So it's been raining here like crazy. Last night was nearly 5 inches of rain near my house. Ugh. That makes it the most May rain Dallas has ever had. I'm so over it.
But it's kind of fitting -- my mood is blue, blue, blue.
I miss the baby. I miss my brother. I miss the rest of my family. I hate Dallas. I hate rain. I hate no ocean/bay.
And on top of that, work is bad now. First off, busy. Way too many unread emails that need attention. Second, complicated. Things that I start doing and think will be simple and straightforward are turning into huge messes that take hours or days longer than they should. Third, some unjustified frustration. Someone who started after me and works in an entirely different group where there has been some high-level staff turnover got promoted. So she now has a higher title than I do. I have no right to be irritated about that, it has absolutely no bearing on my job, but you know, I am. I wouldn't want to change groups, and I know if there were an opening in my group, I would have a very strong chance of getting the same kind of promotion, but circumstances are what they are. I have a boss I really like and it's hard to see a promotion I'd want or be suited for other than his exact job.
It feels like it's raining $hit in my world right now.
It's weird to realize it's 100% in my head. This is all stuff that did not bother me in slightest 10 days ago. I was loving every bit of life. And suddenly, we take our second fun trip of the month and I come back in a funk.
My husband does not want to move and he has a point that even if we moved to San Fran, there's no guarantee my brother will be there for more than a few more years -- it's expensive, his wife might not go back to work, and he thinks they might not be there for the long haul. Would I even want to be there if he wasn't? It's further from Europe, it's rainy, it's hilly, I don't have any of my running buddies or godchildren or friends there, it's probably further from my parents and a lot further from my in-laws. But it's such a cool city.... And Sonoma, Napa, etc. are more affordable AND sunnier (than San Fran, not when compared to Dallas, except for this past month).
But we've built a life here. Usually I think Dallas is totally awesome. Usually I don't give a crap what my title is at work, as long as I like the actual job and people and can live the life I want. Usually I think we're living exactly the life I want.
I want to snap out of this!
Friday, May 29, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Crazy Texas Laws
You hear all the time about those random crazy laws still on the books. You can't carry a chicken while walking in the roadway after dusk or something.
I just found a fun Texas one. (Hey, at least I'm not posting about how much I miss that stinkin' baby, right?)
You cannot carry a knife with a blade over 5.5 inches unless you are (1) in your house or (2) inside of or directly en route to your vehicle.
So if your friend drives you to Crate & Barrel and you buy a knife there and ride home in her car? Illegal.
If you're like us and live within 2 blocks of a Crate & Barrel and buy a chef's knife and walk home? Illegal.
If you live downtown and park on the street and were walking into your apartment building while carrying the shopping bag? Illegal.
If you get a knife set for Christmas, fly home with it in your checked suitcase, and then take a taxi home from the airport? Illegal (probably; it would depend whether you could say the taxi was a vehicle under your control).
Apparently there's no exception if it's in a box, with a receipt, purchased in the last 30 minutes.
Section 46.02 of the Texas Penal Code.
One of the things you sometimes hear in discussions about race and policing is how there are these laws that are discriminatorily enforced, how police presence and resources are not evenly distributed over all areas of population, and how, as a result of targeted police presence or enforcement, some people have trouble making it through life without accumulating a conviction of some type. So far, I think I have bought two sets of knives in my life, both of which sets contained more than one blade over 5.5 inches. If I had to guess, for the balance of my life on this earth, I could see buying 3 more knives or sets of knives with blades over 5.5 inches. Odds are high that I would not do so while riding in a friend's car, but if we still live in this house, there's a good chance I'd walk home from Crate & Barrel, which would be the most likely place for me to buy one. I'll have to cross my fingers and hope that I'm not subjected to any kind of targeted enforcement effort.
I just found a fun Texas one. (Hey, at least I'm not posting about how much I miss that stinkin' baby, right?)
You cannot carry a knife with a blade over 5.5 inches unless you are (1) in your house or (2) inside of or directly en route to your vehicle.
So if your friend drives you to Crate & Barrel and you buy a knife there and ride home in her car? Illegal.
If you're like us and live within 2 blocks of a Crate & Barrel and buy a chef's knife and walk home? Illegal.
If you live downtown and park on the street and were walking into your apartment building while carrying the shopping bag? Illegal.
If you get a knife set for Christmas, fly home with it in your checked suitcase, and then take a taxi home from the airport? Illegal (probably; it would depend whether you could say the taxi was a vehicle under your control).
