small heroes: the niece, the nephew and the dog

04.04.02 || thursday ||

Happy 27th Birthday, Rachel!

Almost every day I encounter an event that I consider blog-worthy. Some circumstance that makes me say to myself, "You need to write about this on montview." The problem comes when I sit down to write an entry — I can never seem to remember the worthy events.

Today, however, is different. My friend Martha (an accomplished classical guitarist) is performing in Austin this weekend. While she is here, I've offered to give her the 50 cent tour of the city.

As I ran an errand on Congress Avenue today, I started to wonder what I would show her. And then, all of a sudden, the answer was right in front of me — Leslie the tranvestite's thonged buttocks!

Leslie is an Austin institution — a homeless person who dresses, ahem, "provocatively" (witness Leslie in a Hooters outfit) and pushes an oversized grocery cart through the streets of downtown Austin. He/She recently ran for mayor and received around six percent of the vote. I'd submit Leslie is as important to the city as the State Capitol or the University.

Today, he/she had hiked up his/her skirt, revealing a pair of thong underwear to those passing the corner of 6th and Congress. The result? Not one individual batted an eye. Right then and there, I decided this is something Martha needs to see.

Keeping Austin weird ... one thong at a time.