As a kid, the Pete Rose card in the 70s was the Golden Ticket. I never saw one, but he was the icon of baseball players then.
Funny how things end up.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Lake Austin
Talking with my friend Jason today, who is an avid water skier, we recalled days of skiing on Lake Austin. This "Lake" is really the Colorado River between the Mansfield Dam (north) and the Tom Miller Dam (south). As a dammed river the lake level is constant. Jason recalled (correctly) of the cold water, particularly at the north end.
Dad purchased a boat in 1984 from some friend of his (Roger?). My Uncle Vernon had a boat before his divorce from my aunt Sharon so that was my first introduction to Lake Austin. On that first day on the water, around 1976 or so, we stopped at this local burger/beer stand on the west side of the lake. Jason recalled it too. The name has now come to me: Ski Shores. There were also other places on the lake, the Lakeside Club and the County Line. You could pull your boat up and dock there.
The best skiing was of course on Monday and Tuesdays when no one was out there. Since the boat was already in the water at Boat Town, it was as simple as going to get a car out. Weekends would be crowded - we'd stay away then.
The fun lasted for the summers of 84 and 85. The boat went away after then. It was an excellent boat - Ski Nautique which was the prized ski boat of that day and location, the Ford Mustang of the water. It even had a Ford V8 engine.
I learned to ski when I was at Camp La Junta in the 70s but I got better having our own boat. Many good memories.. Even when I fell and the ski cut my head, and I got 9 stitches in my forehead. Perhaps that's when and why Dad sold the boat.
Dad purchased a boat in 1984 from some friend of his (Roger?). My Uncle Vernon had a boat before his divorce from my aunt Sharon so that was my first introduction to Lake Austin. On that first day on the water, around 1976 or so, we stopped at this local burger/beer stand on the west side of the lake. Jason recalled it too. The name has now come to me: Ski Shores. There were also other places on the lake, the Lakeside Club and the County Line. You could pull your boat up and dock there.
The best skiing was of course on Monday and Tuesdays when no one was out there. Since the boat was already in the water at Boat Town, it was as simple as going to get a car out. Weekends would be crowded - we'd stay away then.
The fun lasted for the summers of 84 and 85. The boat went away after then. It was an excellent boat - Ski Nautique which was the prized ski boat of that day and location, the Ford Mustang of the water. It even had a Ford V8 engine.
I learned to ski when I was at Camp La Junta in the 70s but I got better having our own boat. Many good memories.. Even when I fell and the ski cut my head, and I got 9 stitches in my forehead. Perhaps that's when and why Dad sold the boat.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Junior Golf becomes Senior Golf
Reading a comment online this last week, Scott Verplank said of the golf course for the US Senior Mens' Open, "Everyone will really like the renovation of Oak Tree National" As a former Oklahoma State Cowboy, he's played there many a time and certainly would know.
I've never met Scott but when I was a junior golfer in Austin, he was the #1 junior player in Texas in the early 80s. He of course got a scholarship to play at Oklahoma State which is the Duke of men's golf, having won multiple championships. He then went on to a long and successful career on the PGA Tour and is now continuing at age 50+ on the Senior Tour.
So to think that a junior golfer is now a senior golfer is quite a jump. Like seeing that a Playmate is younger than you, it makes you appreciate time passing.
I've never met Scott but when I was a junior golfer in Austin, he was the #1 junior player in Texas in the early 80s. He of course got a scholarship to play at Oklahoma State which is the Duke of men's golf, having won multiple championships. He then went on to a long and successful career on the PGA Tour and is now continuing at age 50+ on the Senior Tour.
So to think that a junior golfer is now a senior golfer is quite a jump. Like seeing that a Playmate is younger than you, it makes you appreciate time passing.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
The Barber
While in Las Vegas recently, seeing the red and blue striped pole in the Palazzo Spa and having a bit of time, I decided that a haircut was in order. Little did I know I'd get an education and a history lesson at the same time.
