Burger House - Dallas (Hillcrest Ave)

This is the triple chili cheeseburger from Burger House on Hillcrest. It's a burger of wonderful death by food coma.

The family was craving some burgers. I didn't want to eat such a "healthy" burger but it just called to me when I got to the order window. Food does that to me some times.

At Burger House, my standard is the Zoe's Chicken because it comes with fries versus ordering a burger and having to order fries as a side. And I like it. However, the Zoe's used to be a cheaper option but I don't think it is as much anymore.

Anyway, this triple chili cheesburger was messy. The chili was dripping and pooping out the burger with every bite I took. It tasted pretty good too. I've had a double chili cheeseburger from Keller's Drive-in (or here). It's been a while but if I recall correctly, they both are pretty darn good with the Keller's version slightly better.

These are basic burgers. Nothing spectacular but also nothing disappointing. It's pretty tough to screw up a burger but it takes a lot to jazz up the taste of one enough to make me say, "Daaaaaamn!"

This Burger House burger was pretty tasty. Better than a basic burger like from Sonic or McDonald's but not a "Daaaaaamn!" kind of tasty. I'd probably have it again next time but I still like a Zoe's Chicken, so it may be tough to decide.

Snappee Auto Care (Dallas, TX)

I'm just getting around to writing about this but a few months ago I needed to get my vehicle inspected. It's been out for a few months and I've been able to wait since in Texas (I'm assuming it's just in Texas) they have combined the vehicle registration and inspection into one sticker. Essentially, if you have a registration sticker, you had to have had your vehicle inspected before getting it.

Anyway, I just haven't had time to take it. I was also trying to decide where to take it because I just needed an inspection and did not want to be upsold on anything like a freaking air filter, chassis lube or transmission/radiator flush which is what the typical Jiffy Lube, Kwik Kar Lube & Tune or the plethora of other automotive service centers tend to do.

I JUST WANT THE INSPECTION!

My vehicle is a 2000 and a current lube or flush is not going to do anything new that one of those a few years ago didn't already handle. My vehicle runs fairly well [knock on wood] for being 15 years old and heavily used as it has been. It's been a great vehicle and I just want to maintain it for as long as I can. It's more in the reactive maintenance zone than the preventive maintenance zone.

So, I opened up Google on my phone and did a generic search for oil change venues near my location. Kwik Kar was one of the first in the results. There are quite a few around the DFW Metroplex but the one closest to me was not favorably rated. I've been there before some years ago but I think more recently more people have had a less than stellar experience. The reviews mentioned the upselling, the over-charging and the problem-causing where they go in for just an oil change and then the vehicle starts to shake, rattle and roll when it never did before service. There was one in the Forth Worth, maybe Keller, area that was highest rated and seemd to have ownership which took pride and care in everything they do. However, I wasn't driving way the hell out to Keller for an oil change!

At any rate, I saw a pretty highly-rated place on Yelp listed as Snappee Auto Care & Lube. It only has four reviews: 1 in 2012, 2 in 2013 and the last in March 2014, but they are all 5 STARS. I figured it was fairly close to where I am and it was worth a try since I am only getting an oil change and inspection.

I took the picture below as I was waiting for service because I knew I wanted to share my "review" on Yelp and/or on my blog. The building is painted yellow. Probably could be considered bright yellow. However, I missed it on my first drive by and had to make a U-turn because it sits back a bit from the road. I drive by this place at least once if not twice a week, have for months/years, but have never really seen or paid too much attention to this building. I guess if you are looking for it you don't see it although again, I should have seen it and thought, "Damn, that's a yellow building!"

As you can see from the above photo, it's a pretty non-descript place. The inside (photo below) is even less glamorous. It reminds me a lot of Quix State Inspection which I typically get my inspection done but I needed the oil change they Quix only does inspection.

So, the oil change charges are pretty straight forward. There are two types/prices laid out on the front of the counter to be easily seen, read and understood. I just needed the basic. I spoke to the owner who is the guy in the middle of the guys in the photo on the company's home page. He seemed to be a very nice guy. I chatted with him a bit and he said that there was someone before me so it'd be like twenty minutes. I told him, "No problem."

