Winter Wonderland ... or Frozen Nightmare?

Well, I am finally home. The flight got in around 1:00. Much to my surprise, Northwest had gotten my luggage to Austin before me, and in one piece. I think it was to their surprise, too: the nice woman at the baggage office looked at my I.D. and then, for good measure, looked at it again.

Most interesting sight: cabbing into downtown where NOTHING WAS MOVING. Literally. We drove down Sixth Street from I-35 to Congress and saw maybe half a dozen people. When we turned onto Congress, we were the only car between Town Lake and the Capitol. Like a "Dawn of the Dead" movie.

Austin's Finest Daily Newspaper has dozens of staff and reader photos of "The Storm of 07," as it is being called. Sidebar: while they were at it, they could have called it "The Storm of 007," which would give it some James Bond panache and cleared up any confusion about its placement in the millennium. Let's just hope we don't have any once-in-a-millennium storms in 2107, 2207, and so on.

My point is, the photos give some idea of just how DIFFERENT Austin looks. And it still looks that way after three days, which is amazing in itself. On the rare prior occasions when it's snowed in Austin, it was all gone by the end of the day.

Now that my job of getting home is over, I can focus on my other job. Back to work ...

Home.

Sweet.
Home.

Patience Is a Virtue

I am at DFW airport, waiting on my flight. It was a 9:00 p.m. flight, but it is now a 11:50 p.m. flight. I talked to a customer service rep, though, and she says it's still on for Austin. Let's hope neither Dallas nor Austin's runways freeze over any time soon.

Paying Attention

I am in two places at once. With one ear, I am on a conference call with my senior colleagues. With the other, I am listening to the Muzak from the airlines reservation system, waiting for a human voice to break in so I can make a new reservation.

The conference call is important. Very important. But, as I mentioned in my last post, it is not my job now. My job now is GETTING HOME. So when the human voice comes on the reservations line, I pull the conference call earbud out and focus on that voice.

My 4:00 p.m. flight's been canceled. Canceled Flight Number Five. The customer service rep is friendly. "I got ya, man," he tells me when I explain I've been trying to get home for two days. He tells me, with some drama, that there is ONE SEAT LEFT in the last flight out of Dallas to Austin tonight. Do I want it?, he teases. Hell, yeah.

That business taken care of, I pick up the earbud and can suddenly pay attention to the Very Important Conference Call.

Counting Blessings

I've now spent two nights in strange hotels, in cities I did not want to be in, with no change of clothes and having to scrounge a razor, a toothbrush, some toothpaste. But at least I have a bed to sleep in with a roof over my head, I imagine there are people in the same predicament as me who are sleeping in airports, who've not had a shower, who've not been able to brush their teeth or wash their hair.

I am trapped in some weird twilight. The world goes on around me: I talk to co-workers, the news tickers roll by on the TV, I send and receive email. But I am neither home nor somewhere else. I am just ... in-between.

In such a place, I only have one job: getting home. I could be writing copy to update our web page, but I have no interest in it. There are bills I should be reviewing and a strategy memo I should be writing, but it's just not my job now. My only job is GETTING HOME.

Third morning putting on these clothes ...

Dallas Is a Jewel, Dallas Is a Beautiful Sight

I love Jimmie Dale Gilmore's song, "Dallas."

Did you ever see Dallas from a DC 9 at night?
Well Dallas is a jewel
oh Dallas is a beautiful sight
But Dallas is a jungle but Dallas gives a
beautiful light
Did you ever see Dallas from a DC 9 at
night?

I have to admit, I am not particularly a Dallas fan. But I was humming that song as we flew into Dallas. I will not be able to get to Austin tonight, but at least I am home in Texas.

Before leaving Memphis, I scheduled a 9:00 a.m. flight to Austin in the morning out of Love Field, and so headed over to a hotel near there. By the time I confirmed the flight ("La Quinta" = Spanish for "free Internetz"), it had been canceled. Canceled Flight Number Four.

OK, I can handle this. I am now on a 4:00 p.m. flight out of Love Field.

