Account Access returned

 As happens often, I had lost access to this account, and I had trouble recuperating my information since it was connected to an old cell phone number. However, by sheer luck I was able to get back into my blogger account. Long story short, I can return to posting more Laredo non-sense. Good for us, right? 

Old Pictures found in shoebox

 I have recently started buying abandoned storage units that go up for auction. Mostly I do it to keep me busy during my off days from my regular 9-5 job. Overall, I find junky items, but I have found a few valuable gems. Not long ago, I started finding boxes of old family pictures as well as  VHS family footage. 

1983 GW Parade with Mr. South Texas

Is this around the base? Hillside area?

Cedar St 1973

Slowly I have been going through the video footage in search of scenes from Laredo and a few have popped up (expect that someday). Also, I have found some good vintage pictures of Laredo that I have decided to rescue from landing in the dumpster. I tried returning the family pictures to the storage manager but he said those units had been "abandoned for years". Because of that, I kept the pictures in order to share with you and in the hopes of finding the family members and be able to return their cherished memories. So help me out  #Laredo! Recognize anyone? 

1957 Cotulla, Texas HS Prom

Unknown music store Laredo, TX

Everyone has that one cool uncle

1973 on Gustavus St. 

cool old guy enjoying a 7up in 1975

love the posters on the wall!! Seems like what 1990? Maybe

Z-93, Thrift Stores, video camcorders and the years before Tik Tok (pt. 1)

 No other activity gives me as much pleasure these days as rummaging through used piles of media that I come across as I scour through second-hand stores and auctioned storage units. The main reason why I enjoy finding old videos and photographs is because they piece together a past, a Laredo that is gone and mostly disappeared but reassembled only through forgotten footage and long-lost snapshots. 

One such day occurred last September. There was a box full of yearbooks and home recordings of VHS tapes that I happily bought for 10 dollars. It contained dozens of pictures of strangers I had never met. While this did give me a pause to reflect on the fickleness of our earthly possessions, I took it as a moment to rescue snapshots and images of Laredoans that would otherwise be lost, as a sort of digital Indiana Jones. 

There was one such VHS tape that caught my attention. It was titled "Melissa singing 1991". 

What drew my attention was the year, 1991. It was a memorable year, the Gulf War, Clarence Thomas hearings,  Jeffrey Dahmer, and Marky Mark has us feeling his vibrations.  But locally, the triple-ax murders rocked our city of 122,000 led by then-Mayor Saul Ramirez. The radio stations of the time might have been Y95 or Energy 98, but my personal favorite was Z93. Known mostly for Tejano and cumbias, it was the radio station of choice for many of the local youths of the time. I remember many Friday nights during this time period when my neighbors held their weekly Friday night carne asada ritual and the obligatory Tejano Z93 music blasting from their lowrider mini-truck. It never failed. The elders would be outside reminiscing of the 1960s and swigging Shaffer Light, the younger kids running around playing tag, while the teens huddled and recorded themselves singing and dancing on their Panasonic camcorder. 

When I saw the year the tape had been recorded was 1991, I immediately popped it into my Magnavox VHS player and uploaded the footage to my Twitter feed. It turned out to be analog gold! In it, a young girl, about 15 or 16, is seen  singing and dancing as if auditioning for Star Search. She takes turns with her friend singing Tejano and pop melodies. No doubt, if the scene played out today, the teens would be going live on Tik Tok in the hope for instant likes and shares. In 1991, there was no such pretenses. The best you could do was share the tape at school or at a family carne asada and await your fame to spread, days after it was initially recorded. Or worse yet, wait 25 years for some fool to find it in a long forgotten bin and upload it to social media.

 In the video, one of the young ladies is named Melissa while the other goes unnamed. But its this anonymous singer that captured my attention due to the fact she is wearing what has to be the greatest Z93 sweater ever made. I remember that sweater very clearly because a couple of classmates had a similar one in the early 1990s. So if you remember the days of lowrider minitrucks, constant Z93 Tejano, running around with a bulky camcorder eternally joined at your shoulder, then enjoy the video below and keep alive the memories that should not die. 

WBCA Washington Parade 1990 (What I learned)

If you follow me over on the ol' Twitter account, then you are aware I recently picked up some home movies on VHS at a local thrift store. Some of those tapes included some truly gold vintage TV recordings. One such treasure was titled Washington's Parade 1990 and its a taping off the TV broadcast of this WBCA event. I sat down and watched most of the recording as it was truly fascinating.

