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    <channel>
        <title>Day after day</title>
        <description></description>
        <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1007&amp;module_name=sblog_info&amp;sblog_id=</link>
        <lastBuildDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:56:33 +0100</lastBuildDate>
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        <pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:56:00 +0100</pubDate>
        <item>
            <title>Bonfire collapse united rivals</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=17716</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Ten years ago, the Texas A&amp;M Bonfire collapsed. I
mourned then, and I remember that terrible tragedy now.It seems like it hasn’t been that long, but indeed 1999 was
a decade ago. I was a junior at The University of Texas.  Like most Longhorns, I was looking
forward to the annual Hex Rally leading up to the rivals’ Thanksgiving game.
But when the stack collapsed at College Station, a silly tradition was the last
thing on my mind. 











Instead of gearing up for the big game, both universities
mourned the 12 students killed and dozens injured. Instead of a Hex Rally,
about 10,000 UT and Texas A&amp;M students came together for a Unity Gathering
in front of UT’s Main Building tower. Instead of holding red candles, we lit
white ones and mourned together. It was a touching tribute — one that I’ll never forget. Following
is an excerpt from the Texas Alcalde, the Texas Exes magazine. Cora Bullock captured
the details much better than I ever could:


At the gathering, a succession
of dignitaries consoled the crowd: President Larry Faulkner, Chairman Don Evans
of the UT Board of Regents, Lt. Governor Rick Perry, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison,
Coach Mack Brown, A&amp;M Student Government president Will Hurd, and Milam
Newby. The unsettlingly silent crowd neither clapped after any speaker nor
uttered a word. The only sound was the wind whipping the flags at half-mast. 



After the speeches, carilloneur
Tom Anderson played “The Spirit of Aggieland,” chimed the Tower’s bells 12
times, and then finished with “The Eyes of Texas.” A bugler played “Taps” while
Aggie and Longhorn students and alumni spread the glow of the candles across
the plaza and down the South Mall. 



No one read concluding remarks,
signifying that people could stay as long as they needed to. People gently sang
the school songs and “Amazing Grace” again and again. A&amp;M corps members
helped alongside APO members to lower the massive flag, which threatened to rip
out of their fingers in the fierce wind. 



The crowd slowly dissipated, but
many lingered around small, impromptu shrines. Two Aggie corps members stood
over two Bonfire work helmets set on the ground, around which people had placed
candles. One member, overwhelmed by grief, walked away from the crowd to
compose himself. 



In the end, Aggies gathered in a
large circle and softly chanted a spirit yell. Then came a loud, friendly voice
from the crowd: “Gig ’em, Horns!” He broke the tension, brought some laughter,
and a brief reprieve from the numbing sorrow. It gave voice to what the
Longhorns and Aggies were feeling toward one another, the rivalry a distant
thought as UT did what it could to help A&amp;M through its pain. 



The ceremony was the culmination
of a remarkable week in the history of both schools, a week in which archrivals
discovered a bond that they themselves may not have believed existed. Something
had changed. “We can’t ever go back to where we were five days ago,” Newby said.
 <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=17716'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:16:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Twenty-twelve</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=17513</link>
            <description><![CDATA[That’s how you say &quot;2012.&quot; Not &quot;two-thousand-twelve.&quot; Think
about it: How do you say the year 1912? Go ahead. Say it out loud. Exactly. 



So, I recommend everyone make it their New Year’s resolution
to say &quot;twenty-ten&quot; when referring to the year 2010. The sooner, the better. 



Sorry for the rant, but I edit words for a living and I hear
a lot of people talking about the movie 2012.
Thanks for reading! And, for your patience, here’s Matt Mungle’s
excellent review of 2012.

 <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=17513'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:56:00 +0100</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Spotlight Sunday at AT&amp;T Dallas Performing Arts Center</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=17164</link>
            <description><![CDATA[It's a dream come true for patrons of arts. i'm so proud of Dallas for investing in the Arts District.• For anyone who didn't make it out to the grand opening, check out the photos I snapped. • Joy Tipping's article in Monday's The Dallas Morning News: AT&amp;T Performing Arts Center's Wyly Theatre and Winspear
Opera House impress crowds at free downtown Dallas fest.• Curtain rises on Dallas arts center: Just about everything you need to know about the PAC. <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=17164'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>They want to ride their bicycles ...</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=16956</link>
            <description><![CDATA[If you worked in downtown Dallas yesterday, you may have
noticed a strange sight. Bikes. Lots of them.



The mass of non-motorized transportation was part of Bike Friendly Oak Cliff’s nine days of bike awareness
(Cyclesomatic bicycle festival; great name, eh?). The group’s goal yesterday
was raising awareness for their causes — creating a bike-friendly city and
advocating cleaner healthier lifestyles that benefit cyclists and the community
as a whole. Read Dallas Morning News reporter Roy Appleton’s story about yesterday's bike gathering. And watch Ron Baselice's video. 