Apparently there's no exception if it's in a box, with a receipt, purchased in the last 30 minutes.
Section 46.02 of the Texas Penal Code.
One of the things you sometimes hear in discussions about race and policing is how there are these laws that are discriminatorily enforced, how police presence and resources are not evenly distributed over all areas of population, and how, as a result of targeted police presence or enforcement, some people have trouble making it through life without accumulating a conviction of some type. So far, I think I have bought two sets of knives in my life, both of which sets contained more than one blade over 5.5 inches. If I had to guess, for the balance of my life on this earth, I could see buying 3 more knives or sets of knives with blades over 5.5 inches. Odds are high that I would not do so while riding in a friend's car, but if we still live in this house, there's a good chance I'd walk home from Crate & Barrel, which would be the most likely place for me to buy one. I'll have to cross my fingers and hope that I'm not subjected to any kind of targeted enforcement effort.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
May Fun Trip 1
It was probably mid-March when I realized how it looked like May would unfold. Flying to DC on a Tuesday (May 5) for the balance of the week. Supposed to fly back to Dallas on Sunday night, which ended up being Monday night because of weather.
Then that week in Dallas, which turned into a short week because of the weather delay.
The following week, a Wednesday flight to San Fran for the balance of the week. Flying back to Dallas on Monday night (day off for Memorial Day).
More than 10 days out of town in the month of May, and every single one of them for fun!
We've done nearly back-to-back vacations before and decided it wasn't a good idea. We came back from China and had only a few days home before flying to a wedding. But I figured maybe it would work better if it was shorter trips and more than a week in between? Plus, more vacation days are always better than fewer vacation days, no matter how much we love our daily life in Dallas.
Here are some highlights from our trip to DC and Virginia. I'm trying to focus on the positive since I am possibly at a lifetime low right now. My spirits are down, missing my little nephew in California. Not happy at all to be in Texas. Maybe the lottery is the solution? We talked about both possibly moving to California and possibly kidnapping Willard (with or without his parents, totally up to them). Both seemed impractical.
Anyway, some fun from DC and Virginia:
Working from my friend's house (with a red eye, so wearing glasses), the first day in DC. She made lunch for us, sauerkraut, potatoes, veggie hotdogs:
Dinner made by my friend, served on her rooftop (with fun napkins!). A lentil dish that was so good:
In Charlottesville, a morning visit to Bodo's Bagels, which was something I ate at least weekly in law school:
Bodo's with a line out the door:
And a long line inside Bodo's:
The Bodo's menu, not sure how legible these pictures are though:
The Bodo's order delivery system is insanely efficient:
Hard to read, but the rooftop says "Where Students, Tourists & Townspeople Meet." It used to be The Tavern, and it closed 5 years ago, reportedly because the rent was too high, but nothing new has gone in its place, so it really should have stayed open:
The Rotunda, under construction:
On Grounds:
The Bodo's location on the Corner, which was under construction the whole time I was in law school:
Mincer's on the Corner, for all your U.Va. attire needs:
The College Inn on the Corner:
The White Spot on the Corner, a late night favorite. Although even when I ate meat, I could never stomach the idea of an egg on top of my burger, no matter how drunk or hungover or sober I was when I ate there:
Statue in town:
A small "living wage" protest (typical Charlottesville!):
Crozet Pizza, not really in Charlottesville, but it was the best pizza in the area when I lived there:
A trip to a vineyard for the afternoon:
Inside the vineyard:
Sitting outside drinking rose for a change:
Kids playing, adults drinking:
Vineyard:
At the reunion, our class picture was taken from above, but here's a ground shot. I can kind of see about 60% of my face in the crowd. There were 90 people at our class dinner, which was probably about 55 grads and 35 spouses, but the picture was just alums:
The night ended back at the law school with music, dancing, drinks and catching up with friends:
A final stop in Charlottesville, Gourmet Exxon, which was probably one of my three favorite sandwich places when I lived there. The menu at Gourmet Exxon:
Inside Gourmet Exxon the first time we went there (not crowded):
The sides counter:
A list of options (Gourmet Exxon's official name is Bellair Market):
But it is indeed an Exxon station:
This is the building, sandwich heaven:
Back in DC, an unplanned homemade dinner at my friend's house, thanks to our 24 hour flight delay:
And since we made the best of our layover, Cafe Pizzaiolo for a late lunch:
And then, Beltway traffic since hubby flew out of Dulles and I had at make my way to BWI:
The rental car. 42 miles to empty it says, mileage is 39,363. Since I hate gas pumps, if I'm driving any distance, I do the pre-paid fuel option, which means it makes sense to return the car as empty as possible:
Living on the edge. Ford cars suck. Note that it's only 30 miles later and I'm now 2 miles to empty. Total lies on miles to empty. Or maybe it was that bumper-to-bumper traffic that ate into my mileage. At this point, I was close to the rental car return, but still more than a mile away. The "miles to empty" ticked away, got down to 0 eventually, but I made it at least half a mile further, which was all I needed before I parked to return the car. Whew! My husband would have melted down if he were in the car with me. It would have totally stressed him out. And he would have been pissed because I knew it was going to be close, so I turned off the air in hopes of making it without running out:
Then that week in Dallas, which turned into a short week because of the weather delay.
