Daily Archives: 05/17/2009

(Community Matters) Michael Barnes has posted about last night’s Art House soiree. Regret that we weren’t able to join Suzanne & David Booth. I know their party included Kevin Keim and other friends. Have to make sure Michael B. meets Suzanne & David soon. my bad.

Art House definitely a major player in Austin’s thriving art scene. Led by Sue Graves with major support from Julie & John Thornton, Jeanne & Mickey Klein, Chris & Phil Dial, Chris Mattson & John McHale, Joanna & Stephen Jones, Lynn & Tommy Meredith, Laurence Miller and Don Mullins, they promote the growth and appreciation of contemporary art and artists in Texas. It’s a very cool and collaborating organization. Congrats to this year’s chairs, Alisa Weldon, Oliver Everette & Sharon Gerhardt. Sorry to have missed, but wouldn’t have missed our dinner for the world.

(Community Matters) It use to be four of five couples – two of the principals are no longer with us.

What a terrific evening, Barbara Wohlgemuth cooked a spectacular dinner assisted by her dearest friend Carrie Stapleton. Sarah Goodfriend, Suzanne Bryant, Michael Mitchell and Robert Torian. We missed Bettie Naylor & Libby Sykora; they should have been there 🙂

Pates & goat cheese medallions, Lobster bisque, fresh beets and salad, poached lobster and wild rice and a chocolate & ice cream concoction infused with espresso beans & devised by Carrie. Good god it was heavenly, and paired with 4 perfect wines. And, laughing, lots of laughing. Michael & Barbara have always given each other the giggles – especially when we enjoy lots of good wine. The three of us have more dinner stories than just about any other setting.

Kay Longcope & Tom Henderson are no longer with us, though they’re especially with us when we’re together. Steven couldn’t be there, and – rats – I forgot to count how many times Steven & Eugene vs Eugene & Steven.

Sarah, Michael, Suzanne, Barbara, Carrie & Robert

Robert & Barbara

Michael, Carrie & Robert

(Community Matters) It really won’t be about the Supreme Court nominee. They don’t even expect to succeed. The leaders of these conservative groups – most who consider themselves “good Christians” – are ready to attack and vilify honorable women in order to prosper financially and politically. NYTimes article here

Of course, Gary Bauer is still full of it:

“The risk for the Republican Party is they will be tempted to be more gentlemanly than Democrats are when a conservative is nominated,” Mr. Bauer said. “By doing that, they will not only lose an educational moment with the public, but they will risk driving the base of the Republican Party to once again be frustrated.”

(Community Matters)
Reading today’s New York Times, further realizing how complex our financial challenges are to fix – NYT editorial, Frank Partnoy, David Brooks & Paul Krugman columns. I’ve written to conservative UT Finance Professor Michael Brandl for additional perspective.

More questions than answers. Steven flies in this evening, so we’ll probably discuss over Thai. And, I can think of no one better than Barack Obama to be the arbitrator of opinion, the architect of reform – to be assisted by the others we elect. Posted from my blackberry.