Philip the barber took his craft very seriously. He looked the part with his black shirt and red bow tie. As I like to say, if you're going to get in the game, you've got to be dressed to play.
According to Philip, the barber's craft has been in a demographic decline over the years, but the service is poised for a comeback, as people seek a "Wow" factor. When barber shops in the 70s gave way to the hair stylists, he changed with the times. Now, the time and skill and attention to detail of a barber is now recognized as a valuable skill that should be compensated. The supply is low and demand higher.
I didn't even go to a barber shop until I was in the 9th grade, after we moved to Austin. When I was younger, my mother cut my hair and I have the pictures to show for it. I'm sure it was me that refused to go see a barber and I was generally clueless about how I should look for at least the elementary school years.
Around the 7th grade my hair was over my ears. My mother cut more over one ear that I expected. I saw the one ear and panicked. I flatly refused to let her "even it up" and I went around lopsided for a day or two until the junior high teasing reached my ear(s). "Hey Turley, who cut your hair?" [laughter and embarrassment]
Professional help was needed and my mother took me to Command Performance in the Memorial City Mall where I recall a nice lady did what she could to straighten it out. She did encourage me to come back a second time. She also graciously did not press me for details on what happened.
After then I became a convert to the out-of-home hair cutting. In Austin, the local neighborhood men and boys in the know were to the Casis Barber Shop right by our home in the Casis Shopping Center. I think it started with some barber aptly named "Bud" . Bud had sold the shop to James who was the barber of choice.
It was worth making an appointment with James to escape having "one of those girls" cut your hair, as someone once pointedly questioned me who had actually cut my hair. I lied and said it was James. Never made that mistake again.
In Lexington VA in college, there was Wendell's Barber Shop, one barber, about 500 square feet, right by my apartment. He charged $8.00 for a haircut. He even swept the floor himself. I recall he was closed Wednesdays which was not a day off for him but rather he cut hair that day at Virginia Military Institute. Those cadets got a weekly haircut. If you were a Rat (freshman), they had their heads shaved all year.
In Houston after college, I found the Exxon Building Barber Shop where my father had got his hair cut in the 1960s. As expected in the 90s, the same two barbers of my dad's era were still there, Don and Frank. There was a third, Wendell (no relation).
After a few years, Wendell in Houston retired, followed by Frank. In 1998 or so, I dropped in for a haircut. The barber shop was closed, but there was now a salon next door. Phone number 686-HAIR. I saw a sign in the window: Barber Cuts Available.
I went in to inquire and there was Don working among a group of women. He had his white barber shirt on. The only man there. Needless to say, he looked out of place. When I was getting my hair cut, he told me the barber shop had just closed, the landlord would not renew the lease after 35 years in that location but that he was able to work at the salon for now. This had just happened - in fact I think it was his first week in the new place.
I wrote a story at the time about Don, which has since been lost. It was entitled "A Death, a New Life". I admired Don for his ability to carry on, in the face of a loss of what he had know for so long. I didn't know him well before, but I did send a copy of the story to him. His wife wrote back, saying how much the story meant to her and Don.
So it's nice to see that men like Philip are keeping the old ways up and seeking a bridge to the next generation. I told Philip about a barber I had read about in San Antonio, Rob the Original, who had been profiled in Texas Monthly. "I know Rob, I've met him at the hair shows". Rob has a fresh combination of barbering and art, and perhaps that will be part of the spark that keeps this skill going in the future. Along with Philip's spa-like service, the skill of the barber will adapt and overcome to meet the demand. After all, there will always be a need to fix bad haircuts.
Philip the barber took his craft very seriously. He looked the part with his black shirt and red bow tie. As I like to say, if you're going to get in the game, you've got to be dressed to play.
According to Philip, the barber's craft has been in a demographic decline over the years, but the service is poised for a comeback, as people seek a "Wow" factor. When barber shops in the 70s gave way to the hair stylists, he changed with the times. Now, the time and skill and attention to detail of a barber is now recognized as a valuable skill that should be compensated. The supply is low and demand higher.
