*CRUNCH!!*

so i love hamburgers typically. well, i did until i read fast food nation. then i kind of thought i could do without them. but not Whataburgers. NEVER Whataburgers! but occasionally i get a craving and i indulge.

so the last few times i've eaten at Whataburger, i am enjoying the deliciousness when *CRUNCH* - i bite on a piece of BONE. i mean, EWWWWW. but i remember, this is an animal i'm eating, and it once had bones. yet i still hope everytime i get a craving that it doesn't happen again.

so today, after giving blood, i went to enjoy a "hearty meal" at cafe express...a hamburger to be exact. and guess what? *CRUNCH*!!

i couldn't finish my burger. am i cursed? is someone trying to tell me something? cuz this is really cramping my style. i mean, i can give up the occasional burger now and again (i pretty much already have). but WHATABURGERS?!?! no me digas!!

for being non-reliable in the boneless department, Hamburger Meat (and probably the beef industry and carnivores by association) get a THUMBS DOWN!

bird poop / pecan droppings be gone!

Mark tipped me off to this. on Washington & Heights, there's a new Bubbles EXPRESS wash (not the hand wash). dude, they spend 3 minutes rubbing your hood and windshield down while you sit comfortably in the car, then it goes through the big washer....ALL FOR FOUR DOLLARS!! you get unlimited use of their vacuums as well. oh, and did i mention they're friendly as well?

for being so cheap and convenient it's almost a crime, Bubbles Express Car Wash gets a THUMBS UP!

this picture is making my mouth water

I have a problem. A WING problem. When my old college roommate's boyfriend (Mark Dettmeier, I think) first took us to eat buffalo wings at Wings-N-More, I was like…"eh." They were fine…nothing to write home about.

Sometime in the past few years something either in my taste buds or in my brain must have changed. Because much like Whataburgers, every month or two I just HAVE TO HAVE SOME WINGS! In fact, I'm deep in a wings craving as we speak. They make me happy...I know, it's sick.

For being delicious when they're spicy and accompanied by celery, ranch dressing, and a cold draft beer (what wouldn't be?), BUFFALO WINGS get a THUMBS UP!!

just as Rick Springfield warned...

Last night I turned in early due to my post-Labor-Day-visit-the-family-then-have-a-rum-and-coke-to-ease-my-troubles exhaustion, around 9:30. Around 9:35 Elsie started barking and I heard a loud noise. I went to the front window and found that someone was parked in my driveway. I peered for a few minutes to make sure (A) it wasn't someone I know coming to visit me happy sleepy time and (B) it wasn't someone preparing to kill me. There was a young blond girl walking up and down the sidewalk in front of our house, talking on a cell phone. So I went out and asked her what she was doing parking in my driveway. She stammered and explained that her dad was over at the next door neighbor's house looking to buy a motorcycle from them, and that there wasn't room elsewhere to park. I said something like "well I just want to make sure you don't park here all night" and went inside. But then I of course thought to myself "SAY SOMETHING! TELL HER TO PARK ON THE STREET! GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY!!" but I felt too stupid to go out again.
So I decided to sick my vicious dogs on her…I let them loose in the backyard. Typically they will bark their heads off at the slightest movement outside (much to my annoyance). This time, I let them outside, they barked for a few seconds, and then headed back to the house. What gives? What good is it to have a pit bull if you can't scare unwanted strangers away?!?
The girl spent another good half hour running her dad's truck's engine and preening herself in the mirror. They finally left around 10:15, sans motorcycle.

For being rude and inconsiderate, the random late-night strangers and our crappy neighbors (who are going to rent out that stupid house when they move in a few weeks to someone I'm sure will bug the hell out of me) BOTH GET A THUMBS DOWN!!!

like walking on clouds

Apparently these things came out in the 70's. This chick Anne Kalso invented this insole that uses "negative heel technology". All I can say is, these shoes rock. Sometimes when I wear them I DO think that I can breathe easier, and that I'm slumping less. But then I think it's all in my mind. It doesn't matter…the shoes have a kicking arch, make my feet hurt a lot less, and are comfortable. As someone on eBay said, they may not be cute, but they're comfortable!

