The Embodiment of RED @thraeryn@thraeryn.net

#Houston is a little extra sometimes.

Like, there's probably one or two burlesque shows every We, Th, Fr, Sa each week.

I know bc my friends are in 'em and advertising 'em constantly. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Shit. My friend, Tico, bought and was repairing a 100-yr-old house in one of #Houston's underprivileged neighborhoods, aiming to turn it into a community center.

He's one of the most genuine "shirt off his back" folks. My house has PVC sewer pipes bc he spent several days under the house with me, only asking we buy him lunch each day.

The winter storm busted all his pipes, ruined his genny, and set him back a lot. Please help: https://gofund.me/ff86256d

I did my walk, did some push-ups, washed some dishes, ate a lunch, then went out in the #Houston heat around noon—yes, I'm a dummy—to pick trash out of our yard.

🎶 Dooooooooone 🎶
🎶 Just incredibly
Dooooooooone 🎶

Mowing lawns in #Houston is an annihilating endeavor. (selfie, sunglasses)

Well, damn. My phone reminded me that tonight was the night #AEW Dynamite was going to be here in #Houston.

They'd better reschedule.

I want every fusion cuisine under the goddamned sun. Viet-Cajun. Korean-Mexican. WE FUCKING HAVE IT, because we don't give a FUCK about anything past being down with H-Town.

The very few things #Houston doesn't have yet, I'm convinced it'll get. We're hungry to be EVERYTHING.

So, I'm really looking forward to #Houston returning to itself.

I want to participate in the Art Car Parade again.

I want to re-enact Pearl Harbor with my fellow Santas.

I want to see fire spun at basically every party.

I want to get the most absurd, involved balloon animals from my friend, Ben.

I want the sideshows and burlesque. I want people juggling. I want people set aflame.

I want "professional" party crashers doing karaoke in the parking lots of art shows.

I want Houston back.

(The All-Santa Re-Enactment of Pearl Harbor is a yearly institution in #Houston.)

I feel like this is an incredibly #Houston meal

I made myself a mock-up of a meal from one of #Houston 's local favorites, Connie's Seafood. Fried catfish, fried rice, and some veggie dumplings.

Also, a margarita.

#Houston will be under a "stay home" order in 19 minutes.

I joked that if anyone were heading to a hook-up and wanted to dodge a fine, they should keep an unopened something in a grocery bag in their trunk.

(I then pointed out that it was terrible advice and people should stay home.)

#Houston is closing down all non-essential business at 23.59 CDT tonight. Many reasonable businesses are classed essential,

but craft stores ain't on that list.

Got out to pick up my darning supplies. Gonna work on all my wear-worn clothes.

#Houston graffiti lore:

There's a big "BE SOMEONE" on a train bridge as one enters downtown. When it's defaced, people paint over the alterations and restore it.

There's a graffiti artist in Houston who went by "give up", and he routinely painted those words (in a distinctive serif font) in poignant and apropos places.

People never renewed his art when it was defaced.

Today, I will play Santa and take a bunch of holiday pictures with doggos.

If you're in #Houston, come down to NettBar between noon & 14.00 with a donation for SNAP, enjoy some cool weather, and get a holiday pupper pic.

I return to the seat of my power.

It's good to be back, #Houston, but #Austin will call me again soon.

I leave for #Austin tomorrow, come back at the weekend, play Santa to dogs, spend Christmas in #Houston, then back to #Austin for NYE.

I hope I'll be up to it all. But what will that even mean? Eh.

Trying to get back in the swing of things at my #Houston home. Did some dishes, washed some laundry, made sure we can cook dinner later.

This home is more comfortable for me. I have my own room here, with its red walls and all my things inside. I know how days here go. C's house is more variable; this house runs on rails. I can read for an hour without worrying on what else I might do.

#Houston makes me miss basements, and being underground, so much.

I return to #Houston. Sadly, I couldn't fix all the broken things on arrival. Gotta work for it as the week progresses.

I'm nearing the end of my week with C. in #Austin, and it has been amazing.

Tonight, our ridiculous friends have their first party in the communal mansion they recently rented. It will be bonkers.

Hundreds of people are invited. Many of our #Houston friends are making the drive. The house has an indoor pool.

WHO LIKES FUN