a to z challenge – Page 13 – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

O – Dallas Observer

Published on April 16, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle4 Comments

My second trip to New York, I was 17 years old and pushing the limits of my parents patience with my quest for independence. They humored me by taking me on a college tour even though they had no intentions of allowing me to attend university there. I was roaming the streets and shops of The Village and picked up a copy of the Village Voice. I devoured the quirky and eclectic stories and features. Little did I know, we had our own version in Dallas called the Dallas Observer. Even today, I read it every week either in print or the online version.

Let me share a few of the stories from a recent issues:

The Bizarre Life and Troubling Death of DarkSide, the Dallas Rave Church That Never Was
100 People We’d Want to Party with in Dallas – sadly, I did not make the list. Maybe next year.
DISD Trustees Are Ready to Fight for Principals – Dallas school district has alway had issues.
Six Activists Are Suing Dallas in Federal Courts, Claiming They’re Being Illegally Barred from Protesting George W. Bush Center Dedication

Did I mention it was free? Does your town have a paper that features the not so normal side of the news?

M – Movies Set in Dallas

Published on April 15, 2013April 14, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle6 Comments

I wanted to dedicate this post to my my A to Z Leader Nicole at The MadLab Post and one of my favorite bloggers and an A to Z host Alex Cavanaugh at Alex Cavanaugh.com. The two of them are great examples of how to blog about movies.

I also want to list others who have movie related themes or post for A to Z:

S.L. Hennessy at Pensuasion

Nicole Pyles at World of My Imagination: Best Crying Scenes in a Movie

Lynda R. Young at W.I.P. It

Arlee at Tossing It Out

Tasha at Tasha’s Thinkings

I don’t remember when I feel in love with movies. I have been a movie fan all my life. Movies have always been and will always be my favorite escape, figuratively and literally. Hint to family and friends, if you can’t find me, if I don’t answer my phone, if I am MIA for a while, most likely, I’ve snuck off to the movies.

While I don’t see movies multiple times in the theater like I did when I was younger (Titanic, Speed and The Matrix – 6 times each in the theater), I can still watch my favorite movies over and over again.

Top 10 Films set in Dallas:

JFK
Born on the Fourth of July
Armageddon
No Country for Old Men
Any Given Sunday
Office Space
Tree of Life
Friday Night Lights
Batman & Robin
Love Field

If you know of any other blogs using movie themes, let me know in the comments. Any movies filmed or set in your hometown?

L – Love in Dallas

Published on April 12, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

a-to-z-letters-l I love parks. I think they are romantic. One of my favorites is Celestial Park in Addison.

Maybe it’s the steps with poem verses written on them or the sun dial at the top (I love the sun), but the place inspires my creativity. I not only love the park, I fell in love in this park.

“Where are we going?”

We’d been driving around for 20 minutes. The radio is load and I have to yell for him to hear me, but he doesn’t answer. He squeezes my leg, tries not to smile and continues to focus on the road.

He slows down and turns into a neighborhood. We don’t know anyone in this neighborhood. I know everyone he knows.

As I am about to yell again, he pulls in next to the curb and turns off the ignition.

“Where here.”

“Where?”

“Come on, I’ll show you.”

From where we parked, I see a trail covered with trees. I can’t see where it leads, but through the trees I sees an open area elevated from the street.

He takes my hand and leads me to the trail. I can feel the gravel through the soles of my sandals. The air is filled with the smell of lavender and a hint of magnolias.

I notice he is still grinning. I can’t imagine what I am in for, but I can feel the excitement through his fingers as they grip my hand tighter.

The trail takes a hard left turn up ahead. Before we reached the turn, he stops.

“You have to close your eyes.”

“What?”

“Trust me,” he smiles at me, squeezes my hand and I close my eyes, trusting him completely.

He lets go of my hand, but in seconds, I felt him standing behind me. He places his hand on the back of my arms and guides me forward.

We take a few steps and then he turns me to the right and wraps his arms around me. He whispers in my eye, “Open your eyes.” and this is what I see.

“Welcome to Celestial Park.”

This is where I fell in love.

Unfortunately it didn’t last, I was 15, but still special. Can you pin point the time and place you first fell in love?

J – John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Published on April 11, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

I couldn’t complete my tour of Dallas without mentioning the JFK Assassination. 50 years ago on a day much like the day I took the photos, JFK was assassinated while riding through downtown Dallas in a motorcade. Despite all the conspiracies surrounding this episode in US history and while I was not alive when it happened, I image the feeling on that morning was similar to other tragic mornings such as the Challenger explosion, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina. All these episodes tested the human spirit, but it says more about us as when you look at how we respond to such tragedies.

“Captain, I’ve been researching them for several weeks now and I am a bit confused.” He needed more direction. These findings couldn’t be right. He suspected the assignment was meant to broaden his mind and make him understand something, but even after all his research he was still confused. What lessons was he supposed to learn from the seemingly primitive society?

“Lieutenant, what seems to be your issue?” Captain wasn’t surprised by my confusion.

“Time and time again, in their history, every positive and productive episode would be cut short by a moment of tragedy. Is this meant to test their spirit?”

“Well, how do they respond?”

“They endure.” But, endure didn’t quite explain it, “Not just endure, they are are continually hopeful. How could that be?

“Son,” Captain said. “What’s the alternative?”

Then it hit him. While it may be easier to give up and give in, it takes a stronger spirit to endure. That truly was the human spirit.

Captain smiled seeing the recognition on the young man’s face, “We can learn much from them, don’t you think?”

Lieutenant smiled and nodded. “Yes Sir, we can.”

School Book Depository - 6th floor museum — School Book Depository – 6th floor museum

What times in history best define the human spirit in your eyes?

I – Interstates in Dallas

Published on April 10, 2013April 9, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle14 Comments

I have never notice this in any other place I’ve lived, you tell me if it’s common, but each interstate in Dallas has more then one name. So, let me give you some directions.

Ok, take 121 west to 114 south. 114 south will take you to Loop 12. Get on Loop 12 south to 30 east. 30 east will take you to 75 north. 75 north to 635 west. 635 west to Dallas North Tollway north and Dallas North Tollway north to 121.

Or, you can take Sam Rayburn Tollway south to John Carpenter Freeway south to Northwest Highway. Get on Northwest Highway south to Tom Landry Highway east. Tom Landry Highway east will take you to Central Express North. Central Expressway North to Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway West. Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway to Dallas Parkway North and Dallas Parkway to Sam Rayburn Tollway.

Let’s try this again . . .

I prefer to take 121 north to Dallas North Tollway south to Spur 366 east to 75 north to 190 east to 121.

Or, Sam Rayburn Tollway north to Dallas Parkway south to Woodall Rodgers Highway east to North Central Expressway north to George Bush Turnpike to Sam Rayburn Tollway.

Or we can just stay home.

Before you attempt to navigate the roads in Dallas, make sure you know where your going or get a really good GPS system. How are the roads in your part of the world?