The "Big D"

Today was our day to tour Dallas. Both Cristy and I have visited here in the past -- I spent the summer of 2005 here (during which time Cristy visited for about a week) and we were both here for Matt and Victoria's wedding last summer. Beautiful wedding.

The day kicked off in spectacular fashion. While looking for the Irving Mall, we found the perfect place for lunch: Pancho's Mexican Buffet. It's a local chain that I went to while living in Arlington and delivers exactly what you would expect a Mexican buffet to deliver. And more. The third picture is one of the Pancho Pinatas that Cristy talked me out of getting.

After Pancho's and the mall we headed to the Texas Book Depository building to take a tour of the JFK 'Sixth Floor' Museum. And of all coincidences, today was JFK's 90th birthday. Remarkable. Kind of interesting that he would still be that young. That's only seven years older than George H.W. Bush. And Bush was elected 28 years after JFK.

The museum was alright. The first third of the exhibit set the context of New Frontier 1960's, Camelot and all that. Lots of moving oratory. The second third revolved around JFK's re-election trip to Texas as part of the 1964 campaign. Dallas was the fifth city he visited in the state and the one that carried the most resistance to his policies -- there was great concern before the visit about an incident, with someone even purchasing a full-page ad in the Dallas Morning News criticizing his "treasonous" pursuit of Civil Rights and "pro-Communist" policies. Dallas did not come off looking very good. The final third consisted of the assassination and subsequent conspiracy theories. Cristy thinks the Cubans did it. Well, not really...

After the museum, we headed back to the Malony's for a nice evening. Matt cooked, I broke their Internet, Cristy and Tori played Star Wars, and everyone had a great time. It was good to catch up -- we really enjoyed ourselves.

Tomorrow we cross the unforgiving Texas plains. Abilene. Midland. Odessa. We're hoping to make it all the way to New Mexico, but we'll play it by ear.

Texas Stadium (Home of the Cowboys):

American Airlines Arena (where Warriors reign):