Hello from the Austin airport, where I am feeling like I fit right in with my new Macbook — they were everywhere at SXSW, and I can spot at least three of them from my spot here at Gate 12. I feel relaxed after a morning in the Austin sunshine — Jordan and I ventured to the South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery at my friend Kristen’s suggestion, and gorged ourselves on breakfast tacos. Mine was called (wait for it) “Dirty Sanchez”: corn tortilla, scrambled eggs, guac, fried green chiles, with just a pinch of cheddar cheese, served with poblano-infused ranch dressing. OH HELL YES.

I met a dog named Austin, and explored an airstream trailer-turned-boutique called La-Dee-Dah, where a woman with pink streaks in her hair sold headbands made of peacock feathers and “botanical couture,” arrangements of cacti and colored glass paired with dried coral and other bits and bobs. There was a breeze through the trees, where grackles (a ubiquitous local bird) squawked and dove, occasionally, for discarded tortilla bits, and Jordan saw Jesus when he tasted “nookies,” aka round balls of deep-fried chocolate chip cookie dough.

As we strolled through a nearby neighborhood, full of colorful bungalows, a band was playing in a nearby alley, and I said goodbye to the city that had folded itself around me for the past five days, ready to head home to my beloved Mr. Cosmo, my favorite yoga class at Tranquil Space, and a weekend full of improv. I miss the stage something crazy, especially after seeing a film last night about two rockstar improvisors, TJ Jagadowski and Dave Pasquesi, at the Alamo Ritz theater (title: Trust Us, This is All Made Up); I can’t tell you how validating it was to see a documentary about my artform. I can’t wait for improvisors around the country to get to see it.

Other SXSW refugees are camped out behind me talking geekery while the sound of a live country western music wafts in from down the hall. Time to shut the Macbook.

Tagged as: fairs_and_festivals, sxsw, travel