Mrs. Baird's bread factory is no more.

Drove by the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Central Expressway this morning. I knew they were deconstructing the old Mrs. Baird's Factory but I didn't realized it had progressed to so far so fast. It felt like just the other day that I read an article that some copper was stolen from the sight. The price you get for copper must be well worth it to steal from such a busy intersection. Of course, it could be easily taken if you are a sneaky enough thieving bastard! Anyway, thought it was worthy to note of the passing of a historical landmark (albeit not officially recognized).

Here are a few Google map shots of what it used to look like before demolition.

HP Scots vs. Mequite Poteet Pirates football game

Saturday, November 27, 2010 the family and I entered the home of the Dallas Cowboys. This is where the Highland Park Scots (or here) played the Mesquite Poteet Pirates in a 3^rd round high school football playoff game.

First of all, let me say that I really didn't care who won the game. I live closer to HP than I do Mesquite so it would have been nice if the nearer-vicinity team won but I'll live and move on since they didn't.

The main reason we attended was to enter and somewhat experience the Cowboys Stadium for less than $100 for six people to enjoy (I took two neighbor kids and paid for them even though their parents gave them money). The tickets were $12 per person and parking was $10 for spots within the stadium lot. So, $82 to start the process. There are nose-bleed-brain-crushing-from-atmospheric-pressure seats that are near that cost during a regular Cowboys game.

We got to sit in seats just about anywhere near the field. The very lower level had seats from 1 row to 20 rows or so back from the field wall. The next level was the suites and then the seats above the suites. There was no need for any levels higher than that. It would have been cool to take a non-scheduled tour of the upper areas but I got good enough of the experience from my above-the-suites seat. We chose that area so we could still see the GIGANTIC JUMBOTRON! That screen is way, effing huge! At times, we forgot there was a game on the field because we'd be watching the screen like it was TV at home. There's nothing like HD acne when the cameras would pan the band, cheerleaders, and other teenage fans. How embarrassing that could be for some.

I must say that the concessions is a big money maker just like in any sporting venue but Cowboys Stadium takes it to extreme. The wife and I were very thirsty for a soda and some snacks. She wanted popcorn, peanuts and a diet soda. I go to the many concession areas and they didn't have anything else enticing for me to eat...not to mention the price for a burger was like $10 and my thought is I can get a meal for two for that amount at some fast food joint! I found this "cart" selling popcorn. The popcorn was $5.50 for a small (which was actually an adequate size for the two of us) and I got a bag of Skittles for $3.50. Off to find the drinks. I wasn't paying like $8-$10 for a collector's cup—which was made of cheap, thin plastic—so I opted for the 20oz bottle beign held in a rollable ice tub. Luckily, Dr Pepper and Pepsi are sold because we wanted Diet Dr Pepper. I asked the lady vendor for two bottles of Diet Dr Pepper and she said, "That'll be $10." I was like, "Are you shitting me?" She giggled. I paid because I was dying for a carbonated beverage. I walked back to our seats. The popcorn wasn't that great. It had sat inside the popcorn-making cart for too long I guess because it wasn't the freshest or hottest. I ate as much as I could because I wasn't wasting $5.50 and it was in front of me. Suckass food #1! The $5 20oz was good. Hit the spot. I nursed it like a beer at a nudie bar! I also ate the Skittles and they were good. A guy selling peanuts finally came around. I bought a bag for $5. It seems they are in a vacuum pack and are not HOT ROASTED but just roasted. We ate the peanuts, some of them anyway, for the same reason I did the popcorn. Suckass food #2!

I was going to comment about the game but I think I'll leave it to the real writes of the various local newspapers in the area.

I was going to comment about the Stadium and other stuff there but you'll just have to experience for yourself some day...on the cheap is my recommendation. It's a huge, phenomenal place but I can't see blowing that kind of money more than once a year...if once in a year at all.

Just a quick explanation of the following photos from left to right. (1) View from our parking spot, (2) One side of the big glass sliding doors from the sidewalk around the Stadium, (3) The jumbotron, (4) The upper-level Ford and Dr Pepper "pavilions," (5) Shot of the field from our seats, (6) The upper-level Miller Lite and Pepsi "pavilions."

