Season 2 of Dexter

I've been meaning to do a proper write up on my Fall TV viewing habits... if time permits I hope to write up some thoughts on a handful of new shows I'm diggin'.

For the time being... I want to quickly plug the Season 2 premier of DEXTER on Showtime.

I'm DVR'n the show so that I can watch it a little later this week. Ran across this fabulous promotion over the weekend for the show and I had to share.

It's bloodtastic!

The Mets make me blue...

Despite having a 7 game lead with 13 games left in the regular season... the NY Mets will not advance to the NLDS.

A Mets team that was in first place for 159 consecutive regular season games.

While I'm fairly certain that they would have been bounced out before reaching the Series, its seeing the team collapse in the fashion they did that upsets me to no end.

Birthday Wishes : to Joker

26 years ago today, my little sissy came into this world... ruining a pretty good thing I had going as the sole object of attention from my parents.

Truth be known.... I'm quite happy that she did.

Big birthday ups to you Joker.

.aCr.

Geetah Shoppin'

Every once in a while I entertain the idea of purchasing an electric guitar. Truth be know... I happen to own a Fender Strat, but that guitar is currently in Detroit.

I don't really know why I want a guitar... I've been attending some shows in recent weeks so I think the itch to create something is there.

Anyhoo, I took some time this weekend to see how much a Fender Telecaster went for.

While out I discovered that Fender is selling a guitar to celebrate the late - great Joe Strummer.

Fender went out of its way to "replicate" the tattered guitar that Joe used from his days with the Clash & solo career.


I had a guitar tech take it down off the wall so that I could play it a little. I looked at it in disbelief because it felt so disingenuous. Not as disingenuous as the checkerboard - Avril Lavigne telecaster next to it... but disingenuous nonetheless.

I really wanted to pick up the guitar as an impulse purchase - but knew that I would regret owning it the moment I would have a friend shred me for how uncool it is.

Anyhoo... I didn't pick up a telecaster, but the search will continue. If all goes well - I'll find a nice deal on a US made one.


.clash city rocker.

... and you will know my name is the LORD

In recent weeks, I've made it a point to explore San Antonio, in hopes of finding something redeeming to write about.

Much to my surprise... the City of San Antonio has a couple of cool spots. In the coming weeks - I plan to write up a number of entries - detailing places to eat and drink @.

Tonights write up: Best Burger in Town

One of the most widely debated subjects in the city of San Antonio is, Who makes the best burger in town?

I asked this question when I first became acquainted with the city and I was driven over to Chris Madrid's. (1900 Blanco Rd.)

I got nothing but praise for Chris Madrid's. They make a "tasty burger". So tasty, that the Tostada burger - ranks #2 in AOL's 15 burgers you should have before you DIE.

Quite a ringing endorsement.... and again, I vouch for it rocking wang.


However... I just had a tastier burger this weekend and it wasn't on Blanco Rd. It was a kiddy corner away from where I work and it goes by the name of:

Lords Kitchen

Tucked away at 118 Seguin St., practically under a bridge (New Braunfels Ave.) on a residential street, resides a little yellow shack that goes by the name of "Lords Kitchen".

As hole-in-the-walls go... this place doesn't disappoint. The restaurant is very small and the wait staff is incredibly chatty. One can make friends quick.

I didn't get a good look at their complete menu... I went in with the sole purpose of having their house special.

They breakdown the showstoppers by offering 1/2 pounds, 1 pounds, 1.5 pounds and 2 pound burgers.

The burgers don't increase in circumference... they stack em in 1/2 pound patties. So keep that in mind if you think about going bigger than a pound in size.

Burgers come with a side a fries... but the spuds aren't anything to write home about. They're in actuality some of the worst fries that I've had in recent memory.

If you've never been - I highly recommend you swing in and get your fill on.

.alamo city rollie.

the new iPod nano

A few months ago I picked up an iPhone at launch... in hopes of having a device that I could dedicate for all my multimedia/telecommunication needs.

In all fairness... it's a wonderful device. I think that it fails on the iPod front because of some music management & playback quirks, but I won't digg up those bones again, seeing how I already covered that in a previous entry.

Anyhoo... as you may have read. Early adopters of the iPhone got a 100 dollar rebate from Apple last week. On top of that, American Express - gave me (and anyone else who got the iPhone with their Amex) 200 because of the unprecedented price drop.

Seeing how I some "house money" on the table... I decided to go into the Apple Store to pick up a new iPod nano.

