The Taco Joint, Dallas, Texas

I look forward to Fridays for multiple reasons other than the obvious—the weekend. It's the one day a week during the school semester that I do not have to work through my lunch to make up for the time I miss work while in class. It gives me a chance to leave the office and enjoy the lunch hour (or more) no matter where I am because it's not in the office!

Today, a coworker and I headed out to lunch. She wanted to hit our regular location of Sonic but I didn't really feel like a burger. In fact, I just had a double-double with bacon from Sonic this past Sunday. Don't get me wrong. I would have gone and eaten a Sonic burger but I really wanted something different today.

We were across town from our Sonic but near this place I read about called The Taco Joint. I read it's only open until end of lunch...about 2pm...Mondays through Saturdays. That sucks since I work through lunch Mon-Fri and usually am not on the side of town of The Taco Joint on Saturday. Anyway, she was game and so that's where we ate.

We got there around 12:15-ish. The parking lot was already full and many had already taken to parking along the one-way street of Peak St. We had to follow suit and luckily it wasn't much of a walk at all to the "Joint."

The line wasn't too long about 3/4 of the size of the restaurant lined up almost from end to end. They take cash and credit which was nice since I only had plastic. I ordered the Friday special called the "Chuck Norris." It's two pulled pork tacos with BBQ sauce and some basic toppings. I don't remember what they were. It's a combo which comes with a side of beans and rice in one container and a drink. Total cost was $8.50. The price made me realize that this place wasn't like the cheaply priced Rusty Taco or Fuzzy's Taco. I think it is more priced like Digg's Taco Shop. The price kind of surprised me a bit but I got over it and chalked it up to trying a new place. My friend/coworker ordered two crispy beef tacos but they were something like $2.00 a piece and they came with quite a bit of cheese, lettuce and tomatoes which is unlike the other places. They were closer to what you'd expect from a fast food place like Taco Bell, Taco Bueno or Taco Cabana but way better. The size and quality was probably double of those places.

About a 10-minute wait after ordering, they called our names to pick up our food. I already described the crispy beef tacos and my friend liked them a lot! I tried my "Norris" tacos and they were pretty flavorful. They did drip a lot of sauce when trying to eat but not too bad and comparable to the pulled pork tacos I've had at the previously mentioned restaurants. The refried beans were creamy with hardly any bean chunks. It was different than I'm used to but it didn't change the taste, just the texture. I mixed the rice and beans together because the rice didn't seem to be too flavorful. Also, the rice didn't seem to be equal in quantity to the beans. Not a big deal but I think if they were in separate containers the customer would feel like they are getting more and who really knows if they'd like the rice more versus the beans or vice versa?

I wasn't awed by the flavor of any of my dish but I wasn't disappointed either. I don't know if it's because I ate something small an hour or so before we went to lunch (I don't remember what I just remember I snacked on something...probably a six-pack of Oreos) but I did get into the car feeling somewhat full. Now that could have been the five refills of Diet Coke that I got but who really knows.

I will go back to try a few other tacos especially the fish tacos for/with the wife.

A Casita in Taos, New Mexico

Turtle Wax T-240KT Headlight Lens Restorer Kit

This weekend I had the chance to purchase and test out a headlight restoration kit. I've looked into doing this before but I'm cheap and don't want to pay too much for a kit as well as I don't have a lot of time to spare these days in my daily routine. I saw somewhere on the Internet that said to try toothpaste. About a month after reading that, I finally got to try it. I didn't know if it was a specific kind but I just grabbed what I had. At first, it looked like it did an okay job. The headlight was more clear than it had been but not like I was expecting or wanting. After 24 hours, it the headlight returned to its original hazy state. I don't know why. I just know my toothpaste didn't work.

So, a few weeks later, I get the bug to checkout kits online again. I also saw the commercial for Fast Brite Lens Restorer and it peaked my interest. I doubted the Fast Brite claim of not having to use any sandpaper or such but what did I know. Hence, my research for more information and reviews. After seeing the commercial, I was talking to a friend of mine that mentioned looking into getting his headlights cleaned. I told him about he commercial and some other research I found online but didn't know if it was really worth it. He said if you could get something under $50 and it worked that it was worth it. He said the dealership quoted him $175 and he just laughed. My thought is you are paying for the labor more than the product they use.

