Conquered...

We spent the weekend in Dallas. I had a few "classic Dallas" experiences, and also had a very eye-opening (I think for both me and K) conversation with an old friend about change.

K and I left here about 6:30 on Friday. We were delayed getting out of Austin by traffic and a couple of accidents (we only went 40 miles in the 1st hour). I don't think that I will be making that drive in the evening again...there were several long stretches of highway where they are working on the roads that do not have a shoulder and it is just way too narrow for my comfort. Throw into the mix the darkness and big trucks and it was nearly a panic attack in the making for me. We finally made it into Big D about 10:00. My cousin, Kristi, called just as we were driving through downtown and said that she and Michael were about to get something to eat at Taco Diner in the West Village. Perfect timing since we were driving past that exit at that moment! So, we met them there to hang out for a bit before we headed up to the hotel. Kristi and Michael (as well as the rest of that group) really had a huge impact on me in college and beyond. I was struggling with not quite fitting in with the frat-daddy and sorority chick crowd at SMU, and they introduced me to a whole new scene and I made same really great friendships along the way. We hadn't seen each other since SXSW 2005, so it was good to catch up with them and find out what everyone is up to. This was the first time that K got to meet them - I'm glad he had the chance to meet folks who knew "that girl" that I was so many years ago. It was a "classic Dallas" experience to be spending the evening with good friends in a very Dallas scene.

K and I had lunch with my mom in Addison on Saturday. Later that afternoon, I went to Northpark Mall with one of my best friends, Pete. Wow, that mall is impressive. It was the first time that I had been there since they completely remodelled the place and added a ton of new shops. Spending the afternoon shopping with Pete was another "classic Dallas" experience for me. He coveted my new Gucci sunglasses that I got last weekend...they rock. Meanwhile, I lusted after a pair of leopard-print D&G heels at Nordstrom's...with a price tag of $695. Sigh. But, I did walk away with my very first "big" handbag, which I definitely adore. I've always been a small purse kind of girl, so this is a "big" change for me (but, I need more room now to put the sunglass case in!).

K and I had plans to meet Kristi downtown for dinner at Victory Lounge at 8:00pm. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. It wasn't a good sign when the fire alarm went off at the hotel at 6:30. It was an even worse sign when we walked out the door of our room to see smoke coming from the end of the hallway. Fortunately, the exit stairs were the other direction and we walked down 12 flights of stairs to get outside. Then, the fire trucks showed up. It was our very own episode of "Rescue Me"! Well, it turned out that someone put out a cigarette in a plant by the elevator on our floor. I think there was just a lot of smoke, but no real fire thankfully. We weren't allowed to go back up to our room until 8:00 though. We got ready and headed over to Greenville Ave. for dinner at Snuffer's. Cheese fries at Snuffer's...another "classic Dallas" experience.

Then, the highlight of the trip was the Jackopierce concert at the House of Blues. It's a new venue in Dallas that just opened within the past few months. We had great seats in the balcony, the acoustics were great, and I got to see "my boys," Cary and Jack. They started playing together when they were both at SMU in the late 80's/early 90's. I don't think I've missed a show in Dallas since I first heard them play at Homecoming or some other campus event during my sophomore year in college. I'm glad that K got to experience it with me. It's a "classic Dallas" experience.

Finally, K and I had lunch with Pete today at Cafe Express in Mockingbird Station before we headed back to Austin. It was interesting to reflect on how much I have changed in the past couple of years since moving to Austin and especially since meeting K. I think it was eye-opening for K, too. I know that I have "mellowed out" a lot, even my mom commented on that at lunch yesterday. I do miss the girl I was to some extent - the girl who was a night owl, the girl who followed fashion trends religiously, the girl who never wore the same outfit twice, the girl who went to the movies on opening weekend, the girl who knew all the "hip" bands, the girl who loved to dance, the girl who went shopping all the time, the girl who loved spending a night out with friends, the girl who made lists, the girl who watched hours and hours of her favorite television shows, the girl who did what she wanted. But, I didn't have K in my life then...it wasn't complete. Our relationship is my priority now. I've chosen this path, so I can't grieve too much for the life I don't have anymore. He's opened up new doors that I didn't even know existed in myself and in love. He's my future. The past is just that...the past.