Balloon ride @ Discovery Green

Awesomeness. I still need to go see the "Cool Globes" exhibit, so a balloon ride would be amazing!

Discovery Green balloon ride photos

Rock the Vote promo video

This video cracked me up. Eva Amurri and Zach Gilford are right on.

F the Vote w/ Zach Gilford & Eva Amurri from Zach Gilford

The President's Healthcare address to Congress

This is a long speech (almost 50 mins), but well worth it. I think so many critics attack the wrong premise when going against the "Obama" plan, and he explains it really well here. So, if your a "get it straight from the horse's mouth" kind of gal, then this is excellent.

Great book reccomendation!

I just finished Dan Brown's new novel The Lost Symbol. It was just as impressive as The DaVinci Code, and revealed countless truths about which I had no idea. This was disconcerting as his new novel is set in D.C. and has a great deal of historical research behind it. I was on the internet looking up everything he claimed, and it was all real! i.e. A giant statue of Washington depicted as Zeus which used to be in the Capitol, or the painting in the dome of the Capitol rotunda titled The Apotheosis of Washington (which shows Washington ascending to heaven a-la Christ), apotheosis literally means deification, and the existence of breathable perflourocarbons (I won't say what that means in case you read the book, but it is amazing technology!)

Brown's dialogue can seem a bit stiff a times, but the content is well worth the momentary awkwardness! So much research must go into these books. It is amazing what you learn from his fiction.

Travel Season

Is it just me, or has everyone else noticed the unseasonably low price of vacationing this fall/winter? Airlines have CUT their ticket prices (as long as you are booking at least a month in advance). Southwest has great deals flying out of Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio) for domestic flights. Think around $150 round trip! Jet Blue is also offering some good prices, although the destinations are more limited.

But, you know me... I am thinking of--international travel. Where to? Well... I am glad you asked. Topping my list are: Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. I would of course like to revisit England and France with the Hubby as well. I have found tickets to all of these for around $500 RT. Some prices are cheaper if you are able to travel post-holiday (mid-January) and before the Spring Break beach rush (March).

My goal is to find a weeks vacation for less than $1000 (that is for two) which includes lodging and travel (and possibly some attractions, i.e. museum passes, theater tickets, tours, etc.) I will keep you posted.

September Issue

I am going to see this tomorrow at the River Oaks Theater. I can't wait!

VOTE HOUSTON!

Just FYI: voter registration deadline for Houston is October 5th. If you want to be able to vote in the upcoming municipal elections, make sure you get it done by then! I mailed off my updated form last week!

What am I looking for in our new Mayor? I want a functioning inner-loop(at least!) rail system in the next 5-10 years. I want someone committed to creating jobs outside of the non-renewable energy field. This person also needs to have a plan for green-ifying the city (in the eco-sense). Water conservation and planning should also be a top priority. Our inner-city kids also are in need of some serious TLC. We need programs to bring some culture to these kids. I did hear about city-wide free wi-fi, which I also think is an EXCELLENT plan--downtown is piloting this now, so take your laptop to discovery green as the weather cools down, enjoy the outdoors and check your favorite blog as well! You can see the map of free wi-fi hotspots HERE.

Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx

I can't wait for this movie to come out! I love twisted action thrillers! It comes out Oct. 16th. I will be there.

Happy Birthday to me...

I turned 25 last week, and seem to now be in the throes of a quarter-life crisis. I am married, have my B.A., and am working on my certification. Boring! I feel the need for excitement, spontaneity--a sports car perhaps? No. I want desperately to begin my career (not as a teacher, but as a writer). I bought a $17 moleskin notebook (like the one Hemingway used), an investment in my craft. I am resisting the urge to start planning our move to Europe (which while in the plans, is not scheduled for at least 3 more years).

ugh.

Protect Healthcare Execs. The justification: mini zoos.

This video is great! and of course I am not being sarcastic at all :-)

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Long delay

Sorry the blogs have been few and far between lately. The early fall is not only the beginning of the semester for me, but BIRTHDAY season. I just have to get through October! I have however found a few pieces that I mentioned were on my shopping list in an earlier post.

The slouchy cropped pant: BCBG Max Azria Navy with black and gold belt. 70% off! Word to the wise, since these are pouchy--I went a size smaller than normal, and they fit great! A great nod to the Harem style without going full on MC Hammer. I debuted them for my birthday party to generally great reviews. I find girls love them, and guys, well they just don't know what to think. But, alas, that is always the way of our hetero-counterparts when it comes to accepting new trends.

