The VIP treatment

Yes, I know my blog is full of unfinished posts and thoughts, and my new blogs aren't much better, but it's time for me to get it together!

The other day, I wrote down a couple experiences I never mentioned in The Story of My Life.

Let me rewind to August, 2009. Rocky and I went with a group of friends to a Randy Rogers Band concert at Nutty Brown Cafe. Hands down, this is one of my favorite bands and also one of my favorite places to see a show in Austin.

We went to the concert with a mixed group of friends after a long, hot day of boating on Lake Austin. Sunburned and burned out, we rallied to see RRB. We traveled in different cars and ended up losing some of the friends in our group as it was PACKED outside the amphitheater. I'd never seen it like that before. (Later, we would learn it was the most people ever at Nutty Brown for a show.)

We were standing in what seemed like a 50-yard-long line of people waiting to enter. Although I bought our tickets online, we had to pick them up at will call. This mass of people was the will call line. Ugggh. All we wanted to do was get in, grab a beer, and check out the band.

We could see inside, and the lines at the bar were equally out of control. I was beginning to wish we would have either arrived earlier or headed back home once we saw the overflowing parking lot (more on this later). As we stood there in the back of the line, trying to spot our friends at various points in the other lines, I noticed a couple (probably in their late 30s or early 40s) kind of wandering around. I smiled at them, and they walked right up to me.

"Excuse me, we were wondering if you two would like to sit with us in the VIP section of the show. You see, we bought a table and our two friends were unable to make it."

Hmm. Let me think. Fifty-yard-long line ... jam-packed, standing room only crowd ... pushy people OR the alternative: joining these strangers at their private table in the VIP section, complete with table, chairs AND a personal waiter!?!

Before I said yes, I stopped and thought about how I'd feel if I were one of our other friends. We did come with a big group of people. It's not like we came with just one other person and would be leaving her/him in the dust. I imagined how I'd feel if two of our friends were hand-selected to sit in the VIP section. Well, I'd be jealous as all get-out, but I would be thrilled for them. How cool, right? So, we said yes and we joined our new friends and waiter for the show.

After we made our way through the crowd of sweaty cowboy boot-wearing Texas country music fans, we chit-chatted with our sponsors. I mentioned how it was a struggle just making it out of the parking lot and to the line we were standing in. You see, the lots at these outdoor concert venues are big, empty fields. There was no one directing traffic that night, and naturally it became a free-for-all. People were parking any- and everywhere they could.

I spotted a fantastic place for Rocky to park his big truck. I got out and said, "Yes! Park here!" Little did I know the reason no one had taken my perfect parking spot was because it was a pile of sinking dirt. Rocky pulled in and his two-wheel drive truck sank right on down. After 15 minutes of back-and-forth, he was finally able to get it out of the mud. Many, many people walked by and gave me the, "Oh. Yeah. He shouldn't have parked there" looks.

I was panicking. But, in true Rocky fashion, he was cool as a cucumber and didn't express any worry. I'm pretty sure he was ready for a beer, however, and I told him I'd drive home since I was the one who got us in that mess to begin with. Annnnnyway, our new friends said they had seen us struggling with the truck. They didn't know that was us when they randomly chose us to sit with them. The lady said they chose us because we were at the very back of the looooong line, and she liked my dress-boots combo (of course I liked this response!).

We had a great time living the VIP lifestyle that stifling hot August night. It's an Austin memory I'll never forget.

Happily sitting down ...
While everyone else was packed into the amphitheater!

New new new - everything's new!

Whoa baby! I'm a busy bee. I didn't look too far to the future when I accepted my position as an assistant basketball coach and full-time graduate student. I wanted to enjoy every last minute in Austin. Now, I feel like my life is 180 degrees different from how it was three short months ago. There's an endless list of things I miss in Austin, but I am content with my decision and loving the hectic life I'm living right now.

Along with my roles as coach and student, I'm able to see some of my best friends on a regular basis. In order to chronicle some specifics, I've started two new blogs.

