Month: July 2002

Every once in a while, people ask me why my photo page still offers up only a single rodent weasel, particularly now that I have a digital camera. Well, after Rayne this weekend, I present a new occasional crabwalk.com feature: I Wore That?
Consider it a trip through bad fashion decisions past. Luckily enough, all of today’s examples come from ages 5 to 9 or so, so fashion blame has to go primarily to the adults in my life who had credit cards and, thus, some degree of control over my clothing. (Note: these are digital photos of scrapbook photos, so the quality’s iffy on some. And these were designed for a Mac, so they’ll probably look dark on a PC.)
– A stunning vest. Archival research shows that Mazie was waaaay too into the vests-for-Josh movement in the early 1980s. Notice the lovely western pattern on the shirt, and the distant look in the eyes. (This is the same outfit, except I look really surly.)
– Speaking of western looks. That’s an allergy necklace, by the way.
– Look at the size of that bow tie! This was taken after my first communion, and the look on my face sums up my thoughts on organized religion at the time.
– Notice the writing on the shirt: “Drag Strip Fever.” That’s called casting against type. Also notice the watch: on my right wrist, not my left, a practice I continued until The Teen Years. And shoved so far up my arm it might as well be wrapped around my elbow.
– I’m sure my sour look is caused by my internal concerns about ethnic stereotyping.
– Look at those ears! Epic in scale! Thankfully, my head eventually grew to match them. (No jokes, please.)
– Fuzzy photo, but conclusive proof that I once wore overalls non-ironically.
– Check out those velcro kicks.
– Stylin’.
– Which one of these two people became a rock star and which one became a nerdy writer?
Finally, three bonus photos:
– Childhood bunnies.
– Proof that I wasn’t the only bad dresser circa 1984. (That’s Mazie on the left and my mom on the right.)
– And finally, I wrote this back in October:
In Pigeon Falls Forge [Tennessee], they had, among other things…the Police Museum, featuring the life story of McNairy County Sheriff Buford Pusser, who was shot eight times and knifed seven more (I have a very strong childhood memory of the sign at the entrance: “We Have Buford Pusser’s Death Car”).
Well, now there’s proof. (Cousins T-Ron and Pam on either side.)

Two stories in today’s paper, in the Texas/Southwest section: a piece outlining the dropout prevention plans of the two gubernatorial candidates and a profile of the state’s new dropout czar.
I’m about to dropout of Louisiana and head back to Dallas, with a brief stopover in College Station. See you on the flip side.

Chanda’s brilliant run at Wimbledon finally ends, with a loss to the Williams sisters in the doubles semifinals. At least she and Kournikova won a set off them — imagine what Chanda could have done with a real partner! Congrats on a wonderful run.

Well, hot damn! Chanda and Anna Kournikova upset the No. 1 seed in doubles, Raymond/Stubbs, and are now in the Wimbledon semifinals. You can’t stop Chanda Rubin — you can only hope to contain her! The other side of the draw hasn’t fully developed yet, but Rubin/Kournikova will probably face Venus and Serena Williams next. Maybe the sisters will be tired from their dominating the singles side of the tournament.

Happy July 4th, everyone. (Well, except Osama bin Laden. I’ve heard he reads crabwalk.com, and to you, sir, I daresay: “Sad July 4th!”)
I’m in Rayne, and I’m happy to report that Mazie looks great. She’d had a very rough stretch a month or so ago, including a stint in the hospital. But for the last week or so, she’s sounded great on the phone, and she’s as active, vibrant, and boisterous as ever. Geaux doctors!
Here’s my story in today’s paper, a profile of the new chancellor of the University of North Texas System.

Great video for the Starlight Mints. Boozy rock-star Muppets rawk.

Past and present Toledoans across the world are crying today at the death of an Ohio icon. Spook, 1988-2002, R.I.P.

Just because she’s out in singles doesn’t mean she’s not still kicking ass: Chanda and Anna Kournikova win again in doubles, upsetting the 11 seed 6-2, 6-2. Up next is the top-seeded team of Raymond/Stubbs.
I really hope all these mentions of Anna Kournikova do wonders for my hit count. Of course, gentle readers, you know there are no photos of Anna Kournikova naked here, much less photos of Anna Kournikova nude, Anna Kournikova porn, or Anna Kournikova red hot monkey sex.

My grandmother‘s long national nightmare is over. I shaved last night. It’s my present to her for my trip home to Rayne tonight. She thinks I look horrible with a beard. (“You look like a damned hippie.”)
I always let my facial hair grow during lengthy vacations. The first time was in 1999, when I had three weeks in the South Pacific for a story, followed by three weeks on vacation in central China. It came in scraggly, but I was persistent. It lasted about a year.
This iteration started when I went back to China for vacation last summer. Which means that the people who know me from blogging (which I began in September) have never known me clean-shaven. Don’t be too shocked.
Unfortunately, whenever I do shave off the beard, I look like a baby-faced 12-year-old for a few days, as my jaw toughens up from the exposure. Luckily, I’ll spend those few days in Louisiana with no one to impress but my grandmother.

A shout-out to all the folks who participated in the June swap of the CD Mix of the Month club. When I get in all the mixes each month, I usually divide them into four groups. Group 1 is for the truly great mixes — great music I don’t know, but most importantly, arranged with a sense of adventure. Group 2 is for very solid high-quality mixes. Group 3s are still quality, but probably not something I’d listen to again. Group 4s have too much Kid Rock.
This month, for the first time in the history of the club, I got no Group 4s. Not a single crappy mix. You go, people!