Hamilton Pool

A few weeks ago a co-worker texted me and said "Hey, I'm going to Hamilton Pool, do you want to go?"  To be honest, my first reaction (to myself) was "I have a pool here!".  I'm so glad I didn't listen to myself!

This place ranks as one of the coolest places I have ever experienced in person.
Hamilton Pool is a natural water feature located just outside of Austin, TX.  You can check out their website here.

As we were walking the trail down I learn that it used to be two giant sheets of limestone with an underground river that eventually collapsed, one sheet got pushed under the other.  What resulted in a natural pool with a waterfall that cascades down from over 45 feet above.

I was truly and sincerely blown away!  You really have no idea.  I love water SO much and I have dreamed of seeing a place like this on a tropical island somewhere. I did not expect to see it in the States.    

Being this late in the year, the water was a little cold, but for anyone that has seen me around water, it did not matter!  After warming up on the walk down, which took about 20 minutes, I was in the water within seconds.  I love being in and around water so much - it rejuvenates me!  

This place SOLD me on Austin!!!  I may never live here long term, but I will visit Hamilton Pool for YEARS to come! Once in the water, I swam over to a giant limestone rock that looks as if God positioned it directly under the waterfall.  You could clime on there and then let the water fall down around you.  After your natural shower, you could jump back into the pool.  This place was unbelievable!!!


There were huge flat broken pieces of limestone surrounding the left side, which had a 20 foot over hang from the limestone shelf above.  If you have seen the new Predators movie (where they are taken to a animal preserve and hunted) then you would recognize these rocks.  In the movie, the characters jump off of the cliff and climb out of the water onto these rocks.  

This will mark the second time that I was able to see famous "water rocks".  When I was 14 I rafted down the New River and got to see the rock that the actors jumped off of in the very first Mountain Dew commercial.


There was more to this place than just the pool.  After we swam, we hiked down the trails that were roughly 2 miles long and ended at a river (and another swimming spot) where the waterfall eventually empties.  The path along the way was absolutely beautiful.  It looked prehistoric and untouched by man!  I kept waiting for those little raptor dinosaurs (from Jurassic Park 2) to jump out.  But seriously, there were NO signs of man other than the occasional sign that reminded you that this was a nature preserve and to help keep it that way.  This whole area was beautiful!!!

My sincere thanks to Patrick for inviting me on his trip there.  As a native Austin resident, he has offered to show me some of the other great water features of this area.  I'll be honest though, I can't imagine anything that is as breathtakingly beautiful as Hamilton Pool.

Thanks for reading everyone!  If you ever make it down here to visit me, I will take you to this one-of-a-kind place!!!

Take care...

Rumors

Sometimes I find myself in situations that I absolutely had nothing to do with.

A close friend of mine texted me today and said "I got asked yesterday if you was dating [Runner]".  I have never worked with Runner.  I used to work on projects with her husband.  I knew who she was through him and I would occasionally see Runner on the treadmills at work (hence the "runner" nickname).  I've probably never had more than 10 conversations with her.

I never hung out with Runner or her husband.  This was truly a funny and unsubstantiated accusation. My buddy just laughed it off too.  He knows that I'm dating Dizzy and coming down to Austin had nothing to do with any woman.

Here's the text message he got at work when he told this rumor monger that I wasn't dating Runner: 

"oddly, [Runner] quit bpd and left her husband and moved to san antonio this past weekend when jr was here. Supposedly no job and knows no one there..."

Oh I guess that makes it ok to accuse me of breaking up a marriage!  You know, just when I think I have seen and heard everything, something else comes my way.

So, for the record, since I know there are a lot of BPD readers that read this blog:  I have nothing to do with Runner and her decision to move to Texas...NOTHING, NADA, NILTCH, etc.  I haven't seen Runner or her husband since they came to listen to Jinx'd at my farewell party...you know, the same party where Dizzy and I danced the night away!!!

While true, Austin is close to San Antonio, maybe the rumor mongers need to consider that San Antonio is ranked as one of the best places to live and work and also a great place for singles.  Did that every cross your minds as to a reason why someone would move there?

As with any agency, there are a few folks that just don't have enough work to do!!!  Leave me out of your rumor mills...quit thinking that everyone acts like characters from Desperate Housewives or whatever other silly drama you base your life on.

Take care, thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!!!

Dizzy

This blog entry is going to be more upbeat, for a change.

I eluded to a girl whom I nicknamed Dizzy a few blog posts ago and now it's time to fill the rest of the story in...

I first met Dizzy many years ago.  I'm not sure of how long ago, but my best guess would be when I was 15-16.  Being 6 years younger than me, I never really gave much thought of her.  I used to hang out with her older brother some.

Fast forward a few years (almost 6 years ago)...I'm out of the Army, back in Parkersburg, and working for the government.  Dizzy is all grown up and getting ready to graduate high school.  She is a knockout (still is)!!!  No doubt about it.  She catches my eye at a party and we started talking.  

We went on one date, and I even bought her some roses for V-day a few days later (yeah I know, a little too much).  I never heard from her again.  Maybe I pushed too hard, maybe she was interested in someone else.  Later, through mutual friends, I heard that Dizzy got married a few months later and moved to Texas (coincidentally).

I didn't have any ill feelings towards her. How could I?  One date and I guess the spark wasn't there for her.  So, I spent the next 6 years going through the motions, most of which has been captured here in my blog.

Then at my family farewell party in July, Dizzy's brother brings her along.  Dizzy, recently separated and filing for divorce, is still a knockout, but this time I don't let her catch my eye.  She later told me that she didn't understand why I wasn't checking her out.  

Funny the games that men and women play!  I was indeed checking her out, I just didn't let her notice.  Plus, my mind was on Texas, not on finding a girlfriend back in West Virginia.

As the night went on, some us that went on a four-wheeler ride.  Dizzy rode with me...and the rest is history!  ;-)  We began talking over the next few days and then began spending as much time together as possible.  She has 2 young children and I was packing my life up and preparing for my move to Texas.  This time however, there was a connection between both of us that we both felt.

It was like we were trying to catch up on 6 years in just one month!  We both agreed to let go of the past.  We both are different people than we were 6 years ago, and honestly, we both doubted that our relationship would have lasted very long back then.  Dizzy was just starting her life, I was looking to settle mine down.  It's funny how fate can give us re-deals in life when we least expect it.

So now Dizzy and I are dating.  The long distance isn't a problem for us.  Having been a military wife, she is used to the distance.  As for me, I'm used to being on my own.  Dizzy is still getting her life back on track post-divorce and I really need to get at least a year in at my current grade level.  The sacrifices now will make for a more comfortable life later. 

So for once I can say that my life has balance!  I'm happy at work, I'm happy with my friends, I'm happy with my family, and I'm happy with my love!!!

Thanks for reading...

P.S. - as for how I came up with the nickname Dizzy, I really can't explain that because I didn't name her.  Let's just say that she came up with it herself!  ;-)