The Cake Brigade is a "business" of sorts my friends and I began (http://cakebrigade.blogspot.com). With my other blog, Both Sides of the Bench, I intend to chart my experiences and progress as a coach (http://bothsidesofthebench.blogspot.com). It's pretty ambitious, I know, so ... we'll see how it goes ... Ha.

***UPDATE: Both Sides of the Bench is due for a total blog makeover. It's now April, and I realize I was the biggest slacker ever with this endeavor. I'm going to clean it up--sooner or later. Perhaps I'll try to keep up a little better next season?

A look back at Longhorn land

I can't believe how fast two years flew by. Austin was the perfect city for me ... not too "big city-ish" and not a one-horse town, but a place I called home and one in which I felt I belonged. I knew from the weekend I arrived it was a special place, and I will hold in my heart forever nothing but the best memories.

Here's a look back on a few Austin memorable moments.

IH-35: Also known as Interstate Highway 35, this was my address for six months. I lived in an apartment in South Austin, conveniently located on the interstate access road. It was a learning experience in numerous ways. First of all, don't trust an apartment locator. Sure, it may be a free service, but your "locator" has no idea you know nothing about the city, and in Austin, seven miles from downtown is a LIFETIME away for a young, single girl looking to have some fun in the Live Music Capital of the World! My apartment was in one of those sprawling new-ish apartment complexes with a gate. My closet was big enough for a twin bed. I had SPACE, a luxury I would trade as soon as my lease was up ... but for those six months, I was living large. I was also living in a semi-sketchy part of town, bordering the 'burbs, and the highlight had to have been the grand opening of a Super Target. The area certainly developed in the next 1.5 years, following my departure, but it just wasn't for me. I had a nice landlord, nice neighbors, but I also had to pass not one, but two XXX stores on my way home each night. In addition, it just was not appropriate for a 20-something to be out running alone along the access road for a workout. Nevertheless, it was a nice start. I explored Austin in those six months and mapped out exactly where I wanted to live.

GENaustin: Also known as Girls Empowerment Network-Austin ... also known as my first "real" job, GEN taught me oh so much about life in less than three months. I found a posting for this organization on Craigslist, and it sounded perfect for me. My part-time job required me to assist with the coordination of mentoring programs at several middle schools in the Austin area. The concept was for high school girls to lead weekly "club" sessions after school.

As a brand new transplant to the capital city, I knew little about the public school system in Austin and even less about serious issues affecting teens and tweens. Blame it on my sheltered upbringing or my limited experience coaching and tutoring children in a small town. City life for kids is different, and my eyes were opened wide during my short stint with GEN. During my time at GEN, I witnessed some pretty young girls facing some pretty tough situations, and often I brought their problems home with me at night.

Most of the other employees were graduate students of social work or women with experience in social work. Me? Well, I had journalism experience, babysitting experience and the aforementioned coaching young kids experience. I quickly learned that I might not have been ready for this type of employment at that stage in my life. Regretfully, I stepped down from my position. I held my head high, however, because my supervisors understood and supported my decision, and I knew I learned a great deal about myself, young women and the school system for city in which I was about to spend the next two years of my life.

Starbucks on Parmer and MoPac: On a map, it didn't seem to be as far away from my first apartment as it was, but ... it was. I drove 25 minutes to earn $7.50 an hour, but I made some great friends and finally learned some of the secrets of Sbux! As a college student, I spent almost every night studying at Starbucks, and the baristas became my friends and confidants. I wanted to pay that forward. Although the time spent in the car and the lack of pay eventually caused me to resign my post (I kept my green apron), I'll never forget this as one of my first employment experiences. I most certainly will not forget the day I was working the drive-through, and a customer yelled at me for spending so much time chatting with the car in front of her. I thought I was going to cry. Friendliness was a priority as a Starbucks employee, and I never thought that asset would backfire on me. I learned that people are unpredictable, that's for sure!

