Entry #22

Entry #22

Sunday, November 13

I was right. Saturday Night Live did, in fact, open with a parody reenacting Perry’s now infamous “Oops” debate. I do feel sorry for Perry in a way because this major gaffe will trail him wherever he goes. But the fact that he remains the governor of Texas is a sorrier situation still. How did he make it this far? Perhaps being a man of few words worked to his advantage while campaigning in the Lone Star State.

8:00 a.m. Everyone (including Izzie) was up early this morning. Rather than get back in the car, and go somewhere they wanted to stay at home, especially since the pool was finally warmed up. 

3:00 p.m. Noah’s friends, Ian and Daichi, just left with David to go back to the airport—what a quick trip! It was great while it lasted. I haven't heard Noah laugh so much in months.

Even though they are now officially teens (13, nearly 14), Noah's friends were remarkably polite, helpful, and appreciative. Describing a teen in these terms sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s really true (at least for now...we’ll see what happens when they turn 15).

The kids would’ve been happy just hanging around the house yesterday, but we thought we should show them around Houston, since they'd never been here before. Daichi suggested going to the NASA Space Center, but the idea was vetoed by the other two boys, as were the other museums and the zoo. Where to go? We were stumped.

After searching online, we happened upon a place called Track 21 that offers laser tag, go-kart racing, a video arcade and the like. Everyone seemed to like the idea, so we drove 40 minutes to get there, only to find a rather dilapitated place (the “T” was missing from the sign), overly loud go-karts, and no option of participating because they were completely booked. It was a mighty funky place.

So, for the second time since Noah’s friends’ arrival, we found ourselves in yet another “disreputable” area with no idea of what to do. Luckily David's car has a GPS, so we could get directions, if only we could determine where to go.

As David drove towards Houston, the neighborhoods became incrementally nicer, though since there’s no zoning in Houston, there's little logic to the city's layout. Houses, shopping centers, medical complexes, apartment buildings and Rice University intersect like a crazy quilt.

We drove completely around the periphery of the museum district before we found a place to park and explore Hermann Park, which proved to be a good call. With its fountains and statue and grassy sprawl, it looks like a slice of Europe in the middle of Houston.

There were lots of families hanging around, playing, having picnics. One dad and daughter “sledded” down the grassy knoll on Spooner Boards, which looked like fun. Other kids simply rolled down the hill. Aidan had fun tossing the football he'd brought with him. The simply joys of open space...

As we headed toward the fountain, we noticed an abundance of squirrels. They weren't just your run-of-the-mill squirrels, however. They were HUGE. We watched the largest of the squirrels snatch an acorn from his neighbor, resulting in a mad chase up and down and across the trees. I guess everything really is bigger in Texas, and the squirrels at Hermann Park are no exception.

After walking around the park for awhile, we asked the kids where they wanted to go for dinner. Since the boys are fans of J. R. R. Tolkien, they were curious to try The Hobbit Café. When we arrived, Daichi observed that this quirky place “could definitely be in Berkeley,” which is perhaps why we feel so comfortable there.

Even though everyone was completely stuffed after wolfing down their buffalo burger, mahi mahi tacos and the like, David suggested we check out a place called The Chocolate Bar. We didn't eat anything, but it was a feast for the eyes nonetheless.

The walls one one side are lined with rows and rows of candy. In the back are birthday cakes made entirely of wrapped candies and chocolates (and Barbie doll torsos). The Chocolate Bar also house a café, ice cream shop, and make-your-own chocolate bar station, too. It's a sweet tooth's paradise.

Monday, November 14

10:00 a.m. On this morning’s walk with Izzie, I met a who lived in Boston and Vermont before coming here. After learning that I’d just moved from San Francisco, she felt comfortable sharing the fact that not only was she a Democrat, but that she also put a sign up on her lawn supporting Obama during the ’08 campaign. She said that upon seeing her lawn sign, some of her once-friendly neighbors stopped talking to her and have avoided her ever since.

Izzie enjoyed playing with her dog, Althea, as well as a nine-week old lab pup named Snoopy, who was following his owner obediently. He was a mellow, roly-poly little pup with huge paws. Very cute. I was hoping he’d follow me instead of his preoccupied owner, who was chatting on her phone.

11:00 a.m. Since David’s birthday is coming up soon, I thought I would bop around the Market Square in search of a gift for him. Market Square is a shopping area designed to emulate the old-fashioned charm of a small town, even though it's completely new and contrived (a faux town square, if you will). Most stores there are chains, but it's more appealing and less overwhelming than The Mall, which I avoid if at all possible. The entire square is now fully adorned with Christmas decorations, highlighted by a gigantic Christmas tree.

One store I happened upon offers all kinds of personalized gifts, including those dedicated entirely to football fans, either “Aggies” (fans of University of Texas, Austin) or Texas A&M. This gift encapsulates Texans' devotion to church and state:

After not finding anything at Market Square, I decided to brave The Mall and see if I could find any birthday-worthy gifts. After looking in Dillard's, I happened upon a store called “Y’Alls Texas Store,” took a quick spin inside. The place features “things truly Texas” (and truly tacky). It's remarkable how many items are made in the shape of this state, from earrings to key chains to puzzles, and even a waffle iron. Yes, you, too, can make waffles shaped like the Lone Star State! If you'd like some meat with your meal, pick up a can or two of armadillo meat, "taste tested and approved by Bubba himself!"