Giving up Lent

Giving up Lent

by BG

The season of Lent has returned and Laredo is once again flooded with capirotada, seafood and the silly practice of denying one-self Cheetos.

Inexplicably, for Lent, some people actually “give up” Cheetos. I’m not trying to mock someone else’s spirituality, but I have always failed to see how sacrificing such a trivial thing such as “Cheetos” could be interpreted as an act of self-denial. For the past several weeks, I have heard from friends and relatives how they have “given-up” one thing or another. Some have vowed to abstain from all sorts of things such as bread to soda pop, to red meat, and even chocolate bars.

(I’ve never fully understood why red meat is such a big no-no during Lent, while fish is seen as acceptable. Giving up red-meat, like dieting, is a luxury that not everyone can partake. But I guess it gives an economic boost to fish and seafood eateries so I will get off the topic before the good people over at El Pescador Restaurant send their goons to silence me.)

Maybe it’s just me, and maybe I’m totally wrong but is that what Christianity has come down to now? Has Lent been reduced to something as nonsensical as refusing to eat Cheetos in the vain hopes of becoming a better person?

I’m certain that quitting high sugary drinks like soda pop has its health benefits, and eating less red meat during Lent might be easier on your cholesterol, but some of us seem to have taken it to an absurd level.

My point is not to sound too pompous (too late) or self-righteous, especially since I’m not a dedicated believer and I don’t sacrifice a thing for the Lent season. However, the past several weeks I have heard from decent people that they are practicing repentance and self-denial by abstaining from a plethora of non-important foods and practices. If that makes them a better person, then great who am I to judge, right? But maybe we are going about this all wrong. There are many ways to becoming a better person and being an asset to society. However, abstaining from junk foods doesn't seem like one of 'em.

The Reen "Disposable Boyfriend"

Video of local artist, the Reen. We recorded this sometime back in 2007. I like the acoustic song; I can sing along to it. Check it out and leave some positive comments.



Yes I'm re-posting this again, so deal with it.

Viernes Social

Es Viernes asi que todos a pasear y bailar! Here is a video to put you in the
dancing boots mood.

Backyardigans play Norteno

Lyrics of the week

We going old school with this one. Let's see can get it out there. No googling either!

"Are they still getting down where we used to go and dance

will our ballclub win the pennant,

do you think they have a chance?

And tell me friend, how in the world, have you been?"

Worship Time

Some corporations seem to have a soul

Furniture in Life

Maria, over at furniture in life, has been having some really neat posts lately, that it's making me a wee-bit jealous. Stop by her blog and and check it out.

The West Side in better days

Slow

Things are slow around here the last couple of days. Just give me time; it's going to be a rough week for me.

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines."

New Technology

Over at LCC, it seems that they have the newest technology for student use. Case in point:

Budget cuts suck!

BadFinger (live in Laredo, TX, 1979)

Great song by a neat band. Too bad Mariah Carey ruined this one.

This video might have been posted in another blog already, but I want to know if anyone
can tell me what venue this band is playing in the video. It is supposed to be in 1979. Maybe some of
the old-timers can tell us!

Waiting on love and waiting on my tacos

Love is difficult thing to find in Laredo. Also, Cheers is not the best place to find it.  The last time I found love in that place, I had to go to the doctor and get three vaccines weekly for several months. But, anyways....

 I was going out with someone (let's call her Sandy) several months ago and things were going well, but we did have several differences that finally put an abrupt end to what we had. She did not like chocolate ice cream, hated horror movies, was a root beer drinker, had not clue who Bob Dylan is, and insisted on wearing her Jeff Bagwell Astros jersey in my presence. But I was able to overcome all that due to her warm smile, soft hands and hair that I loved to caress.

We ended our thing and went our separate ways back in December. Today I saw her with her new beau. She greeted me and introduced me to her boyfriend...now fiance, and proudly flashed her shiny new engagement ring. My face was trying to hide my WTF look, but I'm sure I did a terrible job at it. How can someone get engaged in less than two months time? Well, I told her I was glad for her, and for the most part, I meant it, if only a small part of me felt a wee bit jealous. However, there is the great part of this stupid short entry. I felt jealous, actually jealous. I had not felt that way in a while. Yeay for me and having a heart again.

That's all I have to say about that... for my tacos just arrived.

