Mutiny and Mayhem In the Galleria

I really hate shopping.  Yes, I am a woman and yes, I love to get dressed up in cute clothes/shoes, etc., etc.  However, I really hate shopping.  However, I will go to a mall if convinced by friends or family to do so.  Now, on Halloween night (really great night to shop), my friend wanted to go shopping, and she thought it would be great to go to a new outlet mall, the Houston Premium Outlets.  This place has been a bit nonexistent for me, as I never really bothered to venture out to CyFair and take advantage of the designer outlet stores, such as Coach, Kate Spade, etc.  We decided to go and then have dinner afterwards.  In anticipation, I was looking forward to seeing the Kate Spade selections as well some of the other stores.  I never realized that I would have to travel the great frontier of Texas, like Manifest Destiny.  I literally conquered native territory, fighting the natives as well as the white dudes who thought it belonged to them.  It seemed as though I would not be able to make it to this place before the next millenium, and it is considered to be a suburb of Houston.  Finally, I arrived at my destination and was sorely disappointed at the lack of selection and outrageously high prices.  I had an inckling of hope that maybe, just maybe, the crappy economic situation would result in sympathetically reduced prices and further reductions upon purchase. However, this was not quite the case.  Banana Republic is my favorite store for clothing, and I know it's pretentious.  The outlet stores are a little bit of a joke, as most of the clothes look like the designs that were "Out" and didn't make the runway shows.  Also, some of the designs appeared to utilize thrown away scraps of material to make newer, uglier clothes.  

Another friend was in dire need of a fashion intervention.  So, in guiding her through the outer-transformation process, a couple of us took her to the Houston Galleria.  Now, this place is absolutely chaotic.  It seems like all these rich Latin and Asian people need somewhere to throw away money and since we aren't Vegas, the Galleria is the best place.  However, on a Saturday afternoon, there are so many freaks who are there to see and be seen.  Many fake-boobed, fake-tanned, fake-blond bimbos grace various corners, as well as the fake-(fill-in-the-blank) women of other ethnic groups.  They swarm through the stores, and snatch items like vultures.  Fitting rooms are somewhat of a safe haven from the crazies with money of Houston.  However, they take up fitting rooms with personal shoppers who guide them through the cold, dark aisles of clothing racks.  We decided to leave with out heads throbbing and ears ringing, and finally, have some relief of discomfort.  I think I had a few items snatched out of my hand, as well.  Even more annoying are the pretentious yuppie couples, needing to hold hands or be physically attached.  I always feel the need to say "RED ROVER" and charge through, potentially, knocking someone over.  Of course, if the dude is hot, I can take him over and keep him with me.. .  Please enjoy the following--and Gov Palin, I would LOVE to chat and get the answer!

God Bless America!!

Today, as I was walking into my office, for the first time in a while, I have actually felt really proud to be an American.  I stared at the Stars and Stripes, waving in the humid, Houston morning breeze.  The sun was out, the clouds were sparse in the bright, blue sky.  Birds were singing, flowers were blooming, and the marigolds' fragrance permeated the air.  Life is beautiful again, as we have President-Elect Barack Obama to lead us into a new era of tolerance, diversity, and unity.  I am proud to call myself an American and a voter, as my voice was finally heard, with hundreds of millions of us who have had enough.  On this momentous post-Election Night, around twenty-four hours following the announcement of Obama's victory, we are still reveling in the relief and joy of this new chapter in American history.

Being an Indian American, and being the daughter of immigrants, Obama's words and values speak from my own heart.  Of course, John McCain graciously congratulated and accepted defeat. However, Governor Palin is not so gracious, along with her fellow redneck, gun-toting, fundamentalist BFF's in the "real" America.  She looked downright bitter, when McCain spoke.  She didn't even look him in the eye.  My favorite news source, Fox News, quoted her as saying that the Obama Camp "outspent us".  At least her concession prize can be her $150,000 wardrobe, if she doesn't auction it off on EBay.

OMG!!!! One more day of W!!!!!!!!!

Well, actually, it would be two and half more months of W, since January 20 will be the official change-over.  I am going crazy and I am not even going to "watch party", as I think I will be too anxious and nervous to even consider it.  I am thinking that with the young, ethnically diverse voters swarming to the polls, B.O. has a great chance.  According to CNN.com, B.O. has potential for 291 electoral votes, with 270 votes needed to win the prize.  

Also, I have discovered a new member to my menagerie of crap television programs.  Bravo is one network that always to possess more credibility (if that's possible for a cable television channel).  However, "The Rachel Zoe Project" caused me to experience some doubt, despite how much I loved watching the show.  Any misconceptions I had about Rachel Zoe were proven to be incorrect.  Zoe seemed to be understanding and passionate about her work.  Also, she displayed impeccable taste and style.  However, she is still an emotional train wreck.  But, the real drama was with her crazy assistants, Brad and Taylor.  Taylor was pretty psycho and Brad was excessively needy and codependent--a very troubling combination.

Now, Bravo seems to have discovered the Rachel Zoe of travel.  Meet this chick, Sara Duffy, an "elite travel" expert, star of the latest attempt to rub in to the rest of us how poor we are in this crappy economy.  "First Class All the Way" chronicles the lives of rich, entitled, demanding people from L.A. with enough Botox and silicon to use as alternative fuel on very extravagant vacations.  Now, what in the hell is "elite" travel.  Naturally, these folks are staying at the Holiday Inn.  They stay in the 6 star hotels in the most exotic locations.  This episode showed these very botoxed and silicon/salined chicks, who had arranged a trip to Paris and Monaco.  The trip included a cooking lesson with a chef from a renowned culinary institute.  They then jet-setted in a helicopter to Monaco, where they attended some exotic car show with an appearance the Prince Himself of Monaco.  Everyone wore their 6-inch stilletto Prada heels, with designer duds.  What creeps me out is that this elite travel expert, to whom we also refer as a "travel consierge", actually hangs out with her clients during these trips to wineries, car shows, and $1000/night luxury hotels.  Now, how is it a "vacation" with some chick that is not well-know hanging out.  It would like me going to the first day of school with my patients-- totally crazy.

2 More Days!!!!!!!!

I have already casted my early vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.  I only hope that something doesn't get eff'd up and my vote doesn't get counted.  We have been inundated for the last several weeks with the economy, who is raising taxes, who is a socialist, who is a communist, who cavorts with terrorists, etc.  Finally, it will come to a close, hopefully, the close that most of us would like to see.  If (God forbid) the other candidate, were to have a victory, I plan to secede from the union and form my own sovereign nation.  It will be smaller than Luxembourg, as my nation for now will be confined to my home.  

In my sovereign nation, we will have time to watch a new low in all trash television lows, "Rock of Love Charm School, with Sharon Osbourne".  This show is awesome, it maybe as good as "The Rachel Zoe Project".  Actually, it's definitely better.  These beeyotches are crazy and stupid, and it is so entertaining to watch them scratch, pull hair, push, hit, kick, and no, this isn't some Nanny 911 type of thing.  Today, they get to manage a band of dudes and a chick that are sort of thrown together, in the fashion of Lou Perlman's boy bands.  These chicks were deciding who would be in their bands by who is the hottest guy.  Yes, this would be my criteria for a rock band.  This challenge is obviously inspired by the video game.  I would say, I am sad to see Stupid Megan go, because her lack of intelligence and meanness is pretty fun to watch.  She will blatantly lie and manipulate a situation to target someone she doesn't like.  In fact, her aspirations began as wanting to be a trophy wife, and then evolved to pursuing a career in dentistry.  I am not sure what the difference is--maybe lipstick.

This is very entertaining: