As JoeInAustin has already ably reported, Saturday was Eeyore's Birthday Party, an annual Austin pagan-celebrated rite. Its prurient pleasure is something I never miss when I can. Instead, yesterday morning we set out to see some friends in east Texas, to inspect progress on their lake house, where construction appears to be progressing nicely.

 But Laura was on call, and her deployment had not gone well last week and she got antsy to get back into pager range. So, we meandered back (stopping in Elgin for Meyer's sausage and bbq brisket!!) and I set out to execute my plan B for the day, Eeyore's.

But it was hot at Eeyore's and I had let myself get dehydrated earlier in the day by long rides and humid outdoor visiting conditions at Matt's, so I only made one circuit, and then got my sweaty ass back to the house. I'm still trying to get my fluids caught up!

 Some people knew how to keep cool, true. But I was working from a deficit.

See, this is a rite of spring, but spring happened here about two months ago, climatewise, so about one year in three, conditions can be scorching, as they were yesterday.

And as hot as it was, the thing that Eeyore's has that attracts me (and my prurient camera) is the Drum Circle, which usually isn't averse to being photographed, if you can find an opening. I'm no musician, but I love to stomp my feet.

Some of these are posed, and I consider everybody to be posing and fair game at Eeyore's, unless they express sentiments otherwise. (Some do.)

I am not even above taking a downskirt shot or two. Baby! (I told you my camera is prurient.)

In my day, sonny, everybody wore paint.

(In the intervening years, a lot of people prefer to be "painted" all the time. Some of the best specimens of this social phenomenon were on display yesterday at Eeyore's.)

I use neither paint nor ink, for the record.

In fact, my particular bent would likely more resemble the garb of this young wood sprite, honoring the spirit of the earth by wrapping herself in beautiful plants.

But in the end, I felt a lot like this guy. He had the right idea: had I been inclined to spend the evening, I would have found a way to sit and chill out through the heat of the day. Because I'm sure the party got better as the day wore on. I probably missed most of the money shots. Maybe next year.

This year, I melted. But not before I celebrated Eeyore's with the people of my tribe.