erik and a few friends have already leased a building on East 7th Street where aspiring entrepreneurs (I keep hearing software developers) will share space, ideas and conversation as well as hotel their offices. John Erik is committed to growing the type of subindustry where he wants to work in Austin. Says companies like Moximity are where he’s interested in working; imagine that had something to do with Bryan Jones introducing us πŸ™‚ I also recommended he connect with my new friend Michael Griffin, founder & CEO of search engine optimizer, Adlucent.

Had lunch with equally inspiring entrepreneurs, Ann Kitchen and Clarke Hedrick who are putting together an affordable private insurance plan for employees of small businesses. Yeoman’s work.

p.s.s. Reminds me of a recent dinner table conversation, why would anyone want the ubiquitious updates of twitters? Melissa Sconyers website gives a perspective, “I share my schedule with my friends and keep track of all of their schedules, too. I check it almost religiously, largely for the same reasons I am addicted to Twitter: I just like to know what everybody is up to. I no longer live in the same city as the majority of my friends, so It’s important to me to retain a connection to their day-to-day lives. Having access to their calendars helps me do that.”

Bigness

(Community Matters) Perfect ending to a lazy Fourth of July weekend. Nico (my 9yo godson) and I joined Lauren (my 10yo goddaughter – the two consider themselves godsiblings) and her daddy, my close friend, Kent Mayes at the KDK Ranch outside Llano. Unfortunately, Janet Harman, Kevin, David and Kelly left earlier for other family obligations, sorry to have missed them.

It’s quite nice here. Never got around to fishing, though we did take a long tour of the property, played some pool, played in the pool, checked out the horses, read, watched Wimbeldon, grilled and played three board games. One would think I’d have learned to chill at Monopoly or PayDay, but I can’t help it. Anyhow, I was generous with loans before foreclosing.

My last cigar – not bad under a brilliant sky of stars overlooking the Texas Hill Country. I’ve promised Steven I’d quit (again) after the July 4th weekend. I’d probably be rehearsing an excuse why that didn’t end last night if it wasn’t such a perfect setting. Anyhow, I’m likely to be extra ornery the next few weeks, so fair warning.

Michael Mitchell & I have been blogging open kimono about Lance’s book, It’s Not About the Bike, at http://squirrelsintheattic.info/. Stephen Walls opts in with beautifully candid comments – we all adore Stephen and Denny Biggs. Launched the Fourth in Nirvana hosted by Fathers Bill & Amy. Tana & Joe Christie didn’t have their 4th celebration this year, though they generouosly offered a germ free setting for MM to view the fireworks – alas grandchildren running fevers don’t take timing cues – and maybe this weekend has really been everyone celebrating the Senator’s 75th. Jill & Stephen (I prefer calling him judge yelenosky these days) still share their ringside garden. Amy & Ian Davis entertain big in that style that reminds me of the best of our 20s & 30s, and their guests included Texans for Obama royalty as well as new DNC staffers. Our neighbors organize terrific parades, and at the speed of light lazer-beamed focused by my husband organize a smart response to a conniving, lying slumlord. Tada – always to the rescue on property issues – even on a holiday weekend, sorry Lori – thanks Jason Heffron. I imagine Mandy Dealey’s deck was a beautiful outdoor salon overlooking the fireworks from Mt. Barker, and hope she’ll invite us there again this summer. Massages, facials, lunch and the pool at Lake Austin Spa didn’t suck. Barbara Engel presented a poached salmon unlike any I’ve ever witnessed, and bake, good gosh the only thing better is spending the evening with her, Rachel & Feferman. The Fourth on the deck of Waterbury House on Salt Spring Island – good gosh, miss that place. Though, in fact we celebrate the first (Canada Day) there.

Hoping everyone enjoyed a bit of friends, a bit of family, time in the pool and around the table with kids, some open air in Texas’ bigness, and their literal or proverbial fireworks this Fourth of July weekend.

big hugs,

e

Llano

(Community Matters) Nico and I are visiting my god daughter, Lauren, and her dad, Kent Mayes, near Llano. Great breeze up here.

Lance Armstrong

(Community Matters) It’s Not About the Bike

Marion Cimbala recommended it. I do too.


Hanging

(Community Matters) Doing a bit more hanging today, headed out now. here

Beating the Heat

(Community Matters) A lazy July 4th in the pool house

Beating the Heat

(Community Matters) A lazy July 4th in the pool house

Happy July 4th!

(Community Matters) Every year our Aldridge Place neighborhood hosts a parade circling Hemphill Park.

Our friends the Renners, then the Coffins in the trucks following the neighborhood firetruck

Jesse Helms 1921 – 2008

(Community Matters)

former Senator Jesse Helms

Diversity on the Ballot

(Community Matters) Good gosh, we will have the first African American running for president and we could also have the first gay VP nominee on the other ticket – sex-tapes and recent engagements notwithstanding.

Nirvana

(Community Matters) An evening at Bill & Amy’s comes close. Enjoyed an exquisite and most scrumptious evening with them, their sons (Mike & Dan, in from San Francisco) and daughter-in-law, Amy, last night. Food, drink, family, conversation, laughter, a bit of prayer and a lemon rind-accented granny smith apple tart, its perfect crust glazed with apricot. There were no leftovers.

A Third Term for Karl Rove

(Community Matters) As Paul Krugman points out John McCain’s campaign is as much about a third Karl Rove term as it is a third George W. Bush term.

yeah, we really need more of either