My friend and I also recalled that we NEVER got oxidization on headlights when they were made of GLASS! I had a 1974 Chevy Luv pickup and in 1989 the headlights were just as clear as they were brand new. Why? Because the entire piece was replaced and the lights were made of glass. Granted these plastic headlights cut down on costs but to the manufacturer. To the owner, it will cost them more if they get the dealer and any auto repair place to do it.

Anyway, I've been looking into restoring my headlights on my 1999 Grand Caravan. They were pretty foggy and occasionally I felt like the high beams were the low beams and the low beams were just..scary.

I Googled up some research and found this website (here) that compared many products and ranked them by their (the website's) tests as well as reviews across the web from sites like Amazon and other online retailers...I think. I looked at their top four to compare price and ranking. For my 1999 vehicle, I could give up a half or even full star for a better cost benefit. I then weighed in the time it would take to get something (all their product links go to the product listing on Amazon) and the cost of shipping for a "grand total cost" of the product. Looking at the 3 of the top four (#1, #2 and #4 because I thought #3 was the same product as #2) I found that I could get #2-3M 39008 and #4-Turtle Wax T-240KT at Walmart. There are a few Walmarts withing a 5-10 mile radius of my house so that helped decide against purchasing through Amazon. The 3M product was showing at my local Walmart as 'limited supply' which means it could or could not be in stock. The Turtle Wax was the same. I had to make a Walmart run for other things so it wasn't really out of my way to check on the store stock.

On Friday, January 13, 2012, I ended up getting the Turtle Wax T-240KT Headlight Lens Restorer Kit (online at Amazon or at Walmart w/no price) because the 3M 39008 was not in stock. In fact, they had at least six boxes of the T-240KT. That in itself made me a little leery about getting it but with the 4 1/2 stars and costing like $8.97, I thought 10 bucks was worth a test.

I made a point to try this out on Monday the 16th before the weather changed for the worst. The picture below is of my right headlight (left side in the photo) after I did the restoration and the left headlight before restoration. Both headlights were about the same in level of haze. I didn't realize the picture was little dark upon taking it but it was like 11am with overcast skies. I think it still captures the difference.
.

In my opinion, it was well worth the $8.97+tax! Many of the reviews said it took them about 45 minutes per light. I don't know if it would have made much of a difference but I did mine in about 30 minutes. The second one always goes faster because you're reading the directions while doing the first one. I don't know if 15 minutes of hand sanding would have made a difference but maybe with drill torque it could. I just don't know. I think it turned out well.

So, a few things I noticed from my project.

• There is a plastic glove in the box for the T-240KT. Not a big deal, it's not shown in any of the pictures on the Internet but it's there. It's recommended or instructed to use only for the last step when applying the lens protectorant.
• It's slightly messy. The spray lubricant will run no matter what you do. You can see that I taped off the area around the headlight. They probably say to tape the surrounding area for protection from an errant stroke of the sandpaper pads. I never had that issue. The liquids just liked to run a bit and got past the taped area. The spray lubricant doesn't have much of a 'lube' feel as it does just plain old water. Luckily, all areas were able to be cleaned without issue after the process was completed.
• After all the work on the right headlight and before applying the lens protectorant/sealant, I was disappointed. Initially, the headlight didn't look much different than when I started. I could definitely feel grime on the headlight while sanding but it just wasn't that initial shine and luster when I applied and wiped off the final application of the lens clarifying compound. Not until I applied the handy dandy secret lens protectorant/sealant did the headlight look like I expected. Which is what you see as the final product in the photo.

I guess that's about it. My thoughts are if you could find out what grade of sandpaper each is, then you could get an 8x11 sheet at Home Depot of each. Then get some cheap plastic polisher and some kind of sealant, both similar to the products listed, a person could have a longer supply of the headlight restoring kit for close to the same cost.

You can see a decent How-To video of the Turtle Wax T-240KT product here.

6 Days!

That's how long I have until I start my final semester of college. In one long-feeling semester, I will be a college graduate with a BBA in Management with a minor in Photography!

That's right bitches! Read it and weep! I know I am. I started, reluctantly mind you, this journey in August 1989. Twenty-two years later, this journey will come to an end. **fingers crossed**

Now, it hasn't been 22 consecutive years. Occasionally, I only took one class but mostly I tried to take at least two since starting working full time. Before full-time employment, I would register for 12 hours and drop at least half. Then there was the five-year break I took while the wife completed a Master's and then Ph.D. So, a maximum of 17 years of school but 22 years for completion.

