Friday, July 29, 2016

got a red dress on and feelin sassy! (and maybe a little grumpy)

a few things to comment on here and there.
  1. found out our neighbors are selling their house - she just had her second baby and they're building out near Wylie. I'm sure it'll sell in a day (the way houses are going around here). I'm dreading it. Yes judgy but I'm picturing helpless milennials, never mowed a lawn in their lives and don't know how to take care of their shit. This'll be me I'm sure...

  • I saw some of the presidential conventions - both with a whole lotta jibber jabber as expected, same ol same ol on one side, (not so much on the other - plagiarism really?!) Seriously though... I know the dem vp can speak spanish...that's great. But it's kinda lame to throw it in the speech like that. Pretty sure most latino voters don't give a shit. We're American. English is our main language. Don't pander. 
  • Reading Tracy Ann Warren's - Accidental Mistress (mentioned by a writer for the H&H website) can put it down but not bad!
  • I got a red dress on! yes that means I'm feelin sassy. We're heading to the roughrider game tonight, dog sitting Daisy! for the M's and going to a birthday dinner tomorrow
And speaking of "minor leagues" lets go with Wade Bowen!


Monday, July 25, 2016

New Orleans day trip and I'm forever teased

New Orleans Saturday.
  • Landed in at 10am. Uber $33?ish to
  • Liuzza's by the track - just yum...never fails
  • Revel - newish place, wonderful cocktails and Amanda, our bartender, suggested:
  • Twelve Mile Limit - google maps led us wrong. It was hot. We wander into a place called NOLA Til Ya Die and met Beth who kindly gave us a ride (yet again...yay for strangers!) We offer to buy her a couple of drinks as thanks - she's been in NOLA a while, colorful personality (from Indiana?) and very well-traveled. Good local place too.
  • Toups Meatery - didn't register that he was Isaac (sp?) a top chef contestant. Nice guy. Deviled eggs, Cracklins, boudin and the pork chop were on point.  It felt a little off in there though (tourist-ish?.) ...I wish he would've had New Orleans music in there...maybe it's ridiculous but i think music is important to a restaurant feel
  • 6ish - Left to make the airport
So yes we were there less than 9 hours. I thought it was gonna be a long day but it blew by.

I think this is the way for us to do NOLA now. An hour plane ride and live the day...it's a no brainer. 
We didn't even touch the Quarter - didn't need to...

Sunday brunch with friends at Smoke. 
Then tried to watch Secret Life of Pets and ended up walking out. It was too silly adventure-y (not like UP, a favorite!!!).
So disappointing.

Finished Bay of Sighs - as always, just ok - I just more and more feel like I've been here.
Re-read Sarah MacLean's - Never Judge a Lady By her Cover, as good as i remember.

AND MY FRUSTRATION RETURNS!!!! about to finish re-reading Elizabeth Lowell's Enchanted (medieval series) - so good.
I (again) researched about Erik's story and all I can still find is E Lowell responding to someone on facebook in 2013 saying she'll afraid she'll die before it's written....sigh. I'm forever teased with this series....!

And so in the mood for a little Bruce Robison - Wrapped
thought i was doing fine, about to get you off my mind....


Friday, July 22, 2016

fully realize i found a rare one

was introduced to a guy recently  (a crossfit-type looking guy)  - I reached over to shake his hand and he lightly shakes the tips of my fingers.
Gross! IT WAS SO GROSS!

It's easier and easier to find most men not attractive lately - especially the younger ones.

I honestly think that of all books I've read (the majority of them being romance) I have a good general idea of what women want from men.
Bottom line - they don't want men to act like boys *I'm being judge-y but this includes men who play video games as their main hobby

OR WORSE (and I unfortunatley have a plethora of recent examples to mark upon - but won't here)  women don't want men to act like stereotypical women - needy, whiny, drama, pushover

MEN - please read romance books (NOT 50 Shades of Grey!!!) - books like Emma Chase or Sara MacLean to get an idea of what women like.

Or shit, it doesn't have to be about women...it'd be a better world if men were more secure in themselves and manage themselves in general!!! What is going on!!! ugh.

I think I would be ok on my own - but seeing what's out there, I thank god I found Jamie. He's a rare one. I know this for a fact.

but wait  - SPEAKING OF MEN...  there's Denver!!
I found 2 roundtrip tix to Denver for the Rangers game in a few weeks for $178 on United!
woo - i love denver.

Last I was there, I noticed that men actually looked and acted like men.
No weak handshakes, no cocky know-it-alls, no plucked eyebrows

I hope it's not changed....(not that I'll be partaking - but STILL... I can look!If I were single I woulda been all over that.

reading Nora Roberts Bay of Sighs - it's typical Nora Roberts.
Off to New Orleans tomorrow for a day trip with the husband!....oy it's gonna be hot.


Monday, July 18, 2016

finished it "and gave it a pat".

