Capote

Returned safely from San Antonio, last night after spending three wonderful days with my better half: Katheryn. While there I got to finally visit The Bijou (Crossroads Theater) to see a wonderful motion picture called Capote. It stars one of my favorite actors Phillip Seymour Hoffman, in a film that closely follows his work involved with his famed nonfiction novel In Cold Blood.

Highly recommend this film to anyone who loves his work or P.S. Hoffman. Possibly the finest film I've seen in 2005.

.Resaca City Rollie.

Thanksgivin'

Just about to break for the family Thanksgiving meal. This is my first one at home since 1999 and 2nd at home in 10 years... It's a little strange to wake up to the smell of buttered biscuits. I usually spent Thanksgiving in a empty apartment in Detroit, waiting for the Cowboys to play.
Anyhoo, tradition around here is usually lunch and the Cowboy game. I'm about to secure my place on the couch before kickoff. I hope the 9 or so people who check this site out a happy thanksgivin'.

.Rollie.

La Mano Peluda

At the end of the day, roughly 11:00pm or so, I try to settle into bed for a solid night of rest before I head into work the next morning... While I've been described by loved ones for being a heavy sleeper, I sometimes have difficulty going to bed when I hear the hum of electronic equipment or faint audio from televisions or radio.

Again, these noises don't bother me too much, once I'm sound asleep... but fuck if it doesn't keep me up when I'm trying to go to bed.

The biggest offender these nights is a little radio show that my parents insist on listening to before going to bed called "La Mano Peluda" (The Hairy Hand). Aside the terrible moniker, the show comes in on a very weak/crackly signal, from a small AM radio station in Mexico. The premise of the show is for local (likely devout Catholics) to call in to discuss strange paranormal occurrences along the border towns of Texas/Mexico.


Absolute tripe. I know.

But I wouldn't wish this hell on my worst enemy.
.Resaca City Rollie.

Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah

Anyone who has had a chance to peep my music collection, knows that I have a very deep appreciation for the Talking Heads. I became familiar with them at a very young age when their videos for "Burning Down the House" and later "Wild Wild Life" were on heavy rotation on MTV...

It wasn't until I was in my teens when I sought out their earlier works, specifically their debut album (and in my opinion their finest hour): Talking Heads:77, that I really began to appreciate them.

A few months ago, while on a road trip to Dayton, Ohio... I picked up the a self titled debut record by a Brooklyn based band called Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah. I read in several write ups that their sound was very similar to that of the Talking Heads. I naturally became a bit dismissive... but opted to pick up the disc when I couldn't find anything else at the record store.

On my drive back to Detroit, I threw the album on for almost the entire duration of my trip back home. While many have lazily pointed out the David Byrne/Talking Head similarities (the D. Byrne ones by the way are spot on... vocally a first time listener will wonder if D. Byrne is fronting the band or not @ times) I think that ClapYourHands have unjustly been painted into a box. Hailing from the same city and having a angular sound doesn't help... but the soundscapes and structures are very different from the Talking Heads. To me they remind me very much of New Order... (listen to: The Skin of my Yellow Country Teeth and tell me other wise)

The album is possibly the finest effort I've picked up in 2005 and one of the better debuts I've picked up in recent years. I highly recommend checking out their website and picking their album.

Here's an MP3 of one of their more TalkingHeadesque tracks:Over and Over Again (Lost and Found)

.Resaca City Rollie.

Tripping the Rift

A few months ago I got to see the creator of Tripping The Rift on Attack of the Show. While being interviewed, he described the show being for those who have interest in subjects such as Star Wars and Star Trek, while also having equal interest in getting laid.

A few of the clips shown during the interview seemed funny enough for me to investigate the Season 1 DVD boxset
on Netflix over the weekend.

The show is basically about a sly ship Captain "Chode" who has a small band of shipmates which consist of a homosuspicous Droid that has some semblance to C3-P0, a very well endowed Sex-Bot that goes by the name of "Six", a strange Lizard that monitors the ships vitals and a oversexed 4 legged monster whose name escapes me at the moment.

The show has a lot of cheep laughs. I don't really know what night they run new episodes on Sci-Fi just yet, but I'd totally Tivo it. I wouldn't go out of my way to own the box set tho'. While funny, I found myself having a "Tripping the Rift" fill after watching 2 of the 5 episodes on Disc 1 of Season 1.

Verdict: Sucks Wang

.rCr.

Ro*Tel

Awoke to the sound of a disgruntled father on Sunday... In the kitchen he stirred about with a crazed look in his eye, carrying on about how there wasn't any "Ro-Tel" in the house.

I wasn't very sure what Ro*Tel was at first, but I assumed that he needed something on par with Black Flag to kill off vermin.

Much to my surprise Ro*Tel is a diced tomato and green chilies canned mix that is available at finer grocery stores... It's come to my attention that Father can't be bothered with my mothers home made salsa's because they're too spicy.

.Resca City Rollie.

