Hey, back after a few days in Texas for sightseeing and TRASHionals. I won't go into the gritty details now (there's a theoretical trip recap that'll combine this trip with the long weekend in Houston from a couple years back), but I will note some basics:

* Austin and San Antonio are worth a visit, if you're looking to go to Texas and want to avoid the big hair and oil crowd while still getting some of that Lone Star jingoism.

* That being said, the combination of Austin as state capital and the location of the state university makes for an odd mix of bohemian and conservative. We were often reminded to support local business so as to "Keep Austin Weird," but what passes for weird there isn't that strange, really.

* The Alamo is smaller than you'd expect. It's also interesting to note that most of what you'd consider the Alamo today wasn't part of it at the time of battle.

* Texans are really proud of the Lone Star. Just don't expect them to give you a cogent explanation of its origin.

* The region's influx of German immigrants back in the day left two great influences: a love of good beer and an affinity for daschunds.

* It is possible to get lost on the top level of a parking garage. It is also possible for Yahoo Maps to get you lost before leaving the airport.

* The Chevy Cobalt is deceptively small.

* The Brazilians make a nice moderately-sized jet aircraft, and I will happily take any JetBlue flight that uses them.

* I am not good at navigating where roads are divided into directional segments (such as North Main Street and South Main Street). I need paved cow paths that have one name only.

* Please, for the love of God, if you have a child who constantly cries for one parent while being held by the other - even though both parents are within the child's field of vision - don't fly. Do us all a favor and take driving vacations until the kid is older. Say, 15.