1/19
I promised myself I would hit the ground running, but it was more like a slow
walk, maybe even a crawl. I was supposed to go to Austin
City Limits last night, but I couldn't drag myself out. Too worn out, and
that was just one day in the big city. It was all those private jets in Austin
and Dallas, all heading north to DC. I've had a recurring dream, variations,
and it's a pretty weird image, nothing I can get handle on. I finally figured
out it's in New Mexico, some sort of an institution, like a college or university,
and it's like a guest room or a dorm room. Now this is thing, there's fresh
water on the floor of the communal bathroom and the strangely appointed guest
room I'm supposed to sleep and study in. [Water represents emotions, in the
usual scheme of dreams.] All I ever recall are snippets from this dream, but
the ochre backgrounds, the high ceilings, the tile floors, the appointments
in the furniture, it reminds me of New Mexico, a state facility, and the water
is the central problem. Since I had this dream again last night, and I finally
realized where and what it was, I figured I'd better write it down.
1/18
I'm not sure I like the jet set hours, or lifestyle. Much worse, I'm not sure
I can keep up with the back to back meetings. And to consider that some people
do this on a regular, every day basis. Give me my lake, and the quiet hum of
a small outboard motor, maybe a jogger or two in pain from trying too hard,
yes, give me my sedentary lifestyle, I like it much better. And to think, I've
been gone, door to door, less than 24 hours. I could tell I was cranky last
night: one of the responses I got to the trivia question was something along
the lines of, "I can't be bothered to look this stuff up, but if you would
do my chart for free, I'd like that...." Sorry, can't be bothered. I've
got this insanely busy schedule right now.
1/17
Weird hours — must be the drugs. [Antibiotics?] Or Hank Williams Senior
back to back with Wagner's Zeigfreid. Last night, at the behest of the Pisces,
I accompanied her to "The Vagina Monologues," by Eve Ensler. Sure,
start out in a safe way, went to Hoover's, and since she bought the show tickets,
I bought the dinner. She started laughing at the first monologue, and never
stopped, or only stopped long enough to catch her breath. From a strictly male
point of view, and I know I missed some of the humor, but from a strictly male
point of view, I thought the very best was one of the final pieces, describing
every kind of [sexual] moan there is. "How many of those have you heard?"
I'm not saying, but since the performer was on stage, and bereft of accompaniment,
I have to wonder a little about some performances. The show started at 8 and
let out a few minutes before 10, no intermission. And not much squirming, at
least, not until the final monologue — had to do with child birth. I was
going to fudge a little, and use a slight variation on a theme for the title
of the pieces, but I decided, after seeing the show, it deserved its full name
in use. Real name. "Vagina Monologues." Really, really good stuff.
Males should have to see it, just to make us more aware. And be amused. It takes
a little bit of the mystery out some events. Makes for better appreciation.
So this morning, it's off to the airport for a business meeting in Dallas with
Pa Wetzel & etc. Suit up and show up. Can I make it up to Dallas and back
again in one day? I hope so.
1/16
New dream machine.
As much time as I spend Road Warrior–ing around, I figure I need this new
lap top. If nothing else, I need so it would match the Titanium case I have
for my Palm OS Visor. Got to keep all the computer equipment matched up, you
know. Musical selection for the day: Beethoven, Best of, 1 — 8. Kind of
weird, but fairly light, too. Little known fact: I work on my regular, weekly
horoscopes about year in advance. The timing varies to a degree, but it keeps
me on a schedule. And while people change constantly, the planets are always
in predictable places. So next year, I'll be moving to a Thursday publication
date. Why? So I don't have to spend Monday mornings answering the hundreds of
notes I get. So sometime, maybe a year from now, I'll be able to have a weekend
for fun instead of work. Besides, as I'm getting ready to send some stuff off
to the publishers, I get to look back over it, and think, "Who writes this
stuff?" That's why I work so far in advance. Of course, I fiddle with the
stuff right up to the point of publication. Makes it ever so much more exciting
that way. You just never know.
1/15
At the tail end of one of several readings, I got one of those questions, "So
how's business?"
And the question, as well as its answer, prompted some thought. I've worked
out a little bit of better day to day schedule, trying to work in the right
time to take the heavy duty antibiotics. I'm feeling much better as the upper
respiratory infection is finally on the run. I know I'm better when because
I had another one of those stand off situation with a large Chevy Suburban.
