Alaska (before I forget)...or really I should say the Carnival cruise to the tip of Alaska...

before boarding in Seattle, we took the train in to DT from the airport, no-brainer for $3pp one way. The rideshare to Hattie's Hat in Ballard was spot on. Sierra was a gem bartender.
Then we boarded the ship and we were off (for 7 days on a ship w/ 3k people on board)....I got dizzy the first night. Apparently a lot of people were sea sick. Rough seas. The food was absolute yuck....except Guy Fieri's hamburger stop (?). Jamie was at the bar a lot. We paid extra to eat decent food at the "fancy" restaurant for dinner most nights.  I deserve a medal in bearing Jamie's and my boredom and pissy attitude. Didn't see any stars, the sun didn't set till after 11pm. Scenery was great after day 2. High's in the 50's. Clean cool air. Saw lotsa whale plumes, LOTSA bald eagles. There oddly wasn't a lot of fish choices besides Halibut and some salmon? Otherwise...only other highlight on the ship was the"lecture" on the glaciers and icebergs etc....can't deny the last few years have been significantly different in glacier melting.

Fjord day - Apparently, the Tracy Arm fjord had too many icebergs to safely enter so we turned up the Endicott fjord. Lovely. A highlight.

Skagway Day - just a straight up tourist town. We got a helicopter to take us to the Meade glacier 20 minutes out. Pretty neat. Nothing but a certain kind of moss can live on it. We drank glacier water.
There's a 15 minute hike left of the airport. What must've been a 5ft wide bald eagle flew right over Jamie's head. He got a good picture of it where it landed in the tree. Lunch at Brew Company (BrewCo), the fish/chips were delicious. There's the Kone company fudge shop that was the most delicious fudge I've ever had. Went to Olivia's for some soup, sat at the bar, Jamie ate some salmon spread at FishCo. And like cattle, had to board the boat.

Juneau Day - just the walk to get out of town was killer, straight up. We walk/hiked to Ebner Falls on the Perseverance Trail. (6ish miles rt?). Nice. Back in town, took an uber to Douglas cafe (good biscuits/gravy) then drinks at Island bar overlooking the inlet. Bus back, $2pp easy. Had a "Alaskan right of passage" Duck Fart shot at Red Dog Saloon. There was an annual tribal gatherings going on in DT Juneau...if I would've known I think i might've planned around that.
And like cattle, had to board the boat.

Ketchikan Day - breakfast at New York cafe (good), walked the historical red light district. Found a hole-in-the wall bar...Eagle (something)...old school. Ate at Alaskan Fish company for lunch...meh.
And like cattle, had to board the boat.

Victoria BC night - only got to really see the place we ate dinner (cause like cattle we had to board the boat).  Little Jumbo restaurant had a good feel and - really good food/drink. I think I'd really like to go back and visit the non-cruise ship parts one day.

Will we ever go on a cruise again - no.

But we liked what little we saw of Alaska  to think we'd like to go back. (and whew...locals are TALKERS)
I think I'm on book 9 of Christi Caldwell's Heart series? I got on a Penny Reid re-read kick too.

tornado warning

last week recap -
since we had to miss the weary boys (boo. an old friend hopefully was able to pass the tix on), we hopped around deep ellum saturday -  Still interesting to see how it's revived. As I said ""Hide" is pretty bougie but a spot on charcuterie board! "High and Tight" - nope. "Brick and Bones" not bad. Naturally, ended at Black Swan"

Greek/wine with the W's last night, fun time.
Three billboards movie - good. frances mcdormand is such a good actress.

Annnnnd the neighbor festered and then popped off  last week to us
"could you not honk your horn all the time? My baby is sleeping".

The way she came across lit my inner-bitch up right quick. 

Jamie just walked away to get in the car...
I paused - strongly considered my response, bit my tongue and just said "sure. no problem." and got in the car.

Here's the thing - I'd been nice - I'm a mostly nice person.
When they moved in we invited them over/ out - they showed no interest...which is fine (not everyone wants to socialize/be friends right).
If they'd showed an interest in cordial reciprocation initially, she would've known that shooting us a text saying "the baby has me in megabitch mode. Can't sleep. Lay off the mf'ing horn - yeah?"
 I would a been like "ha. okay then!".
But nope, that's not how she wanted to play it *smh*
I'ma give her some slack...
this time.

goosfraba

on the plus side - I finished Badd MF'r - Jasinda Wilder - i mean...sure...not terrible.
Re-read Jennifer Crusie's Bet Me - I remember liking it the first time. I liked it better again the second. Definitely love the liking kids but not wanting to have any representation. 

Heading to see Reckless on Friday - been a loooong time.

More Turnpike - tornado warning

so our New Mexico trip (before I forget)
although I'd like to forget the part where my dog was attacked by another dog (also staying) at her sitters house in the early morning a few hours before our flight. Her ear/cheek is swollen and she's traumatized, poor thing. I go between "these things happen sometimes" to "that dog should be euthanized". 
ugh...smh. Now we have to settle with Rover....*sigh*

Back to New Mexico

Flew into ABQ because it was cheaper.
$25pp to take the tram up the Sandia mountain. Is it worth it? Hmm...I guess so. I don't regret it.

Jamie wanted to swing by the Walter White/Breaking Bad house too - meh. They had to put a fence around it cause people were throwing pizzas on the roof. As far as I can tell there's really not that much left to see in ABQ.

Then off to Santa Fe- 50min. drive -  didn't have high expectations but Santa Fe definitely exceeded them!  I am officially a green chile fangirl. Plaza cafe Southside and Geronimo have made my food list.