 

 

 

I'm as soft as bruised fruit...NOT!

This past weekend the kids and the neighbor kids decided to invite me to play some "football" in the open lot on the street that just happens to be next to our house.

It's been a while since I hung out with all the kids and thrown the ball or played "football." I quote football because the ages range from 4 to 13 years old. It's a modified version as all yard games are but it's still fun for the kiddos.

About fifteen minutes in, I was running to two-below one of the older kids and the unexpected happened. I ran to a section of the lot where there just happened to be a cut down small tree or big bush root protruding from the ground, hidden among mowed iris plants. I nailed this root with the right foot at a pretty decent pace. I kicked it so hard that I uprooted it and it shot out in front of me before I took a small flight from where the impact occurred to the cement driveway of the neighbors house. I landed on my right shoulder as well as braced (somewhat) my fall with the left hand. This is the wound, slightly healed that I got from a stick jabbing me in the palm of my hand. Good times.

Anyway, it was funny but painful. I will see if I can find the culprit root and take a picture of it. Just because if I can, I can.

Brokeback Mountain Halloween-style

Saw this in a neighbor's yard last night.

I don't know if you can make it out clearly but it is a pumpkin pot with two ghosts in it. The one in front looks like he's holding onto the rim of the pot, leaning forward while the other one "in the rear" [pun intended] is has one "hand" in the air and the other sort of touching (holding) the leaning over one.

RIDE 'EM COW-GHOST!

In the news 10/26/2010

From cbs11tv headline reads:

Two Boys Shocked During Downpour Saturday

Click here for article while it lasts.

Read the story. It is a story of awesomeness. It warmed my heart to know there are kids out there like this. Maybe there is hope for the future.

To have one kid try to save his friend and then another kid go to save the two of them is just...awesome! I don't think there is another word for it. It's just awesome!

I did find a chuckle in the story when the 3^rd kid's father describes what he did upon arriving at the scene:

"I started getting on James, but before I knew what happened," John Evans said. "I said, 'what are you doing down here? What are you doing playing?' He said, 'no, I was helping I was helping.'"

It reminds me a lot of what my dad would have said and had said many times. He'd jump my ass before he knew the situation. My dad probably would have been proud but at the same time would have said, "If you wouldn't have been there, you wouldn't have gotten in trouble in the first place!"

Anyway, I hope the kids recover. It's a great neighborhood to live in even if the culvert isn't properly maintained for safety by the city.

Neighbors: WIN! City: FAIL!

---

Consider Yourself Randomized!

---

In the news 10/18/2010

More injuries on the Katy Trail.

From Park Cities People:

Another Katy Trail Collision Just Occurred

Click here for article while it lasts.

I just commented a few days ago on an article about the Katy Trail advocates and Dallas officials meeting to increase safety on the trail (article here while it lasts).

Without copying the whole comment I will post the relevance.

"...like how those Katy Trail occupants think they can just walk right into the cross traffic at Knox or Harvard when the Trail has the stop sign. The law is 'stop to peds IN the crosswalk' not those about to enter or enter as the car is there..."

I don't know the "hows" about the accident but my assumption is either (1) the cyclist didn't stop at the stop sign because it would impede his pace (2) the automobile driver didn't yield to the cyclist IN the crosswalk or (3) a combination of both where the driver and cyclist decided they were the right-of-way and the cyclist was too stupid to know his bike would lose out in a collision with a car.

As I also commented:

"...You gotta look out for numero uno because no one else will!"

---

Consider Yourself Randomized!

---

In the news 10/01/2010

From the Dallas News:

Dallas woman critically injured when bicycle hits her on Katy Trail

Click here for the article while it lasts.

I'm not sure but I think that the cyclist was going way to effing fast if the woman suffered critical injuries. In the comments, someone said the woman passed away this morning. If that's true, I think there should be some form of prosecution. Cyclists want the respect and authority to ride on the streets. They should be subject to similar laws as automobiles. Basically, it could be something like negligent homicide. Yes, the jogger had on headphones but if it was a car, he'd be cited for the speeding therefore showing negligence.

