Counting Blessings.....

A late night tonight, early morning really, after a day of making final arrangements for my Dad. A pleasure doing these last things for him. A night of talking to sister, brother and old friends who are coming to pay their respects. Two of my best friends, in fact, coming to Midland once again were just here two weeks ago from Houston upon the death of one of their parents, one of my "other" mothers.

Even in the worst of times there are blessings to be counted and even some humor. Wednesday I fielded three calls from people wanting to know if I had died. They had seen the death notice for my Dad, our names being basically the same, and had been worried that it was me. I laughed and told them I thought it took some degree of courage to dial my number....and then say what? "Hi, are you alive"? I told them no it was my Dad who had gone but a piece of me has died with him, so thanks for the call.

My blessings are beyond measure in one of life's most important commodities, friends. My Mom and I have been inundated with calls, flowers, food and just plain ordinary caring. My AA friends understand, perhaps more than many, the pain of the situation and the healing process to follow and have been of great comfort. Some of the older members who knew my Dad have called or stopped by to tell me stories of how much they respected him or what it was like to work with him on School Board or County Government issues and what a fair, sensible and even handed approach he took to the most difficult issues. My Dad was the School Board President when the Supreme Court ordered the Midland Schools to desegragate, possibly the single most important and divisive event in MISD history. Many told of how he held things together through those tough times.

And once again, as with the death of the Big Gold Dog, through the Internet I have received emails and the important comments on this blog from caring people, some of whom I do not know personally but who wish to share their humanity with me.

And to cap the evening off, I had special visitors. How wonderful it was to have another Big Gold Dog in the house most of the evening. A Gold Dog who Tres knew well. What an emotional time to see this beautiful dog once again, and think of my buddy who left not very long ago. Thanks again one and all.....

Gone Home.....

My Dad died at 3:05 this afternoon. I was alone with him as he slipped away, holding his hand and telling him how much We loved him and how much He had meant to us. I know he was ready to leave his painful body. I know because he would not even eat chocolate anymore. He looked peaceful and like he was finally getting the rest he needed. Though he looked old, his spirit was still young and I had taken the picture shown to let the hospice staff know what a great looking guy he'd been for most of his life. He had waited for me to arrive in his room before going....I'm sure of that.

I had been trying to get to the hospital for several hours, but I had offered to sell my Dad's car to one of the caregivers who needed good transportation. She needed to wire the money from an out of town bank to my folks so I had been delayed at the bank. I arrived at hospice at 3:00. My Dad was alone and I immediately noticed a difference in his appearance from my morning visit, and I could not discern any noticeable breathing. Stepping to the nurses station I asked about his condition and Samantha said she had checked on him just 10 minutes prior. She came with me to his room and said what I had thought, "he is in the process of leaving us right this minute". She checked his pulse and got a faint response. Within 2 minutes he was gone.

I am blessed, I am grateful and God had a good plan for me today. The cycle of life is complete. My Dad was present when I was born, I was with him when he died, but it is yet another hole in my heart right now. But there is beauty in the world still, I did get to see the most beautiful woman in the world later in the day...if only for minutes. Another wonderful experience, yet extremely hard in it's own way.

And pictures are not enough to convey my thanks and that of my Mother to all those who helped make the process a spiritual trip, but here are the wonderful people at Hospice present when my Dad left us. Samantha, the girl on the far right was with me in the room with my Dad.

Tuesday update: A new day dawns, the first day without my Dad present in our lives. We had a good gift today however to help to start with the healing. Our friend, noted newspaper story teller Ed Todd stopped by my Mom's house to help write my Dad's obituary and to garner information for a newspaper story honoring "Big Wally". We pulled out old pictures, letters, honors he had received and related our stories of a great life. Ed has known just about everyone in Midland over the last 40 years so it was a great pleasure to hear him say, "you know, I liked and respected your Dad as much as anyone I've ever known here, he always did the right thing". Amen
Newpaper Article on my Dad

Life's Skills....

I've just come back from sitting for an hour and a half with my Dad in a mostly darkened room. I watch him breathe and sometimes wonder if he was still breathing. I have the worst and the best job. They are both the same.....I get to be with my Dad as he is preparing to die.

