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It’s Friday night, and Sabine and I are not in FarWestTexas. We’re in her cozy living room in DFW instead.

For the record- I’m taking the blame on that call. We did start out this morning for FWT, even though the weather report looked ReallyScary. We got a bit out of town and the rain started to look sort of iceish… then sort of sleetish… then maybe just a bit hailish. At that point we phoned the most impartial person we know (James, of course, since he never exaggerates) and asked him for a realistic update of the weather, following which I said something to the effect of “to hell with this, we’re turning around NOW.” Yes, it is possible that we might’ve made it there just fine… but it would’ve been risky, and Sabine loves Herald (her Envoy, duh) way too much to risk his wellbeing and ours in snow and sleet and ice. We watched the weather today hoping that it was going to clear up enough to get through, but with the low being 14 out there (I know, right?)… nope. Still here.

There’s a point here, I swear.

I’ve got some Issues with this great big metroplex I find myself in. Those who’ve been around for a few years probably remember that while my move away from here was partially motivated by a job opportunity, it wasn’t one that I exactly HAD to take. I could’ve stayed at the Dallas office instead of going to Louisiana, but when the opportunity came I jumped on it- because I was really truly very miserable here for a lot of reasons. I’ve gained a lot of ground in getting over most of those reasons but the city itself has continued to be one of my least favorite places because of… well, because. Does there really have to be a “because of?”

Anyhow, when our plans got derailed and we had to come back, we opted to do a few local things close to her apartment as long as weather permitted rather than just tucking in on the couch to nap all day, and I think it’s done much to improve my attitude towards “here”. Granted, on the surface, the things we did were pretty superficial– we shopped. We hit Torrid, where I picked up the absolutely most adorable dress that I’ve ever owned. We visited Lush and Sephora, two of the happiest places on earth, and then we topped it off with a looooong visit to Half Price Books and really excellent Vietnamese takeout. Nothing deep, nothing philosophical, but I didn’t worry once about turning a corner and running into a ghost. I didn’t get anxious or worried or reminiscent. It was just a really nice day with one of my best girls and I actually feel myself kind of remembering that this once was one of my favorite cities, and not just for the opportunities in consumer whorism- though God knows those reasons help.

So- that’s Friday. We’ve wrapped it up with a movie (Lars and the Real Girl, which I refuse to analyze here because it inspired Sabine to add a clause to the “2 to the back of the head” rule), we’re working on plans for a possible Girls’ Night Out tomorrow night, weather permitting, and my BigBigSunday plans involve seeing my dad on the way home so I can do his grocery shopping for him… because he broke his ankle a week and a half ago and didn’t bother mentioning it until now (don’t bother being surprised. You really shouldn’t be). It’s turning out to be a nice, normal, relaxing weekend, and it’s a good thing.

Be surprised. For once, it’s looking like one of our “Plan B’s” is working out perfectly.

*yes, it’s a long subject line. I know. But it’s also a line out of one of the best songs I can’t stop listening to right now… which you should go download right this minute. “Blame it on Me” by the Barenaked Ladies for those of you without the Google-fu abilities to figure that out on your own… now go. Do it. Seriously.

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