I found a SF private tour guide site and sent a request for someone to take us up to Chimayo  - since it's a James Beard winner - we'd buy lunch and tell us some history. $100ish.  Scheduled and met up with Bob at the hotel lobby. It was his 82nd birthday and I think there's something so wonderful to talk to someone who's experienced and knowledgeable about so much.
It's literally living/breathing history.
You could see him almost struggle to pick a story to talk about and then he'd start on five different stories at once. heh. Old people are awesome.

The tribes (pueblos) have a very strong presence, super interesting to note their language differences, that they are matriarchal and that they gathered together at one point to push back against the Spanish and were successful....for a time.
He then took us down to Madrid's cemetery and yeah I could've spent a few hours there.

On our way back to ABQ we stopped by the Coronado Historical site in Bernadillo (sp?) - where the Kuoua tribe/pueblo thrived (until he came through). It was beautiful with the Rio Grand and Cotton wood trees and mountain backdrop...I imagine it was doubly beautiful back then. We'd apparently just missed an amazing Fall color change and major air balloon festival - bet that's a sight to see.

Fry bread at the Pueblo Harvest Cafe - yumm...

Overall - it feels like NM is a somewhat forgotten state with people who are nice but a little odd  - and I hope it stays that way. 

Sat next to a single mother with a fussy two year old on her lap on the plane the whole way back. I've no idea why people put themselves through that - i felt exhausted for both of them - but gotta give it to the mom, she kept that kid from kicking the chair in front of her and as calm as possible without numbing her child with a ipad (like everyone else seems to do). In my book that's good parenting - pretty sure (if I was a parent) I wouldn't have that kind of patience.

Moving on - finished watching Alias Grace on Netflix - wonderful acting and interesting story (especially with it being true) def feel like I need to read the book though. That's the bad thing about movies/tv series is that it's almost force fed to tell a story. I bet the book has much more subtleties relaying the info. I'm taking it as a survival story....we'll see.

Tried to read Octavia Butler's Fledgling - and no - hard stop. Don't care if she's a thousand YO vampire in a child's body. It's a childs body. Unacceptable. 
Rock Redemption (Rock Kiss Book 3) - Nalini Singh - I finished it but just can't seem to get into this series of hers. 

Re-read a LK Hathaway - hotelier meets not a pushover.

Irresistible You (The Chicago Rebels Series Book 1) - Kate Meader - hockey. has potential. 

And so we were supposed to go see the Weary Boy reunion on Friday in Austin - no go with BB getting attacked and having to be supervised. We gave our tickets away....maybe we'll see them again....

"If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear" - Joseph Goebbels

quick recap -
Friday - Dinner at the new Del Frisco's up at Shops at Legacy with the friends - nice upstairs bar with open windows - otherwise it's just overrated IMO. Most steakhouses are really.

Saturday - Went to Houston (bleh) to visit mom.

Saw the SB4 protests in Austin online Monday -
*again our Texas representatives make global news*
In a way.... it's almost a relief for true colors to be displayed. Maybe then people can stop pretending.

I'm glad they stood up against Rinaldi's instigation...on the other hand, reps (especially hispanic reps with the obvious extra obstacles) should remember they are on the floor of the Texas capital.
Be smarter. Defense isn't always defensive. Represent.
How could it have been handled better?

It's interesting too -
how some people say nothing about Rinaldi's instigation but just jump to justify his actions...
Really, it's just chilling to read so many "normal" people saying things (even outside of this incidence)  that I've read in history books - variations of hateful things that have been said during wars etc.

Like just right now (in this SB4, racial profiling, Rinaldi/Romero/Blanco, immigration etc debacle on the floor for instance.)
All kinds of people spewing things
And this post stood out:

If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear"  - Joseph Goebbels 

and people were agreeing with it!
in this case I'm not sure if the person who posted it meant it insidiously or he was trying to open peoples eyes. Either way,  for people agreeing/liking it,  I really hope that it's just them being ignorant not knowing who Joseph Goebbels was.  seriously....chilling. 

Heard there's a protest outside of Rinaldi's office today at 4.
There was a "die-in" protest outside of Cornyn's office today too....

Finished
Fever Song - KMM - this finally ends. I'll never again read a series like this...i dropped out of Nalini Singh's Angles and I think I should've dropped out of this one a long time ago. Not that it was bad. It's just not necessary to keep throwing every dilemma in to extend a story. It's really not. And does this mean Dani's story ends here too? I'm almost wishing it does.
Silent Melody - Mary Balogh - i'm catching on to her writing style again. she writes well but it's just missing a small bit of sass for me. And throwing in the villian thing...eh.
Between Devil and Duke - Kelly Bowen - i'm almost finished here. Another historical that's not bad, it's just missing something. It's like i'm catching her at her beginning and once she gets a few more under her belt (and does away with the "hmm's) she'll be close to Eloisa James/Sarah MacLean level for me. 

annnd this gal is officially not cut out to be a Southern gal.

annnd this gal is officially not cut out to be a Southern gal.
(Not that I didn't like it...good food, people were super nice -  especially in Alabama. )

Flew in, had breakfast at Fife's Birmingham - Good. it was packed on a Thursday morning!
Then drove 2.5 hours into East Mississippi.

So...I've been to several college towns - Mississippi State is definitely different.
Granted, school's out - but..... they.  have.  no.  bars.  there. 

Seriously....no bars and hardly any restaurants.
What kids do is join the greek system and have house parties.
trying not to judge here -  but how utterly boring that must get after a while.

39 kids in the nephew's graduating class....
They all look the same.
Serious - especially the girls, thin-ish, prettyish/plainish,  light brown straight hair just passed the shoulders.
It took an hour to graduate them...nice.
Little Dooey's - top level chicken tenders.
No bars. to bed.
Good luck at MSU nephew.

