Tuesday, March 23, 2010 • The Start of a New Week

Well back to work for me today!  Yeah wasn't excited at all.  Everyone I've mentioned that I so wish I didn't have to go back and that I could get used to not working have said the same.  People get so beat down with their jobs and that's not good.  I mean I get beat down, but I still love it and am so happy to be employed at a wonderful place with really great coworkers.  But its a job.  Tending to your yard is a job and no one usually likes to do that.  But that is life so we have to accept it.  But all in all today was a good day.  Came home and did a few things around the house, took Poutty out for some fresh air and I think I just caught a flea on his neck tonight.  That's what he gets for rolling around in the grass and dirt.  Better get some medicine.  Don't want those things in the house!

So today was Country-ex's birthday.  He turned 34.  I called him earlier today to wish him happy birthday.  He called me on mine so always good to acknowledge someones birthday.   I knew thought he was going out of town this past weekend to Shreveport for Golf, Gambling and Gumbo which he did.  He did that last year and I came along.  Said he wanted to make it a tradition.  So he had a good guys weekend.  I think birthdays are very special cause of course they celebrate your birth but its that one day that people make you feel special...and do special things for you.  Friends come out to celebrate, throw you parties and for a day or weekend (cause I love that) you are the person in the spotlight.  We all need that from time to time at lease one time in the friggin year. 

I do need to get going to bed.  I have spin in the moring.  But I will leave on this note.  As our breakup gets more and more distant it does make it easier.  Not a lot, but some.  But not in the way I used to think.  I've come to realize its sad that we broke up and our lives together are no more, and we were not going to make it.  But what I took for granted of so many times and I know he did too was just the simple time we spent and should have spent more of together.  I dont know if it's because I'm getting a bit older (shut up Nima), but I miss just having someone to hang with on a cold, snowy Saturday night, or a beautiful day to share a glass of wine and sit outside and talk after work.  I can and do those things with friends, but I'm talking about with that someone at home.  Cause those are things I always wanted but didn't happen with us.  Sure I am guilty of going out too much to compensate for the relationship not doing well and thought to be with friends that made me feel good was better, but it did hurt things.  I have really come to realize like my parents have always done...the simple time spent together is the best.  I really did know that.  But as I wanted more of that I wasn't getting it, so I turned to things that hurt us.  But in my future I know what I want and will make sure it happens.  And I want someone who likes to go out and get crazy from time to time, but that can just hang.  So that is my hope for the future. 

Night all and talk to ya tomorrow hopefully.  My friend Jessica is coming over for dinner and drinks.  At least I have her to hang with tomorrow and be that someone for the night!  LOL!!!  Hopefully no rain in the forecast, but afraid there is going to be.  Muah!

Monday, March 22, 2010 ☻ Back to the grind

I need to keep this sweet but short because I need to get to bed.  But the sooner I go to bed the sooner tomorrow will come.  And I have to go back to work after being off for a week!  I could honestly get used to the whole not working thing and certainly having Saturdays off again.  It just makes my weekend seems that much longer and productive.  At lease it was for me this Saturday.  I took off just to have some freetime, plus to get a new shower installed in my bathroom.  Of course with my luck the shower is not installed yet.  There were bigger issues with the shower pan that leaked and caused damage underneath the house.  So getting estimates and dealing with my insurance company took over the week.  At least I found all this out now.

So my week off started last Saturday March 13.  I went to the Greenville Ave St. Patty's Day parade with Nima, John and Kelly.  That was so much fun!  Had not been to the parade in a few years.  Now Nima believes there is really a parade and no ninja parade!

My best friend Fox came in town with his fiance Amy who I love to death!  We picked them up and the day began on Greenville!  We went everywhere!  Some bar on lowest Greenville to pick up friends, then to the block party (loved the tents), Dodie's to eat, Ozona's, Barley House and finished the night at Cocktails and Dancing to hang with friends.  It was a long, but awesome day!  I just looked back on the past 5 years of pictures down there and such great memories!  Can't wait for next year!

