closets and mexican food

You thought we were gonna miss our daily blog, didn't you? Well I still have an hour so here goes with today's topics.

First a comedic story. As we are walking through Lowes on our way to pick out the wire shelving for a new closet redesign project, Claire yells out -loudly- "I sound like Jesus". Taken out of context this could sound blasphemous and possibly somewhat offensive. In context, however, it was humorous -especially to the innocent bystanders shopping for nails, Christmas trees, and lawn mowers. Maybe it wasn't her fault she screamed inappropriately - I was giving her a hard time about coming up with new projects that really don't need to be done (IE: redesigning a closet). I had been teasing her in a mocking voice, the voice of the Jesus character from the Vintage 21 videos online which portray him with a super meek voice and character (these videos might be somewhat offensive but were produced to make a point - many of you have probably seen them). So I'd been mocking Claire in the video Jesus' voice when she yelled. It was really funny - and much more so out of context.

I also thought I would entertain and challenge you foodies and culinary aficionados with the Patrick's top 20 Mexican food establishments. We want your feedback. Tell us what we left off, what you agree with, what you disagree with, and what you think about Mexican food in general. I think we are part Mexican because we both agree we could probably eat it for every meal and half the time our home cooked meals turn out to have some sort of south of the border flair. This list is in order of preference, however it changes frequently and is not totally mutual between the two of us, albeit, it was voted on by both of us.

1.) Picante Grill (San Antonio, TX)
Try: Chile En Nogado
2.) Polvos (Austin, TX, South 1st)
Try: Fajitas Al Guajillo
3.) Villa Montez (Tyler, TX)
Try: Chino Latino Rolls, Sea Bass, or the Daily special
4.) Jardin Corona (Austin, TX, Anderson Mill)
Try: Mango or Strawberry Margaritas, Chipotle Enchiladas, and the Salsa
5.) Margarita Rocks/La Bodega (College Station, TX, Same owner, same fair)
Try: BBQ Chicken Nachos,enchiladas, burgers, burritos, & Don't miss the salsa
6.) Posados (Tyler & Austin, TX)
Try: Cheese Enchiladas, Free tortillas, sopapillas, and ice cream
7.) Tacos Garcia (Amarillo, TX)
Try: Enchiladas de Chile Verde
8.) Trudy's (Austin, TX, various locations)
Try: Stuffed Avocado and brunch buffett
9.) Zocalo (Austin, TX, West Lynn)
Try: Fish Tacos, Dos Salsas, Ceviche, and Pulled Pork Posole Soup
10.) Taco Bus (Houston, TX, Behind Fitzgeralds Bar)
Try: Steak Tacos...it is a taco bus, literally.
11.) La Cocina De Consuelo (Austin, TX, Burnet Rd.)
12.) Leals (Amarillo, TX)
13.) Serranos (Austin, TX, Various Locations)
14.) Ruby Tequila's (Amarillo, TX)
15.) Chuy's (Austin, TX, Various Locations)
16.) Jalepeno Tree (Tyler and East Texas)
17.) Rosas Cafe (Amarillo, College Station and other various TX locations)
18.) Gueros (Austin, TX, South Congress)
19.) El Charro (Tyler, TX)
20.) Taco Garage (San Antonio, TX)

Honorable Mention: Pico De Gallo (Tyler, TX, Closed), Curra's Long Bar (Austin, TX, Closed), Don Luis Supertacos (Austin, TX, Closed)

Let us know what you have had and what you think of this list.

okay, so i fibbed

I'm back, much sooner than expected. No, the computer isn't up and running (well, it is to an extent. I'm typing on it and can get on the internet thanks to Reece's Ubuntu suggestion...but my files still haven't been located (he's working on it via email). If this doesn't work, I'm taking it in next week.

But - Chance and I decided in a flurry last night to do NaBloPoMo - probably due to the inspiration of Kaki. So, I figured I'd post something for the day while I had something to post about, and while my computer was at least semi-functioning.

I went to the gym today.