Hopefully, I will be able to upload the video to my Youtube channel in the next few days. For now, here are a few things I learned while watching a recording of the 1990 WBCA Washington's Parade.

Apparently, Laredo in 1990 had no qualms with using blackface.

Lupita Benavides was already looking great with her sweet 1989 hair. 

Cigarroa High students danced the Lambada and nobody batted an eye. #Forbidden

Tour La Pulga 359 Laredo, TX

     I find that many local people are hesitant to travel out to Laredo's best known flea market, Pulga 359. This is mostly due to its dingy appearance and its less than desirable location. However, one vlogger, eddvloggs, has done a fairly good job documenting this local market. Check out his video vlog below.

Joy Cometh in the Morning: Kismet When you least expect it

(Sometimes, Laredo surprises me. There are 250,000 stories in this naked city, and this here is just one of them.) 

The encounter I had with an unknown woman at a local Laredo gas station started off just like all the countless others. Little did I know, that chance encounter would convert me in a believer of kismet.

For months, I had been selling music-filled USB’s to various customers off local Facebook groups. Alongside inexpensive party speakers, I would also sell these thumb drives filled with music du jour, which in south Laredo mostly translates to corridos, cumbias and banda. I would run a quick post on social media advertising my pirated usb hub and invariably I’d get a few responses and a few buys. Usually, I would make quick arrangements to do an exchange in a public place, like parking lot or gas station, no doubt a product of watching too many episodes of 21 Jumpstreet.

Close to Christmas of last year, I got a message from a woman named Silvia. She was interested in purchasing a USB, so I agreed to meet her at a gas station close to Saunders. I grabbed a handful of USB’s and expected her to ask for the same mix of music as everyone else: cumbias, corridos and banda. However, I was taken back by her request.

“You would’t happen to have any 80s music would you?” she asked sheepishly. A small smile quietly grew on my face. “ I do,” I responded still quite glad someone had requested anything besides Fito Olivares.

“I’m looking for this one song,” she continued. “For the life of me I can’t recall how it goes. It’s the last song I heard on the last night I ever say the one person I truly ever loved.”

I could see her eyes begin to moist and hear her voice quavering a bit. “ I wish I could help,” I responded, smiling with intent of wanting to know more of this tragic story.

 “The last time I saw Benny was before he joined the service…it was 1985 and we had being seeing each other for three years. But, my crazy home life, and he was away, we grew apart. I heard he got married years after, but he was always there, back of my mind”. She continued telling me all this as if we were life-long friends meeting for weekly Sunday brunch.

Even though the toxic smell of gasoline around us was beginning to make me queasy, I was quite captivated by the sincerity of this middle-aged woman just pouring out her heart to some random stranger off Facebook.

“We spent our last night together in the back of his pick-up. He had a camper on it. The stars shone so much brighter in Laredo back then. All night we heard the same tape, and that song that I can’t seem to remember has been like a ghost in my head for thirty-four years”.  The last words trailed off as she seemed to lose herself in a vague memory.

I broke the silence. “Well, I wish I could help; I’ve got about 50,000 songs on my hard drive. Can you at least hum it?” I joked wanting to move the story along.

She smiled warmly and made direct eye contact, “I’ve been alone for three years now and I promised myself if I ever recall that song I’d go out and look  for him. It’s been two decades and for the life of me, I can’t recall it at all. That song holds me in his arms of that stupid camper back in ‘85, but I can’t seem to recall it. And it keeps me way, silent”.

Her words seemed to echo my own life, in more ways than I care to mention. I could truly say I understood her every sentiment. Looking back at my own life, I could easily place myself in the same shoes of this mad, middle aged-woman attempting to decipher life outside an Exxon.

Once again she smiled and stretched out her hand filled with cash. “Here’s the money for the USB” she blurted out, as if caught between nostalgia and tragedy. She finally began to walk toward her car saying “I’m sure there lot of songs on here I’ll like”.

As she walked away I thought of a few people of which I have felt that strong about. People that decades later, we still have that similar experience of fading memories, remorseful regrets and bitter tears of life. I drove down Corpus Christi Avenue thinking of that lady and her story, thinking of campers and Benny and the stars of dark Laredo nights in the mid 1980s. I fully expected to never hear from Sylvia again after that chance encounter but to my surprise I had three messages from her in my inbox when I got home that evening.

