#33 is Cool

So, #33 isn’t bad when you condiser that Southlake didn’t make the list.

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Discuss the Ban Like a Lady

The buzz is on the HP school zone cell phone ban beginning Monday and the discussion seems to require one key gesture, the holding of imaginary phone. You know using your fingers as the phone. I have noticed that there are two kinds of “phones” demonstrated by two distinct types of women. 1) pointer finger and thumb as phone and 2) pointer finger and pinky as phone. The second type is used kind of like the pinky in the snobby tea cup hold.

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Re: The Ring

As soon as we got out of the editorial meeting, I built a ring on BlueNile.com to see what $350k looks like. I came up with this, but it’s only $339,102. I’m sure someone in the office will get it for Christmas.

The Ring

I only stepped away for a sec and the e-mails were stackin’ up with photos of the ring stolen in the Preston Hollow attack.

How Much?$?$

Yesterday I discovered I was missing a bank statement from just far enough back that I couldn’t get it online. So, I called Bank of America customer service to order a copy. They were super friendly and said I would receive it in 5-7 business days. Today, I logged on and noticed that the charge for the copy was $164.00. What the hell?

This requires an in-person visit to the bank so that I can see if the teller can keep a straight face when she tells me that is a valid charge. Developing.

It Looks Like Christmas

Last night, as I jumped around the Dallas social scene, one of my many stops was the DeGolyer Estate to check out the Semyan’s Holiday Collection. And let me say, it was pretty cool. This collection consists of hundreds and hundreds of marionettes, ornaments, and figurative art throughout the historic home. Each vignette tells stories and nursery rhymes known by both children and adults.

Take your kids to have a peek, or even take a date (of course followed by a nice dinner, carriage ride, and showering of compliments). Last night definitely put me in the holiday mood and it will do the same for all viewers.

Possible Preston Hollow Assault

There are several e-mails floating around concerning an incident in the Preston Hollow area. I am told this one was forwarded from the victim. But keep in mind, I do not know first hand the exact details:

I was attacked yesterday at 4:00pm in our garage by a man that apparently followed [name] and I home from Whole Foods. I was standing in the open doorway waiting for [name] to exit the car when a man came up behind me, turned me around and punched me in the eye which knocked me into the floor of the back seat.  As I fought back he punched me again in the mouth and continued pulling on my hand/finger trying to get my ring (yeh, the diamond wedding ring).  I fought back screaming/kicking and [name] was up against the opposite passenger side door screaming & watching it all, unfortunately.  He said “give me the f___ing ring” and I told him to just wait and I would give it to him.  I did and he fled with it in no time.  I couldn’t see out of my right eye due to the blood coming down from my wound.  He was out of site in a flash, I ran into the house & called the police (our neighborhood patrol).  [name] came in after me & dead bolted the door, smart girl!  Paramedics came & cleaned tended to me & neighbors called [name] & he came home & took me to the emergency room.  After CT scans for the face/huge lump on the back of my head and x-ray of ring finger, all is okay and only badly bruised.  I received 3 stitches over my eye & pain meds and we came home 4 hours later.

another e-mail:  (more…)

Catalog This

My favorite new website (other than this one, of course) is one that claims it will stop those heaps of annoying shopping catalogs from piling up on your doorstep every day. It’s called Catalog Choice, and if it does what it says, I think it provides a wonderful public service. Also, it will save the back of your mail carrier.

And no, I don’t have a financial interest in it.

Re: Breadwinners Ordinance #422A

Some funny guy Overheardian offers this:

Maybe they couldn’t tell you guys were from the Park Cities, maybe they thought you were from the Pleasant Grove area.

I mean, we’re hot. You be the judge, that’s Lisa with the rollers. You can totally tell she’s a Parkie. (more…)

Will Charity Balls Ever Go Green?

It’s almost time for the most lavish of all charity events, the Crystal Charity Ball. This year’s theme is “Let it Snow,” which I imagine will include dancing children dressed as diamond-encrusted snowflakes and semi-nude ice princes and princesses greeting guests from the inside of an igloo hotel. There will probably be a very tasteful 18-foot snowman.
Much of the glitz and glamor is the result of in-kind donations, and kudos to the CCB women for that. It will be gorgeous. But part of the population is wondering when such over-the-top galas will start being a little more environmentally friendly, so we can all “let it snow” instead of swimming along with the polar bears in a pool of melted glaciers.  So say the folks at the New York Times, (more…)

Breadwinners Ordinance #422A

I met some girlfriends for lunch today at the Breadwinners on Lovers. My friend Margot was the first to arrive and since there were no other people in the restaurant she asked to be seated stating that the others in her party of 3 would be along shortly. She was told that incomplete parties cannot be seated. She told the hostess that she goes there all the time and they always seat her while she’s waiting (this is true, been there done that). The hostess rattled off some policy about incomplete parties being illegal between 11-1. Fine. My next friend, Lisa, arrived and they were told again that incomplete parties could not be seated. So they stood there waiting and chit-chatting. Lisa mentioned to Margot that our other friend Holly had called and would also be joining us, making us a party of 4. So Holly walked in a second later and they all looked to the hostess to be seated. The eavesdropping hostess, the one that quotes policies like city ordinances said, “But now you’re a party a 4, right?” Lisa, usually the most friendly of our bunch, flipped out like some sort of lady ninja which resulted in immediate seating.

