Yesterday, I was at a loss for what to do next. So I started to make a list of 100 things I could do. After 50, I was prepared to get started on that list.
I've decided to get serious about a job search and that 2019 is going to be the last of this year. So next year, I'm going to be doing something NEW. No sure how this is all going to pan out but I am at least going to make the space to do it.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Thursday, December 5, 2019
More of the Same
I'm home sick today with the flu and back in the recliner, back watching Netflix, back to feeling a bit blaa. I was thinking it has been a tough year and this December is no letdown. That should mean that 2020 will be great.
Or maybe things will be more of the same. No telling what the future will bring.
Or maybe things will be more of the same. No telling what the future will bring.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Finish of Rehab
Today I finished physical therapy on my shoulder, chest and collarbone after heart surgery last May. That makes 2 different 12 week rehabilitation sessions at the DHR Therapy Institute. Finally!
The second trip was easier than the first of course. But it had its own challenges. I'm glad that I did it because I can now do the things that were motivating me to get better: my golf and my yoga.
Now what? We'll see. First on the list is Thanksgiving on Thursday. We'll have a lot of family here and that is certainly something to be thankful for. Good health now, blue skies ahead, lots of choices going forward.
I'll keep you posted.
The second trip was easier than the first of course. But it had its own challenges. I'm glad that I did it because I can now do the things that were motivating me to get better: my golf and my yoga.
Now what? We'll see. First on the list is Thanksgiving on Thursday. We'll have a lot of family here and that is certainly something to be thankful for. Good health now, blue skies ahead, lots of choices going forward.
I'll keep you posted.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Kentucky and Indiana
I've now checked off States 45, Kentucky and State 46, Indiana. I flew into Louisville KY from DFW. That was a good idea because it was kind of like the travel fantasy, looking at the board of flights and picking a location. It was not quite like that, but I did plan on the flight from DFW based on the jumping off point and the cheapness of the flight. FYI it was only $235 round trip.
I picked a very cold day to go. When I got to Louisville, there was snow on the ground and it was in the 20s. I did go downtown to the Frazier Museum, drove across an old bridge spanning the Ohio River and had a Derby Lunch at Proof on Main. That was enough for the day. I checked into my AirBnB and that was it for the night. It got down to the teens and was too cold to go anywhere. I watched TV from the comfy bed.
Wednesday I got up and drove my Chrysler Pacifica minivan (great ride) to French Lick, Indiana where I drove down some nice two lane roads along the way. I passed through Turleys, Indiana but with no sign it was easy to miss. Not so easy to miss were the 2 large resort hotels in West Baden Springs and French Lick. Walking through them you'd think it was 1900 all over again. The French Lick Resort has a nice new casino with a Sports Book so that is a draw in 2019.
I got back to Louisville that afternoon and went to Churchill Downs and looked around. An interesting place, which has been added on to a lot over the years. Set in a neighborhood, it was something you'd have to see to believe. I could see how Louisville's favorite son, Hunter S. Thompson wrote his famous article The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved.
On the way way I saw a restaurant with a mural of the Good Doctor (Hunter S. Thompson) and knew I had to go there. V-Grits billed itself as Vegan Food and Beer. Two Thumb Up.
Thursday I drove around a bit and saw some of the suburbs. Like many towns there has been a lot of white flight and suburbans incorporated towns. That is the east side of Louisville away from the river. I flew out and enjoyed the trip. I'd go back during the warmer months.
I picked a very cold day to go. When I got to Louisville, there was snow on the ground and it was in the 20s. I did go downtown to the Frazier Museum, drove across an old bridge spanning the Ohio River and had a Derby Lunch at Proof on Main. That was enough for the day. I checked into my AirBnB and that was it for the night. It got down to the teens and was too cold to go anywhere. I watched TV from the comfy bed.
Wednesday I got up and drove my Chrysler Pacifica minivan (great ride) to French Lick, Indiana where I drove down some nice two lane roads along the way. I passed through Turleys, Indiana but with no sign it was easy to miss. Not so easy to miss were the 2 large resort hotels in West Baden Springs and French Lick. Walking through them you'd think it was 1900 all over again. The French Lick Resort has a nice new casino with a Sports Book so that is a draw in 2019.
I got back to Louisville that afternoon and went to Churchill Downs and looked around. An interesting place, which has been added on to a lot over the years. Set in a neighborhood, it was something you'd have to see to believe. I could see how Louisville's favorite son, Hunter S. Thompson wrote his famous article The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved.
On the way way I saw a restaurant with a mural of the Good Doctor (Hunter S. Thompson) and knew I had to go there. V-Grits billed itself as Vegan Food and Beer. Two Thumb Up.
Thursday I drove around a bit and saw some of the suburbs. Like many towns there has been a lot of white flight and suburbans incorporated towns. That is the east side of Louisville away from the river. I flew out and enjoyed the trip. I'd go back during the warmer months.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Senior Year at Austin High
Here is my student ID from Austin High School in Austin TX, Class of 1983. I recall taking that photo and thought it turned out pretty good at the time. I guess that's why I have kept it all these years.
Back in 1982-83, Austin was much smaller, about 350,000 people, about the size of today's Tulsa OK. Now Austin is easily 3-4 times that size. The growth has come at the expense of the city schools. Back then Austin High was in the largest UIL classification, District 26-AAAA. Westlake was only a wimpy AAA school hardly worth a thought and Lake Travis was a primarily a retirement community.
I was a good student, on the Honor Roll, and recall taking some challenging classes like Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus, as well as Physics. I was also on the Golf Team usually playing #2. A highlight was our team finishing second in District (to Crockett) and going to the Regional Championship in Corpus Christi. At the time, the Austin schools were in the District IV including San Antonio and Corpus and points south. I recall that San Antonio Churchill was the powerhouse, winning the Region.
Some memories were: A school dance on a Friday night, with a TV set up to find out "Who Shot J.R.?" Also, the tailgates at Mount Bonnell or Red Bud Trail after football games, open lunches where we could leave campus to go to Holiday House, or Bert's BBQ or El Arroyo (you could even walk there). Later in the year, I recall three wonderful words "Senior Off Campus" where you could leave early and of course the grand finale to every high school movie, the Senior Prom held at the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake (now Lady Bird Lake).
A lot of years have gone by and we've lost some good people that come to my mind: Our class clown, Aaron Kluth, the self described "Loud and Proud" Ruth Ann Brown and the unforgettable "Pflug" Jon Pfluger.
I'll be getting together with my classmates for my good friend Richard's wedding next month. We'll have Jeff there (number 1 on the golf team) and Vic (who I got into trouble together with him once).
Back in 1982-83, Austin was much smaller, about 350,000 people, about the size of today's Tulsa OK. Now Austin is easily 3-4 times that size. The growth has come at the expense of the city schools. Back then Austin High was in the largest UIL classification, District 26-AAAA. Westlake was only a wimpy AAA school hardly worth a thought and Lake Travis was a primarily a retirement community.
I was a good student, on the Honor Roll, and recall taking some challenging classes like Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus, as well as Physics. I was also on the Golf Team usually playing #2. A highlight was our team finishing second in District (to Crockett) and going to the Regional Championship in Corpus Christi. At the time, the Austin schools were in the District IV including San Antonio and Corpus and points south. I recall that San Antonio Churchill was the powerhouse, winning the Region.
Some memories were: A school dance on a Friday night, with a TV set up to find out "Who Shot J.R.?" Also, the tailgates at Mount Bonnell or Red Bud Trail after football games, open lunches where we could leave campus to go to Holiday House, or Bert's BBQ or El Arroyo (you could even walk there). Later in the year, I recall three wonderful words "Senior Off Campus" where you could leave early and of course the grand finale to every high school movie, the Senior Prom held at the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake (now Lady Bird Lake).
A lot of years have gone by and we've lost some good people that come to my mind: Our class clown, Aaron Kluth, the self described "Loud and Proud" Ruth Ann Brown and the unforgettable "Pflug" Jon Pfluger.
I'll be getting together with my classmates for my good friend Richard's wedding next month. We'll have Jeff there (number 1 on the golf team) and Vic (who I got into trouble together with him once).
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Easy like Sunday
It's a quiet Sunday here at home. I did go to the Cars & Coffee at the Black Iron Cafe and even walked there and back to get some exercise. Lots of exotic and classic cars. I aspire to have one of each one of these days but I think of it like a pet - better for it to choose you.
Lots of sports watched yesterday, Longhorns then Astros. Today I watched a little of the early game Texans/Colts and am now waiting until tonight Cowboys/Eagles for more.
We go up to Fort Worth next weekend to visit Sarah and Travis so that will be a lot of travel. I'm going to try and take it easy this week in preparation.
Lots of sports watched yesterday, Longhorns then Astros. Today I watched a little of the early game Texans/Colts and am now waiting until tonight Cowboys/Eagles for more.
We go up to Fort Worth next weekend to visit Sarah and Travis so that will be a lot of travel. I'm going to try and take it easy this week in preparation.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Trapped in the Henhouse
Trapped in the Henhouse
By Gregory Turley
Timothy awoke with a start with the sun coming into the window. He was wrapped around Ellie warmly spooning her from behind. But there was not time for more this morning. Last night’s sex was sweet, he thought. His penis hardened at the thought, but he had to say “Down Boy”.
Visiting hours were long over, and he had already been warned not to be in the dormitories after 7 p.m. that Sunday night. Why hadn’t that alarm gone off at 3 a.m. like he planned? Now it was 7:30 a.m. and the sun was out. To make matters worse, he could hear the other women students in the hallway getting ready for classes.
He jumped out of bed and started looking for his pants and shoes. Ellie groggily wiggled awake and looked with amusement at Timothy jumping around on one leg.
“You know I’m not supposed to be here. If security finds me, they said they would throw me in the county jail for 30 days for criminal trespass.” He was panicked now.
“They never do that” Ellie laughed.
“Easy for you to say. I’m the one that’s got to get off of this campus pronto.”
Ellie rolled over to look at Timothy. “Right now is the worst possible time for you to try and get out. People are up and getting ready for the 8:30 classes. That is the busiest time. Why don’t you wait until everyone leaves for that first class, then once things have calmed down, you can make a break for it. If you go then, you’ll have a better chance of making it out.”
“What am I supposed to do for the next hour?”
Ellie eyed the morning wood of Timothy poking through his baggy boxer shorts with his pants around his knees. “I think I can think of something. Come over here.”
He absentminded walked over to her beckoning hand from the bed. As he got closer, she reached up his leg through his short and started massaging his testicles. She wiggled his penis out of the fly and it stood at firm attention. She rubbed his penis a few strokes before working his shorts down and pulling him closer to her mouth.
He stood there, barely able to take the juxtaposition. She was gently sucking his member as he was standing there. He instinctively gently took the back of her head for support. But his eyes wandered to the window. He crouched down a bit to get out of the window view. He was thrilled and scared at the same time.
