Tag: houston

Where the movers and shakers go

This morning among other errands, I got my oil changed. Okay, not MY oil. My car, Jet’s, oil. As I sat in the oil-changing place (part of the local car wash, but I’m opting to hold off on the car wash because our weather sucks*), I watched the most diverse set of men (all men) meet each other, talk business, exchange cards, and begin deals. These were men who probably would never have met one another in the normal course of their business days. If I made documentaries, I’d have asked if I could follow them from here on out to see what Great Things come from this morning’s discussions.

I guess in Houston, City of Automobiles second only to L.A., businesses that cater to cars are our version of the small-town coffee shops where men who were my father’s contemporaries used to network.

It was a relief to know people still talk to each other without a headset or a monitor.

*Since I wrote this, our weather today has been sensational. Houston, you owe me a big freaking thank-you. If I would have gotten that car wash, you’d be driving through a rainy, gloomy rush hour later.

Lisa’s City

Years ago, my friend Lisa was commissioned to do a mural of the Houston skyline in a corporate building. Sadly, that building has since been renovated, and the mural is gone.

Before she began the mural, she did some rough paintings on canvas to work out her vision. I asked for one of those canvases and recently used it to paint what I titled “Lisa’s City.” Although the edges are somewhat cropped and lost in this photo, if you click on it and get the larger size, you can see the outlines of Lisa’s buildings from the original painting.

I sent her a photo of the work when it was in progress, and it made her happy. Which makes me happy. I’ve been somewhat creatively-impaired lately, so this (unplanned collaboration) was a good experience.

Baby River Oaks

Yesterday, for the first time in nearly a year, I went to a movie–a matinee, by myself, which I enjoy. I went to see The Queen, and I loved it. Helen Mirren must get an Oscar nomination!

I went to our neighborhood theater, the River Oaks Theater, which many of us have long called Baby River Oaks, I think because there used to be a larger theater (demolished several years ago) down West Gray in River Oaks Plaza. Baby River Oaks has one large theater downstairs, two very small theaters upstairs, and I’ve seen some of my favorite movies there (lots of artistic and independent films) during my eighteen years in Houston.

Rumor has it the Baby River Oaks and the center it’s in are going to be demolished, which would be a tremendous loss to the history and charm of our neighborhood. Preservation is not a priority in Houston, as it is in other cities. This could be a double blow, because supposedly the demolition is to make room for a large Barnes & Noble. Our current Barnes & Noble is in the old Alabama Theater building (formerly the home of Bookstop). So the developers’ plans could mean the end of not one but two historic buildings in our area. It’s one of the few features of Houston that I despise, this refusal to find a way to incorporate the new into the old.

There’s an online petition for anyone familiar with Houston who’s interested in sending a message to the developer, Weingarten Realty. All we can do is try…

You may have also seen this icon on Rhonda’s LJ:

Detail of the Alabama Theater bookstore, with interior art deco features left intact:


Image from laanba on flickr.

What a man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man

Saturday night as we were preparing to leave Rouge, some of the wedding attendants were still there. They wanted to know if they could take the centerpieces, and of course the answer was a resounding, “Yes!” That still left about a half-dozen gorgeous table arrangements and the vase of flowers that was on the cake table. As Tom and Tim loaded gifts and other wedding things into the car, they added the flower arrangements.

On Sunday, Tim–I’m sorry, the Wedding Bitch–had a few more errands to run for The Brides. Today, I went into his apartment to put the carefully sealed top tier of the wedding cake into his freezer (for The Brides to eat on their first anniversary). I noticed something different and asked, “What did you do with the flowers?”

Until then, I hadn’t known that while he was handling Wedding Bitch business on Sunday, he took all the flowers to Omega House, a local residential hospice for people in the late stages of HIV/AIDS.

I’m sure The Brides will appreciate knowing the flowers that made their wedding and reception so lovely were given another opportunity to bring beauty and happiness into people’s lives.

My writing partner… I think I’ll keep him.

It’s a date!


Murder By the Book

If you’re in the Houston area or just like to travel here on a whim, I’ll be signing A Coventry Christmas at Murder By the Book, 2342 Bissonnet Street, Houston. Their phone is 713.524.8597 or 888.4-AGATHA.

The signing is Saturday, December 2, 2006, at 4:30 p.m.

I’ll be signing with two other local authors, L.A. Starks, whose debut thriller 13 Days: The Pythagoras Conspiracy is set in Houston; and Colleen Thompson, who writes romantic suspense novels, including a November release, Heat Lightning.

Although I don’t write the mysteries, suspense, and thrillers that have made Murder By the Book one of the country’s most loved independent booksellers, they are graciously hosting my signing because I’m a local author. If you’ve never been to the store, it’s a must (and it does get an honorable mention in A Coventry Christmas because I played a little with their name for my fictitious chain bookstore “Buy The Book”). Their signings are always fun, and I’ve met some of my favorite authors there. Books are the one item I really love shopping for, and Murder By the Book’s shelves always provide abundant ways for me to spend money. But they even have some pre-read books at bargain prices!

And definitely be there on December 2, or I’ll cry. You don’t want to make me cry, do you?