Mr B in Big D

A Week in the "Big Easy"

2009-09-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

Terry and I just got back from a wonderful week in New Orleans over the Labor Day holiday. We had such a wonderful time in the city they call the "Big Easy." We left Friday morning, and were on the road for the 8 hour drive from Dallas to New Orleans. It was a really pretty drive through the pine forests of East Texas and Louisiana. You also go over some really long bridges that span the swamps and bayou's of southern Louisiana, and it's creepy because if you wrecked there is no where to go but into the swamp. We stayed in a condominium in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The room wasn't like a Marriott condo, but it worked for us just fine (except the single pane windows that let in all the sounds of the crazy street into the room.)

You can tell the french quarter is 300 years old. The streets are narrow, the buildings are old, and very unique. It's certainly not the cleanest looking either, but that lends to the gritty nature of the city. Everyone there was warm and friendly, and had a very easy southern charm. You can also still see some effects of hurricane Katrina. The French Quarter was spared alot of the flooding (it's actually on higher ground), but there are still some trashed buildings, next to fixed up ones. Outside of the quarter, there is still ALOT of work that needs to be done to rebuild the city.

New Orleans also has some amazing food. I had the best cajun food I have ever tasted. We sampled the Gumbo, Seafood, Jambalaya, and a Catfish PoBoy sandwich (however I refused to try the oysters on the halfshell, looked like snot!!!). There are a ton of quaint local spots where the food is amazing, and everyone is in the party mood and laughing and having fun. It's so fun to just walk in the french quarter and smell the food from the restaurants, hear the jazz music coming out of the clubs, see the people hustling about.

New Orleans is the place to be if you like crazy nightlife and having fun. Well then there is Bourbon Street! Everything you hear about it is true, and more. It is lined with bars and more bars, ladies of the evening, sex shops, and everything else. It is wall to wall people, beads flying off the balconies, crazy people in costumes, and everything you can imagine going on all night long. It is truly an interesting sight to behold, and everyone there is out to have a good time.

Over Labor Day weekend there is the "Southern Decadence" festival in the French Quarter. It is New Orleans gay festival of the year. Sure enough there were thousands and thousands of gay people there from all over the country. This city knows how to throw a party. The police (which unfortunately aren't usually very gay friendly) even were incredibly nice. We got lost one night and wandered by 2 police men. They were so nice and could tell we were lost and were going to end up in a not so great neighborhood. We ended up chatting with them for a few minutes and they told us about the city, and Katrina, and showed us how to get back to Bourbon Street. They even let us know at what times Bourbon Street was the most fun. The cops in Dallas don't do that!!! We always felt safe, there were Police everywhere, and they just let people have fun and just made sure nothing too crazy happened. It was so much fun hanging out in the Gay area of Bourbon Street during Southern Decadence. It turned into one big street dance for a couple blocks. You couldn't help but dance and just watch all the people. Of course it was hot and rained most nights, but you didn't care and just partied away with all the other soaking wet guys out there. Heck I even lost a shirt somewhere on Bourbon Street, oh well nobody had one on anyhow I fit right in. I just have a really great memory of looking down Bourbon Street and seeing a sea of thousands of gay men smiling and having fun, and the wonderful feeling of being with "my people."

It's funny, but even the condo we stayed at turned into a big social party. The first night there Terry and I went up to the rooftop balcony to have a drink and look out over the streets. Well a group at another table told us to join them, and pretty soon everyone else in the place were all sitting around the patio laughing and having fun. Everyone was friendly and inclusive as there were gay couples, straight couples, single people, everything. Every night like clockwork around 7:00 we'd all show up and hang out on the patio. We met some great people from all around the country. I even ran into a lady from Las Vegas that grew up in Brigham City, and went to Lincoln School like I did. We both about died when we found that out. What a small word it can be.

We also did a little sight-seeing while we were there during the day. New Orleans still has the old electric trolly street cars running as public transportation. We rode the St.Charles St streetcar around New Orleans, and that was really pretty cool. The cars really do "clang, clang" down the track. Heck one time we went around the corner and the bar on top of the car fell off the electric line, and the driver had to get out and put it back up on the wire, crazy!! One of the cars really is named "desire" as well (of the "Streetcar Named Desire" fame.) The line goes by some fabulous old southern mansions, and by Tulane and Loyola Universities. There are some beautiful old streets lined with hundred year old oaks. You truly can feel the history of such an old unique city. Their cemetaries are also really interesting. Everyone has to be buried above groud as the water table is too high. So it's just hundreds of year old masoleums and really something interesting to see.

Well anyhow that is a little snapshot of our vacation to New Orleans. We loved the city, and the experiences we had. Now for a few pictures:

Parade in the French Quarter

Looking down Bourbon Street in the daytime

More French Quarter views

Me by the streetcar named Desire on the St. Charles street trolly line

The old trolly line which is still used as public transportation

Me eating a Beignet (powdered sugar scone thing) and Chicory Coffe at Cafe Du Monde

Terry at the Cathedral in Jackson Square in the French Quarter

Kidney Stone Fun!!

2009-07-26T08:59:00.001-07:00

I had a pretty interesting month of July. It all started one day at the end of June. I was at work in the morning, and I just started feeling wierd and sweating profusely, and had a stomach cramp. So of course I told the boss I was heading home because I didn't feel well. Well I got on the interstate and suddenly I had a stabbing, throbbing, pain in my side that was so intense I couldn't beleive it. It was all I could do not to double over, or blank out. Luckily I was able to get myself off the road and exit to a parking lot. I called Terry to come and get me and take me to the emergency room, which he did. I knew exactly what is was: the dreaded kidney stone!!! Thankfully it wasn't too far to the hospital. The worst part is that they have all these procedures to check you into the ER. So I'm sitting in a chair wrything in massive pain, and the poor nurse is trying to get me to stay still to take vitals. Of course when she asked me from 1 to 10 what was my pain level, I scream out 11 !!!! Well all was well after 2 shots of Morphine, and a cat scan (I even apologized to the nurse for cussing in front of her from the crazy pain). Seems I was trying to deliver a 6 milimeter bouncing baby kidney stone. That size is right on the top end of the threshold of being able to pass it on your own. They decided to send me home with painkillers and that it would pass on it's own. Well so I thought that would be that and I was done with it all. WRONG!!!

3 visits to the Urologist over the next 4 weeks resulted in the same thing, a stuck kidney stone. On the last visit this Thursday the doctor just looks at me and pretty much said "look this thing isn't going anywhere, you need surgery and that is just how it is." So I sucked it up and said "let's do it", and the stars all lined up and he was able to fit in the surgery the next day at 7:30am. Needless to say I scrambled to get time off work, get testing done, and get ready for the big day.

There is a reason I went a month before deciding to do surgery. The procedure is called "laser lithotripsy." It involves a big scope, and laser inserted "you know where" up the urinary tract through the bladder and up the ureter tube toward the kidney. Then they fire up the laser and blast away the stone. Then they get all the pieces out, and insert a tube from the kidney to the bladder, and you have that in for a couple days while the ureter tube heals up from the trauma of the stone and laser. Thankfully the procedure is done under full anasthesia. Of course any man would be VERY leery of any surgery happening down in that area. Man I was nervous. Well so I was off to surgery!!!

Here I am the morning of the surgery, pointing to the pain area!! (wasn't Terry nice to drag the camera out!!!)

And here I am after that lovely procedure all zoned out on heavy drugs!!

Well everything went fine, and the stone is gone. I am still very sore down there, and it's uncomfortable feeling that stupid tube still stuck there. Thankfully I get that removed tomorrow (not sure how fun that will be as I'll be awake for that one.) I will be so glad when this all is done. I just wanna feel normal and not have a constant pain in my side. I think I'll be there in a couple days, and I can' wait!! I'm sure Terry is ready to stop playing "nurse" too!! So there you have my fabulous month! Let's hope August goes better!!

Brian Goes To Cowtown!

2009-07-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

Terry and I had a wonderful 4th of July Weekend.

It's kind of funny but we haved lived here in Dallas for 2 years and never ever had been to Fort Worth. This city is so big that we just never ventured that far west (how crazy it that!!). So on our friday off work for the holiday we made a trip west to Fort Worth. It's kinda funny but Fort Worth is known as "Cow Town." It is famous for it's stockyards, and the famous Texas longhorn cattle they used to run in the streets (oh and let's not forget the cowboys too!!!). Actually it has a very large downtown with skyscrapers and wonderful old buildings. It also has a much cleaner and more vibrant downtown than Dallas. We were pleasantly suprised at all the fun restaurants and bars that are all in the square dowtown. Everything does have a western touch in Forth Worth, but I managed to get away without buying a cowboy hat and boots. We didn't make it to the stockyards museum, but we drove by (we were hot and needing a break from the 102 degree heat!!). We did visit an amazing watergarden in the downtown area. One part had this Giant fountain thing that you walked down into. You kind of felt like you were in a giant toilet bowl. All that water made you wanna pee too! If was really amazing and cool though.