He guided himself out of her soft mouth. “What’s the matter?” she inquired.
“I don’t want us to get caught.”
She pulled the cover down to expose her naked midsection and her trimmed public area. Seeing it in the light really turned Nicholas on.
“Why not go out with a bang?” she inquired? She stretched one leg up as her hand drifted down to stroke her clitoris. “Now come over here”.
He stepped out of the pants he had just a minute been hopping around. Shedding his undershirt, he crawled back into the single dorm bed they had been in and snuggled up again her to get warm. He was already hard from her fellatio. Since she was on birth control, he quickly but deliberately slid into her vagina and she hummed with approval. “Oh yes…” she said.
Settling back in under the covers, he lost himself in pleasurable strokes in and out of her vagina. They giggled quietly and could heard the other students getting ready for classes. He felt himself rock hard as they switched from various athletic positions.
After warming up in a missionary position, Timothy began stroking deep and deeper. He knew that he should probably have already left long ago, but instinct took over. He was like a dog in heat. He pushed in as far as he could, trying energetically to fall inside Ellie’s warmness.
“I have something to tell you” she said, as he reached his penis in deeper that he had been, getting his full length inside. “Um-hum” he grunted distractedly. “This is going to be the last time we do this. I’m leaving for home at the end of this week.”
He tried to pull out to talk about this surprising turn, but she reached behind him and held him inside her. “Keep going. We’re already both in trouble now. Let’ make this one to remember.”
“In that case…” He pulled out for a break and motioned her over her stomach. She didn’t normally like the doggie style, but this morning was going to be an exception. He throbbed with raw anticipation. As Ellie sank into the mattress and and her knees spread wide, he saw her warmness staring right at him, beckoning him to come inside. He aimed and plunged in.
How he felt to be rearing up and down, like a wild stallion! As he arched his back to reach full height before crashing down, over and over, he briefly lost himself. But as his eyes opened, he happened to glance out the window throught the open blinds. He saw the campus security detail, two of them, talking to each other outside. He recognized the more stout black man as Officer Huff, who Timothy had already had a run-in with. He was the one who had issued the previous warning for criminal trespass. Of all people…
“Why are you stopping? leaned back Ellie. Do you need some help?” She crawled off from below and stretched a bit before she climbed into his lap and finished him off with her on top. They both climaxed. He gasped with pleasure as he shot his load deep inside of her. She fell over and into him arms.
After only a brief recovery she said abruptly “Now, you’ve got to get out of here. It’s quiet now. This is it.”
He hurriedly put his clothes on and promised to call after he got back to his apartment. He planned his escape to go down the hallway, to the left. There was a staircase at the end. No waiting for any elevator. Then he should be able to go out the side, make a quick walk to the front parking lot, and leave directly. It was a bit a risk in the daylight on an all-female campus, but he was going to have to do it.
“One last kiss, my love?”
She gave him a quick peck. “Now go! Call me when you get back.”
He straightened his pants, checked for his keys and phone and took a breath in and out. She cracked the door, looked down the hall, and said “the coast is clear.” And off he went.
Down the hall, down the stairs, out the door, all was well. As he stepped to go on the back pathway to the parking lot, he was feeling good. He came around the end of the hedges and saw his truck in the same spot. He smiled and felt like running the last bit, bouncing with happiness.
Until he moved forward to see Officer Huff and his cohort. “Stop right there kid”. Timothy considered making a run for it but he couldn’t go back on the path and it was unlikely he was going to be able to get to the truck, get inside and get past the front gate half a mile away if they called ahead. He stopped and they came and grabbed him and quickly handcuffed him. “You’re under arrest for criminal trespass. And this time, you’re going down.”
Timothy felt like the entire campus was watching as he was led to the security office. In the back room of the security office, Timothy awaited pickup from the sheriff to the county jail. Officer Huff came in later to toy with him.
“I remember you. You just couldn’t stay away from her, could you? I saw your truck in the parking lot last night and this morning. You even parked in the same space as last time.” Huff shook his head, and said “You’re not very smart are you?"
Thomas figured he knew everything at this point. “I guess not”
“Let me ask you”, said Huff. “Was the fucking you got worth the fucking you’re going to get by the judge?”
Timothy looked in the distance and carefully considered the answer.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Taking Out the Trash
When I was in law school, we heard many times that "the people you are in school with are the people you will be working with in the future."
Like many things I heard at that age, I thought No Way. The profession seemed way too big for that.
And it was not always so easy to try and like everyone. The cutthroat competition didn't help. And at that time in the 90s, the University of Houston was a much more diverse place that I had been. People from all walks of life were there, black, white, male, female, Christian, Jew, gay, straight, rich, poor. There were times it was not so easy to mesh and there were clashes.
One class I remember was Trial Advocacy. There were only 12 of us in there and while I was trying it on for size, there were others that were Very Serious about this course. So the level of competition was high, for there could only be one winner and one loser in these contests.
One of my classmates, Lucy was someone that I didn't have much in common with. I didn't know much about her and that didn't help. She was very competitive. I was not. I fell behind in the class. Because it was a night class, I did not get out until after 9 p.m. One night I was driving home, very frustrated about the whole class, when I got a wake up. If I don't figure this out, I'm going to get a C or worse for a grade. And the thought of that happening intentionally was something that upset me. I had to figure it out.
I decided that I should seek help from another Professor Lauren Ravkind who was a new professor. I went to ask what to do to get better and she gave me some good advice: Anticipate the problems so you can be ready to solve them when they are called to attention. In short, Proper preparation prevents poor performance. I was able to right the ship and got a B in the class. I didn't have any problems with other classmates thereafter because I was focused on my own performance.
We finished that class in 1991 and graduated in 1992. After working in Houston for 10 years I moved to McAllen TX where I did not know anyone to speak of. I rented my office at 504 E Dove. Thereafter a law firm moved in next door. There is an alley between the two buildings. At the time I didn't not have any employees and one day I was taking out the trash to the back.
Guess who looked out her window at the law firm and saw me walking my taking out the trash? My old UH Trial advocacy classmate Lucy! Imagine her surprise at seeing me in her hometown. And working right next door. Since then we have become friendly, her nephew and my daughter were in the Memorial High School band together. We see each other at all the functions and around town, since it is not that big on some levels.
So be nice to your law school classmates. That time-honored advice has some truth to it.
Like many things I heard at that age, I thought No Way. The profession seemed way too big for that.
And it was not always so easy to try and like everyone. The cutthroat competition didn't help. And at that time in the 90s, the University of Houston was a much more diverse place that I had been. People from all walks of life were there, black, white, male, female, Christian, Jew, gay, straight, rich, poor. There were times it was not so easy to mesh and there were clashes.
One class I remember was Trial Advocacy. There were only 12 of us in there and while I was trying it on for size, there were others that were Very Serious about this course. So the level of competition was high, for there could only be one winner and one loser in these contests.
One of my classmates, Lucy was someone that I didn't have much in common with. I didn't know much about her and that didn't help. She was very competitive. I was not. I fell behind in the class. Because it was a night class, I did not get out until after 9 p.m. One night I was driving home, very frustrated about the whole class, when I got a wake up. If I don't figure this out, I'm going to get a C or worse for a grade. And the thought of that happening intentionally was something that upset me. I had to figure it out.
I decided that I should seek help from another Professor Lauren Ravkind who was a new professor. I went to ask what to do to get better and she gave me some good advice: Anticipate the problems so you can be ready to solve them when they are called to attention. In short, Proper preparation prevents poor performance. I was able to right the ship and got a B in the class. I didn't have any problems with other classmates thereafter because I was focused on my own performance.
We finished that class in 1991 and graduated in 1992. After working in Houston for 10 years I moved to McAllen TX where I did not know anyone to speak of. I rented my office at 504 E Dove. Thereafter a law firm moved in next door. There is an alley between the two buildings. At the time I didn't not have any employees and one day I was taking out the trash to the back.
Guess who looked out her window at the law firm and saw me walking my taking out the trash? My old UH Trial advocacy classmate Lucy! Imagine her surprise at seeing me in her hometown. And working right next door. Since then we have become friendly, her nephew and my daughter were in the Memorial High School band together. We see each other at all the functions and around town, since it is not that big on some levels.
So be nice to your law school classmates. That time-honored advice has some truth to it.
Number 12 at Augusta National
I was over visiting a friend of mine in his law office conference room. I was admiring the picture on the wall of the famous 12th hole at Augusta National. My friend (whose father put it up) did not know what it was a painting of. So I told him the story...
Number 12 is probably the most famous hole in golf. As part of the Amen Corner, holes 11, 12 and 13 along Rae's Creek, it is part of a pivotal back nine stretch in the Masters Tournament, considered the crowning achievement of men's professional golf. The tournament is always held at the same place, Augusta National Golf Club, since 1934.
A lot of tournaments have been won and lost on that hole. Perhaps the fact that it appears to be a straightforward shot even for the average player (about 160 yards) makes it deceptive. But with water in front, bunkers in the back and a hard and fast and shallow green makes hitting the green very difficult. Add in the pressure of the tournament and you've got a recipe for a historic event.
Also it is simply a very pretty picture. The water, the flowers, the bridges, the sand, all surrounded by lush green tones. It's no wonder that most golfers, pro or not, consider going to Augusta, Georgia as akin to a pilgrimage to Mecca, something everyone should do once.
How do I know about all this? I've got 2 different pictures and photos of number 12 hanging. As I told him, every lawyer's office should have a picture of Number 12
Number 12 is probably the most famous hole in golf. As part of the Amen Corner, holes 11, 12 and 13 along Rae's Creek, it is part of a pivotal back nine stretch in the Masters Tournament, considered the crowning achievement of men's professional golf. The tournament is always held at the same place, Augusta National Golf Club, since 1934.
A lot of tournaments have been won and lost on that hole. Perhaps the fact that it appears to be a straightforward shot even for the average player (about 160 yards) makes it deceptive. But with water in front, bunkers in the back and a hard and fast and shallow green makes hitting the green very difficult. Add in the pressure of the tournament and you've got a recipe for a historic event.
Also it is simply a very pretty picture. The water, the flowers, the bridges, the sand, all surrounded by lush green tones. It's no wonder that most golfers, pro or not, consider going to Augusta, Georgia as akin to a pilgrimage to Mecca, something everyone should do once.
How do I know about all this? I've got 2 different pictures and photos of number 12 hanging. As I told him, every lawyer's office should have a picture of Number 12
Friday, October 4, 2019
Torance Wafer
Nearly 20 years ago, I was the city prosecutor in Texas City, Texas. You can't make up a name like that. Texas City (near Galveston) was a city of about 40,000 people and had a large industrial base. A blue collar place, it was also quite integrated and "West Texas City" made the town about 35% black and 65% white at the time. There were not many Hispanics then.
Most of the matters we had were of the traffic variety. There was no code enforcement, and some truancy.
