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I'm a big believer in public transportation. When I was growing up, I wasn't exposed to mass transit systems. My home town was populated by less than 5000 and the prefix "metro" was simply not used to add clarification to any geography associated with our "city". Years later, far away from that one stoplight town, I found myself on holiday in the Latin Quarter of Paris with no car. Getting from my hotel off San Michel, just across the Seine from Notre Dame, to Le Defense? No problem. The mass transit system in Paris is the finest I've ever seen. Between subways, metrorail, and train, it works better than you'd imagine. Not unlike the foundation idea behind New York and our capitol District, it is well thought and implemented. I am not going to rant about my disapproval of the Houston METRO's bastard rail project between the Reliant Stadium area and downtown. I think it's obvious that this project is misguided. I was just reflecting on transit because I took the commuter bus this morning from Spring to downtown Houston and it was utterly fabulous. The parking lot at the station was spacious, accommodating, and well laid out. The bus was of the large, cross country variety with high backed seating offering a slight angle of recline. The upholstery and climate systems were comforting and the ride was smooth and fast via the HOV... and believe me, I am all for contributing to the solution to Houston's smog problem. I think we are number two in the nation in poor air quality... just behind Los Angeles.

I think EL is starting to stress the wedding a little bit. I don't mean like cold feet or anything... just that it's getting so close and we have a lot to do yet. I try to compartmentalize the tasks into manageable buckets. The food and the cake are lingering headaches that are worrisome. The best part of the whole deal is that it's going to be very, very small. We, mostly do to cost constraints associated with the venue, didn't invite many people at all. So, it will be more like a small gathering of friends than a "wedding". That's comforting. I don't care for big weddings with the fairy tale whoop-ti-doo. It's one of the reasons I think doing wedding photography would turn my stomach. Our wedding is more reality TV than The Princess Bride... but (hopefully) in a very good way. I'm requesting that all men that attend wear Hawaiian shirts... just in case you fall into that category and I forget to tell you. Oh yeah, there will be lots of drinking at our wedding... lots... so, if you are a marginal swimmer and can't hold your liquor, please bring a set of floaties. It is on a boat, you know.

If there is a caffeine level in your system that is considered overdose, I came close to reaching it yesterday. I was seriously wigged. EL made me go to bed a little earlier and other than a brief stint of tossing and turning, I slept fairly well. I feel much better today. I think I'm still caffeine dependant, but hopefully my dose will be a little more manageable this morning.

Snoogens.