Sunday was a day of rest, kinda...spent some of it with Mom messing with shower prep stuff.

Monday the shower came out.  This is what it looks like right now...

I have a beautiful hole that leads under my house.  And my room was covered in dust!  I cleaned that day when I had Fox and Amy coming over, but I will have to do major spring cleaning once this is all over with!  That night I went to dinner with Fox, Amy and Nima to Blue Fish.

Tuesday I did go to work.  My boss was coming back from knee surgery so it was a good transision day for him and me to get a few last things done.  That evening Nima, Jimmy and myself had a great discussion with my Dad.  Then my folks and I went to Cantina Laredo for a late night dinner.

Wednesday I dealt with my shower, estimates, what are we gonna do, etc.   I did go riding at the lake.  It was such a beautiful day!

Wednesday was actually St. Patty's Day, but I had really celebrated Saturday and didn't want to deal with crowds so I hung out with Janna and Darla.  More low key and we had a fun time!

Thursday the insurance guy came over to look at my shower and inspect it.  Ran some errands looking for tile.  Then took pictures with Nima in Deep Ellum and West End.  The pictures turned out great and we had so much fun!  I already told him I'm ready for the next time!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimatoid/4452036225/

Go to the site to check out my pictures and others he has taken!
Afterwards we were off to Hancienda on Henderson for some dinner and ritas.  Home by 9pm and then met up with a friend for the rest of the evening.  Great day!!!

Friday I wasn't as productive.  Not sure why, just felt like being a bit lazy.  But I got some things done.  Headed to dinner that night with Nima and Clay to Tein An.  Boy that was good!  Anyone who goes there must try the white seeweed salad and cod marinated in miso.  Both are heavently.  Then we went to Fedora for a couple of drinks. 

Saturday was a day of fun with Mom.  More tile places, Home Depot and we checked out the new Park Lane Whole Foods.  Cool place!  Gotta go back for the Promise Land White Chocolate Milk.  God that was good!

That evening was all about bundling up on the couch with Poutty and the fireplace on watching tv.  Thought a few times I wish there was someone to spend a night like this with, but there wasn't so I had a nice evening my myself.  AND THE SNOW!!!!

This was my backyard Sunday morning...

SERIOUSLY!!!!  We just had 70 degree weather and sunshine all week and Saturday it started snowing!  The cold was a shocker.  Short sleeves and flipflops to pulling back out my rain boots and heavy coat!  CRAZY!!!  So what else do you do in the weird weather???  Head to brunch!  Nima and I went to Iron Cactus for bottomless mimosas and our protein packed brunch!  Next we called up a few friends and John agreed to come with us to the Bodies exhibit.  The last time it was here I wanted nothing to do with it.  I don't care for gross things like that.  But luckily I wanted to go this time.  Boy was it neat and very interesting.  Crazy what our bodies consist of and what we look like inside! 

My friend Martin was in town from Tyler so he called me up.  John and I went to meet him and his friend, David in town from Arizona.  We met at Sherlock's in Addison, then to Memphis for a bit to listen to a band and back to Sherlock's to drop David off so Martin and I went back in to chit chat for a bit longer.  Another great day with amazing friends!

So a new start of the week today, Monday, brought someone else over here this morning to give me an estimate on the shower, more errands, pulling weeds, chilling outside in my backyard with Poutty, TV watching, over to the folks for a short visit and that's about it.  So now I am finally off to bed.

I will post tomorrow night cause I really am going to tell more of my story with my ex.  I guess I am stumped cause there are so many stories, but that's the problem.  I will find a way to figure it out.  I already have an idea!  But I have to keep some things private just because.  Hell my Mom already got on me today for writing about us.  She's not to read my blog and really doesn't know how to find it cause she is hardly ever on facebook.  But someone told her what I had written.  That's where Mom and I are different.  I like to be open, probably at a fault and she is very private.  I don't even know why she's on facebook cause she never wants to become someones friend or post anything.  Oh well to each their own!