One of my most interesting cases involved the charge of Falsely Indentifying Yourself. Normally there is no criminal requirement to produce ID when you are not driving. But it was a crime to falsely identify yourself. While this was probably to keep someone from using a Fake ID, it caught our friend.
According to the report I read, the police officer was investigating some matter and our hero happened to walk up. The officer asked "Who are you?" and our hero slurred his words which came out "Tony Williams". When the officer was talking to other people they told him, that's not Tony Williams, his name is Torance Wafer. So Tony/Torrance got a citation and demand to go to court. Possible $500 fine.
Why would someone say a fake name? Probably to avoid a warrant check and an arrest. Maybe just being scared. But talking to Tony/Torance I figured it out.
Now this was back in 2000 before I had heard of Snoop Dogg. And Tony/Torance not only looked like Snoop e.g. tall, thin, black, long hair, but he also sounded like him, a very soft voice, probably had been smoking some marijuana which made him look and sound very sleepy. Taw [murmer] Wa [murmer] was how he said his name.
But the capper was when he said "How could I possibly hide who I am?" He then held out his forearms, palms of hands up, for me to see.
On the left side was tatooed T O R A N C E and on the right side W A F E R. His name was right there in one inch block letters, no other tatoos there to hide. Clear as Day. Beyond any reasonable doubt.
I then used my prosecutor authority to Seek Justice and we dismissed the criminal charge against Torance Wafer. Fortunately for him, he had not other charges or warrants and was able to walk out right away.
I hope Torance is doing well now and that he pats himself on the back for keeping his wits about him in a stressful situation in court. I won't forget him!
Most of the matters we had were of the traffic variety. There was no code enforcement, and some truancy.
One of my most interesting cases involved the charge of Falsely Indentifying Yourself. Normally there is no criminal requirement to produce ID when you are not driving. But it was a crime to falsely identify yourself. While this was probably to keep someone from using a Fake ID, it caught our friend.
According to the report I read, the police officer was investigating some matter and our hero happened to walk up. The officer asked "Who are you?" and our hero slurred his words which came out "Tony Williams". When the officer was talking to other people they told him, that's not Tony Williams, his name is Torance Wafer. So Tony/Torrance got a citation and demand to go to court. Possible $500 fine.
Why would someone say a fake name? Probably to avoid a warrant check and an arrest. Maybe just being scared. But talking to Tony/Torance I figured it out.
Now this was back in 2000 before I had heard of Snoop Dogg. And Tony/Torance not only looked like Snoop e.g. tall, thin, black, long hair, but he also sounded like him, a very soft voice, probably had been smoking some marijuana which made him look and sound very sleepy. Taw [murmer] Wa [murmer] was how he said his name.
But the capper was when he said "How could I possibly hide who I am?" He then held out his forearms, palms of hands up, for me to see.
On the left side was tatooed T O R A N C E and on the right side W A F E R. His name was right there in one inch block letters, no other tatoos there to hide. Clear as Day. Beyond any reasonable doubt.
I then used my prosecutor authority to Seek Justice and we dismissed the criminal charge against Torance Wafer. Fortunately for him, he had not other charges or warrants and was able to walk out right away.
I hope Torance is doing well now and that he pats himself on the back for keeping his wits about him in a stressful situation in court. I won't forget him!
La Bruja
Fifteen years ago, I was in my office on the Friday before Labor Day. That was a day I always associated with some pressure to finish something. It falls not only at the end of a month, but also the following Monday is a holiday resulting in a short week thereafter.
I had someone scheduled to come in. Her name: C H, and she brought in a lawsuit for her company. I didn't know much about it at the time, of course. The deadline to avoid default judgment was Monday. I didn't know if it would extend the date automatically until Tuesday, she seems worried, so I got a basic answer out that day which resulted in a timely filing.
That case would go on to haunt me for years. Over ten years in fact. I used to say that she and I had an anniversary on that date. Throughout the case went through insurance claims, insurance denials, expansions and contractions, more lawsuit, bankruptcy, dissolution, deaths, new lives.
Finally I decided that the problem was with me. I should have never acted on such impulse, driven by a desire to fix something that was not a problem of my doing. But the pressure of that day just got to me.
So I have since decided that that Friday before Labor Day is an unlucky day and that any work is best avoided. Thereafter I do not work on that day. One day will not make a difference in the long run.
The Mayan Calendar is divided into 18 months of 20 days each. The other 5 days are a separate month named Wayeb which are the unlucky days. So the concept of an unlucky day is nothing new.
Here in the Valley perhaps the Mayan influence and the unlucky days is still prevalent. In fact, one theory I have thought is that C H is a Bruja ( a witch). Not evil or bad, but with some supernatural aura or power. It's possible. And with powers that you don't understand, it's best to keep your distance.
I had someone scheduled to come in. Her name: C H, and she brought in a lawsuit for her company. I didn't know much about it at the time, of course. The deadline to avoid default judgment was Monday. I didn't know if it would extend the date automatically until Tuesday, she seems worried, so I got a basic answer out that day which resulted in a timely filing.
That case would go on to haunt me for years. Over ten years in fact. I used to say that she and I had an anniversary on that date. Throughout the case went through insurance claims, insurance denials, expansions and contractions, more lawsuit, bankruptcy, dissolution, deaths, new lives.
Finally I decided that the problem was with me. I should have never acted on such impulse, driven by a desire to fix something that was not a problem of my doing. But the pressure of that day just got to me.
So I have since decided that that Friday before Labor Day is an unlucky day and that any work is best avoided. Thereafter I do not work on that day. One day will not make a difference in the long run.
The Mayan Calendar is divided into 18 months of 20 days each. The other 5 days are a separate month named Wayeb which are the unlucky days. So the concept of an unlucky day is nothing new.
Here in the Valley perhaps the Mayan influence and the unlucky days is still prevalent. In fact, one theory I have thought is that C H is a Bruja ( a witch). Not evil or bad, but with some supernatural aura or power. It's possible. And with powers that you don't understand, it's best to keep your distance.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Concert Quiz
1st concert: Van Halen, Austin TX in 1981, age 16
Last: Aaron Watson, ACL Live, Austin 2019
Next: George Strait, Las Vegas, December
Best: Heart, ACL Live, Austin, 2016
Worst: [above] Van Halen, Austin TX in 1981, age 16
Most: George Strait (over 10 times)
Haven’t but wanna: Aerosmith in Las Vegas
Last: Aaron Watson, ACL Live, Austin 2019
Next: George Strait, Las Vegas, December
Best: Heart, ACL Live, Austin, 2016
Worst: [above] Van Halen, Austin TX in 1981, age 16
Most: George Strait (over 10 times)
Haven’t but wanna: Aerosmith in Las Vegas
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
50 Years at Houston Country Club
This September 23 marked my father Ed's 50th year of membership in the Houston Country Club. He has told me before of the way he found out the news that he received a phone message (probably written on a pink slip of paper) that Jim Baker, President of the club had called him. Ed knew that it was good news.
Fifty years is a long time, even for a club that dates to 1908. The club was originally on Wayside Drive in East Houston and then moved west to Potomac Drive in 1957. So when Ed became a member in 1969 it was probably still a relatively new location.
The club was and still is a haven of old Houston, so it must have been gratifying for a person from humble beginnings in Beaumont, Texas to fit in. During the 60s, both future President George H.W. Bush and his former Secretary of State Jim Baker (remember him?) were members. It certainly didn't hurt that my mother Kate was Old Houston and that Ed was a University of Texas golf team member in the 1950s under the legendary coach Harvey Penick.
Dad has amassed a good club resume in his time so far. He served on the Board of Directors 2 different times, and even as Vice President. I presume he presided over a meeting or 2 during his VP tenure. And for over 20 years he was the club historian and has done a lot to keep the 100 plus years of history from being forgotten. He was even the senior club champion when he was a young 55 year old.
I used to joke that not much ever changed there because members like Alcorn, Sr. would become Alcorn Jr, Alcorn III and so on. My sister Elizabeth is a member too and keeping the Turley tradition going.
Congrats to Edward W. Turley, Jr., Member number xxxx. He done a lot to give back to the Houston Country Club which was and still is a big part of our family story.
Fifty years is a long time, even for a club that dates to 1908. The club was originally on Wayside Drive in East Houston and then moved west to Potomac Drive in 1957. So when Ed became a member in 1969 it was probably still a relatively new location.
The club was and still is a haven of old Houston, so it must have been gratifying for a person from humble beginnings in Beaumont, Texas to fit in. During the 60s, both future President George H.W. Bush and his former Secretary of State Jim Baker (remember him?) were members. It certainly didn't hurt that my mother Kate was Old Houston and that Ed was a University of Texas golf team member in the 1950s under the legendary coach Harvey Penick.
Dad has amassed a good club resume in his time so far. He served on the Board of Directors 2 different times, and even as Vice President. I presume he presided over a meeting or 2 during his VP tenure. And for over 20 years he was the club historian and has done a lot to keep the 100 plus years of history from being forgotten. He was even the senior club champion when he was a young 55 year old.
I used to joke that not much ever changed there because members like Alcorn, Sr. would become Alcorn Jr, Alcorn III and so on. My sister Elizabeth is a member too and keeping the Turley tradition going.
Congrats to Edward W. Turley, Jr., Member number xxxx. He done a lot to give back to the Houston Country Club which was and still is a big part of our family story.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Lion's Muny pricing back when
I never thought I would get here but I have arrived at the point where you remember pricing as being dirt cheap by modern standards.
When I started at Austin High in 1979, I joined the golf team. One of the requirements was that you have a junior membership at Lion's Municipal which also allowed you to play the other 3 Austin courses, Jimmy Clay, Morris Williams and Hancock.
The cost of a year's membership was $60.00. That allowed for unlimited golf. We played 5 times a week all year long, plus tournaments in the summer. As an accounting method we signed in each day and paid a Quarter.
Now golf there is still cheap, $25.00 a day during the week. Can you believe the difference? Same course, same conditioning.
"Back when I was growing up..."
When I started at Austin High in 1979, I joined the golf team. One of the requirements was that you have a junior membership at Lion's Municipal which also allowed you to play the other 3 Austin courses, Jimmy Clay, Morris Williams and Hancock.
The cost of a year's membership was $60.00. That allowed for unlimited golf. We played 5 times a week all year long, plus tournaments in the summer. As an accounting method we signed in each day and paid a Quarter.
Now golf there is still cheap, $25.00 a day during the week. Can you believe the difference? Same course, same conditioning.
"Back when I was growing up..."
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Houston Country Club - golf course
The golf course at Houston Country Club, located at 1 Potomac Drive, in Houston, opened in 1957. The club moved to the Potomac location, on the west side of Houston, on Buffalo Bayou, from the east side of Houston, on Wayside Drive, where it had previously been since its founding in 1908.
The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, golf course architect, who made his name in the 1950s and has a midcentury design characterized by long tee boxes, generally wide fairways and large greens. I believe the thinking at the time was that the course could be made as long or short as needed to appeal to a wide variety of players.
