I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the proudest moment of my life was when my twin daughters were born. Hard to believe that was over 21 years ago.
My entire reason for coming to Dallas was so that I could visit with them. Seeing friends was the icing on the cake.
I’m floating on Cloud 10. Cloud 9 just doesn’t cover it for how good I feel right now. I left Dallas around 10am (after sleeping like the dead for 11 hours) and hit the road to my girls’ campus. Got in around noon to Ashley’s apartment, where I met her boyfriend, who was annoyingly way too nice not to like. Then we headed over to Alyson’s dorm – sorry, her residence hall. And from there, they took me around to a few of the buildings.
This was taken in their library, which looked far too comfortable for studying, if you ask me.
This stained glass window was in their chapel, a beautiful building. I’ve never seen Dr. Martin Luther King in stained glass before, but Alyson told me that the school spent $250,000 just on the stained glass windows.
This is the Great Hall, the dining area, which was actually modeled after the same school hall they used to film the Harry Potter movies. Much studying was being done in almost every location we went. It’s finals week.
This is one of Alyson’s art projects, which she showed me in her dorm room. I mean, RESIDENCE HALL ROOM.
We ate lunch at McAllister’s, a local deli. Yummy chicken sandwiches (with Cranberry Orange sauce).
From there we hit Common Grounds, the coolest damn coffeehouse I’ve ever stepped foot into. Their motto: Sleep is Overrated.
This mural on the wall of Common Grounds was fucking cool to the nth degree.
Like I said, extraordinarily badass place to hang. We could have stayed there the rest of the day, as far as I was concerned. Met a few of the girls’ friends, two of whom called me “sir.” Ugh. I know I’m old, you don’t have to rub it in so politely. Jerks.
Just a part of the Common Grounds back yard. The shade made a hot day very bearable.
That’s Alyson, me, and Ashley. Back off, Fab, I’ll cut you.
From there we wandered back to Alyson’s dorm room residence hall lobby and shot a few games of pool. Alyson kicked my ass all over the place. Then she kicked her sister’s ass. Then she kicked a friend’s ass. You’d think she has access to a free pool table or something.
Then we went over to Aly’s film editing lab. All my Mac whore friends will be ecstatic to learn that there are 30 or so Macs in there. I think Dave could die happy seeing this place.
Alyson showed me some of the films she’s done, and also lots of good videos from the Alive Campaign, which I’ll be talking more about in depth probably tomorrow.
Then we went back to Ashley’s place and hung out for a while, since we were really still full from lunch. Alyson claims this apartment complex is in the GH-ET-TO. Ashley claims her apartment complex is in the college student affordable range.
After a while, we went to Chili’s Too for dinner on the campus. There’s also a Starbucks attached to the same big room.
And Ashley proves she’s her father’s daughter.
We left Chili’s Too, I grabbed a large coffee at Starbucks (I refuse to call it Ventissimorama or whatever the fuck mutant monikers Starbucks uses for their various sizes), and we went back to Ashley’s place, where my rental car was parked. We spent the next half hour or so talking and laughing and reminiscing in the parking lot. I hugged and kissed them goodbye and took off for home.
Home being Plano, with my buddy Pat and his wife and way-too-energetic son.
I’m high on life. I love my girls so much and don’t see them nearly often enough. That’s going to change. I haven’t been this happy in a hell of a long time, though TequilaCon comes close…it really isn’t in the same realm, actually, but it’s up there.
Now I plan on answering email and Twatters and looking at a few blogs.
Thank you, God, for a simply glorious day that put me over the top.
And I did find out the girls read my blog. Uh oh. Tell me you just started reading yesterday, please.
And study your tails off, girls. Not that you could make me any prouder, mind you.
What a perfect day! Your daughters are just beautiful, your pride in them simply shone out of the page. You found your happy place, now just keep going back there ;o)
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i can’t believe how much they look like you. they look more like each other, of course.
they’re absolutely beautiful. it’s easy to see how happy you are, and easy to see why you’re so happy.
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Holy smokes! Your daughters are beautiful, and I can tell they LOVE their dad! Those smiles and big dimples made my night. It also made my night to read how happy you feel!
Are Alyson and Ashley identical twins? Some pictures they look so similar, then other they look quite different from each other.
I hope my girls grow up to enjoy each other like your girls seem to.
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HEY EVERYONE! Ixnay on the ubbleyoujaypeeday!
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*giggling* I kinda figured they might–it’s okay–my mom reads mine–she told one of my sisters….”sometimes she is naughty on there” LOL
Your daughters are gorgeous and I’m so glad you got to spend a beautiful day with them.
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Karl – Your post just oozes with Parental Pride!!
They are two very beautiful young women!
And of Course Ashley’s boyfriend is going to be “annoyingly way too nice”….You’re Big Daddy…he’s a very wise young man!
OK, what the hell is the difference between ‘Dorm’ and ‘Residence Hall’?? (Or is it just the Decade?)
