One light out update

Obsessed, originally uploaded by tlcub4bear.

Yesterday, while Brent was driving to and from Mom's house, I was able to snap off these pictures of trucks with one light out.

So, it seems there still is a problem with GM trucks and SUVs.

(Note, I caught one Ford with one light out too)

Z-Tejas Redeems itself

Wednesday Dinner, originally uploaded by tlcub4bear.

I wrote a while back about “The cheapening of Z-Tejas.” Well I’m happy to report, and am very willing to eat my words (and the food too), that they have redeemed themselves.

We have visited them several times in last few months, and have been completely satisfied, and actually quite surprised at their new attitude.

As first impressions are important, they made strides with their attire. The faded jeans and tired white shirts are long gone. Now they wear black shirts and slacks. The female waitresses frequently wear form-fitting lycra shirts, that accentuates their figures (not that I’m looking, mind you).

The menus are still a single sheet of paper, but the laminate is much sturdier and feels heavier than the faux pas grade-school-laminate-looking menus that got me started on my tirade a year ago.

They reduced the number of items on the menu, but have specials now and then where they bring back some of the favorites.

Now on to the wow factor that keeps us coming back… Since we are fairly regular customers, the two managers have become familiar with our faces. Normally, we eat early in the evening to avoid the rush, and we get a table fairly easily.

On one occasion, we arrived with the in laws on a Saturday night at about 7:30. Needless to say, this is the prime time where more than half of Ahwatukee is out dining. We arrived and I put in my name for a table for four. The hostess informed us of a 45 minute to an hour wait and handed us a beeper. Since we were having a good time and were able to find a seat on the “cowhide” sofa, we decided to wait it out. As the in laws were taking pictures of themselves with their cell phones, the manager came over to me, and asked me what my beeper number was. I told him, and he left. One minute later, the beeper went off. I was quite surprised. But more importantly, I made a great impression on the in laws! You see where I’m going with this.

Our 45 minute wait was reduced to 5 minutes. I felt a bit embarrassed, because I’m usually the nice guy, who will wait in line behind the slowest of grocery store Moms with coupons, or patiently follow behind the 83 year old driver, not passing her, before making that right-hand turn. Not to mention heat from the evil looks I got from the other groups of people who arrived before us. It was all a moment to take in. The rest of the night turned out wonderfully, with a delicious dinner, wine, sprits and desert. Considering the tab of the evening, no wonder why the managers like us!

Later that month, we invited our next door neighbors out for dinner. They are fairly new to the Phoenix area and had not tried Z-Tejas before. One condition of this dinner was no Tequila for the wives. Although their Chambord frozen margarita is one of the best I’ve ever tasted, I promised I wouldn’t push it on them, as doing so would surely cause alter egos and craziness to emerge unabated.

When we arrived, there was a 45 minute to 1 hour wait. As we stood in the waiting area, talking with the neighbors and having a good time, the manager came up to me, shook my hand, and our wait was graciously reduced to 5 minutes. This was going over very well, indeed, with the neighbors. The rest of the night was a blast, with good appetizers, fine spirits (no Tequila for the wives), and a delicious meal.

So, with these nice perks and the ambiance that has returned to a more classy feel, I’m quite happy to say I’m back to being a happy Z-Tejas customer, and I completely take back any bad-mouthing I’ve said about them in the past.