Dinners/catch up with friends over the weekend.
Pam (our MD's diner gal) teared up describing how people lined up to pay for meals for the 100-ish police (including the Chief and some from as far away as Boston) that showed up to eat after Friday's funeral. Good on ya Plano peeps. 

Went on a stream tv watching kick - finished watching Catastrophe, started watching Mr. Robot (I'm interested..just can't marathon watch that one - too dark and....cerebral(?).) ...and lonely. also watched a documentary of the 9/11 Falling Man - always wondered about that image morbid that way....

Not sure how I came by Gabrielle Zevin's  Storied Life of A.J. Fikry? The perspective threw me off a little (I like the first person) but I grew to really like this book - there were several times where I thought "what a great line" or "yes, me too!." and though the story wouldn't (couldn't?/shouldn'tve anyway) character delve more , the lines carried it for me.
A new favorite.

Really though - with all the shit going on lately, and all the media access -  that book helped the most. I finished it "and gave it a pat".


...well gave my kindle a pat. *a bit shameful given the context of the book i know*
but my "library room" was maxed years ago and I think jamie would freak if he could physically see how many books since then...
whatever...
Good stories are the best.

speaking of jamie... we decided yesterday that  we're  doing a day trip to NOLA for the mister's bday. So...back to NOLA (3rd time in a year?..) Cause why not!!...

and I'm in the mood for some old school Cory Morrow ...another story that's not so happily ever after




Thursday, July 14, 2016

got no trouble today, with anyone

i'm getting off the emotional rollercoaster
(as much as I can anyway - police funeral processions continue)
and really, being depressed and/or angry all the time is exhausting

PLUS my car played me Patty Griffin's - Heavenly Day this morning so I'm gonna take this as a sign....




I'm losing interest in reading Divorced,Desperate and Delicious - free why not - but eh, not my style - definitely fantasy (not that I'm above it) but ...it's more desperate than anything else really.

Kresley Coles newest Arcana comes out soon maybe I'll re-read to catch myself up....

Not sure what we're doing this weekend - maybe nothing? that sounds fun...
Jamie's been bored without any sports on tv, plus all the bad stuff going on, he's been in uber grumpy old man mode. I told him so.

I've not helped with my rollercoaster either. As I said though...we're moving on....

I found a new show last night called Catastrophe on amazon prime...3 shows in...pretty funny so far.

pitched in a few bucks to a charity that gives food to families near by called Minnie's Pantry. also reached out to volunteer at a place called Addison Treehouse.
Tryin to put my money (and time) where my mouth is....

Monday, July 11, 2016

the 20 second DPD experience

i'm in a hermit phase - maybe cause the heat, maybe cause the news
but I just don't feel like doing anything really.

We did though -  impromptu date night Saturday -
4:30pm - uber'd down to lowest greenville ave and hopped around.
9pm - home (and maybe slightly tipsy ;0))
11pm - passed out.
Good way to go if ya ask me!

Upon further introspection though - i'm gonna write my 20 second DPD experience of that night.

Our uber driver was a nice gal named Billy -
  • from Greenville, TX 
  • been in Dallas a while, 
  • was in the military with one of the cops that was killed and 
  • about to start working at Bank of America again. 
The traffic's weirdly bad - we're almost to the restaurants and a Dallas Police car pulls up next to us.

Jamie and I are sitting in the back seat - I wave to him (a kinda happy/grateful wave like this) - That I naturally wouldn't ever do but felt compelled to do anyway, in light of recent events

I get his attention, he gives a strange look... kinda like this (much less exaggerated but still... startled expression)


He then half smiles, lifts his fingers and nods in acknowledgement.
The light turns, and we go on our ways.

THE END.

And so it didn't really occur to me to really think about it at the time. But it's been a couple days and I think it merits mentioning.

I don't think Billy noticed (or acknowledged) he had pulled up next to us.

Initial impression of him from my backseat vantage point was he was very narrow-eyed/alert/scrutinizing looking into the car.

Was that a normal scrutiny? (I don't usually look over when cop pulls up next to me) . I do know that if I made eye contact with someone who looked at me that way I would most certainly feel intimidated.

or.... he was of asian descent, she was black - was  he looking, in that  manner, into the car because she was black?
I don't know...this was all within a matter of seconds (and I was already on to waving at him.)

Also, what I didn't register is (at the time) the DPD headquarters - 10 minutes down the way - was on lockdown from "an extreme threat".
...so maybe his body language was partially because of that (and everything else they were going through since Thursday last week.)
Cause there's no way in hell I wouldn't be freaked the "f" out either right?!

who knows - just something to speculate over...

Then the part to where I got his attention -
I startled him.
And then he was baffled by my enthusiasm for seeing him.

It's kind of sad as I think about it....there's no question that they've gotten used to being vilified.

Another thought tangent is -  the Dallas homicide rate has increased exponentially (40%?)  from last year. I saw the news story of nobody on-hand to work cold or rape cases because they've been pulled to work other departments.

