Monday, October 24, 2005

The One with the Haunted Forest




This was a very busy weekend for me. It started on Saturday when I went to watch the game at Ringer's, a sports bar downtown. I had gotten up early and stood in line to get us a table for the OU game, so my friend was supposed to do that for the Texas Tech game this past Saturday. I kept calling her all morning and couldn't reach her. I finally get to the bar around noon, and she is nowhere to be found and neither is a table. I managed to find an empty seat at the bar next to two guys who tried to buy me a drink even though I had a full beer. Then they offered me a shot, and I said it was a little early in the day for shots. My friend, Histo, finally showed up around 1:30 followed by Special K. Watching this game was a totally different experience from the OU game. That day, the crowd was made up of all UT fans. This weekend, there was only slightly more orange than red, because a lot of Tech fans come to Austin for this game. I was worried about Texas making the 16.5 point spread in my football pool, because I thought this would be a close game. I am incapable of betting against Texas even if it means I lose money, but I needn't have worried. The beginning of the game was not looking good for us, and the Tech fans were going crazy. However, Texas came back strong and won 52-17. Yeaee Yaeeee! Hook 'em! Today, the BCS ranked Texas ahead of USC. Number 1, baby! Don't get too excited though. It won't last. USC just lost some ground on strength of schedule last week, but they will get it back. They still have to play Cal and UCLA. Not that it really matters, 'cause Texas will still be #2 and still be going to the Rose Bowl (knock on wood). Yea!

After the game, we walked a few blocks south to watch some cycling. The Ride for the Roses benefitting the Lance Armstrong foundation was this weekend, and one of my coworkers was competing in a short track street race. I've never seen a cycling race in person, and it was quite an experience. They go really fast, and they are all really close together. One wrong move and there is going to be a really big pile and alot of pain. Next, a big group of us went to eat at Marakesh, a Middle Eastern restaurant downtown. The service left much to be desired, but the food was very good. I had a dish with spinach and feta in phyllo dough that was served with hummus. They had excellent hummus, and I also really liked the grape leaves and falafel I sampled from Special K.

Next, we all went to Austin's Haunted Forest on South Lamar. When I asked DK for directions, he told me it was just down from the Horseshoe on the left. I said great and everyone starting laughing. It turns out that before I walked up he told them to always reference a bar when giving me directions and I would know where it was. So, what are you trying to say, DK? I readily admit to being a lush. The Haunted Forest was a trip and half. My friends discovered that if chased by zombies, men in Jason's masks, or anyone with a chainsaw, I will do anything to get away, including remove you from my path and leave you behind. You start out in this maze, and people jump out at you, only you can't run 'cause there are trees in the path. My sweater got caught on one, and I was screaming for someone to help me and not leave me. At one point our group got seperated, and the group I was with was following some little kid with a big knife. We started to suspect he was leading us astray and we should turn around. I was in the back and when I turned around, there was a guy standing there in a Jason mask. I totally freaked and pushed evryone out of the way and ran, leading us into a dead end. Somehow, we managed to find our way out and meet back up with the rest of our group. Then you have to walk along a 1/4 mile path through the woods and over rickety bridges where they have different scenes set up. I was leading this time, and the only things that got to me were the gigantic spiders we had to walk through and the chainsaw man. I didn't even see him. As soon as I heard the chainsaw start up, I took off pulling my friends along with me. Throughout this whole adventure, we were alternately screaming and then laughing at ourselves for getting so scared. I know the whole thing was fake, and it's just funny how your own mind can freak you out. And why do I love to do scary things when I know I have trouble sleeping afterwards?

After the forest, I went with Navy to watch her husband play at the Ritz. The Ritz is a bar on 6th St. that is located in an old movie theater. They have several pool tables and a couple of air hockey tables, my personal fave. Navy's husband is a drummer that plays for several bands. On Saturday he had gotten a call from a band whose drummer was sick. They were a cover band, but they were pretty good. By this point, it had been a long day, so we only stayed about an hour. On my way home, I drove through campus to take a pic of the tower lit up. Mine is not nearly as good as the one I found on the net. I had to turn the flash off, and I couldn't hold the camera still enough. I tried propping it on my car, but that didn't seem to help much and then my battery died. Oh well!

Sunday was much lazier. I slept really late and then went shopping. Every Sunday evening, I go to Georgetown to have dinner with my fam. They are doing the South Beach diet right now, so we had roast and mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes. They are actually alot better than they sound. So, that was my weekend. Now, I am anxiously awaiting Halloween. Oh, and we finally got some cold temperatures here. I hope it stays!

7 comments:

kelin said...

I am so thrilled to see USC out of the #1 spot...even if it is temporarily...but...I do admit I am much more of an ACC girl so I would really love to see VA TECH up there where you guys are right now....hehehehe

Bearette said...

Back when my sister was in college, they created a haunted house and my family went through it (I was 9 at the time). There were floors covered with noodles in dark rooms where you had to crawl on your hands and knees, and there was a room with a smiling guy with a noose! It was very scary!

Lish said...

I don't want VT to be #1, but I wouldn't mind if USC suffered a loss and UT was playing VT in the Rose Bowl in Jan. That would be cool, Gigi.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I found your blog looking at Ride for the Roses reports, and saw that you have a friend named Navy. Is that her real name? We have a 10-year old daughter named Navy, and we haven't met or heard of another one.

-Duke
db@austin.rr.com

Lish said...

Thanks for stopping by Duke. No, I just call her Navy on my blog 'cause she was in the Navy. I'm trying to give all my friends nicknames instead of using their actual names. That is a very unique name though. I think that's cool.

Anonymous said...

Damn goose I could just imagime you screaming and flapping your arms in that maze.... LMFAO...

oh and give special K a good game for me!!!!

Lish said...

I am not going to touch Special K's butt for you!