The Hand goes for donuts

Every now and then, The Hand enjoys getting out of Laredo and touring far away and exotic locales to cities such as Vienna, Bangkok, Lisbon, Cuzco, Freer. All great places to visit and meet the locals.

This past weekend though, I had the chance to visit our neighbor city to the north, San Antonio. Lots of things to do and lots of things to see with many cultural and educational places to grow and learn. I did none of that however, for I went to the Dunkin Donuts, my own cathedral and place of worship.

 

 

Give me 7 dozen plis

Wish you were here. Next time, I think I'll do the Louvre...or maybe River City Donuts.

Why are there no cheerleaders in baseball?

Why are there no Cheerleaders in baseball?

And other 4am questions

Recently, I went about four months without premium TV; that is without cable or dish, and mostly I survived on Netflix and by reading my rarely used copies of my college textbooks.

With so much free time on my hands, I took a wild stab and reading, and more importantly understanding, Michael Foucault and Edward Said. However, I soon arrived at inevitable conclusion that I’m just a dumb American and a sorry excuse for a Chicano*.

As for Netflix, well, there is only so many times one can watch Return of the Zombie Hookers with Chainsaws before the brain begins to melt like Velveeta cheese.

It was then that I decided to return to the idiot box and overpay for awful programming from the likes of VH1 and their endless array of “reality TV” bullshit.

However, the main reason I decided to return to a basic dish package (other than the fact I didn’t understand a goddam thing Foucault was saying) was to be able to view the MLB Network and specifically my Texas Ranger’s games.

This is why, a few days ago, while channel surfing at 4am, like an insomniac on a bender, I began to ask myself why baseball did not employ the lovely services of “barely-clad” cheerleaders, strutting their goods, much to the delight of hot-dog eating spectators  The NBA, the NFL and even soccer leagues** employ cheerleaders. So then, why doesn’t baseball use them? How lame-o! Even worser, why hadn’t I ever noticed this glaring omission before? I’ve been watching TX Rangers baseball since 1986 and I had never noticed the lack of lovely ladies before now.

Call it an epiphany, an awakening or just your basic WTFB moment. Just imagine how much more exciting a foul ball would be, if only the 3^rd baseman had to maneuver passed the pom-pom girls in order to track down the ball by the dugout. I’m just saying. Traditionalists might say it would ruin the game, and it prolly would, but still…

On another note, Chum-Lee from Pawn Stars has quickly bolted to the top of my “favorite goofy people on TV” list. He and Delfino from Auction Kings should definitely go head to head in the quirky sidekicks category.

In the end, I’m back to the boob tube, at least till my brain finishes rotting. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* I had a friend in HS that insisted we be called Chicanos and reject the "latino" or "hispanic" label

** My brother refuses to call it soccer and demands I say "futbol". Screw that; its soccer!

*** Pawn Stars is a show on History Channel and Auction Kings is a show on Discovery Channel

Movie quote of the Week

Quote from one of my all-time favorite flicks (Can John Cusack ever fail?)

"What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?" 

Go ahead and try your luck and guess. No cheating by copying and pasting in Google!

Welfare Love

On Valentines, everyone can afford sweets

Found this at the HEB some time back. It just seems wrong.

Tax payers money going to buy overpriced chocolates. Really? Heck, then why can't I get my beer on Lone Star Card? Its just wrong. Everything is just so wrong.

Our country has come to this? (someone cue the Fox News music)

Manifiestos Molestosos

Sorry Monterrey Shoppers

  Someone explain to me again why the Monterrey shoppers don't have to pay sales tax! Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've heard it before. Still, I say, let's tax em! Then maybe we can have our stores back. *

No parade

I tried my best to wake up early enough to attend the parade, however, I overslept. Oh well.

Big Saturday

The biggest day in Laredo is finally here. The big, big Saturday. I'll try to make it and post some pics from all the happenings.

The Parade

by Maria C.

Parades and me go a loooooong way back. I remember in Head-Start I was asked to dress up as Aunt Jemima and walk in the youth parade. I dunno what the purpose of the character was, but they wanted me to dance around and be ‘lively’. If you know me well enough, you know lively is not a word used to describe me. So suffice it to say I did not participate. That was the beginning and the end of my career in the parade-walking business. 