Mine are similar to these, a little shorter, with a belt, and navy of course. I found them at the Memorial City Dillards BCBG outpost.

I also found a GREAT bag at Old Navy of all places. It is simple (made of super soft faux-leather--gotta love the furry creatures), cream, and very chic. Best of all, it is only $35! It is reminicent of a Tods or Balenciaga bag. I found a pair of boyfriend jeans that I am loving as well. Same price!

I got a fantasticly slimming boyfriend blazer at Dillards, by Priorities for $75. It is sleek, fitted in all the right places, and very versatile! I have worn it for work, and out for drinks! I like it best when worn unbuttoned with a slouchy white racer back tank, skinny dark faded denim jeans, and sky high platform booties.

Zara has a great selection of Fall pieces ranging from 39.90 to 99.90--tuxedo shirts to a dull metallic sequined blazer that just make me want to go Gwyneth Paltrow sexy men's ware at the Opera.

Useful info

I just discovered this yesterday, but Express offers students a 20% discount... so just flash your id... and voila: INSTA-SALE! They also have an additional 40% all of their clearance items right now. I bought a pair of trouser-cut jeans and a really cute blouse for... $27. Total. Yay.

I am looking forward to the Rock the Vote Rally tomorrow night, hope I will see you all there!
6:30 pm, Hermann Park

Texas Secession Rally

This sickens me.

Coupons, updates, links

Lets start with something fun... here is a coupon for this week--an extra 25% off at my favorite outlet!Mr. Deval Patrick, the governor of MA is trying to push the state legislature to allow him to make a temporary appointment to fill the late Mr. Kennedy's vacant senate seat. He believes that MA must be fully represented during this time of heated health care debate (an issue very close to Mr. Kennedy's heart). The appointment would be temporary, until January, when a special election is set to be held. The appointee would not be allowed to run for the vacancy, as to prevent anyone having an unfair advantage in the race.

I am trying to follow campaign money trails (to see who is "buying" our congress) and came across this great non profit website opensecrets.org which tracks lobbyists, donations, etc over the last 20 plus years. Fascinating. It really makes you wonder if the people are making the choices in the "pillars of their party" or the lawmakers who made millions off of a donation from... oh lets just pick--Pfizer, Eli Lilly. or the American Beer Manufacturers. Very interesting. Here is just one example of a table available. These are the "heavy hitters"