Me and a cow made out of flowers in downtown Fort Worth

A really cool mural downtown

Me at the water gardens

The giant fountain you get to walk down into!

Another view of the fountain

Yet another view of the fountain!

Well on our way back from Forth Worth we decided to stop by downtown Dallas, and the Smart dealership. We had ordered a cute little Smart car from them over a year ago (the actual wait list was 18 months!!) They called us about a month ago and said they had one coming in that might match the one we ordered. Anyhow we stopped by to look at the car. Well a couple hours later we drove off in a brand new black and blue Smart car! WOW we just love that car. It is crazy small looking on the outside, but 6'2" Terry and 5'11" me fit in there just fine. We have found it's a car that people just love or really hate. We get lots of looks and funny stares. It gets over 40 miles per gallon so it's a great commuter car for us (not to mention it's built by Mercedes Benz, so it's got good quality too).

Me and Terry and the new edition to our family, a SMART car.

Holy Cow, Terry fits inside!!!

Well so that was our Friday! Saturday on the 4th we went over to our friend Todd and Bill's house. Todd's 2 kids and dad and stepmom were all in town, so it was a big ol fun group. Our dear friends Jerry, Mike, Karen, Jeannie were there too. Bill grilled up some serious fillet mignon tenderloins that were so good. We all ate WAY too much, and topped the night off with some decadent blue-bell ice cream. Course it wouldn't be the 4th without some watermelon too. It was so hot outside still that we all even jumped in the pool for a while. Well needless to say we had a crazy fun weekend. Thanks to everyone who helped us have a great big fun 4th of July!!

Idaho and Utah Trip

2009-06-26T14:49:00.000-07:00

Terry and I finally made a trip back to Utah and Idaho to see family and friends. It has been 2 years since we moved, and well I guess it was time to see everyone again. Thanks to Bob for letting us put a ton of miles on his lovely Lexus. We were spoiled for sure. Here is our crazy week:

Saturday we flew into Salt Lake City, picked up the car that Bob so generously let us use, and headed north 4 hours to Blackfoot Idaho. We met all of Terry's 4 kids and their families. We tried to have a bar-b-que outside, but got rained out (a common theme this trip.) So we all piled into the church house cultural hall. All the kids were having fun running around with each other and playing ball. We grilled hamburgers and hot-dogs and had a great time catching up with everyone, and meeting new additions to the family. Anne also made us play fun games, and it wasn't clear who the winner was (there could have been some cheating, who knows???) We then stayed that night at Terry's sisters house. (Barbara and Jerry).

Sunday we had a wonderful homemade breakfast with Barbara and Jerry. Terry's neice Lisa also came by. We always have fun with Lisa, and really enjoyed catching up with her. She even showed Terry and I how to play the nintendo Wii. We got a huge laugh playing bowling. Barbara chucked the game controller right into the TV and the darn game gave her a strike and she won! It was alot of fun. Later that afternoon we met all of Terry's kids at a park in Pocatello. They had fixed some wonderful chicked fajita's and we all ate way too much. The kids all played together, and Terry and I pushed them around the merry-go-round. I don't know how those kids didn't get sick. There was lots of laughs and fun times shared. Of course the rain clouds appeared and we had to make a run to Anne's house. We hung out there for a while and talked. Then it was back to Barbara & Jerry's. Here are some pictures from the park.

Terry and his kids. Wonder where they got that bald head from?
Terry's family

Monday we got up and Lisa and Barbara made us go on a 4 mile bike ride to breakfast. It was great cool weather to bike in, and it was good exercise. The reward at the end was wonderful down home breakfast cooked at the local diner. We loved it. Lisa even let Terry and I try out her way fancy new mountain bike. Seriously it was SOOOOOO nice, and easy to ride. I think she is spoiled.

Here is the gang all ready for our bike ride to breakfast

Monday afternoon we left Blackfoot Idaho and headed south. We went to my grandpa and grandma Gibbs house in Stoddard Utah. It was so good to see them. We had such a wonderful visit with them. It is so pretty there in Stoddard. Their land with the horses and mountains in the background is so nice. Their yard and garden were all looking so nice. Grandma always has such pretty flowers and hanging baskets. I'm so glad I got to see them and catch up on things.

Grandpa and Grandma Gibbs in Stoddard

We then left Stoddard and went to West Valley City to see my dad and his wife Yen and their son Johnathon. Man that kid is a bundle of energy. He was all over the place showing us his toys and everything. Dad and Yen have done up their yard so nice. We were so impressed, and his roses were so beautiful. They have really done a great job with the yard. We had a wonderful meal at Golden Corrall with them later, and had fun catching up on everything.

My Dad, Johnathon, and Yen at their house

Tuesday we headed 2 hours south to Ephraim Utah to see Terry's mom Elaine. It always is a pretty drive through Nephi canyon and the Sanpete Valley. We had a nice visit with Terry's mom. Of course we had to do a few chores for her too (trimming the bushes, mowing the lawn, and planting some flowers).

Wednesday morning in Ephraim we met our dear friend Martha & her friend Paula at the bowling alley there in town for Breakfast. Our favorite lady was cooking there that day so we all met for good down home cooking and lots of laughs. It always fun to hear the latest about the town and laugh about good times from the past. We loved hanging out in the morning with them.

Our friend and Ephraim tour guide Martha (with Nancy the grey caddilac)

We went around town visiting all the other folks Terry knew and had a great day. Later on that evening Terry and I and his Aunt MaryLee, cousin Becky and her girls and his mom all got together and played some serious cards (Hearts), and Zonk. MaryLee won them all for some reason except Becky got a win in there in the end. We had lots of laughs as usual and a great time.

Thursday we spent some more time with Terry's mom and enjoyed spending the morning with her. Later that day we headed back up to Bountiful, Utah and met up with my Mom and Sister Julie and her 3 kids from Spokane, Washington. It was fun to see all the nephews that I haven't seen in a while. I can't belevie that my oldest Nephew is 18 and going to BYU, dang I'm old!!!

Terry and his mom Elaine in Ephraim

Friday we all got up had some yummy pancakes at mom's house. We got all our salads ready, and headed up north to see my Aunt and Uncle Miriam & Craig in North Ogden, Utah. It was also a nice suprise to see my cousin Emily, and her husband Brett, and her kids. I never get to see them, and they are such a cute family. I also got to see my other cousing Aly, and I was so excited to talk to her too. Grandma and Grandpa Gibbs also stopped by too. We spent a few hours catching up with everyone. We also got a tour of my Aunts house, and she really has done a ton of work to it and it looks so cute. It's alot different than when my family lived in the home. They really have updated it and added such nice things to it. Well then we were off to Hyde Park to see my brother Jim. It was also really nice to see him and his family again as well. It isn't very often that me, my brother, and sister are all together. Jim was so nice to cook up some big ol steaks on the grill. We ate way too much and the kids played and roughhoused all over the place. Of course we did all the catching up and laughed about the fun things we've done. We felt bad for Jim as a cup got flushed down his toilet and he had to fix that. (glad you got it out!!!) We then drove on back up to Bountiful and crashed at my mom's house. We were tired from a big day.

Cousin Aly (with a cute new black hair), and Aunt Meriam

Cousin Emily, and her husband Brett (aren't they just a cute couple)

Me and my whole family (missing 2 grandkids, and one husband)

Brother Jim, Sister Julie, and Me

Saturday we got up and headed out to the airport and off to Dallas. We had a minor 1 hour delay but arrived back in Dallas in one piece. It was hot (100 degrees and humid) when we got back. We got home and jumped in our pool when we got home. It felt SOOOO good. So there you have our crazy 2 state weeklong trip. Whew....I need a vacation from the vacation!!!! Thank you everyone who we saw and made our trip so special we love you all!!!!!

May Days

2009-05-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Well I figured I better update my blog once again. Man sometimes I have to really think hard to come up with stuff to blog about. I guess I should be grateful that I have a low drama life right now. Terry and I both still have good jobs, good health, and a roof over our heads. So here is the latest update for us.

We've been feeling a bit like we are living in Seattle these past few weeks. It's been rainstorm after rainstorm, and gray skies. When a thunderstorm rolls through this part of the country it's crazy. You haven't seen it rain until you see a Texas thunderstorm. It comes down in sheets of water and roads sidewalks and everything floods. When it's not raining it's MUGGY with high humidity and hot temperatures, but no sun! I'm ready for some bright and sunny weather. Pool season is here in Dallas and I've got no tan. Oh well I'm sure I'll be complaining that it's too dry in a few months. One benefit from all the moisture is it is so green here now. The lawn looks fabulous!

