Happy 70K Jessica!!

Somewhere just outside Giddings Texas on this chilly night after owning my car for 2 years and 10 months my car clicked 70k on the odometer. For most people this is a non event, showing that the car is more worthless than it wasat 69,999 miles. But I don't feel this way. I feel I have formed a relationship with my car over the last 70k miles. In almost 3 years I have driven across the U.S. an average of 22 times, but the car has never left the state of texas. I love to drive, its my favorite thing to do, Im a petrol head. I always try to do something special when my car clicks past these milestones. For 25k I Flew through a tollbooth doing 90 mph, for 40k the car conqured the hurricane Ike ravaged beach of galveston, and on 60k the car went on a 1300 mile expedition of south texas. Tonight I missed the oppurtunity to do somthing special so ill write a review of the past 70k with Jessica.

Jessica is a black 08' Honda Accord with a V6. Its not the fastest thing in the world but it's a frigg'n tank! it hit a curb going 70 mph, its flooded.. Twice, and has been stuck in sand,dirt,mud. You name it, its probably driven on it. The car is a witness or has played a key role in almost all of my stories past the age of sixteen. One of the main reasons i put so many miles on my car was because during the summer I lived 30 miles from school where I had cross country practice everyday. The drive was my favorite part of practice. I would be Going about 100 mph and arrive barely in time and smoke literally pouring from my brakes! Jessica isn't that fast but she'll do 125 mph no sweat, and she'll bend through corners if you really manhandle her. Yeah she's not perfect, the breaks last about as long as a snow cone in the middle of june, and the road noise is a little bad, but I love this car its takin me on so many interesting trips.

One night my friends and I decided to do a little drive around town that lasted a little over 400 miles. we left my house and drove east till we were almost to Louisiana then headed south to the coast and discovered a truly spectacular road that was straight as an arrow through the south costal plains. It was about 2 a.m. when we were going flat out.. 125 mph. everyone was half awake trying to sleep before we hit the halfway point on the coast. so I decided to make sure that they where alert by suddenly rolling all the windows down at the same time. I learned that air traveling at these speeds will glue your hair all the way back. To make our halfway spot we needed to turn off the road and hit the beach. I was stunned when I parked my car right on the beach sharing a parking spot with only the tide. The stars are brilliant when your in the middle of nowhere on the beach. I've made that trip a million times now and made several improvements on how Jessica handles costal road trips. 1. Rubber Floor mats for obvious reasons. and 2. Jon Willhites Costal bon fire/camping kit. which consists of 2 recycling bins full of wood, 3 cans of diesel, shovel, tow strap, grill, cooler, and rifle. all of which fits snugly in the trunk.

This car was made to be a family sedan and commuter sedan for the man who works in town and lives in the suburbs. I drove it to the beach almost every weekend full of kids and equipment. and when I wasn't going to the beach I was out exploring somewhere else. I have loved the past 70k miles and plan on driving Jessica till she dies. 75k is coming up and thats kinda a big deal. where do you think jessica should go for her 75k?

Laval's Pizza

I was really thinking hard about what to write about in my first post ever, when it came to me. I looked down toward my chest and saw that I was wearing one of my old, tattered, uniform-required shirts from the pizza joint I used to work at, Laval's Pizza in Alameda, California. A pizza joint that I would call my own for almost three years of my life.
I started working there when a frirend of a friend let me know of the current state of hiring Laval's was in. I jumped all over it. This was a place that I had known since my early childhood. It was a place where my elementary school would always call for "Pizza Parties". It was the location of countless post-season Little League trophy ceremonies. It was a place that has always provided me with unconditional comfort one greasy slice at a time. Laval's just has such an inviting vibe about it. The walls are covered with autographed, sports parapernalia and it seems and it seems that every corner of this place is occupied with your favorite childhood arcade games. As a young child this place was a utopia, but when I finally got behind the scenes, I was acquainted with the real Laval's.
When I started working there as a young, naive, 15 year old kid, I was in for a suprise. My jolly, braces filled personality was immediately met with the intimidating stares of real working men and women. While working on a minimum wage clock I slowly met and befriended a gaggle of different and distinct personalities. There were drop-outs, run-aways, drug-abusers and other lost souls each with their own personal niche or quark. I've seen writers, mechanics, musicians, comedians, athletes, prom queens and immigrants all walk through those doors. These people sculted me and became my friends. I was able to see the real world through the stories and experiences of coming and going employees. We all had one thing in common: we all played a part in the creation of exquisite pizza.
This place has really meant a lot to me over the years;l not only the pure taste of the freshest ingredients cooked atop a bed of home made dough, sause, and cheese, but the emotions and memories evoked in every bite. I recommend to anyone passing through, visiting on vacation, or even starting a new life in the Bay Area, to try my Pizza. You won't be sorry.