~ZZ
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They are beautiful. You sound like a proud dad and I can bet they are as proud of their dad as you are of them
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You should be proud! And I’m sure they are just as proud of you, Sir. You look so happy in those pics. Nice to see such a radiant smile.
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Wow, man… you all, together, make a beautiful family. I can see how proud you are of them.
The switch from “dorm room” to “residence hall” came about relatively recently when schools realized that their job was less of a in loco parentis role and more of a landlord / academic support role. The image here is that one doesn’t just sleep in the dorm room, but resides in the residence hall. Ahh, labels! (Sorry; I was actually going to go to grad school for this stuff.)
Stay up there on Cloud 11…
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Mr. Karl, I would officially like to ask your permission to be the baby daddy for both your lovely daughters…
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Oh my God. Tell me you’re getting more than one day with them. Right??
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Yes, I’m drooling over that lab and you should be too! Hey, is that Fab hiding in the background of every photo your daughters are in?
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greeneyezz – No one is supposed to call them “dorms” anymore because dormitory implies it’s only a place to sleep. (And we all know college students don’t sleep.) Colleges and universities want you to know those buildings are where the students enjoy bright, active, happy lives. Thus “residence hall” is the preferred nomenclature.
Karl, your daughters are gorgeous! And they don’t look at all traumatized by seeing your naked pic or reading about you sleep-wanking.
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HAHAHAHAHA, as I was reading this, I was thinking, “Please dear God, tell me that they don’t know about this blog.”
Hilarious. Glad you had a wonderful time. I’m su they were thrilled to see you too (I always loved it whne my parents came to visit me at school, but particularly loved it the one time my dad came ALONE to see me).
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You have every right to be proud. They are beautiful and it sounds like you guys had a great day together.
Although I am sure I would be nervous to know my adult children read my blog too….
DO NOT EDIT YOU WRITING BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY READ THIS KARL!!
Afterall, it’s too late now, right? LOL
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You’re daughters are beautiful. I’m glad you had such a wonderful day with them.
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They read your blog? That’s awesome. I’m sure they already know that you’re hilarious and do even funnier things when you’re drunk. You should send them over to my blog so they can see the video of you!
That looks like an awesome day – they looked so happy to get to see you! It’s a bit weird to me that I’m just as close in age to them as I am to you.
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Is it bad that I am seriously infatuated with the dining hall???
Does the food magically appear or does it have to be carried???
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I’m so lame…I totally just teared up because I am so happy for you
. I know what kind of road led you to this and I am just so glad that you took it.
Of course, they are beautiful.
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my gosh, your girls are gorgeous!
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The girls read your blog?
heh.
um.
HI GIRLS!
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This post made me all teary. My daughter is 12, and that happened in a blink, so she’ll be 21 before I know it. Your daughters are beautiful as well as clearly of superior intelligence
(I put that in there since you said they are reading the blog).
Your pride and happiness are contagious through this post…great way to start my morning.
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My favorite pic is the one of you and the girls with big smiles on your faces. It’s a good thing they weren’t dressed alike, I was having a hard time telling them apart.
So glad you had such a great day with (obviously) the loves of your life.
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Karl, you sure do make good people!
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Those are some seriously beautiful young women Karl. I’d tell you you’re lucky but I know you already know that. I know how you feel though, cept for the part about not seeing them all the time. I don’t know what I would do if Motley lived far away. Prolly cry a lot.
Don’t worry about them reading your blog. Motley reads mine. I think it gives her a fresh appreciation for my great brain. And it helps to show her how idiotic we can all be sometimes, so hopefully she learns from that. She reads your blog too. (Take out the trash, Motley!)
I’m so happy for you that you had such a great time!
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You have beautiful daughters, Karl… er, sir.
(And we are of like minds when it comes to ordering coffee from Starbucks. I simply say, “I want the biggest regular (or decaf) you have.”)
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Your daughters are just beautiful, Karl. You looked so happy to be with them, you must be flying high right now.
Oh yeah….hi girls!
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Your daughters are beautiful! I am glad you are having a good time in Texas.
I think one of the hardest parts of blogging sometimes is that my mom reads my blog.
I would say that Starbucks names their coffee the Italian way, but that doesn’t explain the sizes short and tall. Also, you could easily say, “We don’t live in Italy” and I can’t argue with that.
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They are beautiful girls Karl. You should be very proud of them. So talented too!
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Your girls are beautiful, Karl! (Hi girls, yes you’re beautiful but it’s good to be smart and kind too…
) I arrived in the middle of this movie, so I have to ask: Are they twins?
So they read the blog, huh? Gee, it’s a good thing you haven’t written anything embarrassing here.
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Your daughters are beautiful! No wonder you gush with pride. I hope your time with them is a blast.
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Penelope – My happy place would involve moving back to Texas. Just no doable right now.
Supertiff – Thanks!
LVGurl – No, they’re not identical.
Othurme – far too early in the morning for whatever the hell that was. And I haven’t even had coffee yet.
Turnbaby – Yeah, really not surprising. I list the URL on Facebook.
