TRAVEL THERE: BECAUSE FRIENDS ARE WORTH THE EFFORT
Facebook,Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest do not make up for face time. Sure it’s great to read that tweet or see a picture, but even the next best thing to being there isn’t as good as actually being there.
The Disco Kings of Virginia Beach
In case you didn’t already know, the guy on the left is my long-suffering husband, Bill. Next to him is Ludger. They met as young men. Bill was from Egypt, building a career in food management. Ludger, from Germany, worked for a sports equipment company based in his home town. Somehow, in the seventies, these two immigrants met one another, became roommates and built a friendship that has endured through the years.
Fast Forward to the Nineties
Regardless of their disco nights, Bill and Ludger’s both went on to have very successful careers. Ludger eventually became the VP of American operations for his company. Bill moved to Dallas, transitioned into technology and built a profitable computer hardware company. When Bill and I called Ludger to tell him we were engaged, we discovered we’d only beat Ludger to the news by a few moments. He and Tammy were about to pick up the phone and share the same news with us.
Ludger and Tammy came to Dallas for our wedding. A few weeks later, we went to Germany for theirs. What’s more, we even went on their honeymoon. When people say they’ve had the trip of a lifetime, they are talking about our trip to Germany. From the beautiful wedding in an ancient cathedral to ballet in Schönbrunn Palace, it was a remarkable experience.
The Years in Between
Life gets in the way of good intentions. Tammy and Ludger set about having a family almost immediately. Bill and I didn’t take that route. Over the years the two couples found reasons to get together, but in truth, the occasions were few and far in-between. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, we were all just very,very busy and we didn’t exactly live around the corner from one another.
A month or so ago we got a call from Tammy. Ludger’s birthday was coming up and their whole family was going to an island paradise for the celebration. Along the way, they’d have an overnight layover in Houston. Was there any chance we could get to Houston to see them? Are you kidding? Of course we’d make the four hour drive! Their girls’ ages were in single digits the last time I saw them and since the youngest one is graduating from high school in June, that’s been a long time. Though we’ve managed to connect here and there over the years, Bill more frequently than me, I have to confess I’d never even met their teen-aged son.
Surprise!
Ludger had no idea what was going on. Tammy almost gave it away a couple of times, but was able to make the necessary saves. Bill and I checked into the hotel a few hours before the family’s flight arrived and waited until they were seated in the restaurant downstairs before we made our appearance. The result was the smiles you see above.
The reunion was joyous beyond description. They invited us to tag along to their paradise, but we just had too many irons in the fire. However, we don’t plan to let decades pass again before we all get together again. Friendships are too valuable and the distractions we have either move away from home or pass away.
TRAVEL HERE: DALLAS AREA UNIVERSITIES OFFER A WEALTH OF ENTERTAINMENT
In an area like the DFW Metroplex, with so many voices calling for our attention, it’s easy to forget our schools offer many entertainment opportunities. What’s more, tickets for their productions cost only a fraction of what the pros want us to pay.
Play Ball!
Sports are an obvious example. The worst seat at a college game will put you a lot closer to the action than the nosebleed section of any pro arena, yet you’re going to pay a lot less. In some cities, that might mean tickets to a Podunkville game, but here that means top ranked teams like SMU and TCU – and the sports range from men’s football to women’s volleyball and everything in between.
But sports are just the beginning. What’s your interest? I assure you, at least one school in town is devoted to producing graduates in that area of study. You like Jazz? Check out UNT. Chess? See UTD. And that’s just a couple of examples.
Intellectual Property
Many of our schools have significant collections, exhibitions, libraries and museums. Ever heard of the Meadows Museum? It’s a spectacular museum of Spanish Art, right on the SMU campus. Remember the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition a few years ago? Southwest Seminary in Fort Worth was the host. Did you know TCU had the Monnig Meterorite Gallery on it’s campus? I didn’t either, until I googled TCU and poked around a little.
Would you like to learn more about anything, but don’t want to sign up for classes. Then how about attending lectures from time to time. I know SMU has an amazing lecture series, just from hearing advertisements of very famous people who will speak. More interested in spiritual subjects, then check out Dallas Theological Seminary. Lecture series are an integral part of most universities.
Singing, Dancing and Such
Any school with a fine arts department will have frequent exhibitions of the students’ creations. I’m a graduate of UTD and if you click here, you can sign up for the Arts and Humanities mailing list to be notified of the exhibitions, poetry readings, concerts and more. With a little clicking around, you could find the same thing at pretty much any university.
My husband and I enjoy these opportunities – when we remember to utilize them. Thankfully, both UD and UTD, our alma maters, do a great job of reminding us to come see them.
TRAVEL HERE: DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS AN EXHIBITION OF ISLAMIC ART
NUR: Light in Art and Science from the Islamic World Opens at the DMA
Though I loved absolutely everything about the recent preview party for NUR, I almost didn’t get there. Bill and I were working on a project and even though I’d reminded him, all day long, we had to finish up in time to get to the museum, when it was time to go, I was physically and emotionally drained. “Maybe we should just blow it off,” I suggested. Bill nearly fainted. He knew I’d really been looking forward to the exhibit and preview party, so he all but scooped me up and put me in the car.
