The stars aren't the only thing big and bright down here in Texas.

You always have a preconceived notion about the areas you are going to visit if it’s a popular locale. Texas brings up images of Cowboy boots and hats. For my friend it was cactus and football. In reality though its all true except for the cactus part ( I haven’t seen any yet being in the city and all).

The travel gods were smiling down on us yesterday. We weren’t able to get a direct connecting account to Dallas from Boston. We were supposed to have flown by Chicago (my kind of town). Upon arriving at Logan we were asked if we wanted to fly direct. Without too much discussion we both said hell yeah. So then we were booked on the 1:25 flight to Dallas. It was however 12:45. The plane starts boarding at 1:05.

I wear flip flops to the airport in most cases because I can slip them on and off easily going through security. I am reconsidering this for future flights because they are not conducive to running a mile on concrete floors to catch a flight. We got to the security check point in time to wait in line. As we queued up to wait they started opening up more screening booths. It looked like we were going to make it after all. We only had a few people in front of us. Of course during their extensive wait in line they were just too busy to get any identification out of their wallets or from their purses. I don’t understand how someone can lose it out of the short time it took them to whip it out at check in.

Anyways the woman and the four kids standing in front of me were soon on their way. Smooth sailing from here. WRONG! The TSA agent starts saying out loud “Where is my red marker?” I’m like the other agent came over and took it. “Oh I need it though to let you through.” Then she took off and confronted the guy who took it, and he refused to give it back. They almost broke out into some bizarre cat fight. Finally she snatches the red marker and no lie puts a parenthesis around two numbers. That was it ??? Apparently this is used to highlight the code (that is already printed on the ticket mind you) that signifies we have been randomly selected for additional security screening. “Just step over there and someone will be right with you.”

Grrrr alright. Play nice don’t look inpatient it will only take longer then. Of course I have to bring my black bag which has umpteen million pockets they have wipe/swab down. Finally 1:09 I am out o security and trying to book it down the concourse in my flip flops. We arrive at the gate in the nick of time to get our seat assignments. 31 A and B essentially the back of the plane. Is that the wing out the window? No that’s the engine. I didn’t care I was on the plane would not have to sit in Chicago for hours for a connecting flight. Plus our position was right behind the flight attendant’s cabin so we had a lot of extra leg room.

The rest of the flight was peacefully uneventful. Arriving in Dallas or really the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex (DFW) for short was really no different than most other places I have visited. It was just really flat. Even more so than Chicago I think. At least they have a lake. Soon we were on our way to our hotel just outside Dallas center. I really can’t say enough good things about the place we are staying. I opened up my door and my first reaction was “Where is my bed”. “Oh! This is the living room.” Haha. The hotel rooms are a lot bigger than I am used to, and they come complete with two 40” plasma TV’s. Hell I don’t want to leave the room. Six O’clock was approaching and that meant dinner with our Sales Reps. I’ve got to say I was looking forward to it. I never really had a burning desire to see Dallas, but once I got here I wanted to explore. Our man with the plan Harry took us on a little tour of the parts of the city, and we got to see the Texas Book Depository and the infamous grassy knoll where President Kennedy was assassinated. It looked just like the footage I’ve seen only this time in color. It was eery driving down the same road where the motorcade went down all those years ago. Being a history buff I was happy that I got a chance to see it.

