And Then It Was On To Fort Worth, TX!!! I Cannot Wait To Share!!!

Mack Back...

How is everyone!? Now I am a few days removed from this latest chapter of my road trip so bear with me but be ready for some zingers... ok, ok, probably just light chuckles and most likely they will be directed toward me!!!

I headed out of Dallas for the shortest of my road trip car explorations for about an hour or so up to Fort Worth, TX where I met up with another Absolutely Amazing Brother named Allison!

When I got there I will admit I was a bit under the weather despite the sun ablaze in the sky due to learning all about what it is like to be a "SOCIALITE" in Dallas with April! I would shortly recover after arriving though thanks to a "5 Dollar Foot Long" at Subway and a two and a half hour "Power Nap!!!"

Afterward we drove around and toured some of the major down town areas including a few local suburbs of Dallas/Ft. Worth, where I took in the new Cowboy's Stadium and "Jerry Jone's Palace" if you will! It truly is remarkable looking from the outside! And it apparently still has a removable roof so that they can open the roof up on Sundays and have the GOD's watch their favorite team the Cowboys!? Whatever!!! ;)

We also got a chance to see the local HUMONGOUS water park as well as 6 Flags although they were closed till later in the summer! I don't think my stomach in its present state could have afforded some of those Coasters any how!!! The Texas Rangers stadium is beautiful too and I greatly enjoyed touring around that as well! Even drove on NOLAN RYAN Ave.!!! I loved that guy!!!

After some more driving around (and snapping pics) we went to the best Mexican restaurant in the world... Joe T. Garcia's!!! The place was massive with outdoor and indoor seating for what seamed like hundreds and then some!!! We settled down to family style Fajitas, which happen to be my favorite! And some fantastic margaritas that still leave me wanting more! (Unofficial Alcoholic Drink Of The Mack's '09 Mack'n The Nation Tour... MARGARITAS!!!" Yes Sir!

After dinner we went to see the Stockyards which are where they used to bring cattle from miles around to be bought and sold and traded like stocks! They even had a building dedicated to the trading! Hmm... Stocks vs. Cattle!? Interesting! There was a Rodeo there that evening so we decided to partake in some local festivities and though I had been to a few rodeo's in the past, this one was rather enjoyable with living singing, kid games (for me of course!) and everything else you could imagine in a "Ring O' Dirt!" We even had the chance to knock a few more items off my Bucket List if you will! I had seen that another brother of ours had come and visited and got to ride a Steer while attending the stockyards so I was most anxious to do the same! I was lucky in the end as this Steer was rather "ROTUND" or "ROBUST" if you prefer rather and he had to hoist my muscular, athletic frame onto the "BEAST!" Allison was there to capture it all on Camera and I must say that not only was my Steer BIGGER Angela, but I rode him BAREBACK!!! So in the most childish of ways... Nah, Nah, Nah-Nah-Nah!!! I Win and paid for it later! Bare Back CAN be PAINFUL!!! ;) Besides the Live Steer, I also finally climbed on a Mechanical Bull and rode that as well! I have pictures to prove it but unfortunately it appears the video that Allison took of the Hilarity did not make it and will be lost forever in the ethers!!! Sorry Folks! Guess I'm gonna have to do that one again! After a killer evening of Food, Friends, And Fun! We retired to bed with visions of NASCAR dancing in our heads!!!

The next day we arose with a clatter and it wasn't us but Allison's 4 Pugs that was the matter! I loved them as they were all super friendly! Almost TOO MUCH! After much tongue lashing and that wasn't even on my part but theirs, we set off for the Texas Motor Speedway where it seemed like everyone else in the state of Texas was headed! Upon arriving I couldn't help but notice the Fanfare and Passion that went on between the Fans and their favorite Driver's! There were flags everywhere with various names and numbers and colleges and even some "Confederate" one's! Wasn't quite sure what to think about this one and in order to avoid any future death threats, I will move on! Still a sight of all sights to be seen though!

The race itself was more then I could have asked for! Allison got us killer seats that would have equated to 50 yard line in Football! We could see everything and to assist us in the experience, we also rented headsets so we could hear everything that was going on in the race and even the chatter between drivers/pit crews/spotters/etc!!! It was AWESOME! I watched as my new favorite driver, #6 David Ragan eventually took 4th in a great race! Many of you know I love the #6, what most of you don't is that it isn't simply because I was born on March 6th! There is something very magical, powerful if you will about that # to me and I deeply love and appreciate it!

While at the race we did a little bit of everything! I took photos in a Nascar! Sweetness! I ate lots of great food, though not as great for you! I drank beer in an open container in the parking lot and inside! You can actually bring your own coolers in with beverages! Best idea ever! Nascar does it right! LISTEN UP NCAA FOOTBALL! We need BEER in games!!! ;) After tons of sun-soaked hours of revving engines and lots of burning rubber stuck in our noses, we headed out to another great local establishment the Arlington State House where apparently they've had the Best Chicken Fried Steaks since the Beginning of Time Itself!!! Great home cooking, awesome red meat! Fat and Happy I was once again!!! After a few more sunset photos we retired to Allison's beautiful home and her 4 VERY hungry Pugs and watched some NCAA madness before hitting the sack!

I would leave the next day but not before making some very memorable and unforgettable connections with a brother I never met before but one that I hope to cherish till its my time to leave this place! Thank you for everything! I hope to be back again, who knows maybe I'll find a job there!? I wouldn't mind that! I miss you already! ;)

MACK OUT!!!