The Logistics
In the visor mirror, I tried to get my reflection to look like something other than a windblown mess, but I don’t think I did much good. I was dressed right for the event, but I felt out of synch with the idea of having fun. Though I usually have an event’s schedule committed to memory and a plan for getting the most out of it, on this day, I wasn’t even sure we were arriving at the right time.
As we waited for the elevator in the museum’s garage, I asked Bill if I’d given him the invitation and membership card. He showed them to me and I took the invitation from him to look over the schedule. As I studied the card, the elevator opened and I stepped in.
OOPS!
Now I know that you should always let the people off the elevator, before you enter, but I was operating on auto-pilot. I’ve been going to the museum for after-hour events for decades. It used to be that no one would be riding the elevators down. Even so, I should have glanced up, right? You’re absolutely right, but I didn’t.
As soon as my foot crossed the threshold, I knew something was wrong. Some tardy alarm went off in my head, “People park down here for other stuff, you know!” I started apologizing before I even raised my head to see who I’d been rude to, but the offended party was already dressing me down for my faux pas – and in no uncertain terms, I might add.
You know when something happens in seconds, but you remember it in slow motion. That’s how this situation went. I dove into the corner to get out of the way as the offended party stepped out of the elevator. My husband and a couple of other people followed me into the elevator and the doors closed. Standing there outside the elevator was a mother holding a child, yelling at me. The mother had switched from English to another language for good measure and her child began to howl.
As if I hadn’t already felt bad enough, now I was miserable. I turned to the two strangers and tried to explain what happened. Their sympathetic faces suggested that maybe I hadn’t been the rude one after all. My husband, who is quick to point out the error of my ways, was red in the face. I braced for the lecture, but all he had to say was directed at the woman who’d been so agitated at me. When the elevator opened I asked him if he thought I should go back down and try to excuse myself for my mistake. “Don’t you even think about it,” he warned.
Things got better after that. We were late for what the invitation said was pre-lecture comments, but we did get up to the Founder’s Room before all the hors d’ oeuvres and wine were gone. As we admired the re-purposing of the old restaurant and enjoyed the view from the Founder’s Room Balcony, Bill and I reminisced about meeting one another in that very place over twenty years ago. The angry woman faded from my memory.
After a while, we moseyed down to see the exhibit and listen to the formal lecture and it was delightful. I hope you’ll take time to see the exhibit, but please remember your manners or you might run into a little elevator rage.
Invitation to the NUR Preview
TRAVEL HERE: DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS AN EXHIBITION OF ISLAMIC ART
NUR: Light in Art and Science from the Islamic World Opens at the DMA
Though I loved absolutely everything about the recent preview party for NUR, I almost didn’t get there. Bill and I were working on a project and even though I’d reminded him, all day long, we had to finish up in time to get to the museum, when it was time to go, I was physically and emotionally drained. “Maybe we should just blow it off,” I suggested. Bill nearly fainted. He knew I’d really been looking forward to the exhibit and preview party, so he all but scooped me up and put me in the car.
The Logistics
In the visor mirror, I tried to get my reflection to look like something other than a windblown mess, but I don’t think I did much good. I was dressed right for the event, but I felt out of synch with the idea of having fun. Though I usually have an event’s schedule committed to memory and a plan for getting the most out of it, on this day, I wasn’t even sure we were arriving at the right time.
As we waited for the elevator in the museum’s garage, I asked Bill if I’d given him the invitation and membership card. He showed them to me and I took the invitation from him to look over the schedule. As I studied the card, the elevator opened and I stepped in.
OOPS!
Now I know that you should always let the people off the elevator, before you enter, but I was operating on auto-pilot. I’ve been going to the museum for after-hour events for decades. It used to be that no one would be riding the elevators down. Even so, I should have glanced up, right? You’re absolutely right, but I didn’t.
As soon as my foot crossed the threshold, I knew something was wrong. Some tardy alarm went off in my head, “People park down here for other stuff, you know!” I started apologizing before I even raised my head to see who I’d been rude to, but the offended party was already dressing me down for my faux pas – and in no uncertain terms, I might add.
You know when something happens in seconds, but you remember it in slow motion. That’s how this situation went. I dove into the corner to get out of the way as the offended party stepped out of the elevator. My husband and a couple of other people followed me into the elevator and the doors closed. Standing there outside the elevator was a mother holding a child, yelling at me. The mother had switched from English to another language for good measure and her child began to howl.
As if I hadn’t already felt bad enough, now I was miserable. I turned to the two strangers and tried to explain what happened. Their sympathetic faces suggested that maybe I hadn’t been the rude one after all. My husband, who is quick to point out the error of my ways, was red in the face. I braced for the lecture, but all he had to say was directed at the woman who’d been so agitated at me. When the elevator opened I asked him if he thought I should go back down and try to excuse myself for my mistake. “Don’t you even think about it,” he warned.
