Kuwaiti Liberation Comemmoration

G and I went to the Kuwaiti Liberation Commemoration last night. So many big players were here in Aggieland - Bush 41 (with Barbara...and their amazing scooter), Quayle (he did not speak at all), Powell, Cheney, Scowcroft, Baker, and Boomer. The Emir of Kuwait was supposed to be there, but could not make it at the last minute. However, there was a contingent of ministers and ambassador types from Kuwait (thobes galore).

It was a really amazing experience to watch them talk about the lead up to and eventual war with Iraq (to kick Saddam and company out of Kuwait). I was in third grade when this all happened. I would watch reports on the war regularly on TV, particularly CNN, instead of watching cartoons. I felt particularly attached to it since I received a letter back from one of the troops serving over there (my school wrote letters to those serving...but I was the only one to get a letter back). But I also worried about kids like me in Kuwait and Iraq. I believe this event was the catalyst for my great interest in the Middle East that persists today. And thus seeing Bush and crew last night was amazing! What a great night of reflection!

NYT article on it: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/us/politics/21bush.html

PS My favorite part was left out of the article: a protester started singing during a moment when Cheney was talking. When Cheney finished, Powell said, while the protester was being escorted out, "If you don’t want to study a war, you better be ready to fight a war." The crowd ate it up!

Salt Lick

My grandmother, the most on it person I know going into one's 87th year (as she would put it), came for a visit this past weekend. She spoiled G and I rotten with excellent meals and an overall great time - loved all the conversations and stories - in Austin. We went to Perry's Steakhouse and Gumbo's for dinners, but my favorite was our lunch trip to Salt Lick, a BBQ INSTITUTION. Yum!