So, I wonder what is the Breadwinners policy on pissing off lunching Parkies? And, what the hell is the difference between 3 or 4 people, do they have 3 top tables? I think not.

I mean, really. Come on people. My friends were all grumpy by the time I got there.

SMU Appears to Have Its New Football Coach

We’re still trying to confirm this like everybody else around the country, but all sources point to Paul Johnson as SMU’s choice to become its next head football coach. Johnson, currently the head coach at Navy, will be introduced on Monday.
Here’s the skinny on Johnson. (more…)

Craft-y Colicchio is Ritzy

Craft’s Tom Colicchio was spotted at the Ritz Carlton in Dallas earlier today. I wonder if Tom traveled from the Big Apple to spy on Dean Fearing and check out the heated tiles in the patio dining area? If Tom follows tradition,  he will probably make an appearance at Craft tonight. What a treat for the diners! If you are torn as to where to enjoy dinner, maybe knowing Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio is in-the-house will craft a clever option.

Tour Guide Needed

This “easy-going and intense” guy needs a female Parkie tour guide during his visit to Dallas. 

Isn’t it patently impossible to be both easy-going and intense? Just wondering.

Re: Overheardian Restaurant Critic

I know some people who had a very different experience at Bijoux. IJS.

Overheardian Restaurant Critic

I think we need one and I’m volunteering.

Last night hubby and I tried to celebrate our anniversary at Cafe Pacific, HP’s “fine dining establishment” which is always packed with Parkies, most using walkers or canes. The restaurant was 80 percent empty at the time of our 6:30 reservation so we asked to be moved to a table not in the kitchen, a reasonable request we thought. No, no, no. Not even a nice no from our waiter. The food at Caf Pac is predictable and mediocre anyway so we left and went to Bijoux which was infinitely more welcoming and more user friendly with better parking (and a valet who doesn’t look like a mini Elvis). The food was delish and the evening was lovely. If you haven’t tried Bijoux (one of Dallas’ few five star restaurants) you should.  It’s just outside of the PC in Inwood Village.

Check Your Pipes

Time for a PSA, Overheardian chickadees: Keep an eye out for guys hanging out in restaurant parking lots with items like these. Some jerks are running around sawing through exhaust pipes (either to get to parts or to watch some poor soul drive off and drag the pipe on the road, I’m not sure). Any ideas why someone would do that?

Alibaster Abducted!

In a tragic turn of events it seems that Adam McGill Alibaster has been abducted by Wick Cuban. I wonder if this means he won’t be “poking” me for awhile. (On second read that didn’t sound so good but rest assured I meant it only in the social networking, e-ship kinda way.)

More on the Box Beneath the Comments

One of our loyal Web laborers downstairs gave me some more info about the Captcha box. Apparently you’re helping to make the world a better place, or something, when you comment on our blog:

This version of captcha was developed by Carnegie Mellon University, and is considered to be one of the best (to avoid spam).

The words people type aren’t just random either. They’re actually digitizing old books, two words at a time:

(more…)

What’s That Box Underneath the Comments

Long-suffering Overheardians will notice a new obstacle to placing comments on our blog posts. Because we’ve been spammed a few too many times, we now require those wishing to join our discussion to enter a word into the Captcha box before the comment can be posted.

We consider this a small inconvenience to ensure that the words “g** t*** s**” stay off our family-friendly page.

Alibaster McGill

Last night Alibaster said, “This, despite the fact that it is patently impossible for something to be both ‘instant’ and ‘classic.”

In Adam McGill’s IMChat interview he says, “In retrospect, it’s patently ridiculous that I even wavered on going.”

Hmmmmm.

Water, Water, Everywhere …

With my utility bill from the City of University Park, I received this month my copy of The Arbor, UP’s town newsletter, which, by the way, is very well done.

What bothered me, though, was the following announcement: “Outdoor watering ban ends.”

(more…)

More Cafeteria News

This just in:

Attention all University Park Parents:

Let’s Do Lunch!

There is now an opening for a cafeteria server shift on the 2nd Wednesdays of the month! 

This crew works the following days from 10:15 - 1:00: 12/12, 1/9, 2/13, 3/12, 4/9 and 5/14 (only 6 days!). 

If you missed signing up earlier, now’s your chance to meet some fun new moms and help UP.  The best part?  Your child will love seeing you “behind the line”! 

Please contact Margot Keller at margot_keller@yahoo,com or 214/207-3750.

Re: Wash That Mouth Out with Soap

Tierney, I’ll lovingly direct you to my post from earlier today in which I quoted Kurt Anderson from NYmag.com.

When it comes to free speech, we need to let a hundred flowers bloom. We need to chill. We need to stop being pus****. 

Anyway, I’m on your side. That was tacky.

Wash That Mouth Out with Soap

What happened to the gentleman? When did it become okay to discuss vulgar behavior in front of a young lady?

Today I unassumingly got in the elevator to go to work and was greeted by a surprising discussion among three older men about, shall I say, “something they do in their free time.” This is when gentlemen, aware of causing discomfort, cease and desist the conversation. However, I was not in the company of such men and had to listen to more frat-boy talk. It was the longest five seconds of my life.

Now that my venting is over, I suggest going to check out West Village on Saturday, Dec. 1, for Uptown Lights, the Tree Lighting Ceremony benefiting the Genesis Women’s Shelter in Dallas. Paired with a dinner at nearby Mi Cocina or Ferre, it should be a nice night in Uptown.