We are spending as much time as possible outside because there are only a few months left before Texas becomes hot as hell.
Blooming trees in Dallas, Texas.
In addition to an usual amount of WebEx meetings, the power kept shutting off in my building. This made for several unscheduled dog walks, which Ingrid and Gunter appreciated.
After work I made my way down to the iLume Park “Grand Happy Hour” – a weekly lobby happy hour which replaced the daily happy hours from when I first moved in.
Margaritas and beer at the iLume Park Happy Hour
Happy Hour is also a strange thing in this building because angry former residents sometimes show up uninvited to bitch about how much they hate iLume Park (while drinking the free booze at iLume Park…)
The conversation quickly switched to the scene outside of the building – the front entrance to iLume Park was cordoned off because a portion of the building’s brick façade came crashing down.
The temperature is perfect – about 60 to 70 degrees every day.
iLume Park’s large dog park in Dallas, Texas.
Gunter at Ilume Park’s small dog park.
Perry Heights neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, in February.
The Harwood District of downtown Dallas, Texas
Thomson Reuters is flying me back to Minnesota for an awards dinner and training.
It’s going to be cold as hell, but I get to see some of my friends and my company is putting me up in the Mall of America hotel, so things could be worse.
That doesn’t mean that I won’t miss the warmth…
I always thought my mother was dramatic about hating the cold (she still lives in Miami) but now I fully understand.
Brr.
It may take me a while to see a particular movie, but I inevitably do. (With the exception of Frozen, which I am boycotting.)
A few months ago, a friend recommended Tangerine to me, and I finally got around to watching it.
It’s sad and hilarious.
The conversation about hiring security guards was one of the strangest things about last month’s epic apartment building meeting.
“I can give you a daily happy hour, or I can give you security guards,” the building president said. “But I am warning you, armed security guards are going to change the vibe around here.”
She was right.
Now I routinely run into packs of 2 to 4 security guards when I leave my building. Most of the security guards just glare at residents without saying anything, so it is highly awkward.
In addition to the joy of seeing family, and an excuse to do touristy things, visits from my mother also have very practical benefits – like preventing my apartment from burning down.
When my mother was in town, she noticed a very odd smell coming from my laundry closet.
“You know it’s not supposed to have a burning smell when you dry clothes, right?” she said. “There’s not supposed to be lint everywhere either.”
Apparently the mass tenant exodus, police drama, and middle-of-the-night fire alarms culminated in the building manager being fired.
The iLume Park management company then called a “member meeting” of all of the residents to announce the changes and clear the air.
It was a shit show.
The meeting was led by the management company president / general counsel (who coincidentally reminds me a lot of Donna Shalala). She gave a short speech about how things are going to change and a brief overview of her plans.
She also pointed out that the most recent 3 a.m. fire alarm was due to some drunkards who set off the hour-long alarm by hopping a fence and intentionally tampering with the fire equipment.
I’ve alternatively described my apartment building as a dog-friendly residential hotel, Melrose Place, and an adult dorm.
In true dorm fashion, my neighbors occasionally trigger the fire alarm in the middle of the night. This happened today at 3 a.m.
There are leaves on the ground, but the temperature still hits the low 70s almost every day.
Although it is not quite tropical Christmas experience that I had in Miami, it is still way more pleasant than Minnesota. At least I can still trot around in shorts!
Life has been very full lately with work, sprawling dog walks, dates, holiday parties, and marathons of The Good Wife.
My cup runneth over again.
Elaborate Christmas decorations in Highland Park, Dallas.
Gunter’s leather doggy jacket.