For being ugly comfortable shoes, Earth Shoes get a THUMBS UP!

not to be confused with a tangerine

it's big, it's juicy. you know you want to bite it.

i only recently have discovered the beauty of nectarines. i mean, i knew they existed and i've had them before, but never did i know how awesome they are! i like my food sweet, juicy, with a little bit of crunch, and the nectarines got it all!

gone are the mealy, fuzzy days of the peach. today is a nectarine day.

for being my fruit of choice these days, nectarines get a THUMBS UP!!

meet me in st. louis louis

a few weekends ago kristy and i journeyed to st. louis MO for our friend johanna's wedding reception. we had a good time catching up with all of kristy's college buddies, and i had a little too good of a time drinking keg beer (as usual). as with any trip, we hit a few bumps.

when we got off the airport shuttle at the enterprise rental place, there were a bunch of dressed up people with papers in their hands waiting for us. uh-oh. we were coerced, shamed, and downright insulted into buying rental insurance. guess what - I DON'T THINK SO! i've rented a million rental cars for work and never has this happened to me. lame.

this is a picture of our friend, the chigger. despite not being anywhere near grass, kristy and i were eaten by these little buggers all up and down our legs. who knew? it's been a long while since i've had a chigger bite, but MAN do they hurt! the bites looked so red and pronounced that kristy was convinced she had the measles. she should stick to diagnosing the 4-legged variety animals only i think.

for being buttholes and generally trying to crap on our good time, both ENTERPRISE CAR RENTALS and CHIGGERS get a THUMBS DOWN!!!

on the plus side, we used my Hilton HHonors points for a free stay at the Embassy Suites near the convention center, and it was marvelous! comfortable, nice, clean - what else could you ask for? we missed the complementary "manager's reception" that happens every night (free drinks!), but were no less impressed by it. we also got almost a week free in London a few years ago thanks to the HHonors points.

as i mentioned to kristy, Mr. Hilton may not know anything about raising respectable daughters, but he sure knows how to put a rewards program together! Mr. Continental Airlines should take a few notes.

for being easy, fair, and fun, the Hilton HHonors Rewards program gets a THUMBS UP!

if you like pina coladas...

this is the beautiful beach in front of Hotel Las Palapas in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. it kicks ass. we spent one of our better vacations there about a month ago. just behind those umbrellas is a beach bar where they'll climb a coconut tree to knock down a coconut for a delicious drink for YOU!

oh and did i mention the clear blue water?

'nuff said.


for being beautiful and relaxing, Hotel Las Palapas gets a THUMBS UP!

at least they're not Andes mints

these look about as good as they taste. blech!

what's worse? the green ones with chocolate flavoring in them...DOUBLE BLECH!!

for not being worth my time, and for being a poor substitute for the classic red starlight mints, GREEN starlight mints get a THUMBS DOWN!!

for those with teeth and hoo-has

Dr. Sandra Haldeman is the most patient and interesting doctor i've ever had. she only does gynecology, but has many many contacts in obstetrics.

her story is interesting...after a career as a RN and midwife, at 50 years old she decided to become a doctor. in addition to medical school, she first had to take her prerequisites! she is a testament to following your dreams and doing what you love, no matter the age.



(no picture) Dr. Sue Ellen Richardson is just a damn good dentist. and i have been to pretty much all of them in Houston, and they all suck.

for being kickass doctors, Dr. Haldeman and Dr. Richardson both get a THUMBS UP!!!

the shins will change your life

at least that's what zach braff thinks.


i think so too maybe.



i've been listening to their latest album "wincing the night away" and i just can't believe how good it is. it's solid gold.

overall, these guys rock...i mean look at that picture? how can you not love them???

for (a) being a great live band, (b) being cute, awkward guys, and (c) producing innovative, beautiful music, the Shins get a THUMBS UP!!

mmmm....iced coffeeeee...

kristy donated a crapload of money to kuhf/npr this past year, so the bonus for ME since i'm actually in houston during the week is that i get the free pound of coffee she gets every month as a thank you gift.


i have to go pick it up at House of Coffee Beans on Bissonnet, and every time they are so friendly and they offer everyone a free taste of coffee - either a hot selection or an iced selection. holy crap. their iced coffee rocks...it's milky, sweet, coffee-licious goodness.

for being nice, serving coffee (which in and of itself rocks), and for free nips of delicious iced coffee, House of Coffee Beans gets a gubernatorial THUMBS UP!

whether it be oohing and aahing over Jin & Sun, rolling my eyes at stupid-ass Jack's temper tantrums, or gritting my teeth at Michael's whining about Walt, i cannot get enough of this show.

