Newsletter #3
Hi Everyone,
First up, my friends and I (Eddie) have switched companies. New business email address is EGamez@TheMortgageLink.com. We moved to the new company to have lower interest rates, more products, and way faster underwriting. Let me know if you or any of your friends need a home loan.
BANKSY IS DOG OF THE MONTH!!
at the Lakeshore Pearl Apartments
A very prestigious honor, this is Banksy's first nomination and first Bark Box Award.
Congratulations Banksy!
"We love this sweet boy dearly, he never fails to bring a smile to our face" - Lakeshore Management
Identity Theft
I recently found that someone had opened up a couple of credit card in my name, and that activity negatively impacted my credit score. I called the companies and got nowhere. Then I called the credit bureau's and disputed the accounts, they later sent me letters saying that the accounts had been verified and they would not be removed from my credit score. Then my buddy Rob told me about filing an ID Theft report with IdentityTheft.gov. There, you can create an account and their automated service gives you step by step instructions on how to reach out to each company along with official letters and notices to send. Since using IDTheft.gov, both companies have sent me letters notifying me that they will be closing and deleting the accounts from my credit. Hopefully if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, it will help you out too.
This is Rob - thanks Rob!
Rodeo
Lindsay hooked it up with tickets to a tent at the Austin Rodeo's 2023 Cook-off, had a blast
JNL BBQ opened a new location on 2027 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Our friends at JNL BBQ who were at Buzzmill for a long time have moved locations to a store/restaurant on Cesar Chavez. There's BBQ, beer/wine, live music, and a corners store all in one.
SXSW Run Down
This year we went out on the St. Patrick's Day weekend to explore South By Southwest annual conference/ festival.
We started by meeting up at our favorite South By spot, Hotel Vegas to watch a few bands. From there, we wandered west on 6th Street and heard a band playing on a rooftop nearby. We were able to get in and a girl who looked like Greta Thurenberg was rapping like Billie Eilish with an English accent, her name is Venbee.
From there, we kept wandering through downtown and then popped down to C-boys where Big Friedia was playing a show. The highlight of the weekend was when Kassidy got on stage and started dancing in front of 1,000 people.
Next we piled about 7 people in a compact cab blasting Miley Cyrus' Flowers on repeat, and went to visit Jackie Mooney at Boulding Acres, then finished the night at Liberty.
The next day we checked out Rebecca's booth at the Renegade Market, got free wine at Wonderlust and saw Quincy's band, A-Town Get Down, play at Dogwood.
It was a successful little South By Southwest weekend.
CMT Awards in Austin, TX
For the first time ever, the Country Music Television Award Show was held outside of Nashville, and in Austin. There were events throughout the last week of March, downtown as part of the lead up and recordings for the show that Sunday.
We all went down on Friday night to see Darius Rucker perform with the Black Crows. A free show with $12 beers, a very Austin evening.
Upcoming Events
Live Oak Brewing Anniversary Party
Saturday, April 22nd
1615 Crozier Ln, Del Valle, TX 78617
Come celebrate 26 years of Live Oak Brewing!
Live music, food trucks and beer!
Eeyore's 58th Birthday Celebration
Who wants to meet up and go?
Saturday, April 29th
Pease District Park
More info - https://eeyores.org/
We've Been Cooking
This month I tried using Artificial Intelligence to cook Asian Salmon and brussels sprouts.
I went to https://bard.google.com/ an expirement from Google, and made the following prompts
Prompted How do I make Asian salmon?
Prompted How do I make fantastic Brussels sprouts?
Prompted How do you mince garlic?
It came out ok, the biggest help were the instructions it gave me for the sauces to go on each. I dont think it accounted for the white stuff that gets on the salmon when you cook it in the oven.
All-in-all, I'd give there instructions a B- on this one.
What We're Reading
Eddie read David and Goliath, Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
A handful of stories about people who overcame big obstacles to accomplish great things, and how their shortcomings actually gave them a competitive advantage. The book starts with how David was faster and more agile than Goliath and then goes into stories about sports, elementary school class sizes, being a small fish in a big pond, dyslexia, civil rights, and advancements in medicine.
The stories were hit and miss. My favorite was about Dr. Jay Freireich, a pioneer in the treatment of cancer and founder of modern lukemia treatment. He reminds me of the TV detective that plays by his own rules and is always getting suspended. He was one of very few who were willing to push back against accepted practices to find effective treatment for cancer patients.