In 1964, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead played a televised match for a popular golf program, Shell's Wonderful World of Golf. The Houston Country Club was chosen due to Shell's presence in Houston as well as the generally good test of the course at that time. Hogan won the match, 69 to 71 that day.
In 1988, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, a new architectural duo at the time, redesigned the greens and the bunkers of the course. As players had gotten longer, the thinking must have been to make more of a test of accuracy on the shorter shots. The major changes to the greens on 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 15, 16 17 and 18 called for a greater premium on the second shot. In retrospect, it was a light redesign and maintained the previous character of the Jones design.
Some big tournaments have been played at the Potomac course. The Texas Amateur has been held there 3 times in 1981, won by Mark Brooks UT golf great who went to win the PGA Championship and also in 2001 (Bob Kearney) and 2008 (Kelly Kraft).
In 2014, erosion on Buffalo Bayou caused a major project which lasted 2 years to repair and hold off future damage, which costs several million dollars. As a result, number 8 was redesigned by Ben Crenshaw himself to become a long par 4 instead of the par 5 it was. Opening in 2016, the new number 8 is a very modern and challenging hole, much different from the other parts of the course. The course, previously a par 72 is now par 71.
Thirty year later, Coore and Crenshaw are now a celebrity design firm, and have done several courses are considered the best in the world. The Houston Country Club was one of their very first projects. Not many golf fans know that. It's a hidden gem in that respect.
The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, golf course architect, who made his name in the 1950s and has a midcentury design characterized by long tee boxes, generally wide fairways and large greens. I believe the thinking at the time was that the course could be made as long or short as needed to appeal to a wide variety of players.
In 1964, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead played a televised match for a popular golf program, Shell's Wonderful World of Golf. The Houston Country Club was chosen due to Shell's presence in Houston as well as the generally good test of the course at that time. Hogan won the match, 69 to 71 that day.
In 1988, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, a new architectural duo at the time, redesigned the greens and the bunkers of the course. As players had gotten longer, the thinking must have been to make more of a test of accuracy on the shorter shots. The major changes to the greens on 3, 6, 7, 8, 11, 15, 16 17 and 18 called for a greater premium on the second shot. In retrospect, it was a light redesign and maintained the previous character of the Jones design.
Some big tournaments have been played at the Potomac course. The Texas Amateur has been held there 3 times in 1981, won by Mark Brooks UT golf great who went to win the PGA Championship and also in 2001 (Bob Kearney) and 2008 (Kelly Kraft).
In 2014, erosion on Buffalo Bayou caused a major project which lasted 2 years to repair and hold off future damage, which costs several million dollars. As a result, number 8 was redesigned by Ben Crenshaw himself to become a long par 4 instead of the par 5 it was. Opening in 2016, the new number 8 is a very modern and challenging hole, much different from the other parts of the course. The course, previously a par 72 is now par 71.
Thirty year later, Coore and Crenshaw are now a celebrity design firm, and have done several courses are considered the best in the world. The Houston Country Club was one of their very first projects. Not many golf fans know that. It's a hidden gem in that respect.
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Shazam from A to Z
Shazam, the music identification app, can listen to a song and ID it relatively quickly. It is one of the top apps worldwide and is now owned by Apple.
One of the fun things it does is keep a list of the songs Shazam-ed. So I like to look back and it tells a story. I have Sirius Satellite radio now so I get a lot more diversity in music.
Here are my 2019 Shazams from A to Z
A - Adult Education, Hall & Oates
B - Beast of Burden, Rolling Stones
C- Commodores, Sail On
D- Dangerous Type, the Cars
E - England Dan and John Ford Coley, I'd Really Love to See You Tonight
F- Axel F Theme, Harold Faltermeyer
G - Greased Lightning, John Travolta
H- Hot Rod Hearts, Robbie Dupree
I - It Keeps Your Running, the Doobie Brothers
J - Jason Aldean, Rearview Town
K - Kiss that Girl Goodbye, Aaron Watson
L - Lucky Star, Madonna
M - Money Changes Everything, Cyndee Lauper
N - Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
O - Outta Here, Kenny Chesney
P - Pretending, Eric Clapton
Q - Billy Squier, Lonely is the Night
R - Running Outta Moonlight, Randy Houser
S - Taylor Swift, 22
T - 10,000 Maniacs, These Are Days
U - I Would Die for U, Prince
V - Van Halen, Running with the Devil
W - Wrapped Around Your Finger, the Police
X - Richard Marx, Satisfied
Y- Yeah!, Usher
Z- ZZ Top, I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
One of the fun things it does is keep a list of the songs Shazam-ed. So I like to look back and it tells a story. I have Sirius Satellite radio now so I get a lot more diversity in music.
Here are my 2019 Shazams from A to Z
A - Adult Education, Hall & Oates
B - Beast of Burden, Rolling Stones
C- Commodores, Sail On
D- Dangerous Type, the Cars
E - England Dan and John Ford Coley, I'd Really Love to See You Tonight
F- Axel F Theme, Harold Faltermeyer
G - Greased Lightning, John Travolta
H- Hot Rod Hearts, Robbie Dupree
I - It Keeps Your Running, the Doobie Brothers
J - Jason Aldean, Rearview Town
K - Kiss that Girl Goodbye, Aaron Watson
L - Lucky Star, Madonna
M - Money Changes Everything, Cyndee Lauper
N - Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
O - Outta Here, Kenny Chesney
P - Pretending, Eric Clapton
Q - Billy Squier, Lonely is the Night
R - Running Outta Moonlight, Randy Houser
S - Taylor Swift, 22
T - 10,000 Maniacs, These Are Days
U - I Would Die for U, Prince
V - Van Halen, Running with the Devil
W - Wrapped Around Your Finger, the Police
X - Richard Marx, Satisfied
Y- Yeah!, Usher
Z- ZZ Top, I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Luby's in McAllen
There's a group that I'm part of that eats at Luby's on Mondays. Its a familiar place and an easy place to go. It seems that I see a whole lot of different types of locals there as well.
Luby's is obviously popular in McAllen as there are 3 locations as well as 4 others in the adjoining cities. I was talking with these regulars and found out a bit of history about our cafeteria restaurant.
The unusual compensation of Luby's managers ( a 40% cut of profits) as well as a historical rising market in the glory days (1970s-1980s) led to a lot of seniority of these managers. Our North 10th location is nearly 40 years old and has primarly had 2 managers, John Armstrong and Dennis Daughtry. They are well known in the community. At one time John left to start his own restaurant, the Northside Cafe. It was short lived ( they say there was too much debt and too much overbuilding) and it became a Mexican restaurant, La Mexicana. Many local restaurateurs got their start in the Luby's training program.
In the early 60s, the original location on South 10th St. was managed by Herbert Knight, who was a legendary figure in Luby's history. He managed the store from 1960 to 1971 and after a "woeful beginning" due to a historic freeze, he build the location into the most profitable cafeteria in the entire organization [according to his obituary]. I presume his success led to the second location in La Plaza Mall less than 1 mile away. People still talk about the long lines to get in there when there were much fewer restaurant choices. He went on to have a top management job in Luby's Corporate.
Now there are many choices to make and Luby's continues to do things much the same way as always, for better or worse. That has led to new financial challenges as the company is publicly traded and was the subject of a proxy fight in early 2018. The challengers, Jeff Gramm and former US Senator Phil Gramm (father/son) wanted to break up the organization since they argued that the value of the owned real estate was greater than the going concern value.
The incumbents Harris and Chris Pappas (of Pappas Restaurant fame) won the battle but it stands to be found out who will win the war. As of today the stock price of NYSE: LUB is $1.52. Lower than $1.00 and it will be delisted from the stock exchange.
Luby's is obviously popular in McAllen as there are 3 locations as well as 4 others in the adjoining cities. I was talking with these regulars and found out a bit of history about our cafeteria restaurant.
The unusual compensation of Luby's managers ( a 40% cut of profits) as well as a historical rising market in the glory days (1970s-1980s) led to a lot of seniority of these managers. Our North 10th location is nearly 40 years old and has primarly had 2 managers, John Armstrong and Dennis Daughtry. They are well known in the community. At one time John left to start his own restaurant, the Northside Cafe. It was short lived ( they say there was too much debt and too much overbuilding) and it became a Mexican restaurant, La Mexicana. Many local restaurateurs got their start in the Luby's training program.
In the early 60s, the original location on South 10th St. was managed by Herbert Knight, who was a legendary figure in Luby's history. He managed the store from 1960 to 1971 and after a "woeful beginning" due to a historic freeze, he build the location into the most profitable cafeteria in the entire organization [according to his obituary]. I presume his success led to the second location in La Plaza Mall less than 1 mile away. People still talk about the long lines to get in there when there were much fewer restaurant choices. He went on to have a top management job in Luby's Corporate.
Now there are many choices to make and Luby's continues to do things much the same way as always, for better or worse. That has led to new financial challenges as the company is publicly traded and was the subject of a proxy fight in early 2018. The challengers, Jeff Gramm and former US Senator Phil Gramm (father/son) wanted to break up the organization since they argued that the value of the owned real estate was greater than the going concern value.
The incumbents Harris and Chris Pappas (of Pappas Restaurant fame) won the battle but it stands to be found out who will win the war. As of today the stock price of NYSE: LUB is $1.52. Lower than $1.00 and it will be delisted from the stock exchange.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Sterling McCall (1935-2013)
Driving around Houston in recent years, I've noticed a very high number of old Lexuses on the roads. When I thought about it, I realized the answer was right near me.
Sterling McCall was a good family friend of ours in Houston. He was friends growing up with my mother and uncle in Houston. Vernon recalled that Sterling always liked cars. Sterling married Marianne, a very close friend of my mother's.
In the late 1960s, Sterling followed his car dreams and started a dealership for a little known car, Toyota, the first dealership in Houston. As its fortunes rose, so did his. When in 1989, Toyota introduced Lexus, he was first on the scene there as well. So Houston was a major stepping stone in Toyota's march to number 1. Gulf States Toyota, a 5 states parts distributor, is also located in Houston.
So with their legendary reliability, of course there are a lot of Lexuses and Toyotas in Houston. And to think that our family friend was behind that is pretty cool.
He sold his dealerships to Group 1 Automotive (NYSE: GPI) a Fortune 500 company. One good business deal led to another and another. They still have 14 dealerships in Houston with the Sterling McCall name.
I talked to him before his death and even he was surprised at how it turned out. He said that it was a real kick to watch Monday Night Football and hear from the Toyota Halftime Report or to hear of a game at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Sterling McCall was a good family friend of ours in Houston. He was friends growing up with my mother and uncle in Houston. Vernon recalled that Sterling always liked cars. Sterling married Marianne, a very close friend of my mother's.
