Listen, My Children...

Hey! Runoffs!

Forgot about runoffs! Now She Who Is Synonymous With Disaster and Jay Aiyer still have a chance after all! And I got all gloomy for nothing...

Houston Elections

So, anyone have suggestions for how I should vote on Tuesday? Any candidates you're pushing for?

Back in Town

I must say, I was impressed by how well 290 worked. I went up to the country with my grandparents (who would not be talked out of it); it took them quite some time, going on side roads, but it took me 10 hours for the normally 1:45 trip because I, a fool, stayed on 290. There were trucks coming by with gas to parcel out to stalled cars the whole way along the road (people may say the trucks never came, but I saw them myself); on side roads, police were acting as traffic lights at intersections that are normally four-way stops or yields; the Williams Chicken in Prairie View was welcoming in everyone for a restroom and a drink (they've now got my regular business). The main problems seemed to be due to people who will neither obey traffic regulations nor follow suggestions. For those of you who don't know, in the town of Brenham 290 makes a sharp turn by way of a one-lane cloverleaf exit. There were cops out directing people to a very pleasant route that bypassed the turnaround, as well as electric signs advertising it, but mine was the only car I saw that actually followed the instructions; everyone else ignored the man and contributed to a two-mile segment that took two hours to pass through. The traffic problems were also regularly compounded by people who decided that it was a nice day for offroading, only to realize that they were coming up to a narrow bridge and had to force their way back on; these same people caused frequent small roadblocks by trying to speed by on the shoulder but then coming up against stalled cars and thus blocking two lanes for a time; and they also caused who knows how many problems by refusing to clear the way for ambulances. But I suppose it takes all kinds...

On the other hand, I love Texas. Someone asked the county judge of Brazoria County whether they'd had any looting problems. In a nice drawl, he said, "well, we've seen a few misguided individuals who thought they'd take the opportunity to relieve some buildings of private property, and they're now guests of ours." Similarly, when government officials across the state line have been throwing temper tantrums, calling people names, and flat-out making things up (and accusing people who point out their inaccuracies as having "sick minds"), ours have been so calm and rational and just saying what's happened, what's being done, and what needs to be done. I'm so glad I live here!

Our Mayor

I must say I'm glad there's a businessman in charge of Houston right now, instead of a politician, however conservative, or a Lee Brown.

We're Not Dallas

Not only is Houston not New Orleans, we're apparently not Dallas either.

My mother just got back from the astrodome, where she's been working food service. The Houston churches got together, and they've each pledged to provide all the food and volunteers for a certain number of meals. (People are moving into garage apartments, spare houses, and empty apartments around town so fast that the massive overflow -- there's almost more volunteers than residents in parts of "Reliant City" -- is soon to be redirected to places scattered around town.) My mother reported that she was pleasantly surprised by how organized everything was, how smoothly everything ran, and how, although tiring, it was not in the least stressful and no one was antagonistic. There are also hundreds of cots, now empty, being carted away (perhaps we'll send them to Dallas? They don't seem to have their act together as well), and nearly every place that ran a drive for anything (including my church and school) has had to ask people to stop giving, because they can't give it out as fast as it comes in and don't have the capacity to keep it inside and dry!

(I, on the other hand, read about the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of 1793 and corralled what seems like three million ten- and eleven-year-olds. My mother may have been doing hard work serving her fellow man, but man, am I tired.)

Miss Louise

No, I still don't have much of anything to say. But I thought I might join in and give my experiences on the topic of the day:

I was brought up saying Mr. Smith and Mrs. Jones to all but a few of my parents closest friends. By high school, that stayed the same, except that several Jewish classmates' parents strongly encouraged us to call them by their first names. (Is that a cultural thing?) Never could get myself to address college professors by a given name, either -- or at least not without a title, of the Dr. Ruth, Dr. Laura, Dr. Phil variety. When discussing them, I'd either use the full name (Diana Eck) or, like the Kid Sister, just use the last name (Travers, Peterson, etc.) In certain segments of town, and in my YMCA summer camp in the country, I noticed the alternate form of Miss Josephine, Mr. James. And that doesn't seem to be dying out, either: at the resale shop where I'm volunteering this summer, the high school girls refer to all the old-lady staff as Miss Louise, Miss Jane, Miss Isobel. I love it!

Like I said, I don't have much to say....

Homeward Bound

Still no job, just a neverending stream of rejections. However, in the absence of an income, I'll be homeward bound after graduation, and will once again be the Houston Blogger I've been filed as.

Philip Johnson

Philip Johnson,  architect of the dear-to-my-heart Transco Tower (my grandfather worked there and I got to see the view from the top many times), has died.  When Lileks' writing sparked an interest in me in 1930s corporate architecture, I began reading about skyscrapers; in many books, this building was referred to as the most perfect skyscraper, with the best combination of different forms -- space, shape, light and shadow, and overall presence.

Meeting?

Hey Houston Bloggers, Houstonians, and part-time Houstonians: Want to gather? I'm no good at planning things, but, if anyone else should wish to, the comments here are quite open for suggestions.

I like playing dress-up

It's no secret that I like costumes.  I've got a full-fledged renaissance costume for Hallowe'en (which alternates with a pleather outfit, depending on my mood).  I've got a corset, made by hand when I should have been working on my undergraduate thesis.  I enjoy dressing as a semi-modern period piece from time to time, showing up for class as a 1940s or 1930s fashion plate.  And now I have an official outlet! I'm currently putting the finishing touches on this dress (except in pink and navy), and then will be heading off to Dickens on the Strand in Galveston.  See you Monday!  (By which time I may actually have figured out how to put my photos on the computer, so treats may be in store!)