I didn't even go to a barber shop until I was in the 9th grade, after we moved to Austin. When I was younger, my mother cut my hair and I have the pictures to show for it. I'm sure it was me that refused to go see a barber and I was generally clueless about how I should look for at least the elementary school years.
Around the 7th grade my hair was over my ears. My mother cut more over one ear that I expected. I saw the one ear and panicked. I flatly refused to let her "even it up" and I went around lopsided for a day or two until the junior high teasing reached my ear(s). "Hey Turley, who cut your hair?" [laughter and embarrassment]
Professional help was needed and my mother took me to Command Performance in the Memorial City Mall where I recall a nice lady did what she could to straighten it out. She did encourage me to come back a second time. She also graciously did not press me for details on what happened.
After then I became a convert to the out-of-home hair cutting. In Austin, the local neighborhood men and boys in the know were to the Casis Barber Shop right by our home in the Casis Shopping Center. I think it started with some barber aptly named "Bud" . Bud had sold the shop to James who was the barber of choice.
It was worth making an appointment with James to escape having "one of those girls" cut your hair, as someone once pointedly questioned me who had actually cut my hair. I lied and said it was James. Never made that mistake again.
In Lexington VA in college, there was Wendell's Barber Shop, one barber, about 500 square feet, right by my apartment. He charged $8.00 for a haircut. He even swept the floor himself. I recall he was closed Wednesdays which was not a day off for him but rather he cut hair that day at Virginia Military Institute. Those cadets got a weekly haircut. If you were a Rat (freshman), they had their heads shaved all year.
In Houston after college, I found the Exxon Building Barber Shop where my father had got his hair cut in the 1960s. As expected in the 90s, the same two barbers of my dad's era were still there, Don and Frank. There was a third, Wendell (no relation).
After a few years, Wendell in Houston retired, followed by Frank. In 1998 or so, I dropped in for a haircut. The barber shop was closed, but there was now a salon next door. Phone number 686-HAIR. I saw a sign in the window: Barber Cuts Available.
I went in to inquire and there was Don working among a group of women. He had his white barber shirt on. The only man there. Needless to say, he looked out of place. When I was getting my hair cut, he told me the barber shop had just closed, the landlord would not renew the lease after 35 years in that location but that he was able to work at the salon for now. This had just happened - in fact I think it was his first week in the new place.
I wrote a story at the time about Don, which has since been lost. It was entitled "A Death, a New Life". I admired Don for his ability to carry on, in the face of a loss of what he had know for so long. I didn't know him well before, but I did send a copy of the story to him. His wife wrote back, saying how much the story meant to her and Don.
So it's nice to see that men like Philip are keeping the old ways up and seeking a bridge to the next generation. I told Philip about a barber I had read about in San Antonio, Rob the Original, who had been profiled in Texas Monthly. "I know Rob, I've met him at the hair shows". Rob has a fresh combination of barbering and art, and perhaps that will be part of the spark that keeps this skill going in the future. Along with Philip's spa-like service, the skill of the barber will adapt and overcome to meet the demand. After all, there will always be a need to fix bad haircuts.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Las Vegas 2014 Style
In June Susan and I went to Las Vegas and she attended a conference. I was along for the ride. But not alone because her co worker Mariela went to the conference and her husband Miguel was on the ride along too.
Not being big gamblers, we found other things to do on the trip. Eating good meals is always part of the experience. I picked a steakhouse Carnevino which was at our Venetian/Palazzo hotel. Unfortunately it was not worthy of a great review.
On the other hand, our last night we went to Delmonico Steakhouse and it was outstanding. If you want a good meal, go where the New Orleans chefs are. Emeril lived up to his high reputation. Susan had a bone-in filet that was as good as it gets. I had fried chicken and waffles which were well prepared with blackeyed peas. I told you it was a Down South chef.
Some cool events we did were Rock Wall Climbing on 40 foot wall. That was both a mental and physical challenge. I also got a barber cut at the spa with a straight razor. That was a first of a throwback experience. I had a nice visit with the barber Philip.
