"in five years we'll all be driving electric cars from Japan, anyway."

A Salsa day Miracle

I've been taking salsa classes for the past few months and met a lot of fun, interesting people at the dance studio I've been going to in Houston, but despite having seen some FREAKING AMAZING dance moves, miraculous ons, actually, NEVER have I witnessed a miracle among the folks I dance with which can compare to what happened a couple Thursday ago...

After a dance class a few students meet up at California Pizza Kitchen to wind down, chat, and talk about dancing and whatnot. Eventually a mass contact information exchange ensues. A couple of girls have their iPhones out and of course are smug and elitist about it... at this point I only own a lowly Blackberry. But ONE girl is particularly smug about her iPhone, as we notice it is covered in a lovely pink case with pink jewels.

I find myself thinking, really, iPhone chick? Does it have to be that girly, cool and chic? And apparently it does, because the OTHER girl with the iPhone immediately starts gushing about how much she loves the cover and wants one for her birthday or something like that. Ridiculous, I know, but its the truth. And herein lies the miracle: iPhone girl 1 reaches into her purse and graps a spare iPhone cover she just had sitting there and gives it to iPhone girl 2. The exchange goes something like:

iPhone girl 2 "Gasp! this is so sweet. How much do I owe you?"

iPhone girl 1: "No. you keep it. I insist"

iPhone girls 1 and 2: tears of joy and hugs.

Everyone at the table: rolling eyes while hearts secretly melt, overcome by the generosity and serendipity of the moment.

Thanks Tara, and Ilsa. It was a beautiful moment I won't soon forget.

The northern foxes hunt the southern coyotes.
The coyotes once foraged for fruit, but now hunger for milk.
It is strange to me how alike they both appear.

I ask a man why his ranch is empty.
He answers: my sheep had no water, this land is cursed.
Banditos stole the water, and the sheriff joined their fold.

Approaching the western expanse of America's armpit.

Javelinas raid our campsite, and antelope step gingerly round our tables.

Smoke wafts northward, lazily

So much beauty in dirt...

Big Bend National Park

I had a dream

Adam Sandler was playing backup quarterback for the Cowboys - he quickly hurt his arm, which was good because their regular backup guy was pretty jealous that some lamebrain actor could just walk on and take his job as a publicity stunt. To Adams' credit, he was taking the job seriously and had really progressed and done an admirable job learning his role and developing his skills. Then the kid who played AJ in the Sopranos was about 3 years old,and took his car for a joyride. He played a trick on a cop and was able to get away by stealing an old red pickup. It was in some crazy muddy, hilly place in the middle of New Jersey. Then it was my brother Ruben and me in that stolen red pickup and we were in San Antonio/Houston combined trying to get home. We drove through a drainage ditch to get away. We were in some really dirty, poor neighborhoods and driving in reverse until we got to the freeway. We drove way out of town then got back on course. At first Ruben had to make a doctors appointment, but then it was actually an appointment to spray someones house for bugs, or treat their swimming pool with chemicals, I forget which. San Antonio/ Houston had about 90 loops running around the city, kinda like a topographic map.Then we were interviewing a former prison gang guy about personal fitness. Then we were at the prison watching the electoral process - a debate between 'Gabriel' and some other guy trying to be head honcho among the Latino prison gang. Tony Danza supported Gabriel, as well as some old prisoner. Mr. Jefferson liked the other guy, who looked a lot more rugged than Gabriel. I figured if Mr. Jefferson liked him he had to be the obvious choice, even though I had no idea what his name was. I'm going back to sleep now.

Oddity shop in Forth Worth

Its five oh seven and two pair of shoes lay upon my workspace.

I should probably be getting home, but the guilt of tasks neglected keeps me from leaving just yet.

Anyhow, the traffic is only going to annoy me and I'll get home at the same time whether I leave now or half an hour from now.

Seventeen dogs are barking outside Barkers' corner sandwich studio.

The butcher takes bread and dips it in grease before he throws it to them, and in the ensuing scrum, the dogs begin to question the wisdom of fighting for their bread.

Tamale stuffed chicken breast... Thank you, Central Market.