Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Green House Baptismals

Green house
We pass this store front fairly often. It's on the West side of San Antonio on Commerce St. My niece and nephew have yet to be baptised unlike their older brother and I told my sister after I saw this on the local news, that if and when they get baptised/communionized that we should get them their threads here.

According to the news story Garcia's is a family run business. I always like to support local businesses when possible.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Friendly Auto Sales

watchmen smiley
I've seen this billboard daily for a while now, but it wasn't until The Watchmen started being put all over the media that I really payed attention. Now when I see that big yellow smiley coming at me in the morning, I can only see that spot of blood on that smiley button that gets shown so much on The Watchmen. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I will at some point I reckon, maybe when it comes out on DVD or PPV. I did recently read the graphic novel and it was okay I guess.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Santa Rosa

la cruz en la luz
This is the back/side view of Santa Rosa hospital in downtown SA. I am more familiar with this shot which features an angel tile mural by Jesse Trevino. Across the street from this view is a little boxing place (San Fernando's I think it's called). I spent some time here back in 97 when my nephew spent a week here when he was 6 weeks old and came perilously close to getting pneumonia. They did good by him, so I think good thoughts of them.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Lupita's Mexican Restaurant

menu
We all woke up at what seemed to crack @$$ of dawn and went to have breakfast at Lupita's. We hadn't been there in quite a while. My little brother worked here (as well as HEB) as a dishwasher/busboy for a bit while in high school. I had the huevos rancheros minus the ranchero sauce, one of the kids had a burger, the other had bean and cheese tacos and the girl had pancakes with bacon, the mama had huevos rancheros with the ranchero sauce. Get a gander at the interior.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Coffe House Art

Java Nook art
The javaNook located at the Central Library in downtown puts up works by artists. The art (wood cuts) on the facing wall is from Roberto Botello. The photo on the left wall is from one of the owners if I'm not mistaken. Drop in have a drink, use their WiFi, listen to the music and peruse the wall, then visit the library and if you don't have a library card, sign up for one.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Pyramids of Dirt

pyramids of dirt
I see this pile of dirt on the side of the highway on the way home from work. Today for some reason they made me think of the Pyramids of Giza. I reckon I should be glad that I'm a passenger and not driver since my mind is always on something else. Here's hoping that if I'm ever in the drivers seat the only thing on my mind is the road.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Squirrely Wildlife

squirrely
I thought this little critter was so cute I had to take a picture of it. When I first saw it, it was facing the opposite direction, but in the exact same position, spreadeagle over the tree. It so seemed to be that it was basking there. I hear some of these suckers can fly, but I have yet to see any myself.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Pope Mobile at Pete's

chicken art
This is an interior shot of Pete's Tako House. My sister and I did lunch here. I had the chicken caldo and noticed the Pope shot on the wall. I've been here before but I don't think I've ever seen that photo. I do remember the visit, not that I was anywhere near it, but I remember all the hoopla around it. Currently one of the local news station is running some kind of advert that includes people's reaction to the Pope's visit. If I'm not mistaken one of the newest schools either already built or being built is being named after the Pope of that visit--I just can't remember if it's a middle or high school

Monday, March 23, 2009

UTSA Maze

utsa hanging maze
I'd love to stand underneath this and get a shot from that vantage point. I know there is another name for this kind of thing but for the life of me I can't remember what it is. My sister is currently attending graduate school here and I've thought about walking around and taking photos, but she says security can stop and ask for your id and while I am usually carrying some kind of backpack around, I still wouldn't be able to produce school id if asked for it.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Sign Pollution

signs
Now this is a lot of signs. There are at least four on the post itself. Granted two of them are dated things that could be taken off after the fact. Behind that is the bus stop, the traffic sign, the street sign and the sign for the building across the street. :D I still don't quite understand that sign law in SA, can we or can we not take down said signs? My inquiring mind wants to know.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Frank D. Wing Municipal Court

Municipal Court
I've been in this building a total of one time--and no it wasn't for any of the bad reasons it could have been for. I was there to get proof that I was indeed a good girl and didn't have any warrants out for my arrest. I tell you, I know I didn't...but I was still relieved when they told me I was good to go.

Is it just me or is he 21st usually the first day of Spring. I was thrown off this year by it being on the 20th.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Easy Rider

easy rider
Saw this guy on my way home. I really like the back of his jacket. I always wonder how they keep those suckers upright and how they aren't totally freaked by all that steel incased traffic around them and they so open to the elements and other vehicles. Sometimes even in a car or truck you can feel the push and pull of the traffic, so gods only know what it feels like on a bike. I still want to go for a ride on one at some point, but not just yet. :D

In the background of the photo you can see a Julian for mayor sign. He's another candidate for the mayoral spot in SA. He ran and lost against current mayor Hardberger in 2005. His twin brother Joaquin is a state representative in the Texas legislature.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Morning Commute

morning traffic
This is what my morning was like. How was yours? When you're seeing this many tail lights lit red so early in the morning, you know you are not in for a speedy session of traffic. But I'm lucky, I just sit in the passenger seat and wait to get to my destination. I'm hardly ever the one needing to beat the clock.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Tee-Ball Practice

tee-ball practice
It's that time of year again where all those little people in your life begin to turn their minds to sports. This year we are following tee-ball. Little mister center of the field can't seem to keep his concentration on the ball or the other players. When questioned why he was playing with the sand he said "My brain tells me to." and when asked what it was exactly that his brain told him he said "Self, play with the sand" and apparently that's that.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

The Wall

wall
The Southwest School of Art & Craft is still putting up it's new and improved wall. I was trying to figure out what those things sticking out of it were. I reckon it has something to do with it's construction as opposed to decorative pieces.