Tuscaloosa/University of Alabama -  It feels like the whole state of Alabama routes their money (and hopes and dreams) here. nice, BIG campus. Crimson, A's and elephants everywhere. Rama Jama for the staple place.

Back to Birmingham - constantly feels of "trying to revive after being deserted", town feel.
Collins bar - good cocktails (though just a little pretentious bartenders).
Galley and Garden - good food. Generic on the ambiance.  Tryin' a little hard to be cool?
Holler and Dash - biscuits and gravy - yes. good. only weird that they couldn't make an egg over easy. "must be over hard per State Law"....who the heckfire eats an over hard breakfast egg?!!!
Iron City venue - good venue. They started at 8am on the dot! Mini Bomb Factory-esque. Strange crowd for Old 97's/Turnpike - they didn't hardly know Old 97s...definitely into TT. 
Saw's BBQ has no ribs

still they redeemed by their chicken and banana pudding. I'm gonna crave the banana pudding.
No idea how people bear the heat of standing in line/sitting outside in summer times?
The humidity is killer ...

I can't handle any more fried food
more... where we went (cities and town in both states) it feels almost ghosttown-ish with basically only the school/football pride as is it's lifeblood.
Also, it has a strong feel of people sticking to "their own"....i mean racial divide here is super evident.
Now that I think about it  - I saw one Latino man at a gas station (in the middle of no where between the two states) He kept looking at me like I was a unicorn.
Really...we got in the car and Jamie was like "Did you see that guy looking at you like that?" umm...yes Jamie yes...poor guy must miss his people . heh...smh. 

re-read Kristan Higgins mostly but did read a Balogh - Heartless - not that I didn't like it, I just have read so many of the "obsessed villian" story. I'm curious about the deaf sister path. We'll see.

need some ice and an extension cord

crazy work week....i'm beat.

We had a good weekend -  I put christmas stuff up. Jamie conveniently made himself scarce....it took me 5 hours....oy.
Half the time I was like "F this shit!" and the other half was like "ooo pretty sparkles!"
....i'm really not sure why? We gals are weird sometimes.

At least I put it up though...I came close to letting 2016 win. 

Jamie made yummy comfort food (chicken/dumplings AND chili) stews -  from his generations of hand me down recipes -  and we invited the m's and the w's.
Game night/football watching night. They pretty much wiped us out on the food...it was pretty good stuff though.

my Dad texted saying he's getting married in 2 weeks (on a Monday) if we wanted to go...all I can do is shake my head.

Mom's coming in this weekend.

Finished:
Ugly Love: Colleen Hoover - it's. just. so. heavy. I get it but I guess I just like things a little more levity to offset just a little more.
Brown Eyed Girl - Lisa Kleypas: eh. Love her historicals sooo much more.
Amy Andrews - rugby story - just have a hard time with "i ruined you for your own good when we were younger but never forgot you and now that we're older what a coincidence we're together again lets have sexy times".
Wild Embrace - Nalini Singh - I always wondered about Gem! I liked the other stories ok too.

Also I hung on to finish watching Westworld - eh...I mean I guess?
And before I forget - we watched 3 episodes of House of Cards - acting is fantastic but it's just so mean. Like vicious/selfish/narcissistic mean. Pretty sure we're done....already get to see that in real life news today don't need more....

to goad - provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate some action or reaction.

Whereas usually I stay in the "safe" territory on FB (especially all through these election years) I'm in a goading mood a lot recently and just posted the below on my facebook page.

...highly doubt anybody will take the "debate" up with me. Most of them just want to live their lives and don't care either way. Case it point: one of my fb girl friends posted this, this morning "Hey dummies, the election is over. Quit buying in to all the nonsense and just put the chin strap on and roll with it. Time to focus on family, friends and the holidays! #overit"

but to me...the thing is... I'm tired of putting the chin strap on and keeping quiet in my bubble while doing it....anybody that reads or travels can see there are so many ways to do things and things to question....if I can't start by bringing it up to my family/friends to maybe see beyond their bubbles, then I feel a hypocrite having an opinion at all.

Posted to my FB:
I'm not always about HEA books and food ya know...

(although waiting for the next Sarah MacLean is torture and right now I'd love a stroopwafel)

here's my research and thoughts process on two subjects I find of interest.

(I welcome feedback - not so much on FB though...I'd be THRILLED to discuss - like the olden days - Honestly! I'm not the overly emotional type *only Jamie really has the magical ability to really piss me off* - you won't hurt my "feelings".

If you think I'm wrong, I'll listen to your rationale - (but better believe I'll follow up and research on what you're saying if it has any chance of changing my mind...)

1) Guantanamo Bay - did you know, every year, for the last 55ish years, the US sends a check of $4000 to lease Guantanamo Bay. Cuba, apparently, has not cashed those checks...as of yet. I wonder why? Anyone know? 

*I deviate...on to my point* 

We (tax payers) are paying roughly 10 million a year in taxes to house and maintain the deteriorating facility For EACH detainee. There are 60 detainees remaining. That's an estimated 600 million dollars a year. 

I read up on Alcatraz, I took the tour (I'm still a little upset they wouldn't let us see down in solitary confinement) - 

is GB not a magnified version of Alcatraz? this is the reason Alcatraz was closed...correct?

I'm confused as to what is wrong with hearing cost effective alternatives?

2) Building a Mexican Border "Wall" - costs could be into the billions. 

I've really only personally seen the border from El Paso, (otherwise just tv for the almost 2,000 miles of the rest of it) but I'm thinking that what's there now is sufficient - NOT secure, no, but sufficient-

According to records on cbp.gov - technology and the almost 60,000 border patrol agents are doing their jobs. 

If it is the the will of the people - allocating funding into more jobs, for more agents, for more security might make more logical sense than building a wall. No?