According to what I was taught, in Driver's Education, moving vehicles have
to yield the right of way to pedestrians in clearly marked cross walk —
especially if the light says, "Walk." Let me explain it this way,
I have the right of way. The guy in the Suburban was pissed, though. I'm not
sure, but he did seem to circle the block. Big cars makes guys feel tough, and
I'm just a skinny guy with poor fashion sense — and the right of way. I
guess the Monday morning
quote from Shakespeare is rather appropriate.
1/14
The weather was supposed to be nice yesterday, but like most items in the media,
the facts were all wrong. It was cold, gray and miserable. I finished up the
horoscope I was working on, then surfed around the web for a little bit, then
landed one of those nice writing jobs. Instead of doing outdoor activities,
I stayed home, under the cover of a nice warm trailer, and I alternated between
snuggling with the cat, the Handspring Visor, and the book of tables for the
planets for the coming year. Again. Late in the evening, needing a little break,
I wandered next door to the Neighbor's trailer. I scrounged a little food out
of his ice box, and munched on chips and dip while we watched some news. Looks
like the Texas Seven have managed to put Texas back on the map. Aren't we a
lucky state?
1/13
New "Lord of the Rings" web
site. [Like this matters.] At Xmas time, one of the red headed Capricorn
girls [seems like this is a recurring theme these days] gave me a really nice,
genuine (TM) Jimmy Buffet Hawaiian print silk shirt. That's nice — it was
all part of package, you know, with lots of other Parrot Head gear. The only
problem, I mean, I like the shirt and all, the big stinky problem is: it is
too cold to wear this right now. I think she should fix the weather, too —
so I can go back to wearing shorts and sandals and such. I went with a Pisces
girl to dine at the usually fabulous Saigon Kitchen. What was unusual, though,
was not the food (hot beef with chili and lemon grass) but the big fish tank
we sat next to. All the fish gathered right by me. I didn't even notice, but
the ever vigilant Pisces did.
1/12
Delaware subs, the pharmacy, the "doc in the box," and a sunny, gorgeous
afternoon — I was up early yesterday morning, and I had decided, it had
been exactly 7 days, at that point, it was time to seek professional help. So
I caught a ride up to see the "doc in the box." I was in and out in
less than hour, which, all things being considered, is rather good, so I strolled
over to the pharmacy, ordered up my medication, grabbed a sandwich at Delaware
Subs (Thursday's special is cheese steak, and perhaps the best thing on the
menu), then picked up the drugs, and seeing as how it was a really, really nice
morning, I opted to walk home. It was a meandering, ambling, ramble — one
without much of a destination. The air was crisp, clear, just washed by the
rain, and nary a cloud in the sky. My sinus problems (helped by drugs no doubt)
were drying up just like the disapearing puddles from the previous day's rain.
I watched a freight train chug by, slowly grinding its way up the incline towards
the south, and then I took shortcut along the train tracks, going the opposite
direction. Amazing drugs.
1/11
One nice thing about a lingering, hacking cough? Folks avoid spending time in
my presence. Gives me a little break. But not much of one. After many failed
attempts with one red headed Capricorn, I was finally able to make it to eat
at "Thai Passion" — with a different dining companion —
red hair, sun sign? Capricorn. Coincidence? Surely not. The perfect food on
a cold winter's day, "What'd you get?" "F 1." "But
what is it?" "Something beef something ginger. Hot. Spicy." [Perfect.]
On my way home for the day, I stopped off at the bookstore, shocking the poor
counterhelp, "Kramer? I mean, it looks like you, but the clothes you're
wearing...." [Black cowboy hat, black jeans, black shirt, black coat, black
topcoat, rather dapper I might add.] I was meaning to pick up a copy of Dave
Barry's "Big Trouble" because the opening scene is about voting irregularities
in Florida, and when I got home, I reread that one passage, and by midnight,
I'd read the whole book, all over again.
1/10
The best thing I puled out of the mailbox yesterday was a CD I bought on eBay.
It has Hank
Williams (Sr.) back to back with "The The" covering the same songs.