People think that some of us in AA are crazy when we say we're thankful that we got terminally drunk and landed in AA. In my case thankful that I got terminally drunk and lived to land in AA. But it is true; sometimes I think that I've learned all my succesful living skills there. Still working on most of them, but I'm making headway. Like today.

Two topics of succesful living that we hear often are concerning "change" and "expectations". These two are usually related. The old axiom is that "the only thing constant is change". Roger, got that one pretty well in hand. It's been forced on me lately. Expectations are harder for me. Expectations of things both good and bad can be killers. When we expect the worst to happen in any situation we live in the negative and bad things become self fulfilling. On the contrary when optimistic people like me constantly expect good things to come about just because we're good people doing our best, we can be hurt in the worst ways. I can give a recent example, but am trying to "move on" and "just get over it".

My expectations were altered again today by change. My Dad is now in the hospital hospice unit, most assuredly to spend his final days there. As reported just two days ago I was effusing gratitude that he would be able die at home. Though that has changed I'm still grateful. Grateful that we have options and that we have true friends who show up for us in emergencies. People who care and that don't just talk about "being there"....they are there.

As I left town for Lubbock yesterday afternoon, I stopped by my folks house for a check on the situation. Frankly I was heartened. My Dad was awake, mostly coherent and smiled as much of a smile as he could when I entered the room. We had a short conversation, which mainly consists of me telling him what I'm doing that day. My Mom seemed to have things in hand and was going to relax for the remainder of the afternoon. That's about as good as it gets there at any one time. That was at 3 p.m. Saturday.

But, sh*t change happens. As soon as I got out of church this morning my cellphone started ringing; neighbors, hospice calling. My Mom had fallen down [collapsed actually] several times and the doors were locked allowing no one to reach her. Thankfully, a neighbor remembered she had a key and they were in the house shortly before I arrived. The nurses strongly recommended that my Mom go to the hospital for a checkup. My Mom, God Love Her, is a person who knows everything and is always right so no hospital visit. Which left us with the most realistic and painful decision. My Dad would go to the hospital hospice care unit. Which is where I've been for the last two hours tonight, watching my Dad and talking with the good people at hospice.

Another axiom from AA: "Change is inevitable, peace of mind is optional".
I'm working on that and perhaps I still have part of last night's smile....or a little peace of mind despite today's difficult change.

Season over....

My newly found horoscope predicting an 11 year good luck cycle for me, apparently didn't carry over to the MHS Bulldogs. Or perhaps the ongoing win one/lose one factor was just too strong. The Bulldogs season ended last night at Texas Tech's Jones Stadium with a disappointing loss to Amarillo High School, a team we had defeated eight times in a row, including earlier this year.

The Dawgs did not have one of their better games and so things ended. Sad for the Seniors, many of whom I've gotten to know quite well, and sad for me too. During the past months of grief, I've enjoyed the diversion these activities have given me.

Tough, very tough....

My Dad could go at any time now. I think this fact has given my mom and me a new sense of calm. I recognize, at least for me, what this is. It is acceptance. Acceptance that we have done all that can be done, made plans, hired the best care and now we have only God's decision to await.

Dad has slipped rapidly in the last weeks, and I have been spending a lot of time with him and my mom. I can't begin to express the gratitude I have that God has put me here in this place and time to be there with them. With no other close kin available it has been hard to be "it", but God's plan put me here for this purpose and it makes me glad when I see my Dad's eyes light up when he knows I've arrived.

But I cannot begin to describe how tough it is. Tough watching a once vibrant and active person reduced to a mere shadow of himself, his body so withered that he has to have help moving. Tough having to have my Dad hold on to me with his frail arms so that he can bear the pain when we do something as simple as turn him on his side. And to hear him beg us to stop in a childlike voice. But what a blessing to have him look at me and know I'm there through the ordeal, much as I used to look at him in my times of trouble.