At the same time, whenever I bike or walk (I hate to jog), I almost always turn to see what is coming behind me, beside me or anywhere around me for my own safety and protection. Like another commenter said, "We are surrounded by foolish people, so arm yourself with that knowledge and always play it safer. Look around you. Pay attention."

In my experience, the cyclist always thinks he/she has some God-given right to be an ass on the road/trails. It could be the cyclist minority but it seems that I am always around that minority. I've also seen tons of cyclists hauling ass on the Katy Trail.

A little tangent: Why is a person a called a cyclist when they ride a bike instead of a rider because they are riding the bike? Why not like a jogger when they jog? A swimmer when they swim or a runner when they run? Do you see the point? When you are a doer doing something the typical add on is "er," but not a cyclist. Is it dependent on the level of expertise that is required to do the activity? Like a pianist, cellist, vocalist, scientist, dentist, protagonist...do these all require some sort of special knowledge, how-to, and skill? I don't think there is something special about a cyclist compared to a runner. I don't know. Just a thought that popped into meesa head while commenting on the story.

How to get a raise Hinojosa style

Follow the steps of Dr. Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD superintendent:

1. Say you want to stay in your current position
2. Say you are not looking for another job
3. Interview for another job
4. Other job says you are one of their top candidates
5. Say you really aren't looking to move but this opportunity "just came up"
6. Continue to say you'll stay while waiting to see if the other job offers you something
7. Have your current employer panic and scramble to make offers to keep you
8. Say you still aren't looking to leave
9. Tentatively agree to contract extension aka "raise"
10. Other job offers position to someone else
11. Deny that you seeked out the job but it was an opportunity you couldn't "pass up"
12. Say you can't wait to get back on track in your current job and you will mend the fences you burned in looking for another job
13. Take the "raise" and continue to seek other opportunities as the "come up"

A man after my own heart. I don't blame him. I've done it. We've all done it. But it makes good gossip in Big D.

Click here for article while it lasts.

Lunch at Ikea

The wife and I took the kids and a few of their friends from the block to Ikea in Frisco. We originally told them we'd go for the lunch special of two hot dogs and a drink for $2. It seems that most every time we think about having this lunch at Ikea, we end up having something different, more expensive.

The kids ended up having some kind of pasta in marinara sauce ($5.99 + $1.something x 5 kids). The wife and I both got the meatball meal pictured ($3.99 + $1.something x 2). Total bill came to something like $41.

So, if we all got the hot dog deal like we were supposed to it would have been $2 x 7 ppl = $14.00 because the tax is already included.

Either way, the food would have tasted fine with whatever meal we got. I actually like the simplicity of the hot dogs, bag of chips, and drink. The meatballs are pretty good too but I actually think they shrunk the size of the meatballs along with the price decrease from last year. What you see in the meal is 15 meatballs, a small dollop of mashed potatoes and some berry-type jam with gravy slathered all over. I guess it's a right-sized meal for proper portion eating.

From now on, we'll have to rethink our plans of heading to Ikea to eat the hot dog meal and stick to it versus just eating here, closer to home.

With the drive to Frisco from where I live, spending $41 on lunch could have been more convenient locally. Plus, I did buy three picture frames and a set of 10 dish towels so we didn't just go for the food. Oh yeah, we also picked up 7 yogurts on the way out (+$7 to the $41).

Gordon Biersch

The wife and I were joined on our date night by a couple of couples. The wife had spoken so highly of my awesomeness (of taking her out on a date once a week) that these couples asked if they could join us the upcoming time.

We said, "Okay," for this time but she and I decided we don't want to make a weekly or even bi-weekly habit of it. For one, I like to be on our time frame and our spur-of-the-moment choice of venue to have our date. Not that our friends were annoying or anything, it's just we like our "OUR" time. For another, I don't think the other couples will be as willing to do a weekly outing (thank God!) because of money, kids, and busy-ness. The wife and I don't always have to eat and we don't drink as much alcohol as our friends so it's not as costly for us. The wife and I just like to hang out together without the kids to give us and the kids a short break. We may do a monthly couples thing but we haven't all decided/confirmed on this idea as of yet.

