Sometimes in the summer heat here in San Antonio, the Riverwalk can be crowded, have an almost sewage smell, and be basically a free-for-all with people of all ages crowding and pushing, children giggling and yelling at the top of their lungs without ceasing and the occasional shriek that goes with plopping into the River unintended. It's great. Summer on the Riverwalk. No place like it. Couples up against the various walls and bridge underpasses who really should probably get a room! Noticing the proliferation of sleeveless guy tees and styles of pants still hanging around the kneecaps there must be at least one tattoo artist around here making enough money to put several kids through college! I'm not complaining about tatoos since most of you know I have one but some seem to challenge that idea you hear once in a while that the artform can become addictive. I'm still not moving with great ease but my prescription is walking, and I love to people-watch, so I walk the RiverMall several times a day/evening as energy allows. I'm here again this year with Bill for his attendance at the week-long annual Advanced Law Seminar. We come with hopes of seeing friends in SA while here only to find a required schedule of breakfast meetings, lunches, and dinners so that one's calendar is booked solid. Last year we managed to get away for a personal lunch with one couple and thought we'd scored a real success. This year, no time at all for free movement. Note: I'm also fascinated by friends who live in SA who say they haven't been to the Riverwalk in years. Just reinforces for me that I need to get out and explore much more of this delicious city rather than always sticking it out in this one area.

I'm enjoying the conference again this year, in no small part to the fact that you can watch/hear all the conference speakers in your room. It's so interesting to hear of the bills affecting our personal lives that almost make it through the state legislature and those that fail. The average person has no idea how drastically their life decisions and situations could be affected if just one or two of these passed or failed. From the length of waiting periods for marriage or divorce, to the issue of No Fault divorce and Standing, to finally rerouting child support payments of incarcerated parents over to the actual grandparents who are raising the children, etc. etc. etc. Some good things made it through this session due in no small part to the intense attention paid to house and Senate calendars by legal lobbyists who were able to spot "unannounced" votes about to hit the floor. Same is true with the social work profession. Legislative eagles, hired to watch the clock and the calendar, alerted voters across the state whose responses saved CHIPs and other social service programs this year. I wonder if we haven't stereotyped the word "lobbyist" (as in "all" lobbyists) as the evil, corrupt ones working for the special interests of oil and gas, sweat shops, foreign trade, the gun lobby and etc. I wonder if we all can remember for moment that national groups like nurses, teachers, MHMR, social workers and the aged also give money to their groups so someone is up there paying close attention to what is happening to their (possibly your) interests. I'm just sayin'.........