The following week, a Wednesday flight to San Fran for the balance of the week. Flying back to Dallas on Monday night (day off for Memorial Day).
More than 10 days out of town in the month of May, and every single one of them for fun!
We've done nearly back-to-back vacations before and decided it wasn't a good idea. We came back from China and had only a few days home before flying to a wedding. But I figured maybe it would work better if it was shorter trips and more than a week in between? Plus, more vacation days are always better than fewer vacation days, no matter how much we love our daily life in Dallas.
Here are some highlights from our trip to DC and Virginia. I'm trying to focus on the positive since I am possibly at a lifetime low right now. My spirits are down, missing my little nephew in California. Not happy at all to be in Texas. Maybe the lottery is the solution? We talked about both possibly moving to California and possibly kidnapping Willard (with or without his parents, totally up to them). Both seemed impractical.
Anyway, some fun from DC and Virginia:
Working from my friend's house (with a red eye, so wearing glasses), the first day in DC. She made lunch for us, sauerkraut, potatoes, veggie hotdogs:
Dinner made by my friend, served on her rooftop (with fun napkins!). A lentil dish that was so good:
In Charlottesville, a morning visit to Bodo's Bagels, which was something I ate at least weekly in law school:
Bodo's with a line out the door:
And a long line inside Bodo's:
The Bodo's menu, not sure how legible these pictures are though:
The Bodo's order delivery system is insanely efficient:
Hard to read, but the rooftop says "Where Students, Tourists & Townspeople Meet." It used to be The Tavern, and it closed 5 years ago, reportedly because the rent was too high, but nothing new has gone in its place, so it really should have stayed open:
The Rotunda, under construction:
On Grounds:
The Bodo's location on the Corner, which was under construction the whole time I was in law school:
Mincer's on the Corner, for all your U.Va. attire needs:
The College Inn on the Corner:
The White Spot on the Corner, a late night favorite. Although even when I ate meat, I could never stomach the idea of an egg on top of my burger, no matter how drunk or hungover or sober I was when I ate there:
Statue in town:
A small "living wage" protest (typical Charlottesville!):
Crozet Pizza, not really in Charlottesville, but it was the best pizza in the area when I lived there:
A trip to a vineyard for the afternoon:
Inside the vineyard:
Sitting outside drinking rose for a change:
Kids playing, adults drinking:
Vineyard:
At the reunion, our class picture was taken from above, but here's a ground shot. I can kind of see about 60% of my face in the crowd. There were 90 people at our class dinner, which was probably about 55 grads and 35 spouses, but the picture was just alums:
The night ended back at the law school with music, dancing, drinks and catching up with friends:
A final stop in Charlottesville, Gourmet Exxon, which was probably one of my three favorite sandwich places when I lived there. The menu at Gourmet Exxon:
Inside Gourmet Exxon the first time we went there (not crowded):
The sides counter:
A list of options (Gourmet Exxon's official name is Bellair Market):
But it is indeed an Exxon station:
This is the building, sandwich heaven:
And when we swung by Gourmet Exxon on our way out of town to get sandwiches for the drive, this was the line, but totally worth it:
Back in DC, an unplanned homemade dinner at my friend's house, thanks to our 24 hour flight delay:
And since we made the best of our layover, Cafe Pizzaiolo for a late lunch:
And then, Beltway traffic since hubby flew out of Dulles and I had at make my way to BWI:
The rental car. 42 miles to empty it says, mileage is 39,363. Since I hate gas pumps, if I'm driving any distance, I do the pre-paid fuel option, which means it makes sense to return the car as empty as possible:
Living on the edge. Ford cars suck. Note that it's only 30 miles later and I'm now 2 miles to empty. Total lies on miles to empty. Or maybe it was that bumper-to-bumper traffic that ate into my mileage. At this point, I was close to the rental car return, but still more than a mile away. The "miles to empty" ticked away, got down to 0 eventually, but I made it at least half a mile further, which was all I needed before I parked to return the car. Whew! My husband would have melted down if he were in the car with me. It would have totally stressed him out. And he would have been pissed because I knew it was going to be close, so I turned off the air in hopes of making it without running out:
So there you have it, six days in Virginia in pictures!
