Big V - Chapter 5 - Debt, Divorce, Prozac, & Pumpkin Spice
Austin City Limits, Midget Wrestling, Perky Peacock Lingerie, Money Mart Pawn Shop, Trudy’s Hallmark, 24/7 Car Wash, & Make It Sweet, Taco Bell.
A 5-Year Personal Diary & South Texas Business Review
Written by Verna ‘Big V’ S— from New Braunfels, TX
“Trying to Make My Way in this World”Austin City Limits Music Festival
Festivals
2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746
10/15/2012
DAYUM! My favorite time of year has come and gone. This year’s ACL may have been the best time of my life.
GOOD MUSIC, GOOD BEER, GOOD FRIENDS, and GOOD TIMES! Sunshine and just a little bit of rain. I was so jazzed getting into town Friday.
I was pretty concerned walking into the festival b/c they had signs up saying it was a “No Smoking Event.”
I was NOT smiling in our obligatory picture under the festival entry sign. There ain't no drought going on this year— Verna needs her smokes! LOL. Much to my relief, no one out there seemed to be enforcing the no-smokes rule.
Each day we got there and set up our lawn chairs at the Bud Light stage. We had decided that stage would be our base camp. I wanted to see Black Keys Friday night, Iggy and the Stooges Saturday, and RHCP Sunday.
I strategically placed our camp close to the Porta-Potties and beer lines. No one bugged me, not once, for smoking. People in Austin are just so DAYUM friendly. Some pretty good-looking guys too!! I bummed a smoke while in line for the potty off of this man with a super-sexy Casper the Ghost tattoo on his arm. If you read this review, message me. YOU hottie!! LOL.
On Sunday I ventured out of base camp to go see the Lumineers but DAYUM that was a little bit of a cluster! I was trying to enjoy a smoke and nearly got run over. JAYSUS! I headed back to our trusty base camp where I could sit on my lawn chair, enjoy a cold one, and a smoke without fear of being trampled.
Seriously, I've had a rough year. A lot of hardship has flown my way. I have a tendency to blame others for a lot of my problems and shortcomings but this year at ACL, sitting in my lawn chair drinking beer, listening to live music, I had time to reflect. I may not be totally blameless but I am in control of this life of mine— and maybe, just maybe, my DOG DAYS ARE OVER!!
Starbucks
$$ Coffee & Tea
697 Walnut St, New Braunfels, TX 78130
10/9/2012
The cold front blew in and I realized it's that time of year again: PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE TIME!!
I'm new to the area having just moved here post-divorce a few months back, so this was my first trip to this particular Starbucks. I've had a lot of “new firsts” lately. Some have given me reason to cry. Some have given me reason to celebrate. This trip to New Braunfels Starbucks for my first pumpkin latte of the season definitely goes into the celebration bucket.
I got lucky as far as parking goes. Pulled my F150 into an empty spot, careful not to park on the lines. I'm pretty good at parking her. LOL. I sat outside and smoked a cigarette, drank my latte, and celebrated my life. The learning curve for this chapter of my life has been steep to say the least, but as I sat outside drinking my delicious pumpkin spice latte I realized I've got this. I've got it.
Little Woodrow’s Southpark Meadows Bar & Grill
$$ Pizza, Sports Bars, Chicken Wings
9500 S I H 35, Austin, TX 78748
10/6/2012
Two words: Midget Wrestling!
After the week I'd ha, I needed some BEER!! I headed out to Little Woodrow’s last night, having no idea that it was midget wrestling night! What a treat! I'll admit at first I was not happy about the cover charge, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.
Drinking beer, smoking cigarettes, eating chili-cheese fries, watching midgets wrestle— does life get any better? LOL. I had a GREAT night which I was in dire need of! My week had been rough, plus I'm DAYUM broke!! Needless to say my stress levels were high so I needed to unwind.
“Rampage”! “Little Nasty”! These guys were GREAT! Incidentally, I was hesitant to use the word "midget" but they assured us that's what they like to be called. These guys put on an amazing show! Rampage actually did pushups with another wrestler on his back. The whole show was exactly what I needed. A perfect start to what I hope will be perfect weekend as long as no debt collectors call. LOL.
The Perky Peacock
$$$ Lingerie, Swimwear, Women's Clothing
651 N Business 35, New Braunfels, TX 78130
10/3/2012
Love. It. Here.
They have an amazing selection. Their prices are reasonable. I am frugal and on a budget but I KNEW I needed some new lingerie. I went in to this place and left happy!
My ex doesn't know what he's missing out on! LOL! A real man knows how to treat a GOOD woman! This place helped remind me I am a good woman.
Or maybe the Prozac is finally kicking in. LOL!
Taco Bell
$ Mexican, Fast Food
4007 IH 35 S, San Marcos, TX 78666
10/3/2012
Last night I was sitting at home debating whether to eat leftover donuts, when the Taco Bell commercial came on TV, for their new Doritos Locos Tacos. My decision was made!
I hopped into my truck and headed to TB. I'm not sorry that I did. I got 2 of those Doritos tacos supreme and they were delicious. I know I've said it before but I am blessed to have such a high metabolism. Most ladies my age can't get away with eating the junk I eat. LOL!
Taco Bell rules!!
Trudy’s Hallmark Shop - CLOSED
$$ Cards & Stationery, Gift Shops
651 S Walnut Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130
10/3/2012
Last May I got rid of my Razr (replaced it with a new smartphone) and got a new laptop (because my ex kept the desktop).