We ended up having dinner at a great Mexican place in a place that has been described as Dallas’ Newbury St. Only without the high-end stores and pretentiousness. What’s left you say? Well tons of restaurants with outside dining. As we were walking to and fro it dawned on me how clean a city Dallas is. Not that I thought it was dirty. It was just very clean especially if you compare it to NYC. Sorry New York. You are many things but clean is not one of them. We ended the night at a sports bar where we had a couple of Dos Equis and watched the Olympics.
Friday was spent at the show and it went well as I took care of the business I had to take care of. Afterwards our friend Harry took us to Bob’s Steakhouse. Its one of those places that if you didn’t know about it you wouldn’t notice it driving by. I mean it was attached to auto detailing place. But hell if they don’t have the best steak I’ve had in my life. Period. I had a blue cheese salad to start and a 16 oz NY strip steak. I can’t believe it was only 16oz. I have seen toddlers smaller. It came with the signature glazed carrot, and pan-fried potatoes topped with sautéed onions and green pepper sauce. Cooked perfectly medium rare to boot. Heaven and Hell on a plate and thank god the office Weight Watchers doesn’t start till next week. The place was perfect no windows and Sinatra and his cronies filled the air. We met Bob, who was not at all as I would have pictured him. I doubt I’ll find another place like it, and it definitely gives me reason to return.

Life Interrupted

Well its been several weeks since my last post. I wish I could say that its been all fun. The reality I'm afraid is far from it. While the beginning of my hiatus was marked with fun and friends the past week has been depressing. Those who know me will know whats going on but for now I will just say that some one very close to me has become ill again. While this was always a possibility it was not an inevitability. Cancer is never a certainty you are never really sure if you got it all or if its completely gone. Apparently this is the case today. Despite a quick response and a successful outcome the first time its not looking like it will be a repeat performance this time and it is not looking good at all. Truthfully I am not sure I want to blog anymore. My thoughts are not there and when they are they are far more serious than anything I've spoken of to date.

I think I need some time away...

To get to the other side.

Ever have one of those days that you feel that your the punch line to some cosmic joke. That was today. I had an awesome weekend. The details to follow in a subsequent post. Today thought everyone seemed on edge and half way through the day I felt it all being projected at me. It was enough to freak me out and shut down. Come 5 I was spent and privately wishing I had another long weekend to look forward to. No such luck next one is Labor Day ugh. I'm sure its just a funk and I will snap out of it and be my normal self again. Fortunately a very good friend is a Massage Therapist and did a little work on my shoulders to destress me tonight.

So for the rest of this blog I'm just going to focus on the good things about this past weekend. I went to Vermont, no shock there. It was fun and despite the traffic the ride up was not bad as Nora had lent me an audio book. Prey by Michael Crighton. I liked it and it kept my mind off the traffic and made the ride all the more pleasurable. Upon arriving my friends were out so I entertained myself with a little TV. Definitely a treat and it proved beyond a shadow of a doubt my ecclectic taste as I was switching back and forth between the Military Channel's Weaponology and Kathy Griffin's Life on the D-List.

Friday I woke to some great wheather. Sunny mid 80's and low humidity picture perfect days really. I would later learn that the Mass weather was not so nice, as one friend of mine put it so coloquilly as "hot as a crotch". ewww Glad I could miss it. I did get a chance to do some ballooning but thats tomorrow's post. Saturday I went and saw Wall-E. Probably the BEST Disney flick I have seen in a while. Not too schmaltzy, it was just right and yes the dialogue is almost not there which is why the movie is all that more impressive. I suggest you actually go out and see this one. I also helped some friends put in some windows. Yes I can be manly and do work with power tools. In truth its not all that much different than the equipment I worked with in my grandfather's shop years ago. The only difference is its smaller and has more safety features. Windows went in well and level I might add and then we cooked out on the grill. A great reward for the days work, but then it was time to depart back to Mass. Definitely not my favorite part of trip but it gave me a chance to finish the audio book.

I look forward to the next time I get up there hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

Only In Newton?

So I am in a much better mood today. Mainly because I sucked it up and went to the gym today. I have been getting a little lax and have noticed a pound or two start to creep back on. I worked very hard to get rid of them so that's the last thing I want. So at about 7 I left work and headed for the gym, I surprised myself in my workout and will probably pay for it tomorrow but there were some aggressions that needed to be extricated. Now I'm home writing with an endorphin high, which do more wonders for you than any drug you can take. Or at least I would imagine.

