Hiatus...

Heading West to Vegas and California. Posting will resume sometime in August after school begins...

Disappointing Entourage

I have been holding off judgment, but I can't take it anymore. This season stinks! When I started watching Entourage back during the 1st season (it's now in it's 3rd), it was the coolest show no one was talking about. In case you've not heard of it, the show is a behind-the-scenes story of a young actor who moves from Queens to Hollywood to become an actor. In moving, he decides to take his 2 best friends and his brother with him. What made the show great were the references made to agents and even making fun of real Hollywood actors. Those same actors would show up on the show from time to time as well. It never really took itself too seriously. Now that it has received Emmy nods and buzz, it's turned into crap. I still watch it, but there have probably been only 2 good episodes this season (out of 7). I guess I can deal with it for now. 24 has become my new must-see show! I can't believe I didn't start watching this show from the beginning!

107...

It's Hot!!! Living in North Texas, you know that it will be cold in the winter and brutally hot in the summer. I have lived in Texas my whole life, but goodness is it hot! I know that there is a heatwave nationwide, but today was the 8th day in a row of 100+ temperatures here in the Dallas-area. I think that it has to have been at least 2 weeks since we have had any rain, so the suburbs are starting to up their water restrictions. Good thing I'm like a vampire, and only go out after dusk. Well I guess I can wait until October for the temperature to cool down...

Already!?

It just hit me today that two days ago was the one month water mark before I have to go back to school. I am not sure how it is elsewhere, but school gets going here in Texas as early as the first week of August. Luckily for my district, we have chosen the relatively tame date of Aug. 21 for our kids to come back. I haven't done nearly as much planning as I would have liked, and it is unlikely that I'll be doing any more so as not to burn myself out before seeing all of my students bright and shining faces...I'm going to have to live it up this last month before I begin my daily 5 a.m. wake-up ritual. I loathe waking up before the sun. T minus 28 days...

$30,000 Millionaires

I've lived in Dallas since 2004, and have noticed something other people have known for years...Dallas is mad pretentious! It's not something that someone from Dallas would readily admit, because they would usually just say that it is because they are better, end of story. The "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" extend to just about every segment of life in the Dallas area. From Porsches, to Mercedes, to 8000+ sq. ft. homes, to valets on every corner, people here live it up. After having visited Los Angeles on multiple occasions, I don't see much difference in the way appearances drives lifestyles. This hasn't gone unnoticed by the media, just last year, the Dallas Morning News produced a series, called The Price of Prosperity. The story concentrates on Collin County, which is just north of Dallas. It is the richest county in Texas, and in the top 1% in the nation. The dark side is that it has more debt than any other area as well! Planning to go out in Dallas is quite the ordeal if you're young and male, since you cannot wear anything less than a stripped, button-down; it's the uniform (make sure you have 2 or 3 credit cards!). Most people live outside of their means, which is where $30K millionaires comes from. It's a reference to those who earn $30K/year, but spend and aquire debt as though they make, yep you guessed it, $1 million--I think it has to do with the fact that there are a good 20-25 shopping areas in the region. I've somewhat learned to laugh at it, but it definitely takes some getting used to, after living 4 years in the ultimate slaker's capital, Austin. This weekend, while down in the capital, I had this conversatoin with a few of my friends that live in Austin, Houston, or in Dallas. Everyone was in agreement that there was a stereotype concerning Dallas, but it was well-deserved. It seems there is a movie (I Wanna Fake Rich) coming out soon on the lifestyle that is Dallas. Here's the Link. Happy Spending! See Also: $30K Millionaires

Tubing!

In Texas, there is a time-honored tradition called "tubing" or "floating the river". It's the practice of taking an inner tube, and floating yourself down the Comal or Guadalupe (pronounced "guada-loop" in Austin) rivers. Many people decide to rent an extra tube just for their coolers, filled with their fun beverage of choice. There is usually a 3-hour float option or a 5-hour option. Either way, it's a chance to relax and enjoy the Texas sun. Cops are friendly, usually trusting you when you say you don't have any styrofoam or glass containers. This past weekend, during my trip to Austin, I floated the Guadalupe, and have some great pictures to share from my roommate. In addition to tubing, I also attended a fraternity party on West Campus (the main student housing area for students at the University of Texas), something that I hadn't done since I was 19 or 20. To prepare myself, I took in a copious amount of alcohol. I must have been a hit, because people were following me all night. It was amazing how much things haven't changed. Kids are still gunning beers, doing keg stands, and trashing fraternity houses....ahh the last vestiges of youth.

Les Bleus sont en finale!

The Irish Pub where I watched the match erupted when France beat Portugal and a crying C. Ronaldo. It was pretty cool to be there watching with so many Gauls here in Dallas! Allez Les Bleus!