No, that's not the whole story. I went to the gym today, planning on doing a short workout, and actually worked out longer than I expected to. I ran 3 miles instead of my usual 2.6...so I was feeling pretty good. That is, until I met 'Valerie'. That's what we're going to call her, at least - I never got her name. Anyway, Valerie happened to be using the hip abductor (aka: sex machine) next to me - I was doing the one that works your hamstring. She saw me doing it and said, "I've never done that one before, it looks kinda hard, but my legs are fairly strong". I was getting off and wanted to try my luck on the hip abductor anyway, so I cleaned off the machine and she prepared to give it a whirl. I, thus far...have been doing reps with 15lb or so on that machine...my hamstrings are clearly weak. Valerie appeared to be older, and not in super amazing shape so I warned her that she might want to go light....that it was kinda hard. She then informed me that she could press 110lb with her quads..."pretty good for a 50 year old, don't you think?" She proceeded to adjust the machine to 70lb. I just about SQUEALED, and thought - there's NO way she can do this. Sure enough, she did. Several reps. She dropped it down to 65 to finish out her sets. My mouth was probably hanging WIDE open. And, as I sat on the hip abductor, greatly REDUCING the amount of weight I was doing....I felt pretty dang bad. I went from patting myself on the back to pretty distraught, but proud of Val! Ha.

In other news, I was looking through my blog subscriptions this morning and came across something interesting - a profession I've never even considered. Did you know that there are people who get PAID to pick a soundtrack for your office, or even your HOME? That's right, a "music stylist". I don't know HOW you GET a job like this...I'm guessing you have to live in Hollywood or NYC, but...seriously. These people walk through your house to feel it out for the 'vibe'...and get paid $50 -$250 PER hour of music that they find that sets the mood for your home. Get out. Here's the article in the New York Times. Maybe I've found my future career path. Aaaah, pipe dreams.

a month of blogging

Well, we have had our blog for a little over a month now. I'm sad to say that I don't feel it has lived up to my expectations of it. Maybe I thought I would have grand thoughts I would share with everyone on a daily/semi-daily basis. Then the real world set in and I have been working 70 hours a week for the last two weeks with little time for blogging much else anything else in my life. Such are the woes of being a general manager at a restaurant, I guess.

Halloween was good, we went to a couple of friends' parties, played games, and went to bed. I think the holiday really lost it's appeal to me about, oh, 15 years ago when I couldn't go trick or treating anymore. I remember going with mom one year in pajamas that had glow in the dark skeletons on them. I have no idea how we convinced mom this was suitable for Russell and I but we did it and I am pretty sure I had too much candy. I am positive I had too much candy, since I still have too much candy on Halloween and I am 24. Who can resist a butterfinger or 6 anyways (they were at least the "fun" size ones). I might let Claire tell you more about what we actually did on Halloween. For this post, however, I wanted to write about something on my mind.

I got a haircut on Wednesday. While doing so I realized I finally understood why Claire likes to go get massages. In my own weird way, getting a haircut, for me, is like getting a massage. Of course, there are some boundaries on this. I have to have a stylist that is either foreign and therefore can not communicate with me, or just someone who has no desire to discuss my frivolous day. So assuming I have a mute, foreign, or shy hairstylist I can go in sit down and shut off. Often this ends in me nearly drifting off to sleep. I have the white noise of the buzzers, a cool mist being sprayed from time to time and a nice hair/head massage. Really how could this not be wonderful. I realized I have been letting myself down by being so lazy as to only get a haircut every 2-3 months. I am missing out on one of the most relaxing 20 minutes of my month if I skip for that long. Maybe I am just crazy but dang it's relaxing.

Also November is National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) so maybe Claire and I can get on top of this and give you readers a little more to chew on as we head into Thanksgiving. But, expect me to be gone for about two weeks around the big Turkey day as thats my busiest time of year at work.

Until next time.

this week's drama

Well...there may be another lag in posting. My computer died (or something - yet to be determined) on Wednesday. I've spent a good part of the week trying to figure all THAT out...and will probably end up taking it in to someone on Monday or Tuesday to get fixed. It's kinda put me in a shabby mood, which it shouldn't. I've just gotten behind on work...and may lose 6-8 months worth of files. It's not a HUGE deal really...I should be thankful. I've got a majority of my work stuff and bookmarks backed up on a thumb drive, and my music is all on my ipod - we have 2 OTHER computers (the laptop which I'm on currently - and Chance's). Really, we're blessed. But I'm pretty wound up from being behind on work as well as other things, and I probably won't post anything for the next several days, maybe a week. It's possible that Chance might write...but as for me, consider me on a temporary hiatus 'til I can pull myself together.

Oh yeah, and Happy Halloween.