Magic Landing

Did I just throw your memory into the Wayback Machine with Mr. Peabody? Trust me, its been in my mind for some time now. For some unknown reason, I have been thinking about the park almost non-stop. The park closed down what was thought to be under mysterious circumstances after reports of people dying while on the rides. Lot's of people speculated the fate of the park, but after researching it, I finally found out what happened to El Paso's doomed amusement park.

IM sure you all (who remember it) don't even remember the commercials theme song. I barely remember it, but I dare not say it for fears of being wrong. I know in the stack of VHS tapes (remember those?) we have stock-piled in our attic we have a commercial for Magic Landing, I remember seeing it. It's a look into the past when the only other amusement park, Western Playland, was king, and Magic Landing the upstart newbie on the block.

ML had too many things going against itself when it opened in 1984. It was located too far away from anything else in town, some 2 miles outside El Paso's city limits. This alienated people who lived on the west side of El Paso, since the drive (I do it every weekday) is some 24 miles one way. To drive that distance for family fun was just too much to ask some people to do. Also, you wouldn't think of it, but the actual theme of the park was also a contributing factor to its demise.

In an interview conducted by the El Paso Inc. In June of 2000, Western Playland's owner (and my former boss) Pat Thompson spoke briefly about Magic Landing:

Why does Western Playland succeed where Magic Landing failed?
Magic Landing was trying to be a theme park. El Paso wasn't really ready for one. It doesn't have the population or the family income levels to support a theme park. When people go on vacation, they?re willing to spend extra money on theme parks. But, see, you wouldn't do it here (or) even in California. Disneyland can't get the locals to come out. They have to give big discounts to draw them out. Western Playland isn't here for the tourists. It can't be. There's not enough tourist traffic in El Paso.

Pat Thompson's comments only scratch the surface on why the park closed. Rumor and speculation ran rampant about the number of accidents, deaths and maiming that went on inside the park. In reality, only two people were either horribly injured or killed while riding rides on the park. Not to be morbid, but I had a fun time trying to find the real accidents in the park to the rumors that flew. Considering I was roughly 6 or 7 years old when the park closed, trying to find the truth from people who barely remember the park even existed was tough.

Here's the true story. Magic Landing was struggling to survive in a market where theme parks were starting to die. Their attractions were large and real. The state of Texas' largest Ferris wheel, log flume ride, a real 36" gauge steam locomotive (for sale if you're interested!) bumper cars, a performing stage, arcades, a rollercoaster, haunted house and little games of chance booths scattered all over the park. It had good things going for it, with the exception of good fortune.

The first unfortunate series of events that plagued the park was coinciding with its location. El Paso gets torrential rainfall in the summer time and when that happened around the park, it often times washed out the railroad track around the park. Nine times out of ten the train was out of commission due to that. I remember it was definitely an inconvenience for me since I love trains. I was still too young for the midway games and bumpercars, so those were out of the question too.

The second truly unfortunate event, and the one that single handedly spelled the parks doom was the deadly accident with the parks rollercoaster. I seem to remember this incident. I actually had to call my parents and ask about this one, but they do confirm we were at the park the day that the death on the rollercoaster occurred. In my memories, I see the front of the rollercoaster darkened from the lights lighting the ride turned off, and a white sheet covering the person who was killed by the ride.

The problem with my memory and with the events that happened that day are mixed. I know the person's body was on the ride. Problem is, people's conflicting reports have the man either falling from the rollercoaster car while its rolling on the tracks and he hit the supports to the ride on his fall down, or it was a mentally disabled man who tried to leap onto the ride as it was moving. The third rumor was the man had it arm severed by a passing car as he was waiting for the ride, but I don't remember that. I remember seeing the front of the rollercoaster. I remember the body being covered. I do remember that night it happened.

This incident with the rollercoaster caused the park to loose its insurance on any of their thrilling rides, and the rollercoaster was closed for good after that incident. The park seemed to roll on after that accident, fewer people wanted to go to a park with a deadly reputation and attendance was noticeably down. Promotions for 4th of July celebrations were announced and events were held with fireworks (legal in the county) and fanfare, but the park was starting to die.