Jen's reading
Moody Bitches by Dr. Julie Holland came highly recommended by Quincy Cooper and Kassidy Watson. It's the most enlightening, shocking, and life-changing book that answers so many that you didn't even know you needed answers to.
In the tradition of Our Bodies, Our Selves, this groundbreaking guide for women of all ages will forge a much needed new path in women’s health—and offer women invaluable information on how to live better, and be more balanced, at every stage of life.
I had to read the sequel to Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton because the first book, Haunting Adeline, ended on cliffhanger. If you could combine Taken (like Liam Neeson movie Taken) meets The Hunger Games meets 50 Shades (but this book makes 50 shades looks PG - just a warning).
What We're Watching
Law & Order SVU
We've lost access to Peacock TV, and I'm not going back to commercials.
Danny (Friend of the Month, March 2023) Flores didn't know we were using his subscription when he cancelled the service, so now our L&O bender is on hold.
Let us know if anyone has a Peacock subscription of HULU (commercial free) subscription they'd like to share (or trade).
Your Honor, Season Finale
Meh....let's just say IF there's a season 3, we won't be having a season premier watch party.
Last of Us, Season Finale
Overall season - 10/10. Season finale 5/10. It was the shortest episode to date for the series, and of course it's a solid "to be continued..."
Succession, Season 4 has begun, and Jen is frantically trying to complete all 3 seasons so that we can watch this together. She has not seen one episode...so far, she's a fan of the show, but not a fan of any character...yet...TBD...
What We're Listening To - Podcasts
Eddie
I haven't really heard anything too great or moving over the last month. Maybe they're running out of ideas. Let me know if you have any recommendations.
Jen highly recommends a couple the are not new, but she really enjoyed.
Jen
Anything For Selena
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anything-for-selena/id1535265016
On the podcast Anything for Selena, Apple Podcasts’ Show of the Year of 2021, Maria García combines rigorous reporting with impassioned storytelling to honor Selena's legacy. She also explores the indelible mark she left on Latino identity and belonging, whether it’s fatherhood, big-butt politics, and the fraught relationship with whiteness and language.
13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/13-a-taylor-swift-fan-podcast/id1561635433
“13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast” is a deep dive into everything Taylor Swift. Who is that song about? How does she connect so many songs together? Which scandal was she singing about there? From “Tim McGraw” to “It’s Time to Go,” follow along as four Swifties break down every. single. song. Taylor has ever written, and have a lot of fun along the way!
What We're Listening To - Music (Jen)
Master of Puppets 37th anniversary
Boys Club for Girls debut albue - add spotify link and photo
Sunflower Bean https://open.spotify.com/track/6WGnIpVtdJuw5GP9KRwdmL?si=637acbd71bce42df
Sudan Archives
Flowers on repeat - best song on album
Movies
I See You
Apparently this movie came out in 2019, but we just saw it available this month on Netflix. It's classified as horror, buts almost more of a thriller. There are two story lines 1. a small town detective looking for kids that have recently gone missing 2. two teens who "phrog" or live off of other people in their homes without their knowledge. As the stories progress there were twists and turns that that kept me enagaged and while at points, you could guess what would happen next, there were enough new discoveries that changed the entire direction of the movie. You do have to get over some cringy dialogue but, the overall story was pretty entertaining. And Helen Hunts in it, good to see her doing stuff.
Road to Perdition
This movie came out like 20 years ago and I'm just seeing it now! How come no one told me about it!
It's pretty basic and predictable, but seeing "America's Dad" Tom Hanks go on a revenge motivated killing and bank robbing spree is bad-ass. This one's streaming everywhere right now.
Family & Friends Small Business
Eric is expanding his lead with double the lead amount of current second place friend, Bri Flores. Through Q1 of 2023, the race standings are below:
Yoga In Houston
If you're in the Houston area and want to try a yoga class, join Cesar at BIG Power Yoga on Friday nights at 6:15 pm for a 1 hour mindful slow moving practice.
Looking For A New Job?
If the new year has you looking for a new job, but you need help with your resume, reach out to Kassidy. Yeah, she may do the splits and twerk at weddings, but one thing she actually takes seriously (and does a badass job at) is helping people get jobs. She's been a recruiter for almost 5 years, and can help with resume revamps and help you ace interviews. Her email is kasscareerhelp@gmail.com.
Any ideas for the next update, email me eddie.d.gamez@gmail.com
To unsubscribe, just call and tell me why you don't want to be friends anymore.
What We're Reading