Oops

I was supposed to be on a 9:00 p.m. flight from Dallas to Austin tonight. It's just been canceled. At least I am still going to Dallas -- I hope.

This officially makes Flight No. 3 which has been canceled out from underneath me.

Gone To Texas

In the late 1820s and early 1830s, as news of flowing rivers, bountiful land, and good hunting reached the ears of hardscrabble farmers in Tennessee, many of them packed up and lit out for the new territory. Often, they scratched or painted the doors to the abandoned farmhouses with the letters, "GTT" -- Gone To Texas.

I gotta get gone to Texas. I've given up on Northwest and booked a flight on American to Austin through Dallas. I figure that, worst case scenario, I will at least get to Dallas. There are only a couple flights a day to Austin from Memphis. There are probably 20 a day from Dallas.

Meanwhile, my luggage is nowhere to be found. I went by the Northwest baggage service office, where the conversation went something like this:

ME: Hi, I'd like to see if I can pick up my bag. I was supposed to be on two flights to Austin that have been canceled.

NSFCSP (Not-So-Friendly-Customer-Service-Person): Sir, your bag is somewhere within the airport, stored until we can send them on to Austin.

ME: Well, can I get it?

NSFCSP: You can, sir, but it will take several hours.

ME: So I cannot get my bag now?

NSFCSP: That's right.

ME: Well, it says I have to file a missing luggage report within 24 hours of losing it. Can I have a form?

NSFCSP: Sir, you cannot fill out that report now. Your bag is not lost until you get to Austin.

ME: But if I cannot get to it, isn't that LIKE it's lost?

NSFCSP: Sir, it will not be lost until you are in Austin and the bag is not there.

I have to admit, there's a weird logic to this.

The upshot, of course, is that I am still in the clothes I had on yesterday. Ehh.

The Kemmons Wilson Shrine

I am at a Holiday Inn in Memphis, Tennessee. It seems that Holiday Inns were founded in Memphis by Kemmons Wilson back in the 1950s. Here, at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn, is a shrine to Kemmons Wilson, complete with pictures, bric-a-brac and lots of his aphorisms. I apparently have good karma when it comes to choosing Holiday Inns, because this is the Graceland of Holiday Inns.

Speaking of Graceland, I may be able to go there. I just found out my flight's been canceled. Austin is experiencing lots of ice and snow, and has ground to a halt. Memphis is cold and cloudy, but there's not preciptation.

Stuck Inside of Memphis With the Austin Blues Again

I am in Memphis, Tennessee tonight -- and not of my own volition. I was on my way home to Austin, and was changing planes when they announced the Austin leg of my flight had been canceled. Shit.

The Northwest Airlines "customer service representative," an unpleasant woman named Diane, tells us that "the pilot has decided it is not safe to fly to Austin." I ask her if the airport in Austin is closed, since there may be other flights still going that way. She repeats, a little icily this time, what she's already said. I ask her if any other airlines are still flying into Austin, and she repeats her mantra again, this time even a little more icily.

By now I am getting pissed off. I say, "Well, since you're not telling us that the airport's closed and you're not telling us that no other planes are going in or out, can we assume that this is a Northwest cancellation and you're putting us up for the night?" I can hear some murmurs behind me.

"Oh, no," she intones, now completely glacial. "This is a weather-related cancellation and Northwest Airlines is not responsible for putting you up."

And so it goes. No, she does not know when flights to Austin will resume. No, she does not know where our bags are, or whether we can pick them up. I book a seat on tomorrow's 1:35 p.m. flight to Austin and head off to look for a hotel. As I am leaving the counter area, Diane announces over the loudspeaker that passengers need to go to kiosks or phones located around the terminal to book their flights, since she has to close down her counter. I hear her telling a co-worker that she's not going to miss the Golden Globes tonight.

By Their Fruit Ye Shall Know Them

I have been attending a national youth leadership summit in Washington, D.C. It is exciting and inspiring to be around so many smart, talented, eager young people. This afternoon we did "speed networking," in which two of the fellows met with progressive activists in five-minute burst to ask questions, seek career advice and, naturally, network.

