This park is different than any other park I know of in Austin. The scale provides a sense of intimacy and the layout seems designed specifically for meandering, rather than active recreation. There are not soccer fields or hike and bike paths and only one small open space signed “No Team Sports”. Instead there are curved walks through Lilliputian hills and woods, walks just right for wandering here, there, and nowhere. Or maybe over to the pond with its large spray fountain and three docks (carefully railed to prevent you from sitting on the edge with your feet overhanging into the pond). Or to the map of Texas with mileage to other Texas cities and four points of the compass. Or to the large circle inscribed with the words: Release, Return, Receive. We thought there should be an accompanying sign to the effect, “Drum circles should form only in designated areas.” There is also a spiral sitting area with what looks like bubble jets; the perfect spot for young mothers to sit while watching their toddlers splash and run about. The steel planters with xeriscape plants provide a 21st century industrial touch. But the park needs more trash cans! We saw an plastic bag full of doggie poop and a soda can in the grass–and the fence had been down only a few hours.

Town Lake Park does not quite live up to the original vision presented almost 9 years ago. In July 2006, the Austin Chronicle detailed the cutbacks. Still it has been transformed into a wonderful space.

What other city can boast that rather than “pave paradise and put up a parking lot” that it tore out a parking lot and planted a park?

I gave her an incredulous look and a third woman said, “Hey, don’t talk about the ending.”

“Yeah, thanks a lot!” I yelled and I threw the items I was about to purchase down and stomped out.

A boss of mine used to caution me not to confuse ignorance with malice. I would like to give the people involved the benefit of the doubt–maybe they are just stupid morons. However, the fact they could see that I had covered my ears and was purposely trying not to hear what they were saying, and that as soon as I uncovered my ears that made a point to repeat themselves leads me to conclude that they are just plain nasty.

Whole Foods Market and Wheatsville Coop already give you a 5 cent credit on every bag of your own you use. Reusable bags, although they are available for purchase from many supermarkets in Austin, currently garner as much loyalty as a third-party candidate in a presidential election. Compare that to England, for example. When I was there last year, I noticed most shoppers stowed groceries in canvas boxes that fitted easily into the trunks of their cars without falling over.

Now England has upped the ante in the eco-bagging trend with morsbags–sociable guerilla bagging. The idea is to get a group of friends together, take some recycled material (curtains, bedspreads), make shopping bags, and GIVE them away. Currently 79 Morsbag groups have sprouted up all over the UK and the idea is spreading around the world. There is one in the capital city of packaging waste, Tokyo. And there is even one in Las Vegas, (the last place I’d expect any eco-consciousness; trust me, my family lives there.)

While the politicians are debating whether to mandate change and while people are arguing about which truly is more environment-friendly, perhaps Austinites should extricate themselves from still another either/or choice. Maybe the answer isn’t paper or plastic.

So, ever since Friday, we’ve been shaking our fists at the gloomy skies. After all this is the week for memorable weather, the week when old-timers swaggle their fingers at the young and recall the Memorial Day flood (1981) and the Jarrell tornado (1997).

About 3 this morning we were awakened by thunder and rain. It rained moderately until 6 when it began pouring down. AJ’s Blackberry was buzzing with text messages. “Swimming cancelled. Stay tuned.” Half an hour later, “Event cancelled.”

A triathlon requires a lot of training on the part of the participants and effort on the part of the sponsors; I never realized how much. Everyone is disappointed…and now at 7:30 am, as people would be gathering to begin, the rain has stopped.

The only downside is that it doesn’t reward people who are already conservation-minded. I’d be interested in some sort of kilowatt per person per residence statistics. Instead, rewards are based on the amount of energy reduction over the four month period beginning today over the same period last year. Individuals, neighborhoods, and businesses can compete.

The Austin Chronicle is looking for prize donations. Contact scaplan@austinchronicle.com if you’d like to contribute a prize. “No prize is too small.” Movie tickets, massages, business gift certificates have already been donated.

Sign Up via the Chronicle website. Austin Energy will do the killowatt comparison based on your utility bills. I’ve already signed up.

Today, Texas Hills Vineyards is in the spotlight from noon to 3pm, then Flat Creek Estate takes over from 3 to 6pm.

Do drinking and grocery shopping mix? We’ll see. And we’ll be listening for that announcement, “Clean up in aisle 22.”

I couldn’t find the article using the search facility at the Austin American-Statesman (if you saw it, let me know where and I’ll put in a Thanks to K, for the link!) but I did find this Hutto tidbit. In his April 22 column, John Kelso noted that TxDOT had just unveiled two new highway exit signs for Hutto. Maybe that’s to help the UN inspectors find it.

• Alamo Community Garden , 2101 Alamo St .
• East 29th St Coop Garden , 1202 B East 29th St
• Deep Eddy Community Garden , 300-1/2 Atlanta
• El Jardin Alegre Community Garden , 1801 E 2nd St
• Open Door Preschool Garden , 3804 Cherrywood Rd
• Rhonda’s Montessori School Garden , 4300 Mount Vernon Dr
• South Austin Community Garden , Cumberland & S.5th
• Sunshine Community Garden (a project of Greenlights for Non-Profit Success, Inc.), 4814 Sunshine Drive

Garden Tour Map

There will be gardeners at each site from 11am – 3pm to go over the history and lead the tour of their garden. It is a ’self-guided’ tour so you can choose when and which gardens you want to see. At some of the sites there will be, free seeds and plants, and short gardening demonstrations. Any donations will go towards the garden.

Today, April 28th from noon to 2PM…so you’ll still have time to march over to Eeyore’s afterward.