So, this date night we gave our guests the option to pick the venue. One guy, let's call him Mr. P., suggested some place I forget the name of at this time and Gordon Biersch. I've seen GB a few times since they built it but I haven't ever had the chance/need to go in. This was a good opportunity to check it out. We said we could go to both places or just one they preferred. We decided to start at Gordon Biersch and see where we felt later.

According to our bill, Tiffany D was our server...although there were a few creepy, older, White guys that seemed to be regulars (alone ones other than each other) that said her name was Stephanie. That's what happens when you ask buzzed, over middle-aged, probably slightly horny old men what the waitress's name is.

Anyway, Tiffany was very sweet and attractive. She was tall, petite with a very pretty face and personality (as much of it we could assess from her few minutes of attendance in front of our group). It just happened to be Oktoberfest at GB and they made all the employees where German or semi-German outfits. I say semi because some of the guys' outfits were like khaki pants, white shirt and suspenders. You get the point but not much thought was put into the wardrobe. Some of the waitresses and female bartenders wore the more frilly short skirts/shorts with low-cut tops and matching shoes. Again, Tiffany looked extremely hot in her outfit. I told my wife that I would tip Tiffany at least 20% even though her overall service sucked because every time she came to our table she would bend over to pick up the glasses and such. Purposefully or inadvertently, she would flash me her nude-colored strapless bra. If it weren't for this bra and her not having more than B-cups, Tiffany would have periodically received folded one-dollar bills from me.

Okay, enough about Tiffany and more about the restaurant.

It looks really fancy, okay sort of fancy, from the outside. The entrance is a revolving door...a spinning door. We headed in and were told there was a wait. WTF? A wait, on a Wednesday evening at 6:30pm? Luckily, we had Mr. P. with us who is a frequent patron and he had a V.I.P. card. This V.I.P. card got us access to the "ever secure" patio. On this patio, the seats were taken but they were serving free food: bratwurst, some toppings, and hot pretzels. I got one bratwurst because I didn't want to look like a mooch like all those beer-guzzling bar-combing losers. Turns out, I should have because when they ran out of food Mr. P. and Mr. D. didn't get any food. They were combing the other end of the patio for empty seats. Luckily, Mrs. P. and Mrs. D. followed suit of Jay and were able to at least give them a few nibbles of their bratwursts. After about 30-45 minutes, we were able to snag some patio furniture and seating in front of the outdor fireplace.

That's when Tiffany found us. And how delightful it was when she did...and every time she briefly visited thereafter.

Um...Tiffany told us about the 'fest beer which was the brew specifically for that day for celebrating Oktoberfest in mid-September. They weren't too sure about it so Tiffany said she could bring samples. I decided I would sample it along with the group. Tiffany brought sort of like shot glasses as samples. We all toasted and took our tastes. It wasn't too bad. I don't drink but I know when the taste of beer sucks versus really sucks...I guess sucks to me anyway. To me, the self-brewed beer establishments all sort of taste like Shinerbock or a version of it. After the tasting, the Ps, the Ds and the wife ordered one each to begin the evening. And it was a nice evening overall.

I think I'll end there as I've kind of lost the need for a recap since it's been a few days.

In the news 09/02/2010

Headline from the Star-Telegram reads:

Bedford high school student turns in dead woman's purse

Click here for article while it lasts

Just a few questions:

1. Why did the kid(s) take the purse in the first place?
2. After taking the purse, did they immediately say, "Let's turn it in"? or...
3. Did the teens feel guilty and decide to turn the purse in once they found it belonged to a dead lady?
4. Why not just keep the purse? (it probably didn't contain much valuables)

I'm not condemning the kids. I just like to wonder without ever getting answers. I like to frustrate myself like that. Besides, as a teen, I'm sure I did a lot of "questionable" things too. But now that I'm an adult and father, Hell hath no fury like me being pissed off! :-)