In the long run, costs to employ border patrol agents will supersede costs to build a wall though...would it be worth it?

The processing dilemma remains for the apprehended regardless....and leads to other questions on moral, humanitarian and international security issues etc.....I'll stop here though.

Lastly, my husband advised me to not post my thought processes on my facebook page for various reasons. I usually refrain - really though, while I value his opinion greatly - his tone of voice and the way he chose to convey his opinion to me prompted me to go ahead and post this at the first opportunity.

Moving on - it's supposed to rain all weekend - great Christmas decorating and reading weather. I'm all for that. 

TRIP RECAP: Carolina-s (and TN) on my mind

We got back from NC yesterday.
Re-cap -
Landed in Charlotte at 8am, drove the 2 hours west to  Asheville, they're in "exceptional drought"  and it's noticeable. Could definitely smell the smoke from the wildfires in the mornings.

Asheville in general - In a good way we think it's the "weird" that Austin has lost. Lots of good restaurants, bars and shopping all in a walk-able distance, if staying downtown.
Loved: people are very nice (but not very talkative), very dog friendly, the Crow and Quill, the view from Grove Park Inn - Edisons, The Admiral (everything was delicious!), Biscuit Head, people watching
Didn't Love: there's a slight chance you'll wind up sitting next to someone at a bar who's chosen to not bathe or use deodorant. (they'll know everything about being a vegetarian and your astrological sign though...)

Surrounding areas
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
We took a day trip up to Gatlinburg - stopped over at Carver's Orchard in Crosby, TN - nice, quaint.  Wish we would've been hungry to try their restaurant. 
Gatlinburg was awful - SO super touristy. We made the effort to park and walk down the main street toward the Ober tramway thing - we lasted 20 minutes and just made the decision get back to our car and leave.

the Blue Ridge Parkway (back down to Asheville) - beautiful...and just so nice to be out of the crowds

On our way back to Charlotte  
- Stopped over at Hubba Hubba BBQ  - very good (pulled pork yum! still not a fan of Carolina sauces though.)
- I googled "battle site near me" and sure enough (Revolutionary War) Cowpens Battlefield in South Carolina came up. I had low expectations but it's actually pretty neat. I got a map from the visitors center and we chose to do the hour+ auto tour. We pulled up the park website on our phone for the narration that brought each stop to life (we also searched for bullets to no avail.)
We also randomly passed by the Gaffney, SC peach tower (on the House of Cards show we just started watching last week....heh)
Charlotte - we had dinner at King's Kitchen and walked around downtown a bit. Not bad - just eh.... any Downtown City, USA.
Charlotte Douglas airport is officially one of my least favorite. B terminal was madness.

And so....with being back home, I'm ok with no pimento cheese, biscuits and gravy and horseradish in things for a long while.
Will we go back? Probably not - but I'd definitely recommend going! The Smoky mountains are beautiful and I really hope Asheville stays weird.

Finished - Ella Quince - Desperate for a Duke. Predictable, not bad...
Re-reading Lothaire - a nod to the Appalachian gal

i guess i still love you, if I ever did

Sold my Dixie Chicks tickets for this Friday.
I'm kinda bummed but I just have no interest in the traffic chaos AND bearing the 100+ degree stifling heat outside - even for them.
Hopefully they'll come around again so I can finally see a full show.

listened to my co-worker talk/cry about her marriage of 35 years ending.
they couldn't adjust as empty nesters,
He's moved on to find another girl after two years of separation and she's not even close to closure. 35 years...wow.

I know like 5-10 middle-aged single women...where are the middle aged single men I wonder? I actually like some of these girls - and I don't like most girls!!

Tried R+D Kitchen last night with D - lord the girl is a mess - the restaurant didn't do much for me food-wise - and not to be a snob or anything but for all the bars we've been to I feel slightly vetted...I think it's a bad sign when the bartender doesn't know a drink and asks how to make it. Nobody expects every bartender to know every drink ever made but just say "ok" and then look it up. right?

Finished more Tracy Anne Warren - this time the "Trap" series (skipped the middle one though - had no interest in the spoiled twin sister) Pretty good get-away!

travel recap (Pacific Northwest) and who/what the Puck?!

Back from the pacific northwest! My "so I can remind myself" thoughts below.
PORTLAND
Transportation
the friend M's took the $3 max ride from the airport which seemed like a no-brainer. The husband wasn't having the 40 min ride though - i compromised and we uber'd from the airport $26ish? not bad. Uber avail quickly/everywhere. Trains are efficient. We walked a lot too.
Hotel
The Mark Spencer Hotel  great location BUT our room had a broken air conditioner, the bed had a mattress protector made of thick plastic, and people slammed their doors that shook the room all through the night. Def a not good hotel experience. The M's said their room was ok.
Food/Drink
Clyde Common - cocktails eh ok
Food Cart Tour -  with Brent. A good choice. Informative. I wanted to try a lot more carts but we definitely did get full on the tour.
Deschutes - a beer/food place suggested by Brent, packed, We shared starters...all good.
Blue Star Donuts - don't open til 7!? did nothing for me. I'm officially a voo-doo donut girl. Jamie loved the biscuit one though.
Rae's Lakeview Lounge - yep a winner all around - shared a thunder bowl - fresh good food in what felt like a neighborhood bar/restaurant.
Veritable Quandry - Great space/light. And besides the cocktail I wasn't all that impressed. Everyone else liked the food though. It closes in September.
Multnomah Library bar - i didn't go. Jamie said he regreted going, it was a beating and the most exhausting experience to sit down to get a cocktail.
Imperial - cocktail was ok
On Deck - very touristy - one of the few places that had our baseball game though (tried Blitz and it had closed)
Henry's Tavern - bar anywhere usa - eh.
Ruby Jewel vs. Salt and Straw for ice cream - Both were (not amazing) but pretty good, I leaned toward Ruby Jewel...everyone else liked Salt and Straw better.
Other stuff
Portland City Grill - up on the 30th floor - yep definitely a great place for the city view, drinks were good too. Think even better that we went at like 3 on a Wednesday.
Mary's Place - heard about it from several sources.... knew it was topless going in. *it was there so, why not right?*
HAD NO IDEA IT WAS NUDE!

