The Chance for Change

"This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change."

I'm awestruck.

Without a doubt, the man is the most outstanding orator of this generation. Delivered in powerful, somber and dignified tones, Barack Obama just made an acceptance speech that kept me spellbound and reinforced more than ever the belief that he just might be the real thing - a statesman worth believing in.

It must be said, too, that Sen. McCain's concession speech was sincere and moving. He refused to lower himself to the crowd, and kept the tone high. But it was Obama's words that brought a lump to my throat tonight.

The Blue (Mexican) Goose

Went to the Blue Goose in North Dallas for lunch today. Outstanding.

I really do like Mexican food, and this was a perfect re-enactment of a Mexican cantina: dirty and poorly decorated on the inside, bare concrete walls all over, neon bar signs, ice-cold frozen margaritas and really great food. Beef fajitas with all the goodies.

We were visiting Tony's former student, Hedley, and his three dogs. Before lunch we went for a walk with the dogs:

• Abacus, a jack russell, who adorably stood on his hind legs to try and see the leash on the shelf when he heard we were going for a walk
• Panda (Pandora), another variant of jack russell which looks like a little ball of white fluff - like most highly pedigreed animals, she's horribly inbred, to the point where she's alergic to grain, chicken and beef. The only thing which doesn't make her break out in a rash at the moment is venison.
• Pagan, a very boisterous but beautiful ridgeback. He's 18 months old and clearly in need of exercise, because he was much better after the stroll.

Interesting - the place where Hedley and his wife live is the oldest suburb of Dallas (as in, not within the city but out in the 'burbs). The little street three blocks away used to be the main drag into Dallas from the north, and as such it's been a spot for wild nightlife for the last 80 years. In an otherwise sleepy little corner of suburbia, you suddenly get no less than 8 really great bars and a load of excellent restaurants. The local Irish pub (predictably named The Dubliner) was started in the 1920s by Irish immigrants and has been running ever since. On St. Patricks day every year they block off the streets for a festival which attracts 100 000 people.

Hedley says that they mostly have their own party at home on St. Paddys, and watch the constant flow of entertainingly inebriated passers-by...