The Wraith (1986)

Every now and then, Netflix instant streaming actually surprises me with a decent title.  One such surprise was The Wraith, a movie that my brother and I would watch religiously back in 1986-7. The movie would play on CineMax (or HBO I can't recall) and we would catch it on those weekends when the channel offered a free preview or there was some extreme screw up at the billing department.

The soundtrack is pretty cool(Ozzy, Billy Idol, Motley), the special effects are Burger King-cheesy good, and it reminds me of the days when Charlie Sheen was actually cool (eons ago). The plot is really not important, other than to say that Sherilyn Fenn has a bikini scene (sweet!).

I bring up the movie for no apparent discernible reason other than to say that I just realized that I attended zero, ZERO WBCA events last month. I actually feel awful about that. What kind of Laredense skips the carnival, the parade and the Jalapeno festival? What kind of local blogger does not report during the most important  social event of the year? Why didn't I buy more bean dip?

 These questions were swirling around in my head as I was watching The Wraith and as I realized that I had not full-filled my duties as a blogger. But I won't dwell on it too much. I'll get back to my movie now, just had to get that off my chest.

Time

I'm still here, just waiting. Give me time.

Wendy

Free dollar burgers if you find all the punctuation and grammatical mistakes. #wheresthebeef? #sarahhateslaredo

Cakeland

Although Cakeland's sweet bread is mediocre at best, their cakes, I must admit are pretty good.

Now they seem to be opening a new location on McPherson, along with another Bolillos Restaurant.

#Panos is on the ropes.

La Siberia

While their tostadas are decent, it's the 1983 decor that keeps me going back to Tostadas La Siberia

on Zapata Hwy.

On this particular Monday

   It was a bit before the noon hour when I finally made my way across town. The usual traffic congestion on McPherson was not a nuisance as on other days.

On this particular Monday, I had been invited by an old friend to Mass and then our for some lunch. Since my office was closed in observance of the holiday and also because I very much wanted to see her, I accepted the invitation.

"Church on a weekday?" I asked her somewhat perplexed by her phone invitation. "Do they even have mass on Mondays?" I continued in vain, hoping she would alter the invite to a different place.

It had been over ten years since I last saw *****, and I had lost all contact with her up until two weeks ago when a mutual friend of ours gave her my number. Days later, she sent me a text.

The last time we had seen each other, was a tough day for me. We had a big fight over something stupid and it ended everything we had.

Earlier in the day, I had promised to pick her up from her  house, so as I pulled into Santa Rita Subdivision, I began to remember all the silly things we had done in 2002. Memories began to flood inside of me and all I could hear was La Firma singing "Ojala", repeatedly thundering inside my ears, as if it was some medieval torture device.

As she opened the door to let me in, I recalled exactly why I was so much fixated by her beauty. Maybe that cliche is true, life does come around in a full circle.

She smiled at me and said my name, a name I had not heard in years. And instantly, all was forgiven.

  

Big Daddy's Wing Shack

Just when I was getting a feel for "Tweety's Snack Bar" down on the south side, they go and disappear on me, like last years herpes.

It seems as if the dilapidated shack has repackaged itself for the 8th time in three years and this time they are coming back stronger than ever in the form of a 'wing shack'.

It could have been worse. They could have re-branded as yet another sushi place (Does Laredo need another one of those?)

I will be camping outside their shack during their grand opening, hoping to be the first in line. Let me know of if you wish to camp out with me. Maybe we get free wings for life.

This year is starting off on the right wing, err foot.

MonsterVision

The mid to late 1990s would have been a disaster for me if it had not been for the zany antics and outrageous dissection of my most beloved scary movies by horror hound, Joe Bob Briggs. Mr. Briggs was the host of one of my most cherished TV shows, Monstervision.

The show would air on TNT during Saturday nights and would usually broadcast some of the most awesome horror movies ever filmed. It was due to this awesome show, and Joe Bob's endless trivia and background information, that I began to fall in love with movies that are filled with mindless plots.

Below you can watch a video of Monstervision broadcasting a Friday the 13th sequel and with Joe Bob Briggs doing his usual redneck persona. I miss the 90s.

 

BTW, Joe Bob Briggs was even better on another show, Drive-in Theater, but I only caught that show when I would visit my cousin's house, since he had premium cable. Check him out here as he introduces "The Evil Dead", positively my most favorite movie eeeeever.

Orphano

Following some good people on Twitter lately and one of them is Orphano Band composed of Victor and Andres Mendoza. I will leave you their video here of one of their songs. Check it out!

 

Flautas La Unica

After some heavy christmas shopping, I enjoyed some flautas from La Unica.
  Poor me.