I definitely saw a lot more than i was expecting. Small place. We had a beer and left.

"Hike" - Lower Macleay trail to the stone house(witches castle),wildwood Trail to Holman Lane -  Found a (thankfully) short but scenic 2 mile "hike" that sounded good. And it was. We took the train to 23/Marshall and walked to the Lower Macleay trail (stairs down on the right) entrance (bathrooms avail!). Paved-ish trail along a creek to the stone house (stupid people tagged it). Took a sharp right from there on to the wildwood trail that leads to Holeman Lane trail that gets you back into the neighborhoods. We then walked to Lakeview Lounge for lunch. Very much enjoyed it.
Powell's Bookstore - i loved. but i love books so....could've probably been there all day
Amtrak to Seattle - nice, easy ride! Glad we upgraded to first class.

Overall - loved Portland - would totally move there - a great Big Small city feel with personality and wonderful food.

SEATTLE
a couple factors worked against us here to color the situation:
We got there on a Friday at the start of summer. AND Jamie got (food?) sick.
Thoughts overview:
Pike's Market - it was freaking madness - potential here to be a highlight but I'll never know...I was done with it after 20 yards. 1:30 on a Friday is NOT the time to go.  I did snag some cherries though. They were good.
Matt's in the Market - things looked up with finding this kinda hidden place, we (barely) snagged a table and looked over the masses in the market for lunch- really good food here!
Rob Roy bar - wonderful neighborhood-ish cocktail bar
GoodBar - stopped on the way to the ball park. eh- ok i guess?
Safeco Field - def in top 5 of my favorite ballparks - roof closed but it still had an open feel. They did a good job. Nice ball park. We tried the garlic fries (good), and sushi (good!), jamie had the fried clams (?). Karaoke fireworks after the game was a blast.
We stayed at courtyard marriott - no complaints.
Jamie slept and didn't/couldn't recover til around 3pm - nothing we could do about it.
Seattle Central Library - nice building, good library
Tat's Sandwiches - good, no complaints
Fuel Bar - good feel bar - saw the US soccer game
Shawn O'Malleys - surprisingly good Irish food here!
Overall - Seattle just felt like a big city. While I would've liked to have seen the outer limits I don't feel like I missed anything interesting in the city. Sunset colors over looking the water were pretty. SeaTac is definitely what they say - if you don't have pre-check definitely get there early.


Finished - The Darkest Torment - I actually reviewed this one - "I'm trying to recall why I'm just kinda "eh" about it. I read it. It flowed. I was entertained! But... I guess all I can say is that I wasn't completely absorbed like with Burning Dawn (or the earlier Lord books). I'd put this one down and came back to it in intervals. Again, I continue to hang on for Cameo and William with this series. And Puck! ooooo who the heckfire is Puck!!!!"



Beautiful Boss - good quick read/find - I barely recall this pair, they read young/new in dealing with each other.  is it weird that I would've been ok with them cutting out a sexy time scene for more details into the wedding?

And I'm just gonna say this quickly - this weekend saw another mass shooting. I'm not wholly informed on all that happened (or how/why) but I've been around guns my whole life. Assault rifles should not be an option and especially to someone who's been questioned by the FBI. I don't understand...

welcome to Texas! are y'all doing it right?

Mississippi to see the nephew's game fell through so we stayed in town (and I recovered all day yesterday from fun-ness oy)

Jamie made a couple uber drives - one of them was a Brit who flew in for wrestlemania - seriously who knew it was still a thing? but to fly in all that way specifically for it...and there were like 110k people there last night! crazy. All I ever recall is Randy Savage and the Heartbreak twins? I thought it died back in the 80's. 

Regardless - the Brit was staying in a terrible part of town and was ubering cause the "public transit took too long."

From talking to people and reading travel feeds...I really think a lot of people are doing Texas tourism wrong.

I was talking to a colleague in New York  on the phone the other day and she says she pictures mountains and desert for Texas.
That's West Texas only! oy...they have no concept that to see all of Texas you have to cross time zones! Levelland to Hill Country to the Gulf etc. 

no wonder they go back home and go "eh Texas." I said the same thing about New Orleans the first time I visited and now it's my top 3 favorite city!!! ya gotta research or at least ask questions...especially with the magnitude of options!

So I thought ok - for next time someone asks about "doing Texas"  below's what I got...

March/April/May/September are probably the best months. 
Why? cause summer is freaking hot so unless you're around water of some sort you'll be miserable AND there's a ton of festivals and almost every sporting activity going on. That's what we do here. 

Land DFW - rent a car or if you'd rather not - uber. Taxi's are ridiculous.
Public transportation is an option but EVERYTHING is spread out  it will take a while to get anywhere. 

- Dallas - I'd stay at the Belmont - it has personality - and still close enough to our "mostly boring " downtown that connects all major street arteries. 
Def don't stay in Arlington! AirB&B -  maybe? never tried it?
and so JFK memorial sure but festival (food, balloon, flowers, paddy's day, music, beer, state fair, arts - look it up) or major sports all here. 
Best bar hopping - Deep Ellum or lowest Greenville Restaurant hopping - trinity groves or lowest Greenville. Best local food places - babes chicken dinner house, neighborhood services, mama's daughters diner, meso maya, blind butcher, el pueblito in Plano -  and queso, the Bob Armstrong @ Mattitos. Old school Dallas steakhouse? Dunston's on Lovers.   
Fort Worth way - Sundance square, Woodshed smokehouse, Stockyards sure... 
Shopping? - as in this case NOT downtown - Galleria, North Park Mall or Highland Park Village for pricey things. Quite frankly I'd steer someone to Richardson Mercantile for local regional things. Can't think of anything else. 
Don't plan on staying more than 2 or 3 days in North Texas, there's not really much else to see here.

