Tammy Halbritter:  

I've lived in Austin, Texas (Live Music Capital of the World) for the last 27 years. I have 2 sons, Brandon (30) and Daniel (25). I met my ex husband of 26 years when I worked at the Worthington Hotel in Ft. Worth. He lived in Austin and was attending a locksmith convention. I took my son Brandon and moved to Austin and Bill and I married a year later. We decided to call the marriage quits 2 years ago. I was in Hotel Management until I retired in 2004 to work with my husband in our commercial locksmith and access-control company. I'm a stained glass artist and artist of other mediums as well, an avid organic gardener (Botanist and Master Gardener for Hays County), a Herpetologist and EXTREMELY passionate about the live local music scene in Austin. I'm also an animal rights advocate. I once had my own reptile rescue but had to adopt the last snakes out as well as my beloved Iguana, Reishi due to my Addison's Disease. I now have a rescued Yellow Nape Amazon named Tyler, a Blue and Gold Macaw named Skyler and a Jenday Conure named Carlos. I also have two rescued pit-mix dogs and five rescued cats. The Conure is Bill's and attacks me if given the opportunity (secretly trained I think)! Not much else to say. Addison's disease has challenges but I deal with them as best as possible. It's an auto-immune disorder similar to Lupus. With Addison's disease, the adrenal glands do not produce cortisol which helps the body combat stress. Unfortunately, I thrive on self-manufactured chaos which is certainly not good for my condition! I collect Native American Artwork, Kachina Dolls, Acoma Pottery, Navajo Rugs and Jewelry, rare Rocks, Fossils, Megalodons and Geodes, Vintage Jewelry (love to work on antique watches) and most of all, Rock and Roll Memorabilia (have a pair of boots that belonged to John Entwhistle the deceased bass player of the Who) as well as various other "stuff." My favorite bands are Texas/Austin Locals like Los Lonely Boys (I love Henry Garza), Vallejo, Del Castillo, Spoon, Podunk, Pushmonkey, Soulhat, The Tex Mex Experience, Storyville, Arc Angels, Ian Moore, Pat Green, the Toadies and deSol. Stevie Ray Vaughan is my hero as well as my all time favorite. He turned me on to the Blues! I also love Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Fuel, Indigenous, The Heal, The Rex Carroll Band, Whitecross, King James and classics like Rush, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Heart and CSNY. Music is the gateway to my soul. That's why I love Austin! Now for Q&A's. 1. How do I hope old friends remember me? Loved music and rock bands. Nothing's changed there. 2. I always wanted to be in the music business when I grew up. My family and friends thought it was appropriate given my infatuation with? Music and rock bands. As it turns out, they were close to right. 3. How do I blow off steam? Stained Glass - ya get to break it! Also - by blasting the hardest, loudest music I listen to like vintage Priest, older Nickelback or Boogieman by Vallejo. My favorite way to relax? Listen to melodic Del Castillo, Al Di Meola, CSN&Y, Los Lonely Boys and of course Stevie Ray Vaughan, Riviera Paradise or Europa by Carlos Santana. Sometimes the hardest, loudest music I have is also the way I choose to relax. Vallejo - Rock Americano is a great example! 4. The wildest thing I ever did in school? I have to choose one? Whatever it was, it probably didn't take place AT school! 5. If I'm working, I must have a bad a$$ computer, 7.1 surround sound and all my favorite CD's to be able to deal with the day-to-day. I'm as addicted to Youtube music video's as everyone else seems to be to Spacebook (MySpace/Facebook). I'm easily distracted, extremely disorganized but music helps me re-center. 6. I have 3 hero's, Stevie Ray Vaughan, my late grandmother Lera and a sweet guitar player that I lost on August 24th this year to Lung/Liver cancer. Rob Gautreau taught me that Love is Real and Real is Love and in the end 'All You Need is Love.' In the end it's the only thing you can take with you. RIP - Rob ~ I will always love you. I'm an artist, so I'm inspired by my emotions. I choose my medium and subject based upon them. 7. Where have I lived? Why did I move? Mostly Ft. Worth growing up but Austin was my destiny. No other place could fit my lifestyle better. I moved here to marry. I'll just say "the move" was the only smart part of THAT decision. I have a very free spirit that's been caged most of my life by circumstances beyond my control. I'm hoping that with lessons learned from my 3 hero's and my love of this city's music, I'll be able to move forward and past the barriers they have held me back. 8. The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is Karla Scheuerman Ormsby because we are like sisters. We still talk on the phone but I need to visit her. I have a tendency to push the people away that I love or that love me the most when times get rough or bad. 9. Sports? Nope. OK, I love UT Football and any sporting event that Los Lonely Boys sings the National Anthem for. Reality TV? NO WAY! Pets? Ya' got me there. I have a lot of rescues and always have had them. A rescued animal will usually love you unconditionally even if they've been abused. I only wish I could rescue them all like they rescue me. Share my obsessions? First off, I prefer to call them passions! Music, music, music, animal rescue, stained glass, gardening (Plumerias) and learning! I thrive on learning new things. 10. Life doesn't always turn out the way you expect. My biggest surprises have been the ending of my 25 year marriage and the diagnoses of Addison's disease. On the flip side? That I would become obsesse...Expand for more