So, briefly, what have I learned from this journey (even though it's not completely over yet)?

Just a few things for now...in no particular order:

• If you are going to college, I recommend doing it right after high school graduation. I couldn't wait to be done with "required" school and just be "free." I knew I wasn't college bound because we were poor but my mom made me take classes because she wanted better for me and they wanted me as a tax break. LOL! Anyway, the longer you wait to return the harder it will be to do so. If there is even an inkling that you want a college degree, take classes as soon as possible after high school because life will take the control and never let go!
• If you have to attend a community college because of finances, make sure you research them well see what kind classes will transfer to whatever four-year college you anticipate attending. Tarrant County College has a very good relationship with Texas public colleges like UT Ausin, UT Arlington and UT Dallas. Maybe not all but more will transfer than going to the likes of a private school. I used the exact same government book at TCJC, now TCC, years ago that a coworker was using for a government class at UT Arlington. I paid significantly less for it and it would have transferred with no problem. I transferred to a private school with 57 hours and they took only like half. A few of the courses they didn't take, I retook and they were almost exactly the same...I never bought the book and passed the course and tests with an 'A.' The private school just thought their classes were better for some reason.
• Tuition is expensive for four-year colleges no matter if it's public or private. If you are not rich or the family isn't rich, you might look into working at a university full time. Many universities provide a free tuition benefit to make up for the lower university salary compared to what you could possible make in the 'real world.' Take advantage of it. I have. I'm going to get a $100K degree for free...the exception is for class fees and books but when tuition is like $5,000 and books are like $300, I'll take books.
• College really doesn't prepare an individual for the world. Maybe degrees in Painting, Art History, Dance, English and such but not degrees like Accounting, Marketing, or Information Technology Operations Management. Now, the latter probably does give you knowledge about those fields and some working skills to enter but the individual will learn on-the-job. Many of my young classmates who I have seen since they've graduated said such things. They actually learn their jobs when they get the job. Now, I'm sure a college degree makes the individual a well-rounded, educated person but actual job preparation...maybe not so much. Also, I work in the graduate admissions office and I see the salaries of the applicants who went straight to college and graduated in four years. These people busted their asses in school and now work and they make the same money as I do without a college degree. I'm not saying there aren't those that make a whole hell of a lot more but when 75% of the applicants are college graduates in Accounting, ITOM, Marketing and even Finance are only making $40yr-$60k/yr and are the same age as I, I don't know if that is a good return on their initial investment of college. And of course, that's excluding any outside reasons why these people are making so little like their own laziness or whatever.

  Long story short, I guess being in class with wet-behind-the-ears kids while I've been in the world gives me a perspective that they and others their age in class don't see. They haven't been jaded by management in the corporate world. They haven't really experienced ANYTHING that is discussed as examples in class. It's all theory to them and theory is almost never reality.

I'm sure there are other things I've learned but since I've been typing this while at work, I'd better get back to work.

∞
That's all I got to say about that!
 

Elizabeth Loaiza Topless Food Photoshoot

I don't know the point of this photo shoot but I am not complaining. I just needed a reason to post the picture(s) without coming across as a complete perv. Click on picture for the gallery as long as it lasts. Enjoy!

Graphical Neoprene Full Face Mask at Tanga.com

I started typing this post back on November 19, 2011. I've been busy!

I guess you could say this is my fanboy tribute to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Actually, I just happened to see a sale on this thing at Tanga.com. The website is showing them for $6.99 instead of the regular price of $24.99...a 72% savings. And as usual, it was one of those products that I figured this price point is a good one to see if these masks were worth it.

These neoprene masks are pretty cool. I say 'masks' because I actually bought two of them. First the one in the included image and another one referred to as 'yellow skull.' I hope they are durable but also I don't see that I will be overusing them.

This one is a glow-in-the-dark skull (slightly hard to tell but you can see it once you're told what it is) and the other one I have is a ghoul—it's more of a pale goldish, yellow-greenish color.

I've actually worn them a couple of times since I purchased and also since I started this post and they are pretty warm. I think that the breathing, whether from my mouth or nose, helps warm it even more because it circulates between the back of the mask and my face. I've even turned it inside out to make the mask just all black. The graphic on the front didn't bother my face so it's nice to know this could be reversible if need be--you know, around the kiddies or skittish white folk in the neighborhood. LOL!