Everyone have a great Tuesday!

Thursday, March 11, 2010 ☻ I'm Back!

Hi there!  Sorry I've been absent lately.  Last week was crazy busy and I got my cold all over again!!!!  So I was doing way to much while not feeling well.  But that's me!  I went to the doctor Monday to get rid of it once and for all and I am finally after 2 months and counting that I got my cold about 5 times, I feel LOADS better!

Last week was a fun week...I got to go to my old place of business Northwood Club.  Was there Tuesday night to prep things with Jessica for our NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) monthly meeting.  Then we went to Kona Grill for reverse happy hour.  Wednesday was the NACE meeting and the club was decked out and looked great.  Thank yuo to Michael Scott and his wonderful culinary team.  And thanks to Jose Estrada for the wonderful banquet staff.  Jessica and I never had an empty glass...thanks Pedro and Misael!  Miss those guys!

Then Thursday night DFW Events threw a fabulous party at the downtown El Fenix location to show off the banquet space and roof top patio.  Both are amazing spaces and I was very impressed.  Plus Mary Frances Hurt the owner of DFW Events, husband is the owner of this location.  If you need to hold an event do look into the place!  http://www.elfenix.com/  They had margaritas flowing, flip books (so fun), cigar roller, mariachi band, guitarist, a yummy buffet and the new thing for desserts, Nothing bundt Cakes http://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/ located in Preston Center.

But of course the night couldn't just be over for me, NEVER!!!  I ended up leaving there to meet friends at Veritas Wine Room, then hop across the street to Hacienda on Henderson and ended the night at Stan's Blue Note.  I think I got home close to 1am so not too bad right? 

Friday was a beautiful day in Dallas and I left work early for a doctors appointment that they accidentally scheduled for the day before.  I don't think I heard the date wrong, who knows.  So what else am I to do but call Janna and see what she was up to.  Traffic on 35 was too bad so I didn't want to turn around and head back to work, NO.  I ran over to Janna's salon and we trecked it up to her house, fed the dogs, made some ritas and sat outside for a bit.  Then went to Cafe Milagro our fav Mexican place in Richardson.  Her hubby and his co-coach joined us then back to their house to play ping pong.  There were many laughs and even a memorable fall.  Luckily wasn't by me!

I will get back to me and Country-ex's story, but since I've been so busy I haven't had a chance.  I need to think about my next blogs about us.  I am taking off next week so will blog everyday.  I did have a nice dinner with him this Monday.  I found something of his he wanted to pick up and came over after a meeting to get that and the mail.  We both had not had dinner so he asked if I wanted to go grab a bite.  Sure!  We can do that from time to time depending on the cirumstance.  We ate at Margarita Ranch.  As he was paying and wouldn't let me I said "awww just like old times when we were dating".  You gotta make some jokes from time to time.  But I do have to say that with everything that happened in our relationship I am very lucky that we are friends and there is no hatred about things anymore.  There will always be sadness and when he dropped me off there is always a look in his eyes and I know mine to that this is our life now and we must say good bye.  Now I know when he or I actually meet someone else and get serious with them things can't be like this, but I would and hope he would like to keep our friendship.  I believe he will because of our history and the feelings we will always have.  It's a comforting feeling for me.  Don't know what he feels completely but can guess. 

Well there it is, getting my hair done today by Janna YAY!  Gotta get back to work!

Tuesday, March 1, 2010 ♦ Reports from my Birthday and Sad News from Greenville Avenue

So Fridays Phantom of the Opera at Musical Hall with the folks was fun and ihop afterwards for breakfast is always a treat!  Not the strongest cast vocally or with the energy I have seen in pasts, but it's Phantom so I will always love it!

Saturday night with friends to celebrate mine and Janna's birthday was a fabulous time (too much actually) with dinner at Ocean Prime.