This is all made bearable with the help of friends and the caregivers from Hospice who started as complete strangers but who have shown our family as much or more interest, care and compassion than some others who we have known well. Many people who care so much about my Dad have come to say good-bye and I have friends who have described to me their experiences which has been a comfort. It is tough, but I am also grateful that I get to go through this final trial. Death is part of living and so few of us in this modern age get to carry the experience through to the end like this. As I learned with the death of the Big Gold Dog, there is comfort and future strength in having a loved one or pet die in God's time at home. And I know my Dad recognizes, as I try to do, small reminders of beauty in the world. He pointed out to me the other day how stunningly gorgeous the golden red leaves of the oak tree are outside his sunny window. I thought to myself, I hope I have such a lovely view when I go.

Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving finds me at one of the most difficult times in my life. The loss of spouse, stepson, dog, and soon my Dad is at times almost overwhelming, and seems not to be at an end. Today I learned that one of my darling nieces is facing some, possibly, serious medical problems. Anger, resentment and sadness can be constant companions if I allow them.

Yet through all this pain, I am Thankful. Thankful for the basics of life. That in spite of four close calls with death that I know of and many more that I probably don't realize.....I have made it through another year. Thankful that I do have a multitude of friends who do care about me, deeply, and will be there no matter what. That I am sober today to be there for my Mom and Dad in their time of ultimate trial. Thankful that I finally learned to be honest enough to tell people that I'm not doing quite OK, and to learn to listen to their advice and accept their help with grace. Thankful that I finally learned that "happiness" is a fleeting thing, contentment and serenity can be permanent. Thankful for beautiful fall days and the gift to still recognize beauty through the sadness.

Thankful for the memory of a Big Gold Dog who gave me unconditional love, as few humans have, and for a little dog left behind who is grateful to finally be getting the attention she deserves, who just adores me, and wags her tail everytime I'm around. Thankful that God has put people in my life whom I can help, for I know that I receive more back than I give. Even thankful for some supremely tough times in the past that helped me realize that tough times do pass as today's shall too. And thankful and grateful that out of the wreckage of my drinking past I found AA which has taught me much of this attitude. Each day I remember the 11th Step of AA and two short prayers from the book Alcoholics Anonymous and a thought from the "Good Book", and remember where I was 14 years ago....and where I am now.

Step 11 – "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out".

"God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!"

Lord I know that others who cause me pain are frequently spiritually ill. God help me to show these people the same tolerance, pity and patience that I would cheerfully grant a sick friend. This is a sick person, how can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry and resentful that I may live in the sunlight of The Spirit. Thy will be done.

Love is patient; love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offence. Love keeps no score of wrongs; does not gloat over other mens sins, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love can not face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and its endurance.
1 Corinthians 13

Gretchen.....

Today was a bad day, singled out among many in the last months. My Dad is not doing well and I spent a fair amount of time with him and helping my Mom. I sat with him for a good while and watched him sleep, at times not being able to help myself in glancing over to see if he was still breathing. A sad time, but I'm grateful I'm here for both of them....and for me. Realistically we have to wonder whether he will make it to Christmas. But there was some reason for happiness tonight.

I feared the worst when my Mom phoned late in the day. But it was interesting news of another sort. An old friend of my Mom's, a beautiful young German girl was at the folks house and my Mom thought this a bad time for a houseguest. She wondered if Gretchen might come to stay with me for several days. I jumped at the chance! And here is a picture of Gretchen, a really stunning girl. Take a gander and come back.....

Gretchen, VaVa Voom!!

Gretchen is the dog of neighborhood friends of my family who are out of town for the holidays. Apparently Gretchen has experience in escaping her backyard and had done so today. Not able to contact her next of kin, we took her in. I was reluctant with D. Daphne Dog in the house, she being a little territorial and sometimes snappish at other dogs. And tonight was no exeption, especially with a canine interloper on Daphne's home turf. There was one terrific dog fight in my living room until I broke it up. But perhaps D. Daphne will be a tad more careful with whom she picks a fight next time. Gretchen is a BIG dog. A very sweet dog it turns out, but BIG. But all's well that ends well, D. Daphne and Gretchen, after much sniffing and worrisome looks are now the best of friends.

A thought on clowns

An article in today's Midland Reporter-Telgram gives the following general account of the clowns pictured above.....

several clowns of West Texas recently attended the annual Texas Clown Convention in Irving.

The clowns pictured won best all-around clown; best performance competition; in makeup and costume; in makeup, costume and singles skit; and together they -- won third in group "paradability."