With the only other major attraction to the park open, the Ferris wheel, business seemed to have pleateau'd and stayed constant. The train was completely unreliable thanks to the frequent track wash-outs and no plans to replace the deadly rollercoaster. I know my parents no longer went back to the park after we were there for the accident, so when the second accident took place on the Ferris wheel, that sealed the parks fate. The accident stemmed from a panicking woman on the Ferris wheel that fell to the car below her, seriously injuring herself.

Soon after that, the park closed its doors following several lawsuits filed against the park by park guests who were on the rollercoaster at the time of the accident. The woman who fell from the Ferris wheel also sued the park for negligence on the ride operator's part for not recognizing her frantic state and letting her off the ride. Eventually, all parties settled out of court, but thanks to the number of lawsuits and the parks lengthy stint closed, the capital wasn't there to re-open the doors another season and Magic Landing stood standing out in the county for almost 12 years untouched.

Eventually, the owners of the park started to demolish most of the buildings that were starting to deteriorate and collapse, and buildings too high to be of any future use to the park. The Ferris wheel was dismantled and sold to another park. The steam train was placed into storage (see link earlier in story) and long forgotten about. The rollercoaster by all accounts was torn down and destroyed. The other rides in the park, like the Rainbow stood for years after they parted out many of the rides, but were eventually taken down and placed into storage.

Currently, the park is still mostly visible from the interstate. The sign welcoming guests is still standing out in the parkinglot entrance. The main entrance is still intact, but the entire lot is currently leased by CFI Trucking here in El Paso, Texas and currently holds most of the trucking line's trailers. For the most part, most of the buildings inside the park look like they are still standing. In the future I am hoping to gain entrance into the park with my brother (who works for CFI Trucking) and take some pictures of what is left of the park.

This has been one interesting jaunt down memory lane.

I think it sucks

Alliances have been breached and dropped in the past few days and I think it sucks. I know the listeners to the radio station will react in a strange fashion, but there's nothing we are going to do about it. What has been done is done. The break-up was announced to us here at work last week but we had to keep it under wraps until it was more known to the other people in charge. Its going to be strange listening to other people's elements in our station, but since we weren't being treated well after our divorce 4 years ago, I think we are entitled to some good times.

The fact that we don't get carshows, real car shows here in El Paso also sucks. The shows we have are back-yard mechanic built cars which are nice, don't get me wrong. I've got a 1957 Chevy in my back yard too. I want something like a New York Auto Show, or the other types that showcase cars to the public. I hate to think we have to go all the way to either Las Vegas, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles to see these cars. They should do what Chevrolet used to do in the 1940's and caravan their cars across the country in Autoramas.

Be back in a little while guys...

SIDEBAR UPDATE

Today you will find several new links and additions to the website. Many thanks to everyone who has sent links and suggestions. More to come later today.

If you would like mentioning on this site, please post a comment and I will consider your site or suggestion.

HIDE MY FUCKING CREDIT CARDS

It's no secret I work for a radio station but own an XM radio for the Mustang. What is new is the new Delphi MyFi, which is an XM Radio Walkman! How fucking cool is this? Not only does it gowherever you want, but it stored music you wanna listen to!

But wait, theres more!

Did you just up and buy a 40 gig iPod? That was so yesterday. Upgrade to the new 60gig iPod Photo! You can actually view something close to 25,000 pictures in full color on your 40 or 60 gig iPod Photo! THIS FUCKING KICKS AS MUCH ASS AS THE XM PORTABLE! And if you thought it couldn't get any better, if you are a fucking fan-freak for U2, Apple has made your day with this special edition black & red 20 gig iPod signed with the autographs of each member of U2. When you buy this limited edition iPod, you get an iTunes Music Store coupon you can use to save $50 when you purchase “The Complete U2,” a digital boxed-set that includes more than 400 songs and more than 25 rare and unreleased tracks.

I need to start pimpin' myself out...

The Fog

Why is it, whenever there is something worth catching with a camera, I forget to bring mine? In downtown El Paso- wait. Let me back track.

El Paso is (currently) experiencing fog. Its rare that we get fog, and this morning we got it like New England clam chowder thick. Driving into work was an adventure, literally hitting patches of fog like a wall was eerie. Once we rejoined Interstate 10 and continued west towards the radio station, I saw the new Morgan Stanley building lit up so beautifully I wanted to pull over and just stare at it. I figured that no one would stop in time if they thought I was in the road and would cause an accident so its a good thing I didn't stop.