Pretty good stuff. Weird, but good. "I'm going to find a gal who wants
to treat me right. I'm a long gone daddy, I don't need you anyhow." Days
like yesterday seem to drag on for years. I started working on a scope before
8 in the morning. Between interruptions, unscheduled phone calls, minor emergencies,
lunch with a darling Gemini, dinner, and this lingering, hacking cough, I didn't
get that scope finished until almost ten last night. That's way too long.
1/9
The El Paso airport is nice because there's actually an indoor smoking room,
located on the concourse. And what better place the hang out while waiting for
a flight? The only problem, I get on the plane smelling like an old ashtray.
I discovered the smokers are always a lot more fun, in sick and twisted way,
a long time. Maybe hanging out with the smokers isn't such a good idea, but
the personalities are always a lot more interesting than the guys at the bar.
A flight attendant stopped in for a quick puff — she was from New Orleans.
"Well, I always say, 'Only two good things ever come out of Louisiana:
women and food.'" "Hey. I like that." [Virgo] And while I was
in the airport?
>about 1/8/01 11:39 AM, ya'll suggested:
>>Check out <A HREF="aol://1722:welcome">AOL's Welcome
Screen</A> today. There
>>is a special promotion celebrating Elvis' Birthday, with a link promoting
>>your Elvis Scopes for 2001. I also noticed that these got AOL Horoscopes
>>Channel promotion during the holidays.
>>Congratulations are in order. AOL does not promote these things without
>>reviewing them and deeming them compelling to users.
1/8
Call me bitter or cynical, but I've never understood why folks stay away in
droves on a Sunday morning. So yesterday morning, me and Mac [the Aura Camera
guy] were sitting outside, watching football. "If we're 'psychic,' why
are we watching the game? Don't we already know who's going to win?" From
there, it was all sort of downhill. I must admit, the El Paso Truck Terminal,
on the interstate, still has one of the very best breakfast deals in town. It
might offend some folks delicate sensibilities, but sometimes, truck stop food
is just the best. At dinner last night, I remember the Libra asking me about
the Scorpio's new hair style, "I think she looks great with her hair short.
What do you think, Kramer?" "She got it cut?" [answer a question
with a question is safe.]
1/7
El Paso: That's why I liked the Gourds' song for this week's introduction.
I really don't like watching the TV news, but while I was waiting on my flight
yesterday morning, I found out that yes, the Cedar Fever was at a peak. I just
hope it clears out by the time I get back. The funny thing was, the pollen count
wasn't available online. The beauty of the internet is instantaneous delivery.
Apparently not in Austin. Maybe I don't live in town that's that high tech after
all. As much as I like coming to this El Paso, I've got to remember to time
my flights in and out a little better. And it seems like I was just here, not
that long ago. Anything exciting? Not really. Just a nice place to be. Although,
the reception to the fact that I was more than partially clothed was amusing.
"Such a nice jacket Kramer, I didn't know you owned any clothing besides
shorts..."
1/6
And I'm flying west. Seems like everyone always wants me when I'm not available.
Ain't figured that one out yet. Must be a rule or something. I think today's
the "Twelfth Night," which, given the eclipse cycle right now, makes
for an interesting time. My Gemini buddy came by and we hit Angie's, the little
place on the hill. Soft, corn tortillas more than an eighth of inch thick, redolent
with masa flavor. Nothing but corn meal, masa, and a little bit of drywall to
stick their tortillas together. A little later, I spun by the bank to make a
deposit, and I saw the strangest thing I've seen in a while. There was patron
in an impeccably tailored suit, soft gray wool, with a collar reminiscent of
the old days — a Nehru collar. Sort of. Good thing I have no sense of style.
1/5
I had a delightful lunch with a Gemini, over at Guero's, which, considering
it was the lunch hour, was remarkably quick and easy. We wandered about a bit,
and then I headed on home to the trailer, basking in the sunlight — it
was near 70 degrees, and that was such a welcome relief from the bitter cold
we've been having. I flipped the ringer off on the phone and curled up for a
good nap. Apparently some kind of pollen count is high right now, and I feel
like I've got a cold coming on. I can't wait to get on out of here to El Paso,
a change in air quality always helps [not to mention a change in scenery, food
stuffs and people].
1/4
Austin isn't the only place with weird stuff.
My home phone rings, I grab it. "I'd like to order a refill." "Sure,"
I answered, "what am I refilling?" "This isn't a pharmacy?"