I met these clowns and they're all women. They appeared, for all intents, to be very nice people, jovial and full of gaiety. Now here's what I wonder. I wonder if they realize that people know their lives are based on fakery? Do they think that people really believe that they're clowns? I wondered if, never content or satisfied with what they have, have they left husbands or are preparing to do so searching for the perfect Bozo to make them happy? Dressed up in their best painted on smiley, joyful faces are they more interested in "paradability" than love, compassion, understanding and devotion; are they clowns because they're so unhappy with themselves, living in fantasy not appreciating what they have in the real world? Do they think that happiness would be their's eternally if only they could be in the next big top? That's the problem with clowns, one never knows...nor do they.

**The above comments are the current sentiments of the author and are intended as a parable only and are not meant to disparage most women or clowns in general**

Life's trials and a wrecked foot....

I've heard the theory postulated in several places that God gives more hardship and pain to those better equiped to handle it than others. I'm sorry to say that I think God has great confidence in my abilities. In the past I've had to cope with a short, but emotionally painful trip to a war zone, five years of unmitigated hell in alcohol addiction, the divorce it caused and years of recovering from the pain inflicted on others due to the selfishness of that disease. Recently I've had the heart operation, a divorce and a dog who died in the same week, and the daily sadness of watching my Dad slip away.

And now we add, I think, another stress fracture in my foot; same foot as five years ago. Not as bad as death and divorce but miserable none the less. Walking three miles a day for my heart and mental well being has trashed my foot once again. For those who've never had a stress fracture it's like a bad bruise that never goes away. Rested for a few days it leads one to think he is healed. However after two days without walking there it is again, even more painful than before as it was for me today. Even one of the girls I pass walking every day asked if I was alright, the limp gave it away. "Sure", I said, "I always wince with every step". I usually try and soldier through these things but as I learned the last time, cracked bones don't get better with soldiering. At least I have the $250 broken foot ski boot dingus from the last time. I'll be bitterly disappointed if I have to give up walking for any time at all. I need all the endorphins I can get.

My Dad: God Bless him, he is trying to soldier on also, but has not regained much strength and has started on morphine regularly, which helps whatever pain there is, but more importantly keeps him relaxed so he can breathe more easily. Yet another nurse today told my Mother to let him eat all the chocolate he wants. This is the third medical professional that has told her this, yet she is like others I know that once an idea presents itself in her mind, she is right, and that's it, end of story. Still, I hope I don't have to sneak chocolate into him anymore....

Divorce recovery: In spite of church, ministerial counseling, family counseling, friends old and new and one heck of alot of AA, I'm sorry to admit that some days I'm more angry than ever. There has not been one night since the end of May that I've fallen off to sleep without some form of mental turmoil about that situation. Those who know me well, I hope, would say that I'm not one given to anger and when I am, allowing it to fester and I don't think I am. This is a first. This was a big deal to me, marriage should be. Love should be.

I've had comments from well meaning friends to the effect of "stop letting someone rent space for free in your head", "you know your former spouse ain't losin' any sleep over you" or more commonly, "get over it and move on". This last thought almost always coming from people, men and women, who are married to mature, loyal, compassionate mates who have no idea what this feeling is like. All I can say is that I'll be over it, when I'm over it. This too shall pass.....but may take quite awhile.

But God Bless Dr. Tim Walker at the First United Methodist Church for his Thanksgiving sermon today. It could have been straight out of AA. The message was "Attaining an Attitude of Gratitude". You've heard that here before. Too bad more didn't get to hear his message. And I am grateful for quite alot despite a wrecked foot and mental anguish. I've gotten to spend some good times with the Big Gold Dog and my Dad, knowing that each had not much longer to go. It's been a beautiful fall and God has a better road for me ahead.

Sweet victory in Sweetwater...

What a great day to be in Sweetwater, Texas as the Midland High Bulldogs defeated the Mansfield Timberview H.S. Wolves 26-22. The Wolves had a good team, and as usual, the Bulldogs had to fight back from a scoring deficit to win but the victory was ours. Perhaps the Wolves need a new mascot. My assistants and I thought the "Wolf" looked more like a very gentle bear.

