Thank You, Dallas! Good Night!

The day has finally come, I get to fly home after 25 show days, 5 yellow shirts, and 1 Fletcher's Corny Dog.  This year was a lot more fun after have 24 days of sunshine versus only 7 days last year, especially when you are working outside.  Here are a couple of things I learned while visiting the great state of Texas:

1.  Tex-Mex food is by far tastier than Cal-Mex.  I should know, I ate a lot of guacamole and salsa verde enchiladas.

2.  Texas is another state that does not believe in recycling or toilet seat covers in the restrooms. (Michigan and Illinois are also guilty of the this.)

3.  I really think the dress and cowboy boot trend is cute.  If I can accomplish the look without looking like Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus, I think I may dust off my cowboy boots for fall.

4.  Football is a religion.  Friday Night Lights.  We do it bigger and better in Texas (regarding football). Well, it's all true.  Football is a business in this state and if you can't beat them,  you join them.  Yes, I attended my first high school football game in Texas.  I went to a New England prep school where lacrosse and hockey ruled and then I headed to NYU where the team name is the Violets.  Need I say more?

5.  Even with AT&T World Headquarters across the street from my hotel, the phone and data service was atrocious.  Verizon is getting the iPad this month and hopefully, the iPhone in March 2011.  Sign me up.

6.  As much as I love to annoy my co-host, Matt Troyer, he really is the best co-host in the business and a great friend to boot.  Enjoy your photo, Matt!

7.  Dorothy was right, "There's no place like home."

It was a great month, Texas.  Your hospitality and sunshine was appreciated.  Thank you, Dallas!  Good Night!

Scenes from a Weekend at The State Fair of Texas

I have officially completed 18 days so far at the State Fair of Texas and I have to say, it is much easier the second time around.  I have to thank the weather for cooperating this year; gone are the fleeces, gloves, hats, and scarves from last year.  I can't believe I will be home in one week after a month in Texas! Catch a glimpse of my weekend in photos:

Here I am, eating the famous Fletcher's Corny Dog.  Now, the Fletcher Family claims they invented the corn dog.  I don't who invented it, but it's delicious.  Read the history of the corn dog here.

My co-host decided to hijack my iPhone and change my wallpaper to his lovely mug.  I decided that he must really want his photos published, so I tagged him on my private Facebook page.  Let me tell you, he really enjoyed that one.  Little does he know, he's on my blog too!

Here's where I get a little grumpy at the city of Dallas, DART, their transportation system, had a huge debacle last year during the UT/OU game with getting people to the fair and the game on time.  They did a great job at the game this year, however, this weekend was even busier than game weekend.  Did they learn their lesson?  Nope, here are the crowds waiting to get on an available train.  Sigh.  

Larry at the ice cream stand is my best friend at the fair.  He kindly hooks me up with a vanilla soft serve every once in awhile.  Perfect for a hot summer day!  (By the way, notice my millions of freckles on my face!  I wear a hat and SPF 85 every day.  Geez!)

Happy 10th Birthday to the Toyota Prius--10.10.10!  My favorite car and probably one of the most innovative technological breakthroughs of the last decade.  This car was a game-changer back in 2000 when it was launched. Toyota hoped to sell about 12, 000 units that year.  Now, over a million Prius have been sold worldwide and over 650 MILLION gallons of gas have been saved.  

Yes, I am so strong, I can hold up a Dodge Ram with only two hands.  We're that strong at Toyota.

Um, attractive picture of my nap.  Yes, this wound up on Facebook too, all thanks to my co-host, Matt Troyer.  Hey, it was a long weekend and I needed to recharge.  I hope your weekend was just as much fun!

You're Cold Then You're Hot, You're Cold, Cold, Cold And Then You Are Oprah!

Okay, we are going to get this one out of the way. Yes, I am clumsy. A nice little bump and a cut.......do you want to see what I collided with?

Fantastic! The corner of my cabinet in the kitchen. I will defend myself by saying it is the most bizarre construction for a corner cabinet. It hangs over the sink, so when I bent over to scrub a pot....Bump! And ouch!

The bananas continue to invade the State Fair of Texas! So, I have dedicated a whole section to the coveted Texas banana later in this blog.

Now, it's time to discuss the weather. I listen to NBC Dallas meteorologist, Jennifer Lopez (no relation to J.Lo), and she has lied to me every morning. She keeps promising me dry weather and warmer temperatures. Instead, we get this.......

......and this....yes, science experiments in the landscape. I know a little bit of fungi never hurt anyone, but the ground sure is squishy from all of the rain.

So, we need to dress like this........many, many layers.

I will say the little ones look much more fashionable in their winter wear. Jazz hands!

So, the next day at work, it is 94 F and hot........

And super windy!

Oh, and then the following day, it's wet and cold. I bring out the gloves for reinforcements.

But, the bananas are not deterred by the cold weather. They come to see the show and they look pretty happy.

They dance as a part of the opening show entertainment with my co-host, Matt Troyer.....

The banana and the co-host do a tribute to the Macarena.....

Nothing like a little banana background dancing while the ladies perform.

To reward the banana for his excellent movement skills, we gave him a yellow bandana for his head. Look closely.......

Time to dive into the fried food again with the legendary Fletcher's Corny Dog, but this one was special: jalapeño and cheese.

It was delicious........

I didn't like it AT ALL. It definitely rivals a Disneyland corn dog which is the most delicious corn dog in the land.

For dessert, we had a funnel cake. Not as delicious as the Corny Dog, I remember fried dough tasting better when I was younger. We didn't even finish it......so, is that a calorie and fried food point saved??

Don't worry, I am not getting too fat here. There is yoga in the conference room from time to time.

And then on Sunday, the Queen of America arrived with security, a police escort, and helicopters. May I introduce you to my best friend, Oprah?

Sitting next to her was her other BFF, Gayle and her makeup artist, Reggie Wells. Reggie ran around to the open window and performed makeup touch-ups so all of the "candid" photos would be picture perfect.

Suzy and Oprah hanging out at the Fair.......

Me and Oprah contemplating our next move......do we go to the fried butter booth or ride the Big Texas ferris wheel?

People are frantic to capture her photo....this is everyone running after her vehicle. Don't worry, she will be driving back THREE more times for a "spontaneous" visit all captured for Monday's show when Oprah visits the State Fair of Texas.

I am in the final leg of my trip here in Texas. It really has been such a fun month. I will post the final week's photos soon, so you can experience my taste of fried butter, a ride on Big Texas, and all of the fashions as the weather goes from cold to hot to rainy all over again.

Thanks, Y'all!
Make sure to check out the other State Fair Photos:

Part 1: Opening Day.
Part 2: Day 4.
Part 3: Days 5, 6, 7, 8!
Part 4: A Long, Wet Weekend.