What Would Jane Austen Do?

We're back in business now!

since I've had electricity in my house.

Listening to: KGSR is the best radio station EVER. They're based in Austin, but I just found out that they broadcast over the internet, as well. Sweet! [Caveat: the online radio function doesn't seem to work in Firefox. Oh, the irony.] Here's just an example of what they play, from the 4 o'clock hour yesterday afternoon: 5:00 PM "INSTITUTION" - DEDRINGERS 4:57 PM "WILD NIGHT" - JOHN MELLENCAMP AND MESHELL 4:54 PM "MAMBO SINUENDO" - RY COODER W/ MANUEL GALBAN 4:51 PM "FEELIN THE SAME WAY" - NORAH JONES 4:49 PM "SUBTERRANEAN HOMESICK BLUES" - DYLAN, BOB 4:46 PM "REAL LOVE" - LUCINDA WILLIAMS 4:35 PM "LET YOUR LOSS BE YOUR LESSON" - ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS 4:32 PM "SISTER LOST SOUL" - ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO 4:28 PM "LATE IN THE EVENING" - SIMON, PAUL 4:24 PM "SOMETHING GOOD THIS WAY COME" - JAKOB DYLAN 4:20 PM "DOWN THAT DUSTY

It looks like Gwyneth Paltrow has a Daily Candy-style newsletter she's working on. "Go to a city you've never been to. Learn something new. Don't be lazy. Workout and stick with it." Oh, I can already tell we're gonna be friends. I love it when rich bitches tell me, "Don't be lazy." Thanks, a.

the best part of the trip home yesterday: Becca kicking the back of my seat for 150 miles demanding that I sing, "You're a Grand Old Flag." I couldn't make this shit up.

I really hate blogs where people only talk about themselves -- soooo boring -- but I thought you might like an update. Joni may have had a point about the value of sticking it out without electricity. Emmet and Becca have a LOT to learn. Becca is currently attached to me like a barnacle, alternately demanding cereal (there's no milk!) and cartoons ( bonjour , no t.v.). So I'm glad we came back a little early, at least. Although I'm not terribly hopeful that they'll learn anything except a more aggressive form of whining. Still no power, although, miraculously, our across-the-street neighbors got power yesterday evening. We've dragged an extension cord to our house so we can have fans, at least. I'm also cruising someone's wifi so I can post this. Okay, who's the spoiled brat now? Also we're dogsitting. It's a long story. In Bridge City, about 1/4 of the town -- something like 2,000 people -- have no place to live. But now I have to sto

It's a bad sign when Anderson Cooper* shows up in your hometown in hip waders. For those of you who didn't know, Bridge City, Texas is where I grew up. It's where almost everyone in my family lives, and Papi's family, too. And it's where Anderson Cooper was "reporting live" this time last week. Hurricane Ike damn near blew the town off the map. Here's a picture of my sister Peetie's house: House features Open-air Utility Room; New landscaping; Water views from every room! My niece, Reilly's, bedroom. They found the rest of her bed on the other side of the house. You eagle-eyed observers may have noticed, it was a brick house. As in, "where all the pigs were safe from the Big Bad Wolf." A 47-year-old brick house that has seen its share of bad weather. Hurricane Ike blew it to bits. I asked if Peetie was able to salvage any of Reilly's toys; my mom said Reilly's things were all just gone -- as in , not there anymore.

I have so enjoyed our time together, all 12 of us in this house together. I just wanted to point out a couple of things: There is a reason I never brought up modern art with you. I don't actually care what you think about Jeff Koons. Also, I wasn't soliciting your opinions on immigrants who don't speak English fluently, or on Hillary Clinton. I thought I was doing us all a favor by not bringing it up. Maybe you could play along for a few more days? Yours, Mamacita P.S. Texas forbids the sale of hard liquor on Sundays; let us try to make the best of these difficult hours.

Houston has no power, but Papi's alive. He and Uncle John are doing okay. They're going to head to our neighborhood as soon as possible to check things out. Early reports are hopeful. I am staying with my aunt in Austin, along with 10 other family members . Which is good because my family lives in Bridge City, which you might be hearing about in the news. Bridge City is under 4-6 feet of water.

True, no electricity is harsh, but theft and vandalism of your property is worse. Stay in town (if you are not an evacuation zone), stock up on water and food, have a generator or battery operated fan, and keep your gun loaded. I wouldn't leave my property vulnerable to the criminal scum of this city over sweating it out in the heat. Oh, for fuck's sake, you can have my t.v.

It is so hard to find someone who does highlights properly, isn't it? Preach, sister. Yours, Mamacita

You may be happy to know that Mamacita and her heathen children are high and dry in Austin right now. We left Houston on Thursday morning at 1 a.m. Unfortunately, Papi is still in Houston, and planning to stay through the storm. The concern at our casita isn't so much the storm surge as the wind damage -- there are several old trees on the lot that look a little menacing to the roof. So, being fans of electricity, especially air conditioning, and running water, we left for higher ground. But keep your fingers crossed for Papi and the casita .

Honesty? On Craigslist? Now I have seen everything. "Live in Nanny Needed for 4 kids (Pls don't call them "Precious Ones") (Upper East Side)" via d.Sharp

Dear Heidi, mostly, but also Michael, Fern, and Diane, Kinley's dress was fantastic. Yes, it was pretty simple, and she might have been able to do more in her time, but you could have sold the heck out of that dress. It would have turned up on at least a couple of socialites and a movie star. It was a fantastic dress. Bad call. Also, how have you not voted Suede off the island yet? Just asking. Yours, Mamacita P.S. Seriously, look how gorgeous this dress is. Photo via Project Rungay . J'adore!

I believe there is a law that states, "Every female blogger must post at least once about an item she likes in the J. Crew catalog." So here: I love this sweater. Happy now?

Via

Moose Tracks ice cream is pretty good.

The All-Star Blogging Bitch Brigade is about to take over Internet radio. SGM , Decorno , Elaine and some dude named Harvey can be found here, and you can even call in to harass them. The National Guard is on high alert. P.S. -- Oh yeah, the link . They're on at 10 p.m. central time. Call them at this number to bug them: (347) 843-4516.

Holy shit, this is funny. a big ol' tip-of-the-hat to Jennifer

Leisurely morning at the summer palace in Kashmere; the maharaja is away in the south, hunting tigers. After a lilac-scented bath in your 5,000-gallon sunken tub, you slip into something regal. And supremely comfortable. You proceed down the pink marble stairs, flanked by your eunuchs. A peahen and peacock in full plumage interrupt their mating ritual to snare the grapes you toss at them. Your jasmine tea is coming to greet you. It’s going to be a good day.

"Respectfully hand-carved by traditional Asian craftsmen..." I believe you mean, "made in China."

(photo via the lovely and talented Pace) I went out for my birthday Monday night with some friends. We started with dinner at Mai's. Who should sit down at the table next to ours but THE FUCKING COP WHO GAVE ME A TICKET LAST WEEK. I swear to God. How many officers are there in the Houston Police Department? And how many restaurants in town? This wasn't even the neighborhood where we had our little exchange. Whatever. I didn't start any shit with her because I wanted to get to bingo. [N.B. -- NEVER do a Google Image search for "female cop." Just don't. ] Bingo is the Monday night attraction at The Continental Club, along with the sublime El Orbits. Fabulous prizes included a nectarine and a Slim Jim. We had a WTF moment at the bar when I tried to order a Pimm's Cup (for Cayce); the bartender mumbled something about prostitution, and then tried to sell me some cigarettes. Hurricanes were another no-go, so I settled on a Greyhound ... which he m

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