Well, Hurricane Ike is on a path and here we go again. (Are you saying, "Didn't I read this last week?")

“Texas Gov. Rick Perry spurred storm preparations with the declarations in 88 counties. Perry also put 7,500 National Guard members on standby.” – AP 9/9/2008 

I met Governor Rick Perry a few years ago and he was very pleasant and friendly to me – shook my hand like politicians do. I had read in the press about how good the Governor’s hair always looks and sometimes they called him “Mr. Good Hair”. I tell you: Yes, Gov. Perry does have good hair! It is dark, plentiful and every strand is in place! He is a tall, handsome man. He can furl his brow, but prefers a disarming smile. When I saw him, he was dressed in a suit and tie which we don’t see much here in casual East Texas, especially on weekdays. 

If you don’t live in Texas and are ‘way up in the Great White North (That’s Canada, eh?) then you may not realize that President George W. Bush was Texas Governor before he was in the White House. 

So, as long as George W. has been in the White House, Rick Perry has been in Austin at the Capitol Building. Gov. Perry was elected six years ago, so he has been in office eight years now. 

Rick Perry is a fifth-generation Texan, son of a cotton farmer and graduated from Texas A & M University. (We call them “Aggies”.) He served his country in the Air Force and worked with his father on the farm after graduating in Animal Science. 

Whenever the people of Texas are threatened, Rick Perry is always there, generally dressed in jeans and long-sleeved shirt – no cowboy hat. Of course, you knew, he wouldn’t do the hat thing very often! 

Thank goodness, Rick Perry did not choose to get into the Presidential thing yet, because we need him here. 

No matter what kind of trouble you are in – bad weather or otherwise – it is always good to know that someone is looking out for you. For us, that person is Rick Perry, who gives Texans a lot more than good hair!

Voting - That's a Personal Thing, Eh?

Canadian Government is different from the American system – not better necessarily, just different. I sure don’t intend to give you all the details except to say that it is patterned after the British system. Also, I should let you know that there are not fixed four year terms. A leader can be turfed out by a vote of “non-confidence”. This is vote is instigated by the opposition, which may or may not be at any current time, “Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition”. Rather interesting system for getting rid of a poor leader, don’t you think?

 

In my time there has been a woman (Kim Campbell) who was in office 132 days (1993) and at least two men who were “asked to leave” (Joe Clark and Paul Martin). These were elected, not taking over terms of other Prime Ministers.

 

To balance it off, Pierre Elliott Trudeau (just enough English, just enough French) served 15 years, 164 days. He “brought home the Canadian Constitution” and put Canada on the map. He also is remembered for his various shenanigans which made him a very colorful Prime Minister. Off the top, I recall him dating Barbara Streisand and uttering an obscenity in the House. He swore in a House of Parliament? Ah, yes, but he said that what he said was – get this, Americans – “Fuddle Duddle!” Whoa! Sadly, the breakdown of his marriage was played out on print front pages and national television.

 

I am only telling you a little of what I was used to in Canada. I voted for the person I liked at the time and was not obliged to tell anybody. I did not have a political party name stamped on a card to hand to a Poll Worker.

 

So, after I became an American Citizen, and could vote, imagine my surprise (when we parked and started walking toward the Voting Station) to be approached by a local TV reporter standing beside a camera on tripod.

 

The fellow asked me how I felt about George W. Bush and I lobbied with talk of the misfortunes of having 9-11 and the Iraq war on his watch. When the reporter looked a little puzzled, I launched into the fact that this President, “Is a fine Christian man”.

 

Then he asked exactly who I would be voting for and I said I had never had to answer that in Canada. He turned off his camera, looked around to see there was only Hubby left to interview and said to Hubby,

 

“What am I going to do with that?”

 

I love it! My quote about Mr. Bush was used on the 5, 6 and 10 o’clock news and the bit about not having to answer, was edited out.

 

I am still learning about the American system of 2 four year terms max and not less than 4 years unless you are impeached which would be a little stronger than a vote of non-confidence!

 

Hubby is still trying to help me to understand this straight two party system and more than that just who might be voting for whom.

 

Like I said, “Voting, that’s a personal thing, eh?”

Houston and Toronto: Not So Different!

When I visited Houston in 1990, I received a tour from an old friend who had moved there when she was married in the 60s.

“Well, we just jump from air-conditioning to air-conditioning”, was how she answered my query about the 100 degree plus temperature.

Houston has underground walkways with shops, restaurants and theaters. Toronto also has these underground systems, most connected to the transit system and office complexes. Hot summers send you underground in Houston; cold winters send you there in Toronto!

We are about 100 miles north of Houston.

Both Houston and Toronto have lots of wonderful places to eat, stylish shopping, good theater and live entertainment. Both cities are massive and sprawling, have lots of jobs and high real estate prices. Both cities have excellent medical centers and universities.

You can find a superb corned beef on rye both places!

Both are friendly cities, alive and young but the one thing that really defines the similarity of them for me is BASEBALL!

Many people knew of the Astrodome and its famous Astroturf surface that became very popular everywhere.

Some Canadians might not know that a new park was built in Houston a few years ago. When I first went to Minute Maid Park, I felt very much at home. The dome is a similar design to the one in Toronto in that the roof can be open or closed. So when weather is not comfortable for spectators and players, the roof can be closed.

Both parks are wonderful for TV viewing and when you attend in person, there are “jumboTrons” (large screens) and extensive signage to keep everybody informed.

Baseball is my favorite spectator sport. It’s easy to watch and you can chat to the person beside you without missing any of the action.

In October, 1978, I attended a baseball game in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. (Toronto Blue Jays were a very young team then, but already had recruited players from there.) At that time, they played seven nights a week in an open outdoor stadium. It was an intramural league. Cuba Libras (Rum & Coke) and goat cheese were served instead of hot dogs and beer. They did not realize then how much influence their players would have on the American and National Leagues! They actually thought it odd that we wanted to see a baseball game!

Texas Rangers are the other major baseball team in Texas. They play in the Dallas suburb of Arlington. Most people know that current President George W. Bush was a part owner before becoming president. His parents – former President George H.W. and Barbara Bush (who reside in Houston during cooler months) can be seen at Minute Maid Park in their front row seats behind Home Plate. Barbara – white hair and strand of pearls dazzling - likes to keep an old-fashioned scorecard.

Houston and Toronto: very much alike!