How to answer such a question. Come on, this has happened before. Dial the right
number. Or listen to me have some fun, at the caller's expense. Too bad (statute
of limitations notwithstanding) I lost my amateur pharmacology rating years
ago — then I could have some real fun. Dave Barry still has the best "year
in review." I'm pretty sure a lot of folks really don't get my twisted
sense of humor. I was setting up the ads for next week, and I decided to run
two items next to each other, one ad is for a credit
card, and the other ad is for a debt
consolidation company. I figure I can get the clicks, either way. After
spending so much time empathizing with females, I decided I would try the hot
bath thing, last night. A little soft music (Wagner), some oils and potions
in the bath water, and, to top it all off, a cigar. The cold weather, though,
that makes the hot water in the tub go cold pretty quick, I only lasted about
half a cigar. Besides, the phone kept ringing. That's another reason not to
take baths — the phone. Can't get it when I'm in the shower.
1/3
I suppose it is all a part of the job description, but after a while, I fail
to develop the right sympathy for some of the folks I listen to. The point is,
astrology is about conditions, like weather conditions. Sort of like the Republicans
taking over, and the weather gets unseasonably cool. [Unreasonably so, according
to my cat.] The first of the year is a busy time for someone in the field of
prognostications. One way not to get my attention is to request free stuff,
especially a free reading. Especially now. "Can't you just look at my chart,
just this once, for nothing?" You get what you pay for. There a lot of
free sources for astrology information on the Net — but how many are really
written by an astrologers [who regularly talks to clients? Real, in your face
astrology?] Last night's entertainment was provided by an Aquarius and a Pisces.
We were off to see "Quills," at the art house theater. Interesting
movie, to say the least — all about the power of the word. As much as I
detest patrons who talk during a film, at one point, this character breaks off
in mid-kiss, and he refuses to consummate a relationship, I turned to my companions,
"That's where the fiction starts." I was wearing a recent gift, a
T-shirt that reads "chick magnet." "That's nice, button up your
shirt," the Aquarius admonished.
1/2
I like riding the train. I like traveling around Texas (and being paid to do
so makes it worth while). I got to the train station, after checking with station
master, "Yes, that train's on time..." No, the train wasn't on time.
It was running way late, due to snow or something. But there was a bus, which
was supposed to be the same thing as riding the train. Not even. What did keep
me going, though, was remembering that little snippet from an Allman Brothers'
tune, "I was born in the back seat of a Greyhound bus, rolling down highway
51..." 91. Or in my case, I–35. New Year's Eve, the Moon
was in Pisces. At the party, the neatest guy to talk was a Pisces. The headliner
at the show was a Pisces. I think I'm seeing a trend here. One of the reasons
I love Ft. Worth so much, from that Pisces columnist:
"(By the way, in the "only in Texas" category: In 2000, that
same City Council upheld both gun rights and gay rights.)" To truly appreciate
Texas, one has to revel in the weirdness. I got to liking the rail service between
Austin and Ft. Worth. Fast, safe - exceedingly convenient. The station in Ft.
Worth is just a few blocks east of the Tarrant County Convention - many old
rock and roll memories there - just south of the teeming downtown entertainment
district. The Austin Amtrak Station is like, just across the river for me -
usually just a short walk. That was one of Y2K's highlights, rediscovering what
a joy that "Cow Town" is. Urbane, centrally located, Texas to a T, and yet surprisingly
unpretentious. Good BBQ, chicken fry, and the world's greatest fried okra (William's
Steakhouse - Jacksboro Highway). "I want to play with your poodle." (Marcia
Ball)
1/1
Happy
New Year. Glad I got that out of the way. As much as fun as it was dancing
around while Marcia Ball whacked (banged, tickled?) the keyboard, the hard winter
night with Ft. Worth frosted over, that was prettiest. Too bad it was so cold.
12/31
Upgrade blues: Newer Technology seems to be shutting its doors. What made this
interesting to me, I recalled talking with my Dad about this, just over the
Xmas break. Newer Tech had the only G 3 upgrade for my favorite computer to
date: the Apple PowerBook 2400. I've still got mine, sitting on the desk. It's
really a subnotebook computer, weighing in right at 4 pounds, no floppy in it,
no CD drive, a relatively big color screen, good enough battery life so I could
work for most of a cross country flight on one charge, and a full size keyboard.
