9/19/09 - Chiclets

If I didn't know better (and at the risk of sounding politically incorrect), I'd think I was in downtown El Paso...

8/29/09 - Mice-ee

I used to see this sign fairly frequently when I lived in Round Rock many moons ago. I had forgotten all about it, until I came across it again this afternoon... And another picture from this date, from the archives...

Casper Van Dien was gracious enough to take this Polaroid with me. Ultimately renamed "On The Border," the movie was shot in and around El Paso, Texas and I had a lot of fun working on it. Notwithstanding the beautiful cinematography and score, it's an unavoidably forgettable film. On another note, according to "The Terminator" timeline, this picture was taken on Judgement Day (August 29th, 1997).

8/11/09 - Chips

This is the first bag of chips I've had in over 5 months... hey, I was hungry and stuck in rush hour traffic. You'd have done the same. And... from the archives...

Taken at an old school photo booth in a Putt-Putt on this date many moons ago (ala "The Karate Kid"), back before we had a clue what digital meant or how it would one day take over in so many aspects. Chris and I walked almost 5 miles (4.9 miles, ala Google Maps) that late afternoon to be with those girls that night (let's see if they can get guys to do that for them now!)... and yes, I'd do it over again. That's the kind of thing you do when you're that age--before life really teaches you things, before you get jaded... and when you don't have a car. Even then, I had a "thing" for documentation and wrote the date, time and had everyone in the picture sign my section of the strip. With no scissors, I folded and tore them apart and everyone got a section of the strip after it was FINALLY processed. Mine survived countless moves and life changes in an old book for all these years--Lord only knows how the others fared.

7/28/09 - McD's Jurassic Park Promotion

I had just started working at McDonald's when Jurassic Park came out, and they were doing a promotion for the film. These are two of the six collectors cups McDonald's would give out if you "Dino-sized" your combo meal. I came across these this morning--at one point, I had the whole set. God only knows how I managed to keep these two over all these years...

7/24/09 - Curiosity Satisfied

I had a little time to kill after an appointment this afternoon, and I just happened to be in the vicinity of an office complex where I once worked 4 years ago. Behind the building I worked, was a bike path where some of the questionable co-workers would like to "hang-out" on their lunch hour. I always thought they were getting stoned, but was never certain. I was always curious about it, and having the time on my hands today, decided to finally satisfy my curiousity...

I didn't venture more than a quarter mile in... And, I suppose I could have looked at a Google Earth image to satisfy my curiousity, but then I'd have robbed of the sheer joy of seeing this on the path...

Nice, huh? This was probably left by one of those phony, pretentious people that love to don those "Keep Austin Weird" T-Shirts... And then, there's these pics...

In continuing with yesterday's theme of postings pics from days gone by, I found these last night. Taken on this date in 1993, at Western Playland in El Paso, Texas. Featured is my best friend at the time, Chris Fuller. I am the one wearing the shirt that makes me wonder WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING wearing a shirt like that on such a hot day at an amusement park.

7/13/09 - Las Peliculas de El Paso

I knew about this spot well before I had ever seen The Border, but the instant I saw it I knew where it was filmed (after having filmed Los Gringos, I damn well know EVERY nook and cranny of El Paso). I got a real chuckle out of the reverse shot which follows, because it was obviously filmed nowhere near where Jack Nicholson is standing...

The same goes for Lone Wolf McQuade, which mainly surprised me because, unbeknownst to me prior to viewing, the house used in the film was right behind my Grandparents' house...

7/12/09 - The Mom and Pop

Long before there was Albertson's or Super Walmart, there was the Mom and Pop. Every El Paso neighborhood had one at some point--the choice was either visit your local corner grocer or drive over to Piggly Wiggly. Despite the fierce competition these small shops now face with 7-Eleven, Circle K and the like, it's nice to know that a few of them are still around.

7/11/09 - The Pershing Theater

While there have been great improvements in the overall movie-going experience (i.e., stadium-style seating), there was something grand--something special about going these old local movie houses. At one point, every community had one. Mine was THE PERSHING THEATER at Five Points. It was here at this one-screen theater where I saw great films for the first time like "Back To The Future" and "Brewster's Millions." Today, visiting a local multi-plex just isn't the same; they lack a certain elegance that theaters once possessed. Coupled with skyrocketing admission, inferior films and over-priced concessions (to concede that one, concession prices have always been excessive), you're forced to sit through 15 minutes of trailers for films you'd most likely pass on only to be further disappointed by the actual feature film itself, or the obnoxious jerks on their cell phones...

7/10/09 - An El Paso Institution

I've never met an El Pasoan that didn't have a soft spot in their heart for Chico's Tacos (even if they DID close my favorite location on McRae and STILL don't take credit/debit cards), but you know what's even better? Another dish I can only get in El Paso -- my Grandma's tacos...

7/4/09 - 2nd Best BBQ in Texas

After Sol's BBQ in El Paso closed in 2006, Rudy's BBQ in Austin is the next best thing... I mean, where else can you see an indoor outhouse?

6/30/09 - Yearbook

I ordered this Hanks High School yearbook from a book seller in Arizona via ebay. It was from my same high school, just a decade prior to my attending.

I guess I bought it out of curiousity, if nothing more. I actually knew a handful of people in it (not to mention, several teachers) and found it interesting to see them with younger faces. In addition to slightly yellowing pages, autographs and even a graduation invitation still stuck in it's pages, there were student name cards scattered throughout the senior section (I'm surprised, if not shocked, that they remained in there after 24 years and not coming from the original owner!).

I never felt as if the book was mine, even though I "paid" for it. I feel that I bought the right to look through it, nothing more. After perusing the pages and reading all of the autographed comments, I decided to locate the book's original owner and tracked him down in Houston, TX. I located him in less than 10 minutes and sent him an email explaining the situation and offered the book back to him.

He responded back within an hour, grateful that I had made the offer (and had been thoughtful enough to do so), but also to inform me that he wasn't even remotely interested in having it back. He said that "that part of his life was over" (and I understand that, completely--just didn't think others thought that way, too), and for me to "enjoy it."

We corresponded a couple of more times. He told me he actually moved away from El Paso after his sophomore year, and had no clue how his Freshman edition yearbook wound up in Arizona. I bid him farewell, but not before once again letting him know that I still consider the yearbook to be his, if he changes his mind...