Limping to Austin

I shall be ringing in the new year in Austin, with my future in-laws. Which, in my case, is a good thing. On my one day in Boulder between Crested Butte and TX, I tried to be a good girl, and I went to Jazzercise. That turned out to be a terrible pre-travel idea, as I twisted the hell out of my ankle halfway through class. Twisted it, as in it was 90 degrees in the wrong direction: the sole of my left foot was looking (rather shocked-like) at the ankle of my right. Luckily Jazzercise is full of moms, so I was taken care of in style. I managed to drive home, where I got to lay up whilst Rex ran all of my necessary pre-travel errands. And then, I got to travel with a cane. As it turns out, traveling with a cane is brilliant, because you get to go in the special no-line security line with the pilots and such, and you get to "courtesy pre-board." That means we were the first people on the plane! My little ankle was swollen to the size of a tennis ball yesterday (or perhaps it was a novel way of smuggling a small bomb? Kidding), but today she's looking much better. And I've dispensed with the cane, which truth be told made me feel a little conspicuous.

Just got back

Just got back from Texas. Partied myself REALLY sick at Austin City Limits Festival. It was SO SO SO awesome. Maybe I'll have some time for recapping, but probably not. Have a meeting tomorrow regarding all the work I've done on a BLM project. Except that I've not done a SINGLE thing yet. Get to be sick AND up all night. Yay!

Obama's "Change"

So you know how Obama's campaign is all about "change we can believe in?" And how those of us who believe in Hillary are critical of it for being empty? I keep waiting for him to say what that change entails, and tonight I got my answer. While speaking to San Antonio, TX, Obama said that Hillary and McCain criticize the promise as empty, but that in fact, it was a change that came from the people. So it's not an empty promise, it's one he didn't even come up with himself. He took it from the people, and then still couldn't even fill in the blanks of what "change" means. I know the time may come (very soon, even) when I have to rally behind him because he is the nominee. So I am trying to like him more. But I'm liking him less, because he is sitting there, on the tv in front of me, proclaiming the same, empty promise of change. Again, Obama, I ask you: how will you pay for your programs? How will you ensure that ALL Americans get insurance, if you don't make it mandatory? How do you plan to withdraw from Iraq? What do you plan to do about the subprime mortgage crisis? And so on. I can answer ALL of these questions definitively for Hillary.

At least he is saying we have to do *something* about climate change. "We hope, we believe, yes we can." That's a direct quote.

Hillary quote

UT Austin endorsed Hillary. This is after Obama said that every major newspaper in Texas had endorsed him. The Daily Texan, the UT Austin student paper, representing 50,000 students, was not too pleased about this, because while it's a student paper, UT is HUGE and the paper has as many or more readers than many papers do. Anywho, they put this gem of a quote in their endorsement:
"Clinton's abrasiveness, while somewhat off-putting, is essential in scrubbing our country clean of the grime the current administration has let build up."
I just like it, because it's not too glowing, but it makes an excellent, and truthful, point. In fact, the whole endorsement is good for the same reasons, and you can read it here if you like.

A nod to Rex, and his Tex-Mex

The NYT had a great article today about Tex-Mex food, and it's place among cuisines in America. The author talks about the war that rages between those who think Tex-Mex is an abomination of Mexican food and those who think it stands unto itself as a glorious food here in America. He talks about how you can really only get it in Texas, and boy is he right. Tex-Mex is almost enough of a reason to move to Texas. Almost.

A Hispanic Catholic Wedding in Houston

This past weekend I went to a wedding in Houston. But it was not just any old wedding. It was a Catholic wedding with an infusion of Hispanic tradition. It goes something like this: First, the bride's father hates her mother so they have to modify the opening bits. Then, on the altar the bride and groom have to kneel the entire ceremony. Which is very dignified. The priest makes a long speech about how you have to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. Jesus must be a central part of your marriage (PN says, "That sounds like a threesome to me"). If you don't pray enough, every night before bed, before every meal, and most definitely in public (don't be embarrassed), then Satan will get you. This is all very natural, as it is a Catholic wedding. Then it gets interesting. Someone "close to the bride" comes up with a lasso. The lasso is rope with two loops tied in it (and some lace for effect). Then, these "special people" put the rope around the bride's and groom's necks, "binding them together." Sound kinky to you? It did to me. No joke, they tied them up, while kneeling, right there on the altar. Then they untie them, give them a giant bible on doilies, and it's all over. Thank God for it being over.

Great new product!

So Fancy Feast just came out with a fabulous new dry cat food. It's Filet Mignon flavor, and it has real seafood and shrimp flavor! The website confirms this. I just never knew that filet mignon was seafood. I always thought it was cow.

I miss

the greatest man in the whole world. Texas is too damn far away, and I'm lonesome.