Day Two Hundred Eights Six...

AUSTIN

Leslie Cochran reported in critical condition
Austin's thong-wearing homeless icon found with possible head injury last week.

By Erin Mulvaney

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Albert "Leslie" Cochran — Austin's homeless, thong-clad celebrity — remains in a semi-vegetative state at University Medical Center Brackenridge after he was found unconscious on a sidewalk by a taxi driver Oct. 3, according to a public health official with knowledge of the incident.

The official said that Cochran's injuries are life-threatening and that if he survives, he may experience "life-altering effects," including remaining in a vegetative state.

"He's very, very sick," the official said.

University Medical Center said it could not confirm that Cochran was there.

Cochran has established himself as an Austin fixture, known for his skimpy outfits, cross-dressing and unsuccessful mayoral campaigns. He typically can be seen downtown clad in thongs, tiaras, boas and high heels.

Alan Graham, president of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, said he has known Cochran for years, and from conversations with him in the past, he knew Cochran suffered hardships living on the streets, despite his high profile and playful nature.

"It doesn't surprise me when people who live on the streets eventually end up in hospitals," Graham said. "Existing medical conditions can be exacerbated by lack of nutrition and shelter, and Leslie was no exception to that."

NOTE: In the spirit of full disclosure, I copied the information above from the Austin American-Statesman on-line edition (found at www.statesman.com), for today, Tuesday, October 13, 2009. There was no photo credit on-line, but if anyone can identify the person that took the photograph of Leslie, please let me know so I can provide proper credit. Bill...

How many homeless persons do you think there are in Austin, Texas? At least hundreds...perhaps thousands. Do we pay any attention to those that we see with ratty cardboard signs at the intersections? They do a pretty darn good job of being anonymous, and we help them out by averting their eyes and look away. Well, Leslie is/was the face (oh, what a pretty face) of homelessness to many people. He is a character, and is someone that is recognized by many. I doubt there are many folks out there that, at a chic cocktail party would exclaim 'some of my best friends are homeless'. Whatever...

Which just kind of brings me back to one of the points I try to make on this blog every day. Try your best to do something nice for someone EVERY DAY. That does not mean you have to give them money at the corner. For the longest time now, I have simply acknowledged the folks on the corner with a wave of the hand...just to let them know I recognize their existence. If you want to give a person on the corner some money, go ahead and do it, but do not (in my opinion) try to make rules as to what they can/cannot spend that money on. Give them money because you want to give them money. But, you don't need to give them money. Just be kind, give them a kind word. Or just thank someone for doing something nice for you. We have forgotten our manners lately, and I wish we could all be more considerate and civil. I remember when I was a kid in school, we were graded on 'citizenship'. By all of our teachers. I wonder if students are still given 'citizenship' grades in school now?

Okay, enough of that.

The sun has come out after a morning and part of the afternoon of grey clouds and rain. Today, between the time I left for work and the time I got home from work (approximately 9.5 hours) we received another 8/10 of an inch of rain. That puts us at about 4.7 inches of rain for this month. Approximately 20 inches of rain so far from September and October! I love seeing the sun, and it is a welcome friend back. On the way home, going down FM 972, I saw a buzzard sitting on a fence with her/her/its' wings outstretched trying to dry out after all the precipitation events we have been experiencing. I tried to get a photo, but the buzzard would not cooperate. He/she/it did not leave, just folded the wings. As soon as I left, I could see the wings all stretched out again in my rear view mirror.

I went down one of the back roads to see if the creek had risen, and indeed it had, as the photo above shows. We need the moisture, but just like everything else, too much of anything is just too much.

So, to close today's' entry, go up four paragraphs, and follow the directions. Have Fun!