In the late 1960s, Sterling followed his car dreams and started a dealership for a little known car, Toyota, the first dealership in Houston. As its fortunes rose, so did his. When in 1989, Toyota introduced Lexus, he was first on the scene there as well. So Houston was a major stepping stone in Toyota's march to number 1. Gulf States Toyota, a 5 states parts distributor, is also located in Houston.
So with their legendary reliability, of course there are a lot of Lexuses and Toyotas in Houston. And to think that our family friend was behind that is pretty cool.
He sold his dealerships to Group 1 Automotive (NYSE: GPI) a Fortune 500 company. One good business deal led to another and another. They still have 14 dealerships in Houston with the Sterling McCall name.
I talked to him before his death and even he was surprised at how it turned out. He said that it was a real kick to watch Monday Night Football and hear from the Toyota Halftime Report or to hear of a game at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Labor Day weekend
It's a quiet day at home today. Getting ready for the fantasy football draft at 3:00 p.m. today. It's online only so at least I'm beating the heat. I will miss the barbeque though.
Tomorrow is the actual Labor Day. I think that we are planning to go recliner shopping tomorrow. We are searching for the Archie and Edith special, His and Hers.
Tuesday is a getting-ready kind of day and then I fly out to New Orleans on Wednesday for a Thursday 1:00 p.m. oral argument.
This is a traditionally slow time of year, back to school, change of seasons, a switching of gears. Sometimes the only thing to do is just to wait it out.
Tomorrow is the actual Labor Day. I think that we are planning to go recliner shopping tomorrow. We are searching for the Archie and Edith special, His and Hers.
Tuesday is a getting-ready kind of day and then I fly out to New Orleans on Wednesday for a Thursday 1:00 p.m. oral argument.
This is a traditionally slow time of year, back to school, change of seasons, a switching of gears. Sometimes the only thing to do is just to wait it out.
Friday, August 30, 2019
There's Still Some Songs Inside
Down the road/ just a way [C]
Where I pass by in my car [D]
I saw the telltale neck C
of this broken down guitar G to D
The front was scratched and scraped
All dirty on the outside
But I could tell with a little love
There were still some songs inside
The song inside I hope you'll hear
Will make you hum and sing
and tap your foot and take you back
to happy time not long ago
So if you're down and hurtin'
Just tryin to survive
With some care and love you'll find
There's still some songs inside.
Gregory Turley, August 30, 2019
Where I pass by in my car [D]
I saw the telltale neck C
of this broken down guitar G to D
The front was scratched and scraped
All dirty on the outside
But I could tell with a little love
There were still some songs inside
The song inside I hope you'll hear
Will make you hum and sing
and tap your foot and take you back
to happy time not long ago
So if you're down and hurtin'
Just tryin to survive
With some care and love you'll find
There's still some songs inside.
Gregory Turley, August 30, 2019
Monday, August 26, 2019
Mount Bonnell
Back in the 80s when I grew up in Austin, the Friday night hangout after the football games was Mount Bonnell. Specifically the parking area along Mount Bonnell Road. There the older persons might have a 6 pack of beer that they had gotten someone to purchase. While there was some drinking and smoking going on, it was really just a place to socialize for an hour or so before a police car would drive up and break up the party.
Going back, it turns out that there is actually a park up top, Covert Park at Mount Bonnell. Walk up about a 100 CCA steps and there is a nice overlook of Lake Austin. That is quite a walk up, but if you go over to the north side, you can walk up a gravel path not so steep. A small but cool place to see.
Interestingly as I drove down Dry Creek Road I was thinking of an old saloon that used to be there. Amazingly it was still around, and had not been overrun by the million dollar houses along the lake.
Going back, it turns out that there is actually a park up top, Covert Park at Mount Bonnell. Walk up about a 100 CCA steps and there is a nice overlook of Lake Austin. That is quite a walk up, but if you go over to the north side, you can walk up a gravel path not so steep. A small but cool place to see.
Interestingly as I drove down Dry Creek Road I was thinking of an old saloon that used to be there. Amazingly it was still around, and had not been overrun by the million dollar houses along the lake.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Camp Hudson development in Houston
I went back to my old neighborhood to make a Vlog about an experience that I had recently remembered in detail of walking across a set of pipes crossing Buffalo Bayou.
Looking around the area, which had grown and changed so much, starting with the big bridge that was not there back there made me wonder...
The area we lived in was close in at the time, but it was only recently developed in the 1970s because it was a Boy Scout camp site, Camp Hudson through the 40s, 50s and 60s when Houston was smaller. In 1954, two adjoining cities were incorporated, Piney Point Village and Bunker Hill Village. Both went right up to Camp Hudson, but with deed restrictions allowing it only to be a Boy Scout camp, no development was expected. Of course that was before the Houston boom of the 70s when Houston became the fastest growing city in the US.
So in 1973 when the Boy Scouts moved out, this prime parcel of land in the Spring Branch ISD adjoining two "Memorial Villages" became available. Before the locals knew it, the land which was therefore part of the City of Houston with no zoning restrictions (unlike the Memorial Villages which were all single-family homes of a certain size) became a hot property.
The land was purchased by Christiana Southwest, Inc. who first developed 100 acres now on the south side of the existing Briar Forest Drive, which was only a short quarter mile spur to the gate from Memorial Drive. They bought the whole camp in 1973, about 200 acres, for $8 million.
Due to Houston's growth and the new desirable land now for development, I think people like my parents saw it as an investment opportunity. Their house in Briargrove had appreciated from the $25,000 they paid for it. They sold that for a big profit and were able to buy a larger home in a more desirable part of town, which I am sure they expected would appreciate nicely as well.
The new house was a townhouse, with adjoining wall, in a "California contemporary" style. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 stories with a nice back deck overlooking the forest. The area was a gated community with security. Others like Mom and Dad must have had the same idea, because for a townhome community there were a lot of children our age there. The good schools must have been a big draw.
My sister and I walked down the street to the bus stop on Memorial Drive. To get there, we had to cross through a fence with a hole in it. At some point someone closed up the hole, but some local person opened it again.
There were houses under construction the whole 3 years we lived there. As the area we lived in expanded, a swimming pool and tennis courts were built. It was about a half mile walk to there and we enjoyed those facilities a lot during the summer. Because we were kids, there was usually not anyone there and we had them to ourselves during the week.
As you walked near the swimming pool area, there was a lot of woods. I remember exploring and finding the Scout facilities long disused: a sitting area with benches for presentations, an old dining hall cabin. That was nearby the bayou where I discovered the water pipes crossing and figured that I could get to the Plitt Woodlake 3 theater and go to the movies without having to get anyone to take me and pick me up. I suppose I could have ridden my bike the long way but Houston drivers back then did not cotton to bike riders, particularly 13 years olds.
We ended up moving to Austin that summer of 1979. I am sure that the prospect of a quick and profitable sale of the townhome was a factor in that move. About that time, the area north of our townhomes was started to be developed into condos. I am sure the locals in the Villages looked on this adjoining development with dismay.
Now if you go back there, you can hardly tell what it was like in the 1970s. The trees are still grown and the condos and townhomes just blend in to the area. In fact, a lot of excess land has since been developed (larger lots made into new lots) and new and larger streets like Briar Forest Drive have been put in. Where traffic used to go slower, it moves faster now and you don't think to look to the sides and think "What did this use to be?"
You'd have to find someone like me who grew up there to tell you this story. As I like to say, every place and time is unique in some respects. Being one of the first residents of "Hudson" as a young teenager is one of those times.
Looking around the area, which had grown and changed so much, starting with the big bridge that was not there back there made me wonder...
The area we lived in was close in at the time, but it was only recently developed in the 1970s because it was a Boy Scout camp site, Camp Hudson through the 40s, 50s and 60s when Houston was smaller. In 1954, two adjoining cities were incorporated, Piney Point Village and Bunker Hill Village. Both went right up to Camp Hudson, but with deed restrictions allowing it only to be a Boy Scout camp, no development was expected. Of course that was before the Houston boom of the 70s when Houston became the fastest growing city in the US.
So in 1973 when the Boy Scouts moved out, this prime parcel of land in the Spring Branch ISD adjoining two "Memorial Villages" became available. Before the locals knew it, the land which was therefore part of the City of Houston with no zoning restrictions (unlike the Memorial Villages which were all single-family homes of a certain size) became a hot property.
The land was purchased by Christiana Southwest, Inc. who first developed 100 acres now on the south side of the existing Briar Forest Drive, which was only a short quarter mile spur to the gate from Memorial Drive. They bought the whole camp in 1973, about 200 acres, for $8 million.
Due to Houston's growth and the new desirable land now for development, I think people like my parents saw it as an investment opportunity. Their house in Briargrove had appreciated from the $25,000 they paid for it. They sold that for a big profit and were able to buy a larger home in a more desirable part of town, which I am sure they expected would appreciate nicely as well.
The new house was a townhouse, with adjoining wall, in a "California contemporary" style. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 stories with a nice back deck overlooking the forest. The area was a gated community with security. Others like Mom and Dad must have had the same idea, because for a townhome community there were a lot of children our age there. The good schools must have been a big draw.
My sister and I walked down the street to the bus stop on Memorial Drive. To get there, we had to cross through a fence with a hole in it. At some point someone closed up the hole, but some local person opened it again.
There were houses under construction the whole 3 years we lived there. As the area we lived in expanded, a swimming pool and tennis courts were built. It was about a half mile walk to there and we enjoyed those facilities a lot during the summer. Because we were kids, there was usually not anyone there and we had them to ourselves during the week.
As you walked near the swimming pool area, there was a lot of woods. I remember exploring and finding the Scout facilities long disused: a sitting area with benches for presentations, an old dining hall cabin. That was nearby the bayou where I discovered the water pipes crossing and figured that I could get to the Plitt Woodlake 3 theater and go to the movies without having to get anyone to take me and pick me up. I suppose I could have ridden my bike the long way but Houston drivers back then did not cotton to bike riders, particularly 13 years olds.
We ended up moving to Austin that summer of 1979. I am sure that the prospect of a quick and profitable sale of the townhome was a factor in that move. About that time, the area north of our townhomes was started to be developed into condos. I am sure the locals in the Villages looked on this adjoining development with dismay.
Now if you go back there, you can hardly tell what it was like in the 1970s. The trees are still grown and the condos and townhomes just blend in to the area. In fact, a lot of excess land has since been developed (larger lots made into new lots) and new and larger streets like Briar Forest Drive have been put in. Where traffic used to go slower, it moves faster now and you don't think to look to the sides and think "What did this use to be?"
You'd have to find someone like me who grew up there to tell you this story. As I like to say, every place and time is unique in some respects. Being one of the first residents of "Hudson" as a young teenager is one of those times.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
High Heat
It's expected to be 101 F today so that means that I am home for the afternoon. I think I will watch an old movie. So far I did get my walk in today before it got super hot and I have listed some items on eBay. Now I just have to be patient until the emails showing PayPal payments come in.
I will be going to Houston later this week so I will be looking forward to being able to travel, see family and not have to be in recovery the whole time. No big plans just enjoying life.