And what a great day for picture taking with the new Nikon and lenses. In the good clear sunlight I didn't have to worry about the complicated settings [I have more of the manual to read!] that are necessary at the nightime games. I shot on "Auto" and on the super fast "Sports" setting and got great results as you can see in this shot of Brandon Batch [at far right] sailing into the end zone. You can see 100 more of the over 200 shots I took at the Bulldog Football website. Next week it's on to Lubbock for the second round of the playoffs.

Grand News.....

I'm glad I bought a new camera. I'm going to need it at The White House early next year. I'm pleased, honored and proud to announce that my good friend Bruce Crandall was notified this week that he will receive the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Bush. Bruce called late last night with this grand news and to get my social security number for security clearance reasons. That's Bruce on the right with Greg Kinnear who

played Bruce in the movie "We Were Soldiers". For those who don't know, Bruce volunteered to fly into an extremely hostile landing zone in Vietnam over a three day period, under constant fire. It is never too late to honor the brave!

His actions saved many lifes, at the risk of his own. I'm proud for Bruce and his family. Bruce and his wife Arlene are annual visitors to Bedford Drive and I anticipate a special get together in his honor this year.

Wolves at our door....

The Sibley Nature Center auditorium was overflowing for a talk by Emmy Award winners Jim and Jamie Ducher about their documentary film "Wolves at our Door". Their film is the highest rated documentary ever to appear on the Discovery Channel. I can see why. The story is fascinating and the cinematography is stunning. The Duchers lived with a pack of wolves in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho for

six years and became so trusted that the wolf pack would let them lay down among them and lick their faces. And we're talking some really big animals here..with really big teeth.

The film stresses the social and family nature of the wolf pack with some amazing examples of the complicated hierarchy and intelligence of the wolves. The Duchers are working to reintroduce wolves back into selected wild areas of the West; working with biologists and ranchers. They are having some success and will tell you that the wolves have actually helped the bio region around Yellowstone by culling sick, weak and old elk and deer. The wolves have also controlled the coyote population that was preying on young cows. For those instances where a wolf does take a domestic animal a fund has been established to compensate the ranchers. Sounds like it might work, I hope so. And the Duchers would like you to know that there has never been a documented case of a wolf attacking a human in North America.

Here's our own Wolf Man, Sibley Center director Burr Williams, with the Duchers. I gotta' love my new Nikon! The picture above was taken from about 80 feet away from a projection screen!

Sunset......

And what a pleasure to finally have a camera that will shoot spectacular scenes of November sunsets in low light like this one.

Visitors....

My sister, Susan, usually comes with her family for Easter from their home outside of Philadelphia. I had phoned her several weeks ago to tell her that if she wanted to make sure and see my Dad again she had better plan on coming before then. She arrived yesterday which cheered my Dad greatly, me too, I don't get to see her nearly as often as I'd like.

It's been a nice week for visitors for my Dad, but very poignant for me. Saturday he got to see my two best childhood friends, Bill and Ron, and I could see his eyes shine as the four of us relived some very pleasant times all those years ago. As we stood there I was grateful that we were all together again, but I also was saddened to know that, realistically, this is the last time Bill and Ron will ever see my Dad. And quite possibly my sister too.

3 Amigos

It doesn't seem right that sadness tends to be the thing that brings three old friends together, but I suppose that's natural.

Growing up in Midland I had three best friends, Bill, Ronnie [now Ron] and Rufe. Bill was the first kid I met in Midland when we moved here in 1960. He lived across the alley from me and that, I believe, is where we met. We were instant friends and have been for the last 46 years. Ron was a friend of Bill's whom I met not long afterwards and we too have been lifelong close friends. Ron and I share the same birthday. We went thru part of grade school, junior high and high school tied at the waist. The last time Bill, Ronnie and I were together was in 2000 at the funeral for Rufe's tragic and untimely death.

This weekend Bill, Ron and I were together to honor the passing of Ron's mother, Mrs. Billie Hunt. The mothers of my best friends were like second mothers to me. Sometimes you could tell them things that you wouldn't dare mention to your own mother or if you were stuck at the show on a Saturday afternoon you could call your friends mom to come get you. And they did and didn't think a thing about it. We were all very close then.

