It’s weekend again, and the weather in Texas is still
dismal. Last month was apparently the coldest January on record. The hotel is
full of young girls with names like Britney and Kassandra – apparently the national championships of the NCA (National
Cheerleaders Association) are being held in the Dallas Convention Center. Girls
are chasing each other through the corridors, the floor is covered with
popcorn, and it’s impossible to find a table at breakfast, even if you didn’t
mind sitting amidst the noise. Strangely, they’re mostly chaperoned by
seriously obese mothers bulging out of the same t-shirts that their daughters
are wearing – living vicariously, I suppose.
But I’ve never been to either the Dallas Convention Center or
a cheerleading competition, so I thought I’d check it out. My interest was
short-lived – it was $5 to park, and $20 to go in. I’m curious, but not that
curious. The trip wasn’t wasted, however, as I found a wonderful sculpture of
an old-time cattle drive that I hadn’t seen before.
Crossing the river ... |
... and watching the herd |
While in Dallas, I stopped at the Farmers’ Market and bought
some tangerines. On the way out, I picked up a medium horchata, to quench my
thirst, from a Mexican snack stand.
For a while, I’ve wanted to see Crazy Heart, the movie for
which Jeff Bridges has been nominated for an Oscar. The matinee performance was
only $5. Excellent value – a great movie, with great music, and some memorable
lyrics: “Funny how falling feels like flying … for a little while”. If you
liked The Wrestler, you’d like this. But I have to tell you that old people in
the movie theater are worse than teenagers. I had to bite my tongue to stop
myself asking them to shut up.
Lunch was Chow Mein and Orange Chicken, washed down with Dr
Pepper, from the Panda Express, and then back to the hotel to listen to A
Prairie Home Companion. If I don’t get out on a good road trip soon, I’ll go
stir crazy …
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