Everyone drives everywhere. There are no small cars... well I think I have seen 2 mini's in all the time I have been in the US. Here mid-size is the smallest and they get much bigger... SUVs are the tool of choice with duel cab. Petrol is about $2.94 per gallon, not sure what that equates to, but just thought I would remember it to tell you.
Temperature is cooler than LA, about the same as it is in Sydney this time of year, but BIG blue skies.
Taxi's are hopeless.. you have to rely on shuttle buses (if there is one) or someone with a car. A couple of times I have considered hiring a car to remind myself that it's probably not a smart idea! The turnpikes and freeways are phenomenal, and make the Warringah Freeway or M7 look like a dinky country road.
I keep looking twice at the Corvette's gotta say I love the sound of them :) but my favourite looking car so far is the Pontiac Solstice (http://www.1iverating.com/item/1273/7/Pontiac-Solstice/) there is one in the car park at work... and I keep admiring it... haven't managed to find who owns it yet.
The people in the office are super friendly and couldn't be more helpful. A couple are a touch arrogant in the usual American alpha male way.... but in all it's no biggie. I love the accent of the southern folk, even the Texan accent is not so bad. But listening to those southern belles from Louisiana or Mississippi is just too cool (reminds of True Blood - the Foxtel show) .... and when I am introduced.... they rave about my accent which is a bit embarrassing.
The office is heavily decorated for Halloween with cobwebs, pumpkins, spiders and skeletons hanging everywhere. Today was 'bosses day', so the teams bought all the bosses cards and gifts.... don't think we have that in Aus :)
Of the 4 founders of the company I had met 2, and yesterday I met number 3 (number 4 has just retired). Nathan is a pocket dynamo.... oh my... this amazing vision about how the social media sites such as facebook, twitter, flickr, yelp + others are going to define the way products and services are marketed and sold going forward. If I thought the other 2 had a wow factor, then Nathan is off the richter scale. He was supportive and up front and I came away hoping I can actually do the job they are confident that I can.
Had lunch with the VP of Global Learning. He took me to a Texan BBQ, and I had a pulled pork sandwich... was seeing if the Texans could redeem the debacle I had in LA.... well this was lovely.... tasty luscious pork on a really fresh warm bun with lashings of gravy.... mmm mmm mmm... and a traditional Texan potato salad on the side.... and I gotta say it was good.... dressing reminded me of corn relish dip in a way.... that probably sounds gross... but am gonna see if I can replicate it at home cause it was YUM!!
Dinner last night and tonite was around at the Legacy Town Centre... the mall a few streets away from the hotel... not too far - you could walk it but at night it's not well lit and there aren't any footpaths (no need everyone drives) so have been using the hotel shuttle to take me over.
It's a very pretty suburban centre with heaps of restaurants and cafes. Last night was an Italian sausage and goats cheese pizza at CRU, with a tasting flight... which is small wines of a similar grape and style. I had Flight 3 - Italian Gems:
- Maretime, Pinot Grigio '09 - Della Venezie, Italy
- Colterenzio '08, Alto Adige, Italy
- Frattina '08, Friuli-Venezia-Giuala, Italy
The Cru bar was quite nice, it was a shame to be there without my boy... he would have enjoyed the wine list which was interesting.
Tonite - was Thai.... I was dying for vege's of some sort. And, the Texas Rangers are playing of the New York Yankees in the Baseball World Series play offs so all the bars and restaurants are packed with people watching the game. I finally understood why everyone in the office today was wearing red TEXAS shirts.... d'oh!!!
Don't know what's on tomorrow - wanted to get down to Fort Worth, but without a car, and the lack of any type of day tripper tourist thing it's not looking hopeful. One of the girls at work was keen on doing lunch tomorrow so we'll see what happens, and Sunday I plan on going to the Texas State Fair. Apparently you can get fried beer and fried margaritas.... and there is plenty of wild life to watch....so that's sound like some fun!!! hopefully lotsa photo's to share from that.
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| the trees all decorated with fairy lights at Legacy Town Centre |
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| Look down the street in front of all the restaurants |
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