First up:  Thanks to The Daley Gator and The Other McCain for the Rule Five inks!

I’m off momentarily to the airport and thence to the booming metropolis of McAllen, by God, Texas!  I’m there to conduct a couple day’s training on change management in a manufactory on the other side of the Rio Grande, in Reynosa.

I’ve always liked Texas and Texans.  I was stationed there for a while when I wore Uncle Sam’s colors.  Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio was one of my favorite posts and was effectively my second home during my service.

The only thing that is holding up Mrs. Animal and yr. obdt. placing Texas on our list of semi-retirement possibilities is the climate – I can’t stand hot weather – and the lack of mountains.  I do enjoy Texas countryside, I like the food and the folks, but when the time comes to move, we’ll still look north to Alaska.

Meanwhile, here are a few notes on Saturday night’s GOP debate:

It seems Marco Rubio didn’t do so well. He strikes me as the GOP’s answer to President Obama – personable guy, great when he’s on script, not so hot otherwise.  New Jersey Governor Christie in particular hit the GOP wunderkind hard.

Meanwhile, the two big dogs in the race right now – Trump and Cruz – seemed careful to stay off each others toes.  Mulling a deal, perhaps?

On that note, I’m off to the airport, and so we return you to your Monday, already in progress.