Dallas' Smoking Ban Takes Effect Today

In December new legislation was passed that bans smoking in pool halls and bars, with the exception of cigar shops. So yes, as of today, no more smoke along with that cold delicious beer. Patios and open-air decks will still permit smoking. If no deck is present, smokers will have to be at least 15 feet from the entrance.

All I know is my favorite bar in Dallas, The Grapevine, has an outdoor patio about twice the size as the tiny indoor bar, and a rooftop deck! Suh-weet!

Wildfires Cloud the Skies Over DFW

Downtown Dallas this afternoon from Uptown. - Click link to read Dallas Observer story. Photo by Patrick Michels

Associated Press

High winds and tinder conditions fueled numerous wildfires across parts of Texas on Thursday, forcing schools and several subdivisions to evacuate.

No injuries have been reported in any of the blazes in North Texas and near Abilene in West Texas.

One fire in Parker County, just west of Fort Worth, prompted officials to order residents in four Hudson Oaks subdivisions to leave their homes. One barn and another structure had burned nearby the 50 homes that were being evacuated, Parker County spokesman Joel Kertok said.

The fire is about 100 acres in a heavily wooded area just south of Interstate 20, he said.

"They don't have control of this fire at this time," Kertok said. "And it's a little more difficult because we don't have any air support because the winds are so high."

Winds were blowing at about 40 mph, he said.

Firefighters in Jack County were working to control two wildfires — one near Post Oak and another southeast of Bryson — and officials had ordered evacuations near the blazes.

More than 93 percent of Texas was in some stage of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday.

Earlier Thursday, firefighters began to battle an 8,000-acre wildfire in Wilbarger County that ignited several businesses and forced the evacuation of schools in Montague and Callahan counties.

Several businesses were burning in an area about four miles west of Electra in Wilbarger County, Texas Forest Service spokesman Bill Beebe said.

An elementary school in Bowie was evacuated and there were as many as 10 fires raging throughout the area, Montague County Judge Ted Winn said. Winds were blowing about 60 mph, he said.

In Callahan County, officials ordered students at an intermediate school and a high school in Clyde to evacuate, a sheriff's department dispatcher said.

Clyde is about 20 miles southwest of Abilene.

Bowie, in Montague County, is about 65 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Electra, in Wilbarger County is about 125 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Both counties border Oklahoma.

Fires also were burning in parts of Palo Pinto, Hood and Young counties, Texas Forest Service spokesman Lewis Kearney said.
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Right now the sky is brownish, and I couldn't even see the skyline on the way home from the office this evening. Normally I can see downtown from about 10+ miles away, but even within a mile it was barely visible through the smoky air. Everything smells like smoke. But hey, it's Texas and today is 85 degrees, sunny, and 13% humidity. I heard the fires are stretching all the way up into central Oklahoma.

Picture Blog - Dallas in Spring

Here Comes the Warm Up

It's that time of year in our fair city...Spring. "Winter" has left us...



Granted, it's winter in Dallas, so we really can't even complain.



Sorry, Northerners...really. DAMN.



The elusive suggestion of winter in North Texas has departed, with full-blown Spring upon us. Technically, of course, Spring is a few days away, but it's already been over 80. Today's high was 79, but it reached 83. Spring has sprung!

And for us lucky Texans, that can only mean...



Fields and fields of our beautiful state flower...Texas Bluebonnets!

On another good note, this week is Spring Break for me from my classes.



Thankfully! I am winding down my program, and I'm so close I'm starting to get the itch to be finished. I long for the weekends that weren't spent cracking books and racing for the finishline on due assignments.



And tomorrow is my last day of work for 5 whole days of unabashed bliss and relaxation. I will be a free man, and fully intend to smoke a few cigarettes while enjoying the fantastic weather and some of my new, 2nd favorite beer:



MMMMM...lime & cactus, and beer...all together at last. It's sweet without being girly or Zima-esque. Plus, the flavors are perfect. This is Texas, after all, so cactus and lime go mighty fine together. And it's great with huevos rancheros. Let's face it; the beer is frigging fantastic, and although vastly different, I think it pretty much ties with my regular favorite beer:



Other than that, for the moment at least, I don't really have anything else planned out. That might change though. Hmmm...there are no doubt countless diversions in a big city with 70/80 degree weather, no?

Anyone out there have plans for the next few days/this weekend?

BONUS:

Name the movie that contains this scene, and win a prize:



[The prize being my undying respect for useless trivia]