things i think about while powerwashing 169

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Life has been pretty hectic the past few weeks and weekends — photoshoots, friends, being sick, being unsick! Work has been long too! So that's why I decided to come to the best place to relax: Texas!!!

Something about this state's laidback nature is super relaxing (any time you are not on the road, that is). People are relaxed, there's kids running around. It honestly reminds me a lot of where I went to school in Indiana. Which is perfect because I got to hang out with esteemed subscribers and fellow Boilermakers Caleb Balisacan and Serena Chang!!

Caleb picked me up from the airport and graciously allowed me to make a crazy amount of mistakes directing him to the first logical stop on any Texas trip — BBQ! This time we hit up the Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum, there was a Terry Black's nearby but I had already been earlier this year! When we were trying to figure out what to order we were wavering on whether or not to order one beef rib.

Behold, the size of ONE beef rib.

Later that day, Caleb left to work for the weekend and on Friday Serena took me to Bucc-ees!! I've had other esteemed subscribers bring me merch and small goodies from Bucc-ees before (thank you Ellie) but this was my first time going in. I'm not sure what I expected, but it was indeed a huge gas station.

Honestly that didn't bother me too much. I think what killed it for me was going to the World's Largest Truck Stop in Iowa (which was truly large) but if I hadn't been there, I would definitely have been amazed by this spot. Everywhere, in all directions, was that damned beaver's face.

Which did not stop me from taking a photo with him as he wandered around the gas station.

The more Serena and I drove around Dallas, hitting up the Asian food places of Carrolton (shoutout to the crazy good Korean Bagel???) and grabbing tacos in small places, the more I was reminded of home. The mix of Asian and Mexican food along with a bunch of strip malls and the crazy highways. Suburban adult living!

I think even more fun was the fact that I could work while on vacation! I got to hang out with friends that I don't see in person very often and also get all my normal responsibilities done. Where should I go next???

museum of the week

Being in Dallas, I had to go to one of the most topical museums in America — the Sixth Floor museum describing the assassination of President John F Kennedy.

A lot of museums sometimes struggle to hold a lot of gravitas in the subjects they describe. This is definitely not one of them — being in the exact location where Lee Harvey Oswald lied, waiting for the motorcade to pass by.

It's basically one single floor of displays describing the atmosphere leading up to the assassination including the end of the Cold War as well as the actual event. And to my surprise, the various conspiracies that followed. The museum listed no less than NINE different theories including the Soviets, the mob, but I'm not sure it went into the curving bullet.

This museum is definitely a masterclass in impact. The section about the gunshots was amazing. Each frame from the famous Zapruder camera was laid out in sequence.

The museum was a little expensive but honestly an amazing 1 to 2 hours of your time. Definitely check this out! Also because it was raining I didn't get to go to the actual grassy knoll but if it's sunny you all should!!

anonymous subscriber news

I should go home to California soon! It's been way too long, maybe I should go back in July? August????

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• anon grows: I am trying to start a real garden, and I am hopeful that at least the basil will grow!
• anon enjoys animals: love the reindeer from last newsletter's animal section!
• anon locks in: sorry about the lack of anon messages. I’ll lock in
• anon awaits: i can't wait to move back to california
• anon ponders: is there a good way to backup photos from iCloud to immich without downloading them?

animal of the week

Something I've been trying to identify more birds especially when I travel! Last time I was in Austin, I first came across the grackle! With its extremely shrill call and pitch black body it was pretty easy to recognize.

Send me your animal photos at ryan@torrtle.co OR at this form https://forms.gle/NT3nSkKVbpkjCr1u8!