I'd chat with him off and on as he came back in the office to do paperwork on the current customer. I asked how long he'd been there—only a few years in this location. I told him that I found him on Yelp and he had very good reviews. I pulled it up on my phone and showed him. He was like, "And I don't even advertise!" I said, "With reviews like these, I guess there's no real reason to."

So, before I get too much more long-winded on this post, I will probably give Snappee Auto Care a try if I have auto repair needs. I can't give an opinion on anything other than the oil change and inspection. I'm assuming the oil change went well as I haven't had any problems with a leak or such. My van passed inspection so I can't rate the inspection process any lower than top-rated. He reminded me to keep the receipt of the inspection for my records because they might ask for it when I get my registration done. I actually think it's supposed to show in some governmental database that it has been inspected but it was good of him to recommend keeping because we all know how well the government is with maintaining records.

A few other things to note:

1. He's one guy/mechanic who hires other mechanics for weekend work. If you can't leave your vehicle for more than a few hours, then you might want to go elsewhere. He told me that he's lost customers because they don't want to leave the vehicle for more than a day or so. He said he can't fully assess all problems unless they want to leave the vehicle plus the majority of the "big" work is done over the weekends when the part-time mechanics can work.
2. He's tried to hire some weekday workers but they just didn't cut it or live up to his standards. So, again, he loses customers but I'd say it speaks to the integrity of his work and business.
3. He plays Christian radio in the office. I commend him for sticking to what he believes in and is willing to play his music, which may or may not be liked by all. He's not shoving his Christian beliefs in my face but I respect his playing of his music and not what the majority may like/prefer. Again, for me, it speaks to his integrity of sticking to his guns.

There you have it. A "brief" review of Snappee Auto Care.

Aloha BBQ Grill - Lubbock, TX

This is the stir fry noodles Asian-style dish from Aloha BBQ Grill in Lubbock, TX. While in Lubbock, I wanted to try some different places other than the staples of like McDonald's, Chick fil A and Chipotle. However, while exploring the area via Google maps, I saw Aloha BBQ Grill come up as a recommended place. Although it's sounded similar to Aloha Hawaiian BBQ in Dallas, I figured it might be at least a little different because I think Aloha Hawaiian is owned and operated by Koreans whereas Aloha BBQ Grill is owned and operated by Japanese. Race matters not but it does in the area of taste buds and sometimes in the actual cooking process.

Anyway, the family was starving and we passed a Chipotle but I decided to try Aloha BBQ Grill. I didn't fully realize that the distance from our hotel (Overton Hotel & Conference Center) to Aloha was not 1.5 miles like I thought. It was actually 10 miles away more in a residential area in a corner strip shopping center.

Our hunger grew as the drive got longer. About seven minutes in, we thought about just driving back to the Chipotle which was right around the corner from the hotel but seven minutes back would be the same as seven minutes forward to our destination. We probably would have been better off getting Chipotle.

The food wasn't bad at Aloha BBQ Grill. It just wasn't really good or worth the roughly fifteen-minute drive or ten to twelve-minute wait for them to serve our food. As you can see in the image, the food is quite dark. Most aloha food isn't dark like this. What this tells me is that they used too much soy sauce in the cooking of this entree.

If you like dark, salty food then this place might be for you. I do not like my food cooked this way. I love to eat but I can tell you that I had almost half of the food left and did not eat the leftovers before leaving Lubbock. I can't speak for all the entrees prepared at Aloha BBQ Grill in Lubbock but since this one wasn't even close to my expectations, I cannot recommend to anyone nor will I visit this place if I visit Lubbock again.

Good Kill (2014)

Good Kill (2014). This movie stars Ethan Hawke as a drone pilot. He sits in a box flying military drones for overwatch or killing people as ordered. He starts to have issues with his job. You can read the rest at IMDB. Based on actual events.