The mouse clicker is broken, had it fixed under warranty once, but I never bothered
after I got the current notebook (G3). The deal was this, Newer Tech had an
upgrade for my trusty 2400, but the price of the upgrade wasn't really worth
it. G3 processor, still slower than the current book, and it's not like it's
an upgrade I can do on my kitchen table — not like the earlier upgrade
I got from Newer. I was pleased with their G 3 upgrade for my aging 6100, and
that one is still clicking along — albeit 200 megahertz and change is pretty
slow these days. What made this more poignant, the news
piece online, when I last checked, also had an ad for a new Apple iBook.
New computer, faster than the upgrade, for less. Do the math.
There were thin sheets of ice, remaining fragments still clinging to shadows
on a south bound freight. The ice was a perfect setting as I had stumbled on
to a text about Nordic mythology, history, and the epic literature about the
history and the myths. Rolling north on the train, a short portion of the track
splits, then parallels Austin's Mopac freeway — one of the local versions
of the Autobahn (Texas style). Its name derives from the railroad right-of-way:
Missouri — Pacific. The rails, from the Midwest to Southern California.
The "parental unit" of all highways: Route 66 ("It winds from Chicago to LA...")
All these migration routes cut through the American Southwest - where I've lived
all my life. Maybe that's why life along these routes seems so transitory. Migrations
figure in those Norse myths, the part where history, oral tradition, and good
old gripping, ripping yarns get commingled.
Shoot — I was supposed to do a "year in review" — just like
everyone else.
12/30
Somebody should've warned me — I keep getting sidetracked and playing around
with the new CD burner, making up CDs for friends. It's not like, a fast process,
rip the music from a CD I own, arrange the tracks, make a label. Quick, find
80 minutes worth of songs that I've got with Texas in the title. Johnny Cash
doing doing "The Breeze." [So it's not really Texas — it's still
a worthy track] Lynyrd Skynyrd doing "T for Texas." George Strait's
"Ft. Worth." The Wheel's cover of Bob Wills' "Big Balls in Cowtown."
The Gourd's "El Paso." "Ever seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night?"
And so forth. All with Beethoven playing in the background. I meant to go to
the bank, but I was late getting out of the trailer, and I only made it to the
coffee shop, bookstore and train station for tomorrow's ticket. There was a
scary sign up behind Katz's Deli, "We are watching you. Towing enforced
24 hours. We never lose." Glad I didn't park there. Off to Ft. Worth for
a working weekend, and a chance to see Marcia Ball on New Year's Eve.
12/29
"The web is a place of infinite beauty." [unknown] Anymore, it's place
filled with nuggets of useful information that must be mined in order to take
advantage of said information. Don't know where I was going with that one. Where
I did go was on over to Baby A's for some lunch. Middle of the afternoon, caught
a ride with the Neighbor. We started with a heart attack bowl of "queso
flamedo" with a heaping portion of chorizo, just for good measure. Two
tables away, I heard one of the most unique orders I've ever heard, "Get
me one of those purple Margaritas, will you?" Purple Tequila. It fairly
boggles the mind. Ended up being a chatty and amicable Leo girl. The musical
selection for the day varied, but I wound up settling on the Prairie Cosmonauts,
and their Bob Wills tribute album, a recent Xmas gift. Kind of nice, and the
introduction by Jimmy Dale Gilmore was touching [from the liner notes]. Maybe
I couldn't quite recall where I was going when I first started this entry, but
I did get side tracked, and that got me thinking — the way I used to feel
when I got on a plane to go to [West Texas, like Midland, Lubbock, Amarillo
& etc.] is the same sense I have these days when I board a train, usually
for Ft. Worth. Adventure, the lure of the road, travel.... that same feeling
of getting out a travel compatible writing instrument, and scribbling notes
from the road.
12/28
I heard an interesting idea, a hypothesis that suggested the biggest problem
with selling products and services on the net, when an item doesn't seem to
be moving, then double the price. I got after the web guy, and we got the new
prices in effect for the "future" Transit
reports. No sooner had the new pricing been in effect than the orders started
rolling in. Go figure. And it's still a lot less expensive than any other report
like it — better, too — who uses BBQ, Shakespeare, old trucks, and
Richard III for analogies? Economic discussions reminds me of part of conversation
I had with Pa Wetzel over the Xmas vacation, "These tech stocks, they're
just like the 'energy companies' were in the 70's...." [Pa Wetzel was associated
with the oil business at that time — he should know.] Yesterday was a quiet
day at home, tucked away in my cozy little trailer, me, the fat cat, trying
to stow away all the goods received at Xmas time. I spent a large portion of
the day, sipping tea, and merrily working
along on the trusty computer, but it doesn't
seem like I did much. Never did get around to doing that pile of laundry.