Tonight I went out to dinner with a group of 15 of the fellows, and participated in some interesting conversations. They are the future of our country -- I hope.

Hanging at the Jefferson ...

I have to admit, I am suscpetible to celebrities. I've been lucky enough in my life to encounter some celebrities, and maybe even form a friendship or two.

Of course, my taste in celebrities may differ from anyone else's. One of my heroes is Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, the founder of DailyKos. He's the most visible part of an important trend in American politics -- the use of the Internet, and specifically blogs, to identify, energize and direct progressive activists.

He's in Washington attending the same conference as me. He and I spent a couple hours last night, having a drink in the bar of the Jefferson Hotel. We talked politics, of course, but we also talked about Life Its Ownself -- his family, his other businesses, his history and background. As tone point, he interrupted our conversation to say goodnight to his son, a delighted grin on his face as he talked across the continent.

He's the real deal, and that's so important.

Washington, Deceit

I am here in Washington, D.C. The organization with which I work had a national board meeting yesterday, in some of which I participated. Like most board meetings at which I am a spectator, the rest of it was like watching paint dry.

Today through Monday I am participating in two very exciting events: a national leadership summit for 180 college students, and the final session of a campaign academy for 20 talented young people from all over America. I am lucky enough to be on the faculty of both programs.

Both programs are phenomenal, and I keep wishing I'd had access to these resources, ideas and mentors when I was of college age. The programs, and the energetic young people who are drinking deeply of them, are a refreshing antidote to the jaded mediocrity that I associate with Washington.

Third Verse, Same As The First

Tom Craddick's re-election as Speaker yesterday was, personally, a disappointment. Certainly, I disagree with his overall political philosophy and agenda for Texas. But I dislike him more for what he's done to make the House of Representatives a weaker, more partisan, more feckless institution.

But it does not matter what I think. The election of the Speaker is a privilege and responsibility of the members of the House. From all accounts, some people acted with personal courage and at great political risk. Thanks to them for showing us what that looks like.

But Craddick is still Speaker for a combination of two reasons. Some people actually like the guy and how he's governing. They voted their conscience, which is all we can ask them to do. But, if the buzz out there is to be believed, lots of people voted for him because they were afraid -- of him, of being on the wrong side, of what might happen under a new Speaker. Whatever. They deserve what they get -- including, in some cases, opponents in the future and the opportunity to become private citizens. Just ask Todd Baxter or Martha Wong or Al Edwards.

Craddick has hinted that he'll be a kinder, gentler Speaker. We'll see.

Drama Thick as Molasses

It is the nature of the legislative process that, often, decisions of great import are made in verrrrrrrrrrrry slowwwwwwwwwwwwww mooooooooooooootion. The House or Senate "stands at ease" while a couple legislators work out a deal in the backroom, or a couple more work out a way to un-do the last deal, or some staffers just make copies.

The House is in such a mode today. Not much appears to be happening on the floor, which is probably true. The real action may be happening on the sidelines, in the back rooms and hallways. Now they've started discussing HR 35, which lays out the rules for voting (signed ballots, secretly cast and placed in a lockbox). Getting interesting ...

80th Texas Legislature convenes

Well, today's the day. Opening day of the 80th Texas Legislature. There's a wonderful Latin term for the end of a session -- sine die, literally "without a day." The Legislature is adjourning that day without a day to meet again. It's pronounced "SEE-nay DEE-ay," but it's "SIGN-e DIE" in Austin. There's no comparable phrase for the beginning of a session. Too bad.

Lots of pomp, lots of circumstance. In both chambers, we'll begin with the swearing-in ceremonies -- new and returning members taking their oaths of office, loved ones standing by, cameras flashing. It's very sweet. Then, the Senate will adopt its caucus rules and select a President Pro Tem. The caucus rules are important because the Senate sets the monthly staff budgets for its offices. There's been some talk that the two-thirds rule might be modified somehow, but if that was serious we'd have heard a lot more about that. As for President Pro Tem, the competition's been fierce, but I am calling it for Mario Gallegos. You read it here first.

