Deathmatched in Dallas

there were four glasses of water

Now I am home. In Dallas I met fellow readers Will Clarke, Willy Razavi, and Katherine Center, plus Todd Zuniga and judges Ben Fountain and Tina Parker. (I already knew Owen but what the heck I’m on a linking frenzy.) I did not win (the rightful honor went to Will Clarke) but had a wonderful time regardless at the reading, dinner after that, and more good talks after that.

We accidentally checked out the Dallas club scene, which involves a girl lying on the ground and asking her boyfriend if he thinks she is hot. Boyfriend hefts her up, says “You are hot and I am going to need you to shut the fuck up.” This story is not about me.

I got up early and stood by the window drinking water. From the 20th floor of the Adolphus I saw that officers had closed off the streets below. Three horses stood in the center of the square and I was not sure if they were the attraction or merely backup.

While reading about the hotel—this was the kind of hotel you read about, or at least take its stationary—I learned that the old 19th floor ballroom had been stripped of its floors and sealed off permanently, accessible in two places: either by the roof, or by an unmarked door in an undisclosed location. I went exploring and found the door. It was a knowledge adventure and I was on Team Discovery. There was a padlock that wouldn’t budge with a few tugs so I went downstairs and had breakfast. Later I found some pictures. One neat thing is that there are rivets and not welds on the old beams.

After that I hung out with a baby and watched the Cardinals get creamed and spread on toast by the Saints. So ended my Dallas adventure. Thanks to Katie and Carolyn at the DMOA for hosting and helping, to Todd for inviting me, to the City of Dallas, and to whoever came up with the idea for the cinnamon roll.