What’s really strange
about yesterday’s crowd of bicyclists is that seeing bikes around here is strange. In most major U.S. cities
(Portland, New York, Chicago, Austin, Boston, Seattle, Milwaukee …) many
commuters opt for pedal power for myriad reasons. Of course, a good
infrastructure for cycling, which all those cities have, certainly helps. And
Dallas is notorious for lacking that system of roads and paths. In fact,
according to Bicycling Magazine,
“we’re” the worst in the country. I’m not gonna deny that I was embarrassed when that article came out. The truth
hurts.



Even with the bad rating, I know there are cyclo-commuters
out there. I applaud y’all. Heck, I’m envious. I miss biking to work. When I
lived in Rockford, Ill., my 2.5-mile ride into the office was the highlight of
my day. It started the day just right. And the return ride home was a nice way
to unwind from a stressful day. 



So do any of y’all bike to work or around town for certain
errands? Why do you opt for a bike? Are there cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth
area that are bike friendly? I want to hear your story, and I’m sure others
would, too. Comment below, send me a message on the site or  send me an e-mail. And, most of all, keep on riding …

 <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=16956'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:44:00 +0100</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>When words fail me</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=16883</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Admitting that I’m having a hard time putting sentences
together is difficult. 



Writing and editing is my livelihood. It’s among the things
I think I do best. Yet here I am with plenty of things I would like to say/write/share,
but I can’t find the right words to express the hope, joy, gratitude,
inspiration and love I feel, see and share in my life, at work, from family and
friends. I guess the good news is … well, it’s all good news. I think
my upcoming week off from neighborsgo-ing
(unplugging, logging off and rebooting, so to speak) will help. I generally
return refreshed from days away from work. So, what do you do, faithful neighborsgo contributors, when words fail you? Does it happen
often? Is a vacation all that it takes to recharge?

 <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=16883'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:44:00 +0100</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=16832</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Um-diddle-diddle-um-diddleye Um-diddle-diddle-um-diddl … I
saw Mary Poppins the musical last
night and loved it.



The two original Broadway leads —
Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee — were excellent as Mary and Bert. Brown’s
accent sounded just like Julie Andrews. Lee’s dancing was better than Dick Van
Dyke’s, which I attribute to the remarkable stage choreography. 



I’m no Broadway musical aficionado, so check colleague Lawson
Taitte’s review for a more professional opinion. 



My final thoughts: The show’s songs are just as good as any
fan would hope (“Step In Time” is the showstopper) and there are plenty of
surprises that will delight all ages. Reconsider taking children to the 8 p.m.
performances. A 170-minute run time will test most kiddoes’ patience (and the
patience of neighboring patrons). 



 <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=16832'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:59:00 +0100</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Try a tweetup</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=16515</link>
            <description><![CDATA[It’s a Twitter thing, y’all. And it’s totally fun.

I went to the first Flower Mound Tweetup and met some good
folks (neighborsgo contributors and BurbMom.net’s Holly, Shauna, Allie, LaShawn
and Jamie were there).You may remember Lewisville/Flower Mound editor Ruth Haesemeyer's story about that first tweetup.



The third FMTU begins at 6 tonight at Wings, Pizza &amp; Things.
Get the details over here. The FMTU is sponsored by the Flower Mound Best Buy, so there might be another “twaffle”
(Twitter raffle for fab prizes).





Allen is also getting into the tweetup game. The first one
is gonna be a goodie. It will be from 6 to 9 p.m. this Thursday at Scotty P’s.
Get the details here. Extra incentive: The Allen Americans, the area’s newest minor
league hockey team, will hold a drawing for tickets. The catch: Show up to the
ATU and retweet the following message on Twitter — RT @allenamericans: Drawing for tix to fan who RT Americans Full, Half,
Mini Plans ON SALE &amp; attends #AllenTweetup. Pretty simple, eh?



So go to the tweetups, take some pics and share them on
neighborsgo.com. 


 <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=16515'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:07:00 +0100</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Tour de Garland!</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=16480</link>
            <description><![CDATA[ In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mathew
Broderick says plenty of memorable lines. My favorite — “Life moves pretty
fast. If you don't stop and look around once and a while, you could miss it.” 

Therein
lies the problem with living a 65-mph life — passing entire cities filled with
various communities and their landmarks and missing so much. That’s
why I enjoy riding a bike. There’s no better way to get somewhere and soak up
your surroundings. 