Day One: Valley Morning Star

Started my first day as Webmaster at my new place of employment The Valley Morning Star... It's a very different work environment from my previous place of employment (Automotive Supplier), but I an begin to express how much more I'm enjoying it.

I'm currently shadowing a really nice chap who goes by Mikey. He's gearing up for another go at College next term... and I wish him the best in all of his future endeavors. Aside talking shop, both Michael and I have had a chance to share some of our geekish interests. Anyone interested in Ninja Turtles should check out his fan-site.

.rCr.

The Ice Harvest

I may be completely off my rocker... but I got an incredible urge to go out and see the new film:The Ice Harvest

A few years ago the two main stars of this film (Cusack & Billy Bob) got together for a little sleeper I absolutely adored Pushing Tin

I've been wanting to see the two get together for another picture for some time now... and it looks like I just may get my wish. I only hope that a theatre in the Rio Grande Valley shows it now...

.Resaca City Rollie.

the new diggs

There's always ups and downs when one moves back in with their parents... This is my first return (home) sine I left here in 1996 at the tender age of 18. While I never vowed to come back... i quietly thought that I would never return to the Rio Grande Valley. I wasn't entirely sold on the idea of Detroit being my "forever home"... Austin, Boston, and Philadelphia have all been cities that I've expressed great interest in residing in...

A funny thing happens however when a parent turns 70. Being so far away from my immediate family... began to take a heavy strain on me about 2 years ago. A lot has happened since I began to feel the itch to return to Texas, but I'll sum all of it up by saying that its very good to be back.

Things here at home have changed quite a bit sine I last lived here. For one... my sister has moved out and our rooms have been completely remodeled from the ground up. Rather happy to see a lot of the work that my parents put into the re-modifications. My room has a fresh coat of paint and hardwood floors.

Many of the things I once had: Bed, dressers, desk, etc... is all but gone now. In its place, a lot of the stuff that my sister had as furniture when she was in her early teens. While her drawers, desk and bed are quite nice... they do absolutely nothing for me.


Specifically the bed. The bed is currently dressed in a floral print pattern that doesn't offend any guest that my parents may put up for the night. Now that I'm back at home... I got a chance to visit a local carpenter to discuss the creation of a bed and desks I designed a few months back.... more on that later tho.

The bed I currently sleep in (my sisters old bed) is possibly the most uncomfortable place that I have ever laid my head to rest. It squeaks very loudly and for some reason the bed feels much firmer than it should. That aside, its a complete eye sore for me to come home to.

It isn't all doom and gloom tho'... my favorite thing about new place is the beautiful lighting fixture.

Settling In: South Texas

I'm about 98% settled in South Texas... My first 14 days away from Detroit have been split almost evenly at my new place and at my better half's home in San Antonio. The commute from one local to the other is about 4 hours flat... far better than the 4 hour flight I would take on scheduled weekends from Detroit.

Things at home (in South Tejas) have been going really well. I secured a new job this week as a Webmaster for a local news paper... I start on Monday (November 21st). I've romanced the idea of working/writting for a newspaper almost my entire life, but I never got serious enough to pursue journalism.

Aside my occasional post on this website... I've scribbled for various Zines, Websites and College Papers. I don't know if I'll get a chance to write at my new place of employment, but I intend to pitch my work to anyone willing to read or print my work there.

.rollieinsouthtejas.

The Move

Arrived safely home in Texas this week. I've spent a considerable amount of time with my better half Katheryn and my loving family this week. Lots to share and lots to do this week. I've begun to move into my new digs. I'll have much more about that in the coming days... errr... weeks.

My drive across the Country was pretty uneventful... had my car filled to the brim with almost all of my belongings. Things got a little claustrophobic at times... but that's only expected when you fill a car to the gills.


I have a few items still up in Detroit... if all goes well, I'll get to return in a few weeks or months to finish up my move.

.rollieintejas.

Last day in the D.

Ever have anyone tell you about the unexpected wrinkles of life? I've recently had a little turning point come up. Since my last post... I've become unemployed. Lucked out and had two instantaneous opportunities for work the following morning.

Sat back one evening to decompress a bit... and made the decision to return to my home state of Texas.

If all goes well, I'll be on the road tomorrow morning. I've spent the past 6 days tying up loose ends/packing personal belongings/ and saying good bye to a few friends in the Detroit Metropolitan Area.

I very much wish there was a way that I could possibly sum up all my feelings for Detroit in one post. It would be impossible. 10 years ago I got a chance to visit the University of Detroit Mercy for a scholarship interview. That very evening, I got mugged 50 yards from the campus gates. Shook the nasty event off and moved into the city in 1996... I can't begin to describe how much the city has changed since I made it my permanent home in 1998. I can remember the very afternoon I had out with friends and said to myself "this is my home".

The truth is... I've been away from my real home for almost a decade now and I know now more than ever that its time to go back.

I owe a lot to the city of Detroit. The people I met here. The many experiences I had the pleasure to have here that make me whom I am today.

Heart,
Rollie