Things got better after that. We were late for what the invitation said was pre-lecture comments, but we did get up to the Founder’s Room before all the hors d’ oeuvres and wine were gone. As we admired the re-purposing of the old restaurant and enjoyed the view from the Founder’s Room Balcony, Bill and I reminisced about meeting one another in that very place over twenty years ago. The angry woman faded from my memory.
After a while, we moseyed down to see the exhibit and listen to the formal lecture and it was delightful. I hope you’ll take time to see the exhibit, but please remember your manners or you might run into a little elevator rage.
TRAVEL HERE: PEROT MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & NATURE IN DALLAS
Getting My Second Look at The Perot
Not quite a year ago I had the opportunity to attend a UTD alumni function downstairs at The Perot. I was glad to go, because lines still wrapped around the building on weekends and you had to order tickets in advance. We’re a little more spontaneous when it come to museum visits, so we were eager for a peek. While there, we enjoyed the Musical Stairs and amused ourselves in the Sports Hall, but we weren’t allowed in the upper floors, so we put it on our “later list.”
A Perfect Sunday Afternoon for Strolling
A few Sundays ago the day was bright and we made our way downtown after church. Since we’re DMA members, we took advantage of our free parking there and strolled over to The Perot where things were pretty quiet. Dallas buildings are all comparatively modern, because we’re still a pretty new city in the big scheme of things, but The Perot’s deconstructed exterior takes modern architecture to a new level. I don’t know whether I like it or not, but you’ve got to give it creds for being different.
Starting at the Top – The Expanding Universe
Inside, we only had to wait in line for a few moments. Tickets in haned, we were directed to the escalators which led to the top floor, Level 4. This must be a new trend, because just weeks before, at the new Briscoe in San Antonio, we were directed to start at the top. I think it’s smart. After seeing a floor or two it’s easy to say, “Let’s come back later,” but if you’re on your way down anyway, why not carry on.
We entered the Expanding Universe Hall and sure enough, they’re following another trend I’ve noticed: more information than you can possibly absorb, thrown at you willy-nilly, from the walls of the museum. Obedient soul that I am, I started at the first display and began reading, only to be interrupted by my husband who was ready to move on to another section.
I was reluctant at first, because the museum walls hit one of my curiosity nails right on the head, comparing the knowledge of prehistoric man (as in Stonehenge and star charts in China) with the nonsense the Greeks spouted when they arrived on the scene. “How did we lose all that knowledge and where did it go,” is one of my perpetual questions. I can imagine a Dark Ages previous to what we call history, but even in the knowledge-starved Middle Ages there was an undercurrent of learned people keeping the flame alive. The man on the street might not have known much, but there were people who did.
However, the exhibit did not answer my burning question. I’ll just have to keep watching Ancient Aliens. The exhibit went on to discuss methods used to observe stars today and gave a run down of what they’re seeing out there now. The hall wound up with a Journey Through the Solar System, but that was very crowded, so we moved on to the T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall.
Taking a Look at Life Then and Now
Life Then and Now is a sort of natural history museum with fossils, bones and stuffed things. These kinds of exhibits are not my favorite and on this particular day I enjoyed it less than usual. As we perused the fossil remains of early life, a very loud proponent of evolution was just ahead of us adamantly vocalizing his disdain for Creationism, in rather crude and offensive remarks. Obviously the guy didn’t realize it’s possible to intellectually embrace the fact of dinosaurs roaming the earth, without having to toss faith in God out the window. We tried detouring the guy, but he seemed determined to follow me around saying things that made me want to punch him. You’ll be glad to know I behaved myself.
Flying Above It All
On a mezzanine above the dinosaur bones is the Rose Hall of Birds. This was a madhouse. About midway along the mezzanine a motion sensor camera allows kids to pretend they’re soaring, while controlling a bird flying on a screen in front of them. This is a real winner with the younger set, but it does create gridlock among the exhibits. We headed to Level 3 which proved to be our favorite part.
Digging Into the Dynamic Earth
The Rees-Jones Foundation Dynamic Earth Hall was my semester of Geology 101 condensed into a few exhibits, but we ride an earthquake simulator back in Nacogdoches. Like other interactive exhibits, the earthquake simulator, was very busy – so we just watched. But not very long, because the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall was calling me. I love rocks, minerals and gemstones. The color and variety of the specimens was fascinating, so I really couldn’t get enough. When I’d been through them all, I wanted to return to the beginning and start again, but I didn’t. I’d taken so long that Bill went through the Tom Hunt Energy Hall alone. He wanted to ride the Shale Voyager, so I dragged myself away from all the pretty rocks. The Shale Voyager didn’t seem to be quite as thrilling as the earthquake simulator and maybe that’s why the line wasn’t as long. They wanted participants to accept that they’d been shrunk down to fit inside a drill bit and I wasn’t able to suspend my disbelief.
