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Holybajeezus there was a lot of traffic this morning. There was a semi wreck on I-45 south at Rankin that blocked three lanes of the freeway. Feeder traffic was even hosed. Thumbs up to Houston... err... at least one of the digits if not a thumb. I heard on the radio this morning that the GRB expansion will make it one of the top ten largest convention centers in the nation. I also heard last night about Berry dropping out of the Mayoral race. It's a shame really... not so much because I cared more for him than any other because I really had yet to bone up on their platforms, but because it narrows the competition. Choices are a good thing. He sited reasons of lack of sufficient funds to make it through November with his campaign, so he chose to drop from election and run for City Council instead. I've become even more disheartened with my recent photos since looking through one of my photo inspiration's portfolio the other day... John Shaw. Michael and I often talk about how amazing this guy is, but let me tell you... after looking through his work, he is on an entirely differently level. Breathtaking. He shoots primarily with Nikon F5 bodies and all ED glass in case your interested. Anyhoo, I just found out that all this downtown construction funk is supposed to be completed by January. That rocks. I hate how traffic has to circumnavigate all the pits and potholes and cavernous digs. It's not just automotive traffic that is affected. Pedestrian traffic has, in many cases, been forced to make three point crossings to get from one side of the street to the other... waiting on light cycles and the intersection rush. Crazy. It's all about finishing Houston's new aesthetic appeal before the Superbowl. Regardless the reason, I'm all for it finishing. EL and I talked about moving last night. We love our new home and have now immediate need or desire to move, but we were playing the what-if game and were discussing options. It's good to have a united front when adversity rears it's ugly head. We don't plan on children any time soon, so that gives us quite a bit more flexibility. I can not wait for the National Do Not Call List to start receiving enforcement. If I get one more call from ProStar Security after 9:00 pee emm, I just might go disgruntled postman on a bad laced-crack binge at a gun show. WTF is their deal anyway? If there was any chance of them ever getting my business, it is gone now forever. Persistent bitches. Éclair got her periodic bath this weekend, so she's been prancing around like a princess that smells like flowers. It's hilarious to see how your pets act differently in certain circumstance. With Eclair, it's being clean after a good shampooing, with my old cat (Kitty), it was placing one of those elastic hair bands around her waist like a belt. She would walk around like she was showing off a new outfit. Strange pet behavior. Big weekly engineering staff meeting this morning at 9:00. I hate them. They have dwindled down to nonproductive discussion. I received a reply email from a buddy of mine that works in another part of the country for my company. I had commented to him about how bad things have become here... here's what he said, "This company is a million miles away from the operation I joined back in 1991. Back then everyone throughout the company was like one big family and the company and employees shared a mutual loyalty toward one another. Man, I knew people who were 3rd generation employees. Those days are gone for sure." I couldn't have said it better myself. Well, I need to prepare for my stick-in-the-eye meeting. Have a great morning. I want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.