It reminds me of a time in junior high when me, my older brother, a guy friend and two girl friends were walking along a walking/running trail in the local park. I found a wallet. Opening it up revealed a driver's license, credit cards, and $500 in cash. Whoa! There was five of us and that meant $100 each. Booyah! The girls were sisters, one was very God-fearing and the other was a tad more wild than her older sister. They both agreed though that returning the wallet would be the "right" thing to do. WTF? What dumb ass goes for a jog/walk with a loaded wallet? Finders Keepers, bitchass! The girls' opinion somehow won (probably because I was the only male - bro is gay, guy friend was in the closet at the time and then the girls) and they returned the wallet to the address on the DL. I can't remember if they mailed it or did it in person but the guy somehow knew their home address. A few days later they came to my house - they lived two houses from me - to show that the guy thanked them by sending them both a dozen red roses. Again, WTF? They didn't find it. I found it!

No, I'm not bitter after all these years. Okay, maybe just a little bit. I mean I could have invested that $100 at age 13 and by now 20+ years later it could have been a million dollars or more! So, why be bitter?

Telephone books

Do these even get used anymore? I think these have been sitting on my porch for about a week now. I'm just too lazy to pick them up and take them to the trash in the back of the house. I'll probably do it by this weekend but should I really have to?

I don't know when the last time was when I cracked open the Yellow Pages. That's what Google, Yahoo and now Bing are for, right?

AT&T save some fucking trees and company cash. Stop printing these and start lowering your mobile rates and shit! You could also save in labor costs as you wouldn't need those scary child-kidnapping-looking vans driving around the neighborhoods and the guys running them to the doors/porches!

If someone actually still uses/needs these, you should work with them to get on the Internet and learn how to use it for business/phone searches.

I'm tired of seeing these on my porch when I don't use them!

Sent on the Super Jay Network from Super Jay's BlackBerry®

Taco Bell's new $2 meal deals

Okay, I just left the Taco Bell drive thru and was reminded of something I thought of this weekend.

I went fishing/hunting Saturday to Sunday but didn't get to hunt in east Texas. On the way home, I stopped at Taco Bell about 30-45 minutes outside of Dallas to take a leak. The men's room was occupied. While waiting, I got a little hungry and saw these $2 meals. I wasn't extremely hungry but was getting a headache and thought food and a caffeine drink would help.

So, I tried one. I got the double decker, medium drink (Diet Pepsi) and Doritos. Doritos? That's right - nacho cheese-style. WTF?

I don't know who came up with this combination or any of them with a bag of Doritos but it's kind of weird. Why not just add nachos? Maybe it is cheaper to use the prepackaged Doritos because maybe they give less chips with the 75% chips 25% air bags than a normal nachos.

Either way, it is just odd. I drank the drink and ate the double decker but not the Doritos. Later in the evening well after I go home, I had the Doritos with a ham and cheese sandwich.

Anyway, I guess the $2 meals menu is a decent deal since a medium drink is like $1.50 or so but I'll have to investigate further. Not a big deal really, the Doritos just throws me.

By the way, the restroom was occupied the entire time so I didn't get to pee. Boohoo me!

Sent on the Super Jay Network from Super Jay's BlackBerry®

In the news 05/18/2010

From the Dallas News, headline reads:

Plano-based Frito-Lay urged to drop sponsorship of Arizona sporting events

Click here for story while it lasts

Boycott Frito-Lay? Are you effing serious? Give me a break. That's like when people thought about doing the same thing to Wal-Mart. The problem is that there is no "real" substitution to Frito-Lay (or Wal-mart).

As the article quoted the Accion America president, the Latino community spends "billions and billions" on Frito-Lay products. So, where are they going to spend that "billions" instead? NO WHERE! They may try but they will always return until there is a comparable replacement. Until that time, good luck with calling a boycott! The LULAC executive director has got it right by saying, "Let me be clear: There is no LULAC boycott of Frito-Lay or any other company."

How many little Mexican kids are going to be pleading, "Mama, quiero mi Cool Ranch Doritos!"

The problem with these "immigration groups" is that they only offer reaction to the cities or government ideas/plans to "fix" illegal immigration. They don't offer suitable replacement ideas. Hell, they don't even offer the first idea. I think these little fuckers WANT the illegals to enter and stay in America. Why wouldn't they? It gives them more of a showing at these protests to have legals and illegals!