Thank you Kelly, Jimmy, John H., Joey, Janna, John R., Linsey and Ralph for coming to Ocean Prime.  And thank you to Nima, Whitney, Niko and Sarah for coming to the Stoneleigh where we ended up in the hotels bar area.  It was a great night to celebrate turning 32!

Sunday my wonderful Mama took Whitney and I to pickup our cars from the night before (yes you heard correctly). Came home for a quick nap before I had to take my bike team training spin class. I really wished I had not signed up!  But I had to go.  Dad could tell I was suffering, but I made it thru it!  Then home to breathe for a minute before I got ready to head to Mom and Dad's for my birthday dinner. My parents best friends and mine all came to celebrate with me. And they brought me fabulous presents with cards that are so me.  They all had to do with alcohol.  Huh???  One read with 2 girls in a bar holding cocktails...and this was from my folks...First girl..."I read what 10 years of drinking can do to you."  Other girl..."So what are you going to change?"  First girl..."Stop reading!"  LOL I loved it!  My Mom decorated the table with a cutest Italian theme, she is so creative and went all out!  I don't have any pics on me at the time sorry.  We had hors d'oeuvres, salad, my grandfather's recipe that my Mom home-made of pasta sauce, meatballs and stuffed shells.  And for dessert, the Pièce de résistance, what once used to be Neiman Marcus'  Black and White Cake is really and now is Frosted Arts.  Frosted Art has been NM bakery for some 30 years and we found out NM went all cheap and is now using a bakery up in Southlake!  REALLY????  You're NM for christ sake, you are suppose to offer your clientele the absolute best!  I heard a year ago that Frosted Art really made this cake and when this Southlake bakery said they could do it, but without the marshmallow icing, my wonderful Mother called me to ask my opinion and said hell no.  Call Frosted Art I said.  So thank you!
http://www.frostedart.com/

So now for the sad news I wanted to talk about today...I know so many people have already heard about the fire that happened this early morning at Hurricane Grill, Mick's, Greenville Bar and Grill and Terilli's.  What a sad, sad day.  The memories and history that so many people have there is insane.  I know my memories are too many to even remember.  But I will share some of my favorites.  And since I am at work I do not have a lot of pictures that I would share because they are on my home computer.  So I may post some later or on facebook.

While I was in college, when we all came home for summer or Christmas or Thanksgiving, we just knew to head to Hurricane and we would see old friends.
Well of course Country-ex and I met for the first time ever there.  Remember the frozen Hurricane drink spilled in my lap?  And of course who did I call at 7:40am this morning when I heard? Country-ex.  He called back after he woke up and couldn't believe it.  And next of course I called Lee.   She said there needs to be some kind of funeral.  I agreed.  Flowers should be placed out front.
Cannot even begin to count how many times we have danced on the stage, on the speakers or on the bar at Hurricane!
Almost every birthday except this year I have ended up at Hurricane or GBG.  Spent last years birthday at GBG.
Heard Chase and Martin's band Tall play every single Tuesday night some 7 and 8 years ago.  God that was fun!
We all talked a band playing at Hurricane into letting me sing Happy Birthday like Marilyn Monroe for E's birthday using their mic and sound system.
Became friends with Greg, Erica, Shawn, Rachel, Juan and so many others over the years. 
I was just there for Fat Tuesday with Jimmy and Kelly.  Spent many Fat Tuesdays there.  That's where I got my awesome beads from.
All the St. Patty's Day Block Parties spend at Hurricane, OMG!  I remember getting to Hurricane one year at 10am with my ex-best friend to reserve 2 tables outside on the side of Goodwin where they made up a patio area and having everyone join us while listening to Tall play!  The years of it pouring cats and dogs and then pretty days you always pray for.  This years will be bitter sweet.  One because I won't be going with Country-ex and 2 because the block is gone!  Well for those block lovers there are many ideas popping up about about fundraisers and a page on facebook to become a fan and help.

I know so many thoughts and prayers go out to the owners and employees and we all hope those establishments CAN and WILL be rebuilt.  We can only cross our fingers!

Gotta get back to work!  Have a great day!