Live Music & Wi Fi & Food in the Texas Coastal town of Corpus Christi, Texas

I am down visiting the humid Texas coast in Corpus Christi at Starbuck's on Staples near Weber not far from Ocean Drive drinking hot herbal tea. Some people come to Austin from dry climates and say Austin is humid. For those folks I say- come to Corpus Christi- I guarantee you your hair will do funny things and your skin will feel clammy. BUT- plants will grow like crazy, tropicals will thrive all year. Citrus, papayas, roses, Hawaiian Ti plants, bougainvillea, avocado and others grow happily huge with the extremely rare freezes here.

Here at Starbuck's, live music will begin soon- 2 acoustical guitars. One guitarist is playing now very nicely. Hoping other will play soon. A small crowd is here. Beats hangin' all day at the in-laws!! Now both have played several times each. They are both very good. I am impressed! Free live music, paid Wi Fi and a nice cup of tea...Yes, this is the life.

I had to go find Wi Fi which is very hard in Corpus Christi. You see, Corpus is for the most part like stepping back in time 20 years. They just never catch up. We are so incedibly spoiled in the Austin, Texas area- there is free Wi Fi on every corner, multiple live music venues any time of the week, lower humidity, etc., etc. I had to pay for internet here but was glad to find it. Don't count on Corpus Christi's Schlotsky's having Wi Fi, & at McDonald's you have to pay for it too. Aqua Java does have free Wi Fi at 320 Williams St. #C (361)882-0865 downtown near the Executive Surf Club and Water Street Oyster Bar.

Old Meets New at the Leander, Texas Rail Station

The Leander Train Station in Leander, Texas was the site of a Capital MetroRail Open House Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 to show off its sleek, new commuter Swiss made trains. The old Austin Steam Train came by on its run to Bertram during the Open House. It was like the meeting of the old and the new. The new commuter rail service will start running March 30th, 2009.

Ethiopian Food in Austin Texas

I have eaten at Astor's Ethiopian Restaurant in Austin, Texas a couple of times. Located at IH 35 south of 38th at the corner of Dean Keaton. 512-786-9524 right by UT. Another restaurant I want to try is:

Karibou Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar
1209 E. 7th Street
Austin, TX 78702

512-320-5454

EthiopianRestaurantAustin.com

RECYCLING Electronic Gear

Radio Shack is RECYCLING electronic gear. Trade-in used, working small electronic items thru RadioShack.com and get a gift card to spend on new electronics. RadioShack.com/tradein

Handicap Accessible Home

Austin Texas Accessible Home - The most amazing home videos are here

Raw Milk & Dairy in Austin Texas

I grew up having Ostakaka with Lingonberries with my Swedish relatives here in Austin, Texas. My Austin area relatives were all from the old country, having come here in the 1870's. On the farms at Elgin, Lund and New Sweden, they had raw milk to drink, make the cream sauce for Lutefisk & make Ostakaka out of. Ostakaka is a Swedish cheesecake type dish that is best made with raw milk. I still eat Ostakaka on special occasions, many times ta the Austin Scandinavean Club. In modern, urban society, raw milk and dairy are hard to find. Dyer Dairy, 20 minutes north of Austin in Georgetown has raw milk. The family owned and state inspected dairy is located at 7801 E. Highway 29, Georgetown, TX 78626. (512) 638-0415 You might be interested in these organizations promoting our right to raw milk or " Real Milk " & other natural, non-pasteurized dairy products. Real Milk also has a "where to buy" search engine to search by zip code.

Also, check Local Harvest for dairy as well as other local food.

Public Transportation for the Disabled in Austin

Public Transportation for the Disabled in Austin and surrounding Areas: Capital Metro, the local transportation service, offers commuter bus service for senior citizens and people with disabilities who wish to ride the bus. They also make accomodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Please check the Capital Metro website and call (512) 389-7583 or e-mail nancy.crowther@capmetro.org for more information. The new Capital Metro trains are ADA accessible as well as each MetroRail station. Commuter rail service from Leander into Austin, Texas will begin running March 30th, 2009.