Couple of things to mention before I head to bed...E and I went to look for Jettas on Saturday and the sales guy was instantly aware we had no idea what we were doing, but he was a professional about it and basically gave us all the literature we needed and answered all our questions (E wants a V6, black, with tan leather interior, manual, moon roof, and either the TDI or VR6 engine...listen to me!!!).

We went to JB and Sandy's Beach Party and the fun story there was I had Lance Armstrong autograph my hat!! We met David and his wife and sister and her husband. I'm really starting to love his sister...she is so fun!!! E likes her too!! I had a few too many and on our way home I wanted to go out and shake my tail feathers but E didn't want to so we came home and I stayed up and emailed some friends and finally went to bed around 2. E went to bed as soon has we got home...he's taking some kind of medicine to help him sleep.

Oh yea, the reunion meeting didn't happen, just a quick phone conversation and me explaining to my cousin that we don't have all the money in so there was no way we were going to be able to get t-shirts. I thought for some reason she was going to be upset with me (no idea why, that's just how my head works). In the end I made some last minute phone calls to family to inform them to spread the word there wasn't going to be t-shits...and everyone was okay with it...just another example of me stressing out for nothing. That was pretty much Saturday.

Sunday was lazy day although I did wash clothes and paint one of three canvasses for the living room. I want them done before this weekend. E and I saw these three paintings that hang side-by-side in Details' August issue (page 92 with cutie Tobey Maguire on the cover) and he, for some reason, thought I could replicate them for our living room. I finished the first one and it actually looks okay. Its a pretty easy painting...a series of horizontal lines...but the color scheme is the hardest part. I'm enjoying it.

Start of another week and a Family Reunion to attend this weekend. I'm sure I'll have some interesting stuff in store to share. Gotta go and count the cracks in my eyelids. Oh yea, I downloaded Cheech and Chong's "The Basketball Jones" and "Sister Mary Elephant" for my brother Albert...I forgot about those classics..too funny.

Okay it Friday night and I'm just about ready to turn in. Pretty sad...but I have a lot going on tomorrow. Im not too terribly excited about the first thing I have to do...meet with my cousin about the upcoming reunion. In fact, I'm scared shitless. The whole event is just not falling into place like I hoped it would. Baby Jesus help me please!!!

The second thing is a lot more tedious...helping E purchase a car. Now he says he is only going to look at them and ask questions, but I think he is ready to actually drive away in one tomorrow. He wants a Jetta (oops) I talked him out of getting a mini b/c that's what I want...no comment from the peanut gallery. (oops)Anyway, I talked to D today who owns a jetta and he said to be sure and get a 1.8 turbo (like I know what the the fuck that means). Of course I just shook my head and said "sure, sure, I planned to do that," in my deep straight Berry White voice.

Now the third and hopefully finally thing I have to do is attend JB and Sandy's Beach Party on Lake Travis. Lots of food and drinks and of course boys!!! I won tickets Thursday night at Speak Easy's downtown. Its this huge party by the lake at Carlos and Charlie's with bands like Pocket Symphonies, Pete Francis, Wilshire, Dysfunkshun Junkshun, Virginia Coalition, Wideawake, Gavin DeGraw, and Sister Hazel playing. It should be fun. I'll fill in the details about it later.

Oh, I talked to my sister tonight. I love and miss her so much. More about her later. Real quick, my family:

Dad: Manuel, Sr.
Mom: Rachel
Brothers in order:
Hector
Albert
Gabriel
Amador (pronounced "I'm a ceiling, I'm a floor, A'm a door (he hates that)
My beautiful sister: Melissa
Lastly: me (which is strange I'm a junior b/c usually that's reserved for the first born...only in my family

Oh yea, big news!!! AnDy WaRhOl exhibit is coming to The Austin Museum of Art starting Sunday!!
It runs til November!!! Here is the actual release from AMOA:

Andy Warhol
August 24 ? November 9, 2003
Andy Warhol?the quintessential Pop artist?transformed the way we look at everyday life, from common consumer goods to movie stars and historical figures. Although considered one of the best-known American artists, Warhol (1928-1987) is nonetheless one of the least understood. The Austin Museum of Art is working directly with The Andy Warhol Museum to organize this special exhibition, the first of its kind in central Texas. Designed to explore the man behind the myths, this survey will focus on Warhol's redefinition of the modern artist and the subjects he chooses and will include 71 prints and 15 paintings, representing many of Warhol's well-known bold and colorful images.

CANNOT WAIT TO SEE IT!!!

Later

This is officially my first post and I'm scared and a little bit excited. My dear friend, BR from KC sort of talked me into it because he knows how much I write in my own personal journal and thought someone might be interested in hearing what I had to say. I doubted him and still do but I will go forward and try to just be free of any thought of someone reading this because if I didn't I would stress out about what I share.

So, no boundaries and I will not apologize if I offend because I'm telling everyone right now this will be the way I write if it were my own journal and I stop at nothing when I have to unscramble my brain. With that being said, I'm not a person that insults people or is in anyway rude. In fact I pride myself in having good karma I believe its important, but that doesn't mean I don't slip up...I'm only human and hell it comes back, right?

My Name is Manuel, but I go by Manny (but not by all..that story a little later) some facts about me:

1. Live and love Austin
2. Absolutely adore Grover
3. Love The Cure
4. Worship Andy Warhol
5. Aspire to write like Capote & Dunn
6. Love 80's Music
More later...

My day today: I woke up at 7:08 because I didn't have to shave (did that yesterday) and got to work at 8. I work At CKP, Inc. I'm an accountant bookkeeper and I absolutely hate my job. And I'm constantly asking myself why did I get a degree in such a field? My plan is to use my GI Bill to get my Graduate Degree in something I want to do for the rest of my life. The problem with that is...Im not quite sure what "that" is...(although I have some ideas)

I love the people I work with. David and Beverly in my office and there is the dispatch crew (which is always changing) Anyway, today was okay. A bit long because payroll had some problems. My biggest concern at this present moment is not work its my family reunion I'm helping plan with my cousin. Its over the Labor Day weekend next week at Cabin Lakes near New Braunfels. I just realized this entry is way too long for the first time. More later.