All eyes will focus on the House, where the Speaker's race concludes today. I expect it to last all afternoon. The first battle will be over the process by which the election is conducted. Will it be a secret ballot? Floor vote? Roll call vote? As is often the case, the decisions on which process to use will tell a lot about the eventual outcome. Then we'll have the nominations and seconds of Speaker candidates, and finally the vote itself.

Time Warner Cable will carry the House on Channel 6. The Senate will be on Channel 22. You can watch live feeds of both chambers on the Internetz. It'll be the best show in town.

Everything I Know About the Speaker's Race

It's gotten to the point in the Speaker's race where it's all down to the members. With 149 of them getting ready to vote tomorrow, I don't think even they know the outcome. Certainly, all the lobbyists, media wizards and other prognosticators are in the dark.

I worked for Rodney Ellis when he was, briefly, Lieutenant Governor following George Bush's election to the presidency and Rick Perry's installation as governor. The main event of Rodney's administration (MOTTO: "Seven days, seven hours and 32 minutes without a scandal") was the selection of a new Lieutenant Governor, who turned out to be Bill Ratliff. Like the current Speaker's race, there was enormous interest in the outcome. Also, there was lots of discussion of the process by which the new presiding officer would be selected. Like now, there was fear of retribution if senators ended up backing the wrong horse. In the end, the Senators decided to hold a secret ballot.

Like now, NO ONE knew what was really happening with the vote, and certainly not anyone in the lobby or the political class. I routinely had lobbyists come into the office with a theory of the day (and in the end, of the hour) about how Sibley was ahead or Brown was the consensus candidate or Ratliff had it all lined up. In the end, only the final vote itself mattered.

That's something to keep in mind as we nervously scan newspapers, blogs, and tea leaves for signs of the future.

Let It Snow -- in Texas

When I was out in West Texas a couple weeks ago, we were treated to some snow in the high desert country of the Big Bend. The snow fell overnight on Thursday, December 28 and I spent that Friday driving around and snapping some pictures.

As a native of San Antonio and a 20-year resident of Austin, I am not used to the words "Texas" and "snow" in close proximity, although I realize parts of our state get snow on almost an annual basis.

I've spent lots of time in the Big Bend region, though, and never thought of its sweeping vistas and sere landscapes in snow-covered terms. So it was a delight to see some of that area under a blanket of snow and clouds. I want to share some pictures, both to celebrate the natural beauty of that area and because, as far as I know, that snow is long gone by now.

Hilltops outside of Alpine. The view of the cloud-wrapped peaks, with wind and fog blowing off them, and the snow-covered slopes below was majestic.

A picture of the high desert outside of Shafter, on the road between Marfa and Presidio. This was taken about 11:30 a.m.; by the time I came through on my way back to Marathon later that day, this snow was gone.

My dog Xena standing in the snow just west of Alpine. She's only seen snow once before, in Montana in 2001. I tried to get her to sit for her "portrait," but she was having none of it.

Happy New Year!

Well, it's the beginning of a new year and the beginning of this new blog. I have an interesting life, I think, and I want to share some of the joy and fun, and maybe even heartaches, with others. Mostly I am doing this because I have lots of cool pictures and I want a venue to share them. If it works to do it in the blog, great. If not, I am open to suggestions on other venues.

I was out in the marvelous Big Bend region of west Texas for the new year. I stayed in Marathon, where a group of my disreputable friends and I celebrated the new year. Normally, this is dry, arid, high desert country, but we had a treat that week. A couple days earlier, it had snowed west of there, so I spent the Friday before New Year's driving from Marathon to Marfa, down to Presidio, into the Big Bend Ranch State Park, and back again. All told, almost 350 miles, which is astounding when you think about it. Not only did I drive 35 miles and not leave Texas, I drove that far and was only in TWO COUNTIES. Big country out there.

I am still trying to figure out how to upload pictures. So far, no luck. I will do a new post once I have figured it out.