The Imaginary Invalid

Although forced to watch this play for my rhetoric class, I found the whole experience rather enjoyable to say the least. The play caught my attention from the start, and kept it the entire time. From start to finish the humor kept me interested. I had never been to a play before in my entire life, I was not looking forward to the event, and was expecting the least fun I could ever have out of it. To my surprise, it was very fun to watch. The actors, both the student actors and the professional actors fit their characters flawlessly and knew exactly how to play each of their parts to the fullest, getting the humorous effects that were written down to a tee. My favorite part, at the end, came out of nowhere, the last thing i expected from a school play, was when the two actors who were in love were just completely going at it while right in front of the father. Absolutely hilarious. This play gave me the best first impression I could ever get. The story in my eyes, was perfectly told, but thats just my opinion. I was laughing throughout the play, and would see it again in my spare time.

Buffalo Exchange

Buffalo Exchange is a second-hand clothing store which caters to both buyers and sellers of clothing. One could easily spend an entire day swimming through the stores numerous racks of fine garments, shoes and accessories. Located on The Drag in Austin, Buffalo Exchange is a staple for many eclectic and "indie" fashion enthusiasts . On the seller side Buffalo Exchange offers a unique way to turn old clothes into cash, while also making room in their closets. The eclectic feel goes far beyond the clothes, as one can find a numerous array of different visitors to the store. From conservative and preppy to grungy 90's chic, all types of people as well as styles can be found at this store. It's not unlikely that you will run into long lines be it from the many buyers or the many people eager to sell. Another interesting attribute is the music bulletin located prominently at the front of the store. This billboard displays the various shows that are upcoming in town in which it's located. This gives visitors something to look at while not browsing the sea of pre-worn goods. Of all of the thrift stores, Buffalo Exchange offers the widest variety and definite best experience while also being one of the most well known. So if ever in process of cleaning out your closet, one should give Buffalo Exchange a try.

The Snack Bar

The Snack Bar is a restaurant located on South Congress where one can grab a bite to eat, whether in the mood for a snack or a full-fledged meal. The Snack Bar caters to many different tastes as well as appetites. If you aren't necessarily in the mood for a large entree, you can opt to get a small snack like a banana split, or some doughnuts. If you're not in the mood for anything sweet in particular, you can go for a bagel and cream cheese, or a plate of cheese fries. They also offer a wide range of all-day brunch menu items. If you're more of a breakfast/lunch person, as am I, this is definitely the menu for you! The Brunch menu consists of many items such as my personal favorite Belgian waffles coated in apple-raisin chutney and powdered sugar served with a side of thick cut bacon. They also offer a variety of salads, and burgers, typical of a classic American diner. The food is just the tip of the iceburg, as one can feast on the decor and ambiance of the restaurant alone. Even the bathrooms are interesting with a "water-closet" European inspired bathroom setup where the men and women's are connected by a shared sink. It is indicative of the comfortable and laid-back feel of the restaurant. They also have a large projector screen in the lounge area where patrons can sit back and watch a classic 60's era film whilst waiting to be seated. In all, The Snack Bar exemplifies the qualities of a well-rounded restaurant, with different menu choices to please seemingly all tastes. I challenge anyone to walk into The Snack Bar and leave unsatisfied.