I’ve been fortunate to explore several cities and towns
across the country on two wheels. I’ve had my fair share of flats while
spinning around the desert landscapes of Arizona and West Texas. I’ve shivered
while wearing extra layers on my morning commute along the Rock River in
Rockford, Ill. I’ve cruised around Crawford hoping to run into the then-POTUS
(no luck). All of these rides — the route, the sites, the smells (good and bad)
and points in between A and B — are etched in my mind 



Two
weekends ago I added a new but familiar route. Inspired by Lance Armstrong’s
“Tour de Plano,” I set out on a “Tour de Garland.” Why
Garland? It’s simple — like Lance, I chose my hometown. I wanted to revisit
some places I loved growing up, see how the landscape has changed and take
advantage of scarce traffic and wide roads through central and south Garland
(though I recommend non-seasoned cyclists not attempt my path). Unlike Lance, I
didn’t tweet while cycling. But I kept mental notes, took some pictures and
wrote 140 characters (or less) for each. I hope you enjoy the Tour de Garland
and I hope you plan on going to Sept. 12’s Tour de neighborsgo! 

 

The
route: Garland Road is a great, straight shot from White Rock. It’s rough in
spots but barren at 7 a.m. on Sundays.  

 



Hypermart:
Opened in ’87, Wal-Mart’s 1st foray into Supercenters; it was massive (twice
the size of SCs); made me insane, not hyper.  

 

Sign o’
the times: Such a classic sign. This ranks up there with the Sigel’s sign. 



 

Unfortunately
the aforementioned sign’s purpose is lost. I bought a lot of funky clothes at this thrifter. 



Larry
Morgan’s store was Speirs Music Co. when I first started playing 17 years ago.
I bought four basses there, and I still own three of them. 

 

Zoo
Music: Next door to the closed Larry Morgan’s. Not as huge or chaotic as its Dallas location. 

 

Garland
High School: I didn’t go there, but I think it’s the coolest looking high
school in GISD. I’m a sucker for Spanish tile! 



Downtown:
It’s more vibrant these days. I have mixed emotions on mixed-used dvlpmnts
cropping up in G-town. I scraped much skin skating here. The
Corner Pocket: Sammiches, baked potatoes and custard galore … and a pretty cool
mural (below). Hubbard’s
Cupboard: A Garland original well known for its mile-high pie and wait staff. 

 









Plaza
Theatre: Retro-futuro landmark that is getting decent use these days. I always
hoped it’d show art films.

 

Roach
Feed &amp; Seed: I’ve never gone in, but I can tell you that Roach is a family
name so you’ll have to find insect food elsewhere.

 

Love
Blooms: Was THE place to get all those flower needs for homecoming &amp; other
dances. 

 

Axe
Memorial UMC: Lots of good memories of youth group, lock-ins, and playing VBS
&amp; assorted shows with The SGA at the ol’ Sombrero. 

   

Mystery
Machine: Scooby Doo is still my all-time fave cartoon. I would cherish owning
this van I saw parked behind a home on Colonel Drive. 

   

South
Garland High School West Gymnasium: Tornado ripped the first west gym; I saw
some epic hoops teams play here. 

 

The
Forest at Duck Creek Apartments: Legend has it this statue was made to honor a
young skateboarder who died in an accident.

 

LOOKING
FOR A GROUP





The
Dallas-Fort Worth area is loaded with cycling groups and clubs. There’s a good
chance that there’s at least one in your community. These clubs not only
introduce cyclists to each other, they are an excellent resource for learning
about local trails and roads that are most bike-friendly. Most groups
have a variety of scheduled rides with experience levels ranging from beginner
to advanced/expert. There are membership fees for each club; however, the
groups generally are open to prospective club members taking a few spins before
they shell out the dues.  Following
are a few of the several groups in the area. Take a look and see if any are up
your alley. 

·
Carrollton Cycling Club: This is a fairly laid-back group of cyclists. It’s Web
site mentions that it’s not a racers group, though they’re welcome to come
along for the social rides. carrolltoncycling.com

· Farmers
Branch Cycling Club: This group is perfect for cyclists who are just getting
used to road riding. In addition to group rides, it organizes classes
specifically for newbies who need a bit of assistance in getting up to “club”
speed. farmersbranchcycling.com

· Texas
Flyers: Most of the group’s rides are in Lewisville, Flower Mound and Southern
Denton County. I highly recommend the Saturday social ride. texasflyers.org

· Greater
Dallas Bicyclists: If it’s not the largest group in the region it’s close. Tons
of rides, tons of people, tons of fun. greaterdallasbicyclists.com

· Plano
Bike Association: Another sizeable group that has an impressive number of
Saturday/Sunday ride options for weekend warriors. planobicycle.org

· Frisco
Cycling Club: This group is focused on its community and all aspects of cycling
— from track racing to commuting, road riding to mountain biking. … Sharing passion
for cycling and knowledge is what this group’s all about. friscocycling.com

 <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=16480'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:20:00 +0100</pubDate>
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            <title>Come out to Castle Hills for ‘wheelie’ fun time</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=16400</link>
            <description><![CDATA[It’s September. That means only one thing: some big-time
sporting action is happening right now.