Terry and I also celebrated Cinco De Mayo (5th of May Mexican holiday) here this last week. Of course all the mexican food restaurants have events on that day. We went to the Blue Goose Mexican restaurant and cantina and had a fun time. Everyone was in a festive mood, the margarita's were cheap, and the food was SPICY and delicious!! Of course Terry and I were out of there once the Cabo Wabo Tequila Girls showed up. Big busted girls falling out of their skimpy costumes doesn't do much for us, however the other male patrons at the restaurant were more than thrilled, their wives and girlfriends, not so much!

This weekend we went to the "Taste of Addison" festival. Addison is a suburb just west of us here in Dallas (really only a mile from our house.) The city is pretty much a whole bunch of nice upscale restaurants and clubs, and a few mom and pop places too. So at this festival all of the restaurants get toghether in a big park in Addison. They each have booths where you can try a sample of their foods (for a few bucks). Terry once again got us free tickets (he's so good and doing that!) So we had fun sampling way too much food from the different restaurants in town. There was a ton of people there all having fun, so we had fun hanging out and people watching too. They also have a huge stage set up where bands play, and people can sit and have a drink. The main band playing that night was Foreigner (you people from the 80's should know who that is). Terry and I must be getting old as we got hot and tired (it was 89 degrees at 10:00 at night with humidity), and didn't stick around for them to come on stage.

Well so there you have it, that's all we've been up to lately!!

The big main stage where the bands play
people and all the food booths

A fabulously flattering shot of me woofing down a yummy chicken sandwich.

Easter In Austin Texas

2009-04-19T17:15:00.001-07:00

I can't beleive it's already Easter time! Terry and I both had Good Friday off of work. Since we had a 3 day weekend, we decided to drive the 4 hours south to Austin. It was a really fun weekend. It was a really pretty drive down there as all of the Bluebonnets along the freeway were in full bloom. It's interesting but Ladybird Johnson (Lyndon B Johnson's wife) did all of this work planting bluebonnetts and wildflowers along Texas's highways. It seemed what she loved doing while she lived here in Texas until she died. When the wildflowers and bluebonnets are in bloom it makes for such a pretty drive. So thank you Ladybird for that!

Well we stayed in a hotel right in downtown Austin. We could walk to everything so that made it nice, and we got some good exercise. The Texas state capitol building is right downtown Austin. We walked up to there and took a tour of the inside. Of course being Texas everything has to big and over the top, and the capitol building lives up to that. It is Huge and very pretty inside and out. It was interesting to see all the history of the building and of Texas. I found out that Texas has been part of 6 different countries in it's history: France, Spain, Mexico, Texas Republic, Confederate States, and the United States (hence the 6 flags over Texas.) That was actually pretty cool.

It also is interesting that just a few blocks away from the capitol building is the University of Texas (the Longhorns). The campus is smack in the middle of downtown Austin. We spent a little time walking around the campus. It's funny but you really wouldn't realize that you are in the middle of a city. It is a very green pretty campus with lots of huge old oak tree's as you would expect at a southern university. It definitely is a big school though. It's funny but football is king here in Texas, and the Football stadium is Massive (holds 90,000 or so people.) The people love their Longhorn football team here. I would definitely go to school there. Austin is a very pretty city, and has a far more laid back vibe than the glitz of Dallas. We just had a great time the whole weekend. We met some fun people at the clubs there and were so glad we went.

Me at the Texas state capitol building in Austin

The rotunda inside the capitolThe Senate chamber in the capitol

Me at the University of Texas Belltower

Some gorgeous old oak trees on campus

Some more of campus

Spring is here...Let The Home Improvement Projects Begin!!

2009-04-05T14:12:00.001-07:00

Well I think spring is finally here in Dallas. The trees have all greened up. The tulips and azalea's are out in full bloom. Home Depot is crazy busy with people doing their yard improvement projects. Ahhh the fun times of spring! Actually I am so ready for it to be warm.

Terry I and I helped our friends this weekend with their spring yard project. They needed to redo a flagstone path that leads to their pool. They also decided to build a new flagstone patio as well. Of course Terry and I spent 3 months building a rock patio in Utah, so we didn't mind helping them build theirs. It only took a few hours of tilling to get rid of the grass (the crappy clay soil here in Dallas resisted the whole way). Then came the fun of digging out the soil, placing the rock in the desired pattern, leveling each rock on a dirt and gravel bed, and finally filling in the cracks with sand and gravel. 6 hours later, and 2 trips to Lowes....a new patio and path!! No major injuries, and all limbs are still attached. We were sore and tired and hot afterward. Todd and Bill were sweet enough to spring for Mexican Food that night, and we all had to take a dip in their hot tub to sooth the aching muscles. I think it turned out really nice for a bunch of amateur landscaping gay men!

Here is Todd and Terry and Ryan tilling and digging.

Me playing with a giant piece of flagstone

The finished patio

The finished path.

We also had a fun trip to the Dallas Arboretum spring blooms festival (thanks again to Jerry for the tickets!) It was gorgeous as usual, and really put you in the spring mood. So here is a few pictures, Happy Spring!!!

The flowering dogwoods were in full bloom

Here is a gorgeous display of Tulips

New Toys

2009-03-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Well here is the latest update for last month. I turned the big 36 this year on Feb 10. Terry and I played it low key, and went out for yummy Thai food. Mom suprised me with a fabulous new waffle iron, and we have sure enjoyed that. Terry got me fun new clothes and shoes that I have been wanting. So I had a great birthday.
We also saw a great movie called "Milk" (which Sean Penn won an oscar for.) It was about Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay man elected to public office. He was also assassinated along with the mayor of San Francisco. It was a really moving story about making a difference and standing up for what you beleive. I'm sure the movie is not for everyone, but it really was very thought provoking and moving to me. If your thinking about seeing it, I would highly recommend it.
Terry and I also are getting spring fever here in Dallas. We were out in the garage on a warm day, and saw our dusty bikes hanging on the wall. We both decided that we needed to get our butts out and get some exercise. It seemed that bike riding would be a fun way to explore the neighborhood, and get in better shape (because we put on a few more pounds this winter than we wanted too!!) We cleaned up our bikes all nice and neat, and fixed the flat tires. After all that work we got on the bikes to do a test ride, and my front shock just sunk down. It didn't hold air, and oil was leaking out. So off to the bike shop we went to see if they could fix my bike shock. Unfortunately my mountain bike, which was top of the line in 1992, was WAY too old to even think about getting parts for. They couldn't fix my shock and they couldn't even find a replacement fork for it. (not even e-bay or craigslist had the parts.) So needless to say my poor old bike, that I put 1500 miles on while on my mission, was dead. Terry and I were pretty frustrated by that. So much for the good intentions of bike riding.
Well 3 weeks later my company suprised me. I don't know how, but our little gas company managed to meet all of our goals and numbers for the year. We ended up getting a very generous bonus. Everyone at work has worked hard all year, and we were all really excited. So I took the extra money and went out and bought me a brand spaking new bright yellow Specialized Hardrock mountain bike! It's sooo nice with an all aluminum frame and everything I wanted (they even tuned up Terry's bike for free since I bought a new one!) So now we can get in shape riding our bikes, and I can't wait to get out there and ride. The only problem I've noticed thus far is that my butt is not accustomed to hard bike seats. Hopefully I won't be "Saddle Sore" for long. So now I suppose we don't have any excuses for not riding our bikes!! Well that is about all we have going on right now.

Me riding my new bike.Of course it had to be a bold yellow. One has to make a statement!

Ice Storm

2009-02-01T08:58:00.000-08:00

Well now I've seen yet another exciting piece of Texas weather, the ice storm! It's funny but they get obsessed about the weather here in Dallas. Two days before a storm, all you hear on the news is there might be an ice storm. Everyone gets all excited. Then when the storm hits, it's round the clock coverage of the storm on the news. They station each news reporter all over the metro area, and just show them standing by some overpass. They comment about how it's raining and now it's turning to ice. They show ice on their cars. They show ice on their coats. They show unfortunate cars crashing into each other on the roads. We even had a 15 minute segment about a reporter showing frozen ice on the sidewalk, and letting us know that you can't walk on it (no way!). Then she proceeds to show that if you run and hit the ice you can slide on it! (who knew!!). Of course this amuses us people from the north to no end. Icy sidewalks are not news. Seriously the south get's so funny about snow and ice, and they panic.

Anyhow we did get a pretty big ice storm. I do have to say ice storms are a completely different experience than snowstorms. It just rains, but the air temperature is cold enough to freeze it once it touches anything. Tree's, streets, everything gets coated in a layer of ice. It's very pretty to see, but awful to drive on. They try and sand the streets here, but it's just slick as heck. People don't know how to drive very well when they slide either. They either go way too fast, or slam on their brakes. Well so when we woke up to a sheet of ice everwhere I decided to let it thaw out a bit before venturing out on my long commute to work. It took me an hour to get to work, and I slid around a bit, but made it accident free. Unfortunately I ended up being the last one to show up at my office. I then had to hear everyone laughing about how the guy from the north who should be used to snow and ice was the last one to show up at work. Of course I'm the only one with sense enough not to try and drive on the super slick crap until it thaws a bit.

