Entry #33

Entry #33

Saturday, January 14


1:00 p.m. I heard about a law that was passed in Texas yesterday, but couldn’t believe my ears until I read about it, too:

“A federal appeals court cleared the way Friday for the immediate enforcement of a new abortion law in Texas...The new law requires doctors to conduct a sonogram before performing an abortion, to show the woman the image, to play the fetal heartbeat aloud and describe the features of the fetus at least 24 hours before the abortion. The Fifth Circuit Court of Apeals clears the way for the Texas Department of State Health Services to...prosecute doctors who won’t obey it...” —The Wall Street Journal, 1/13/12

4:00 p.m. While taking Izzie for a walk yesterday, I saw a group of boys playing Airsoft. Their black rifles were nearly as long as the kids were tall. Watching them walk through the sparse woods hunting for each other looked like something out of Lord of the Flies. Whatever happened to a friendly game of catch?

Aidan wanted to watch the The Simpsons’ last night, so we watched a few reruns on TV. One of the episodes featured Homer Simpson endorsing the “bowhunting rock guitarist” Ted Nugent for president. In the episode, Nugent arrives at the Simpsons’ backyard with a dead elk, to which Homer’s neighbor, Flanders says something like, “Looks like an eight pointer!” to which Nugent replies, “....and you look like you’re from the People’s Republic of Berkeley!” I’ve heard of life imitating art, but what about an animated series? I seem to be inhabiting a Simpson's episode.

Sunday, January 15

4:00 p.m. After dropping the kids off at their art class, David and I took Izzie for a walk around the museum district. There’s an art garden across the street from the MFA with a permanent outdoor exhibit. The eclectic display includes sculptures that reminds me of a Li'l Abner shoe, the underbelly of a giant mushroom, and Rodin's The Thinker, only rather than looking contemplative, the subject appears to have a headache. It's actually very interesting overall, despite my obvious lack of sophistication in the realm of contemporary art. Perhaps I should get a "walk through" with a real art historian so I won't associate these priceless objets d'art with outdated musicals and fungi. 

David wanted to check out a hotel called Zaza’s, which he’d heard about through work, so we continued our walk in that direction. The hotel's restaurant, the Monarch, welcomed guests with this sign: “Monarch is Stylish, Sensual and Dignified...So Are You. Appropriate Dress Required.” 

How does one act simultaneously sensual and dignified? I think a visual example would be helpful.

In front of the hotel was a shuttle sporting a longhorn skull on its front grill. Izzie didn’t quite know what to make of it. At first she looked at it like it would be something delicious to gnaw upon, but then got a little spooked. I’m sure it would make a great chew toy, though kind of creepy. Pet stores are now selling small pieces of antler as “healthy, long-lasting chew toys” for about $30/pop. Perhaps skulls could be the next big thing...They are rich in calcium, after all.

After class, we drove through the River Oaks neighborhood, which is quite a lovely area overall, though, like the other parts of Houston, can change radically from one street to the next. We passed an array of oddly juxtaposed stores, including the neighboring "Hot Bagels" and "Keg Cowboy," for example. (Perhaps they should merge and be called Bagels & Hops.) Seeing a psychic healer next to a large Irish pub also seemed strange. ("Hold a pint in one hand and get your palm read with the other!") Other notable stores we passed include “Neon Nail” (where you can get your "nail" done),  “1/4 Price Books" (as opposed to 1/2 ), and "Space" (a very small space, actually, that did not appear to sell anything related to astronomy).


Despite the fact that Houston is famous for its no-zoning laws, Rice University does, in fact, offer courses in Urban Planning. Great examples of "dos" and "don'ts" can be found right out the front door.

Tuesday, January 17

11:00 a.m. Noah just told me about an experience Aidan had at the archery range the other day, his first time there. While setting up a shot, Aidan was approached by a gentlemanly black man, who alerted him that before releasing an arrow, he should yell "PUH!" So that's what he did. "Say it louder," instructed the man, so Aidan shouted, “PUUUUH!!!” David kindly whispered to Aidan that the man was actually telling him to say the word “PULL,” but with his Southern accent, it sounded different.