Broken

At times, everything seems to be going wrong and nothing seems to work like it should. Life is broken sometimes and it narrows our choices. Limitations can be so harrowing.

Sorry not working

Cowboy Fans

  
Years ago, I used to be a Dallas Cowboys fan. I cheered ecstatically when then won and cried in sorrow when they lost.

I endured the early 2000's along with the revolving door at the quarterback position. From Chad Hutchinson to Quincy Carter to baseball/football star Drew Hensen, the early part of last decade was an ugly time to be a Jerry Jones disciple.  I watched every game since 1988, had my share of player jerseys (hero-worship is funny) and even a Troy Aikman pillow (uuhh).

But, no matter how much a fan you think you are, there is always someone else out there that is a bigger fan.

Are these trucks factory sold this way, or is that a post-factory paint job? Well, does it matter? God bless the Boys'!

VideoMatic

One of the last remaining video stores in Laredo. Where have all the videos gone?

The Death of Heaven's Scent

It seems as if all the businesses I used to frequent in the 1990s are slowly  shuttering down and giving way to the inevitable, no doubt victims of the WalMart effect.

Over two years ago, I wrote a quick obituary to the video store of my adolescence, The Movie Palace. This business was located close to the Loop and Zapata Hwy. intersection. I can still fondly recall the many times that I perused throw the aisles of this venerable temple, searching for my favorite horror schlock on VHS. Sadly, the Movie Palace closed down several years ago. Now it turns out, another of the locally-owned businesses that I would frequent back in the day, has also shut down its doors, after years of serving customers.

All through the 90s, Heaven's Scent floral shop served many customers throughout the south side. I was one of them. Every birthday, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Graduation Day, or funeral that I had back then, it was Heaven's Scent shop that filled my flower needs. I must have spent over $800 dollars in flowers and arrangements there. Sadly, driving by there recently, I noticed they had closed down. I guess no one believes in love anymore. Heaven's Scent is just the latest casualty. I should by them flowers out of respect, right?

De Colores

I have always been fascinated by how some Laredoans pick the brightest colors for their homes or businesses. I mean, like the picture above, it is a very, very bright green and orange. There's a little bright yellow, too.

They even painted the little retaining wall by the sidewalk that same tone of orange.

I kinda like it. It brings something different to the normally bland stucco and beige seen around town.

Golf Carts at TAMIU

Our local university is not exactly the biggest college around when you compare it to those schools in el norte, like A&M and UT. But it has grown a lot in the last 10 years. So much, in fact, that they now have an army of golf carts ready and able to ferry folks around the now sprawling campus.

Personally, I like the one with the four bench seats. It's kinda like the stretch limo of golf carts.

Mexican Blood LP

Looking for some 70s pics of Laredo, I was fortunate to discover this awesome LP from a band called "Mexican Blood". According to the source, Mexican Blood was a 1970s band that recorded for the Crazy Cajun record label. Having heard the entire album, I can tell you that I rather enjoyed it. You can download the entire album and its artwork here.

Orale, where's the Schlitz, man?

If you have any other information on this album, write to me! Also, if you can't download the album, write to me and I can email it to you. (Gbfilms@ymail.com)

Eddie Macon runs to Netflix

One of the favorite movies from local bloggers has appeared on instant viewing for Netflix. Eddie Macon's Run, from 1983, is every local filmmakers wet dream, including yours truly. It has big Hollywood stars and more importantly, several scenes from the movie where filmed here in Laredo! Pretty neat. I imagine the local hoopla back in 1983 over this movie was akin to the hoopla over the much hyped Bordertown TV show. I was not around here in 1983, so maybe KeyRose or some of the other elder statesmen can enlighten us on that topic.

The official US DVD release is hard-to-find and it seems to be OOP, nonetheless, the Netflix version has a top-notch picture.

For those of you without Netflix access, it can also be rented on Amazon for three dollars.

Check

Just checking

TV Repair

Over by Springfield, you can still repair your old TV's. I had an elderly lady ask me if they could repair her 1998 Sony TV anywhere. I pointed her to Solano's, of course. But I warned her they would charge her $50-$75 probably. Even though they have 5 TV's in a 3 bedroom house and the cost of a new TV will be about $200, she might still go through with it. Hojala que no.

Buy Nothing Day

 I love the the holiday season. Thanksgiving and Christmas are both awesomely special days of the year. However, I have never bought into the buy all the junk you can't afford mentality. Thanksgiving is a great time for family and friends, at least for me. Best Buy is not my friend and I don't need to worship at their cathedral this holiday season. Yeay for me!

 

Sad

My favorite team lost again. Another season w/o a world series championship title. I'll be on a sabbatical for a while. Maybe I'll update again someday, but for now...   :(