Well so there was our excitement for the week. Of course it's back to 70 degrees today, and we're getting the fixings all ready for watching the superbowl. Man I'm ready for spring!!! Here are a few pictures I took of the ice:

Here is the frozen rain in our downspout

A closeup of our frozen downspouts

Our patio table and chairs and pool deck covered in ice

And here we go with another new year!

2009-01-18T09:03:00.000-08:00

I sat down today at the computer thinking that I needed to update my blog. So I thought really hard about what Terry and I have been doing, and what I would write. Well honestly we haven't done much of anything. I guess it's that time of year where you get back in your routine of working all week, and doing your normal weekend routine. We put away all the christmas decorations, and took all the lights off the tree outside. It's just such a funny time of year. I looked at my house and yard and kind of went "Now what do I do?" Guess we're just in the doldrums of winter, and the daily routine of life.
Winter here in Dallas is absolutely a strange time. We have 3 days of gorgeous 60 and 70 degree weather, and then the next day a cold front dips down and we're in the 20's and 30's. Then it's back up to warm weather. It is this crazy roller coaster of temperatures. Everyone gets sick with colds around here because your body can't quite figure out what to do when it's hot and cold all the time. But hey I don't have to shovel snow so I can't complain too much. Terry and I are getting serious cabin fever though. We just are dying to get back out on the patio and swimming in the pool.
I have high hopes for this new year. I know we all say the same things every January, and have the same resolutions. For some reason I just feel extra motivated this year to really work on those things. Maybe it's the economy and this recession. It sure makes we want to financially clean up some stuff, and cut up those pesky credit cards. I really want to try hard to just use cash, and if I don't have the cash I don't buy it (man that is so hard to do sometimes!!!) I also want to loose weight this year. I know we ALL say that every year. I guess this is my first year where I had to actually go up a pant size, and that ticked me off. I just died when I was shopping for jeans and my waist size was the same as my inseam. I'm now a 34 x 34 inch square!!!! Man it just kind of sneaks up on you. All of the sudden you realize that you can't wear your jeans and breathe at the same time cause you can't suck up anymore to get them to button. It's so lame because I've been working out at the gym for years, but I never really had to watch my portions or what I ate. Guess that middle age thing is creeping up on me, and I'm not sure I'm cool with it!!! I swear being gay makes it worse. In all the ads and magazines for gay men all the models have perfect muscled bodies and like .00009% body fat. I swear real people that actually eat don't look like that. For some reason the media has all of us gay men tricked into thinking we ought to be like that. But hey someday I just might look like the guy on Men's Fitness with "Washboard" abs! (of course right after I put down these doughnuts!!) Oh well one can always try. I guess that's the one good thing about the new year. There is that wonderful renewal of hope and determination to make the new year a better one. Who know's maybe it just might happen!!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-28T15:12:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! I can't beleive that Christmas has come and gone. For some crazy reason it seems like the older I get the faster Christmas comes and goes. I remember as a kid it took FOREVER for Christmas to get here. Terry and I really had a wonderful holiday season here in Dallas. I definitely love decorating for Christmas (as you can tell by all the pictures.) It is the only time I decorate the house all year. This year we also were having 10 people over for dinner on Christmas day so I really went all out with decorations, and did 2 table centerpieces as well (of course I will need more storage boxes to put all this crap in once the holidays are over). It just looked so darn festive and brought back warm memories of Christmas as a child. I remember we always had such a brightly lit tree that seemed magical. I remember the blinking christmas lights in the window that dad would put up. I also remember the wonderful christmas music my dad had recorded on his reel to reel tapes that he would play. I remember my grandparents and all my aunts houses all decorated so beautifully. It just made me want to do the same to my own home, and make it warm and inviting for the holidays. I was so excited when it all was done and Christmas was here.

Christmas eve we went to our friends Todd and Bill's house and had pizza and then went driving around looking at Christmas lights (another tradition I loved as a child.) We exchanged gifts with them, and had so much fun. We are so lucky to have such fun wonderful friends like them here in Dallas, and we love them like family.

Christmas day we got up and exchanged gifts (we slept in of course, and I NEVER did that as a child). We both bought each other way too much stuff. Actually our main christmas present, a gas log fireplace, was installed 3 weeks earlier. I know your thinking who needs a fireplace in Texas? Well we have our few days of cold weather and it's been fun to be able to have a fire then. Of course we couldn't lay around too much. We cleaned the crap out of the house. Terry made homeade apple pie, and rolls for dinner. I finished the decorating touches and set the table with our new china (another christmas present, thanks JCPenney closeout sale!!) Around 5:00 pm all of our guests arrived. We all got drinks and sat around the family room and had shrimp cocktail, and duck pate. Then we all sat down had a christmas toast and ate ham, funeral potatoes, beans, and homeade rolls. It was so good and we had the best time getting to know the new friends in our home and catching up with old friends too. Then it was back to the family room for more drinks and homemade apple pie and vanilla ice cream. I just am so happy to have made some good friends here in Dallas. The only thing missing was snow and a white Christmas. It was so crazy but it was 70 degrees and sunny on Christmas, and the next day we hit 83. Terry and I just laughed as we sat on our porch in short sleeve shirts. We definitely are not in Utah anymore!!

Well anyhow there goes another year. I can't beleive how fast life seems to pass by sometimes. I'm ready for another year though, bring on New Years!!!!! And now for the endless pictures!!! Here is our pretty fake tree we decorated all up. We sure love it, and it looked great!

Here is one of 3 big poinsettia plants. This one is in the entryway!

Here is our new gas log fireplace, stockings, and fun bubble lights on the Mantle in the family room

I decorated the dining room sideboard with martini glasses and a crystal vase filled with ornaments and lit with white lights. It was so pretty at night!

Here is our festive table for Christmas dinner

Another shot of the table. I did red and white candles and red and white roses.

Here is a side view of one of the center pieces (one with red roses, one with white roses)

Here is a long view of the 2 tables set up between the dinig and living rooms. It was such a cute Christmas table!!

Terry and I in the dining room.

Finally here is our group of friends who were nice enough to share a Christmas meal with us. Thanks so much Jerry, Mike, Leo, Todd, Bill, Ryan, and Bill. We love you guys!!! Merry Christmas everyone!!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

Well here I am writing about Thanksgiving a week late, but I suppose it's better late then never.
Terry and I had a nice long weekend, and we had lots of fun. Thursday we met at our friends Todd and Bills house for thanksgiving dinner. There was a good crowd of friends that showed up. Todd even got a suprise visit from his mother from Utah (Bill was so sweet to arrange that.) I made 2 pumpkin pies that turned out really good (don't tell anyone that I actually baked.) Terry spent hours making ribbon jello. It's so funny how people outside of Utah have no clue about jello. Our friends from Texas just looked at us funny and laughed, but they all ate it anyways. It just wouldn't be a proper thanksgiving without ribbon jello!!! It was so much fun hanging out with friends and stuffing our faces with WAY too much food. We spent the rest of the weekend doing some shopping, putting up christmas decorations, watching movies, and being lazy bums. It was wonderful. Here is a few pictures from the weekend:

Ryan, Mike, and Terry Throwing around the football.

Ryan and Terry doing more football throwing

Here is me trying to throw the football

Todd and Bill and the wonderful turkey!!!

Todd's mom Helen, Bill, Todd, and his son Ryan hangin' out in our living room.

Terry taking a suprise picture of me having fun putting up the fake tree.

More pictures of christmas decorations coming soon......

Friends, Lights and Craft Fun!!

2008-11-23T16:04:00.000-08:00

Well here's what's been going on in the last couple of weeks here in Dallas:

Our wonderful friend Bob, from Salt Lake City, paid us a visit again this year. Unfortunately he keeps coming when the weather is too cold to swim, but we still had a great time. We ended up doing the grand tour of downtown Dallas. This time we did it a little differently, and rode the DART light rail train downtown. Bob, Terry and I all had a real exciting ride on Dallas public transportation trains. Let's just say we saw some pretty interesting characters on the train. We just laughed and Terry and Bob had a slightly crazy woman all over them. (I think they have a new girlfriend, ha ha!). We walked all over, saw the historical sights, and this time walked down to the original Neiman Marcus. Of course the sales people followed us around the store like we were going to steal something (heck I would too with 2000 dollar Dolce & Gabana jackets, and 500 dollar shirts laying around.) We spent the rest of the the weekend playing cards (I finally beat Bob at a cardgame!!!), and going out and having a great time. We always have such a great time with Bob, and cherish him as a friend. It's always a treat having him visit.