Miguel and I played golf one day at Bali Hai which was an outstanding course. He also enjoyed going to the Taylor Made Performance Center. We had a nice round with father and son Brent and Keith from South Africa.
Tuesday Miguel and I got up very early to go on a 7 a.m. helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon. We flew out of the Boulder City airport. Funny that we saw Brent and Keith there as well! The helicopter ride was smoother and faster than I expected and it was over pretty quick. I'd like to go back and do a longer ride. We flew what was called the Green Four Route and flew over Hoover Dam, the Pat Tillman Bridge, Lake Mead, the Colorado River and followed it into the Grand Canyon. We flew over but did not stop at the Skywalk.
Tuesday night we saw the show Rock of Ages which was a fun 80s show. Being of that vintage we enjoyed the show but became aware that there were a lot of younger people in Las Vegas. There were all night concerts for Electric Daisy Carnival and people were out at all hours gambling and drinking and dancing and such. I was glad to have the fun I did with all the clean activities we did.
Still came back pretty tired- You know its a big vacation when you're ready to get back to work and rest!
Not being big gamblers, we found other things to do on the trip. Eating good meals is always part of the experience. I picked a steakhouse Carnevino which was at our Venetian/Palazzo hotel. Unfortunately it was not worthy of a great review.
On the other hand, our last night we went to Delmonico Steakhouse and it was outstanding. If you want a good meal, go where the New Orleans chefs are. Emeril lived up to his high reputation. Susan had a bone-in filet that was as good as it gets. I had fried chicken and waffles which were well prepared with blackeyed peas. I told you it was a Down South chef.
Some cool events we did were Rock Wall Climbing on 40 foot wall. That was both a mental and physical challenge. I also got a barber cut at the spa with a straight razor. That was a first of a throwback experience. I had a nice visit with the barber Philip.
Miguel and I played golf one day at Bali Hai which was an outstanding course. He also enjoyed going to the Taylor Made Performance Center. We had a nice round with father and son Brent and Keith from South Africa.
Tuesday Miguel and I got up very early to go on a 7 a.m. helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon. We flew out of the Boulder City airport. Funny that we saw Brent and Keith there as well! The helicopter ride was smoother and faster than I expected and it was over pretty quick. I'd like to go back and do a longer ride. We flew what was called the Green Four Route and flew over Hoover Dam, the Pat Tillman Bridge, Lake Mead, the Colorado River and followed it into the Grand Canyon. We flew over but did not stop at the Skywalk.
Tuesday night we saw the show Rock of Ages which was a fun 80s show. Being of that vintage we enjoyed the show but became aware that there were a lot of younger people in Las Vegas. There were all night concerts for Electric Daisy Carnival and people were out at all hours gambling and drinking and dancing and such. I was glad to have the fun I did with all the clean activities we did.
Still came back pretty tired- You know its a big vacation when you're ready to get back to work and rest!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Random Acts of Kindness
Having written recently about Mr. Glenn Good, he again came through with more good advice: "Do random acts of kindness".
So this week, I'm doing the equivalent of helping an old lady across the street. Down the street actually. I'll be checking in on Ms. Evelina, 89 years young and living with her son George now. George, being a good father as well as son, is going to help his daughter move so he's out of town. I'm looking foward to my time with Ms. Evelina and I surmise she is looking forward to my visits as well.
I also took out my old friend Cecily to see a movie last night, The Fault In Our Stars. She had a good cry as did most others and it was a nice evening.
So this week, I'm doing the equivalent of helping an old lady across the street. Down the street actually. I'll be checking in on Ms. Evelina, 89 years young and living with her son George now. George, being a good father as well as son, is going to help his daughter move so he's out of town. I'm looking foward to my time with Ms. Evelina and I surmise she is looking forward to my visits as well.
I also took out my old friend Cecily to see a movie last night, The Fault In Our Stars. She had a good cry as did most others and it was a nice evening.
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