this is solid tv. it's totally wacky and tests your patience...and man do they ever love to kill off main characters. but that's why i love it. it's totally creative and the plot twists are endless.

for being so shocking that i contine to jump up and scream "holy crap!", and for being totally addictive, LOST gets a THUMBS UP!

so kristy, tina, mark, and i went to Spanish Flowers on Main a few weekends ago. this place is typically decent but not great. the things it has going for it are (1) fresh tortillas, (2) really good salsa, and (3) it's like 5 blocks from our house. everything else is "ok" and sometimes the service kinda sucks.


that will be my last trip to this establishment. why, you ask? because what i can only think was the chili con carne made me sicker than a shithouse donkey. i mean coming out both ends SICK!


thank god for mama ninfa's.

for making me pray to the porcelain god for 13 hours, and for making me hate mexican food for a few days (which i swore i could never do), Spanish Flowers gets a THUMBS DOWN!!!

HORCHATA - AY YAY YAY YAY!!

robert, carmen, and tina all LOVE horchata. for those that don't know, this is a typical drink from Mexico that tastes like sweet, cinnamony, ricey milk. it's pretty darn good, but typically only enjoyed at mexican restaurants. robert said he's tried virtually every horchata on the market, most of which are mixes or powders, and they're all sick.

that is, until he found Kern's. i can only find this stuff at Target (which blows my mind), but i've been drinking it every night as a sweet dessert. i love it over ice. unfortunately, it doesn't do much for those lactose intolerant (or those of us who are lactose somewhat-tolerant, like me - just ask corine!)

i love how the writing on the carton is all "there's a fiesta! it's called HORCHATA!" so every time i drink it, i have to go "HORCHATA - AY YAY YAY YAY!!!" in my most crazy Sabado Gigante voice ever.

for being crazy fun like that, and for being a sweet treat ANY time of day, Kern's Horchata gets a THUMBS UP!

too bad they don't make "snack size"

so one day we were at john and allison's house and before going out to dinner they decided that we should have drinks and snacks. they made fresh guacamole (delicious!) and busted out some of these Julio's Tortilla Chips. if you read about them, you can see that they have a light dusting of flavors on them. sorta tastes like salsa and lime, but it's not overpowering at all! plus these chips are light, so they don't weigh you down!

here's the rub...i can't find them anywhere in Houston! so for now, i have to keep bugging Kristy to go to the HEB in college station (BCS for those in the know) to get them.

for being delicious all on their own (as well as with fresh guacamole), Julio's Tortilla Chips (made in Texas bizatch!) get a THUMBS UP!

it's BETTER, but maybe not BEST

this one's for kristy and mama. they are freakishly in love with this pen. kristy for sure favors a black ink pen.

it's gotten to the point that whenever they see them in the store (which is seldom), they buy out the store.

so for my mom and kristy (and i like them too), Pilot's BETTER Retractable ball point pens (fine point) get a THUMBS UP!

it's no Mai's!

if you like watery noodles that taste only like beef broth, then you'll love Dragon Bowl Asian Bistro on 11th street at Shepherd.

por moi, however, Dragon Bowl gets a THUMBS DOWN!!

giant poodles are scary

i recently had to board Elsie Marie Pants and found a place up in Spring (about 15 minutes from IAH) that's pretty decent. plus, it's not totally booked like every other place! they have the outrageous options of doggie b-day celebrations and "VIP suites". of course, Ms. Pants gets a VIP suite anytime she stays!

for their courtesy, fun options, and crazy 10-foot poodle out front, ABC Pet Resort gets a THUMBS UP!

mama ninfa lives

we went to eat at Ninfa's on Navigation last night and although the Ninfa's everywhere else in this world totally blow, the one on Navigation rocks! strong margaritas, unbelievable food. one waitress we had was a beeyotch, but mostly we've had good service. go early cuz it gets crowded!

the original Mama Ninfa's on Navigation gets a THUMBS UP!

ipod fu

for fixing my ipod, i used this site to buy the parts:



the parts guys were very helpful when i almost couldn't get something working.


I used this site to learn how to fix the pod:



their GUIDES are awesome.

these 2 sites get a THUMBS UP!

new site (sorta)

so i've been having trouble accessing my website from work, where i seem to do all my updating. now i've decided to try using this blog as a way to more frequently update. i will still host stuff on my old site, but the main updating will be here (until this doesn't work anymore!).


i also think i might like to take a "here's what christa hates and loves" type of angle to this blog...we shall see.