Songs I've heard in Texas

The other day Chrissy blogged regarding her feelings about Texas. The next day I was driving with her and the Freeway was at a stand still I said to her "We need to take a Texit". She didn't know that Texans have a word for how they exit the freeway anywhere or anytime they want. It made me think of other unique things I have noticed while living in Texas.
Here are some funny titles of a few songs.
I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling.
I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life.
I Fell In A Pile Of You And Got Love All Over Me.
I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim Is Gettin' Better.
I'm So Miserable Without You, It's Like Having You Here.
You're The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly.
It's Hard To Kiss The Lips Of The Mouth That Has Been Chewing On Me All Day Long. (edited version)
You got to love county western music.

TEX MEX MMMMMM!

When we moved to Texas I had trouble enjoying the Tex-Mex style of Mexican food. I loved Cali-Mex. After a year we developed a liking for a Tex-Mex restaurant in Helotes. We call it El Chap. A couple of weeks ago Diane and I ate dinner there. When it came time to order I could NOT decide. I had the waiter come back 3 times and I still couldn't decide. I asked what do you recommend? He said "grilled shrimp chile rellenos". He offered a guarantee if I didn't like it he would buy my dinner. Decision made, bring it.

Well it was sooooo good, I had to pay for my own food. But as I ate I took notes.........

'cuz this one is going to be copied.

Today was the day.

I made Broiled shrimp chile rellenos. MMMMMMM!

Have a look......





Everything is cooked in this picture. I just broiled it for about 8 minutes before serving to melt the cheese.

And then it looked like.....................................................This








All I can say is MMMMMMMMMMMM!




I'll post the recipe in comments if any one wants it.

It's getting weird!

Repairing my car has gotten weird.


In the quest to keep my car in tip top shape without spending a fortune, I met a man at a car dealership. He asked me about my car, when I said BMW, he said, "I have a friend who is a mechanic and will give you a real good deal." My car needs a 4 wheel alignment, something I cannot do.

I called his friend and got a quote for $65, which is less than half of the next lowest quote. I asked where his shop was. He said at the BMW dealership. (What the...) I set an appointment and he said, "meet me at the back gate at 5:30 pm." Having been to the BMW dealership before I knew that it is surrounded by other auto repair shops. I figured his shop must be just behind the BMW dealer.

I showed up at 5:30 to nothing but a vacant lot. huh???

I called him and 2 minutes later the gate to the dealership opened and he waved me in. I asked him, "where's your shop?" He didn't answer me. He took my car into the shop and asked me not to go into the dealership showroom. So I went for a little walk in San Antonio, for about an hour and half. I got a phone call "it's ready" . I gave him $65 cash and the car is running great!

I don't know what to think about this . . . but I like the price.


Stay tuned the car needs some more maintenance that I can't do.

The Reluctant Mechanic

When we bought our BMW in 2002, I looked under the hood and couldn't find a single spark plug. Not that I wanted to find them but I knew down the road (pun intended) I would need to know where they were. I was very pleased to know that the spark plugs that came from the factory were good for 100,000 miles. WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL I may never need to find them!

Fast forward to 2009 and the car now has traveled 130,000 miles. It's now over due for a spark plug change. I got a quote from my mechanic, of $400. Now I DO need to know where the heck those spark plugs are! I looked under the hood once again and it looked like this...



This not a spark plug wire in sight.
I scratched my head for a day or so then......... YOUTUBE! I typed in what I wanted to know and presto a full video of how to change the plugs in a 2002 325i. This was the easiest change of spark plugs in any car that I have ever owned. My mechanic said it would be very hard to do at home. HA. It took 15 min. to take the covers off and 15 min. to change 6 plugs.
Where are the plugs you ask?


There are 6 little squares going down the left side of the engine. The plugs are under there, about 10 inches deep. Very easy to do. I saved $250.00. Thank you very much.

My trusted mechanic is now under a cloud of suspicion. He would have made $250 in about a 1/2 hour. OUCH.

Back In The Saddle

Wonder what I've been doin'?


(with the help of Chrissy)



Kitchen Sink wall . . . Before









. . . After




Stove and Refrigerator wall . . . .Before











. . . After




For more.....check out the July 10, 2008 post

Where do guitars come from?

If you want a guitar but don't want to go the guitar store to get it you can do what I did. Buy a slab of "tonewood" and glue it together.


Cut it into shape. Carve out the needed spaces.



Back and Front


Install the hardware. The neck screws on here.




attached with very strong screws to sustain the tone.



slap some strings on it and start jammin'


Play it for a year and decide to put a glossy finish on it.


I found this cool wood called Leopard Wood. I used it for a pick guard and other accents.


THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

That is Bareknuckle BPK 92 soapbar pickup. The wood is Basswood, maple neck with rosewood fret board, and Fender tuners. This puppie screams!

Thank you my dear family!

Well my stay here has come to an end. This is the wonderful bedroom my parents offered me.


Most night this is how ate dinner. Mom would make something, simple and delicious for dinner. Don came over and had left over ribs, we were eating split pea soup.

LaRee eats most of her dinners with mom and dad. I really enjoyed talking and eating with each of them.

Before I go home I must thank everyone in my family.

I don't think Spencer knows what a blessing this work has been to my family. I came at just the right time last Oct. and this time as well.

Mom and Dad were so helpful, feeding me, driving me, reading the scriptures every night with me. We read the Doctrine and Covenants together and I was reading Matthew on my own. I want to leave these verses with all of my family in Fresno. Matt. Ch 25 V. 31 - 40.

I love you all!

Now I must go to sleep because in 6 hours I drive to San Jose to catch a jet to San Antonio and then into the arms of these beautiful ladies.......

Who I have missed so VERY MUCH.