University of Texas: A co-worker at GENaustin suggested I apply to be a mentor and tutor in the athletic department at UT, so I did, and I was hired. I mentored a group of swimmers, and I tutored various students in communications and writing. I enjoyed this job because I was able to connect with some hard-working individuals. I loved serving a role (albeit super duper minor) in an athletic department with so much tradition. Thanks to one of the academic advisors on staff, I was able to connect to a job board, and that's how I wound up finding my job at the news. Everything happens for a reason, indeed.

RunTex: Joining The Morning Group (TMG) at RunTex was one of the best decisions of my life. My coworker Ricky encouraged me to join him. After spending weeks turning down his invitations, I finally got the guts to show up for a workout. Over the course of my involvement with TMG, I met some wonderful, inspiring individuals and improved my running performance. It was an amazing experience. I'll never forget my friends and fans from TMG.

Tarrytown: After six months in South Austin, I figured I had done enough research on the city to pick the location for my new apartment. I found my itty bitty apartment in the fabulous Central/West Austin neighborhood of Tarrytown. It proved to be the perfect fit for my lifestyle. Just 2 miles from downtown, I left for work seven minutes before I needed to be there. I could run right from my door to the Trail at the lake, and I loved walking to Maudie's Tex-Mex on Tuesdays with my friend Dotts. Eventually, my buddy Ricky moved in just a block away, and it definitely felt like home. It was perfect. Oh how I miss T-town.

News 8: I think I've written plenty on this blog about my experience at the news. I'll take the good, the bad and the ugly because all of the experiences helped shape me in some way. My coworkers made my days, and although I wasn't too fond of the bureaucracy and somewhat selfish mentality of some in the business, I will say I learned a ton. That's an understatement. I think that phrase "baptism by fire" was pretty appropriate for my time at the news. I had no clue what I was doing, but I did the best I could, and I can say with certainty that I left my position better than I found it. That's the ultimate goal at any job, right? I know I made a difference, no matter how small that might have been.

Rocko et al.: By far the best--and most lasting--memory of Austin is my friends. I could list them here and tell you how special each is to me, but I'll let some photos do the talking. Who would have thought that I would pack my car and head for the Lone Star State, only to leave with an address book full of friends I will treasure for the rest of my life. I couldn't have asked for a better two years of my life. I have to thank God for that, and for blessing me with Mr. Rocky Ray, the most precious of people.

The photos are in no particular order but showcase some of Austin's finest coworkers, friends and other gems.

Big life change

Goodbye Austin, hello again Portland!
GoViks.com

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland State head women's basketball coach Sherri Murrell has announced the hiring of Kate Benz to her coaching staff.

Benz was a two-time honorable mention All-Pac-10 forward at Washington State, where she graduated with a degrees in communication and history in 2007. Benz garnered Pac-10 All-Academic first team honors in each of her final three seasons and left Pullman with a 3.82 grade point average.

"It's great to be back on the court with Kate. I could not pass on the opportunity to hire a former player who brings such amazing qualities to our program here at PSU," said Murrell, who coached Benz at Washington State from 2003-2007.

"I love that she is from Portland, and her energy and knowledge will help us continue recruiting great Northwest talent."

After a standout prep career at Central Catholic High School where she was the Mt. Hood Conference Player of the Year and a first team all-state selection as a senior, Benz went on to become the all-time leading rebounder in Washington State women's basketball history. She became the first Cougar to lead the Pac-10 in rebounding when she did so in 2005 and 2006. She averaged over eight rebounds per game in her career and tallied over 1,000 points to finish 11th on the school's all-time scoring chart.

Since graduating from Washington State, Benz has been working as an online producer at a news station in Austin, Texas. This will be her first coaching job.

"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity from Coach Murrell," said Benz. "I don't know if I would have felt as excited or as comfortable if I was going to be working for someone that wasn't my college coach. I really look forward to being a part of the Portland State staff and using my experience as a former player to help out the team."

Benz will serve as the graduate assistant at PSU while she pursues a master's degree in writing.

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The Oregonian clip