Garden State

Along with Despicable Me, the movie Garden State is a definite permanent my Top Ten Movies list. Garden State is written and directed by Zach Braff. The main characters in the movie are played by Zach Braff as Andrew Largeman -- an overly medicated, depressed, emotionless aspiring actor -- and Natalie Portman as Sam -- an eccentric young woman who knowingly and compulsively lies without understanding what makes her do it.

The plot revolves around Andrew Largeman and his return to his hometown in New Jersey for his mother's funeral. When he was a young boy, Largeman accidentally pushed his mother over a dishwasher door leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Since that incident, he has been heavily medicated with antidepressants leaving him completely void of feeling any significant emotions or shedding a single tear. Upon returning home, Largeman meets Sam, a talkative and eccentric local who is always lying. Sam's light heartedness and sense of humor often contrasts with Andrew's numb state of being.

This movie is a favorite of mine for two main reasons. The first being the awesome soundtrack which Zach Braff composed him self. This soundtrack features songs by Thievery Corporation, The Shins (on my Top Ten List for bands), Simon & Garfunkel (also on that list), Zero 7, and many others. The carefully chosen songs compliment the film in every way possible. The second reason is for the cinematography of the whole film. Something about the way this movie was filmed makes every single scene, no matter how simply, look beautiful. This combined with the music in the film carry the story line throughout the whole movie, without ever overcrowding the script.

Despicable Me

Despicable Me is an animated, cartoon movie that combines adventure with humor to create a movie that is enjoyable for people of all ages. After my first viewing of this movie, I immediately knew it was going to be one of my long time favorites. I saw this movie probably far too many times this summer with people my age and some of the kids I babysat. It is directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud. Renaud has also worked on Ice Age, Robots, Horton Hears a Who!, and many others (some of which are also on my Top Ten Movies list). So, I may be somewhat of a kiddie, animated movie buff; but so what, I still think this movie is great for any person, no matter what age. It is written by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul. The cast for the film is composed of many gifted and well known actors. The main characters are voiced by Steve Carell (Gru), Jason Segel (Vector - Gru's arch rival), Russell Brand (Dr. Nefario - Gru's slightly senile scientific assistant and good friend), Julie Andrews (Gru's mother), and Will Arnett (Mr. Perkins - Vector's father and the president of the Bank of Evil).

The main story line is built around three orphan sisters and their adoption by Gru. Gru is yesterday's number one supervillian. The oldest of the three is name Margo. She is ultra protective of her sisters and ,for the majority of the film, very untrusting of Gru. The middle aged sister is named Edith. Edith is somewhat of a tomboy and trouble maker. Rather than being wary and untrusting of Gru and his invetions, she is in awe of them. The youngest, and personally my favorite, is named Agnes. She is obsessed with unicorns and is probably the most adorable little girl you will ever see on tv. Unlike both of her sisters, she loves Gru with all of her heart right from the start. Initially, Gru adopted the girls solely so he could steal a shrink ray from his rival, Vector, but as time goes on, Gru's hardened outer layers soften, and he comes to love the girls in return.

My favorite aspect of this movie is how it takes the viewer through a full cycle of emotions. At the beginning of the film, one feels sadness and a little bit of pity for the three orphans who are stuck in Miss Hattie's Home for Girls. Miss Hattie, the head honcho of the orphanage, basically uses the girls for child labor. Once Vector is introduced as a customer buying cookies from the girls, the mood picks up and quite a bit of humor comes about. The humor continues to build and is carried by Gru's population of little, yellow minions that speak their own language. Throughout the whole film, one sees a bond of love and care forming between the three girls and Gru giving most viewers a warm and fuzzy feeling. That warm and fuzzy internal feeling peaks in one of the final scenes where on sees Gru reading the girls a bedtime story that he wrote (this is so special because when the girls were first adopted, he refused to read them a bedtime story) and finally kisses them, and all of his little minions, goodnight.

For anyone that hasn't scene this movie, I HIGHLY suggest you do so this weekend. :)