Bob and I at the "Grassy Knoll" at the Kennedy area

Terry and Bob hangin' out on the street in downtown Dallas!!

Well this weekend Terry and I decided to get brave and put up the Christmas lights on the house. We got up in the attic and dragged all of the Christmas crap down. (I swear the christmas boxes multiply each year!!). Of course it all couldn't go up as smoothly as planned. We put the wrong lights on the house. Terry had them all up, and then had to take them down and switch them to different ones (I think I heard him say that maybe we should just burn all the stupid lights this year!). Sometimes I wonder why we go through this every year! We only had one string go bad on us, and had to make that fabulous fun trip to Walmart for more lights. Of course it was a freakin' zoo, and everyone else in Dallas was at our Walmart buying christmas crap too. It took all of our strength to remain calm and collected and get our lights and get home. Well we finally got them all up without any broken limbs from falling off the ladders. They looks so darn cute, and of course we'll have the best house lights on the block.

Here's me trying not to fall off the ladder putting lights in our oak tree in the front yard. (don't you love the beautiful red color it turns in the fall!!)

Here's Terry bravely putting lights on the house. He was a trooper putting them all up on the high parts of the roof !

Micheals and Hobby Lobby this weekend were having this huge sale on craft stuff as well. I somehow was posessed by Martha Stewart, and whipped up a fabulous christmas wreath to put on the door for under 20 bucks. We did laugh as the store was full of housewives and gay men roaming the isles for the cheap deals (oh yes and a couple horrified husbands that looked like they would rather die than be in a craft store sale!). After much searching I found the perfect silk red amarylis, white roses, cranberry garland, and holly leaves to put on my grapevine wreath. I know the sales lady loved me as I had to point out that she was showing me "Lilys" and I wanted "Amarylis". Craft store sales people should know better than to mess with gay men. We are picky and know exactly what we want and that we don't wanna pay full price for it. Now for the christmas table centerpieces.....

Playing Catch-Up

2008-11-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

Well I can't beleive it's already November. Time flies by so fast, and I forget about my blog. Well here's the latest update for Terry and I.

Let's start with Halloween. It was interesting that it fell on a Friday this year. Being that we live in Dallas and there isn't really any kids in our neighborhood we figured that we would get no trick-or-treaters. So when it got dark we turned off all of our lights and watched scary movies in the family room. I couldn't beleive that we actually had 3 groups of kids ring our bell. Our street is pretty dark, and as a kid I would NEVER go up to a dark house here in Dallas. Well they must have been brave. Unfortunately we didn't have any candy to hand out so we just ignored them. I felt bad but oh well. Of course after all the kids have gone home and gone to bed all the adults go out for their Halloween fun. So Terry and I went downtown to a club to a Halloween party there. It was so funny driving around downtown and there is just crazy costumed people driving around. What other day can you be at the stoplight sitting next to a zombie and a gorilla in a car and think nothing of it? We had a great time at the club, and there were all sorts of outrageous costumes. I swear you give gay guys a chance to go wild with costumes and dress up, and it gets crazy!! The hit this year seemed to be King Tut (as there is currently a huge King Tut exhibit here in Dallas.) I think we counted 6 or 8 of them there all at one time. There were way too many Cowboys (heck that's a normal look here in Dallas.) Then the usual construction workers, and auto mechanics, and army guys. Let's not forget the creepy 7 foot tall monster (seriously huge, not sure who that could have been.) WAY too many drag queens with hair so tall it got caught in the lights on the ceiling. The bartender also was a way cute Orange Jell-O Fairy. And let's not forget the really drunk cow that kept bumping into us. It was madness and mayhem but we sure had a fun Halloween.

Now on to November. Terry and I voted here in Texas for the first time. I was proud to cast my ballot and it was fun to do it on a presidential election year. All I can say is thank goodness for early voting here in Texas. Terry and I were able to get in and out with no lines. I am so glad the elections are over with. I was so tired of the endless campaign crap. I will say I was pleased with the outcome of the election, and I think as a nation we are heading in a better direction. People always fear diversity at first, but it's amazing how it can make you a better person in the end.

Terry also won some radio show tickets to the local wine festival here in Addison (the city next to us here in north Dallas.) So 5 of us went to the convention center to the festival. We really didn't know what to expect as we have never been to a wine festival. Well much to our suprise it was really fun. A whole bunch of restaurants and wineries all have tables where you can sample as much food and wine as you want. The tickets were like 40 bucks a piece so Terry won some pretty valuable tickets. Of course all the fine upper-crust ladies of north Dallas were there in their cocktail dresses. The great thing about Dallas is that they wear jeans everywhere here so we didn't have to dress up all that much. There was a silent auction as well (of course there wasn't much in our budget.) The food was amazing and the wine was VERY good. We just had so much fun stuffing our faces and having fun mingling with the rich people. Of course when I tasted the wine I'd do all the swishing around in the glass and pretend to notice the "lovely finish, and smoky undertones." (which of course I know nothing about.) Oh well, we all pulled it off just fine and fit right it. A good night was had by all.

This weekend we also did something interesting. There is a sweet dear lady that we know here in Dallas (from Craigslist) that we have bought furniture from. She has top end furniture that she is always selling for great deals. So we've ended up buying 2 couches and a console table from her. Well she let us and our friends Todd and Bill know that she had a friend that lived up the street from her that also might have some furniture we might like. Well let me tell you about this neighborhood. To get into it you have to go through a guard gate and have to be on a list to even get through the gate. It is VERY exclusive and the homes are million dollar homes. So we pull up and meet our friend and go up the street to this enormous house. The lady there was so sweet and she had hors-d'ourves, little pastries, and wine all set out. It was the fanciest garage sell I've ever seen (actually they called it a "Private Showing"). They had all their spare furniture laid out in the garage. Well between all of us we ended up with a couch, 2 chairs, a dresser, and a coffee table. They sold us the stuff for next to nothing. I really don't think they need the money, but that they just want to get rid of stuff and buy new stuff. Honestly they couldn't have been nicer people. They gave us a tour of their home which was amazing. There was a private putting green in the back yard, and a pool and spa and outdoor fireplace/patio that looked like it belonged in a luxury hotel .

Here is a Google Maps satellite image of the House (it's on the right with the pool in the courtyard)

I can't imagine living a lifestyle like that. But those rich ladies just love us 4 gay guys for some reason, and we're happy to buy all their fine furniture for cheap. Slowly but surely we are furnishing this house. I swear though I can't move again because I'm gonna need 4 trucks to haul all this crap outta here. It's amazing how much stuff you end up with. Well that's the lates goings on here in Dallas. Sorry I haven't had my camera with me and I don't have pictures to share this time. Well now it's on to Thanksgiving.......

Utah Visitors

2008-10-19T08:26:00.001-07:00

This week Terry and I had some visitors from our old stomping grounds in Utah. Terry's cousin Sam, and also a good friend of ours Adrian came and visited us here in Dallas. As always it is so good to see old friends again, and catch up on everything. It also was nice that the weather cooperated, and we had some beautiful fall days in the 80's and 70's (except for the last day of rain.) We were also sad that the pool temperature had gotten too cold to be able to swim, (at least that is what Terry and I thought.) Suprisingly they jumped right in the pool the first day, and swam the whole week. I guess Terry and I have gotten used to the mild southern weather because I wouldn't get in that cold pool for nothing. I'm glad they were brave and had fun swimming. We did the usual tour of Dallas, and saw downtown and all of that. We also had fun kicking up our heels at the clubs in Oaklawn, and had alot of laughs. We also spent hours just chatting on the back porch, sipping drinks, and enjoying the cool fall mornings, and warm fall days. It's funny but I just so much enjoy being here in Dallas, and there isn't much I miss about my old job or house in Salt Lake. The one thing I do miss is all the wonderful friends and family we left behind in Utah. It's just always a treat to have them come and visit us, and to reconnect. We sure had fun, and thanks again Sam and Adrian for spending time with us in Dallas.

Here is Adrian and Sam having laughs with us in the Kitchen. We had so much fun that I only got one picture taken the whole time!!!

Dallas Pride Weekend

2008-10-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

Terry and I had a fun weekend. It was gay pride weekend here in Dallas. Let me give you some insight on one of the gay communities biggest celebrations. The history of gay pride celebrations comes from the Stonewall Inn riot on June 27th, 1969 in Greenwich Village, New York City. Police raided the gay bar and for the first time gay people fought back at the police and a small riot ensued. It marked a beginning of gay people standing up for themselves and being proud of who they were. Most large cities hold a "Gay Pride" celebration on June 27th on the anniversary of Stonewall. It just so happens that Dallas moved theirs later in September, and thank goodness, because June would be blistering hot here for a parade. For gay people "Gay Pride" always has been a special day. It's the one day a year that you can be completely open and free about being gay, and expressing yourself however you see fit. It's the one day during the year I can walk down the street and hold Terry's hand and not worry about getting beat up, or have people make fun of you. This year they estimated that 40,000 gay people attended the gay pride parade. It was so cool to be around so many people just like you. The parade is always fun but the people watching can be even more fun. One thing about the gay community is that the freedom to be yourself and express yourself is always encouraged. It's amazing just how people do that and the crazy fun stuff you see. If you ever want to see the most diverse crowd you've ever seen go to a gay pride parade. You just have to have an open mind and have fun. Well here are some pictures from the parade.

