Book of D: The Reason for Friends

AN excellent day for friends. I woke up early today. I was able to accomplish a lot of things before I made my way to work. I even had time to read and get ahead of my reading assignments by an entire chapter. That's a huge feat because this class is fast-and-furious. I reached out to an old friend before I left the house. I have been in a good mood these past few months, and as I thought about my good mood, good health, and good fortune, I thought about this particular friend, so I decided to text her and see about getting together for dinner and drinks. She was part of the group of friends who traveled to Ft. Worth earlier this summer for a convention; it was a wonderful trip and event. Anyway...this person is fast becoming a great friend to my partner and myself. This friend, whom I shall now refer to as "Ellie," is extremely intelligent and generous. She is the type of person who is the first to arrive when someone needs aid of any kind and is the first one to ask, "what can I do?' She is also the last one to leave just in case there are last minute details to be addressed or aid to be provided. She recently had a tragedy occur in her own life. I won't go into detail about it. The tragedy is over now, and everyone affected is doing wonderfully. I am grateful for that fact. The roles reversed a bit recently My partner recently took ill. It was not a life-threatening ordeal, but still, it was a tribulation for us. I am extremely glad that my partner has recovered and that our friend Ellie was once again there for us. In my good mood and readiness to hang out with Ellie, I thought about how many people have been allowed to venture into my life. Some are still around, and they are valued. Some are no longer around, through their own freewill and accord; they are not entirely missed, but they did provide a sort of tutelage all their own. Life is tricky; a real paradox, but it is what it is. Friends like Ellie are the fruit of living a good life and trying to do good things for others. The others who are not around, well, they no longer matter--not really. There is a reason why people enter our lives. The people who chose to stay, they are the reason for friends.

Book of D: The Man at School

I arrived in the parking lot, looking for that prime spot; you know the one, the one that requires the road less traveled. Pardon the pun. Anyway, I was in a good mood as I approached the front doors of the university, where I have worked for over a year. I passed this one gentleman; he was wearing the dark blue uniform the maintenance workers wear. He was an older man with grey, curly hair sprawling from underneath the dirty-looking gray baseball cap he wore; the cap was slightly placed to one side--it looked like an unintentional way of wearing the cap. Not like a younger person would purposely wear it to show he/she was cool. This gentleman looked tired, thus, the manner in which he wore the ball cap was more happenstance than purposeful. I consider myself a friendly person. I also consider myself as having a great amount of confidence, so I tend to walk with my head held high, but I am always aware of others, so I make myself ready to greet others in a friendly manner. This gentleman was not having any of my friendly ways. He completely ignored me. He did look up one time as I was getting closer to him, but he looked back down to the can of Dr. Pepper he had on the concrete pony wall he was sitting on. I was not hurt by his lack of a greeting. I did not know him, after all, so it did me no harm either way. It was how his eyes glared at me that was more disconcerting than his ability to act like I was invisible. I was reminded of another gentleman, around this man's age, body type, and stature. This other gentleman had given up soda to better his health, so when I noticed the can of soda next to this maintenance worker's lap, I thought to myself, 'soda is so bad for you especially for someone your age.' What if this maintenance worker had the ability to read minds and knew the first thought that entered my head before I drew closer to where he was sitting down. Who knows. All I know is the feeling I had when I passed by him. I was sad. I wondered if he was sad. I entered through the front, glass-laden doors of the university and started towards the stairs. I quickly forgot the emotion of sadness the maintenance worker had brought out in me. I instead focused on the work I had to finish today. I just hope the man is doing okay. Maybe I should have made it a point to say hi to him instead of respecting what I thought was his right to be left alone. Maybe he was waiting for someone to ask him how he was doing.

Sport's Post: ALLEZ LES BLEUS! ALLEZ FRANCE! WORLD CUP 2018 CHAMPIONS!!!

20 Years Waiting . . . C'est fantastique!!!

BESPOKE: An Uncertain Life

Life emerges from love, sometimes. Other times, life just happens and no one really cares about the circumstances. I can vouch for myself that I was born of love. Perhaps, it was unplanned, but it was love nonetheless that brought me to this strange realm of the universe; this earth that is so polluted and convoluted. 
          No one really knows what is real or who is real. For all we know, every single person on said earth is fake. Everyone is out for his or her own benefit. Trying to attain the best that life has to offer regardless of who they hurt or what they have to do--even if the very thing robs the person of his or her very ethics and humanity. Life is harsh. Life is funny. Life is a mere calculation. Life is uncertain.

TEXAS DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION 2018: The Party of the First Party!

So, here is my post now!

This trip took place in Fort Worth, Texas. All Democrats from the great state of Texas gathered for four glorious days in downtown Fort Worth, Ft. Worth Convention Center, for the 2018 Texas Democratic Convention. From Texas State Senate District 31, there were a bunch of us a'hootin and a'hollerinfolks; too many to name, so many towns to list all (check the link for the map of SD-31) but some of the areas we represented: Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, Amarillo, etc. 

Our first day in Fort Worth, we had dinner at the magnificent Mi Cocina (Downtown location). Dinner, drinks, and good banter with wonderful friends (Sara, Joyce, Estella) and fellow delegates to the Convention. (See Convention schedule here)

Our second day in Fort Worth, we began the primary convention with many caucuses, including our very own Senate District Caucus, where we voted on different platforms and representatives to the different Texas State Democratic Committees. Later that night, we all bought tickets for Beers With Beto. Beto O'Rourke (D) is the current U.S. Rep (16th Congressional District, El Paso). He is running against Ted Cruz for the U. S. Senate.

Our third day, the last day of the Convention, we met different politicians, and the General Session began. It is an interesting process. This was our second time as delegates to the State Convention. Being a UTPB Student Senator (voted in for a second Academic Term), this convention added to the myriad of things I have learned (e.g. rules, protocols, and processes one must follow via Robert's Rules of Order, etc.) It is all such a beautiful process: legislation and politics! I was so excited and humbled to be able to partake in this State Convention, once again, as a delegate. By the way, state delegates have to be voted in as delegates by their respective political party/county constituency, so it makes the honor that much greater. Later that Saturday night, we even went to the Rodeo Goat (an excellent college dive near TCU) for my birthday dinner and to the Fort Worth Water Gardens to cap off the extraordinary day/night. 

Sunday, our fourth and final day, we took it easy. We stopped off at the Fort Worth Whole Foods Market, and we had lunch in Abilene before our arrival to the Tall City -so that was good. 😁 Pix are in randomized order ... enjoy!

 

   

 

          

    

 

 

The Indomitable Wendy Davis (her Twitter feed)
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Taco Diner for dinner at the hip/posh Fort Worth Sundance Square
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The Rodeo Goat for my birthday celebration
(after the end of the General Session of the Convention)
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The Fort Worth Water Gardens (après le b-day dinner)
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