Almost Downward Spiral
Maybe I was getting tired, but Level 2 wasn’t as compelling to me as the other levels seemed. There were lots of hands-on exhibits, but it wasn’t anything that made me want to get my hands on them. There was also a section about the Texas Blackland Prairie, but it would have been a better fit on Level 4 with the Life Then and Now Hall.
Then we hit the Musical Stairs and revisited the Lower Level. The special exhibition, Animals Inside Out, took up most of the space, but I had no interest in seeing plastic encased animal guts. We also stayed away from the Children’s Museum, since children aren’t our thing. However, the Sports Hall was just as much fun as it had been on our first visit, but much more crowded, so we left the games to the kids. One hint I will give you, ride the elevator back up to Level 1. It’s harder to trip a light fantastic up the stairs than it is down.
So, do I think you should go to The Perot? I absolutely do. I also recommend you choose a weekday for your visit, so you won’t have so much competition for the participatory exhibits. I can’t decide whether being kid-less was a blessing or a curse. The blessing came because we didn’t have anyone throwing a fit when we walked past the lines waiting for the soaring bird experience or the earthquake simulator, but it would have been fun to see what some of my grand-nieces and nephews thought about it. Have you been? What did you think?
Back in my dating days, there was an admirer who would frequently invite me to Saturday morning brunch. The first few times he did, I was actually flattered. Then I figured out that, for him, brunch translated into breakfast at Denny’s. I was not quite so impressed after that.
After I’d figured out the drill, he’d call up and invite me to brunch and I’d ask, “Do you mean breakfast at Denny’s?” I really didn’t mind joining him for a meal at Denny’s, I just didn’t want to feed his pretense. I’d been to brunch before and Denny’s didn’t have it. With this almost weekly wrangle about brunch, I’m surprised that we dated for as long as we did.
History Sort of Repeats Itself
Fast forward several decades. It’s Sunday morning and my husband heads north out of the church parking lot. I’m immediately reminded of brunch at Denny’s, because I’m about to be taken to brunch at IKEA. Isn’t it funny how history keeps repeating itself?
Now we’re big fans of IKEA. Both of our offices have IKEA shelves along the walls and if you know your IKEA, then you’ll recognize it in other places, too. When Bill’s shopping for something house-related, you can bet IKEA is on the list. We may not always buy there, but we we’ll be looking.
A large portion of IKEA’s second floor is given over to a cafe. Once during a shopping trip, Bill went to check it out. Then suddenly, I found myself going to IKEA every Sunday after we left church and every time I think of brunch at Denny’s.
A Dining Bargain
In case you hadn’t noticed men are different than women. A huge part of the reason I choose any dining venue is atmosphere. If it doesn’t have that, I’d really just as soon drive-thru. Bill’s a lot more interested in value and menu. The IKEA Cafe has what he wants.
If value is the most important thing you consider when deciding where to eat, then you should just give it up and eat all of your meals at IKEA. I can’t remember anywhere that serves such a cost-effective meal. I seriously doubt you could cook at home for less. A few weeks ago we shared a $1.99 breakfast – scrambled eggs, several slices of bacon, potatoes and french toast sticks with maple syrup. Yes – I said $1.99 and if you belong to the IKEA frequent flyer program you even get free coffee.
But we don’t usually get breakfast. They usually have a smoked salmon dish with a fresh vegetable salsa that Bill loves. I don’t dig salmon or breakfast or much of anything that IKEA serves, but he loves the salmon so much that I just go along to provide company.
OK, so fine. I have been known to get one of their ginormous cinnamon rolls. They’re not exactly Cinnabon and I have no business at all eating them, but if I don’t get a little something, then hunger is going to kick in before the next time Bill is ready to eat and our day together is ruined before it even gets started.
Should you go to IKEA for brunch, lunch or any other meal. As I’ve said, it’s a real bargain and if you’re already there to shop, then sure grab a quick meal, but were it not for my handsome husband, I doubt the IKEA Cafe would see much of me.
The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum has been high on my to do list – ever since it opened, but I’ve been kinda of busy. With all of my Christmas shopping done, the Sunday before Christmas turned out to be a perfect time to visit. Well almost perfect.
Chilly Reception
It was COLD last Sunday. I bundled up, but I had on a skirt and heels from church. A pair of pantyhose was the only thing protecting my legs from the arctic air. BRRRRRR. We did get to park right across the street from the library, but I was still pretty frosty.
And then there was the line. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to death Dallas has an attraction like Dubya’s library, but I thought everyone would be out shopping. Not so!
Anyway, though long, the line moved pretty fast. Almost before I could say “No Child Left Behind,” we were standing in front of the security station. They didn’t make me take off my shoes, but my bracelet and belt set off the alarm. (Now boarding at Gate 43!)
Once past security, purchasing tickets was a snap. I’d downloaded the library app to my smartphone, so I passed up the audio tour. Come to find out, that was a mistake. I never got the phone to tell me anything. Perhaps I needed earphones. I’ll do some research before I visit again. I was not very well prepared this time.
