Just as I was saying I missed my family two weeks ago on my
birthday, I found out I would be taking a last-minute trip to my home state of Texas for work. The Legislature is considering an unsettling
bill that would require warning signs by fish in grocery stores, so I flew in
to give testimony about my concerns. I
got pressed on the health benefits of seafood, especially during pregnancy, and
gave the best science-based answers I could.
It was my first experience with state government, and I soaked every
minute up like a sponge. Policy is
fascinating, exciting, and frustrating all at once. Getting to spend time with my parents and
sisters was a nice contrast to the high-pressure testimony. And, of course, I got to eat some tasty Texas food. While in Austin,
I had possibly the best fish tacos of my life at Roaring Fork. They were deconstructed, so I got to make every
bite to my specifications using a combination of lettuce, avocado, salsa, cheesy
black beans, fish, lime, and a creamy sauce.

Once back in Dallas,
I went to a sports bar with my
family to watch the Mavs game. With all
my travel lately, I haven’t always been super hungry at meal times, so I just
made myself a small tasting plate from what everyone else ordered. My sister had a rich havarti, pine nuts, and
shrimp pizza; her boyfriend had salmon; and my mom had a pulled pork Cuban sandwich.