ICE STORM!!

When the cold weather comes to Dallas, I still find it odd that people just freak out. I am becoming one of those people.

Being that I lived most of my life in Central and Western New York, I am not to snow/sleet/ice. I get freak out because people down here do not know how to handle the conditions. Where I am from, when a snow/sleet/ice storm is brewing, the salt truck are out preparing the road ahead of time so everyone can go about their daily routines. I just got to work about 15 minutes because the sun came out and melted the ice on the roads. I worked this morning from home but I had to go to the office because I was a bit too comfortable and about to fall asleep. I hopped on the tollway and people were driving like 25 mph on water. I know people need to take precautions, but that's ridiculous. I made it to the parking garage for my office building, and that's where the fun began.

The entrance gate was still completely iced over because no one de-iced the asphalt. They finally decided to put salt down when a car ahead of me was unable to stop crashed into security gate, completely ripping it off its mount. I hit my brakes, sliding a couple of feet before my ABS kicked in, bringing me to a complete stop. When the debris was cleared and the car ahead pulled into the garage. The garage attendants gestured to me that I could come forward, but I knew better. I gestured back that I wasn't going until the rest of the asphalt was properly salted. After a good layer of salt was laid, I slowly pulled forward into the parking garage ... before I was stopped:

"You need to swipe your card."
The gate was completely ripped off, and I still need to swipe?

I completely passed the swipe station so I handed my card to the attendant, and he swiped my card.

It will be probably 70 degrees tomorrow and I can go play some tennis. Living in Dallas does have its advantages.

Pacuigo: My New Obsession

I went out to dinner with some new friends on Friday, and afterwards we headed for some dessert at Pacuigo. If you never been to Pacuigo, it is place that serves Italian gelato ... and it is so good. I am currently in training for the new tennis season so I have been extra conscious of what I have been eating -- and Pacuigo is surprisingly low calorie. Where is what I had for dessert and the nutritional fact:


It is a small cup of gelato but they give you a small shovel for a spoon so it feels like a large portion. The Fondente is a rich dark chocolate gelato that I tried for the first time Friday, and I think it is my new favorite. My favortie was Mint Chocolate Chip, but it has been replaced.

I will try to control my temptations to go to Pacuigo everyday. Try is the operative word.

Aretha Franklin Hat Madness

January 20th, 2009 gave us a new president, Barack Obama, but it also gave us something much better:


Aretha Franklin's hat. Its regality is only for a Queen -- in this case, the Queen of Soul. It is so glorious that there are now websites dedicated to her hat. Her voice is a gift, so she decided to make herself into a present, complete with bow. I was so inspired by the hat that I had to have it:


Isn't about time that you got yourself one?

Hot Soup For A Cold Day

As the temperature decreases, the need for me to make soup increases. So I decided to make a pot of bacon lentil soup. I think technically it is a stew, but it is still delicious despite the semantics.

Look at that color:


What's better than bacon?:


The end result:

It look kind of gross, but it tastes so good. Someone I dated years ago made this soup for me on day. After we broke up, I emailed him a couple of years later for the recipe. Is that odd? Or does that tell you the deliciousness of the soup/stew? He told me the name of the cookbook, "Soup Bible: Superb Ways with a Classic Dish", and that was the end of that. I am flipping through the cookbook and deciding what my next shall be. Too many choices, but they all look delicious.

Stay warm!

What's Worst

What's worst: not being invited to an invitation only party, or being invited to an invitation only party where the host doesn't know your name? I mean, they got the first letter of my name correct, but rest was WAY off.

I think I will decline this invitation.

Dual Screens

Since I got my iMac about 14 months ago, I lost my dual monitor view until now. I bought an DVI adapter and viola ... dual screens.

I had a PC with two monitors for years, but I finally decided to added on my spare LCD monitors to my iMac. I like having the ability to place messenging applications or music on one screen while I do something else (like browse the Internet) on the other. It just makes thing a bit easier to multitask. I would much rather have an Apple LED Cinema Display, but don't want to spend $600. Unless there is a secret admirer that wants to get me a late Xmas present? ... Anyone?


Nothing to see here. Just a picture of Roger Federer changing his shirt during a changeover. Move along, please.

2008 Goals Revisted

Here were my goals for 2008:

Tennis

After a very successful 2007 for my tennis game, I have moved up a level from USTA 3.0 to 3.5. During 2008, my goals isn't to win any tournament but to work on the mechanics of my game. My first serve is good, but my second serve needs to improve in order to compete with the big boys. My two-handed backhand is weak and inconsistent so I will be working extra hard to improve this. And lastly, I need to learn to play smarter. I have been trying to hit the ball hard for winners instead of waiting for the appropriate times to go for the big shots.

Completed - I made the semi-final of a couple of tourneys and the final in doubles in two tourneys. I found my two-handed backhand shortly after going to the US Open. Maybe my contact with Venus Williams had something to do with it. She gave me the skills via osmosis.

Health

I need to clean up my eating habits, not for a short-term result. I need to stop eating out so much and cook/eat more healthy homemade meals. I am slowly phasing out the junk food and adding more fruits and vegetables in my diet. I will also need to attend the gym on more consistently so I can put on some lean muscle, which will help burn more calories. Also, I will add Yoga into my routine so I can regain some of the flexibility I lost through the years.

Completed...sort of - I started off well in the beginning of 2008 but I ended getting really sick and I with Mononucleosis and was out of commission for two months. I got back in the gym to regain the strength I lost, but slide off my routine near the end of the year. Will continue this in 2009. I am signing up for Yoga this week.

Learn the Guitar

I've always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, so I went out an got one. Throughout the year I will be practicing with instructional books/dvds and possibly take a few proper lessons. At the end of the year, I will post a video of me playing a song. There is a lot to learn, but luckily I have a music background so playing an instrument isn't brand new to me.

Incomplete - Will push this goal to 2009. 2008 has been crazy and didn't have to the time to sit down learn. But I made this goal public so I have to follow through in 2009.

Concerts

The last concert I went to was MC Hammer in Syracuse, NY. I got to change this. I missed out on seeing Bjork in Austin, TX last year so I am determined to see at least two concerts this year. Janet Jackson has tentatively announced plans to tour in the Summer, and it has been leaked that Madonna is touring during the summer as well. These are two concerts I have to see. I am pretty sure Janet will come to Dallas, but it is unlikely Madonna will come to my are so I may have to travel to see her.

Completed - In 2008 I saw Kanye West, Janet Jackson, and went to the True Colors Tour.

Why Are You Single?

Wichitan: "How old are you?"
Me: 29.
Wichitan: "Hmm. Why are you single?"
Me: I haven't found the a guy worth being in a relationship with.

I have been asked this question numerous times, but I usually would give my stock answer, "if I knew why I was single, then I would be in a relationship." It's true, but I would say it in a sarcastic/joking manner which would typically illicit laughter. I think this was the first time I have given an honest answer instead of deflecting. I've dated guys in 2008, but they all ended because I refused to see what in front of me, despite the glaring red flags. I seem to always trying to find the good in the person to counter-balance the bad that they do -- but no more. This past week, I have learned that you sometimes you have to just cut your losses and move on.

I am going to date a bit more this year, but i am not going to have any long-term expectations. For me, I think this is the best outlook when it comes to dating. I have met some people who were "interesting" in 2008 and I am looking not to repeat these same mistakes.

Here is to a interesting 2009!

Edited for grammar. I really shouldn't blog during late hours. :)