Truth be told, however, I don’t know what I would have done with more information. I’m just not ready for this millennium. I live in a constant state of information overload. Sitting at home watching an episode of Dancing with the Stars is challenging, because so many tidbits flash in my face. I have a hard time deciding whether it’s a twitter post or an advertisement. There are so many feeds squeezed on the screen that I can’t figure out what’s up. That’s how I felt at the Library.
Waiting to enter the library, there’s a cool video presentation. All kinds of people and places are presented in an inventive way. I recognized some of the people and scenes, but others left me wondering what exactly they had to do with the 43rd president.
Dubya’s Library
Then we gained access to the permanent exhibits on the north side of the museum. Just inside the entrance, snippets of George W. Bush’s life are presented in multi-media. I was engrossed, trying to take it all in, but Mr. Bill was antsy. He’d already had to wait in too many lines and he didn’t want to miss the five minute film that was about to begin. I wasn’t ready, but I like being married, so we know what I did.
After the film, I returned to where I’d been, but I’d lost my front row vantage point and no one was going to let me in. I gave up, because I’ll be back, and headed into the “No Child Left Behind” section. This is the heartbeat of the Bush family. Before the day was over, I heard them mention their devotion to education a number of times. This particular area is very kid friendly, with a kid-sized benches inside a faux school bus and a cozy reading nook. I love the idea of No Child Left Behind, but I can’t say that I’m enamored with the application of the initiative and there were no kids with me, so we moved on.
Next was the 9/11 section, beginning with bent girders from the Twin Towers. Poignant memories of that day still haunt me, but this is where I figured out that I wasn’t going to be able to take it all in on this first visit. Every wall in the place, from somewhere about my knees to far above my head, is plastered with information and it comes in a variety of formats. Some of its video, other is print, still more is artifacts. In addition, just about kid level, are all kinds of hands-on things to do. Kinetic is not my primary learning mode, but I appreciated that they really did have something for everyone.
There’s the obligatory Oval Office, several of Laura’s dresses and many of the things you’re used to seeing in a presidential museum. (You’ll notice I said “Laura.” That’s how the staff refers to them, “George and Laura.” It made me feel very cozy with the Bushes.) I always enjoy these personal touches and get a kick out of seeing tables set for formal dinners. What I love best is the international stuff. I could have spent a day just on the memorabilia and photographs from their hosting and visiting of international people and places.
Sort of center stage is an area called Decision Point – like his book. It’s sort of an interactive game you play with a room full of people. Each member of the audience sits at a screen and then a video at the front of the room leads you through one of the issues in Bush’s presidency. First everyone votes on what subject they want to consider and my group chose Iraq and the weapons of mass destruction. That had not been my vote. Therein lies the problem with a simple majority.
The concept is good, but I didn’t feel as if enough time had passed for it to really be meaningful. In a couple of decades, this game may leave the biggest impact on visitors, but for me, it was merely a reiteration of things I already knew. After all, not only did I live through it just a few years ago, my husband served as an interpreter in Iraq and I’ve read Mr. Bush’s book. If you have been or visit someday, tell me what you think.
Video is a big part of the museum. Several short films allow George, Laura and the family to tell their own story in their own words. One video is narrated by the twins. It highlights Camp David and Prairie Chapel Ranch. The final video is George and Laura, sharing their visions for the future and thanking you for taking the time to come to the library. Laura’s a big part of the museum, too, but not oppressively so. I call the presidential museum in Simi Valley, the Nancy Reagan Library, for reasons that are immediately obvious when you visit it.
We took a little break before we saw the rest of the museum. There are two food outlets. One is Cafe 43. Next time, I’m going to include it on my agenda, but we’d already had lunch when we arrived. So we found the snack bar, a small food spot just off the central patio. We shared a delicious yogurt parfait, but they have everything from soda to sandwiches. I can imagine on a warmer day it would be pleasant to linger on the patio soaking in the Texas sun. Instead we huddled together next to the counter because there are no tables inside and shivered every time someone entered the room.
Next was the gifts. There are big picture windows around the walls of the area where the tickets are sold. In each are gifts from dignitaries to the President and First Lady. Actually my favorite piece was a necklace given to Condoleezza Rice. I’m not sure what the rules are concerning these gifts, but when I worked for the government you weren’t allowed to accept any. Good thing I’m not Condi. They’d have had a hard time ripping that necklace out of my grungy paws. Another favorite was a small gold clutch, but they decorated it with CZ’s instead of diamonds. (Come on guys, Laura was married to the leader of the free world.)
Finally we entered the temporary galleries and Christmas Tree, oh Christmas Tree! The special exhibition area was given over to the 2001 White House Christmas theme of Home for the Holidays. If you are a lover of Christmas, like me, hurry over there now, because this exhibit ends on January 5th. The tree was well worth the price of admission, all by itself and we’d already enjoyed so much. But there’s more. They had scale models of different presidents’ homes and I enjoyed comparing those I’d seen with those I haven’t visited – yet.
