A perfectly lovely evening at the Hollywood Bowl was spoiled at the end of the show (right before the encore) when this guy -- who had been hocking up loogies and belching all night -- started projectile vomiting. That's not what you want to have happen two rows behind you.

I have no idea what piece the Philharmonic performed for the encore -- I was to busy trying to stop myself from vomiting while sitting downwind from the incident.

Note to self: It's time to stop drinking when you start throwing-up in public.

Ten Flags Well Lit

The California Republican Party's semi-annual convention in Indian Wells wrapped up today.

The attention to imagery certainly has increased since I went to my first one at the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel in 1978.

There weren't many balloons on the convention floor today, but this little girl found a few and had a great time playing with them. Pure joy.

The Sweet Life

Drove down to Indian Wells today to work this weekend's California Republican Party convention. Several Presidential candidates are coming by over the course of the weekend and three Governors (California's, Texas' and Florida's) spoke at this evening's banquet.

Someone thought it would be real funny to put the exhibit table for a "yes" campaign right next to the table for the "no" campaign -- (I'm working on the "no" campaign on the Big 4 Gambling Compacts to be voted on statewide in February).

I brought my candy bowl for our table, but I didn't have time today to buy any candy. So I was a little chagrin when the proponents laid out candy on their table this afternoon.

Well, I went to Ralph's tonight. I'll see their Butterfingers and Nestle Crunch and raise them a Hershey's Variety Pack and Mini-Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

A Lone Star in the Rear View Mirror

Flew home from Houston today and, I'm happy to report, both my flights took off on time and without incident.

I didn't have time to do much in Houston. I got there Tuesday evening. Worked all day Wednesday and flew home Thursday morning.

The closest I got to "sightseeing" was going to a strip mall on Westheimer Road with both a Chinese restaurant and a Kinko's in it. I had dinner in the Chinese restaurant and then went to do some work at the Kinko's Wednesday night.

This sculpture (photo above) in the Houston Intercontinental Airport is called "Moonwalk." Get it? Moo...nwalk.

Just Like Home

I generally have a personal rule against eating at chain restaurants on the road. I like to experience the local culture through food (as long as it's not too scary).

But after flying to Houston today, where it is very hot and muggy, and finding my hotel (the Westin Oaks -- a dump) connected to a gigantic mall, I was thrilled at the idea of going to dinner without having to leave the building.

So I had dinner at the Houston Galleria Mall's Daily Grill -- which is pretty much like every other Daily Grill I've eaten at. But the route to get there was indoors, and that's what counted tonight.

A Quick Turn

Took a quick trip to the Bay Area today. After my flight experiences on Friday I was nervous about flying on Labor Day Monday. But both flights went off without a hitch. I think I got lucky and flew home before the real crowds arrived Monday night.

Idaho Stalls

The Trojans of USC defeated the Vandals of Idaho 38 to 10 in yesterday's season opener at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Vandals spent most of the game tapping their feet but they barely scored.

I kept waiting for them to reach down and grab a piece of paper in order to wave it like a white flag.

After half time the Vandals seemed resigned to their destiny.

It was absolutely packed on campus before the game. I guess that comes with being the Number One team in the country.

USC Security has a new toy to play with.

Here comes the Trojan Marching Band to perform on campus before the game.

When the Trojan Marching Band performs on campus band officials place a ladder right in front of the center campus flag pole for the Drum Major and Dr. Arthur C. Bartner to use to conduct the band. Once the ladder was in place this guy, Random Climber, thought it would be funny to climb up it. Band officials thought otherwise.

Climber seemed to enjoy ignoring band officials and security yelling at him to get off the ladder.

Security finally grapped Climber by the back of the pants and pulled him off the ladder. You can sort of see him grabbing the top of the ladder on the way down.

The crowd cheered when the Drum Major took his proper place atop the ladder.

The band seemed to have fun playing for the fans assembled on campus before the game.

The Trojan Marching Band looked good back in the Coliseum.

Traveler was a little feisty his first time back in the Coliseum this season.

Traveler ran across the field before the game began.