Texas Tour - Dallas Part 2

Today is only Saturday and I have already forgotten what I did during the day on Wednesday! Perhaps it is because Wednesday night was so fun, the it made no room for any other Wednesday memories?

So, everyone that reads this SHOULD know "Kelli" by now. If not, you haven't been reading often enough! Kelli and I started as blog buddies, but our friendship has grown very quickly very fast. We chat often via blog, email and skype. It has been amazing for me to have a good friend, that is and will be experiencing a lot of things things that Michael and I have in our lives, in regards to moving not just overseas but to Denmark. While our situations are very different, they are also, actually very much the same.

We have meet in Denmark twice, and when we found out we were coming to Dallas, she was one of the first people to find out. Of course there was no doubt that we would HAVE to meet up, so we worked out a time and Wednesday night it was.

I was excited when she told me that we would get to meet her dear friend Shelly and her parents. I had obviously heard TONS about them all as they are all very important in her life.
When we arrived Michael and I were greeted with three hugs and a wagging tale and immediately felt comfortable.

We ate delicious food and all got to know each other talked alot about Denmark and all sat and listened to Kelli tell us about the different obstacles she is facing in regards to moving. Those things range from getting her lovable pets over to what in the world she is going to do when her "Jiff" supply runs out. Shelly, Michael and I tried to convince her that organic peanut butter with no sugar really is delicious, but she would have none of it! We gave her some to try in Denmark and while she ate it with a smile, it was clear it wasn't Jiff.

Kelli and our new friends
The white furrball is Albert.

Kelli and her parents

We love tall bald men

Michael and his new buddy Albert

Kelli and I "co-bloged" about this, so if you want to see all the sweet things Kelli had to say about us (she is WONDERFUL for our self esteem) you can see it here:
http://madsandkelli.blogspot.com/2008/03/min-venner-fra-danmark-kommer-til.html

Thursday the weather was awful. Again, not that we aren't use to the cold and the snow and the rain and the sleet, because, trust me, that is just "Thursday" in Denmark's, but we brought no warm clothes. We went to the gym in the evening and only had 30 minutes to work out because they were closing 3 hours early because of weather. REALLY PEOPLE?? It seriously wasn't bad down where the gym was but, that Texas in the snow for you. At least the gym was practically empty. In Denmark when the weather is bad, the gym is PACKED and when the weather is nice, it is EMPTY. Funny huh? After the gym we met Chintan and his wife Deepali. They are both graduates of Texas Tech. Chintan and Michael shared an office while Michael was finishing his Ph.D and Chinton was starting his. Him and his wife are both Electrical Engineers at TI. I can USUALLY hold my own in engineering conversations. I've heard the same stuff for about 10 years and can follow quite well, with other engineers, but not with these two. It was the first time in many many years where I was busy analyzing the ceiling during the conversation.

Texas Tech Electrical Engineering Alumni

Finally Friday came along. I spent most of the day hanging out a Mary's Starbuck's, reading the paper, drinking coffee and listened to her train a guy. Of course, she would occassionally come and chat with me too. While reading the paper I could hardly believe that this actually made it into the news. If you are familiar with the Danish bike culture this should make you laugh. If not, I will tell you that in Denmark, you don't stop riding your bike because of a little (or a lot) of snow, or rain, or wind, or cold.....you get the idea.

We ate lunch together and I did a little food shopping and went back to the hotel to get stuff ready to leave on Saturday morning for our long haul across Texas. Our last stop for Dallas was to Martins house. He is the newest Dane in the DTU/TTU exchange program. We along with Klaus went to hang out for a little bit and got to know each other a litle better. I love listening to all the different experiences each one of these guys has had in regards to the program.

Texas Tour - Dallas Take 1

We have a pretty good little schedule set up for us here in Dallas. We wake up between 5:30 and 6:00 and drive over to the TI gym. When we are done there we come back to the hotel, Michael takes a shower, we eat breakfast and I take him to work. Then my days start. I have been incredibly busy (until today) during the days. I've been shopping to stock up on stuff like cheap shaving cream, medicines, shampoo and other odds and ends. Mary took 2 days off this week so we could hang out and have some good 'ol fashioned best friend time. Michael finishes up work between 5:00-6:00 and everynight since we got here, we have had something going on and people to see! It's been a whole lot of fun!

Monday night (AKA. Snow Night) we saw Kelly and James. Kelly and Michael have known each other since they were little and graduated high school together. I've known Kelly since our freshman year at Tech. While we were living in Dallas we found her on "Myspace" and discovered she was living in Plano not to far from where we were living. Her and James were married shortly after we got back in touch. They are such a sweet and fun couple and we all get along great. We meet them for some drinks and lots of laughter.

Kelly and James

Mini Cooper Pirate Reunion
complete with hook, eye patch and parrot

Cold Outside

Tuesday Mary and I met at the Galleria for lunch and shopping, though the only thing either of us bought was makeup that was desperately needed. So maybe it was more for lunch and "window shopping" . We ate at the Grand Lux Cafe . I had been craving a greek salad and got one that completely satisfied that craving. It was delicious. For dessert Mary got a huge strawberry shortcake! We went into the little Art Gallery at the Galleria and saw some work by a guy named, "Robert Deyber". His stuff was amazing and hilarious at the same time. All of his work was paintings of play on words.

Mary and her strawberry shortcake

Another Cock and Bull Story

My Ass is on the Line

Screw Up

Mister Klaus is Dallas too and Tuesday we went to eat dinner with him. Klaus always seems to be in the same places as us. When we are in Lubbock, so is he, when we are in Dallas, so is he, when we are in Denmark, so is he. You get the idea! We went to a really cool place called, "Love and War in Texas" If you are going to be in Dallas, this is a place to check out. It was so sterotypical Texas and really made us happy to be there. The waiter was completely Texan and the atmosphere perfect. I had brisket, Michael had a steak and Klaus had roasted wild boar. I forgot how kick ass Texas food is. YUM! We got some Shiner Black's as well and were VERY surprised when they brought us out 3 glasses of Euro sized beers. Euro sized meaning the huge glasses you see people holding when they go to Germany. Thats right, we had liter beers for only 6 bucks!!

Texas flag with a dried yellow rose

Everything really is bigger in Texas!

Klaus showed his Texas colors by being the ONLY one of us to clear our plates!
Good Job Klaus!

Michael showed his European Colors by being the only one to finish his beer!

The weater is OK. I can walk around in short sleeves comfortably one minute, and the next it is FRRREEEEZING! I'm so not use to this. I don't think I miss Texas weather. I'll be surprised if I make it to the end of the trip without getting sick!!