Today is also St. Patrick's Day. I made sure I wore my green as I was trained to do early on in life if I didn't want to be pinched black and blue. SA dyes it's river green for the holiday, but I unfortunately missed getting a shot of it.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Fish for Lent

Lenten fish
It's the Lenten season once again and fish is being put on the menu at all of those places that normally doesn't carry it. This sandwich is from Bill Miller. They ran it all week as a teaser, but then will only be offering on Friday through Lent. I'm no longer a practicing Catholic, but it sure makes a nice change having fish once in a while. I remember when I was in school that was about the only time I remember getting fish too.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Jamba Juice

Jamba Juice
Here's a store getting ready to open up in a local shopping strip. This same strip has a Wing Stop which always seems to be popular and The Egg & I, which I've been meaning to stop in on, but because of their abbreviated hours and our work schedules we have yet to work it in. I haven't seen one of these before, but this is not the only in SA, as I've seen at least two of these so far.

Today is also the Ides of March.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Blue Bonnet

blue bonnet
Spotted what just might be the first bluebonnet of the season at least in my viewing area. I love to see a carpet of blue from these things. In the past couple of years we've been missing out, but hopefully this year it's a better year for the blues. The bluebonnet is also the state flower of Texas for those of you who weren't in the know.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Old School Barber Shop

barber shop
Saw this colorful and neighborhood barber shop right around Castroville and Guadalupe streets. I love the red white and blue colors and the flags and even the car sitting to the right. My nephews have gotten their hair in cut for years in similar places. They only just recently had to find a new place when their barber of years up and joined SAPD (Hello to Pepe!)

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Coming up Green

GREEN
Working in a downtown of a bustling metropolis you sometimes get used to all the gray of concrete and such and get almost used to all the missing green, but walking back from lunch, this spot of green caught my eye as it was busting up between two hard spaces (the concrete of the sidwalk and the brick material of the facing garage). I think its just a weed, but I'll take a bit of green where I can. It reminded me a bit of a show that I saw a while ago, about how quick nature would take the world back if humans were to up and disappear.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Walgreen Drugs

Walgreen drugs
It looks like they are almost done with the construction on this building. Back in March of 2007, my fellow blogger posted about the old building. It's been a while and I've almost gotten used to all the construction, but the last time I passed this by it looked almost good to go. Apparently the top floor is going to host some offices for the Nix hospital which is right next door. In this pic it's that tall building you see rising into the sky in the back.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Ray's Interior

Ray's Interior
We went to eat at Ray's. I love their chicken puffy tacos. You can see a shot of their sign in this previous post. They have a truck that I didn't get a photo of on this day, but on a previous visit I did. I like to look at all the photos and stuff they have haning on the wall. It really tells a story about their h istory. This wall is almost like a gallery, I would have liked to have gotten a better look at some of the photos but I didn't want to disturb some of the other patrons, especially as some of them were officers of the law. D

Happy Birthday Gabs!

Monday, March 09, 2009

Uniform Code

uniform code
One of the local catholic schools is not closing, but merging with another and this was a meeting for the parents from the closing school to get to know the new school. In this shot the principal of the school is showing what uniforms the transfers will be wearing. The kids were trying to remind him of what he had to cover from the sidelines and it took him a while to get what they were saying, but in the end it was all good.

Apparently a lot of inner city catholic schools are closing as more people move into the outskirts of town and demand grows there.

Sunday, March 08, 2009

de Colores

de colores
I really liked all the colors in this photo including the VIA bus you see in the foreground. The colorful building is CityNap, and I've gotten photos of it before, but from the other side. I never realized just how colorful it was as the side that I always see is just yellow.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

SA Sky

pegasus in the sky
Saw this in the sky and it reminded me of a flying pegasus or a phoenix with wings outspread. I guess I've never outgrown sky watching and cloud shaping, which is why from time to time you'll see me post photos of the SA Sky. Bear with me, I just can't resist.

Friday, March 06, 2009

Si Se Puede

si se puede
She really seemed to live the poster. I must admit I liked the colors of it too. I associate it with strawberries (what with the red and green). San Antonio holds a march in his honor and I know other places do to.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Incinerated Knowledge

burned book
This is an exhibit at the Central Library and part of The Big Read 2009. The book that is being read this year is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I have not read this book, but I know many people that have. This is one of the photos (Words Wither, Books Burn by Carianna Arrendodo)that I like the best of the exhibit. It is used in the main publicity poster for the exhibit.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Old Bridge

old bridge
This is an old bridge I pass on the highway everyday on the way to work. I've been closer to it before a number of years before while waiting for the bus, but of course back then I didn't travel everywhere with a camera (I don't know what I was thinking!) I'd like to get closer to it at some point and get some pics, but I don't really know how close I could get to it. I'm sure the other poster to this blog has more details about this bridge. :D

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

EISD

EISD
This is the Edgewood Independent School District building on Commerce I think. I went to an elementary, middle and high school in this district. I was at this building at least once for practice SATs. I might have had to go a few weekends but I don't really recall. Recently one of the middle schools (Truman-it's located almost directly behind Memorial Library) was in the news because it's slated to close in another two years I think.

Monday, March 02, 2009

iHop Crepes

Crepes
I've gone to IHOP a few times but not more than 5 I don't think. I decided to try the crepes since I had never had any before. One of the people at work had some great photos of some one time and I thought they looked good. I would say these were a bit sweet for me, but I did like how light they were.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Theme Day: Glass

yellow half bath
Little by little we are painting our way through the house. This is the downstairs half bath. My sister decided to go for some kind of yellow color. She would be able to tell you exactly the shade, I just call it yellow. This month's theme was glass, so I figured the glass of the mirror would do nicely.