I will be going to Houston later this week so I will be looking forward to being able to travel, see family and not have to be in recovery the whole time. No big plans just enjoying life.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
A Hard Game
In good news today, Shane Lowry of Ireland won the British Open golf tournament. Congrats to that career-making win, as well as some home islands Euro bragging rights.
Otherwise, it was quite a shock to see the scores of J.B. Holmes, 66-68-69 and then ..87. Now it was pressure filled, it was cold and raining, but to see a longtime successful pro (# 53 in the World) have such a huge change makes you wonder. Same course, same player?
But when things unravel, you are not the same player.
Earlier this week Rory McIroy (#3 in the World) missed the cut after shooting 79, then 65. Just goes to show that anything can happen on a given day.
And these are the best in the world!
Otherwise, it was quite a shock to see the scores of J.B. Holmes, 66-68-69 and then ..87. Now it was pressure filled, it was cold and raining, but to see a longtime successful pro (# 53 in the World) have such a huge change makes you wonder. Same course, same player?
But when things unravel, you are not the same player.
Earlier this week Rory McIroy (#3 in the World) missed the cut after shooting 79, then 65. Just goes to show that anything can happen on a given day.
And these are the best in the world!
Monday, July 15, 2019
Billy Bob's Texas
On my birthday, May 11, I got to check an item off my Bucket List: Go to Billy Bob's in Fort Worth.
Billed as the World's Largest Honky-Tonk, it's a place of legends. Lots of live music albums recorded there. Everyone who is anyone has played there in country music. Even George Strait said he was on the way back to San Marcos from Billy Bob's in the early 80s when he first heard the song that he would make his signature: Amarillo by Morning (my vote for greatest country song).
So it was a nice birthday present to go. It's a commercial affair at heart, Enter and Exit through the Gift Shop. Bars selling longneck beers everywhere you turn. It's a long walk to the stage since it is the World's Largest.
Interestingly, the floor seats are down a step or two so the stage area is sunken below the standing room seats by the bars. Sarah did a good job in getting the reserved seats.
Clay Walker who rose to prominence in the 90s did a nice job playing some old favorites. Some of them were deep cuts that brought back memories: White Castle, Before she was Mama, White Palace. And the hits: What's It to You, Then What, Who Needs You Baby? And some nice covers of George Strait, the Chair and Chris Ledoux, Cadillac Ranch.
Glad I went when I did!
Billed as the World's Largest Honky-Tonk, it's a place of legends. Lots of live music albums recorded there. Everyone who is anyone has played there in country music. Even George Strait said he was on the way back to San Marcos from Billy Bob's in the early 80s when he first heard the song that he would make his signature: Amarillo by Morning (my vote for greatest country song).
So it was a nice birthday present to go. It's a commercial affair at heart, Enter and Exit through the Gift Shop. Bars selling longneck beers everywhere you turn. It's a long walk to the stage since it is the World's Largest.
Interestingly, the floor seats are down a step or two so the stage area is sunken below the standing room seats by the bars. Sarah did a good job in getting the reserved seats.
Clay Walker who rose to prominence in the 90s did a nice job playing some old favorites. Some of them were deep cuts that brought back memories: White Castle, Before she was Mama, White Palace. And the hits: What's It to You, Then What, Who Needs You Baby? And some nice covers of George Strait, the Chair and Chris Ledoux, Cadillac Ranch.
Glad I went when I did!
Sunday, July 7, 2019
7/7 Day
Always a good thing when the numbers match for a date. I recall going to a memorable wedding on 7/7/07. Hard to believe that one was 12 years ago. As my friends remind me, "we're getting old."
Speaking of old, my recovery from open heart surgery continues to get a little better 1 day at a time. Yesterday, I had some unusual tingling "pain" (not bad) but strange sypathetic feelings nonetheless. I'm set to go visit the cardiac surgeon on Wednesday so hopefully I'll get some clearance to do more activity. Or maybe he'll tell me to take it easy another 2 weeks. We'll see.
I am sneaking a few drives in here and there. I feel like when I was 15 years old and would sneak the family car out on Friday nights when my parents would go out. I would mainly drive around the neighborhoods and tried not to let anyone see me. Good practice was my thinking. Usually I'd stop the car and practice a burnout. Of course, since it was a family car, there was not much tire spinning and rubber burning but at least I gave it a shot.
Ah the 80s in Austin, TX. Those were simpler time all around. Not better, by any stretch, but simpler. I don't want to go back that's for sure. But it is fun to remember when.
Speaking of old, my recovery from open heart surgery continues to get a little better 1 day at a time. Yesterday, I had some unusual tingling "pain" (not bad) but strange sypathetic feelings nonetheless. I'm set to go visit the cardiac surgeon on Wednesday so hopefully I'll get some clearance to do more activity. Or maybe he'll tell me to take it easy another 2 weeks. We'll see.
I am sneaking a few drives in here and there. I feel like when I was 15 years old and would sneak the family car out on Friday nights when my parents would go out. I would mainly drive around the neighborhoods and tried not to let anyone see me. Good practice was my thinking. Usually I'd stop the car and practice a burnout. Of course, since it was a family car, there was not much tire spinning and rubber burning but at least I gave it a shot.
Ah the 80s in Austin, TX. Those were simpler time all around. Not better, by any stretch, but simpler. I don't want to go back that's for sure. But it is fun to remember when.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Those we look up to
Sad news that I found out that my first "The Skipper" John Valentine died last year, January 2018.
His obituary tells some basic info:
https://www.mcnuttfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=2876469#/obituaryInfo
I have a longer and fuller story to share about this fine man, who I was lucky to have as a friend and client for a number of years. He was one of the first people I met when I went on my own as a lawyer in 1996. He must have seen something in me, as I did in him.
He was a decorated war hero from the Vietnam War. He made and lost a fortune several times over. He had a way of telling you the coolest stories without making you think he was bragging or puffing. He was a polo player, he did business all over the world, he had a chateau in Bordeax, France. In that way he inspired me to live more authentically.
I also thought of him as the original Most Interesting Man in the World. In that respect I was lucky to have known him. I think that it probably the highest compliment that anyone could give.
His obituary tells some basic info:
https://www.mcnuttfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=2876469#/obituaryInfo
I have a longer and fuller story to share about this fine man, who I was lucky to have as a friend and client for a number of years. He was one of the first people I met when I went on my own as a lawyer in 1996. He must have seen something in me, as I did in him.
He was a decorated war hero from the Vietnam War. He made and lost a fortune several times over. He had a way of telling you the coolest stories without making you think he was bragging or puffing. He was a polo player, he did business all over the world, he had a chateau in Bordeax, France. In that way he inspired me to live more authentically.
I also thought of him as the original Most Interesting Man in the World. In that respect I was lucky to have known him. I think that it probably the highest compliment that anyone could give.
F-----n' Jetta
Way back in the 80s I was riding around in a car driven by my friend Dave. It was an early 80s Buick, along the lines of a K car, a low point in automotive transport. But it did get us from A to B, which was more than me and my girlfriend of the time had together.
So we were riding down the road and she was dreaming of when we all had good cars. "Dave, you'll drive a Porsche. I'll have a BMW. And Greg... you'll have a Volkswagen Jetta."
"A Jetta?!" That boxy little econocar, a 4 door bore, 1.8 liter engine? We're dreaming out loud and that's what you come up with? I was quite insulted.
My dream car at the time was a Saab Turbo, black. My friend Robert said he had one in the 80s and I thought, "that's about right". He was a very cool person all his life. Gone too soon actually.
Right now I'm not driving at all. When I get back to it, I'll have my Lexus ES 350 (much better). My previous cars all blow away the VW Jetta: BMW, Mercedes, Chevrolet Z71 Tahoe. And I've driven the best: Ferrari, Tesla, Corvette ZR-1, Shelby.
So now when I see a Jetta, I can't help but look down at it. To make matters worse, the nameplate refuses to go away, having been in regular production from 1979 over 7 generations and selling over 14 million units, become VW's top seller. But it still is no good in my book.
*Postscript* Upon further reflection, I decided that the reason I disliked the Jetta so much then was that it probably would have been a great car for me at that time. For I had no car at that point and no prospects for getting. Had I had one of my own, I could done a lot with a VW Rabbit (a popular car at the time). In fact the Rabbit GTI was quite a hot rod for its day. My sister had a VW Fox later on, and that was a cool little car.
I guess I could not swallow my pride when I really wanted that Saab Turbo! As a result, the years 1986 to 1989 were a car-less time. Oh yes, I did have some car access but it was in the nature of a borrowed or parent's car.
Of course, back then, there were not as many cars around. But still, looking back, I wish I would have done more to have my own set of wheels. No telling how things might have turned out different. Maybe I saved myself for something better.
So we were riding down the road and she was dreaming of when we all had good cars. "Dave, you'll drive a Porsche. I'll have a BMW. And Greg... you'll have a Volkswagen Jetta."
"A Jetta?!" That boxy little econocar, a 4 door bore, 1.8 liter engine? We're dreaming out loud and that's what you come up with? I was quite insulted.
My dream car at the time was a Saab Turbo, black. My friend Robert said he had one in the 80s and I thought, "that's about right". He was a very cool person all his life. Gone too soon actually.
Right now I'm not driving at all. When I get back to it, I'll have my Lexus ES 350 (much better). My previous cars all blow away the VW Jetta: BMW, Mercedes, Chevrolet Z71 Tahoe. And I've driven the best: Ferrari, Tesla, Corvette ZR-1, Shelby.
So now when I see a Jetta, I can't help but look down at it. To make matters worse, the nameplate refuses to go away, having been in regular production from 1979 over 7 generations and selling over 14 million units, become VW's top seller. But it still is no good in my book.
*Postscript* Upon further reflection, I decided that the reason I disliked the Jetta so much then was that it probably would have been a great car for me at that time. For I had no car at that point and no prospects for getting. Had I had one of my own, I could done a lot with a VW Rabbit (a popular car at the time). In fact the Rabbit GTI was quite a hot rod for its day. My sister had a VW Fox later on, and that was a cool little car.
I guess I could not swallow my pride when I really wanted that Saab Turbo! As a result, the years 1986 to 1989 were a car-less time. Oh yes, I did have some car access but it was in the nature of a borrowed or parent's car.
Of course, back then, there were not as many cars around. But still, looking back, I wish I would have done more to have my own set of wheels. No telling how things might have turned out different. Maybe I saved myself for something better.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Harlingen Country Club
Back in 2003, I played in a tournament at Harlingen Country Club with the late Jack Wilson. I made an eagle on a par 4 and saved the ball with the info written on it. Little did I know it would be my last eagle made since.
I had the opportunity to go back and while I did not make another eagle, I enjoyed playing this "new" (to me) course. I did not recognize the same hole: memory had failed me. I liked the course as a 50s style Texas course like the old Austin Country Club on Riverside where I played a lot growing up in Austin. There were a lot of houses around in the midcentury style, very low and flat. The area reminded me of another course in the area from the same time Rancho Viejo, also a small incorporated town with a golf course in the middle of it.
