Burning Fire in The Sky & Thousands of Pissed Off Mexicans

I worked a 12-hour at my art-deco skyscraper hospital today; and I'll probably do it again tomorrow. Sunday I have a double (16 hours) at another hospital; so posting may be light this weekend.

Two little vignettes to tide you over: The first is that the Burning Orb of Doom y'all call "the Sun" returned to the South Texas skies today, marking a five-week absence. I actually had to wear my sunglasses today -- first time since April. In related news, the drought is officially over in Texas. The state announced today that every single part of Texas has now received enough rain to last until (at least) late 2008, ending the 10-year drought in Texas. (In fact, parts of north Texas from Dallas to Sherman on the border officially have enough rain to last them until the early 31st Century.)

Secondly, San Antonio is full of thousands of pissed-off Mexicans this week. The last week of July is traditionally "Tax-Free Weekend", when taxes are removed from school items (including office furniture, backpacks, computers, and anything remotely related to schools or studying). Thousands of Mexican nationals flood San Antone to buy tax-free, even planning their vacations around Tax-Free Weekend.

Last year the Texas legislature passed a law to start school only after Labor Day (it had been steadily creeping nearer the 1st week of August for years.) As a result, they moved Tax-Free Weekend to two weeks before the start of school -- this being the middle of August.

Nobody told the Mexicans. So they're all in town, and all pissed-off that they have to pay taxes.

And why the heck should the Texas taxpayers spend money to let Mexicans know to plan their vacations two weeks later?

Lots of tempers flaring in San Antone this weekend. The Mexicans are mad; the shopkeepers are mad about lost sales; the Texans are mad that the Mexicans are so poorly mannered . . . I'm just keeping my head down and trying not to giggle too much. Como se siente?

~~JD~~