Overall, I think it's been a pretty decent purchase. Now I just need the really "cold" weather to give it a real test!

Dallas White Rock Marathon 2011

I was flicking channels and saw that they were televising the White Rock Marathon. I didn't know it was that big of a deal but I guess the local networks can air whatever they want when it's local. I'm not a runner and I'm not into watching marathons. I just started watching and got interested because there was only a couple of miles left. I figured I could watch the last few minutes—I guess it's like watching the highlights real of baseball or Nascar on ESPN. Anyway, this is what I've taken away from my first and probably last viewing of the White Rock Marathon or any marathon for that matter.

Maybe I don't understand marathons. I was watching the last part of the White Rock Marathon and I had to turn it off when they started interviewing the "winner" but I actually was getting angry during the last mile. The Kenyan ran the full 26 miles. The high schooler ran ONLY the last 2 miles of a relay. The commentators were bragging about how the high schooler was catching up to the Kenyan, passed him, and "won" the marathon. They were amazed the Kenyan faltered at the last few miles. Are you kidding me? 26 miles vs. 2 miles. I don't see the correlation and for the interviewer after the race to say something so stupid to the Kenyan as "When did you feel that the [high schooler] was going to beat you?" Again, WTF? They did say the Kenyan was the full marathon male winner but didn't acknowledge that the Kenyan ran 26 miles on tiring legs whereas the high schooler was fresh for the last 2. They just kept praising him for "winning." Sportsmanship should have come to the high schooler and he should have crossed the finish line with the Kenyan. Again, maybe I don't understand the race but for them to consistently praise this high schooler for "beating" the Kenyan was disgusting. The wife and I both could not watch it anymore.

Freaky hallway in an old folks home

For Thanksgiving, I went to the wife's grandfather's old folks home for lunch. This man is like 92 years old. He is definitely an old codger. He's almost deaf, or is deaf if it wasn't for the hearing aids, but he still has most of his mental abilities.

So, in truth, I guess this old folks home is really called an assisted living center. Above a convalescent home and below your own personal home. He has to sign out if he goes anywhere just so they know where he is/was if they do a bed check or whatever and he's not there. The staff were friendly and the food was good. The place seemed well kept and well run.

He gave us a tour of the place and the hallway right outside the door of his room kind of gave me that creepy feeling when I looked down it from his doorway. The photo below is what it looks like.

All that's missing is "The Grady Twins" and a little boy going, "Redrum, redrum, redrum."

3" LCD In-Dash DVD Player at Fry's Electronics

I ask, "What is the point of this?" It's bad enough to watch a movie or video on an iPod Touch, iPhone or Android phone but watching a movie on a 3" screen in your car? Really? While driving or sitting still, this is a ridiculous idea...to me only obviously because I've had close friends by such things for their kids or their kids bought it for their boy/girlfriend.

I don't really mind too much watching a movie on my iPod Touch if I have too. It's easy, convenient and portable. I don't always want to have my laptop on my lap to watch Netflix. The iPod Touch has worked nicely, surprisingly. This in-dash player is just stupid. Can I say it enough? I guess not so much that it's in-dash in your car when you are watching it but when you decide to quit driving and watching a movie or car time is over, you can't take the device with you. See the problem, now? Do I want to stay in the car watching my movie on a 3" screen just to finish it? I sure as hell don't.

As previously mentioned, I guess there's a market for it because I've seen all makes and models as well as same or slightly larger sizes. I just don't see how a family road trip can be broken up with a movie when the kids can't see this little ass 3" screen from the back seat whether in a car, van or SUV.

Oh well.

Canon T2i, T3i, and Snapchick

I was Googling the other day looking for reviews of the Canon T3i compared to the Canon T2i because I'm looking to upgrade my Canon XT. Yes, I still have the old, original digital Rebel! It's done great for me and I guess I really have no reason to upgrade other than I want a new, more recent version DSLR and I'd like it to have decent HD video capabilities. I'm not looking for complete video awesomeness. I just think it would be nice to be able to take video and DSLR photos through one device versus carrying DSLR or point-and-shoot and a video camera. The convenience of having the video option versus not at a time I'm out and about and wanting it is what I really am looking for as the reason of a DSLR/HD Video combination.