What these groups and even people that complain about the efforts of cities or states to enforce the federal law is that they aren't doing it to be mean, necessarily. You are always going to have a few bad apples enforcing stupidly but the greater overall good is to be a legal immigrant. What are illegals teaching their legal (by birth in the States) children by not admitting that they are breaking a very serious law? Do these children even care about the illegality of their parents' or grandparents' crimes? Is being illegal really not as bad as being a murderer or rapists? There is no levels of breaking the law. You either break it or you don't. It's the punishment that has levels dependent on the severity of your crime. But breaking the law is still breaking the law. It's pretty cut and dry!

I'm all for people having to carry identification to prove their legal immigration status. I don't think we should limit it to just Mexicans. We should check ALL people who could be questionable. Is my Russian neighbor here legally? How about the German, the British, the Somalian, the Nigerian, the Polish, or the Canadian? Just because there are more browns here illegally doesn't mean they should be the only ones checked! Granted, they are more so we have to start somewhere but let's start and get on with it.

And just so you know, this comes from someone who has been profiled since I was a kid although I look more Asian as a child than a teenager and older. I'm half Hawaiian and half White. The White gene gives me less Asian features and American people only see certain races: White, Black, Mexican and Asian. I don't have a fair complexion. I have black hair and tan skin. I don't have very slanted eyes or a flat nose. What do you think people automatically assume what I am? Mexican. Although 90% of the people who assume I'm Mexican are White, about 8% are Mexican and 2% are Asian.

How many Asians can say they've gone into a Chinese buffet restaurant and been asked what you would like to drink in Spanish by the Chinese waiter? I'm slammed and disrespected by my own peeps! :-)

How many people can say that they've been pulled over by the police with their girlfriend in the passenger seat and the cop asks her if she is alright and with me on her own accord? My girlfriend at the time, who is also now my wife, is White.

How many people have gone to a job fair when a recruiter (this one was a UPS and is why I don't endorse them or will ever work for them) automatically marks on a card that I'm Hispanic without asking. I asked him why he assumed I was Hispanic. I told him he was a racist honky mother fucker and told him to give me the card. I ripped it in half and threw it in his face. (Beeyawtch!)

How many people can say that they've been called spic or wetback while walking down the street by (mostly white) kids as well as adults? How many of those kids will think twice about name calling after I gave them the Nacho Libre beating they deserved? Ha!

All I'm saying is that profiling sucks balls. But if the paperwork is in order and you are legal, wouldn't you much rather know they are trying to "clean up" your country than try to deter them from doing so? Until a "better" solution is brought to the table, I think some things need to be tried. Again, I don't expect things to go smoothly. That's human nature more than it is White nature, Black nature or whatever-race nature.

It's called trial-and-error. It's got to be done! Somethings got to be done! About everything that's wrong in this country! I could go on and on but my soap box is done for now!

Backyard crawfish boil

This was from a couple of months ago and I guess I forgot to post it.

Anyway, near the end of March, our neighbors invited us to a backyard crawfish boil at their house. Our neighbor has a coworker/friend that is from Lafayette (I think), Louisiana and she was talking about crawfish to him one day. A couple of days later they decided to put the talk into action.

They didn't have time or the open wallet to start with fresh, live crawfish but they didn't get some freshly frozen ones. They weren't completely finished when we headed down the block to attend but the smell was very appealing. I wasn't too interested in eating crawfish and luckily I had basically just eaten so I had a decent excuse to refrain if I had to. As you can see, the neighbor's friend did a great job with the ingredients and all. I mean corn, carrots, potatoes and she even had sausage.

For those inexperienced, she had everyone grab a crawfish and she stepped us all through the technique. I partook in the training although I've had it many times before when I was younger. That way at least I didn't seem like an ass for not doing ANYTHING. All in all it was good times, good fun, good food and good music with some dancing thrown in later in the evening.

As a kid, my brothers and I used to ride our bikes to the local high school. It was about a 10-minute ride from our house. We would take some kite string, bacon and/or bologna, a net and a minnow-type bucket. The high school is where we went to catch crawdads (or crawfish to others).

