What I did over the last week.
Forgive my lack of updates lately. Here’s a recap of what I did over the last week or so.
- - SXSWi - Last week (Sunday-Monday), I went to Austin for a couple of days. I have wanted to go to SXSW since I moved to Dallas five years ago and now seemed like the perfect time to do it. I had a great time! I caught up with friends, some media and PR/social media friends and former clients and networked with some new people. I borrowed a friends badge and went to some really interesting panel discussions. I got a lead on a job in Dallas. It was a super short trip, and I wish I could have stayed longer for more networking and even longer for the music portion, but overall I had a really good time.
- - Home renovations - My dad and I refinished my bathtub. For about $30 bucks, we basically “painted” my bathtub. It was a lot faster and cheaper than ripping out the tub, getting it professionally done or calling someone like Bath Fitter. I am fairly happy with the results, but regardless, it looks better than it did before. I also cleaned my patio and planted new flowers, plants and herbs. I love this time of year, it’s perfect to enjoy a glass of wine and good book outside on my patio. This week, I think I might paint a wall in my living room. I painted over a year ago when I moved in, but left this one little section where a closet door is and it has been bothering me for too long.
- - Catching up - Lunch with a PR friend. Dinner and drinks with a former colleague/friend. Lunch with my dad. It’s amazing how many people I have seen since I haven’t had a full time job.
- - Job search - I have to be 100% honest here. I thought I would have had a job by now. The process is incredibly slow. I applied for a job almost 6 weeks ago and heard back just last week. I had a phone interview with a major Dallas-based company last week, but the feeling I got is that I was overqualified. I scheduled a phone interview for today with a big-time daily deal site for a new division of the company for today. I also got a good lead on job a huge PR agency. Something is bound to happen soon, right?
What happens in Vegas…
I can’t tell you how many times I have said I would never go back to Las Vegas for fun…but, I just booked a weekend trip with my friend Ashley to visit my friend Lenora (March 5-7). We both had so many AAdvantage Miles (it cost us both $5 for our flights!) and got a good deal on a hotel (thank you, Priceline), it was hard not to go for a long weekend.
I am really looking forward to getting out of Dallas for a few days to have some fun with my friends!
The Dirty (Snowy) Jerz.
That’s right. I am back in NJ for a few days. I have a client event tomorrow and my rule of thumb this time of year is to fly in the day before the event in case their is inclement weather, such as their was today.
My 7am flight out of DFW was canceled, but the nice lady at American Airlines was able to get me on the next flight out at 9:35am. We even landed in Newark 30 minutes early…so take that Snowpocalypse 2011.
I spent some time in my company’s headquarters office in East Rutherford this afternoon, which brought back a lot of memories. I can’t believe I started here as an intern in 2004. How time flies when you are having fun. *Cough, right, cough.*
I am meeting up with my good friend John and his girlfriend Kate for dinner tonight (I hope we have Italian or Chinese!) and having breakfast with my uncle in the morning at a real NJ diner.
It’s time like these when I come up here, visit friends and family and then head back home that I miss it. That feeling usually goes away a few days later though, so don’t worry DFW, I have no plans to come back to the dirty Jerz.
It’s gonna be a GOOD weekend!
- - Friday: Half day at work! Kicked off the weekend by visiting Baby Hudson and my friends Makenzie and Chris (See previous post). Tonight, I am staying in, catching up on some missed TV shows, making a grocery list and sleeping.
- - Saturday: Grocery shopping. Maybe yoga. Cleaning. Shopping for a birthday gift for my grandma and possibly the Michael Kors bag I’ve been eying. Dinner at Bolsa and seeing Lovefool - The Quintessential 90’s Cover Band at HOB Dallas.
- - Sunday: Heading to my parents house for a visit and birthday dinner with my grandma. She’s 88!
- - Monday: Making a trip to Maydelle, TX…which looks like it is in the middle of nowhere…to visit Lenora before she embarks on her journey. I see picture taking, pottery making and board games in my future and I am sooo looking forward to it!
- - Tuesday: Vacation day! Driving home and relaxing.
Meet Hudson Everett Blythe. Congrats to my good friends, and new mommy and daddy, Makenzie and Chris!
Isn’t he the cutest thing you have ever seen?! I met him today, on his one week birthday, and he is just the sweetest baby. I am so happy, excited and proud to be his “Auntie Tracy!”
Photo courtesy of Makenzie.
"It feels like I have been gone for a month, not just a week, after that recap!"
-My friend Lenora after I filled her in on all of the things that have happened in my life in the last week (plus a few days).
It’s true. The last week or so has been felt like a whirlwind. My social calendar has been packed, I have met lots of new, super fun people, caught up with some old, amazing friends, remembered (for the millionth time) that guys are actually complicated and experienced the joys of being a homeowner.
What a great weekend.
It’s too bad it is almost over, but I am happy to report that I did everything that I had planned to do (minus CB’s birthday), plus a few a extra things this weekend.
The Dallas Vigilantes game was…interesting. The key was to find a cute player and cheer him on and that made it fun. After the game, my friend Ashley and I went to see our fave bartender at Vickery Park.
The Dallas Flea was super cute, although I didn’t buy anything. Wicked was amazing (see earlier post) and dinner at Jorge’s at One Arts Plaza was delicious. It was good to spend the day with my mom.
I spent 4 hours at the pool today with Ashley. Ate at Rusty Taco on Greenville, which I have wanted to hit up ever since I saw it on Thrillist. Had some froyo at Yogurtland, which is by far the best froyo place in Dallas and worth the short drive up to Northwest Highway, across from Northpark. I ended the afternoon watching Transformers 2, which I had to see after watching Transformers on TV on Saturday night. That Shia LaBeouf is just so cute and the movie was good, despite hearing that it wasn’t.
This week is going to be super busy at work, but after this weekend, I feel good. Happy. Relaxed. For now. Tomorrow is another story.