Monday, May 25, 2015
Memorial Confusion?
Is anyone else being driven crazy lately the apparent confusion between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day?
I'm all in favor of thanking a veteran or current military member. Go for it! Every day! All day!
But Memorial Day is not about thanking your dad for his service unless he died while serving. Maybe it's just my FB feed, but it's bugging the crap out of me. Maybe tell your dad that you're glad today isn't about him? Or ask a vet about people they served with in war who ARE being remembered today? Something other than forgetting what today is actually about.
Yes, I'm irritable. And probably somewhat irrationally irritated about this. There's definitely more to it, anger and sadness about my general place in life at this very moment.
We left San Fran a few hours ago to head home, but we're connecting in Phoenix. I was already miserable when we left. I hated saying goodbye to my 10 week old nephew. I hated leaving three adults I love there. And honestly, I hated leaving the city/region. We spent some time in Sonoma and I just love that entire area. San Fran, Napa, Sonoma, I love it all. LOVE it. Dallas just feels so blah, especially by comparison. And especially blah after an amazing five or six days in San Fran.
But now, I just want to go to Dallas. Bad weather in Dallas meant a ground stop that impacted our connection, so we're currently only delayed three hours, but I am predicting it will be more, if we make it at all tonight.
Honestly, flying in and out of Dallas is never supposed to be this hard, certainly not in May. For me to have two of four flights this month seriously impacted by weather is beyond irritating. I know, better safe than sorry. I'm not advocating in favor of flying in dangerous weather. Or with tired pilots, which is another issue for us (our pilots just went over hours when they announced the most recent delay, so they're calling for new pilots, which makes me even more sketpical about whether we'll make it home). But I'm more yelling toward the heavens, "It's May for goodness sake, get your crap together and just be sunny, mild and gradually warming!"
Sigh.
Mostly, I miss the baby. Here are just a few. Tell me, isn't he insanely adorable????
I'm all in favor of thanking a veteran or current military member. Go for it! Every day! All day!
But Memorial Day is not about thanking your dad for his service unless he died while serving. Maybe it's just my FB feed, but it's bugging the crap out of me. Maybe tell your dad that you're glad today isn't about him? Or ask a vet about people they served with in war who ARE being remembered today? Something other than forgetting what today is actually about.
Yes, I'm irritable. And probably somewhat irrationally irritated about this. There's definitely more to it, anger and sadness about my general place in life at this very moment.
We left San Fran a few hours ago to head home, but we're connecting in Phoenix. I was already miserable when we left. I hated saying goodbye to my 10 week old nephew. I hated leaving three adults I love there. And honestly, I hated leaving the city/region. We spent some time in Sonoma and I just love that entire area. San Fran, Napa, Sonoma, I love it all. LOVE it. Dallas just feels so blah, especially by comparison. And especially blah after an amazing five or six days in San Fran.
But now, I just want to go to Dallas. Bad weather in Dallas meant a ground stop that impacted our connection, so we're currently only delayed three hours, but I am predicting it will be more, if we make it at all tonight.
Honestly, flying in and out of Dallas is never supposed to be this hard, certainly not in May. For me to have two of four flights this month seriously impacted by weather is beyond irritating. I know, better safe than sorry. I'm not advocating in favor of flying in dangerous weather. Or with tired pilots, which is another issue for us (our pilots just went over hours when they announced the most recent delay, so they're calling for new pilots, which makes me even more sketpical about whether we'll make it home). But I'm more yelling toward the heavens, "It's May for goodness sake, get your crap together and just be sunny, mild and gradually warming!"
Sigh.
Mostly, I miss the baby. Here are just a few. Tell me, isn't he insanely adorable????
In case you can't read that bottom onesie, it says "Dear Auntie, you rock!"
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