So I work in Newton. If you've never been its rather a unique town. Collectively I think the population takes a dump maybe once a year. Its that uptight. The people can be so anal retentive that there ass as its own gravitational pull. I know this to be true because most times my foot just wants to kick them. After about 6 years of working here I never fail to see a week where someone tops the rudest or supremely narcissistic behavior from the week prior. Seriously some of these people are downright evil and will go out of there way to make you have a bad day. Driving is bad enough. No one stops for people in cross walks, and no one lets anyone out on to the main road even if they are stopping at a red light. Last week I wanted to pull out and this one guy saw me sitting there trying to get out and he SPED UP to a red light so I couldn't go and waited at the light. Then as it came time to go he crawled away all the while looking at me. What an Asshole. Its not like I did something wrong to him or cut him off he was just an ASSHOLE.

There is a reason why Newton is one of the safest places to live in America. It was almost the first again until that little murder last year. Criminals don't bother, they take one step in the town and go "Shit! This isn't worth that aggravation". I do need to give credit where it is due and I will say that for the most part the business that I frequent on a day to day basis are really good, and they put up with a lot of shit from there clientele. New England Soup Factory, Pie Bakery and Cafe, The Biltmore, Dunn Gaherin's, and Holly Cleaners are all superb in their customer service and know how to treat people like people. Some even, gasp!, build relationships with their regulars.

So now you know what I see and deal with on a daily basis, so tonight coming home from the gym its about 9:30 at night and I am driving down Winchester in Newton and I look over and this guy is walking down the street in full leather garb. I'm serious. Leather pants, leather vest with no shirt and gut hanging out. I had all I could do not to swerve off the road laughing so hard. I mean the guy looked like he just strolled out of the Ramrod. So is THIS what Newton is like after dark? Seriously the only thing tight on this guy had to be his chaps. Well here's hoping that the folks in Newton find a happy medium and relax a little or the town will have a stroke.

Weekend Update

Smörgåsbord: 1. a buffet meal of various hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, salads, casserole dishes, meats, cheeses, etc. 2. an extensive array or variety. It is that second definition that describes my weekend. Certainly filled with its highs and lows. I watched a movie, travelled to Maine, and even went on a date. Those were definitely the highs. The lows came later with a healthy dose of introspection. Its not that I am unhappy this evening its just that I am not in the normal peace of mind I have come to expect these days. So I will try to keep this short.

1. I saw the Hulk. Not as good as Iron Man. But it has Iron Man in it. Either way 2008 is proving that Marvel knows how to transition there characters to the big screen. Its a shame so many of there other more "famous" characters are owned by Sony and can't be touched without them.

2. I was in Maine early today touring the York Harbor Inn. Nice place to stay even if the decor in the rooms is a little to ecclectic. They do have an amazing brunch. As it was comped we had no problem with having the run of the menu. I will give them major points for actually having a fresh Bearnaise sauce. Its very hard to come by and in many "brunch" places the choice is a reconstituted Hollandais.

On the way back we hit a small storm that was strong enough to knock some patio furniture into the streets. I also was able to pick some bread from the When Pigs Fly Bakery. Yumm.

3. Finally the crux of my weekend was my date. I know I was nervous on Friday. I know now that I can take a look back and laugh at myself. Its amazing how much a person can psyche themselves out. Fortunately for me my date was a charming gentleman who actually believes in the art of conversation and the art of Martini's. hehe I digress though. It started out a little rough as the outside dining turned out to be more of an outside Sauna with no shade, and I need to give thanks to the the jackass who dropped there lit cigarette down the subway ventilation shaft. It caused a small fire that required two trucks to show up with horns blazing. Not that I minded since the fire was effectively smoking us out. Had I never been to this restaurant before I would probably not be going back. Anyways some shopping and a few Martini's later and all was right in the world again.

Now my weekend is over and my work week will begin a new. Hopefully I'll be in a better mood tomorrow and right more. Sorry kind of blah tonight.