Dallas observations

Howdy, ya'll!  I'm in Dallas for 2 weeks (with a slight hiatus into Austin this weekend) and have had my peepers focused on all of the culture down here.  Here's what I've noted:

• Texas drivers are CRAZY!!!!  I have a rental car, so I've been in the mix of things.  They drive FAST (I'm on board for that), don't signal, cross 5 lanes of traffic like it's nothing diagonally, and do it all in their giant vehicles.  There are freeways and highways everywhere through Dallas, and they're all huge (5 lanes each way or so) with crazy on and off ramps that seem totally inefficient and a little dangerous.  Merging is optional, cutting off other drivers is the norm, freeway lanes aren't painted, and stinking "exit only" lanes are never marked as that.  (I've had some "exit only" close calls.)  I love driving at home but Dallas makes me nervous!
• Luckily I brought my trusty GPS along to accompany me.  But because there are so many freeways (with a TON of road construction going on), my GPS gets confused.  We have driven from the hotel to the office 4 mornings now, and the GPS has literally taken us on a different route every morning.  No joke.  I wonder how it will get us to "Hotels point com" (as it announces) tomorrow...?!
• Are you thirsty?  Luckily when you order "iced tea" or "a coke", they bring you this at some places:

Get thirsty yo.

• Everyone here is SO FRIENDLY!  At the hotel, at work, out and about.  Sooo nice.  It's refreshing.  (Although, they are NOT nice drivers...)
• I went to dinner with my friend Kayla last night, and she told me about a couple common Dallas things that I can't help but notice a lot now.  Everywhere has valet parking!  And it's not optional!  We went to a restaurant last night and they valeted her car into a spot in a lot about 10 feet away.  It's not like they park them in garages down the street; they park them in a lot directly in front of you.  It's silly because it takes more time to valet than just to park yourself, but apparently it's the Texas way of doing things.  It's a little silly, although it was handy tonight when my coworker and I ventured to a busy neighborhood for dinner.  I didn't have to worry about finding parking!  Win!
• The other Dallas-y thing Kayla told me about are the people who work out, go to brunch/drinks/dinner in their workout gear, and then continue their workouts after.  There were people at the restaurant last night in cute workout clothes who clearly had just been working out (but were also all dolled up).  It's bizarre.  My workout clothes are NOT cute enough for such odd things.
• There is a Sprinkles cupcake shop here in Dallas, and I got to try them for the first time today.  Let me tell you, my coconut cupcake totally exceeded my expectations.  YUM.  But not only were there delicious treats to be had, there was also great people watching too.

I am bummed my covert photo did not pick up her shoulder-length purple feather earrings too.

Sooo cute!  And probably tasty...

• There are open toed shoes everywhere.  This is probably not surprising.
• I see women in Seattle with my haircut pretty regularly.  I'm now trained to spot them (kind of like tall guys).  Well, I've been here for 4 days and have not seen a single woman with my haircut nor anything close.  Big, blonde hair: check.  Pixies of any sort: *crickets chirping*  It's okay though, makes me feel even that much more chic!! :)

I'm off to Austin tomorrow with my lady friend Casey and am meeting my man friend Sean for dinner.  I'm really excited for a fun roadtrip and weekend!!