I confess, I didn’t even know they had a Christmas related-exhibit at the museum, but now I’ve subscribed to their blog, so I shouldn’t be missing anything else. You shouldn’t miss anything either. This is a must-see, wherever you are, but if you live in Texas you have no excuse. Get yourself to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum! Oh yeah – and Happy New Year!
My bestie is an attorney. On occasion she’ll offer up a little pro bono legal advise and we’re grateful for it. More often than not, hubby uses our gratitude as an excuse to take his two favorite girls to dinner, but the last time we picked her legal brain for a few nuggets she was reluctant to fall off her most recent diet.
When Meat is on the Menu
Deb and I are heavily into diets. We both adore food, so we’re often involved in the battle against the bulge. We’ve been known to encourage splurges, but we’re just as ready to support one another in healthy habits, too. On this particular diet, she was only allowed to have meat on that particular day, so I suggested an old favorite, The Outback.
Here’s the best thing about The Outback: consistency. You’re going to get good food. Yep, it’s a chain. Yep, they’re going to Aussie you about a bit. Yep, the decor is the same as every other Outback. But you’re going to eat good.
Since this was a diet-inspired visit, no alcohol was consumed by these two dieters. Mr. Bill had a beer, a light one to be sure, but he still had one. Nor did we indulge in a Blooming Onion, which is a blooming shame, because they’re delish. We also refused the offer of hot bread. We had meat.
Deb enjoyed a salad, a steak and some seasonal vegetables. I had the same seasonal vegetables and they were easily the highlight of the meal. I mean I could have eaten an entire plate of them and been perfectly satisfied. Speaking of perfectly satisfied, Mr. I’m-Not-On-A-Diet was perfectly satisfied with his stack of ribs. I had to kick him under the table when he suggested dessert. Really, men just don’t get the concept of supporting your friend’s diet.
I did go for a little splurge, but a healthy one. I got the teeniest tiniest steak on the menu and added crab legs for some minuscule price. The reason my splurge was a healthy one was because I love the flavor of crab legs without any drawn butter. Try it sometime! And I shared my legs with my mates, saving myself from calorie overload.
We had great service, good food and a lot of fun. What more do you want when you go out to eat? So yes, next time you’re hungry for a bit of meat, head on over to The Outback near you.
And now for a bit of fun. When we pulled into the parking lot, Deb said appreciatively, “Look at the shoes on that woman.” Now the woman I saw was a little grandmother-type on the Outback’s porch. Grandmother had on some crepe-soled oxfords, so I thought Deb might have lost her mind. After a few confusing exchanges we established that I had missed THE SHOES and the woman wearing them completely. Apparently, she had on more shoes than she did clothes. Our visit to Outback was sort of between meals on a Sunday afternoon and I noticed that neither Grandmother or THE SHOES ever came into the restaurant. I wondered about that for a moment and then thought, BINGO – Grandma was a pimp! Ya gotta love Dallas.
You know the drill. A zillion things to do in a day and then you have to be somewhere for something in the evening. That usually means I drive through and pick up a burger, but for once I changed the routine. I picked Pei Wei.
Stepping Out of My Fast Food Rut
OK, so this is no secret scoop. You probably pass by one of these every day – but when was the last time you actually stopped? See that’s what I thought. We’re a burger nation. We also get in ruts.
I’ve been trying to eat a little healthier and two all beef patties et al just wasn’t going to cut it. Pei Wei is close and it was on the way. I had no excuses.
I’m usually in the vicinity of Pei Wei at lunchtime and I see droves of people coming and going, but the pace was quieter on this particular evening. As soon as I stepped in, I realized that I was pretty much the only “dine-in” customer. Everyone else was doing take out. (Note to self: Quick quiet sit-down meal.)
Since this isn’t one of my usual stops, I had to take time to read the menu. There are soups, appetizers, lettuce wraps and noodles, but I just wanted a meal. Pei Wei gives you about a dozen preparation styles to choose from and then you get to decide whether you want beef, chicken, shrimp or meatless. The preparation choices either have a leaf or a pepper next to them. The leaf is vegetarian and the pepper means hot.
I love all things hot and Kung Pao is one of my favorite Asian dishes, so I had no trouble making a choice. I barely had time to get my drink and find a table before they showed up with my food. That’s when I got very happy about my decision to stop by.
Attractively arrayed on a black platter was a colorful array of veggies and meats, snuggled close to a mound of white sticky rice. (You can get brown rice.) And HOT! They’ve got spicy down to a science. I enjoyed my Kung Pao with chopsticks and then ate a few bites of rice. I was trying to be healthy after all. Back by the drinks they do offer free fortune cookies, but I forgot to get one. Now I’ll never know what was supposed to happen to me.
I enjoyed my Pei Wei stop and plan to have more of these healthier fast food stops. I was in and out in practically no time and the food was really good. Pei Wei costs a little more than Mickey D’s, but I’m worth it. Aren’t you?
I’m not exactly what you would call a health nut, but I do healthy things in spite of myself. I watch what I eat – because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to wear my clothes and that would really tick me off. I work out for the same reason. I wish I could say that I loved it, but I don’t.