Here is the beginning banner and the Gay Rodeo Posse holding the flags.

Me Todd and Bill staking out our place at the parade

Our Gay Rugby Team the Dallas Diablos

Terry and a VERY tall Wonerwoman Drag Queen

It wouldn't be Dallas without gay cowboys, WOW

Of course the parade wouldn't be the same without big butch lesbians called "Dykes on Bikes"b

Here is the locay gay bears, with a construction themed float

Gay sailor boys

Here we have the latino drag queens performing (crazy wigs!!)n

The gay latino organization float

The ultra masculine local gay leathermen in biker chaps and harnesses

Another tough looking leatherman with orange wings?? or something like that

Here we have a huge heart shaped wig made out of flowers

Girl you better not fall off those shoes or your gonna get road rash

Proud guy with gay pride flag and matching pride pants
Me and Terry at the parade just trying to cool of in the 90 degree heat and humidity

We also caught a ton of beads from floats

Catching Up

2008-09-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

Okay I'm back and blogging again. It's been over a month, and I just haven't had the time to update the blog. I apologize for the LONG blog but it's catching up time, and here we go!!

Around the first part of August Terry and I went to Austin over a weekend with some friends. A good friend of ours invited us to stay at her sisters house on a lake in Austin. I think we just assumed that it was a little cabin by a lake outside of Austin, nothing too crazy. So we loaded up 2 vehicles, and 3 fun ladies, and 4 crazy guys (That's me and Terry and Todd and Bill) headed down south to the capital of Texas. Well much to our amazement this is her sisters house!

Turns out it's a multi-million dollar house on a cliff overlooking Lake Austin, and a view of downtown.
We were so excited when we saw the back deck and pool that are on a cliff with million dollar views.

Of course we wasted no time in jumping in the pool, and just enjoying living it up in style for a few days. We had so many laughs, even though it rained a little bit.

Here is all of our group waiting for breakfast at a fun restaurant, the Magnolia Cafe in Austin. It's funny but Austin is exactly opposite of Dallas. It is a college town (The University of Texas, the longhorns) and it just has this really laid back, live and let live, quirky vibe to it. I was impressed, and it's really a beautiful city in the Texas hill country.

Here is another fun feature of the house we stayed at. It also had an electric lift that took you from the house at the top of the cliff to the lake below, and a nice grass area and boathouse on the lake. Man you get in this thing and it felt like and amusement park ride as you went down these tracks down the face of the cliff. It sure beats stairs!!!

Here is Todd and Terry standing at the lake house. We didn't take the boat out but had fun hanging out by the lake.

Saturday night we all decided to go have ribs. Well off we went to some restaurant about 30 miles south of Austin called Salt Lick in the town of Driftwood Texas. It was a big place and FULL of people. It was just a bunch of picnic tables in 2 Huge log-cabinlike buildings. They are in a dry county there too, but they let people bring their own drinks, so naturally everyone drags big ol coleman coolers there full of drinks. What was even funnier is that the local sherrifs were there directing traffic and makin' sure it didn't get too out of hand. They didn't seem to care one bit about all the coolers and everything. They had a southern blues band playing in the waiting area and people were just drinkin' and havin fun Texas style!! I tell you what though it was some DARN good ribs. They are smoked and cooked in a huge pit right there. We ate way too much. I can see why people are overweight in this state. Man the food is just SOOO good, but so bad for you. A great time was certainly had by all.

It's a vegetarians worst nightmare!!! Yummy ribs and sausages cooking and smoking on the pit.

At the restaurant, with all the people and their coolers (it was as redneck as it looks.)

Anyhow Austin was a blast, we lived it up in Style and were sad that we had to come back home to the daily grind. I hope we get invited back to Austin.

Terry and I also did something fun in August. We went and test drove a Smart car. We saw them in Europe and thought they were so cool. They are tiny little 2 seater cars made in Europe by Smart (Which is owned and built by Mercedes Benz). They actually have a great crash test rating, which is amazing for such a tiny car. They get 40 miles to the gallon, cost 13,000$ and really are for city driving (Perfect for driving around Dallas and going to work.) Astonishingly enough Terry, 6'2" and all, fit just fine with room to spare. It was crazy driving around in this little car that takes up 1/2 of a parking space (you can park 2 back to back in a single parking space. ) I tell you what we got looks the whole time we were test driving the car. If you ever see one you can't help but stare, and smile. They drove great and we just loved them. Now that gas prices are so crazy the demand for these little cars is out of this world. In fact they have no inventory on the car lot, just test drive cars. The waiting list is now and amazing 18 months long because of the sheer demand. We put our names on the list and maybe in a couple years we might have a blue one in our garage!!

I know this blog is long but I just had one final note:

This month also was a hard one. One of my cousins on my mom's side committed suicide. I will admit that I am alot older than he was so I only knew him when he was a little kid and didn't know a whole lot about him. I just felt so bad for my Aunt and their family. What a horrible thing for them to have to bury one of their kids. I do not have children, but I can imagine that would be one of the hardest things you ever would have to do. When things like this happen it always makes you think about your own life. If there is one thing I've learned is that every family has issues. Every family is going to go through alot of crap in their lives. You just hope that you and your family can just make it to happier times. I'm sure my aunt and her family will eventually find those good times again. It just helps me to remember to cherish the good times you have, the friends you rely on, and the family you love, whatever that "family" you have is.

Brian in Ft. Collins Colorado

2008-07-20T13:16:00.001-07:00

This week has sure been a busy one for me. My company here in Dallas sent me off for some software training in Ft. Collins Colorado for a week. So I flew off to Denver and then rented a car and drove an hour north to Ft. Collins. Well to my suprise Ft. Collins was a very pretty city. Lots of trees and pretty streets. It is a college town (Colorado State) so there was a really cool vibrant downtown. There were lots of people there at night strolling the streets and fun restaurants and clubs. I didn't get to do too much hanging out though. I was in training most of the time. I have decided that 3 days is plenty of training, but 5 days and your brain is in overload!! I just was so over it all by Friday, and I couldn't wait to get home. But I'm glad my company sent me, and I got the class and certification. It will be a big asset on my resume. I did notice some things about the people in Colorado. They all are riding bikes, running, hiking, etc.. There are very few overweight people there (completely opposite Texas!!!). I felt like a big ol slug, driving my rented subaru everywhere and watching them all on their bikes. (I did work out twice in the week so I wasn't too lazy.) Also it hit 90 Degrees and everyone was just dying from the heat there. I laughed as it was hot, but no humidity, and it cools down wonderfully at night. (it's 100 degrees with 70% humidity in Dallas right now.) In fact at night I had my jeans on cause it felt cold (I must be getting used to the heat of the south). A couple of people I was talking too just couldn't beleive I wasn't just dying in jeans from heat. Anyhow I had a good time, and a nice trip to Colorado. It was a very pretty place, and a great college town.

Just some countryside outside of town with the mountains in the distance.

More countryside out of town.

A picture up the downtown area. Lots of trees and old buildings and fun places to eat and have fun. A really cool and big old downtown area.

Woo Hoo the offices of Telvent Miner & Miner. The company I was doing my training with. It was a thrill a minute!!

Mom Visits

2008-07-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

Mom decided to visit Terry and I over the 4th of July weekend. It was a quick 3 day stay, but we made the most of it and had alot of fun. Mom was such a good sport and let Terry and I drag her all over Dallas. We visited the arboretum, which as always is so pretty, and we got a good hike in there. Then we were off to downtown Dallas and Dealey Plaza. It was so interesting to see where President John F. Kennedy was shot. It just is such a big part of history, and it was kind of moving to be in the same place as all those pictures and tv footage were taken. I wasn't alive when it happened but I know everyone who was remembers that day well. There is also a museum in the building where the shooter shot him from the window. Well later that night we took mom out for her birthday dinner. Can you beleive she is 60?? We ate at Houlihans and all had big ol plates of Texas Ribs (I swear the ribs in Texas are amazing!!). Then we came back home and watched fireworks from the front yard. We also got some time in the sun and lounged by the pool. It just was so relaxing to swim and laugh and hang out with mom by the pool. Well it was a short visit but so nice to see mom. I think we all had a great weekend.