What is happening out there? Honestly...and I know it's not a good thing to say but more and more I'm glad Jamie and I haven't brought children into this world where (as I read in an article somewhere) "does it always have to be that hatred always forces us to love?"

Moving on - cause whew that was a "deep thoughts" that went longer than I thought it would!

I re-read LOTU - Sabin *sigh* and Klepas' St. Vincent *more sigh* - i guess i'm just in a historical/paranormal switch off mood lately. And I don't feel like trying something new that will disappoint - OH WAIT I did. It was
McAlistair's Fortune by Alissa Johnson - ok I guess? I finished - just not enough to get me to keep reading more of hers?

Also watched the Outlander finale - Jamie even stayed up to watch it with me even though he wasn't all that sure about what was going on.
so...she'll be 20 years older going back? interesting....I'm still so bummed to've not seen Culloden in person. It was on my itinerary...we' would've already been there and back... ugh.

Friday, July 8, 2016

this is how you see the world. This is how you grow.

we were at the Rangers game - besides wondering why I30 traffic was so bad ,didn't really know about what happened downtown until we got home and turned the news on.

I'm just overall weary and disheartened and...i don't know what else.
I guess if I'm honest, I"m irritated by the hashtags and memes (that have been used before and then fade away til next time)

...to be really honest, right now, I'm mostly irritated by the flood of people on my fb saying that they're praying.

All good and well -  but why not do something helpful in addition to just praying about it?

I think at this point even money or volunteering is just a temporary salve - not a solution

All I keep coming back to what makes the most sense is this:



Instead, it seems like people are going more into their corners...to rage, or deny or pontificate or spiral into depression

or in my case - I really just want to find a book to read, so I can get away from this horrible-ness for a while - Really i don't know how other people are dealing...my guess is they're not...it just builds and builds....
I hope not though.
I hope.
...which I guess isn't all that different from praying is it....

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Minneapolis trip recap (and why he doesn't want you *you're welcome*)

Minneapolis day trip!
I'd almost forgotten how nice people can be.
Seriously... I guess I've gotten so used to Dallas people (and ALL the new non-Dallas people who've moved here) so pissy, and/or hoity/selfish/obnoxious that I'm now surprised to find genuinely nice, non-stressed out people.
And they're talkers - whew are they talkers!! Needless to say Jamie fit right in.

short on time to make the ballgame, we uber'd - it's half the cost of a taxi!

our ballpark #15 (halfway through!) - Target field is a good one -  beautiful, clear, 72 degree day we lost our asses 17-5 against the worst team in baseball! ugh
and I got sunburned - Jamie didn't get sunburned. I (of my Mexican-ness) got sunburned...ugh...smh heh.
we also got on TV!  oh and their version of poutine at the Red Cow in the ballpark was pretty yum.

Cocktails before dinner - Jamie found a hidden "speak-easy" (walk down an alleyway to get there) kinda place called Volsteads's Emporium, that made wonderful drinks

Dinner was at Upton 43 - Nordic inspired (which I had no idea what that meant) - the seeds and beets and stuff I couldn't pronounce and no "strong" alcohol, threw me off but I actually ended up liking this place. The pork chop especially was so good.

Dessert - Tilia's - walking distance from dinner (and recommended by Ann, our bartender at Volsteads) - the Pot de Creme - a winner!

Avoid "Prohibition" high up in the hotel downtown - forget which one - drinks were expensive and terrible and really the view isn't all that great. Minneapolis is so flat.

and then we passed out cause we were exhausted - allergies got to us a little here - so weird!

Breakfast - Haute Dish - omg I loved this place. We WAY overindulged for brunch here and everything was delicious.  And i'm not even a breakfast-y kind of person. If it was that good I'm sure they're lunch/dinner stuff is amazing.

Overall loved (what little I was able to see) of Minneapolis - good food, good drinks, wonderful people -  I'd even like to see during their winter. Maybe even for a Stars/Wild game? - i bet that'd be fun!...they're still sore about losing their North Stars

Books!
Finished Cold-Hearted Rake and Marrying Winterbourne - both good!  I like how she doesn't make her girls needy, especially in that era when it was almost impossible not to be.
Threw in (polar opposite) Showalter's Strider story to mix it up, it'd been a while - I liked it better than I remember! I just love her harpy gals.

Maybe not so "polar opposite" though - there's a common thread to these genre's - I swear if more people read these books that show varying degrees of female strength (and how it plays into relationships) more girls wouldn't be so freaking insecure and needy. Especially in amorous relationships.

I'm seeing way too many "why doesn't he want me?", "I don't need a man!", "all i need is someone to stay. no matter how hard it is.", "what's wrong with me?"  kind of things on on my fb feed and everywhere else it seems.

It's driving me crazy!!
and since i can't tell them, I'm venting here. 

Stop being so freaking needy!!! NOBODY likes that shit. I think especially men that don't want to be tied to your annoying-ness for the rest of their lives....