Some time ago, I tried to play a number of other local courses. This one should add to the list. I need to get serious about that goals and some that come to mind are:
Ebony Hills - Edinburg
Tierra Del Sol - Pharr
Seven Oaks - Mission
So there are 3 to get after this summer.
I had the opportunity to go back and while I did not make another eagle, I enjoyed playing this "new" (to me) course. I did not recognize the same hole: memory had failed me. I liked the course as a 50s style Texas course like the old Austin Country Club on Riverside where I played a lot growing up in Austin. There were a lot of houses around in the midcentury style, very low and flat. The area reminded me of another course in the area from the same time Rancho Viejo, also a small incorporated town with a golf course in the middle of it.
Some time ago, I tried to play a number of other local courses. This one should add to the list. I need to get serious about that goals and some that come to mind are:
Ebony Hills - Edinburg
Tierra Del Sol - Pharr
Seven Oaks - Mission
So there are 3 to get after this summer.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Saturday Night
It's a quiet night at home and I'm happy for that after being out of town the past 2 Saturdays. I enjoyed my dinner at home, letting the sun go down, catching up on things, watching TV. Now sending out a little blog post.
Some of the things I did today:
Slept late
Played the piano
Worked on my chair refinish project
Went to work
Attended a charity BBQ
Slept again - long nap
Went to Sam's Club with Susan
Talked to my dad
This has been a pretty good day!
Some of the things I did today:
Slept late
Played the piano
Worked on my chair refinish project
Went to work
Attended a charity BBQ
Slept again - long nap
Went to Sam's Club with Susan
Talked to my dad
This has been a pretty good day!
Sunday, March 17, 2019
The Artist's Way
I read a good book recommended by Bishop David Reed, called The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It has got me working on the 2 matters suggested: the morning pages (journaling) and the artist's date. It's premise is that your creativity is a gift from God that much be nurtured. Like a small child it needs a safe place to play. It's brought out some good things for me so far! Highly recommended!
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Military Intelligence
One of my favorite questions to ask an older man is "Were you drafted?" Now while there is still a requirement for Selective Service registration, there has not been a US military draft since the 70s and unlikely to return, barring a true National emergency.
But for those who graduated from high school before the early 70s, the Draft was a big issue in their young lives. There were many ways to deal with the draft process, and it seems like every military story I hear involves some unusual circumstances:
1. My friend Len flunked out of college in 1968, the height of the Vietnam War. He decided to enlist in the US Army to have a chance as to where he went. Despite his failing college grades, he scored so high on the ASVAB that he was assigned to the Army Finance Corps in Korea and stayed out of harm's way. He described his experience there like someone would describe senior year in college, lots of R&R.
2. I used to work with an older man during the 1980s. He went by the name C.P. Geisel. I asked him what C.P. stood for, and he said he was originally Clarence. But he was drafted in World War II and assigned to Infantry. He disliked that so much that he put in for transfer. When the papers arrived, the orders said "Paul Geisel". So he decided from then on, he would be Paul and took the orders and shipped out to another posting.
3. My father Ed after graduating from the University of Texas did not have any further deferment. So he decided to seek acceptance to the US Navy Officer Candidate School. He went to Aviation OCS in Pensacola, FL, and was commissioned as an officer. During the flight training, the program was changed from a 4 years commitment to 6 years. They gave the affected classes the option to get out and Ed took the early out. Imagine the costs of letting all those officers go.
4. My friend Mike had a similar story. He attended Texas A&M during the All-Corps years. Upon graduation he was to be commissioned an officer. But the Army decided it didn't need so many officers and allowed him to serve a shortened term as an enlisted man, and gave him a cush posting at Fort Hood.
Not all had it so easy. My friend Terry joined the US Navy like Len did, to avoid a harsher fate. But he was still assigned as a Corpman and fought in the jungles of Vietnam assigned to the Marines.
And of course, my friend John, the Skipper, went straight into the Marine Corps as an officer in 1968, received 2 Purple Hearts and spent 20 months in a VA hospital recovering from his near-death wounds.
As Audie Murphy said famously, "There's no name on the bullet"
Thanks for your service!
But for those who graduated from high school before the early 70s, the Draft was a big issue in their young lives. There were many ways to deal with the draft process, and it seems like every military story I hear involves some unusual circumstances:
1. My friend Len flunked out of college in 1968, the height of the Vietnam War. He decided to enlist in the US Army to have a chance as to where he went. Despite his failing college grades, he scored so high on the ASVAB that he was assigned to the Army Finance Corps in Korea and stayed out of harm's way. He described his experience there like someone would describe senior year in college, lots of R&R.
2. I used to work with an older man during the 1980s. He went by the name C.P. Geisel. I asked him what C.P. stood for, and he said he was originally Clarence. But he was drafted in World War II and assigned to Infantry. He disliked that so much that he put in for transfer. When the papers arrived, the orders said "Paul Geisel". So he decided from then on, he would be Paul and took the orders and shipped out to another posting.
3. My father Ed after graduating from the University of Texas did not have any further deferment. So he decided to seek acceptance to the US Navy Officer Candidate School. He went to Aviation OCS in Pensacola, FL, and was commissioned as an officer. During the flight training, the program was changed from a 4 years commitment to 6 years. They gave the affected classes the option to get out and Ed took the early out. Imagine the costs of letting all those officers go.
4. My friend Mike had a similar story. He attended Texas A&M during the All-Corps years. Upon graduation he was to be commissioned an officer. But the Army decided it didn't need so many officers and allowed him to serve a shortened term as an enlisted man, and gave him a cush posting at Fort Hood.
Not all had it so easy. My friend Terry joined the US Navy like Len did, to avoid a harsher fate. But he was still assigned as a Corpman and fought in the jungles of Vietnam assigned to the Marines.
And of course, my friend John, the Skipper, went straight into the Marine Corps as an officer in 1968, received 2 Purple Hearts and spent 20 months in a VA hospital recovering from his near-death wounds.
As Audie Murphy said famously, "There's no name on the bullet"
Thanks for your service!
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Losing the Battle/ Winning the War?
Occasionally in the Law, you stumble across something bigger than the matter at hand. For example, Watergate started with Bob Woodward at the local courthouse seeing the burglars arraigned. Like the Elephant in the living room, it seems obvious afterwards.
I had a case about 5 years ago, pretty much in my area of expertise, involving defense of a mechanic's lien filed, and breach of contract. The subcontractor was suing my client, a general contractor, for about $50,000. Instead of getting it paid or settled, it dragged on.
When I went to see the property, it was quite an expansive shopping area, probably 50,000 square feet leasable, and only 1 rinky-dink pizza parlor paying rent.
We later have found out that the developer, one Sergio Adame, Sr. was not only washing money from Mexican drug cartels to build this property, but he was also getting paid as an informant for the US Government in the War on Drugs. He would convince people to turn themselves into the US system, while continuing his shady activities, right in our own backyard.
Now Adame Sr. and his son Adame Jr. have rolled over, and the US government has given them a sweet deal. In exchange for the government taking the 50,000 sq. foot plaza, which is probably worth $4 -5 million if it were properly leased.
So the little battle in Hidalgo County court paled in comparison to the billions/trillions spent on this War on Drugs.
I had a case about 5 years ago, pretty much in my area of expertise, involving defense of a mechanic's lien filed, and breach of contract. The subcontractor was suing my client, a general contractor, for about $50,000. Instead of getting it paid or settled, it dragged on.
When I went to see the property, it was quite an expansive shopping area, probably 50,000 square feet leasable, and only 1 rinky-dink pizza parlor paying rent.
We later have found out that the developer, one Sergio Adame, Sr. was not only washing money from Mexican drug cartels to build this property, but he was also getting paid as an informant for the US Government in the War on Drugs. He would convince people to turn themselves into the US system, while continuing his shady activities, right in our own backyard.
Now Adame Sr. and his son Adame Jr. have rolled over, and the US government has given them a sweet deal. In exchange for the government taking the 50,000 sq. foot plaza, which is probably worth $4 -5 million if it were properly leased.
So the little battle in Hidalgo County court paled in comparison to the billions/trillions spent on this War on Drugs.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
There's Something About Missy
My sister Elizabeth told me recently "Remember those girls from Onion Creek that I used to play golf with?" I had to go deep into the memory banks, but yes, I did remember all 3 of them. "One of them remembered you!" Cue to go even deeper...
All of this will read like an 80s movie. It was the summer of 1983, and I had just graduated from Austin High. One day we heard there was going to be a party in Onion Creek and we decided to go. No idea who was hosting. Back then, if you heard there was a party you just showed up and looked for the cars and walked in. I guess Elizabeth may have told me about it.
At the party I met Missy who I knew a bit from the high school golf community. As a newly graduated senior I must have had some swagger. She was probably only 16 then. We talked for what seemed like a long time and even went to the local store to buy cigarettes with my friends John and Greg. That was living on the edge!
Sometime later I was talking to her one night on the phone and she said they were having a pool party at her house. "Maybe I should come over.." I suggested. "Sure, come over" she said.
Ten minutes later, I was doing 85 mph southbound on I-35 in my dad's 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with my friend Clint. "Time's a wastin'!!" Back then, the speed limit was only 55 and 85 was the max speed on most speedometers. To use the lingo of the time, I "had it pegged". We got there and had a very chaste evening, swimming in the pool. I recall that as a pretty nice night.
After then, we saw each other a few more times, but since I was heading to college in Virginia, there was no real future in this. She saw that, particularly when we had a party at my house and I ended up dead drunk and passed out. I told you this would be like an 80s movie, with Ben Stiller or Anthony Michael Hall playing my role.
But it took me a lot longer to get over that initial "crush". I remember we talked on the phone for the next 4-6 months. She had her own phone line in her room, which was very upscale for the time. I'm sure when the phone was ringing about 10 or 11 p.m. she knew who it probably was. This was of course before caller ID and when long distance rates went down after 11 p.m. I do recall some night nights of talking on the phone. It probably helped combat some homesickness being over 1,000 miles away. For that, I'm thankful.
A lot of memories come back, even when I don't even remember holding her hand, much less a single kiss. In hindsight, it was just two kids in Austin, Texas passing the time together for a summer back in a simpler time. But that might be the happiest ending of all.
All of this will read like an 80s movie. It was the summer of 1983, and I had just graduated from Austin High. One day we heard there was going to be a party in Onion Creek and we decided to go. No idea who was hosting. Back then, if you heard there was a party you just showed up and looked for the cars and walked in. I guess Elizabeth may have told me about it.
At the party I met Missy who I knew a bit from the high school golf community. As a newly graduated senior I must have had some swagger. She was probably only 16 then. We talked for what seemed like a long time and even went to the local store to buy cigarettes with my friends John and Greg. That was living on the edge!
