Stacy and I just won 4GB iPod Minis!!! (or $200 cash--we both took the cash!!)
Blingo SOOO works!! I used Stacy as my reference, so when I won, she did too! Yay!!!
The Oasis, a landmark restaurant in Austin, Texas, known more for its amazing view than it's food burned down this morning.
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The Oasis holds many memories for me. It was the place that convinced me I loved Austin before I started school there. It's where my roommates and I went to celebrate our first apartment together sophomore year. It's where I took all of my out of town friends, to show them exactly why I repeat over and over again how perfect Austin is. It was where were would sometimes stop to eat after a trip to the lake. It was where I had a couple of dates. It was where we ate lunch one day during graduation weekend. It is one of the places I was planning to take my cousin this weekend when he comes to visit and I take him down to Austin. It is a very special place in my heart.
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The owner has already vowed to rebuild, but what a sad day. The Oasis had nearly 40 decks staggered on a hillside overlooking Lake Travis. The restaurant could seat 2,000 people and had a staff of 300. I truly feel sorry for the employees. I hope the insurance money covers a small payout for the employees so they can find other jobs. They were all just starting the crazy summer season, certain they were going to make a killing working out there.
The fire department currently thinks the fire may have started due to a lightening strike on one of the decks. Luckily, The Oasis is usually closed on Wednesdays, so it was unoccupied when the fire broke out.
I am linking to the
Austin American Statesman article about this, but I know a lot of you won't want to sign up to read that article, so I am going post a couple of pictures here as well.
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