No, there wasn't a pond or anything like that. So, where did we "fish" for crawdads? In front of the high school there was a U.S. highway. At the time it was a two-lane thoroughfare (it is now like six lanes with a center turn lane) and on each side of it there were what is commonly called ditches. Yep, those kind of ditches...the kind that catches water runoff from the road, parking lot of the high school, or just the very small greenbelts between the parking lot and highway. It sounds gross now but at the time that's just what we did as boys, a lot of the neighborhood kids did. It was amazingly a hot bed for crawdads of all sizes. Some would be like 1-2 inches where others could be like 4-6 inches. We captured whatever we could. Most of the time it was for enjoyment and passing the time but occasionally we did bring them home to boil and eat.

I know many people are grossing out and/or laughing. I have the same reaction now that I look back upon those great times as a kid. But you know what, those things tasted just the same (excluding the different spices used) as the one(s) we had this night at the neighbors. Again, I only recall doing it maybe three times max but I do recall the taste and texture now as then. My mom and a couple of brothers would do the brain-sucking thing but I didn't always. In fact, I can probably count on one hand how many times I partook in the brain-sucking. It was just gross to see the orangy, slimy guts that were inside the head. For some reason that I don't know and will probably not take the time to investigate fully, the head area of the crawfish/dad didn't cook like the lower body and tail. Granted there is more meat and muscle I guess in the lower portion but I just think that if the human brain was boiled long enough, it would harden or cook more like chicken/steak meat but the crawfish brains never did/do...at least in all the times I've had them.

Anyway, before I get too much more long-winded, I'll just say that this recent experience was a fun one and the people were great to spend the evening with. The neighborhood has really started to shape up and become more neighborly since the time we moved into it. Not that we were the cause of it, but there weren't so many kids around and the tenants weren't so friendly/neighborly (some still aren't but they are the rarity).

I'm gone!

Rusty Taco - 3rd and probably final visit

Now that I am done with my classes, I actually get to take a lunch instead of working through it to "make up" the time. So at work last Friday, I got talked into going to the Rusty Taco for lunch. I didn't want to go and I pleaded my case but the two lady coworkers I went with wanted to try it out. I reluctantly went along. I had already formed my opinion (not positive) after my two previous visits but who was I to deny them their own experience even though I know them and I knew they would not be impressed.

We got lucky with parking as we arrived because someone was leaving just as we got there. The line wasn't too bad either. I was surprised (even though my opinion is low) because it has been a pretty hopping place since its opening especially during lunch.

The ladies ordered first and my main recommendation to them was to get the chips and salsa for $1 because it's the best value and they give you good amounts of chips and salsa for that buck! Lady coworker #1 ordered just a shrimp taco (mistake!) because she's watching her diet these days. Lady coworker #2 ordered the grilled fish taco and chips and salsa. I ordered the two beef brisket tacos, a fried fish taco and chips and salsa because I was NOT going to still be hungry like the last few times I've visited. I also wanted to taste the fried fish to see if it tasted good without the sauce.

We sat outside because it was a pretty nice weather day: sunny with a slight breeze. The patio area was well occupied with many guests and the breeze made the 1st 90-degree day awesome. Heat isn't the issue - it's the humidity along with the heat. Anyway...

Lady coworker #1's name was called to pick up her order. She came back with a huge tray with just her little taco in the middle of it. Her first words when she got back to our table was, "What the hell is that!? Is that all!?" My response was, "I told you!"

Lady coworker #2's name was called to pick up her order. She came back with a huge tray with her little taco and a basket of chips with salsa. She kind of had the same look as lady coworker #1 at the bewilderment of the small size of the taco.

My name was called to pick up my order. I knew what to expect so I had no adverse reaction to what I saw on the tray. I sat down and we all began to eat.

They thought their tacos were good but a little skimpy and non-fulfilling for $2. I told them I tried to warn them before we left but they HAD to experience it for themselves if only just to say that they did.

