Girls Gone Wild in Lone Star State

Moey in The General Store in Fort Worth Friday night.

Moey and me in the Ritz Carlton lobby, Dallas. Our friend Susie Q did not want her photo here.

We've been having so much fun. I hate missing my daily blogging, but after sleeping only 3 hours the night before, I crashed in the car when our friend Susie Q drove us home to her house near Dallas after our colorful evening in Fort Worth.

I have a lot to report so will resort to bullet points:

Friday night

• The rodeo!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!!! we went to the Stockyards Championship Rodeo in Fort Worth last night. It was unforgettable. So glad to go. To see the cowboys and cowgirls...the bull riding, tie down roping [that made me a bit sad, seeing the calves being tied down], breakaway roping, barrel racing....to see the quirky, colorfully dressed rodeo clowns, who distract the bulls after the rider falls off. Watching the cowgirls on the horses, tearing across Cowtown Coliseum, the horses long and lean, the women young and strong....it was moving. I also really loved the opening act, when the flag bearer with long blonde hair and blue jeans--Elizabeth Haught, the program says--circled the ring again and again, picking up speed each time as she held the American flag high. It was awesome. Also: The social aspect of it. The couples on dates, the families. The Friday-night fashions--young women in short dresses or shorts with cowboy boots.
• Billy Bob's Honky Tonk. This is also in the Stockyards National Historic District...country line dancing.....we heard there are lessons on Sundays but not sure we will get back. Also liked live band. No frozen margaritas, so had Amaretto Sour. Moey had white wine. I think there's a mechanical bull on the premises.

Saturday

• The Spa @ the Ritz Carlton in Dallas!! Full disclosure: As a writer/blogger, I called ahead and got 20 percent off my treatment. It was a splurge, but my pedicures often last for months. I got the Blueberries & Bluebonnets Pedi, priced @ $85. After the discount, and the automatically added 23% service charge, the total was $87.55. I loved talking to Dee as she buffed and polished. "You have good feet," she said. "But you needed a good buffing." She used a mask, scrub and cream with notes of blueberry. Dee was born and raised in Texas, but we're both mothers of teens and we really connected and enjoyed talking. Also, she tested a nail with OPI Cajun Shrimp to see if I wanted that color. I did. "It's the most popular color in Texas," she said. "We can't keep it on the shelves." I bought a bottle. Also nice: The cool drink of crisp cucumber water. The little cup of blue scrub to use in the shower. [I didn't have time to shower b/c my friends were waiting, so I took the cup and can't wait to use it tonight in this Hilton Garden Inn in Lewisville.] The Hanky Panky panties sold in the spa shop. And, when they offer you a drink, it can even include an Illy latte. Which I chose. [Dee was such a good, upbeat person. I wish I could keep in touch with her. I left her my card.]
• The Ritz Carlton lobby. The photo above shows the flowers. So elegant and lovely. Dozens of pinkish purple orchids in glass vases of all heights, with pink lilies and blossoms in the tallest ones in back. And the lobby shop, Indulge, serves Talenti gelato and sorbet by the scoop, $4.99 for small cup and $7.99 for large. You can also pop in there for an Illy iced caramel macchiato or mocha. Or to buy Bulgari perfume. Very good.
• The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Wow, did we ever love this. We three friends--Moey, Susie Q and I--went to school together from kindergarten through high school in Dumont, New Jersey. Like every other schoolkid, we learned about JFK's assassination in Dallas. But here we were standing on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building, seeing the exact corner where Lee Harvey Oswald stood with his gun. The whole exhibit was fascinating. And we also happened upon the museum's Living History Series, featuring a conversation with Wilborn Hampton, the youngest reporter in United Press International's Dallas bureau on that fateful day in November 1963. His memories of being sent to cover the breaking news at Parkland Memorial Hospital--where the shot President had been rushed--were vivid and crisp.
• Cristina's Mexican Restaurant in Carrollton. I had a giant frozen margarita in fishbowl-sized glass with salt on rim. Delicious with dinner, which included steak with a shrimp-stuffed chile relleno. So nourishing to sit and chat with my old friends....about high school teachers, clubs, boyfriends....about our parents. On the drive to the hotel, as sunset streaked the wide open sky, Susie Q played a Mary J. Blige CD in the car. I knew her name and now I know her music. I like it.
• Kicking back. First thing I did when I got into this hotel room was put the A.C. on 64 degrees because I love the cold. This is a nice place, with fire pit outside and great-looking pool. Tomorrow we're going to relax. I love Texas! BTW, the people are polite. And we have seen some cute cowboys in blue jeans and cowboy hats.

TCOY

1. Ice water with lemon, which I hope will balance out the tortilla chips and jumbo margarita.
2. Friends, friends, friends. Important time.
3. About to watch chick flick and then take shower with Ritz Spa blue scrub. I have a room to myself and can sleep late!!!!!!