But I was an avid spectator. My mother would wake us up early Saturday morning; we’d drag our chairs, coolers, and blankets over to some empty space next to Martin High and we’d wait. Dad and Mom would sit on their chairs, while my brothers and I would sit on the curb eating our warm tacos and grumbling about how early and how freakin’ cold it was. It didn’t help that we didn’t care who the business people on the first couple of cars were. But when the floats would start coming out in full force, that’s when we’d wake up and start trying to catch the candy, beads, and toys that were being tossed at us. 

 It was our yearly tradition to be present for Laredo’s Grand Parade. Until recently, that tradition had faded away but I want my daughter to enjoy the same kinda childhood I had. So for the past three years, it’s been my mission to make sure to attend the parade. I make tacos like my mami used to. I bundle up mija in warm layers and nag my brothers until they have no choice but to join us. We’ve gotten a bit wiser since our younger years and we set up our chairs right after work Friday afternoon.

El desfile is always an awesome time to share with family and friends and this year is looking to be no exception. So go out and have some fun. Just be careful with those flying trinkets; they kinda hurt if they knock you on the head (yes, I talk from firsthand experience).

LCC Fun Fest

Here are several pics from the Fun Fest. Sorry for the poor quality. I was trying not to get noticed.

JalaPeno Festival

 Here is a little secret that I will share with you faithful reader, but only you. I am a "Jalapeno Festival" virgin. I've never been to one. I hang my head in shame and disgust. Pity me please.

Maybe this is my year. Maybe this year I will go and be counted as a true Laredoan.
 
Changuitos.

Moving my Kool-Aid

You Don't have to drink my Kool-Aid, but don't move it from place either. I hate it when HEB moves the groceries around. Me pierdo.

Suicide at the Carnival

Suicide Nite

by Maria C

The carnival's in town. The first night it's open is usually known as 'suicide night'. I remember I used to beg my parents to let me go. I so wanted to be there to test drive the rides. There was something so mystical about signing a waiver releasing the carnival from any responsibility for the loss of my life. The darned bracelet was only $15 for all the rides I could handle. It was awesome! Unfortunately, I was never allowed to go. I guess I should be thanking my parents but I wish I had been there at least once on the opening night. I could've said I 'survived' the carnival. Pero nada.

I would get on some pretty big rides as a youngster. My tia would make us a ginger root tea to drink before we'd head out to tackle the rides. The tea was really nasty but it would supposedly help settle our stomaches. I guess it did because after some six rides, we were still going strong. We were some troopers. But I can't say the same for my poor mother. During one particular year, my cousins weren't in town to accompany me on the rides and my brothers are big wimps. My mom took on the role of 'partner-in-crime' for the night. I ended the night fine but she didn't get the memo on the ginger root. She did not have a good night. Some random street curb also ended up having a bad night.

I always look forward to the carnival, even though it ain't the same. I don't get on the rides anymore cuz my equilibrium is not what it used to be. Still, the whole atmosphere is so electric. It's so nice to see the kids get on rides and have them think that these are the only roller-coasters life will offer them. Ha. But go out and enjoy the event. Bring me back a candy apple on the way out. They're the best.

Get off the phone and order your sandwich!

 

 

 

Pickles, lettuce?

At the Subway, they're not messing around. When its your turn to 'build' your sandwich, they want you OFF the phone, now, pronto, ahorita mismo! After all, building the perfect sub takes art and skill. Distractions can't be had.

These are important times we live in.

Please refrain from checking your facebook while making your Sub

Time for Me

I have been getting loads of questions regarding my upcoming B-day sometime in the next month and in order to appease the masses, I will post on here ideas for what I want to receive on that festive day. These are just ideas. You are welcome to think outside my blog and buy me whatever you think is best.: TX Rangers season tickets, Star Wars Hans Solo autographed poster, New HD Canon Camara and BoomMic, etc. Again, just ideas. Or, you can get me one of these below.

A much needed watch to keep track of my peeps phone #'s

or

A good way to get me to blog on time

Patek Philipp watch if you are feeling generous

Ideas, ideas. Send all gifts and donations here

My Experience with Emilio (by Cindy)

My Experience with Emilio

by Cindy (guest contributor)

The year was 1994.  I can clearly remember waiting anxiously to go with my parents to the Casa Blanca baile.  The main attraction…Stephanie Lynn, Xelencia, and none other than Emilio Navaira.  I was in love with these Tejano bands.  I knew all of the lyrics to all of their songs.  I didn’t care if I was going with my parents for I was a teeny bopper, of sorts. Instead of crushing over Jordan Knight (which is a whole other article) I was in love with Emilio!  All I could think of was….”Como Le Hare” to get a picture with him and his chubby counterpart, Raulito!

