DToro

Way to go @Tylerocks! I'm happy for you and glad it all worked out. I agree with your advice, too. I was guilty of many of the same things. We live. We learn. We keep moving forward.

Congrats, Mac! So awesome. I'm really happy for you.

It finally happened. Got my job offerer and passed the background check last week. I will be staying in marketing and in the credit union industry, but I am going to have to move from SA to Houston. This was an unexpected journey. I voluntarily resigned in Oct 2021, took time off and then started my search in 22. I have my BA and MBA, and a career I'm proud of with no really bad marks (never fired, laid off or reassigned). I sent countless resumes (close to 500 in that time), took free-lance, consulting and substitute teaching jobs. It sucked. It was a brutal road, but I always knew what I'm capable of and what I'm worth. I know many of you are going through the same thing. I've kept up on this tread because of @Macanudo's post. I thank people like @Dbeasy who helped me out. It wasn't an easy time for me, but would come back to read everyone' s story and I kept going. It happened. It will happen for you. Don't give up.

Enjoyed Fiesta all last week and went to La Semana Alegre. That was a staple of Fiesta with some really good bands. I saw Little Joe, Flaco, Triumph and Spinal Tap (yes, them). They got pushed to the Freeman Coliseum grounds when the area was torn down and then before the AT&T center was built, it went away. This year they brought it back. I went on Friday, so missed the Toadies and Girl in a Comma on Thursday. I did see Inner Wave, The Heroine, Joe King Carrasco, Legs Diamond (an SA metal favorite) and Ozomatli. They headlined and man, that band is so much fun and high energy. I saw them back in 1999 and they still got it. They held it at the Hemisfair park, across from NIOSA. Good location and hope it grows back to what it was.

I got the Interactive Badge which required 40 hours. I believe the Film and Music badges are same or less, but the Platinum is 56. I was a late addition to the volunteer sign up, a week before, but it usually opens up mid-January. One thing I learned, is you don't have to work all 40 hours in a row, you can break it up, which I wish I had done, just because by Wednesday, many of the good session I wanted to attend (Marketing and Sports) are done. So you can work 2 day, use it 2 days, and work another 2 days to complete it, just as long as you complete the required time. I did try and maximize my badge and on days I worked (10 hours shifts for sessions). I went to happy hours or music showcases afterward. Didn't get any film in. If you are scheduled for a day and are a no-show, they will de-activate your badge. Had a girl show up who did that, showed up a day late, but they re-activated it. I think if you don't complete the required time, you also are on the naughty list and you don't get invited back, but didn't ask any of the crew managers about that. Hope this helps. I enjoyed it and will try and do it again next year. Maybe I see you out there then.

I worked the Fairmont on Sunday. It was all Gaming and XR. Yeah, really cool stuff and I hope to manage my time better next year, now that I got the lay of the land. 18 hours is nothing. I worked 40 hours for an Interactive badge. Platinum required something like 60 hours! Like you, I hope I can do it again next year.

I worked SXSW last week as a volunteer for the sessions. It was my first time to volunteer and other than attending some SXSW events, really the first time I got to attend the conference. If you volunteer a certain amount of hours, you basically work for the badge you want (Music, Film, Platinum, and Interactive). I did it partly because I'm in a job search and thought it would help to network a little and also get some professional development. Wow. I was impressed with the topics, speakers, and panelists. There's a lot of depth to what they offer, not just music, film and technology. As a marketer, there were several sessions, even healthcare, real estate, entrepreneurship, etc. The happy hours were good and met some really cool people doing some interesting work. We are in the dawn of AI. Will be interesting to see how that unfolds and is managed in the coming years. The XR exhibits were pretty cool, too. The world is moving fast Highlights were keynotes with Michael Dell and The Black Keys musical journey. I did listen to the cast of "Civil War." I haven't seen the Black Keys doc or "Civil War," but have it on my list. I actually didn't go to any movies, because I was more interested in the music showcases. I worked Ballroom A at the ACC on on Wednesday, it flipped from speaker sessions to Radio Day Stage. Wednesday featured all Latin artists who were all really good. They included: Marcelo D2-Brazilian rapper from the 90's Supposedly huge back there. I talked to his manager and he said it was weird to see him perform in from of 250 people. Back in Brazil he performs in from of 50,000 people. Pink Pablo-Good singer from Puerto Rico. J Noa-Dominica Republic rapper. She brings it. Marem Ladson- Beautiful singer from Spain. Just her, a guitar and a silk voice. Angelica Garcia-Half Mexican-Half Salvadoran. Great voice and a performance artist on stage. Apparently Obama put her on one of his song lists. Papisa-A Brazilian band. They were good. Pink Pablo band mates told me to go to the ACL live show they were playing that night. PP and J Noa were on the list that featured Peso Pluma. I went. Good shows again, but didn't stay for Pluma. I also saw The Black Keys at Stubbs on Friday. I'd been wanting to see them for a while and they kicked ass. All of the opening bands, I believe, were on Dan Auerbach's Easy Eyes Sounds label. Jon Muq, Britti, Hermanos Guitierrez and Shannon and the Clams. My favorite was Shannon and the Clams (they played SWSJ, too). Still recovering, but yeah, it was a good week to be in Austin.

My go to CFS has been Tip Top Cafe. I think on Tuesday's they have a CFS special. That place is old school from scratch cooking and so good, but it's been a while. You can't go wrong with Good Time Charlie's or Josephine St., either.

I saw it yesterday and really, really enjoyed it. The movie was really well done, some of those shots were breathtaking. The fight scenes were great and the the special effects didn't get in the way of that or the story. I liked that they broke it up in two movies, but part 2 still packed a lot it. I did think they shorted the story line with Alia and Thufir Hawat was a no show in part 2. In the movie she's unborn. In the book, she's born. Her and Hawat play pivotal roles in the ending. Even with the edited story, it's still good. I liked it so much, may go see it again in the next couple of weeks.

I saw Styx last night at the SA Rodeo. I'd never seen them before, so as an 80's kid, this was cool to check off my list. They put on a really good show and they sounded great for their age. I know Dennis DeYoung and the rest of the band had a riff and parted, but the guy who replaced him was a good 1B DeYoung. Played just about all the hits i liked, except "The Best of Times." They did get in Mr. Roboto. Guys could see the future in 1983!

Tough blow for the old SA Churchill Charger.

Man, as a loyal drinker that was the first thing that jumped out at me. It's like Big Red, you can't get it past the Texas border much less Alaska. Is it a homage to Rust or a clue?

I understand the connections and past with Sark and Coach O, but...I'm just seeing an out of control, shirtless Coach O roaming 6th street and Zilker park looking for a good time.

My dad had this record and I played it over and over as a kid. Years later, I'm on a business trip to Nashville and walking through downtown, may have been Broadway, when I heard the live version of the song. Walked in the bar and did a double take on the singer. Looked at the bartender and she nodded her head in confirmation. There was Jerry Springer belting out "The Battle of New Orleans." Song has never been the same to me since.

Traylor had Rod Wright. Ironically, Frank Wilson had Bo Davis on his UTSA staff.