I haven't had the air saturated with as much humidity since I was out in Corpus Christi. Right now (7:20am) the humidity is 100%, the temperature is 53 and the dew point is at 53. That means fog, kids. I remember when I was out in Corpus it was slightly rough to try and breathe in the high humidity, and walking outside reminded me of that. My shirt is also slightly sticky.

Once it lifts and there's pictures of it, I will post them.

STRANGE FINDINGS FROM THE INTERNET LII

If imitation is the most sincerest form of flattery, Michael Jackson must be beaming with joy- unless you're being mocked by Eminem highlighting all of your worst media published accomplishments in verse and music video. There's a link to view Eminem's music video Loose It on the page.

I feel really bad for every actor, musician and radio personality who has to live with the shame of receiving a star on the Walk of Fame after Godzilla. What does that say about the actors careers that receive it after this b-movie monster? The shame they must live with knowing a fictional creature made up of a Japanese man in a rubber suit got a recognition reserved for some of the finest actors in the business before they did?

Did you ever play Rollercoaster Tycoon? It was a popular PC game up until EA Entertainment released The Sims. I used to spend hours building rollercoaster designs that pushed the limits of the simulated park guest's stomachs and speed records. However, in real life, one real park is going to build something completely unbelievable. Six Flags Great Adventure will build one fucking huge rollercoaster.

Are you still having problems deciding who you are going to vote for on November 2nd? Maybe this site can offer you some help.

If anyone out there figures out which language this website is and why the little shit keeps stealing the cursor from the screen, please let me know.

A wise man once said "A man who can catch a fly with chopsticks can accomplish anything". It was either Confucius or it was Mr Miyagi, I don't care anymore. Hone your skills, grasshopper.

Now go wax my car.

Musings of a blind man

Every once in a while, you just have to laugh out loud. I drive my friend to work every morning. Its on my way into work, so I have no problem what so ever. We talk, mostly chit-chat, keeping our minds off work (like everyone else in a carpool) until the very end. While telling me about a movie premiere he was at last night, he asked the audience in the theater what the most ghetto thing they have taken to a theater to eat was. The number one most ghetto thing was fried chicken. Then, I steered the conversation around slightly.

I told Mike the story about our family back in the early to late 1980's. We always had cars, none of them had an air conditioner. So, on long trips, we would get a huge 1-2 gallon insulated thermos and fill it with icy cold tea, Kool-Aid or anything we could drop in there that would cool us down while we were driving around town without an AC. He amused me with stories about his parents Cordova and the fun he used to have with a marble and the window channel.

Almost to work he had me laughing my ass off. He told me the story about his grandparents buying a water-cooled window AC unit for his grandparents house. He had arrived at his grandparents to see his grandpa opening up the AC unit. Grandpa explained that the window AC came with only one pump, and thought two pumps would be better. So, he fidgeted and managed to get a second pump into the little AC unit. He plugged it back in and turned it on.

So, there Mike and one of his other cousins sit on the living room floor with the AC unit blowing nice cool humid air at them. Then they feel like they're sweating. Then they feel like their clothes are soaking wet. Their clothes were soaking wet, and so was the sofa in front of the AC unit, the carpet, and everything in the room. He was telling me:

It was like the living room turned into an indoor monsoon, everything got soaked, the sofa, the cushions, the floor, our clothes, it was a mess!

He said the humidity levels were so high clouds were forming along the ceiling and he swore he saw lightning strike up. I couldn't stop laughing.

Last night was good



Was it me, or was last night's Yankees, Red Sox game remind anyone of watching the Rodney King beating? You saw it happen but were powerless to do anything about it. It was quite a vicious beating witnessed by half the damn world, and I have to say, for not liking the game too much, it held my attention for most of the night.

I awoke this morning and came to work wondering how people's reactions were gonna be, and unfortunately, not many people that work the morning shift watched the game as late as I did last night. That's not to say that the talk shows weren't forcing salt into the wounds of the Yankees all morning. I believe Don Imus' skit said it best when one of the characters said:

Us Red Sox people may not know who our daddy is, but we sure as hell know who our bitch is"

Derek Lowe

There's no crying in baseball, but I don't think New York will hold true to that.