I remember always nagging my parents to go see these bands, especially Selena and La Mafia.  I would plead…”but mom…what if something tragic happens and they die?!  We have to go see them today!”  And of course my mom would try to explain to me logically that nothing was going to happen and that we would go see them, “Next time, mijita.”  Well, sadly, these tragic things do happen.  I mean look what happened to Selena.  Who would ever fathom that her psychotic number one fan would shoot her and that her overly religious father would deny a blood transfusion that could potentially save her life?  I guess there wasn’t a next time for that one, Mom.  

Then, in 2008, another tragic accident occurred.  While driving back home after performing in Houston, Emilio wrecked his tour bus and landed in the hospital with a bad head injury.  Now granted, this accident could have been avoided.  He chose to drive extremely fatigued, intoxicated, and without a commercial license to drive that big bus.  But he’s Emilio Navaira... I’m sure he felt invincible, at some point in his career.  And I’m sure many of us have rationalized it the same way. "I’m sleepy, but I will make it home ok.  I’m not drunk, just a little tipsy… I’m ok to drive."

Well that accident cost him more than a head bump.  He was sued by his band mates, he confessed to driving while intoxicated and now he admits that he forgets some of the lyrics to his songs while performing due to his accident.  The biggest effect of this accident has been the public’s response.  People are glad he survived, but at the same time they talk, “How could he?! How dare he risk his band mate’s lives?  I can’t believe he drove drunk!”

He performed here at the Casa Blanca about 3 weeks ago.  The same Emilio that would sell out the venue, barely sold any tickets this time around.  The turnout was extremely poor.  I’ve seen more cars in the parking lot for a quinceanera than there was for his concert.  I was anxious to see how he looked. Did he have scars all over his face?  He stepped onto the stage and the first thing I noticed was that he looked older, masarrugas, but he looked fine.  No visible signs of that accident.  Despite all that, I was simply grateful that God had given him a second chance at life.  And sure enough, the first words out of his mouth when he stepped on stage were, ”Gracias. Muchas gracias!”  You could tell, that he was thankful for all of the prayers and for us giving him a chance to continue to do what he loves to do…sing.  

I think, as a society, we hold celebrities to a higher standard.  They can do no wrong in our eyes.  I admit, Emilio messed up.  He shouldn’t have driven that bus in his condition.  But I will not hold a grudge forever.  His music is, and always will be a part of my childhood that I won’t forget.  Maybe it just reminds me of a better time when my biggest worry was making sure I did my Algebra homework on time.  

Needless to say, I finally got a chance to take a picture with Emilio.  Thank you for the blast to the past.

Cindy w/Emilo OMG!

 (Thanks to Cindy for her special contribution to our blog.)

Cold Night

It was too cold last night, and the icy roads caused havoc all throughout Laredo.

Icy roads can't stop me

Crossing an overpass was also a fun adventure.

 This guy thinks its an IceRoad Truckers episode

 Local chain restaurant empty

I was out having dinner and it was practically empty. I guess everyone stayed home and ate tamales instead.

Target parking lot

You know it's cold outside when even the Target parking lot is empty at 8pm. People were to cold to shop. A bit of ice shuts Laredo down and brings us to our knees.

Frozen Mop

Then this morning, I was about to mop around the house, but when I went outside I discovered that my bucket was frozen solid. Needless to say, I was unable to mop and clean so I went back to bed, slid under the covers and played old re-runs of Chiquilladas on TV. Nimodo.com

Closede for lack off Bussines

In these tough economic times, many downtown stores are opting to close down due to sluggish sales. After shuttering their doors, some stores place a sign out front to let the customer know that they have gone out of business. Here is one such example below, that I found downtown. 

Of course, since this is Laredo, we go bilingual on everything, and pos, here is the gringo English version for you pochos que no hacen espeak Espanish.

A few errors in spelling and grammar

Good thing Mami Chulas is still in bussines and not closede.

