I love severe weather coverage.

It reminds me of the hours and hours of coverage I used to watch with my dad when we lived in NJ and a crazy blizzard would blow in. Even though we knew it was snowing, and that it would snow a lot, but we’d still sit there and watch the weather reports all day, eating soup and drinking hot tea.

Severe weather reports in Texas are usually focused on intense spring storms and tornadoes…and one a dust storm. I’ve lived here for a little over five years and I have had to take cover twice - I went into my closet (in my old apartment) when I first moved down here and my laundry room (in my condo) just a couple months ago. Even when I was hunkered down in my laundry room, I had the weather report live streaming on my laptop.

And I have to admit, I really want to see a tornado in person one day. But I want to be far enough away from it so I am not in any danger and I would hope it wouldn’t hurt anyone or destroy any houses or anything. I know that is nearly impossible, but I really do want to see one in person.

I am occupying myself on this Friday night with Hurricane Irene coverage on the Weather Channel, some wine and yummy dinner and probably dessert a little later.

PS - I do hope all my friends and family along the east coast, specifically in NJ, NYC and CT are safe during Hurricane Irene. I am thinking about all of you from the sweltering 100 degree temps in Texas!

Random Friday night thoughts.

• Michelob Ultra is terrible. While it may be low in calories, it tastes like ass…or maybe pee.
• I hate the Texas heat in the summer, but I will take the heat over this humid grossness and buckets of rain.
• I am hoping my trip to NYC next week is the last trip I have to take for a few months. While I love NYC and don’t really mind the travel, this is my third trip up there in a month and my fifth trip up there in two months.
• I hope I can sleep past 7am tomorrow morning. If it is raining tomorrow, I might just spend the entire day in bed.

Weekend recap.

It was a pretty wild weekend in the Big D with JRL.

• Friday - Dinner at Fireside Pies and too many drinks at Vickery Park. Insulted JRL by calling him a cock block. Signed up for Twitter at 3am. Follow me: tracycalabrese.
• Saturday - Went to the St. Patty’s Day parade a bit hungover and then hit up Idlerich for some bloody mary’s and fish & chips. Went back home at 2pm for a nice 2 hour nap and then met up with the whole crew for a night of too many beers. Feel leaving the bar and busted up my knee big time.
• Sunday - Brunch at Breadwinners. Driving tour of Dallas. Headed out to Ft. Worth, AKA Cowtown, and hit up the Kimball Art Museum. Scared the crap out of JRL as we walked through the Stockyards. Dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s. Called it an early night and passed out by 11pm.
• Monday - Bunch at Dream Cafe. Got my car washed. Walked around the West Village. Shipped JRL off to the Garden State at 1pm.

My liver and stomach need a rest and I am looking forward to the rest of the day off so I can sit outside, read a book and plant the basil and cilantro I bought this morning.

Let the weekend begin!

Heading out to DFW to pick up JRL and then embarking on a weekend of fun.

Yay!

T-minus 4.25 hours until JRL’s arrival.

Leave work in 2 minutes.

Then take a nap.

Then shower.

Then hike out to DFW.

Then hit up some dinner and drinks!

Ugh.

I hate having high expectations. I am almost always let down.

Tonight started out with dinner and drinks with friends at Hully & Mo’s in Uptown. I got there and everyone was already talking about an impromptu trip to New Orleans tomorrow (or today!) and I was so down with booking a ticket tonight. I could leave tomorrow early afternoon and come home Sunday morning in time to meet with my dad and the real estate agent to see condos/townhouses and be to work on Monday for my daily 7:30am conference call.

We all went to our (me, Ashley and Makenzie’s) office and attempted to book tickets.

It all sounded good when we “talking” about it, but when it came down to spending almost $400 for a plane ticket and who knows how much for booze (first priority) and food, I just couldn’t justify it. I am sorry, but that is a lot of money for less then 12 hours.

I know it is/was a once in a lifetime experience, but still. My dad is taking me out on Sunday. Maybe it is only child syndrome, but when my father takes the time to do something for me, it really doesn’t matter what comes up. I have to be there. He is my dad and I wouldn’t just bail on him for however many hundreds of dollars and a once in a lifetime experience. He is my dad, my family, and I couldn’t - wouldn’t - do that.

I honestly don’t know why I take things so personally, but I do. And now, I feel responsible for my friends NOT going to New Orleans tomorrow. I ended up bailing on them tonight and coming home early. I ended up upset with tears in my eyes. I missed cheesy 80’s music. I missed spending a few more hours with them. I bet I missed some good times.

Hello…

Hello cute guy in the hat and the white t-shirt who works at Vickery Park on Henderson.

We talked about Skittles for 10 seconds (ya’ll reading this had to be there) and then you had to go back to delivering beers and stacking glasses. I didn’t catch your name and we only exchanged a few glances, but I think you are cute. And I want you to know that I think outside of beer bottles and bar tabs, you have a story, which I want to hear.

I will be back…