The need for a nano was hard to justify at first... I got to thinking however about my favorite iPod - the iPod Mini.

That iPod (at the time) was freakishly small in size and it only had a paltry 4 gigs of HD space.

I can't stress how much I *heart* that iPod. Not only did it have an amazing form factor - but it made me go back and revisit my music library so that I had new things to listen to.


Seeing how the iPod nano is smaller (in form factor) these days - I thought I'd swing by the Apple store to see what they were like in person.

Some quick thoughts :

• I can't stress how slim & small it is in person. the commercials seem to add some dimensional size and weight that truly isn't there.
• The screen is insanely bright and crisp
• The device is very snappy and responsive
• They designed the iPhone jack so that it hugs your headhone input in a cobra-clutch submission move. I could easily go out jogging and not have to worry about having it fly off by accident.
• The improvements to the menu are eye candy for the most part... but fuck if it ain't perdy.

I've had the devoice for a week now... all in all - I'm very happy with it. I have about 6 gigs of music. It's so nice to slip it into a shirt or pant pocket before I slip out the house for an errand. Unlike my other iPods - which have been a nuisance to have on my person.

This may possibly be my favorite iPod I've ever owned.

Previous iPods : iPod (gen 2), iPod (gen 3), iPod mini, iPod (gen 5), and iPhone

Birthday Wishes : Emo V.

Want to quickly extend some birthday wishes to a dear friend of mine,
the lovely Emo V.

It pains me greatly to not be in Detroit to celebrate her birthday in
person.

Wishing you the best in everything my dear,
.alamo city rollie.

Surrounding myself with music

So... I finally got around to securing proper shelves for my music collection.

I think 20 or so months passed between me having direct access to my entire library. There were numerous reasons for me having them put up for so long. a.) I moved from Detroit to San Antonio... then to South Texas... then back to San Antonio in a span of 8 months.

b.) I went through a shitty split up and I didn't want to listen... let alone look at a music library that I had shared with someone for almost 4 years.


I forget how much time passed between the break-up and me getting the itch to get my shit together - but my search for shelves took far longer than I had anticipated.

I ended up settling for these.

I'm pretty happy with them. I currently have my music collection set up stacks. My goal is to slowly alphabetize them so that I can go through them like a Disc Jockey goes through stacks of music in a radio station.

In the second picture you can that I've put my record collection in a set of sturdy wood boxes.

Dr. Dog @ the Rock Bottom 9.15.07

While catching the Rentals on Friday evening, I made quick friends with a local who filled me on some venues that put on indie/punk rawk shows.

One recommendation that was given to me was a small bar off of Avenue B. called - The Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar.

Last night, a semi-popular act (from Philly) by the name of "Dr. Dog" rolled into town and they were quite possibly one of the most polished indie live acts that I've caught in quite some time.

Their sound in a live setting is very different from the audio recordings I've listened to. While @ the show last night, I picked up their latest offering WE ALL BELONG.

I haven't had a chance to slap it into my stereo this morning but hope to do so after some morning chores.

Dr. Dog - is slated to play at Stubbs in Austin tonight and a few more shows this September. It's my understanding that they play a lot of shows out East... but if they happen to play your town - do make it a point to catch em live.

The Rentals : 9.14.07 - White Rabbit, San Antonio

While things have gone a little quite on the blog this Summer, there's been no shortage of reflections to post on the website. If all goes well this weekend, I hope to sit down and pen a number of entries.

In the mean time... I finally got around to visiting the White Rabbit (venue) to catch a performance by Matt Sharp & the Rentals.


The White Rabbit is one of San Antonio's largest stables for indie/punk/heavy metal shows... Their event listing caters a bit more to the METAL. San Antonio is hotbed of sorts for the genre.

While out shopping for some music this week, I ran across a flier for a Rentals show. I wasn't aware that the Rentals had come out of indefinite hiatus to record music, let alone play some shows.

After doing a little research, turns out a new member is a former San Antonio resident. The show a homecoming of sorts for her. Family and friends were scattered a'bout.

While attendance was low... there wasn't a single person who wasn't a friend of P. The sing-alongs were great. I'm fairly certain that they played all but 2 songs from their first LP... and the band turned in a very energetic performance.

The Rentals have a few more shows left on their tour... I believe that they're planning to record a full length very soon, so if you don't get to catch them on their final leg - you may get a chance to catch them in not-so-distant-future.

.aCr.