I know what you’re thinking; but no, I’m not talking about
high school cross country running, volleyball and football. Nor am I talking
about professional football or Major League Baseball’s pennant race. I’m talking
about the exciting world of cycling!

I’m sure most of you caught the thrilling first handful of
stages of the Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain, among the classic races in pro
cycling). What’s that you say? You’re NOT following the Vuelta! Hmm. … I guess I
get it. No Lance Armstrong, no interest, right? That makes sense; you don’t
have a local “horse” in an international race in Spain, so it’s not on your
radar. And you are, in fact, more interested in the other sports mentioned
earlier. That’s fair.

While followers of professional cycling are way outnumbered
by those who watch high school sports, I would venture to guess that at least
one-third of area residents have at least one bike in their homes. Maybe those
bikes lately have spent more time in garages than on the road. All it takes is
a little motivation, some nice weather and maybe a few pumps to re-inflate the
tires and set you on your merry, carefree cycling way. More on how to get back
on your bikes later.You don’t have to be able to ride fast or do a bunch of
tricks. All you need is a desire to enjoy a truly timeless and ageless pursuit.
For experienced riders, there’s a good deal of nostalgia involved with riding a
bike. As children, our first two-wheelers represent freedom and expanded
boundaries. As an adolescent, that shiny, new bike and plenty of pavement drastically
expand your world from just your neighborhood to blocks upon blocks of neighborhoods.
And even as an adult, there’s no better way to explore your community than at a
leisurely pace on a bike. Give it a try; you’ll see things differently than
when you’re zipping past in a car.

A perfect mix



Personally, there are three things I consistently tell
people I am passionate about: journalism, cycling and music. These are the
things that best define who I am and never cease to bring me joy. So imagine my
delight when neighborsgo agreed to put on a bike ride and concert in Castle Hills!

Everyone is welcome to join the free, family friendly main
event, an approximately 1-½-mile bike ride and one-block tyke ride, from 9 a.m.
to noon Sept. 12 at the Castle Hills Village Shops, 2450 King Arthur Blvd.,
Lewisville.In addition to the fun time riding bikes, there will be face
painting, prize raffles and crafts. And quite a few neighborsgo friends also
will be there: 

• Baylor Medical Center Carrollton will offer free health
screenings. 

• Bundles Gourmet will have free refreshments.

• Hard-kicking martial artists with Taekwondo America will
put on a display of their skills. 

• Dancers from Carrollton-based Diane Cole Johnson School of
Dance will show off their graceful moves. 

• And closing the big event will be “five women over 40” who
can really rock — Merry and the Mood Swings! 

Whether on two, three or training wheels, we hope you come
out to Tour de neighborsgo in Castle Hills Saturday. 



Robert Tracy is assistant managing editor of design for
neighborsgo. Contact him at rtracy@neighborsgo.com
or at neighborsgo.com/robert_tracy.



TOUR DE NEIGHBORSGO

What: Community bike ride, family activities, performances
and rock concert

When, where: 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday Sept. 12 at the Castle
Hills Village Shops, 2450 King Arthur Blvd., Lewisville. 

For more information, e-mail community@neighborsgo.com.
Check out Sept. 11’s edition for a feature on cycling and final details about
Tour de neighborsgo.

 

 


 <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=16400'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:09:00 +0100</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Going waaaaay back to G-Town</title>
            <link>http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&amp;site_page_id=301&amp;sblog_id=515&amp;post_id=16058</link>
            <description><![CDATA[As the final weeks of summer approach, I’m flashing back and
getting all kinds of nostalgic. I’ve caught myself thinking about those school-age years
when summer was a time to really stretch my legs and be in my community. During
those formative years, my community was South Garland — La Prada and Northwest Highway,
right where Mesquite, Dallas and G-Town meet. The blocks, people
and places are as vivid now as they were then. In fact, maybe even more so
because I — gasp — kinda miss ’em.So, without further ado (save a hat tip to Andie Smith for
writing her awesome and inspirational post), the following are my memories of
growing up a Garlandite (roughly 1980-99, neither in chronological nor logical
order). I hope you catch yourself nodding in agreement (leave comments, pretty
please).

  <a href='http://neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&sblog_id=515&post_id=16058'>(more)</a>]]></description>
            <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:34:00 +0100</pubDate>
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