The California Connection
Jamba Juice is one healthy thing that I really do enjoy. I found Jamba Juice in San Luis Obispo, California. It’s almost hard to believe, but I lived there for six years. This city girl was like a duck out of water in a place where everyone rolled in the sidewalk at nine o’clock, but there were a few things that made the sojourn worthwhile. Jamba Juice was one of them.
We built our home in Pismo Beach, but when anyone in the county said “downtown,” they meant downtown San Luis Obispo. The Farmer’s Market was on Thursdays in downtown. Shopping and restaurants were downtown. Jamba Juice was downtown.
Downtown was this darling collection of mission-inspired architecture. In the hub was a pedestrian mall with exciting things like a Barnes and Noble, The Limited and The Gap. There was also Jamba Juice. When Bill and I went on a ramble, be it to Paso Robles for some wine tasting or Avila to stroll the beach or whatever, we’d invariably end up on the mall sharing a mango smoothie from Jamba Juice.
Jamba Juice, according to local legend, was the brain child of some Cal-Poly students. They had one of those group marketing projects that we all hate, but instead of wanting to murder each other when it was all over, they decided to pursue their project into reality.
Before Jamba Juice came along, I was afraid of smoothie shops. I’d been in a few, but they were all about whey protein and carrot juice. Those things might be healthy for you, but to me, they sounded weird. And the smoothie personnel was usually too tatted and pierced for me to have any level of comfort. I just drank milk shakes and left the smoothie shops to the better initiated.
But Jamba Juice was a whole ‘nother thing. Sure they squeezed a whole lot of oranges and grew some kind of fresh grass on the counter, but it felt wholesome and normal. The smoothies had names like Peach Pleasure and Mango Madness rather than Ginko Grass and Whey Whirl. You got a free boost with every smoothie, but they had harmless names like Energy boost, rather than EnchiRibo Burst. Unlike other smoothie stores they had bright white walls, a florescent-hued logo and adequate lighting.
You’re laughing at me, but that’s because you’ve forgotten what smoothie stores were like before Jamba came along. Any guy with a blender could start a smoothie shop and harass you with their nutrition philosophy. Then Jamba came along and gave smoothie vendors a run for their money. Thank you Jamba.
By the time we moved back to Dallas, the Cal-Poly kids had sold their concept and are probably somewhere in the world drinking mai tais on a beach – at least I hope they are, because they deserve it after the gift they gave to the world. Used to be I had to plan my Jamba cravings and find a reason to go to where their shops were, but now Jamba is pretty much everywhere, including around the corner from my house.
And here’s a hint. Last time I was waiting for my smoothie, a Peach Pleasure, I saw a poster inviting me to join the Jamba Insider Club. A few taps on my smartphone later and BAM, I had a coupon for a $2 smoothie. Gotta love it!
TRAVEL HERE: PAULINE FROMMER AT THE DALLAS TRAVEL & ADVENTURE SHOW
If your last name is Frommer, then I guess it’s no surprise you know a thing or two about travel. Pauline Frommer began her talk at the recent Dallas Travel and Adventure Show with what she thought was good news. The Frommer family has re-acquired the Frommer guides. Then she moved right on to the bad news. When you’re listening to Pauline you’ve got to be ready to move quickly. She covers a lot of ground in a short time.
Highlights from Pauline
Her slide simply said, “KABOOM!” The bad news is that the cost of travel is about to blow up. Like most of the changes we are forced to deal with, this change is couched in the market-speak of customization and individualized attention. When you see those words, get out your charge card and be sure you’ve raised the limit. Customization is pc talk for removing the consumers ability to compare prices.
When you look at your old friends expedia, Price Line, Travelocity and the like, you may think you know what you’re looking at, but you won’t. You may think you’re pretty clever, but Kayak isn’t going to help, because there will be no way to compare things apple to apple. This one will include your carry on luggage, while that one will charge you more for a seat closer to the front of the plane, while another may look less expensive, it’s actually going to cost the most, because everything, including your seat will be an extra charge.
So where do you go? She recommends Hipmunk.com, DoHop.com and Momondo.com. And why does she recommend these? Because they do not actually sell anything. They are merely search engines that compare pricing. You’ll have to go somewhere else to buy, but you’ll find what you need here first. I haven’t played with them yet, so let me know what you think.
More shopping hints? NEVER buy travel on the weekend. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best. Round trip fares will no longer guarantee you the cheapest flight. Two one ways might actually be less expensive. If you have the time, she reminded us that non-direct flights can be cheaper, but who has the time?
Airfare Tips
More ways to get cheaper airfare? Use CheapFlights.com to plug into any specials that a local agency might have and another source of cheap travel might be ethnic travel agencies. Say you’re flying to Tel Aviv. Chances are there is a Hebrew travel agency who can get you there cheaper than you can get there yourself.
