Bag of Randomness for Monday, November 22, 2019

  • The first thing which comes to my mind about Veterans Day is as an elementary school student and being bussed to Miller Stadium and sitting in the freezing cold for a Veterans Day program. We always sat on the visitor’s side on the wooden bleachers which I was scared to walk up, there was something about the spacing of the boards which gave me a sense of vertigo and the paint always felt slippery. I think they could have fit us all on the home side on the cement bleachers if they really wanted.
  • WifeGeeding and I attended the one-woman play ANN written and originally starring Holland Taylor. The play is about former Texas Governor Ann Richards and this version was starred Libby Villari who definitely captured the late governor’s spirit and nailed her characteristics for the most part. Neither Bush was mentioned but Barbara Jordan was several times. I know I’m partial but offhand I’d say that Richards and Jordan are the two greatest female orators in our nation’s history. Many of you may not know Barbara Jodan, but she was exceptionally eloquent and measured as a speaker.
  • The set had one little detail I appreciated, the state capitol’s pink/red granite.
  • They play was held at the Kalita Humphreys Theater which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. WifeGeeding mentioned that one of her friends recently moved into a Frank Lloyd Wright house and I told her she must be mistaken him for another architect, but sure enough, she was correct.
  • The theater actually had a working payphone! I was shocked to see it, and a bit surprised how much it cost to make one single call, fifty cents.
  • I overheard WifeGeeding talking to her mother about the play. She stated that Ann Richard’s brother was her wedding photography, but WifeGeeding boldly told her that couldn’t be true because in the play, Richards stated she was an only child. There was a little back and forth between the two, but I was able to find out it was Richards’ uncle Jimmie Willis of Waco she was referring to.
  • One thing I like to look for in a one-person play is how the actor is able to sneak in a drink during the performance. If you think about it, speaking for an hour and a half to two hours under stage lights can make a person pretty thirsty. I was spotted three moments. I never saw the Bryan Cranston one-man play about LBJ, but I’m curious how he snuck in a drink.
  • Ann Richards’ eldest grandchild is now the communications director for Kamala Harris.
  • I found an interview of Holland Taylor in full costume alongside Richards’ eldest daughter Cecile Richards (former president of Planned Parenthood). Richards was asked if it was weird watching the play and I thought she had a nice warm answer, she said it was like Taylor gave her two extra hours with her mother.
  • Nikki Haley was interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning and I took issue with one particular thing she said.
    • “The Ukrainians never did the investigation. And the president released the funds. I mean, when you look at those, there’s just nothing impeachable there. And more than that, I think the biggest thing that bothers me is the American people should decide this. Why do we have a bunch of people in Congress making that decision?“
      • I have no problem with her thoughts on whether the president should be impeached or not, but it’s that last sentence that bothers me, “Why do we have a bunch of people in Congress making that decision?” Geeze, Hailey, that’s an easy one, because the American people you referenced elect Representatives every two years to represent them in Congress. In essence, the American people are deciding because of the representatives they elected. You know, I think the American people should decide who is elected president, but that doesn’t happen, there’s something called the Electoral College, and Electors mostly are nominated by a state’s political party.
  • It’s hard for me to root for the Cowboys when they wear their dark uniforms at home.
  • Runner in ‘Jesus Saves’ bib collapses, is saved by group with man named Jesus

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Bag of Randomness for Friday, November 8, 2019

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Bag of Randomness for Thursday, November 7, 2019

  • Apparently the ‘OK Boomer’ meme has been around but I only discovered it yesterday. When I first heard it, I thought it had something to do with the University of Oklahoma, as in, Boomer Sooner. I can understand how people like the fight song, it’s catchy and basically only has two words, so it’s easy to memorize. But I always thought it was odd to take pride in ancestral cheaters. Per Wikipedia:
    • Boomers is the name given to settlers in the Southern United States who attempted to enter the Unassigned Lands in what is now the state of Oklahoma in 1879, prior to President Grover Cleveland opening them to settlement by signing the Indian Appropriations Act of 1889 on March 2, 1889. The Sooners, settlers who entered the Unassigned Lands just prior to the April 22, 1889 official opening, were preceded by Boomers by a decade.
  • Shane McAnally of NBC’s Songland and Mineral Wells was on fellow Texan Kelly Clarkson’s show yesterday. His hometown was never mentioned but a photo of him and his kids on top of the Crazy Water Hotel with the Baker in the background was shown. That photo is on his Instagram and he states he one of the co-owners of the Crazy Water Hotel. As I perused his account, I also spotted a photo he took of his daughter standing in front of Chicken Express, another Mineral Wells institution. I think he worked there for a time. Sadly, as much of a fan of Chicken E as I am, I have to admit I think the quality of their product has slipped a bit.
  • The CGI ghost of James Dean will star in a Vietnam War movie – He’s been posthumously cast in a major supporting role.
  • Free Entrance to Texas State Parks Nov. 10 in Honor of Veterans Day
  • GQ – What I Learned When I Lost 50 Pounds – Last summer, Rohan Nadkarni decided to get in shape. He expected it to be difficult; he didn’t expect a whole new set of anxieties.
  • I follow the NFL Network’s Jane Slater  (formally of CBS11 and Dallas ESPN radio and Longhorn alumni) on Twitter. I’m very bad at reading into things, but I think she revealed a three-year relationship with ESPN’s Dianna Russini. They both admit to following Admiral Bill McRaven’s advice of making their bed each morning so they can say they accomplished at least one thing that day. That habit is so ingrained in them that they always make their hotel beds each morning. Personally, I think making your bed every morning is a waste of time since no one is really gonna see it and it’s only going to get unmade again later in the day. It’s better to apply that accomplishment philosophy to brushing your teach each morning. Not only is that an accomplished task but unlike making the bed, it’s hygienic and prevents cavities and tartar buildup.
  • He spreads it around – QB Dak Prescott’s passing chart through 8 games in 2018 vs. 2019
  • Harley-Davidson’s electric bicycles get their first public debut
  • The NRCC wants you to make Christmas great again.
    • Rush $25 or more to defend President Trump and House Conservatives and we’ll send you 3 rolls of our official limited-edition Trump Christmas Wrapping Paper that you’ll only find here

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