Me and mom at home.
The Book Depository Building (window on the sixth floor on the corner is where the JFK gunman shot.)
The "X" in the middle of the street where JFK's car was when he was shot.

Terry at the arboretum havin' fun.

Me and mom at the arboretum

Another Road Trip!! Houston!!

2008-05-28T16:55:00.001-07:00

Well it was Memorial Day weekend and Terry and I were on the road again. We decided this time to check out Houston. It's a very easy 4 hour trip from Dallas on interstate 45, so it was the perfect distance for a quick jaunt on a long weekend. Well we really didn't quite know what to expect from Houston. We both had talked to people at work about what they thought of Houston. It is so funny because everyone here in Dallas would say "Why on earth do you want to go to that big dirty city" and "It's too hot and humid there, and the traffic is a nightmare!" We quickly learned that most people here in Dallas don't have a high opinion of Houston. Of course we're brave and head on down there anyhow. It was a great trip there. Sunny skies and 90 degree temps. Our Garmin GPS unit got us right to our hotel in the West University area (next to Rice University) near downtown Houston. Wow Houston does have an impressive skyline. It definitely rivals Dallas in size. I must say we actually had alot of fun over the weekend. Houston really wasn't that much different than Dallas. Yes is was Hot and Humid (96 degrees, 70-80% Humidity) but so was Dallas when we left. Honestly we couldn't really tell we were in a different city except it had more palm trees and tropical flowers. It was just as big and dirty as Dallas is, and the traffic was crappy like Dallas too. We ventured over to the Montrose Area in Midtown Houston (the Gay District.) and had a great time. We found a fabulous Vietnamese restauruant with a gorgeous patio, and also found the best Mexican restaurant in Houston. We checked out the nightlife in Houston (Montrose) and had a blast. Nothing like a hot, steamy, summer night to go hang out on the club patios and people watch and chat with new friends. (It's crazy but it does not cool off at night here in Texas. If it's hot and humid in the day it's still hot and humid at night!) I had to laugh when we told the guys in Houston what the people in Dallas say. They all laughed and said "ya that sounds like typical Dallatude." and "well you know people in Dallas are snobby and look down their nose at us in Houston." The people were very friendly and fun. So I'm glad we didn't listen to all the Dallas people and their "Dallatude" and went to Houston. We had a great weekend in suprisingly fun, and vibrant Houston. The only bad thing we had happen was when we tried to go to Galveston to the beach. Apparantly everyone else in Houston decided that heading to the beach would be a good idea too on Sunday. Well it all ended up in a nightmare traffic jam and we were stuck for an hour going nowhere. So well we turned around and drove back into town, and of course went antique shopping. So I guess we have a reason to go back because we didn't get to go to the beach. Anyhow we had a fun time over Memorial Day weekend. I learned a good lesson too about how important it is to explore and form your own opinions about things. If you listen to everyone else and don't find out for yourself, you could miss out on something fun. Now for the pictures. (I didn't have my camera on me alot, and unfortunately only got a couple pictures.)

The Houston Skyline

At the port of Houston it's nothing but Oil and Gas refineries on the Skyline

Here we have "Mary's" the oldest gay bar in Houston. Yes the interior is just as scary as the outside. If your from Salt Lake just think of the "RC!!" Terry and I didn't hang around very long here, (SCARY!!!)

Spring Cleaning

2008-05-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Oh my heck it's been a couple weeks since I posted a blog. Well it seems it was time for some spring cleaning. Todd, Bill, Terry, and I all decided to have a garage sale and get rid of some of our junk. Todd had a friend from work who brought alot of her stuff over, and we had a neighbor of Todd and Bill also donate a ton of furniture from her mom's house to sell (loved those lime green parlor chairs from the 70's!!!). I must admit I was never a big garage seller before. I've done a couple of them now, and it is absolutely amazing that other people will buy my junk!! But I must say our junk was WAY nicer than the other garage sale's around. I mean seriously when 4 gay men get rid of their stuff it's usually good stuff, and nice clothes. We did pretty well and sold ALOT of our stuff. I did have a good laugh when one of the first things to sell was Todd's Dorothy and Wizard of Oz metal luchbox. This gay couple freaked out when they saw it, and snatched that bad boy off the table before the spanish ladies got to it. I have to admit it is fun to interact with all the different people who stop by to look at stuff. We had a ex-cop stop by on his Harley and tell us stories. We tried to get these 2 funny african american ladies (with fake orange hair extensions) to buy stuff and they kept saying their husbands would kill them if they bought any more. There was a darling Mexican Mom and girls all dressed up in dresses. Of course Terry was showing all three wide eyed little girls how to play the slot machine that was for sale. I think the mom was so thrilled that her little girls learned to run the slots at a garage sale. Anyhow it was fun and we did okay (we lost the price battle for a fabulous complete wicker living room furniture set, darn man and his 50 bucks!!!!!).

garage sale in full swing (can't get the kids off the slot machine!!!)

Priscilla, Karen, Todd and Bill chatting it up.

Bill and I doing some SERIOUS supervision

Todd's son Ryan and Terry doing first aid on the Jeep that got "bit" by a pole.

You might be a redneck if you fix your car right next to your garage sale.

Cleaning up the stuff left ( orange lamps anyone???)

On a side note:

Our super fun friend JP from Bountiful came by Dallas and spent a day with us. We had tons of fun giving him the whirlwind tour of Dallas. Of course JP was breaking hearts all over the city of Dallas.

JP and Terry

Spring at the Dallas Arboretum

2008-04-13T09:31:00.001-07:00

Well here I am posting some more spring flower pics on my blog. I really wasn't going to do anymore, but our friends took us to the Dallas Arboretum in east Dallas. Holy crap it was just out of this world pretty there. They are serious garden professionals there. We had a great time, and big thanks to our friend Jerry for getting us in. Of course it is no suprise that every bride in Dallas was there trying to get there pictures taken with their entourage of moms, bridesmaids, and photographers. Apparantly all the families of means in Dallas have their weddings there (It's many thousands of dollars to rent the place.) Seriously though you couldn't ask for a more fairy-tale romantic place than there for a wedding!!

Terry, Todd, and Jerry

Red Azaleas in full bloom!

Azalea craziness once again!

Dogwoods, Azalea, and tulips, WOW!!!

It's Texas there has to be a cowboy hat somewhere!!

Of course this one is made up of petunias!!

Me n Terry

Me with azalea's.

A purple chinese wisteria in all it's glory!!

Tulips for days!!

Tulips and Azaleas, STUNNING!!

Pink Azaleas soooo pretty!

Terry Restin' under a dogwood!!

Road trip #2: Nacogdoches Texas Azalea Festival

2008-04-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

Well it seems like March was road trip month for us. Me and Terry and our best friends in the world, Todd and Bill, all decided to go check out Nacogdoches Texas this last weekend. Since it's spring here in the south all the Azalea bushes are in full bloom. Nacodoches is famous in Texas for being THE place to see spring Azalea's (not to mention the oldest city in Texas going way back to the spanish from mexico). So 4 hours later down some green and beautiful country roads we ended up at the Azalea festival. Let me tell you spring in the south is a sight to behold. The bushes are covered top to bottom with huge breathtaking blooms. I've never seen anything so pretty. The people of the city also take great pride in planting them, and the whole place is lit up in white, pink, red, and purple bushes. It was really beautiful. We had such a fun time and lots of laughs with our friends.

Here is a close up of a beautiful pink azalea bush.

Here is a beautiful home with pink bushes and a gorgeous blooming dogwood tree

A beautiful fence of purple bushes and VERY old oak trees with pink bushes on the bases.

Me takin a break, but what a great place to take one!!

More colors and varieties at the gardens

A spectacular vista at the gardens.

Our dear friends Bill and Todd at the Azalea Garden at the university in town. Spectacular white azaleas.
Here is Terry and I sitting among one of the most beautiful red azalea bushes in town. It was absolutely amazing.

Remember the Alamo

2008-03-31T15:30:00.001-07:00

Well Terry and I decided it was time for a nice road trip, so we packed up and headed for San Antonio over Easter. The first night we went to Kileen Texas where Terry used to live. (He was stationed at Ft. Hood army base there.) We stayed with our friend Dixie, and had a great time with here and her family and met some fun friends Terry knew when he lived there. He dragged me all over the place and it was fun to see the places he lived and the fun small towns around. Kileen was crazy as 2 full batallions were back on base from Iraq so there were cute army guys everywhere! The next morning Terry took us on a back road down to San Antonio. We saw the countryside, and some pretty places. We drove through Johnson City (nearby is the Lindon B Johnson ranch), and marble falls (on a pretty lake outside of Austin). Finally we made it to San Antonio, and hung out downtown the rest of the time. San Antonio is a fun city with a great downtown with a wonderful river walk. We had such a good time.

