Really deep in the heart

Buddy and Nate came down to visit this past weekend. For three days, we ate nothing but tacos, BBQ, and pizza. A great weekend. Friday was a marathon day that started at the Trailer Park Eatery and ended at Hoboken Pie. (Perhaps the only really inharmonious moment of the weekend revolved around our not seeing eye to eye on the merits of Hoboken slices.) Sunday was the capitol building, UT campus, and a night spent at the Scoot Inn - Skee-ball, Ruby's BBQ, Celtics game, and beer. Saturday... after waiting for the rain to let up, listening to Asia and Boston tapes, a late breakfast at Polvo's (including my horrible idea to have a Blood Mary-with-beer cocktail), a walk and round at Doc's, and some darts, we went deep in the heart of Texas. Really deep. For four hours on Saturday night, in fact, we were submerged. Be still, beating heart. I-183 is the pulmonary vein, Laura and Phil's Jeep the vessel, and the Shining Moon Saloon the left atrium. Thump thump.

The Saloon hangs off the back of a gas station. When we arrive, everything is dark from the outside, except for the "open" sign. Walking in, we beeline for the front, to meet Laura's friend Mindy, who's watching her friend's band, the band we're here to see. Had there not been a band playing, I would've expected the record to skip to a stop, the taps to close, and grim faces pointed in the direction of us, the northern invaders. Soon to find out, I was dead wrong.

I believe the first indication was the bottles of vodka in the middle of every table. The Shining Moon Saloon has no liquor license, so they only serve beer and wine, so people can bring their own liquor. Then they buy cranberry juice at the bar to mix it with. (I'm not sure if this is always the case; Saturday night may have been a special occasion.) But it gets better. We go to the bar to get beers, and hopefully food. Turns out they've stopped serving, but... they have a free "buffet" up near the stage. Hell yes, I'll get some of that. (I would later find out that this was more of a potluck than a buffet, but there was plenty of food, and they seemed happy to share.) First course for me is chicken casserole and two meatballs. This stuff tastes so good, especially free. Wait a while, more food comes, and course number two is beef taco and more meatballs. There are store-bought veggie and dip platters, but they haven't been opened yet. I fully expected to pay a cover, and not only did we not have to, but we got dinner too. Pat the head, rub the tummy.

Another big bonus was the people. Very nice, very cool, very real. One girl even invited us all to hang out at her place after the bar closed. One of the bartenders, a slightly older guy who also turned out to be genial, wore a shirt that read, "The only job I need is a blowjob." We played pool against a couple of guys - one a bit of a shark, but cool about it; the other... he had fallen off a ladder six weeks prior. Had been laid up on the couch, popping pain pills and drinking vodka, and didn't remember much of the past six weeks. This was his first night back out. And he played okay, all things considered. Like a trooper. The shark left lit cigarettes hanging off the pool table between shots. (Another thing: I don't like smoking in bars, or anywhere indoors, because it makes you and your clothes smell bad, it's unhealthy, etc. But I like the fact that everybody was smoking here, since I was under the impression that it's outlawed in Austin.) The band, who I dug, played lots of stuff, not just country, though I was so happy to hear "Help Me Make it Through the Night." Then there was Tripod, who "just can't help it," he likes the ladies. I'll leave it at that. Point being, my preconception of being unwelcome as outsiders, perhaps chased out by shotguns or bowie knives, was turned on its head by a group of people genuinely inviting and cool.

Buddy had the impression that when you come to Texas, if you start singing "Deep in the Heart of Texas" in a public space, everyone will join in. Join in:

The stars at night, are big and bright,
Deep in the heart of Texas
The Shining Moon lights up the Saloon,
Deep in the heart of Texas
Jello-O shots with wine taste so fine....