IM bored

Totally bored. At work bored. All my work is done bored.

The laptop is officially dead. There had been problems with the monitor ribbon cable not connecting properly to the motherboard and I found out late last night that a small pin is broken off of the cable and is unrepairable. So, I will cut my losses and try to part out the laptop on eBay or who knows what I will do with it.

I am slightly confused with yesterday's comment posted by Clauds. Ambiguous and short, it gives no reference as to what she is commenting on. IM gonna post some random thoughts to hers... Oh the hilarity, oh the calamity!

STRANGE FINDINGS FROM THE INTERNET LI
-back on the right number trail...

I try not to post anything political. I really, really try. This just got me laughing so hard. Apparently, the reply stems from an editorial from the UK publication The Guardian a few weeks back and us Americans don't take kindly to people trying to point out our flaws or explain to us how to vote, especially from countries slightly more fucked up than our own...

Remember when you came out to your parents and friends you were a metrosexual? That was so 6 months ago. Asexuality is the way to go now. IM still slightly confused about the whole asexuality thing, does this mean there's special surgeries? There are dating services, well, you can't call it dating if all you do is hug- hey wait a minute... Frottage is a form of sex, you pervs!

We all have seen our beloved Barbie grow from a pointy-knockered valiumned out 50's iconoclast to today's Tourette's suffering identity crisis maven. I just didn't think the economy was so bad she had to start making hardcore porn!

I like going onto IMDb.com and looking at the mistakes to movies all the time. I think it's going past the point of obsession when some people make websites devoted to them.

Strangely, I would pay 45e (Euro) for one of these.

Finally for today, bonzai trees are beautiful. This website has some beautiful examples of the trees and some of the pictures are slightly artistic.

Coming Events


*click picture for link*

Coming in the next few weeks is Red Bull Rock Jam at Hueco Tanks state park outside El Paso in November. It's a chance for mountain climbers of all ages and levels to gather and climb some of the best mountain terrain and view ancient indian cave drawings dating back 10,000 years.

This is also an event that allows ammateur photographers to get pictures of all the action and submit for prizes and a shot (pun fully intended) at getting their photographs published in Rock & Ice Magazine. This is something you will see me at, I guarantee.

Man, where is the year going?

Lets talk in relative terms here. Yes, the Presidential elections are being held in two weeks and one day, but lets also stop and think that there is little less than 2 and a half months left in 2004! Where has all this time gone and why is it we cannot account for it? I blame the tuba.

Its instances like that one that bring me to odd sites and sounds. I want to put this as my cell phone's recorded message. Its very appropriate. I still need to go get the license plates and an oil change taken care of on the Mustang before the end of this month, not to mention catch up on my sanity.

The attack of the idiot newscasters is happening again. I swear she is either not very good at her job, or is going above and beyond the call of stubbornness and rejecting what management tells her. I give up at this point. There's a limit to how much you can take some times, and often times its just easier to admit defeat and take it in the end...

Ouch.

I woke up in a bitter mood cause I have 3 alarm clocks set to wake me up and I didn't hear any of the three. I wasn't late to work, but it would have been nice NOT to have slept on my cell phone all night. I have a Samsung imprint on my ribcage that isn't going away. More rants later, kids.

Live like you were dying

I have to give many, many thanks to the blogs I found this on and for "borrowing" it off of them. I just love these insights into people's lives that answer the question, but leave you slightly in the dark. Trust me, there will be many questions when you read all my answers.

*Everything that I have done will be in bold and might have an answer, and I have gone back and re-answered several questions incase you are returning again this weekend.

1. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said ‘I love you’ and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped - almost did in Las Vegas!
12. Visited Paris - does Las Vegas' Paris Hotel count?
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - Corpus Christi, November 2003
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables - we have a fig tree, its fruit, but its something!
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby’s diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon - Evelyn and I can tell stories of chasing a hot air balloon in my old Pontiac Sunbird convertible...
23. Watched a meteor shower - from the comforts of my old Pontiac Sunbird convertible
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment - in front of my boss...
28. Had a food fight - 2nd to last day of school, 1997
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can - very therapeutic
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster - 'The Rattler' 6 Flags, San Antonio
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking - Yolie's wedding
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer - each partitioned!
49. Visited all 50 states - Visited 4/50: Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends - still have them
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign - wanted to steal the 'On Air' sign from the old KTSM TV building...
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip - Corpus Christi Tx, Carlsbad Nm, San Antonio Tx.
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government’s official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Went sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan - want to do that so bad
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records - I have them by year, does that count?
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke - At Circuit City or Best Buy... with people looking...
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Went scuba diving
75. Got it on to “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye - it was actually to the Divinyls "I Touch Myself"
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don’t regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who’s not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn’t have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office - it wasnt my office...
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo - I want to!
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on - my nipples get hard at the touch of silk...
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an “expert"
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don’t remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage - high school does count, right?
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand - not too proud of that...
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live - who the fuck?
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off - no one told me it would ITCH afterwards
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone - I almost did... Christmas Party, 1999
123. Bounced a check
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children - do four-legged children count?
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy - 1:18th scale model motorcycles!
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did - rumor has it, distant relatives were supposed to be onboard RMS Titanic, but declined the voyage due to a sick nanny...
132. Called or written your Congress person - I was good friends with the Governor's secretary for a while...
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. ...more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking - every chance I get in the Mustang
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone’s heart - and I dont want to know how many it was
146. Helped an animal give birth - Evelyn's chihuahua had puppies
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle - I rode on the back of my uncle's Harley when I was a kid
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph - the Mustang tops out at 105mph...
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced - Its still pierced and if you have to ask, you'll never know...
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol - yes, M1, .22
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi - I am addicted to the stuff!
171. Had your picture in the newspaper - yes, for the Spelling Bee in Jr. High
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions - and I am not appollogetic for it.
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them - theft for the sake of thievery
183. ...and gotten 86’ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions - I would rather be impaled with a rusty iron bar than go back to that fucking school and the tormentors of my youth...
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language - Drive with Evelyn, Yolie, Lupe and myself and see this in action
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts - mine is frankensteined with parts...
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196: Dyed your hair
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal or Blogger
199: Written your own role playing game
200: Been arrested
201. Have ever made your last will and testament or a living will
202. Had sex in a car
203. Driven a monster truck

Truths in advertising and such

El Paso sucks as far as the weather goes. I guess it might be the same no matter where you live. Almost always, when you wash the car, its dirty again in less than 3 days. I tried that Mr. Clean Carwash when it first came out, and well, it does a good job at first, but then your windows never get clean and the filter replacement charges are just too high and the handgun-like dispenser is just tiring after 10 minutes of washing the car. Yes washing the car should take longer than 10 minutes. So, ditching the washer in favor of the old stand-by carwash mitt and premium car soap, I did the standard 35 minute carwash on the ol' Mustang.

Wouldn't you know it, after washing it on Saturday, it rained on it on Monday. Not just rain, torrential rain. I drove home thru the rain after staying late with Ivette to close the book store, and figured that the wash job was a total loss, but it wasn't. The next day, I left for work and found that without looking at the trunk of the Mustang, the car looked as if it were housed in the garage the entire time. Windows were clean, no black water splashed up on the fenders, but the trunk and back bumper had some dirt and water lines, but nothing noticeable. Hell, even the tires looked shiny!

Now, with al that said and done, there was still one thing I tried this weekend that I didn't like at all. Quizno's Subs are advertised to be "Toasted" and crunch when you bite into them. The Quizno's we went for a quick dinner the other day was anything but a culinary experience. Mind you, this was also the first time I ever tried a Quiznos sub. Their advertised special is that Steak & Swiss with that au jus sauce to dip it in. I tried it. I WAS SORELY DISAPPOINTED. When something advertises and shows what looks like steak and it turns out to be thinly sliced roast beef... cold roast beef at that, it takes away from the expected flavor.

I watched with great apathy and lackluster attention to detail how the "sandwich artist" made the rather small sandwich in front of me. I settled in my mind that the fact that the sandwich would be toasted will offset the lack of beef I thought I would be getting. The server placed the sandwich into the toaster for what looked like 5 seconds. THE FUCKING CHEESE DIDN'T EVEN MELT! Before I was able to speak up, it was mercilessly wrapped up, tossed in a bag with the au jus sauce and gladly forgotten about. Eating it at home, I thought to myself how nice the sandwich would have tasted toasted, or made with the beef I thought I was getting.