Panaderia Showdown

 

 

It is finally here. Hold on to your bucket seats because I will soon bring you the showdown for the ages: Pano's Bakery vs. Polo's Bakery.

You 'member the Pepsi challenge, well this will be Pano/Polo Challenge. Which bakery will come out on top as having the better pan dulce? Which bakery will have the bragging rights as being a DeLaredo highly recommended panaderia? It's a prestigious honor for sure. 

Very soon we will answer the eternal question: Polo's pan ducle or Pano's pan dulce? Stay tuned...and bring your coffee.





 

Yankee Truck

Evil Empire Truck

I found myself late at night at the HEB  and as I was getting off my truck, a Red pick-up with a flashy Yankee decal pulled up next to me.  For a brief second, evil thoughts crossed my mind (a much needed ding here and there) and I could see myself doing things that I might later regret. Needless to say, I left the truck alone but I did curse Jeter and his GQ self. Good thing it wasn't the regular season or else, quien sabe...

Looking

No need to keep looking. You have found it: Laredo's worst blog.

Glad you stopped by. Please leave a quarter in the tip jar. 

My Favorite Songs-of-the-Moment

Here you go, my top 6 songs that are on the repeat button of my CD changer. Laugh away at my musical ignorance. Click here to read more (if you dare!!!).

Tax Time

It's tax time again and the local businesses are out again trying to lure customers in. The above picture was taken from a tax place on Springfield and just three houses down, on the same street, is another tax place. Looks like some stiff competition.

I hope I get a good tax return this year. I know several places downtown where I can spend my cash. You're invited BTW. First round on me.

Pano's Bakery and Lonestar Card

Pan Dulce MMM

Pano's bid to be Laredo's best bakery seems to be well underway, and now that they have opened their 7th store, it seems that they have they have taken over the world. Personally, I prefer Quickie, La Perlita or El Mejor Pan Bakery myself, but Pano's has its moments, especially when the other bakeries are closed for the day or have run out of sweet bread.

One thing I had not noticed is that Pano's accepts Lonestar Card. Wow, must be nice to eat pan dulce on someone else's dime. Goes to show how important sweet bread is to raza.

Now, if only Mami Chula's accepted Lonestar, then that would be sweeter.

WBCA and other silly things

That crazy time that we all dread is here again. It's that time of the year in which we all have a love/hate relationship with all things George and its WBCA version of him.

 I'm tired of having to defend Laredo. There isn't anything to do in Laredo, they say.
The are no bookstores in Laredo. People are illiterate here, they say.
Parks are awful in Laredo. But I still defend my hometown. There is a high unemployment rate in this city. But I still defend mi Laredo.

But the hilarious Martha Washington shenanigans and most of the WBCA events, that I can't defend.

Its that time of the year again in which I'm ashamed to live in Laredo (OK, easy on the drama now).

Name the Laredo Baseball Team

Soon, Laredo will once again have a pro baseball team. Now you can enter the contest to name the team. Send in your submissions. I believe that the winner receives nice perks, including lifetime tickets.
LaredoProbaseball.com

Send me your submissions if you like; I'll submit them for you! I will; I will. Promise. (changuitos).

Thinking of buying me another ride

I always wanted an '86 regal. Its crazy. Don't hate. I'm going to buy it and trick it out too. 

 

Who knows, I might even give you a ride. Just easy on the trash talking.

Tome Schlitz: Little Joe y la Familia

I ran across a song titled "Tome Schlitz" that I had found on a forum some time back. It's a Little Joe song. Looks like it was recorded sometime in the mid to late 70s. I had a couple of cold ones, during a carne asada, with my father and we played this song several times. Made a video slide show with some random pictures I found online. I'm getting thirsty now. Tomen Schlitz people!

 

Menudo Bowl

I'm saddened to admit that I will be unable to attend the Menudo Bowl. I had hoped on going and snapping some pics for the ol' blog, but, due to work, I won't be attending the Bowl.  Send me some pics of the event if you have some to share with everyone.

gbfilms@ymail. com

Wanting

Wanting

by L.C.

Wanting the forbidden

opens the soul to

tempation

of the unwanted.

These uneasy

f e e l i n g s

of lust, formulating uncontrollable

wants that are unfathomable.

Lack of control

       is driving

sanity away and allowing

       insanity

to creep in and take control.