I took extra care in eating my fried fish taco since I wanted to see what it tasted like without the added sauce/dressing. Amazingly, I didn't get a fish taste. Weird since it was supposed to be a FISH taco. I actually think the Van de Kamp's fish sticks and/or fillets tasted more like fish compared to this taco. Add the sauce and it's a whole new flavor but it still doesn't taste like a fish taco with sauce. The beef brisket tacos were good flavored as before but still lacked those filler ingredients such as lettuce, tomato and cheese. I was still kind of hungry but thankfully I had the chips and salsa.

So, we all agreed the chips and salsa were very good. They also came to their own conclusion which aligned with mine about the size and filling of the taco was not worthy of a $2 price tag. Bad for the customer but good for Rusty Taco as you will want to buy more to get your tummy filled.

The outside dining experience was great. The weather was very cooperative if not a little windy but it was a pleasant temperature and good company. I figure the Rusty Taco can be a good after work happy hour type hang out because of the small tacos and cheaply priced alcohol. I think beer runs something like $2.50 to $3.50. So, I believe it's comparable to other happy hour type facilities - I really don't know as I don't drink.

Anyway, I think I've had my fill of Rusty Taco. I experimented. I tested the menu. I'm done. It's really not one of those places that I feel I'd like to visit once in a while or ever again at all. I will probably deny any future offers of going unless someone else is picking up the tab. There's just way too many places in the area to get better tasting and more flavorful food for $8-$10. Some people may see it differently than I (they do because I still see lines out the door when I drive by) but I'd much rather head a few doors north down Greenville Avenue and hit Baker's Ribs. It's better worth my money.

It's almost 9 inches!

Now that I am out of school for a short time between semesters, I have the availability to leave the office for lunch. I hadn't been to Jack in the Box in a long time so I thought I'd run through one since it is basically around the block.

I really like the Grilled Sourdough Burger as well as the Bacon Ultimate Burger. I wasn't in the mood to be uncomfortable so I went with the Grilled Sourdough. I opted for curly fries and a Diet Coke.

I was asked, "What size would you like?" I figured I wanted a big drink and said, "Large."

When I got the cup, I realized that "large" should really be called "fucking huge!"

This is a whole-lotta drink. Granted, it probably is half ice and half soda but that's still a lot of soda. I think I've done this before with JITB or some other fast-food place. Will I ever learn?

So, note to self for next time, "Get the medium."

Dinner at the new Twisted Root

Decided to pick up dinner at the newly opened Twisted Root on SMU Blvd between Central Expressway and Greenville Avenue.

Went out on a limb and just got a hamburger with bacon and mushrooms. Normally I get something like a buffalo or elk burger but decided to extend my taste buds. :-P

Sent on the Super Jay Network from Super Jay's BlackBerry®

We need to trim our "garden" and keep it that way

Okay, seriously!?

I get an email from the "landlord" saying that the city is pressing to have the alley ways more clear than they have been. They are no longer going to warn the tenants. They will just fine them.

She was nice about it and this is part of what she said:

You all do not have much back there but there are some weeds that exceed the 8” limit – behind the fence and garage. You need to trim them and keep them trimmed from now on.

I can't believe that this is what she considers "overgrowth" in the alley.

How stupid!

I will pull this shit up and leave it in the alley just to spite them. But then again, I may not be quite as angered when I pull it up and I will probably think more clearly and chunk it in the neighbor's yard.

It's all in the de-"tails"

So this is a little weird...okay, a lot weird...but that's just how my demented mind works.

A couple of months ago I took the kids and some of their friends to see The Mustangs of Las Colinas. It was a nice day, albeit very windy, and we were all feeling kind a bit of cabin fever because it had rained for a few days previously. The ground was still wet around the house and neighborhood so it wasn't ideal for them to play there. So, a short road trip was decided.

I initially wanted to take the friends to The Mustangs and then the Fort Worth Water Gardens because they'd never been to either but we ended up just going to The Mustangs because one of the friends had to be back home by a certain time to turn around and go to a sleep-over at a friends. Maybe next time.

Anyway, while at The Mustangs, I took a lot of pictures...of the kids, the 'Stangs, the buildings. I noticed something interesting, odd, and disturbing about the detail in some of the Mustang statues.

I won't go into the details but you can basically see what I would be typing about if I typed about it.

I know it's sick, just down right sick! :-)