Austin- from Dallas I'd take Vonlane bus (pricey but worth the nice/easy. Heard megabus is ok DON'T greyhound -  scary) to Austin, check out 6th street/rainey street/soco, good shopping here/capital? then rent a car and drive down and stay near Gruene Hall (pronounced GREEN) and use that as your base for the next 2-3 days. Why? Day trips to hill country Fredericksburg wineries, Luckenbach? and San Antonio (the riverwalk - good cocktails at "Esquire Bar" overlooking it)/Alamo/mexican food  - nothing else to see here...unless you want to see missions?). Really though...imo Gruene /New Braunfels is still real Texas. Especially Gruene, good shopping and best music venue. Wurstfest, or Float the Comal river too, if it's warm enough.  Return car in Austin and Vonlane to Houston. 

- ugh Houston - there is a fun crawfish festival up in in Spring in April though. Their renaissance festival way up north is fun...and apparently their "rodeo" is the thing to do? The Woodlands is alright. Spring has ok shopping? NASA is pretty cool, Kemah is nice, Galveston eh.... That's all I got. Houston brings me down... get on a plane and fly to El Paso do not drive, the 10+ hour drive is brutal and BORING. 

 - ah EP my hometown - honestly what i miss? the mexican food, the mountain and the desert sunsets. So Scenic drive i guess sure, 4th of July off i-10 is awesome. Those small catholic church festivals were fun too. Jamie liked the bars across from UTEP. Really a lot of people get together on weekends...if you're friendly and curious enough there's a chance you'd be invited. I've never met a not nice person from El Paso. Carlsbad Caverns? White Sands is apparently really cool during a full moon...i still haven't done it. Juarez used to be really cool - no longer and it's such a shame.
Besides that EP county eh....

It's 4? hours to Big Bend - heard it's great and that Terlingua is definitely unique, never been that way or even an of the rest of border cities - I do love ruidoso though (not TX but much closer and glorious mountains, cool, fresh air.)
I missed all the middle parts of TX - the state is freakin big...what can i say. Panhandle's boring but Lubbock Tech football games and Spanky's across the street for the best fried cheese ever. A good idea is to go BBQ hopping across the state also go see college football games in the middle parts like College Station...thats an interesting experience. 

Moving on -
saw Me, Earl and the Dying Girl - didn't think I'd like it but I did! good movie!
Books:
Terri Meeker - Not Quite Darcy - I do like the time travel books - she had a good way of turning a not so interesting character interesting with the male lead
Sophie Jordan - Wicked in Your Arms - liked that they didn't like each other at first but I didn't really believe the 180
Lillian Grant - Male Order  - pony stallion bleh
Lora Leigh - Forbidden Pleasure - she knows how to write male leads it's the story i lose interest in...and one without the other i lose interest.

Rangers opening day today #nevereverquit....and so of all the Texas songs why not this one?
But at a dance hall down in Texas
That's the finest place to be
The women they all look beautiful
And their men will buy your beer for free

futbol fakers and go back if you can't let go (me entiendes?)

went to the u.s. men's olympic qualifier soccer match vs. Colombia last night. And we lost. As well we should've...ball possession was non-existent. Alas, No U.S. men in the Olympics this year....

Here's the thing about soccer though....why do soccer players fake so much? And it's worse when playing country vs. country!
We didn't see it so much in Barcelona when they played Valladolid.
Just freaking play -  don't throw yourselves on the ground hoping for a penalty especially when the ball is still in play!! ugh...futbol...not questioning their athletic ability but give me rugby or hockey or baseball or curling anyday.

And so I'm going Juanes music today. All those Colombianos last night (there may have been more of their fans than ours?) - and they won - a tribute. Plus I love Colombian food. 

Question though...I wonder how many of all those rooting for their team actually live here and are U.S citizens?
I mean it's easy for me -
if we play against Mexico or Canada I have strong connections to both - BUT I'm born here. USA all the way, every time.

And so this is where my thoughts on immigration come to play - I welcome people that legally come here to work (and I've known those that do and have and will -  with amazing work ethic no less)
I think it's courageous AND I can totally understand coming here to make a better life for yourself.
To me it's not a matter of them taking jobs - I think the majority of the jobs they take nobody here wants anyway...and the rest well...what's more American than competition...

But I also think if you come here to settle, you've got to come with the understanding that a) you need to learn English, if you don't already know it and b) learn to embrace your chosen country as your own.

Keep your language and your culture yes (never lose that) but you've got to adjust to being here.
Don't be obnoxious, wear your foreign colors loud and proud at an olympic qualifying soccer game, then go to your "land of opportunity" house 10 minutes away and tuck your children safely in bed. To me es una falta de gracia 

Also don't only keep to "your own" cause "that's all you know".
Not making any effort to know and understand someone that doesn't look, act, and speak like you is really an insult to everybody else here and maybe then those people who can't let go, should go back to the place that they can't let go of.

do whatcha wanna (unless your kid's in the car and you're so obviously wrong!)

jamie and i got into confrontation the other day. I'd normally wouldn't want to write it down to remind myself what happened but it was just amazing to me how utterly wrong she was and she refused to admit it. The lesson she taught her 8? year old son was, it's ok to dent another persons car, talk trash, not admit you're wrong and get away with it. It boggles the mind.

