DALLAS! It is not just a television show.

So, Snickers and I flew home to Dallas on Saturday this weekend.  Even though I now am calling Northern Virginia home, Dallas will always be my real home. This is for a couple of reasons but most especially because my family is all based in the Big D metroplex.

We had an early morning flight and simply for Snickers sake (yeah, right), I upgraded to first class on the 3-ish hour flight.

I can see Big Tex from here!

Snickers did all right on the flight with just a little bit of fussing towards the end.  To keep her calm, I ended up holding her carrier in my lap for the last 20 or so minutes and the landing only unzipping so she could stick her head out once we were on the ground.  Funny enough, no one other than the guy sitting next to me knew there was a dog on the plane so I deem that a success.  That and I honestly think I stress more than she does on the flights - me worried about her behavior on the plane.

After being picked up at the airport by the best of friends due to the parents and all other family still being on a "family" vacation (can you call it that if the whole family is not there?), we made it to the house and started on the all important laundry.  After traveling for two weeks and having a full week of business for work, I ended up simply packing mostly dirty clothes.

Then it was a fun girls night out drinking one of my favorite local brews that you cannot get anywhere else:

Oh Revolver Blood and Honey, why can't you sell in Northern VA?

This fun filled night was topped off by a morning brunch at a great little french bistro style restaurant serving a killer buffet on Sundays with another of the bestests of people.  Seriously people, there is nothing like the variety of the food they offer...oh, and $2 mimosas!  I topped off a sunny Sunday morning with a bit of retail therapy stocking up on t-shirts for the summer.

Sunday night was dedicated solely to the wonder that is Tex-Mex.  Most of you who know me well know I have been belaboring the fact that there really is no quality Tex-Mex food in the DMV.  Seriously folks...good, simple Tex-Mex from a family restaurant is such a gift.  Which is why the first official meal with the parents was dedicated to the wonder that is our favorite family haunts, Rafa's.  I basically ate myself into a food coma.

Well, that is it so far for this week.  I have been briefed on the upcoming rib smoke-off that is evidently supposed to take place on July 4th here at the homestead.  We will also be blessed with front row seats to the annual firework show that my parents club puts on each year. Which means I will be huddled in the house cuddling my Snickers since she HATES fireworks...ah well.

Sparklers all around, y'all!

Shelley