Here is fabulous Central Texas (near Burnett TX). It is flat and brown!!! Terry took me on a back road from Kileen TX to San Antonio TX. Itwas a great drive and really cool to go through small towns and see some local flavor.

I thought this was a cool old courthouse in the town square of Lampassas Texas (land of rednecks and big texas size pickup trucks!!). The small towns here in Texas really do have a big town square where usually there is a court house.

Me overlooking Marble Falls Texas. It's set on hills about a beautiful lake. Very nice place where rich people from Austin (just up the river) have homes.

Here is a view of the San Antonio skyline from our 30th floor room at the Marriott. Big thanks once again to Miss K who hooked us up with a killer room in San Antonio.

This is on the River Walk. They have restaurants and walkways all along the river downtown. It's lush with trees and flowers, and just really pretty.

Another Look at the River Walk. So fun to just walk around stop for a drink at a cafe and just watch people. At night the place is hoppin' with live music and drinks at all the outdoor cafe's. It was alot of fun!!

Here's Terry in the gardens inside of the Alamo walls. It was soooo green and pretty there with super old oak trees.

It's me muggin' it up at the Alamo. It's funny it's so small and just sits right in the middle of downtown.

A proper picture of the Alamo. Amazing it's still around and in good shape.

Spring has sprung in Dallas

2008-03-16T15:26:00.000-07:00

IT'S SPRING!!!!!

I am just out enjoying our spring weather here, and having the first Margherita of the season on the patio.

Me and Terry coolin' off with Margheritas.

It already hit the mid 80's here, and it's been so beautiful. The tulips are out, and the trees are in bloom. Well I officially knew it was spring here when we went to Home Depot and Lowes and it was an absolute madhouse of people in the garden center. Nothing like a bunch of adults fighting over shopping carts, mulch, and petunias. But hey, we came out victorious with 10 bags of dirt, some zinnias, and a fabulous smelling Gardenia bush. Of course I had to get some geraniums too. Geraniums always make me smile as I remember in my youth Grandma Gibbs beating us with geraniums that we'd managed to break off playing soccer in her front yard. Good memories, and I'm sure we deseved it. Now what to plant next......

It was also nice to spend a fun evening on the porch with our dear friend Dixie, who came through town this week. She is so much fun, and keeps you laughing for hours. Nobody can tell a story like Dixie can.

Terry and Dixie.

Fixin up the house!

2008-02-27T15:43:00.001-08:00

Well here is some pictures of some of the stuff I've been doing to the house. It's been a crazy 6 months here. Terry and I really have been living in dust, but it's all turned out great so far. Well 3 rooms done rest of the house to go!!!

Living/Dining Room Before (sooooo 1970's)

Living/Dining room after (with the new hardwood Teak floors)

The Kitchen Remodel. (This room about killed us I swear, but it was worth every cussword!!)

Kitchen Before (once again 70's fake plastic cabinets!!)
Also scary tore up kitchen with electrical wires everywhere ahhhhh!!

The new finished kitchen with cherrywood cabinets, green granite countertops, tile floors and backsplash. It turned out alot nicer than Terry and I imagined. We worked for 4 months on this room. We thought the roof was going to fall in on us once as we demolished a wall. We got shocked way too many times to count. Of course the plumbing was the usual mess and leaked. (could I just have one plumbing where something didn't leak!!!)I tell you what we got so sick of washing dishes in the bathroom sink and tub, but it's all soon forgotten once it all came together.

Mosaic medallion / backsplash Mosaic pattern on the floor

over the cooktop

I hand cut all the mosaic tiles in the kitchen. It took about a month to cut and assemble the almost 8000 individual little pieces that make up all the mosaics. I know it's a strange hobby I have. My friends here all laughed and wondered if I had anything better to do than cut tile. hmmmm....now what mosaics can I cook up for the bathrooms.......!!!

35 Holy Cow!!

2008-02-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

I can't beleive I've now turned 35! The years just creep up on you I suppose. I can't say I feel like a 35 year old guy, except maybe when I get motivated and run on the treadmill at the gym. Then I feel every one of those years as I'm huffing and puffing while the 100 pound 20 something girl next to me is barely breaking a sweat and running twice as fast. My thirties have been an interesting time. I am feeling like I am too old now for the super trendy clothes and hairstyles, and now all of that grown up looking adult Banana Republic clothing seems more my style. I even forgot about my age the other day when a co-worker of mine asked how old I was at a group lunch. When I informed him I was turning 35 he got a look on face, scrunched up his face and said "oh my gosh you ARE old!!" Well so I guess it's official, and I am now out of the younger generation. I can't say I mind too much though. My friends that are my age and older have come up with a fun new pastime now: poking fun at how the 19 year olds look. I suppose it's silly but it does make us feel better. And actually my 30's so far have been the best years of my life, so I wonder what 40 brings....??????

I did have a great birthday however. Terry baked lovely birthday chocolate caramel brownies. We ate them outside in the 70 degree weather by the pool. It was so wierd having my birthday in sunny weather outside. February 10th was always cold and snowy in Utah, and I always had a birthday inside. Now time to start working on that tan..........

Big D

2008-02-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

Here I am in Texas now, and here is some of my observations.

Dallas is called "Big D" by Texans. They are right when they say everything is big in Texas, and especially Dallas. It seems like if your going to do anything here you do it BIG. People like their homes big, their cars big, and trucks bigger, their hair big (well not West Jordan Utah big), and the ladies like their implants big here too. Lots of people say Dallas is the least "Texas" of the big cities in the state. Suprisingly it is a very cosmopolitan, sophisticated, and diverse city. With arts, entertainment, and nightlife that rivals any west or east coast big city. That said Dallas still has that brash, flashy, loud, and bigger than life Texas flair. Of course with 6.5 Million people living here the traffic is big and crazy too. You don't get anywhere very quickly and traffic is part of the daily fabric of life in Dallas. I've even encountered a traffic jam at 1:00am in the morning. Driving is not for the faint of heart here, and you better bring your "A" game when you get on the freeway. I have a lovely 23 mile 45 minute commute on 2 toll freeways and one interstate every morning. You would be suprised what you see in the middle of freeways here: big metal extension ladders, whole couches, exploding gas tanker trucks, and my favorite dodging tree and lawn clippings shooting from the back of a landscape truck doing 90 in front of you (especially when I was in my little covertible!!!). But I've also found big hearts, and big warm friendly people. It's funny but I understand what they say when they talk about "southern hospitality." A big smile and a loud "Howdy Y'all" always makes me feel welcome. Of course a big mess of Texas bar-b-que ribs, cornbread, and ice tea makes it even better. I think I'm gonna like this place alot!!!

Brian meets Texas

2008-02-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Well it all started in March of 2007. My partner Terry and I decided to visit our dear friends who had just moved to Dallas Texas from Salt Lake City Utah. We arrived and had a truly wonderful fun time in Dallas. We loved our friends pool in their backyard. The hustle and bustle of the big city was exciting. It was so green and lush, and the weather was perfect. Terry and I both commented on how much we liked the area and it wouldn't be bad living there. Well I guess we thought we would see what happened if we put our resume online for jobs in Dallas. Well sure enough a job headhunter contacted me and poof 3 months later I accepted a job with a small natural gas company in Dallas to start and run their geographical information system. The crazy part was they needed me to start in 3 weeks. It was a mad dash to get the house packed up and sold. Of course, just to make things interesting we ended up selling house the morning we were packing the U-Haul and heading out of town. Talk about coming down to the wire!!! Big thanks to Bob W our friend and Salt Lakes finest real estate agent for making it happen. Well 1500 miles and 2 days later a HUGE yellow Penske moving truck towing a pickup truck, and a cute black honda convertible arrived at our friends Todd and Bill in east Dallas. Man I was glad to finally get here. I was tired of driving and staring at the back of that big yellow truck for hours on end. Not to mention there wasn't much to see driving for hours through west Texas, unless you like cows and oil wells for miles and miles. After we arrived it took us another month to get closed and into our cute new home here in north Dallas. Our friends were saints to put up with us crashing at their house for a month. 4 Queens all getting ready to go off to work in the morning is quite a production but we actually got along great. Here are a few pics of the house.

We love our new house and of course started immediately remodeling it. (more on that later).

I will say it's been so crazy and fast the way it all worked out. I still can't beleive I'm living in Dallas sometimes, but it just feels right. Man I definitely learned to be careful what you ask for because it might come true. I was wanting to move and find a new job and BAM it happened!!!

My First Blog

2008-02-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

Well here I am posting up my first blog. I must admit I had no idea a few months ago what a "blog" even was. little did I know that my family were a bunch of seasoned bloggers, and especially that my sister had such a gift for fun writing. I must admit it was wonderful to read about what is going on with everyone. It's fun to see all my cousins with families of their own now. I'm not sure how exciting my life and blog will be, but at least you can see what I'm up to.