back in dallas. time to catch you up with the past several days. tough since tonight's austin city limits taping is very fresh on my mind. i'll get to that in a minute though.

i decided friday evening that i was done with my work at the ranch and headed into austin to hang out with mark. we drank quite a bit and i decided to let loose on my frustrations with having been asked to leave the band that i was a part of for 6 years. we fought. we got it all out in the air. we decided not to strangle each other, made up, and mark gave me a wonderful print of one of his uncle's photographs. it was touching, kids, let me tell ya.

my body started responding to the mounting austin heat around 12:30, but i believe it was at least 3 more hours before my brain stopped trying to make me feel guilty for the night before.

michael's plane from l.a. landed around 5:30 and we met james shields at chuys. after dinner, and nice conversation at mojo's we ended up at antone's where friend patrice pike was releasing her new band's first cd.

it's always fun hanging out with michael jerome.

sunday night found us having dinner at mezzaluna with mark andes and timbuk 3 founder barbara k.

then today i wasted an hour in a camera store looking at all the things i would buy if i was truly appreciated for my talents and someone gave me that kick-ass job. after dropping $25 on a new filter, i headed back to michael's room at the radisson and james and i went to the austin city limits taping. we ended up sitting behind rich brotherton and jody denberg. it was an incredible show, and our wonderful seats have pretty much guaranteed me some screen time when the show airs. unfortunately, i don't know yet when that will be. but keep an eye out for the first austin city limits show of their 27th season featuring richard thompson. oh and let me know if you see me.

uh oh. i've managed to ramble on until nearly 5:00 a.m. and i have a lot to do in the next five hours. time to catch a few nods.