FINAL VERDICT: The movie was kind of slow. It was kind of predictable. It was kind of boring. I'd pass on this one.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Watched this movie today from the comfort of my couch via the world wide web. No, I didn't download it but I did watch it through my browser via a will-remain-unnamed website. I'm glad I did. I feel that I might have been disappointed if I rented the DVD and would have absolutely been disappointed if I paid $8+ to watch this in the theater.

I'm all about the action but that's at like the Nitro Circus or Monster Truck events. You go in expecting just straight on action and excitement. However for a movie, I expect a little more. Not a lot more but enough.

This movie had no substance, no story, no real reason to keep my interest. I don't need a full-on story but something other than just driving and killing which overall just weren't that great (the driving and killing). The action scenes like the crashes, explosions and killings have all been seen many, MANY times before. There was no start to the movie. At the beginning, it had some voice over about some shit that I can't recall or even really understood but then it jumped right into the action. Well, first there was a stomping on and killing of a two-headed lizard by Max where he scoops up the carcass and eats it. What point that had to do with anything other than he was hungry is beyond me! So, then it jumps right into the action with Max rushing to get into his vehicle and then getting chased by a spray-paint huffing, white-body painted "gang." They capture him and this form of Max becomes kind of cowardly, if you ask me. Not like the Mel Gibson version where yes he gets captured but he still has a set of balls and takes the torture or whatever like a man. Tom Hardy's version seemed more panicky. I guess he just doesn't seem as hardened and experienced as the previous Maxes. Now, he did become a little more hardened as the movie progressed but the intial impression for me was kind of wimpy. Charlize Theron's character, Furiosa, was more manly. It just kind of bothered me.

The gang leader seemed decrepit. It shows him having some scars and work done on his back scars. It reminded me ala Baron Harkonnen from Dune. However, he wears some kind of oxygen mask ala Bane and he's much better. Also, when he speaks in the movie, it's difficult to understand what he is saying. Some of the time I was wondering if he was speaking a foreign language and I was looking for subtitles.

So, before I get too long-winded, George Miller decided that "high-speed" action and explosions without really anything else would make for a good movie. For me, he was wrong. I've read and heard from other people that it was "good," "awesome," "beyond expectation," etc. I don't know what's wrong with them/me but I totally disagree. It did remind me more of the original movie but without the thin story line it had and without anything new brought to the table other than bigger explosions which weren't always great. It's like Miller said, "Okay, we haven't had an explosion for like two minutes so blow that truck up now."

I really found it difficult to watch it through to the end. However, I just cannot not complete a movie — well there have been one or two probably — no matter how awful it is.

In the end, I just wasn't feeling this movie. I wanted it to be awesome. Hell, I would have taken good. Instead I was left with what the fuck and disapointment.

FINAL VERDICT: Rent it if you must. But make sure you don't spend more than a couple of dollars. If you happen to find short clips of the movie with the chases and explosions, watch those as that's about what you get in the full movie.

Benihana - Dallas (Banner Dr)

My oldest wanted to go to Benihana Dallas for a birthday celebration. It's sort of pricey but it's not like a regular thing. This is a special day.

However, I personally am not a huge fan of the food or the fanfare. I think it's basic food with basic entertainment from a chef whose ethnicity quite often does not match that of the restaurant's name but more of the massive land mass just south of the Rio Grande! No matter how they try to sound when they speak, Jorge is not Miyagi.

Anyway, the photo is of my plate with beef, chicken, shrimp and some fried rice. I enhanced it with some color filters to make it look more enticing than in real life or at least eye-appealing.

Again, the food's not terrible but I think I can get just as good from Mei Mei's Chinese Buffet off of Central Expressway and Meadow Rd and pay about a third of the cost.

Hopefully, this phase has passed now from my children's birthday dining wants.

Dugan's Moving Company

Dugan's Moving Company located at Hebron & Josey in Carrolton — at least when I used them.

Used this company almost three years ago. Started a review back then but never completed it because I got busy with life important things. Yelp has reminded me to complete my review but today I decided to follow through.

