Monday Meanderings - 3.12.2012

Best word for today - SXSW (Okay, that's not really a word. Go with the popular "Southby" tag)
Best two words for today - March Madness (Finally, decent sports on TV)
Best three words for today - Daylight Savings Time (Booo!!)
Best four words for today - Didn't it rain, children?
Best five words for today - Lots and lots of bluebonnets!

Our Care Group met in a different home last evening, a place where dwelleth two cats and a seeing-eye dog. It took me 45 minutes before I stood up to interrupt our guest speaker and headed out the door, wheezing. Fortunately we had been forewarned about the animals and Barb reminded me to take an inhaler, otherwise it would have been another mad dash across the city to reach one.  I remember my brother and his family coming by right after Rob was born; poor Laurie wasn't in the house but minutes before she began showing adverse reactions to our cat. It's a long-standing family tradition.

We all have neighbors who dally well into the new year before taking down Christmas lights. Some even keep their lights up all year. But keep up their natural Christmas trees? This past week a large, very brown Christmas tree showed up on a neighbor's curb on trash day. I just wonder where has it been all this time?

SXSW is underway, as is high school boy's UIL basketball tournament. Austin runneth over. With an extra 30,000 people in town one shouldn't venture further south than Highway 183. Wonder what it will be like if the Formula 1 races actually happen and we have an extra 120,000!

I found out that my hearing aids have loudness limits; crank the stereo beyond a certain volume and you start hearing sharp little "snaps" as the circuits kick off. Hmm. Maybe that says something about why I need hearing aids today. You think?

You know Austin is weird when the mayor launches his re-election campaign with a video based on Ferris Beuller's Day Off - and the mayor is playing the role of Ferris. And when the City Council bans single use bags city-wide. Bring your bags or pay dearly. How European.

Not sure we can continue to feed the Goldfinches in the manner to which they have become accustomed. Dozens of them hanging on the feeder most any time you check.

Leslie Cochran, described as "Austin's flesh-flashing, cross-dressing, attention-loving, frequently homeless mascot, unofficial ambassador and sometimes mayoral candidate" died Thursday after a slow decline following a brain injury several months ago. There has been an interesting outpouring of sympathy from various segments of the community, including City Hall. The mayor proclaimed March 8 "Leslie Day" at Thursday's City Council meeting. Those at a memorial march Thursday were encouraged to wear boas and tiaras. There's talk of a statue.

Leslie first came to our families attention when he was hanging out on North Lamar and Braker, on the Randall's parking lot corner. The manager of the store ran afoul of the law when he tried to chase Leslie off the premises with a power washer, but Leslie took the hint and moved his show downtown to the corner of 6th and Congress, where he eventually ascended to the highest rank of celebrity status, joining the few known by but one name.

RIP, Leslie.