Since then, I've become a little bit of a technology junkie. Texting, IM-ing, emailing, social networking. I hardly ever pick up the phone, much less mail someone a card!
But yesterday I decided it was time to go old-fashioned greeting card shopping for one person in particular.
I had a falling out with a new friend last month and it's been weighing heavily on my mind.
Initially, I sent her a couple of emails apologizing for my behavior. But honestly those emails were about me trying to feel better about what I'd done. They weren't about her or her feelings. Emails are pretty easy to shoot off, but a greeting card? Now that is a thoughtful gesture.
Like I said, this has been weighing heavily on me. For the time being, there's just nothing I can do about the money I owe her. Sending a simple card with a pretty picture and a sincere apology is the only way I know to show her that I truly am sorry.
I went into this place and they had a great selection of cards. I spent quite some time (over an hour) looking for the right card. It couldn't be too funny or too sappy. I found the perfect one with a Buddhist-like quote. I kept it simple. I signed my name and told her I'd pay her back one day. I just put it in the mail today. Hopefully my karma is busy rebalancing itself now. LOL.
24-7 Carwash
Car Wash
8212 Broadway St, San Antonio, TX 78209
10/3/2012
This is going to sound crazy but I had a pretty spiritual experience the last time I took my truck thru this car wash.
It was a couple months ago and I was still working through the dissolution of my marriage. I was driving around one evening listening to my breakup playlist on my iPod. My truck was filthy so I decided to take it thru this car wash. The price seemed cheap enough and a clean car always makes me happy.
While driving my pickup thru this wash, "You Oughta Know" by Alanis started playing on my stereo. Something about the water rushing down on my truck while I belted out the lyrics with Alanis was SPIRITUAL! LOL.
“I'm here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away . . .”
Who knew a car wash could be so theraputic? DAYUM! A squeaky clean truck and a good jam does wonders for a person. My truck is due back for another wash. And I'm ready.
Make It Sweet
Cooking Schools
9070 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
10/3/2012
Last winter when I was still with my ex, we both decided it was time we quit smoking! We'd been smoking together for years. It was something we both really enjoyed. Sitting out on our back patio, sharing a smoke together looking at the stars, sharing the events of our day. It was peaceful. But 20 years of smoking was catching up with the both of us. We knew it was time to stop.
It took almost 7 weeks, and we were both smoke free. I wanted to do something special to reward us. I was in Austin on business and found this bake shop. I decided it'd be fun to make a cake in the shape of a cigarette to mark our accomplishment.
I walked into the shop and it smelled great! It had a great assortment of baking supplies, cake pans and decorations. The people working at the store were a little snobby. Not sure what was up with that.
But I found what I needed and baked my first cigarette cake. LOL! It was a hoot.
I wish I could say I stuck with only eating cigarette cakes but unfortunately I'm smoking again and single. HELP ME JAYSUS!
Money Mart Pawn & Jewelry - RENOVATED
$$ Pawn Shops, Jewelry
485 Landa St, New Braunfels, TX 78130
10/2/2012
In psychology, there is a term called “decompensation,” and what this refers to is the inability to maintain defense mechanisms in response to STRESS, which then results in a personality disturbance or psychological imbalance.
I'm afraid I suffered such an episode early last month. I won't go into the GORY details but suffice it so say I lost a friendship over it. I feel just awful about it.
I believe the stressor that evoked the episode has something to do with my wedding rings. I've worn my wedding band and engagement ring for almost 20 years.
I'll admit I kept wearing them long after I knew the marriage was over, but I felt that was my prerogative. Finally though, I realized it was time to take the rings off. At which point, I guess my previous coping mechanisms shut down.
A DISASTER followed, for which I will be eternally sorry.
The thing is, I know I gotta get rid of the rings and the awful energy they bring into my life. On an impulse, I took them into this pawn shop to see what I could get for them. The idea of pawning them appealed to me because a) I need the money, and b) if I had second thoughts I could go back and get them.
But the guy there, though he was very nice, wasn't willing to give me anywhere near what the rings are worth. After some advice from Yelp-talk, I've decided I will list them on Craigslist.
For now, I have them hidden on the top of a closet in boxes so I don't have to see them. LOL!
Walgreens
$ Cosmetics & Beauty Supply, Drugstores, Convenience Stores
1944 S Seguin Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130
10/2/2012
I guess I'm getting older, b/c I seem to be hitting the drugstore more and more often lately. I'm on more prescriptions than I've been on in my adult life. JAYSUS!
And I blame my ex for it all. LOL! But seriously, being told not only that he'd been cheating on me, but that he no longer loved me— well, none of that was good for my mental or physical health.
Physically my cold sores started flaring up almost immediately— so there's one prescription. Mentally, I started shutting down. So there's a couple more prescriptions. Plus my allergies are awful year-round, it seems.
Needless to say, a good pharmacy is important in my life right now. Everyone at this Walgreens is super nice. The turn-around time on getting my prescriptions filled is quick. They have a good selection of cosmetics, cold meds, candy, and greeting cards also. LOL!
I didn’t figure out until just the last entry that they are going backwards in time. It made it particularly poignant because she talks about “décompensation”. Somehow that make it all work out in my head now, the backwards-ness.
Thanks for finding Verna for us!
Is this a “thing”, writing memoir on YELP? It’s beyond fucking genius.
I think I need to get in on this.