12/27
The day after the day after. I spent part of yesterday playing cell phone airport
tag with the Aquarius. Just about the time I got into bed (give me a break,
four hours sleep, nothing but coffee and peanuts all day long? You'd need a
nap, too) so just about the time I got in bed for a little rest, the Aquarius
rings me up again. Stuck at the airport with no money for a cab home. I'd help,
but I was down for the count. Or, until I could rally, much later in the evening.
12/26
Fredlet popped by for a moment yesterday. Sister kept opening package after
package for herself, and since this was all happening on her home playing field,
I suppose she was at the advantage. I got off to the airport with my folks in
panic because Ma Wetzel was worried about freezing conditions in Dallas, but
their plane got off the ground. When Ma Wetzel was fretting about the airlines
and the weather, Sister was worried about a show which is now booked for more
than a year away. "See? I have a right to worry," Sister pointed out.
"See?," Ma Wetzel pointed out, "these things happen every 12
months, it starts in January and isn't over until December." One would
wonder why I don't worry more. How I feel, after
traveling eastward. Airline in flight magazine fact: 71% of the men surveyed,
and 76% of the women surveyed felt like they would only settle down with the
perfect mate. From what I've observed from the readings I've done — not
that this would ever apply to me — I've seen folks settle for "breathing"
as fulfilling the requirements for a "less than perfect, but perfectly
acceptable" mate. And you know, on a warm day, as far as I'm concerned,
beathing isn't really neccessary, not if it stopped recently — the body's
still warm. [The whole idea was to question the source of the data from the
in flighrt magazine, but I got sidetracked — only 37% of those facts are
accurate. I understand about 43% of them are made up.]
12/25
Merry Xmas. Should be Merry Texmas, but times being what they are. Pa Wetzel
rang me up this morning, "Can you see the sun from your window? We'll watch
the eclipse." From last night's big party: "they make better puppets when
they're toasted." [Talking about some kind of bread roll] and, "it's a
song, you know... 'walking in my winter under wear.'" But everyone seemed
a bit disturbed, offended those delicate California sensibilities, when I suggested
underwear was, in fact, in Texas, a seasonal thing.
12/24
Nice thing about not being home for the holidays is there's a lot less stress.
Pa Wetzel's advice over breakfast: "You can't win; don't try." He's
been married to Ma Wetzel for a long, long time, I trust what he says, sometimes.
Went out and caught Sister's act; that was fun. She did have to put in a plug
for me, at the close of the show; I found that a little weird. It played to
a packed house, literally a sell out crowd. Cast party was next — those
actors and puppet manipulators really know how to party hard! I slammed a double
cappuccino, and we all told Bush jokes. Then, we all joined one of the cast
members at her other job: the Disney Store near Union Square. She took a break,
and off the record suggested she would really like to pistol whip Minnie Mouse
[sure, that name's trademarked]. Wearing the same clothes all the time, waiting
on her man. What kind of role model is that? Last night, the Leo rescued me,
and dragged me off around San Francisco where we ended up at club called "Slim's,"
listening to American Music by the Blasters. Another friend showed up, and I
was curious as to what kind of music we were listening to. The Libra suggested
it was "Retro–Billy." The Blasters have been around, in one form
or another, for quite some time. And it's supposedly roackabilly, from the LA
area. So I guess Retro–Billy fits, and that's a new term, first noted here.
As far as the crowd goes, I'm sure I'm not clearly cool — hip — hot
— whatever — to be a judge of that. Slim's was an interesting musical
space, but I'm just a hick from the sticks around here. I couldn't quite figure
out why they had Xmas trees hanging from the ceiling.