And quite frankly here is an example as to why I'm even more ok with not having children...I'm not worried so much about how I'd raise them, I worry the influence the rest of the world would have.

 even more venting (and then I'll let it go cause that's it) .....I can't fathom any woman being ok with this new level of wive's meme ridiculousness with the republican party.
You know it's bad for them when a past member of the Republican Women's Club of Richardson Texas I know shakes her head and says, "i just can't do it. I might just go ahead and vote for Hillary and I don't believe it...."

Moving on....
-  another anniversary come and gone - we had a good date night - yet again Neighborhood Services was yum. Just can't go wrong with that place. Can't believe Badovinus got overlooked again for a James Beard nomination...we've eaten in many a places...and his is still top 5.

- off to New Orleans to join the friends tomorrow - it's supposed to rain - but IT'S OK

cause new orleans

I think I might be coming up on a fork in the road?...I'm not gonna even write about as to not jinx it. i'm pondering...we'll see!

voo doo, who'd do? and woo hoo!

tried Portland's Voodoo doughnuts that just opened in Austin and seriously - yum.
if that's any indication for what Portland puts out, I'm in trouble for trying to choose where to eat for the two days I'm there...

Wedding out in Fredericksburg was nice. It's nice to get out into the country and be. As far as the marriage goes, I hope it works out...and that's all I have to say about that.

Read Jane Ashford's Married to a Perfect Stranger - eh. The guy lead got on my nerves. He was insecure more than not - and I already see that too often in real life, don't need to read about it too. 

Is it me or are men getting more and more insecure? -  insecurity is such a turn off. 

I'd think I'd really struggle if I were single right now...it's just in my nature to push to see how far I can go and if a guy keeps letting me push AND insecure, that's definitely not one I'd want in any way...ugh no way.

With the exception of the aforementioned book, I think more men should read romance novels to get a clue. I really think it would help all parties.

Case in point - reading Emma Chase's Appealed was a good rebound - I forget how much I like her style - not my total favorite, there's still some parts where I think could've been edited - and again, do the people that make the covers not read the book? He has a beard!....ugh.
Still... glad I found a winner in entertainment value - wooo. 

baseball! and (most) y'all 90's babies

after a long hiatus this is gonna be a baseball trip year. Flights to Seattle and Minnesota (ballparks 13 &14?) to see my boys are booked.
Also gonna see  Portland (I picture a bunch a 20 something hipsters roaming around) but the food...oh the food! I can't wait.

Speaking of 20 somethings....it's so interesting watching those in my "sphere" -  I kinda want to tell them where I think they're going wrong. big sister style (with some fun gifs):

"don't stop talking/doing things with your friends now that you found a girl/boy friend. Those friends will save your ass when it goes to shit. (and at some point it will)"

"stop trying to be what you think an adult is. Really being an adult is boring and stressful. Just don't f up your credit score and you're good. "

"no you don't own misery. you don't know everything. And the world owes you nothing"

"saying "no" or "i can't" is a million times preferred over non-responsiveness that's become so popular in you jerk faces"

"yes i see he totally loves you but I don't see it on your end. You're wasting his (and your) time"

but well it wouldn't do any good if I said anything.
I know I probably wouldn't have listened....and really -  live and learn right?

thing is, (i'm generalizing here)  i'm not sure this up and coming generation handles set-backs the greatest...and it's like they feel too much or don't feel anything at all. 
Annnnd communication with every single one (of the ones I know) is strange...i swear it's like they have to process...normal conversation doesn't come naturally to them. They get going and feel comfortable and surprise you at how smart they are but then next time you see them the process starts again ...so strange, and fascinating and fun to witness! 

It's Friday and I'm just feelin eh...can't shake the sinus/cough stuff. Feelin a movie/book night comin on...Got new Emma Chase.
I watched the new Mad Max last night. huh? the old one was much better.....

And so i guess "90's baby" is my theme today cause I'm diggin this new "90's" Texas gal.

I'm not the hero in the story
I'm not the girl that gets the glory
Cause you're looking for true love
And I'm not the one
But I wish, but I wish I was

Lucia in the sky (or Dallas) w/ pork chops

Lots of conversation over meals this weekend @ Whiskey Cake, Smoke, Lucia and Blind Butcher.
Lucia was really good!
Will we go back?...probably not.
They didn't serve cocktails, Italian food lands lower on our list of "go to's" and the pork chop was better at Blind Butcher. Still...good! just not sure it's worth the difficulty to get in? And definitely a wiser choice to uber to Bishop Arts district. Parking is even worse than I remember.  

we met up with one of Jamie's co-workers. Just turned 30, single gal...and on a meat only diet cause she said she'd gained 15 pounds over a year.
This was basically her expression:

well....welcome to the club honey! Yet another life lesson no one really tells you about.
Gals...beware ages 28-30 - your body's metabolism hits a bitch zone like you wouldn't believe. 
Pretty much everyone I know has this same story to tell.

Jamie found a "skirt" (non-skirt) that he'd bought me at one of those "sexy stores" a very long time ago. He wouldn't let me throw it away - I had to show him how it wouldn't even go over my hips anymore. ha!

Oh well I can still hold my own....I'll let him keep it for the memento. 

Also, I find it so interesting how many single girls and how few single men I know?
Where are they hiding? Seriously?
I told her if I was single my best guess would be to go to hockey games more often - less of a chance to find pansy ass men there in my opinion. What do I know though...I think women are ruining men with unrealistic expectations and men are ruining themselves by letting them. 

Finished a Tessa Dare book - When a Scot Ties the Knot -  another one that was just ok. Lost interest in another of hers real quick.