As many others have mentioned...

DO NOT USE DUGAN'S MOVING COMPANY!
Here's my story...

Emailed Brad Dugan, owner of Dugan's Moving, after calling another recommended moving company (Alpine Moving Co) who were very short & rude on the phone-like he was so busy he didn't need another customer. I didn't want to lose it in case Brad was just as rude is why I emailed. Brad finally called three days later. Brad said they were available for my dates because he currently wasn't very busy. Red flag #1?

We talked cost & he quoted something around $400 if I remember correctly because I told him he would not have to do ANYTHING but move already-packed boxes & furniture which I placed almost all of it downstairs in my living room by myself over a few weeks before my move. The biggest things they had to move were a couple of computer desk armoires measuring about 36" wide x 20" deep x 60" high & no more than 75 lbs. I was also only moving about a mile away.

Night before the move, it rained pretty good all night. It was pretty wet the morning of the move but had stopped raining. Brad calls around 8 a.m. asking if I still wanted to do my move. Like I had a choice, idiot! I told him I had to be moved out by that day (my last in the place) because that was the earliest time my other place would be open—it was a tight time frame. Brad reluctantly said okay but it'll take him a bit to get his guys together. Really!? Should he not have had them already gathered & waiting for me to tell him to not come instead of assuming I'd cancel? Or maybe call and confirm the night before? Red flag #2?

They finally show around 11 a.m. — 6 guys & one 27' truck although a few drove their personal trucks since they all wouldn't fit in the moving truck. They all seemed nice enough. 4 guys in their 20s & 2 older guys about 40+. Brad was one of them. He's a heavy set guy & he barked orders to the others. He maybe carried five small items but I'm sure he felt like he did a lot more. He kept telling me that his guys really didn't want to work today because of the weather so they were going to try and "book" it to get done in a few hours or less. Red flag #3?

I had hardwood floors at my old place except the stairs to the 2nd floor. I laid down towels to keep the mud & water at bay as much as possible why the movers were going in & out. Once the truck was loaded they drove roughly one mile to my new place to unload. I had them move one desk armoire upstairs in my new place because my wife didn't want me doing it later. EVERYTHING else they just had to bring in & place in my living room for me to unpack, place and/or set up later. Simple right? All the ease that I made for them was definitely going to be $400 or less, right?

So, my mother-in-law offered to pay for the move & she was also the one that gave me their contact info. It was a small move but she wasn't hugely impressed with them previously because she thought they overcharged for a simple move she too had. However, I was in a time crunch & limited on who I could call without getting thoroughly raked over with the costs. Well, I (my mother-in-law) still got raked in the costs.

My mother-in-law was doing a walk through while I was handling something else and noticed that they had damaged the computer armoire they had moved upstairs. How the hell it happened I have no idea. Two guys moved it up in the new place but I had moved it upstairs in my old place by myself without ANY damage! It's funny but they seemed like they tried to hide it. Five guys hovering in a circle around the item like they were trying to keep prying eyes from seeing what they're doing. Just weird. My mother-in-law talked with Brad about it and he said he'd take off $75 (I think it was) from the total cost. Red flag #4?

That was such a great savings I tell ya. I believe the total cost was around $650. My mother-in-law said I was quoted $400 & Brad started saying stupid stuff like, "Well we came in the rain & I had to bring two extra guys so we could get it done quicker, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH." Basically, reasons that should not have been shared & I could not believe he was arguing his point of overcharging us. My mother-in-law & I must have been in crazy good moods as we just said, "Screw it!" & she paid. I personally would've argued a bit more if I was paying but I figured if it was really something she wanted, she would have argued more too! Although, a few days later she had thought about it more & it grated on her that she wasn't more upfront about her disgust of Dugan's Moving's service & price!

So once again, unless you want to be screwed over...

DO NOT USE DUGAN's MOVING COMPANY!!!
The damage they caused and subsequently tried to "fix" on my armoire.

Now that I think about it, I wonder why they would have wood glue on hand unless they've damaged wooden furniture before.