Rank	Organization	Total	Dem %	Repub %	Tilt
1	AT&T Inc	$43,501,240	44%	55%
2	American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees	$40,965,173	98%	1%
3	National Assn of Realtors	$35,179,013	48%	51%
4	Goldman Sachs	$31,183,662	64%	35%
5	Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers	$30,920,696	97%	2%
6	American Assn for Justice	$30,734,429	90%	9%
7	National Education Assn	$29,908,625	92%	6%
8	Laborers Union	$28,201,600	92%	7%
9	Service Employees International Union	$27,510,257	95%	3%
10	Teamsters Union	$27,402,304	92%	6%
11	Carpenters & Joiners Union	$27,368,258	89%	10%
12	Communications Workers of America	$26,748,746	99%	0%
13	Citigroup Inc	$26,562,905	50%	49%
14	American Medical Assn	$26,213,449	39%	60%
15	American Federation of Teachers	$25,996,071	98%	0%
16	United Auto Workers	$25,767,002	98%	0%
17	Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union	$24,793,477	98%	0%
18	National Auto Dealers Assn	$24,048,808	31%	68%
19	Altria Group	$23,869,891	28%	71%
20	United Food & Commercial Workers Union	$23,742,074	98%	1%
21	United Parcel Service	$23,649,476	36%	63%
22	American Bankers Assn	$21,945,966	41%	58%
23	National Assn of Home Builders	$21,401,355	35%	64%
24	EMILY's List	$20,984,384	99%	0%
25	National Beer Wholesalers Assn	$20,300,845	31%	68%
26	Microsoft Corp	$19,692,774	52%	46%
27	Time Warner	$19,653,331	71%	28%
28	JPMorgan Chase & Co	$19,395,548	51%	48%
29	National Assn of Letter Carriers	$19,206,784	88%	11%
30	Morgan Stanley	$18,173,708	45%	53%
31	AFL-CIO	$18,034,967	95%	4%
32	Verizon Communications	$17,812,927	39%	59%
33	FedEx Corp	$17,676,556	40%	58%
34	Lockheed Martin	$17,638,388	42%	57%
35	General Electric	$17,349,803	50%	49%
36	National Rifle Assn	$17,095,136	17%	82%
37	Sheet Metal Workers Union	$16,907,563	97%	2%
38	Ernst & Young	$16,746,413	44%	55%
39	Credit Union National Assn	$16,694,237	47%	51%
40	Bank of America	$16,568,591	47%	52%
41	Operating Engineers Union	$16,235,350	85%	14%
42	American Dental Assn	$16,134,579	46%	53%
43	American Hospital Assn	$16,126,109	52%	46%
44	Plumbers & Pipefitters Union	$15,807,536	94%	5%
45	Blue Cross/Blue Shield	$15,779,305	39%	60%
46	Air Line Pilots Assn	$15,478,917	84%	15%
47	International Assn of Fire Fighters	$15,372,243	82%	17%
48	Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu	$15,366,870	34%	65%
49	PricewaterhouseCoopers	$15,073,033	36%	63%
50	Natl Assn/Insurance & Financial Advisors	$14,845,205	42%	56%
51	AFLAC Inc	$14,582,269	44%	55%
52	Merrill Lynch	$14,299,160	37%	61%
53	Union Pacific Corp	$13,847,948	23%	76%
54	Boeing Co	$13,579,262	47%	52%
55	United Steelworkers	$13,477,947	99%	0%
56	United Transportation Union	$13,373,545	88%	11%
57	Reynolds American	$13,302,827	24%	75%
58	Pfizer Inc	$13,210,087	29%	70%
59	BellSouth Corp	$12,993,782	45%	54%
60	Ironworkers Union	$12,923,775	92%	7%
61	American Institute of CPAs	$12,698,585	42%	57%
62	Credit Suisse Group	$12,141,215	44%	55%
63	American Postal Workers Union	$11,925,473	95%	4%
64	National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn	$11,745,871	52%	47%
65	General Dynamics	$11,496,724	46%	53%
66	American Financial Group	$11,334,675	18%	81%
67	GlaxoSmithKline	$10,895,744	28%	70%
68	Walt Disney Co	$10,810,549	67%	32%
69	Chevron	$10,709,395	25%	74%
70	Exxon Mobil	$10,511,023	14%	85%
71	Natl Active & Retired Fed Employees Assn	$10,430,000	77%	21%
72	MBNA Corp	$10,059,006	17%	82%
73	General Motors	$9,950,919	38%	60%
74	UST Inc	$9,935,061	21%	78%
75	Freddie Mac	$9,859,490	43%	56%
76	AIG	$9,744,312	50%	49%
77	Human Rights Campaign	$9,741,375	90%	9%
78	National Restaurant Assn	$9,645,995	15%	83%
79	Southern Co	$9,544,345	31%	68%
80	Prudential Financial	$9,345,074	48%	51%
81	MetLife Inc	$9,284,365	55%	44%
82	American Academy of Ophthalmology	$9,162,538	52%	47%
83	National Cmte to Preserve Social Security & Medicare	$9,144,499	80%	19%
84	Eli Lilly & Co	$9,039,674	28%	71%
85	CSX Corp	$8,935,785	31%	68%
86	Associated General Contractors	$8,811,941	14%	85%
87	Amway/Alticor Inc	$8,716,601	0%	99%
88	National Cmte for an Effective Congress	$8,707,940	99%	0%
89	American Maritime Officers	$8,606,031	46%	53%
90	Archer Daniels Midland	$8,303,364	43%	56%
91	Seafarers International Union	$8,140,144	84%	14%
92	MCI Inc	$8,093,472	46%	53%
93	American Airlines	$8,052,023	47%	52%
94	American Council of Life Insurers	$7,581,090	37%	62%
95	Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn	$7,353,627	74%	25%
96	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$7,282,437	21%	78%
97	Enron Corp	$6,633,457	29%	70%
98	Andersen	$6,313,422	37%	62%
99	BP	$6,120,971	28%	70%
100	Vivendi	$4,455,940	66%	32%