“Gabito!” she screamed in a voice message using my online handle. “You have it! It was the very first song on the USB! Dennis de Young sings it and the song is called “Desert Moon”. I can’t believe I finally found it. Thank you so much, I’m making plans to go out there and meet him. I’’ll write soon,” she said, as of in a hurry trying to do a million things at once.

I was stunned. I had not even ever heard that one particular song, up to three days before that casual encounter with Sylvia. I loved Dennis De Young with Styx but was unfamiliar with most of his solo discography. However, three days prior, I was binge listening to Styx when I must have gone down a rabbit hole and discovered the song, “Desert Moon”. Upon first listen, I was immediately drawn to it, so much so that I downloaded the album to my computer and heard the song endlessly for 3 days. When Sylvia got in contact with me days later, I simply copied files unto a clean USB and by sheer luck, the first song on there was the song that had held Sylvia captive, like a roaming ghost.

It all seemed like the strangest of coincidences, the craziest of pure luck moments, a smack in the face by fate, in other words, kismet. Apparently, Sylvia was right. Laredo’s stars did shine brighter back in 1985.

Several weeks later I received two unexpected messages from Sylvia. She had reunited with Benny and was spending night and day by his side, reminiscing at all the beautiful times from their blessed youth. She mentioned they had laughed and cried as they shared their life once again, as if that night spent in a cold Laredo camper had never ended. Sadly, Benny was undergoing Stage 4 cancer treatments and due to life’s circumstances the only person by his side during this awful time of trial was Sylvia.

I thought about Sylvia and Benny and their improbable reunion, and the small part I was fortunate enough to play.

So a sincere salute to Sylvia and Benny, two people, just like the rest of us, trying to navigate their way through life’s dark days. Joy cometh in the morning.

We hate it when our friends become successful

To steal a line from Morrissey, I could just go lay down on the woods and die every time I see an old classmate / relative or acquaintance blowing up and getting more recognition that they deserve. It sounds selfish and trivial, but everywhere I turn these days, I see old foes surpassing me and leaving me alone and abandoned, like a tattered hat on the dance floor of El Gastronomico.

I sure do hate that my friends are becoming so damn successful. Even though my seething anger will eventually turn to  actual happiness for their achievements, I feel a great displeasure at almost reaching 40 and stuck in a huge rut of nothingness. I see neighbors and ex-friends, girlfriends and ex-wives thriving in their business or careers. And here I am, quoting bad Moz songs and feeling like Hebbronville, TX: distant, forgotten and inconsequential. 

That same feeling reflects my attitude toward Laredo. Lately, so many wonderful things have been occurring, growth spurting out at all sides. Yet, I feel very jealous at some of Laredo's "success", so much so that it might be time to put to bed that tired line-'There is nothing to do in Laredo- to an eternal sleep.

Family entertainment, night venues, culture and literary centers are being opened at faster rates that I ever remember. Not that I'm a reader or literary in a sense, but, still, it's cool to have that option.

Thought I must say, that sense of jealousy does creep up. "The Laredo that I used to know," sleepy and content with just being itself is being lost to a brand new Laredo. I'm not so certain what this new Laredo encompasses, not at all. But at least its suffice to know its becoming successful. I can deal with my self-pity at a later date. 

South Laredo Taco Trail

We down in south Laredo are not privy to the national eatery chains that adorn the other side of town. When it comes to all the "good restaurant chains", we are left with empty bellies and broken hearts. Places like Cheddars, Chillis, Applebees and Longhorn Steakhouse will not dare open up a location in the southside. But that is just too bad for them; that is their loss. We don't need their fancy corporate fannies in my part of town. We have our own locally grown chains that cater to our to what Laredo is really about, tacos, tacos and more tacos starting with Laredo's own trinity-trifecta known as TaconMadre, Taco Tote and mighty Taco Palenque.

Down on south Zapata Hwy, by Cigarroa High, all three taco giants are duking it our for supremacy along a 5 block strip that oozes guacamole. South Laredo has no need for national jokes when all we need are tacos done right.

Taco Tote is not going down with a fight!

Stripes has Taco Palenque running scared

So if you live on the wrong side of town, you know anywhere north of Guadalupe, take a drive to the south Laredo Taco Trail and give the national chains a fancy middle finger salute. Tell them Delaredo sent you and you get an extra heap of guacamole! Provecho.

Football Season AND Pulga Blanca in Laredo, TX

Believe it or not, I actually had a difficult time signing into my BLOGGER ACCOUNT and for the life of me I could not recall my Google email. Somehow, in a flash of memory spark, I remembered both my email and password, after about two months of not being able to sign in.