So, after visiting many links Google regurgitated upon my search, I'm thinking the Canon T3i in the long run is a slightly better camera for my purposes and preferences. Whether or not I push the virtual "add to cart" and "check out" buttons, is left to be seen. When the new camera can cost around $800 depending on the package or whatnot, it makes holding on to my XT much more appealing. I wouldn't get rid of the XT anyway. I'd give it to my oldest to use and abuse. Good hand-me-downs are always welcome in the Absent-Minded Jay family!

One website that did catch my eye was actually found from browsing YouTube. A video review of the cameras was done by someone and you know how YouTube always posts little video screens of other videos that have some relation to the video you are watching no matter how minute that connection is.

This girl in the video still was in a kind of workout tank top holding a camera. From the small image, she looked fairly attractive with a nice rack. So, it piqued my interest...and only my interest! LOL! Turns out she's pretty informed and somewhat educated about the world of photography and she has a nice range of tank tops and bikinis that she frequently wears/shares through her videos. A bonus in my book no matter what the haters comment on her videos. I mean not everything on a website can be just about photography. Changing it up once every 10-20 videos is not an issue for me especially when it's of this girl in a bikini or half of one in her pool. Who would freaking complain about that, male or female!?

Anyway, from her youtube site I went to her actual website. It is snapchick.com. I didn't join or anything because I'm not like the rest of the really perverted dudes and I don't need to pay for Internet nudity when I can get it at home or for free on the WWW.

One thing that did catch my eye was the part of her site that said, "Take Me Home." I was like, "SCHWING!" I clicked on the link and this screen capture below is what it took me to. Again, don't get me wrong. Snapchick is a very attractive girl in a weird kind of way for me...kind of like the girl that plays Brittany (I think) on Glee. She's not drop dead gorgeous or stunningly pretty but she's got a look to her that I just can't explain with words. No matter how hot or very attractive someone is to me, there is NO WAY IN HELL that I would pay $39.99 for an autographed 8x10 of Snapchick even though the way she looks in the photo is absolutely eye-catching and almost makes the weasel go "pop." I congratulate her on the ones she has sold to the poor, blind, hairy-palmed guys she has suckered into her web of lustful delusions. But this is one hairy-palmed guy that will not fall prey to such wickedness! However, I do have this image somewhat etched into my memory as one of my favorite no-nude images I've seen across the Internet. So you go Snapchick and continue what you're doing because in my opinion, you are informing us with actual, useful knowledge as well as entertaining us with your "natural talents and gifts."

Foil flail made at Freebirds

A few coworkers and I had a day-before-Thanksgiving lunch together at Freebirds. I haven't been back to this restaurant in quite a long time. I'd say at least a couple of years. I decided to go for the Carnitas Monster Bird on a spinach tortilla. This was a big bastard but I think I can eventually finish the Super Monster Bird the next time I go back...maybe in another couple of years!

This time around the Monster Bird took like four sheets of aluminum to wrap. It's somewhat customary to make shit out of the foil. I was short on time and short on imagination. I quickly decided to create this...thing. I think it's called a mace but it could also be referred to as a flail.

Anyway, random I know but I obviously put out time and effort to make the damn thing I should be able to share it. Mainly because when I tried to put it on the wall in the restaurant, it fell to the ground and separated into many pieces. End of awesomeness!

Boxbe verification is funny

At work, we sent an email out to a list we purchased. Some people are using Boxbe to combat spam. Normally for me, if I have to do an extra step for an email to get to you, I'm not going to do it. BUT...we did purchase these names so I figured I'd better try all I could to get the message through.

After verifying for a few different email addresses, I clicked on the last one and this is the word verification it gave me: "farters." Now that's funny how the Boxbe system comes up with random letters and random words.

Rangers LOSE the World Series

I'm not a baseball fan. I don't understand how people consider this sport exciting. Granted, the World Series was pretty good...the parts I've watched anyway...but the game itself and in its entirety blows!

So, this image from ESPN.com will be the lasting memory in DFW-Arlington metropolitan area. Unfortunately, the "Breaking News" part of the image is incorrectly typed. It should say,

Rangers LOSE the World Series!

If I'm not mistaken, the Rangers were up 3-1 in the series and choked it hard. Another failed professional sports team from Dallas. Maybe it'll be like the rest though and after 2-5 runs to playoffs, they'll actually win the damn championship.

NO, I'm not bitter. I don't watch baseball, remember.