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Friday July 28, 2000 "Well then!
I now do plainly see Abraham Cowley, The Wish
vintage French poster...compliments of ebay auction
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crowds I took a late lunch and did a few errands. I shopped in Best Buy for a couple of things. I used to hate the place, but if I'm not mistaken they have improved somehow. Several people asked if they could help me and when the camera bag I got that had been opened and was marked down wasn't marked properly, they settled the problem pretty fast and apologized and knocked off another dollar or so. Forrest and I went to an e-opera event at this soon-to-be opened giant restaurant out on Parmer west of Mopac after work. I didn't know Parmer went west of Mopac. I was shocked at the throngs of SUVs and Mercedes out that way. (Have I mentioned how tired I am getting of vans, jeeps, SUVs and Hummers and all of that? I haven't backed out of a parking place and been able to see in months. God it's hard and scary driving a Civic amongst these monsters! The next reality TV show is going to be about parking a Civic in America. Bam, bam, ka-boom! Adrenaline. Excitement. But enough of that. As SuRu says, I glad enough for her CR/V or my dad's van when something needs hauling.) The restaurant parking lot was awash in vehicles. After driving over some unfinished parts in a bit of a traffic jam (we needed an SUV there), we valet park and that is very efficient. There are young girls in tight black dresses at the door. Clue 1. Inside it is impossible to go near the bar and area. The area is gigantic with pool tables and wall-sized TVs. Designed with a bottleneck a few yards wide that I'd hate to negotiate. I don't. We talk to our opera buddies a little and exit, giving the drink tickets to some more stalwart souls headed in. How long will the economy support these giant bars? I mean these guys have a good-sized restaurant, too, but it seems dwarfed by the BAR. The cigar room is even pretty big and impressive. Are people still smoking them? We puzzle over where to eat dinner . The cool and reserve of Four Seasons calls out to us. FFP drives down Mopac while I dial. I hand the phone to him because the FS Maitre d' will recognize him. I'm dreaming of a cool chilled consommé they have and a little quiet. What's a meal without words? The FS has a library in the lobby. Lots of Texas books. We get the concierge to unlock it and get a copy of "The Gay Place" by Billy Brammer. This is the novel about our city and its politics. We marvel at the first sentence:
That's the Hill Country. Not huge mountains. Not breathtaking, well, not like the Rockies or Alps or something. Just large. And Final. I enjoy my dreamt of soup and some scallops and my share of a J Pinot Noir. A guy talks to someone on his cell phone about his golf game. Some people wear shorts and no socks. But still: some older couples are dressed nicely, jacket on the guys, maybe even a tie and pumps on the ladies. And in spite of the cell phone thing, it's peaceful. And civilized. Ah. The Congress Avenue bats stream out along the lake for a night of mosquito dinner. Talk about a crowd! Do not pass go. Go home to an easy chair and a bed. Ah, Friday night when everything is possible. Tomorrow is a big day. |
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