So, here we are in a brand new year 2017 but I still choose to look at the past.  The present is great in all, but I have more fun when I retrospect and see what happened in the days gone by.

This Sunday, I found myself at the Pulga Blanca and I was checking out some of the vendor booths, and most were the usual assortment of  Wal Mart returns, but one person actually had some interesting items. Among the wares he was hawking was a stadium seat cushion from that legendary rivalry of Nixon Vs. Martin. It was dated from 1985, which so happens to be my fondest yr from the 1980s.

Now, I did not this honorable institution, but I was almost tempted to buy it just for the year alone. It looked comfy and I can just imagined how many different tushies it had encountered since the days of Marty Mcfly back in time. Next time I might just pick it up, even though its 2017 on the calendar, to me 1985 never ended.

The long and winding road back home

So it's been a while since I last posted anything. Honestly, it hasn't been all quiet on the home front, and that has prevented me from coming around here.

But sometimes the long road back home is just one blog post away. Let me go get my keyboard again.

Chalu Burgers

No one will ever confuse me with a Laredo historian. I can't seem to recall anything pre-Betty Flores days.

One thing I get asked often by friends and relatives is, "Hey DeLaredo, you 'member the Playmore right? That place was awesome?".

To which I snap my reply, "I have no bugging clue about the Playmore, or Roxy's, or Wimpys or the freaking Royal. So leave me alone!" That usually  drives them off and they stop asking me questions.

Soooo..it's no great surprise that I have never heard of Chalu's Burgers. You see, I was doing some gift shopping over at the pulga when I came across a neat coffee mug.

CHALU Burger? Chale, I've never heard of that. Maybe some of you out there can enlighten me as to when and where this place existed. Perhaps preeminent historian Keyrose can use his keen insight and tell us more about this local burger shrine that is no more.

How can a place exist in Laredo for 30 years and I not heard of it at all? It goes to show you once again what a bad Laredoan I am.

Burgers from the past

KGNS News 1980

This video you have to watch!

Vintage KGNS Laredo, TX circa 1980 and boy is it fun viewing.



 Featuring: Mayor Tatangelo looking perplexed

Residents of Colonia Guadalupe battling gangs of youths

A young and robust Heatwave Burler rockin a beard and being the spitting image of Robert England!!

John Keck pleading for you not to get up to go to the refrigerator!

La Migra working on cutbacks and with used parts  :(

Sames car dealership in better days

The best Coors beer commerical EVER!

Elizabeth Sorrel of the Laredo Citizens Society

The Watsons giving a party in 'their beautiful home in Del Mar'!

The Alpine Car Stereo of my dreams from Audio Systems in the Gateway Shopping Center

Laredo by Band of Horses

"Gonna take a trip to Laredo
Gonna take a dip in the lake
Oh, I'm at a crossroads with myself
I don't got no one else"




 So I just heard this neat little ditty song. Just the fact that it mentions "Laredo"
in the lyrics is cool enough.

Dr. Ikes, Somos de aqui

Where would I be without Dr. Ikes? It's my hardware store of choice. I sure do miss those Don Chema commercials though.

And that radio/tv jingle, "ay, ay, ay, me gusta dr. Ikes". That thing can stay in your head for days.

(photo found on flickr)

Jay St. John

Love him or hate him, Jay St. John is back on the radio. The controversial, but always entertaining radio personality, has bounced from station to station, but now you can catch him at 4pm on 1550 AM. Or you can follow his twitter here.

Pulga Time

Vamos a la pulga.

Chilitos Restaurant

Hilarious but true, about 7 blocks away from "El H-Evito", the subject of my previous post, there is a small dingy restaurant on Zapata Hwy that bills itself as "Chilitos". It sits right across the street from "El Rancherito Meatmarket" ("pasale pa'dentro primo") and next to the now faded Movie Palace Video. What caught my attention about Chilitos though, was the play on the name as a semi-parody of Chilis, only this is a small or Chilitos version. Only in the Laredo southside. I haven't eaten there, but maybe one of these days I will. Who knows maybe this restaurant is better than its corparate giant chain counterpart. Mmm, maybe not, but still the name is genius.

DeLaredo

Welcome to our new blog that is finally up and running. We will update this blog everyday or every other day so look back and read frequently. I'm gonna try to comment on different aspects and issues concerning our fair city and just pretty much pick up on the vibe and the oddities that make our border city of Laredo unique and adventurous.