RandyDandy, an American Expat in London

Here’s an email I just sent to Democrats Abroad headquarters in DC and the UK chapter:
I moved to London in January from Houston, TX and just received my ballot in the mail on Friday. I intended to fill it out and quickly return it, but I am confused by a supplemental document included which I [...]

I finished reading Richard Russo’s well-structured and brilliantly funny novel “Straight Man” a few days ago. My friend Mitzi Scott gifted the book to me a little over a year ago as we were browsing through a mammoth “Half Price Books” store in north Dallas, and it took me far too long to crack it [...]

Surely the headlines are mistaken. Americans are driving less and buying smaller cars. More people are taking the bus and riding bikes. New York’s Park Avenue could become the next pedestrian paradise.
Could the apocalypse be far away?
Environmentalists struggle to deliver their messages of irreversible climate change, hoping that Joe Q. will take notice, have a [...]

Sitting at the Starbucks in Terminal E at Bush Intercontinental, reflecting on my wonderful week in Houston. Art Car Parade with Laurie, morning coffee with Sid, glorious music with Cantare, and good food and drink with dear friends. Couldn’t see everyone, but I surely need to leave myself reasons to return soon.
On the third day [...]

Yesterday. Walking toward the exit of the Randall’s grocery store on Westheimer and Shepherd in central Houston. The door attendant is turned away from me, opens up one side of the double door, leans out and supports himself on the closed side of the door, and loudly conjures up and spits out the evidence of [...]

“One good thing about not having any zoning is you can do stuff.” This is a quote from Marilyn Oshman, Houston art patron and founder of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. The organization, which annually sponsors one of my favorite events in the world, the Houston Art Car Parade, is featured in today’s [...]

It’s 2am. So says my computer, which finally agrees with the clock on the oven. My body does NOT agree, preferring to believe the Central time setting displayed only minutes ago. How does 8pm feel? I’ve never considered it before, but I know that 2am has never felt this easy. Despite my careful planning to adapt smoothly to the jetlag, I am wide awake.