Lessons learned:

• Buy Eagle 1 Carwash Soap (has a Ford Mustang headlight on the label)
• Wash your car yourself
• Don't buy Quizno's new sub

IM hungry for Italian food...

STRANGE FINDINGS FROM THE INTERNET XLIX

I have been thinking about enrolling at UTEP for some classes this coming semester, and I am reeeeeeeeeeealy hoping that this is something offered. Nothing like hands-on education!

Why is it Texas gets all the wierdo's doing something involving our Alamo? Go dry hump the Seattle Space Needle or something...

Worst case of crabs, EVER.

And finally, a throw back to my childhood when cartoons were still squeaky clean and pure, before the days of South Park and Beavis & Butt-head, the shape of things to come was reigned in with an Asthmahound Chihuahua and a cat with no tail, and very little brains. Ren & Stimpy Seasons 1 & 2 are being released to the masses today and I AM getting my copy of these timeless classics.

There is something to be said about SpaCE MaDNesS...

Oh the power of the written word

Thanks.

Things just piss me off at times

Now I know that people with pull read my blog, so I want to clear the air once and for all. I am sick and tired of having to deal with prissy, stuck up news anchors who cannot keep schedule or read stories to the allotted time length they are SUPPOSED to. I used to work with the newsroom computers, I know ENPS just as well as anyone who works at a TV station. I WARNED PEOPLE, I ADVISED PEOPLE that the time length that ENPS gives when you write a story is WRONG and yet certain news anchors argue the time lengths as gospel truths. ENPS gives longer time totals than they actually are.

GET A WATCH AND TIME IT OUT YOURSELF. I know that the newsroom has that big fucking 2 foot diameter Atomic Clock with a second hand on it for a purpose. While they're watching the clock, maybe they can CALL when they are supposed to. 9 times out of 10 I will receive a call with less than 5 minutes till airtime and get fast, mistake laden newscasts that barely could be considered airworthy, let alone the time length we ask for. I am getting sick and tired of it.

Im off my soapbox.

What I would do with $50,000,000
-assuming it is the one lump sum after winning a larger jackpot

1. Put it all in the bank for safe keeping (duh)
2. Retain a lawyer (someone will want to sue for something or other)
3. Pay off all bills, credit cards, charge cards, debtors (duh yet again)
4. Move away from place of residency (so no one can hit you up for the cash)
5. QUIT MY JOB AND TELL THEM WHERE TO SHOVE IT (WOOHOO!!!)
6. Set up trust funds for my niece and nephew for college
7. Pay off my parents house & cars
8. Pay off my brother's car, 18 wheeler & boat
9. Give donations to all the charities I believe in (Animal Rescue, Center for Battered Women, Cancer Research, Red Cross)
10. Build the house of my dreams
11. Buy the cars I always wanted and house them in a large garage
12. Pay off the mortgages of my close friends houses and cars (if tax feasible)
13. Attend college wherever I want
14. Take a trip to Alaska, Hawaii, Italy, Rome, Germany, England, and the African Safari
15. Race cars internationally
16. Take up photography
17. Learn the piano

It's a dream for now. Where's my lotto ticket...

It hit me

It hit me pretty strong when I was typing out the last posting about El Paso not being the same. My cruising habits changed drastically. Back when I first started cruising out and about with Evelyn, we drove in her car which was significantly larger than my little two and a half seat Sunbird convertible. When her car became too much of a liability to the road, she went and bought a pickup truck. When it came time for me to choose a new car, I chose a sedan, instead of looking for a convertible like I wanted.

I liked the Cavalier I bought after the first convertible. It was an extremely reliable car and never broke down on me with any mechanical failure. Tires, it went thru like water, the rear brake made a weird clunking sound, but it never did anything to compromise safety. It also became the vehicle everyone wanted to go cruising in town in, since Evelyns truck was much too cramped for everyone to fit into. Up until she sold the truck for her current car, the four of us piled into my car and went for a cruise and enjoyed each other's company. In the three and a half years I had that car, Evelyn was the only other person to have ever driven it other than family, and I wasn't even in the car when she did.