I'm about a quarter of the way through Ward's newest BDB Blood Kiss. Good! - it's like the older ones.

new orleans travel and yum and love

New Orleans. ahhh NOLA ..."My heart is, and ever will be, yours" 

The fact remains...I keep thinking that I'll get tired of it but it never happens.

we got caught in a whirlwind of food and (mostly cocktails) hop around old and new of Uptown/Quarter/Frenchmen's St. -
Old 77 Hotel / Compere Lapin for Jamie's cocktail love affair (thanks Zach and Abigail, our barkeeps). Didn't realize that Nina from Top Chef is the head chef here. She should've won. Good feel we'll be back again.
Cane and Table - good old-timey feel in here. Cocktails well crafted (thanks Sam!). Got a bit more of the tourist vibe though...maybe with it being across from the French market?

Mr. B's cocktails yes (thanks Brian). Their bbq shrimp fell down our list this time though. Looking across the street, the Carousel bar was madness. Everyone's caught on looks like - No thank you. 
R'evolution, French 75, Kingfish (thanks Adrienne) met expectations. I'm officially over mezcal drinks though.
Annadelle's Plantation in Covington across Pontchartrain. Old school southern fare. Good!

And by the powdered sugar on my face (and most everywhere else)

I deem New Orleans Coffee & Beignet (mm doughy goodness) AND Cafe Beignet (light crispyness yum) MUCH better than Cafe du Monde. I'll never go back there again. Cafe du Monde is dead to me.

Not mean though...more like this...(cause it still is pretty good). 

Liuzza's by the track though...holy moly...even better shrimp poboys than we remembered.
Love. I mean...love LOVE.

speaking of love. My dad called me the other day asking what I thought about him asking his latest girlfriend to marry him. He used words like "i'm getting older", "we're good together"
Nothing about love but...well I guess after all his rollercoasters of relationships there comes a time where caring and contentment is enough.
I'm not sure why he asked what I thought...I just hope that he's happy.

before I forget.....
Sarah MacLean's The Season - usually love the childhood friends to love but this time not so much - she's gotten so much better at writing stories since this book.
G Showalters - The Hotter You Burn - ...the whole "rags to riches because of the playboy who falls in love and saves me" is just bleh. Don't think I'm going back to this series...I'm putting all my patience in with her LOTU books.

Kresley Cole's new one is out today....I'm going to buy it but...I'm not as excited as I used to be. I think after seeing her at the rt convention I'm a little less crazy about her. I bet she was exhausted. (I was after 2 hours no way could i do a full week)....but still.

and so today is Giving Tuesday. I hope I know people who gave today. It makes you feel better...it really does!

walked in to a bar and gave thanks.

So I was worn out and about to give up on Austin (its turning too pretentious and cliché IMO)

But!!!...this weekend, I was reminded how awesome Austin used to be (and still could be). 

I stood next to a tatted biker guy, a Prada/Chloe gal, a cowboy, a rockabilly/pinup gal, hipsters and foreigners and we were all freakin loving the music.
The Continental Club is a great venue, my band is freaking awesome and still so talented. 

yes my feet hurt and i was beat not goin to bed til 2:45. I don't regret it though!!!

Also yes, what "everyone" says is true. 

Franklin bbq is legit. 

We pre-ordered a 6 pound brisket, skipped the 4(?) hour wait line and took it back up to Dallas with us for our Thanksgiving last night. Add that to sides from Babe's Chicken dinner house
and Holy moly...all of us were this.

I'm truly thankful how blessed I have been and am (even more so for this weekend and how great it was). 

Finished Graeme/Gideon's Breed story and ....yeah... eh. Not even close to the others I've liked so much.
But I finished it...so I guess that says something. 

FOOD (love, wars and awkwardness)

read an article about "michelin star wars".  it was interesting.

made me think of us trying the 3 star Berasategui in San Sebastian.
honestly?...it didn't really do much for me...yeah I tasted things I never had before...like squid ink. And it certainly was an experience...very formal and sterile. The servers were on point.

But would I recommend it over say...Juanito Kojua in old town? No.

That's just me though - what do I know...I never said I was a food connoisseur.
I just like food.
(and Spain definitely = food = LoveLoveLOVE for me)

but back to Berasategui...
another thing was, I asked to go back into their kitchen so I could thank the chefs...

We got in there and those poor cooks looked terrified and totally exhausted.
I went in with my camera all like "hey guys! lets hug for food happiness!!"

and instead we backed out awkwardly (and as soon as possible) to help them not be so terrified instead.
That's def a memory in the awkward column for sure....

Finished The Shadows - so wow... yeah aside from getting a little story line/character convoluted, what she did was hard to do. I think she did it well. I'm still hangin on for sure. I saw that the Beast is next. I had doubts on her going back for the King so this time we'll see how she re-covers ground.

Also read Emma Chase's Sustained - maybe not the most believable to go so opposite but a good one!

to eat. so good.

I finished the book...and those pictures in MP's Home for Peculiar Children are real! Talk about creepy. 

We met up at the new-ish place for dinner last night
and so... sushi is slowly but surely redeeming itself for me. I've got my training wheels back on. 

I had a terrible first experience - it didn't help that most of the portions are big and there's no getting around putting the whole thing in your mouth. But...oh well...guess I'll get over it. First world problems. 
Regardless - it was good. And we had fun the old school way, over a good meal and bottles of wine (and maybe some moonshine someone thought would be a good idea to bring..?).

And so about the Pope... it's a strange thing. I don't really consider myself Catholic anymore, I just question too many things, but seeing the pope on tv and knowing how my Ita would've loved him and would've been watching him all day gets me all teary eyed.

I wonder if his presence/speeches had anything to do with Boehner's resignation?

I think Jamie and I are heading to the lakehouse / East Texas and the slower pace this weekend.

I feel a bookfest coming on...yay!!!