12 2/23
I was demonstrating my portable, digital plug and play Handspring (Palm OS compatible)
camera to my seat mates on one flight, a brother and sister from Waco [TX],
and somehow, getting off the plane, the unit fell out of my coat pocket. Them
nice folks from Waco, they caught up with me in the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport,
just to return my lost toy. Ain't that nice? Happy Holidays! Even better, I
had chance to stretch out over three seats for the final leg into SFO. Now,
Sister had promised a big [unknown something] upon my arrival. I waited, I was
almost the last person off the plane, dodging and weaving in the jetway to see
if there was a big horde of folks, or a banner or something. Nothing. I fished
my cell phone out, dialed up her phone, remind her that cell phones are more
effective when they are turned on, and started to look for my luggage. She and
her friend caught up with me, and she did have banner — ink was still damp
— announcing my arrival and welcome. Then, in true Wetzel fashion, we had
to dash out for one last minute round of shopping. While I was standing in line
to make purchases to cover Sister's backside, I couldn't help but notice the
couple in line in front of me had one of those "card table" sets,
the table with the cardboard top, four matching chairs, and I asked, "You
going to make the kids sit at that?" A chuckle, then the real story came
out, "This is our new dining table, it's about all the room we have in
our place....." That's right, I was in Silicone Valley. After a quick bite,
it was back to the airport to scoop the folks up. The banner was unfurled again,
Santa hats were put on, and we certainly looked like we were having a lot more
fun than anyone else. "So you're a misplaced Texan?" one guy asked.
"Misplaced? No man, I'm just visiting — she won the toss this year,"
my standard reply. My family may be a little weird, but I do believe we have
more fun than anyone "normal."
12/22
If this weather
keeps up. Salon sacking.
An afternoon at Threadgill's.
Then a long night, supposedly a quiet night home. What happens on a quiet night
at home, as I prepare for a trip? I was desperately trying to figure which piece
of the computer hardware chain wasn't working right, and I finally narrowed
it down to a bad connection in the USB stuff. While I was doing this, a Libra
and a Scorpio came by to drop off some Xmas cookies. "Die Valkürie"
was playing, so I let that play for while, then we talked about the punk compilation,
and had to listen to that, then a little Hank III. "Ya'll like this country
stuff, too?" I asked. "Oh sure, it's just Mexican Music in English,"
was the reply (astute Scorpio's.) The rhythm's the same, the instruments, this
might be a extremely valid point. Then the cookie fiend called up, and she came
by after that, to drop off a present, eat the rest of the cookies, and then,
we had to dash out for second — the other night, at the 37th
[and half] street light show, there was guy a selling Xmas Santa hats with
a glowing bulb on the end. Sister called, to let me know she was going to pick
me up at the airport, with a surprise. Xmas hats that glow — sounded like
a plan, but alas, we never did find the guy with the hats. Guess I'll have to
wear a trusty cowboy hat. The Cap was talking about food, as we drove back from
the failed attempt at getting the right head gear, so we wound up at Magnolia
for a quick bowl of Mag Queso (liquid yellow cheese, pico de gallo, avocado
slices, chips, hot sauce with heavy garlic). All of this, just to get on the
road? "What did I do before I had you to entertain me?" She asked.
There was more to the tale, but that's all I have space for. Right, like this
is really a good day to travel? Who's idea was this? Oh, that's right, I planned
this.
12/21
Molly Ivins introduction
was just too funny. And frighteningly accurate. Then, while I was looking at
the Austin paper, I read a really funny "letter to the editor" in
yesterday's paper [turn
your cookies off before going there], from a reader in Arkansas, praising the
local paper's web site for being easy to navigate and easy to read. Maybe they
really are a bunch of hicks in Arkansas — no they can't be. [Not to mention
the invasion of privacy from the raw sewage cookies perpetrated by the same
site.] Maybe the technology has changed, but I was declining a cookie every
page view on their site. I asked for a second opinion, from one of the site's
regular readers, that sweet [natural] blond Pisces, "Easy to navigate?"
was her question in answer to my question, "just better because there's
no newsprint, and no pictures." Guess that settles that. The same Pisces
went with me to see "Virtual Devotion," a play at the State Theater,
written by Eric Coble. Although attendance was sparse, at best, it's a fine
production, well–staged, brilliant set design, and some rather amusing/amazing
performances. Excellent production, not just good, but excellent, all the way
around. It was an amazing script, and the cast did handle it with excellence.
Musical selection is "Ziegfried" (all 4 CD's) and some cow punk [Sundown].