Fast forward to June/ July of last year. Evelyn and Yolie packed their bags and left for Corpus Christi to attend school and to work. I now had a car that was too big for me. You might be saying "a Cavalier is too big for you?" and I can say with a definite yes that it was too big for me. It had 3 empty seats. Three places where silence was the only thing occupying their space. It was no longer the car I could jump into and expect to hear the unexpected, to hear the laughter and to be content with the strange sound of silence that only four people could understand and be comfortable with.

I found the Mustang on January 1st of this year. I bought it the same day I saw it. There was something cathartic about trading in the Cavalier for the Mustang. In one way, the Mustang was everything I had ever wanted in a car, name recognition, style, history, heritage, longetivity. It was also my dream car. On the other hand, it was a convertible. Most people think about convertibles and see the open top enjoyment that most people dream about, and that's true. I got the Mustang for an entirely different reason.

Back when I had my Sunbird, I loved going on cruises with the top down and the radio turned off. It was a way I could escape from what was wrong in my life, and that was my job at the time. I had a boss from hell and he loved to create doubt and made everyone walk on egg shells just to keep everyone on their toes. My escape had been the car, no one told me where to go, what to do, what to see, and it became sanctuary. Soon, I started to let people into my car and I would share my sanctuary with others and it just got too small, so I got the Cavalier. It also doesn't help that the [Sunbird] suffered a fatal timing belt break and was killed...

So the reason I opine about the Cavalier is because when I parted ways with it almost a year ago, I parted with all the memories and laughter it held within. The chocolate Yolie dropped on the seat, the coffee spilling in the center console, singing "The never ending song" with 5 people crammed in the car. In a sense, trading it in was a step towards change and growing up and moving on. I no longer need a multi-seat car to hold friends in, those days for now are over. I am back to a car that takes my worries, hassles and troubles and lets them fly free from the dropped top and into the openness of the road.

Updates, reloads, photographs...

...Gypsies, tramps, thieves- oh, wait. Wrong thought. Haven't been posting as much as I wanted to this week, but I was slightly busy doing some things to my computer (such as reloading Windows 2000, but that's another posting) and fighting off boredom. Something that I have been doing to quell that boredom is searching for photographers websites that produce stark images and move you with the ordinary.

Sean O'Boyle has been producing the kinds of photography I love, and I would love to take the same kinds in the future. I have plans to buy a new 35mm camera and experiment with the media of photography, cause it's now starting to consume my thoughts. You add that to an abundant source of subject material that can be found here in El Paso and you get the itching to do some pictures. There are also several other places out along Interstate 10 and Interstate 37 in Corpus Christi I would love to photograph.

The weather around here has been terrible lately, and up until yesterday the weather has stabilized for a while. Tornado warnings are almost a nightly occurrence and if they all weren't false alarms, I would have been scared shitless. Since loosing some friends to life, I have been finding fun in other extra curricular activities with friends. Joe & I go out and play pool every weekend now, and its been fun. I've been getting better at it.

Man, I would love to just strike it rich, you know? Get hit by a wealthy individual on the road, hit the lotto, get included into some old rich coot's will. I would do so much with that money, improving certain things, paying off certain things, and definitely enjoying lots of things. I digress.

Another rambling thought later.

Hmm...

So I am seriously thinking about doing some rather strange and life changing decisions in the next few months that will not go well with some, and go over very well with others. I am also planning a surprise visit somewhere within the next few days if things go as planned. Lets see where it all goes.

Im starting to get sick and tired of the laptop. It never works as well as it used to and it's just taking up space on my desk while I try and fix it. Oh well. Soon. Very, very soon...

New place to sit & sip

While searching El Paso for things of interest I found a nice little coffee shop that is worth stopping into. Its small on the inside, but its a warm and inviting place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee. The place has only been open for about 3 weeks or so, but their layout shows they are gonna expand with some computer terminals. That should be cool for me, I can finally sit and have some coffee while enjoying the internet.

The shop is across the street from Cielo Vista Mall, next to the bowling alley and its called Friendz Cafe. The owner (who was also the server) had told me that the coffee shop will get a new sign soon and some advertising. I contacted one of the salesmen here at work about talking to him about radio advertising so the word will get out about this new place.

I don't think it will ever replace Kristophs as my number one coffee house, but its coming close.

Now if I can only get my damn laptop working again...