It leaves emptiness, false hope,

false love, false dreams

losing grips of

r e a l i t y

fingertip

by

fingertip

I'm trying to keep hold.

jamboozie

It's WBCA time again. Jamboozie  is coming up on the 29th. I donlt normally attend these events, but this yr I'm going. I need a date though. I'm taking applications.

La lana

Some local establishments are big on superstitions. I can respect that. I especially love the borreguito next to the cash register. Kaching! Vamos a ganar mucha lana.

Winter "Blizzard" Hours

More fun from Naturall Yogurt over on the southside: Winter Hours

It seems that the good people over at Naturall Yogurt are expecting heaving blizzards this winter for they have altered their hours of operation in anticipation of the heavy snowfalls. No sense in getting caught in two feet of snow just 'cuz you had a frito pie craving. I'm glad they're keeping it real.

Carne Asada

Fellow blogger, Que Fregados, featured a crazy youtube video of some guy going off on 'carne asada'. I thought it was a bit funny and decided to give the video some more play on this site. Watch it or go to Fregados blog and view the others by the same uploader. Let's make it go Laredo viral!

Check out the Laredo Parks and Rec shirt on this guy. At least he has guts. 

"Una carnita, aqui ya sabes para los youtube members, you now for keeping it totally mexican-american, latino, hispanic, border living, laredo, TX!"

No Freebies

 

Saw this sign at a local restaurant, Naturall Yogurt, on the southside Loop. I don't have anything to say about it. It is what it is.

Random Movie Quote of the week

From a movie, but my personal creed that I live by:

"Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pu*sy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days." 

  Give the title of the movie and you win my admiration.

Poeta

POETA plates, click to enlarge

I had never met a real Poeta before. But, I was at a stoplight recently, and fate brought me up close and personal to a real Poeta! I was thrilled. I was flabbergasted. I wanted to write a haiku about it. I tried to pull up next to this poet, but he sped away and left me breathing his smog. Alas, no poets for me.

Quiero Volverte a Ver

 The Holidays are not my favorite time of the year. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are just a downer for me. I'm actually glad to have them out of the way and I can go back to living it up, like its 1999.

I didn't used to be this way though. Christmas and New Year's Day used to be the raddest time of the year, now its just another expense. It's not that I want to be all Ebenezer-like, but that's just the way it goes these days.

I spent a night over at my Mother's house recently,  for reasons that you should not be concerned with, and I went to sleep in my old bedroom circa-1996. I was awaken early Sunday morning by the loud music that was still being played by one of my parents' neighbors. It turns out that their party had gone on well into the wee hours of the morning, so much so, that by 7am, they were barely finishing up their last can of Schlitz and jamming out to Fama.



I was used to those particular neighbors, for many a nights, back in the day, they had done just that. They would stay up drinking all night and listening to Tejano records.  They listened to Fama so much, they actually made me kinda like the band. And so it was again a couple of days ago. Me, trying to get some sleep in my old bedroom, but the next door neighbors playing Fama at 7am, still drinking the night (morning) away. I was awaken to the song of  "Quiero volverte a ver", and for s split second, I actually thought it was 1996 again, and I was a junior in high school and sleeping of a bad Plaza Disco hangover.

Unfortunetly, its 2011, and I was not hungover, just plain tired. Too bad. In any case, I leave you with this blog link (Tigre Texano), just in case you want to download some of that Fama stuff.

A Poem about a toe

Three Fourths Please

By

J.A. Jimenez

I awoke, big toe still lingering on my foot.

The drones [in green] cut across

the dotted line. A smiley face

drawn on my leg served as a guide

so they wouldn’t miss. The buzzing of a saw

announced their task. Two orbs

of light above me warmed my ass.

I heard the drip, drip, drip,

of the morphine by my side,

and I remembered high school and the good

times I had getting high. But just like back then

 the fun ended all too soon.

A high five signaled their success

and when I looked down

there was my toe
smiling at me
from inside
a medicine cup.

Puro P*nche Cowboys

This town is crazy for their Dallas Cowboys. Even though they had a less than stellar season, some fans still love to show their  love for their favorite team on everything imaginable, including vehicle decals.

Click to enlarge

I spotted this vehicle as I made my daily rounds around town. "Puro P*nche Cowyboys", the decal reads. That about sums up sports in Laredo. Maybe next year.