Greeneyezz – Shiny explains it better in the comments here. It’s more a residence than a dorm, according to universities.
Libragirl – It’d be nice to think so.
Bubblewench – thank you.
Shiny – Thanks for the explanation. Yes, it’s strongly discouraged for them to say “dorms” any more. They can call it whatever they want…I still call them dorms.
Mr. Fab – You don’t even have permission to enter Texas as long as they reside here. In fact, I slapped WARNING posters with your mug shot all over the campus.
Miss Britt – No, I don’t think so. They’ve got finals to study for so I didn’t want to take up their entire weekend.
Kapgar – very nice computer setup they’ve got. And I’ll have to check the photos again. Fab has a restraining order, so he shouldn’t be within 1,000 miles of them at any given time.
Stacey – Thanks. God, I hope they didn’t see that shot!
Jessica – Thank you. Yeah, they read it. Not sure if they follow it every day or not.
Cissa – Oh, I won’t change my writing at all. They’re big girls now and can change the channel if they want to.
Jen – thanks!
Avitable – I think they’d be emotionally scarred at your site. Heh. And yeah, that is weird. I keep forgetting you’re such a youngin’.
NYCWD – Well, I didn’t see anyone carrying their food, so I’m guessing it’s all done via magic.
Hilly – Thanks, babe. Yeah, long road.
Kat – Thank you!
Poppy – yep.
Sarah – Yeah, I got a little teary-eyed, too, rereading this. Thank you.
Delmer – Why, thank you, sir. (Bastard.) And I don’t do decaf. What’s the point?
Stephanie – thanks very much.
Lynda – Yeah, my mom reads my blog, too. I freaked out a litte at first but I decided I’m not changing my writing style.
BBM – yep, I’m a proud poppa.
Finn – Yes, I mentioned in the first paragraph that they’re twins. I wonder who skipped right down to the photos, hmmm?
Mindy – Thanks, it was marvelous.
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Good looking family, Karl. My dad told me one time that all parents love their kids, but that he felt really lucky to genuinely like his kids, too. While it’s clear that you love your daughters, it’s crystal clear that you also really like your kids, and that they like you, too.
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Hell. Not only would Dave2 die happy, I would be happy. All Macs and part of a film production studio… damn!
Your daughters are cool. So cool they love their dad.
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Oh and they look nothing like you (THANK GOD!)
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Beautiful girls. Sounds like you all had a good time. 30 iMacs, drool.
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Steve – you’re not kidding. They’re the spitting image of their mom.
Martymankings – Yeah, it’s a really cool setup.
G-man – Had a blast, thank you.
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Wow they’re pretty.
If it makes you feel any better, the kid who got my coffee for me this morning called me ma’am like three times.
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Wow, your girls are beautiful! (I feel weird calling them “girls” since I’m only 5 years older than them!)
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Awww, they’re pretty!! =D
Wait, did my mom say she’d cry if I lived far away? o: That’s news to me, she’s always threatening to gimme the boot. Heh.
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OMG, Karl! I would be freaking out if I were you, knowing they read your blog. LOL Just kidding. I’m sure they were totally cool with what they read or they wouldn’t have said anything to you about reading it. Or did they say, “Dad stop with the sex talk on the blog please!”
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Oh, I forgot to say again, your daughters are beautiful. And, good idea keeping them away from Fab.
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sorry…that was “nix on the WPJ” in pig latin. (or some mock version of it)
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Catching up and I just love this post. Your daughters are beautiful and I’m so glad you got to spend some quality time with them.
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Ya done good Karl… your daughters are awesome.
How about we not mention any past posts regarding cologne endorsements? (*ahem phallus*) That could be embarrassing.
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Your daughters are so beautiful. I see they get their gorgeousness from their daddy!
I’ve been to a Common Grounds in Saratoga, NY. LOVE that place. I could have hung there all day.
When ya coming back to the FLA?
Shash
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Glad to hear you had a nice visit with your daughters. They are both beautiful and I can see why you would be proud. Hope you have great rest of the week.
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Amanda – that sucks, ma’am.
Barnmouse – Think about how I felt when I mistakenly went out with a 25-year-old a couple of years ago.
Motley – thanks!
Shelli – they didn’t tell me what they’ve read or how long they’ve been reading it. Just like I did when I discovered my mother reads my blog, I purposefully don’t think about it. Otherwise, my writing would totally be different.
Othurme – Ohhhh. I was trying to figure out what the heck that was, and I speak Pig Latin, too.
Foo – thanks…yeah, I’m still riding high from my visit.
Jeff – Good to know you’ve got my back, G.
Shash – I fly back early Thursday morning. Then maybe I can start catching up on blogs.
Patty – thanks very much. I plan to rock it for the next few days before I go home to recover.
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I think it’s awesome going around with my kids (both all grown up now) and checking out their lives and friends….
Thank God they haven’t been calling me Ma’am…
I think the kids warn the friends before they meet me that I’m “Diva”, not “Ma’am”.
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Catscratch Diva – Well, it’s good that you’ve layed down the law.
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