Beach Trip 2012

It's that time of the year again friends! The time where we complain incessantly about the summer heat while driving around aimlessly searching for a shaded parking spot. It's also the time of the year when Chad, Kenny, Ross, and I embark on our annual Beach Trip. The four of us make our way down to the Gulf Coast to partake in some fun in the sun. This year we stayed at the illustrious Pirates Crossing Condominium which was ever so appropriate since there was much pillage and plunder to take place. We had a wonderful balcony view of Lake Padre. We watched the sunset each night while sipping Tom Arnolds (sweet tea vodka + lemonade). The actual beach was just a couple blocks away. Some of you may recognize Padre Island as the setting of the cult classic film, THE LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN.

There was also a quaint little fishing dock right below us. None of us really fish so it made for a great drinking dock.

Saturday, we spent the day at the Texas State Aquarium. It had been at least fifteen years since I last paid a visit to the Aquarium. They've added a ton of new features that are pretty awesome. When I was a kid, during the summer I'd ride the bus to The Aquarium everyday just to watch them feed the sharks in the morning. Later on, they added albino alligators. Now there's otters, dolphins, stingrays, birds, and sea turtles. My favorite part of the tour was the jellyfish exhibit. I could just drop acid and spend the day there. Check out Ross' Instagram for some great pics. Chad was a bit bummed we didn't get to visit the Lexington battleship, but I could not express enough how utterly lame it is. I'm sure it's on par with the summer blockbuster hit BATTLESHIP.

My dear friend Ruth & her husband, John were able to spend the evening with us. It's always nice to catch up with old friends. Later on that night, Ross thought it would be a great idea to jump off the deck into the lake. His judgement may have been clouded by a few cocktails, but that's neither here nor there. Unfortunately, he did not assess the situation properly and only realized once he was in the water that it may be difficult to get out of the water. Kenny and I tried our damnedest to pull him out, but to no avail. Then Ross decided to climb out where the boating docks were. Little did he know the docks were covered in dangerously sharp barnacles. By the end of it all, poor little Ross looked like he got into a fight with Edward Scissorhands. Thanks to Kenny & Chad for thinking on their feet a rushing to the store to get first aid and Whataburger taquitos.

One of the highlights of our trip was re-visiting the Whataburger by the Bay. Whataburger by the Bay is an elegant display of architecture. This glorious two-story structure sits in the middle of downtown Corpus Christi overlooking the Bay. It truly is a Texas treasure!

Our drive home to Austin resembled a funeral dirge. Everyone was a bit tired (partied out), sun beaten, and sleepy. Ross is still recovering from his head to toe war wounds. Chad apparently did not apply a sufficient amount of sunscreen because by Monday he looked like the Red Hulk. During our visit, I kept thinking, "I could totally live on the beach." In hindsight, I would probably get my Goth membership taken away and I'd get sick of all the sand in weird places. Also, by the end of the trip, I couldn't be happier to be back in Austin where I belong. And really missed my pooch.

All in all, it was a great trip with great friends and I look forward to next year's! Special thanks to The Turkey, Chad, Kenny, Ruth, John, and Whataburger. Have a great summer everyone!