Sometime later I was talking to her one night on the phone and she said they were having a pool party at her house. "Maybe I should come over.." I suggested. "Sure, come over" she said.
Ten minutes later, I was doing 85 mph southbound on I-35 in my dad's 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with my friend Clint. "Time's a wastin'!!" Back then, the speed limit was only 55 and 85 was the max speed on most speedometers. To use the lingo of the time, I "had it pegged". We got there and had a very chaste evening, swimming in the pool. I recall that as a pretty nice night.
After then, we saw each other a few more times, but since I was heading to college in Virginia, there was no real future in this. She saw that, particularly when we had a party at my house and I ended up dead drunk and passed out. I told you this would be like an 80s movie, with Ben Stiller or Anthony Michael Hall playing my role.
But it took me a lot longer to get over that initial "crush". I remember we talked on the phone for the next 4-6 months. She had her own phone line in her room, which was very upscale for the time. I'm sure when the phone was ringing about 10 or 11 p.m. she knew who it probably was. This was of course before caller ID and when long distance rates went down after 11 p.m. I do recall some night nights of talking on the phone. It probably helped combat some homesickness being over 1,000 miles away. For that, I'm thankful.
A lot of memories come back, even when I don't even remember holding her hand, much less a single kiss. In hindsight, it was just two kids in Austin, Texas passing the time together for a summer back in a simpler time. But that might be the happiest ending of all.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Henry Clay Avenue
A friend of mine just told me he bought a house in New Orleans as a second home. Since that is a dream of mine to live in a little yellow house in New Orleans, I thought I'd check out his house. Looking at it on a map, I see that it is just a few blocks over from Henry Clay Ave.
That brought back a memory! When I was about 21 or so, I long-distance dated a girl from Louisiana that I had met in Austin on New Years Eve 1985-1986. So this must have been the summer of 1986 when I was visiting. She had a friend Jimmy who was a "wild and crazy guy". One night we had driven to New Orleans. Jimmy had arranged for the two couples to stay at his parent's house, [because they were not there?]
We ended up in the guest room after a long night on the town and because no one wanted to be alone, I woke up to find that all four of us were sleeping in one bed in the guest room with our clothes on.
The house I remember was very unusual. It was a large but very old Victorian style home, much different that any home I had ever been in. We didn't get much of a chance to look around, as I expect we had to clear our of there before his parents found all 4 of us in one bed, 80s movie style!
I can only imagine what I would think if I saw that today.
That brought back a memory! When I was about 21 or so, I long-distance dated a girl from Louisiana that I had met in Austin on New Years Eve 1985-1986. So this must have been the summer of 1986 when I was visiting. She had a friend Jimmy who was a "wild and crazy guy". One night we had driven to New Orleans. Jimmy had arranged for the two couples to stay at his parent's house, [because they were not there?]
We ended up in the guest room after a long night on the town and because no one wanted to be alone, I woke up to find that all four of us were sleeping in one bed in the guest room with our clothes on.
The house I remember was very unusual. It was a large but very old Victorian style home, much different that any home I had ever been in. We didn't get much of a chance to look around, as I expect we had to clear our of there before his parents found all 4 of us in one bed, 80s movie style!
I can only imagine what I would think if I saw that today.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
2011 BMW 535i
Yesterday I traded in my old car for a new one. The trade process was a seemingly long list of all the shortcoming of the car, the dings, the lack of options, the high miles, the repairs deferred, and so on. That process can get you down - make you think it wasn't such a good decision way back when.
But I recently read that this is a memory bias. We recall a bad ending without remembering the good things that happened while we were in the present.
So I was thinking of all the good things since March 2013:
Love at first sight: I thought the black exterior and cinnamon interior was a great combo. Still do.
The performance all around was excellent: acceleration, top speed, handling, ride
The brakes saved me on at least 1 occasion: it really would stop on a dime
The car protected me well in a rear end collision. The headrest had an airbag that kept me from whiplash.
Everybody loved the GET X license plate. That will be kept.
I recall driving on SH 130 to Austin at 90 mph sustained in the 85 limit. That's an intense experience.
You've got to keep the momentum going.
I always like the 5 series. I'm glad I got to drive it for so long.
I learned a good amount about the maintenance. It was mainly trouble free during most the time I had it.
Other cars show it respect on the road - not much tailgating, cutting you off.
I never received any ticket in the car!
But I recently read that this is a memory bias. We recall a bad ending without remembering the good things that happened while we were in the present.
So I was thinking of all the good things since March 2013:
Love at first sight: I thought the black exterior and cinnamon interior was a great combo. Still do.
The performance all around was excellent: acceleration, top speed, handling, ride
The brakes saved me on at least 1 occasion: it really would stop on a dime
The car protected me well in a rear end collision. The headrest had an airbag that kept me from whiplash.
Everybody loved the GET X license plate. That will be kept.
I recall driving on SH 130 to Austin at 90 mph sustained in the 85 limit. That's an intense experience.
You've got to keep the momentum going.
I always like the 5 series. I'm glad I got to drive it for so long.
I learned a good amount about the maintenance. It was mainly trouble free during most the time I had it.
Other cars show it respect on the road - not much tailgating, cutting you off.
I never received any ticket in the car!
Friday, February 8, 2019
15th Congressional District of Texas
Amazing how few people in the Rio Grande Valley know our political history. My district, the 15th, I I knew something about. But I learned some new information recently.
The district was created in 1903 and John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner was the first representative. H was from Uvalde. Hence the creation of Garner State Park. That is 250 miles away. Can you imagine how large the district was back then?
After he became Vice President, the next represtative was Milton West of Brownsville. Our Turley family know the various Milton West, Jr. and III going forward. In fact, Ed was supervised as a young attorney by attorney Milton Jr. aka "Mickey" West at the Andrews Kurth Campbell and Jones law firm in Houston.
Thereafter, was Lloyd Bentsen who everyone still remembers like he was here yesterday. All the various Bentsen names are still going strong here. Bentsen Road, Bentsen State Park, Bentsen Palm, etc.
Thereafter, Joe Kilgore, who later became one of the initial board members of Texas State Bank.
In 1965, there was a sea change and the 85% Hispanic majority finally was able to elect a local, Kika De La Garza who served for 32 years. Then Ruben Hinojosa served another 20 years. Now Vicente Gonzalez is our Congressman.
Judging by history, Congressman Gonzalez, elected in 2017, should be around for a while. As historian Robert Caro put it, "Once Texas elects a Congressman, they tend to keep him there a long time."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas%27s_15th_congressional_district#List_of_representatives
The district was created in 1903 and John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner was the first representative. H was from Uvalde. Hence the creation of Garner State Park. That is 250 miles away. Can you imagine how large the district was back then?
After he became Vice President, the next represtative was Milton West of Brownsville. Our Turley family know the various Milton West, Jr. and III going forward. In fact, Ed was supervised as a young attorney by attorney Milton Jr. aka "Mickey" West at the Andrews Kurth Campbell and Jones law firm in Houston.
Thereafter, was Lloyd Bentsen who everyone still remembers like he was here yesterday. All the various Bentsen names are still going strong here. Bentsen Road, Bentsen State Park, Bentsen Palm, etc.
Thereafter, Joe Kilgore, who later became one of the initial board members of Texas State Bank.
In 1965, there was a sea change and the 85% Hispanic majority finally was able to elect a local, Kika De La Garza who served for 32 years. Then Ruben Hinojosa served another 20 years. Now Vicente Gonzalez is our Congressman.
Judging by history, Congressman Gonzalez, elected in 2017, should be around for a while. As historian Robert Caro put it, "Once Texas elects a Congressman, they tend to keep him there a long time."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas%27s_15th_congressional_district#List_of_representatives
Monday, January 28, 2019
Year End 2018
Tomorrow is December 31 and it has been a good 2018. It certainly flew by.
I did a lot of cool things. Walked my daughter down the aisle for her wedding.
Went to the Mall of America
Tried to go to Fargo ND for my 50 state quest. Made it to St. Cloud, MN due to snowstorm
Attended my second Yoga retreat in Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Finished my second book Always Patty in September
Saw Jerry Seinfeld in Madison, Aaron Watson in Austin, George Strait in Las Vegas, Randy Rogers Band in Pharr
Played in the Sundowner golf event, the Fall Member Member and the Ano Nuevo golf tournaments.
I did a lot of cool things. Walked my daughter down the aisle for her wedding.
Went to the Mall of America
Tried to go to Fargo ND for my 50 state quest. Made it to St. Cloud, MN due to snowstorm
Attended my second Yoga retreat in Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Finished my second book Always Patty in September
Saw Jerry Seinfeld in Madison, Aaron Watson in Austin, George Strait in Las Vegas, Randy Rogers Band in Pharr
Played in the Sundowner golf event, the Fall Member Member and the Ano Nuevo golf tournaments.
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Kate Turley * my mother * 1938-2019
* My remarks * January 22, 2019
A friend of mine recently relocated from Texas to Panama actively seeking a better quality of
life for her family. Before moving, she had authored a book in
which she encouraged the reader to Choose Joy.
Her theme was that there are certain things unique to all of
us that bring us Joy. And to experience
that Joy, we have to Live Intentionally.
I believe that Kate did live her life with Intention. Kate always had a smile, a pleasant
demeanor, and an easy friendliness with so many. And who can forget her unique sense of style? But all of these good characteristics did not
happen by chance. She deliberately put herself
out there to reflect the light and beauty that she saw in the world.
Because Kate certainly appreciated the beauty in life. And to truly take in that beauty requires a seriousness,
a focus, a desire to eliminate distraction. We all remember Kate as a good listener. Kate was a serious book reader. When Kate looked at a work of art, she could
ponder it in silence. Those skills
require an outward-facing focus.
One specific memory I have is that Kate would regularly go to
the symphony or the opera or the theater by herself. She would usually go at the last minute. Even if the performance were sold out, she would nearly always be
able to buy a single ticket. I believe
she liked seeing the performance by herself because she was able to truly focus on the
performance and take it in. She would even say that if it got too intense,
she would just close her eyes.
She had that purposefulness in her everyday dealings as well. She would listen attentively in the
discussions she was part of. She asked
questions of others to keep the conversation moving forward. And she never as far as I know held a grudge
against anyone. I believe that led to
an ever-widening circle of friends, starting from the time she was very young
growing up on Wickersham Lane here in Houston, and continuing forward for many
years. All of you here today can count
yourselves in that large circle.
On one of the last times we talked, she told me about a
conversation she had with her mother Pearl Elledge late in Pearl’s life. Pearl told her “I’ve gotten everything I
wanted out of life. I had a great husband. I had two great children. I’ve had a nice home and garden.”
I didn’t realize it at the time, but she of course was
telling me that was her story as well.
She got everything she wanted out of life. In that respect she Chose Joy.
I am sure that her parting wish to you would be to:
“Go and Do Likewise”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)