More digital help? Gateguru is an app that will help you navigate the airports of the world. Follow your favorite airlines on Twitter and Facebook to get sales that aren’t available anywhere else. XL Airway can get you from New York to London for $584. Also try Norwegian Airlines when you go to Europe. Even though you may end up with three flights rather than one, the puddle jump may be so cheap, it’s worth the hassle.
One more airfare tip. Try OptionsAway.com. It’s doing for travel what options did for the investment game. Don’t just go buy a ticket. Spend $7 to get an option on it. If airfare goes up, then they have to sell it to you at the option price. If it goes down, you’ve lost $7, but only $7.
Accomodation Hints
Now to accommodations. With airfare so expensive, all you may be able to afford for a bed is nothing. You’re in luck! Now there’s GlobalFreeloaders.com and CouchSurfing.com. Will you be staying at the Waldorf Astoria? No, but free is free. Well, even with free you can get something you didn’t bargain for, so Pauline reminds us not to couch surf via Craig’s List. Global Freeloaders and Couch Surfing provide reviews and are somewhat more vetted than Craig’s List. In fact, you’re also reviewed as a guest. Still let the freeloader beware.
She also mentioned HomeExchange.com. With this you have something more at stake, your own home. People who really seem to like this are people with children and pets. The children, because if you trade homes with someone who has kids with ages the same as your’s, you won’t have to tote as much along with you. With pets, it gives you an automatic pet sitter and in return, you’re sitting for their’s and won’t go into feline or canine withdrawal.
If you want to save, but are looking for something more traditional, go for a rental at AirBnB.com, HomeAway.com, VRBO.com or FlipKey.com. One word of warning on these rentals, though. They will require a hefty deposit, which is reasonable, but in case of a disaster, like 9-11 or Mother Nature, you’re not going to get that deposit back. That’s reasonable for the owner, but if you’re thinking of using this method, get travel insurance. (Side note: I found out travel insurance is included on any travel I buy with my credit card, so you might not actually have to have additional costs to protect yourself.)
For Bed and Breakfast accomodations, she recommends AirBnB.com, windu.com, Roomarama.com and EvergreenClub.com – but Evergreen is only for senior citizens. When you’re looking for cheap places to stay don’t overlook monasteries. They frown on unmarried people sleeping together and things will be very spartan, but the price is right. If you’re a veteran, check out military hotels. Women who are traveling on their own should check out WomenWelcomeWomen.com. You’re not necessarily going to get invited to spend the night, but you might find a new friend.
If you plan on sticking to a hotel room, the new average price for one is $110 and like air travel, that covers less and less. Especially beware resort fees and minibar restocking. Those can blow your budget very quickly.
One way to save money on hotels is to combine your hotel with your airfare. It’s not always cheaper, but it can be. You just have to do your homework. Try these: Trivago.com, Hipmunk.com, Tingo.com, Priceline.com and Hotwire.com. Others include: VacMart.com, BookIt.com and Expedia.com. Something new to the hotel game is HotelTonight.com, but there’s a catch, when they say tonight, they mean tonight. I checked it out a while back and it was great for places like Dallas or San Francisco, but not so much Crowheart, Wyoming. In other words, depend on Hotel Tonight only when you’re in a major market.
Are you worn out, yet? Imagine how fast I was having to write to get all this down in a one hour seminar!
Customized Experiences
Looking for customized experiences when you’re away from home? Pauline calls it contextual travel. Look to: Vayable.com and UrbanAdventures.com. A new trend is eating with people in their homes. For that you can go to EatWith.com and EatWithALocal.com.
Maybe you’d like to travel, but have no one to go with. If you want some travel buddies try small group travel. You’ll get twelve new best friends, stay in local hotels, eat in locally owned restaurants and enjoy local guides. For small group travel check: IntrepidTravel.com, GAdventures.com, and AdventureCenter.com. AdventureLink.com is a clearing house for exotic travel experiences.
With all the cruising disasters of late, cruising as a whole had a low profile at this show, but it hasn’t disappeared by any means (especially in Alaska). Pauline’s strongest tip was never to buy a cruise from the cruise line. Instead try: Cayole.com, GoAwayTravel.com, VacationsToGo.com, CruisesOnly.com, CruiseBrothers.com, CruiseStar.com, cruises.com and Cruisecompete.com. She also doesn’t want you to buy your excursions from the cruise line either. First do a little research. The cruise line may be charging you an enormous amount for something you can do on your own for free or almost free. (Like when I popped over to Atlantis for a couple of dollars of cab fare rather than the packaged deals that were in the double and triple digits.) If you do want to take a planned excursions check out CruisingExcursions.com,Shoretrips.com and Viatour.com.
So Where Should You Go When You Follow Pauline’s Advice?
Finally she made three travel suggestions. Taiwan, Poland and Guatemala. Taiwan has a blend of Asian cultures and Poland has a blend of European cultures. Guatemala she suggested because it’s just now opening up after decades of civil war and it’s one of the few places you can go and find authentic cultural experiences. There’s more, but by then my writing was so cramped that I can’t read my notes. I guess next year you’ll just have to go to the show yourself.
Miscellaneous Jane 