Mrs. Hunt was a kind, warm, generous and gregarious soul who was fun to be around and loved having the boys over. They were also the first people we knew who owned a color TV, so we were at Ron's house quite a bit. Bille was a founding member and perpetual patron of the Midland Community Theater and personally founded the Midland Symphony Debutante program, which is still in high gear today. Billie's health started to decline some years ago so she moved to Houston to be near her two sons, but I still called her at least once a year and her voice still sounded full of life and some degree of mischief. I'll miss the thought of her being gone.

But she and her sons were ready for her passing and this weekend was one filled of joyous remembrances, laughter and I got to see my two best amigos, along with Ron's wife and his fast growing son and other special people. Here's Ron, Bill and Me with a portrait of Billie which I remember hanging in their home.

Camera sic transit...

Eureka! My Nikon has arrived. Knowing that UPS hits this neighborhood beteen noon and 1:30 I stuck around so there would be no mistake in leaving my prize. And voila, the brown truck showed up right on time. Having used borrowed Nikon's recently I was able to set the camera up and in no time at all had my first shot. Impressive right out of the box with no adjustments. I've taken this shot many times with the old Sony and the clarity outside was always lost with the camera compensating for the dark interior. No more.......

Man bites bullet.....

Yep, I bit the bullet, the digital bullet and bought a new camera today. I had been wanting, acutally needing, a new one for a long, long time. My old Sony was made when Herbert Hoover was President and is long past it's prime. I have to say though that over the eight years that I've owned it, I've become accustomed to it's limitations and quirks and have adapted to get some very special shots.

After trying out various cameras over the last month or so, I bought the recently released Nikon D-80. It had come down to this or the similar quality Pentax, but the Pentax won't be making it's debute until December, and I wanted to shoot the remainer of football season with my new camera. What an upgrade for me. The D-80 sports 10.2 effective megapixels and a burst/continuous shoot rate of 3 frames per second. Hold the trigger down and it just keeps shooting, no time wasted while the camera reboots after every shot. Also the new color sensors are supposed to render stunning colors and sharpenss. Can't wait to try it out. It should arrive Thursday.

In other big news, and you may have heard it here first, Johnny's Barbeque has been sold! Hard to believe that after 6 decades Johnny could give it up. But it has been purchased by an Odessa steakhouse owner and should continue on in it's old tradition.

Vote.......!

I'm voting for the only candidate who asked for my vote........
....and smokes cigars, loves dogs and wears an airborne badge on his lapel.

The Kinkster!

You never know...

You just never know what value people put on different things. It's odd.

Saturday afternoon my main AA group, Serenity, held an auction of donated items to help defray the cost of some renovations to our meeting place. AA people are generous to a fault. People brought what their means allowed and since AA has a varied membership there were items small and large. Many people brought gift baskets that they had either put together or purchased. There were brand new small appliances, art good and bad, lamps, electronics, sporting goods, a dove hunt on one of the major ranches south of town, a weekend stay at a B&B a member owns in Fredericksburg, an antique coke machine and this year several larger pieces of furniture including a wooden filing cabinet I had my eyes on. I donated two of my favorite photos matted and framed.

We have 200+ members in our group and many of these drifted in and out, but for the most part 30 or so were present at any one time. I couldn't pass up buying some wooden gold gilt picture frames for $5 a throw. These are $50 items if bought new and I also had spied two antique rocking chairs with handmade embroided seats. I thought to myself that these would be the stars of the show with at least all the women bidding on them. A big box of CD's went for $95 so the chairs, I assumed, would go for well over the $100 mark. When the time came for the chairs no minimum bid was set and no one appeared to be anxious to open the bidding, so I offered $20...for both. Silence. Surely I thought someone really wants these and is just waiting to jump the bid way up. Silence. And then the auctioneer said, "Sold for $20".

I was stunned. How could people be buying fragrant soap gift baskets for $20 and $30 but I end up with two antiques for two 10 spots. But indeed I did. You can never tell what people are interested in.

I got my wooden filing cabinet for $90. My photos, I'm pleased to say, were bid on by 4 or 5 people and ended up going for $80. The going price, I suppose, for 8 antique rockers! Take a look, see if you think I got a deal, more probably a steal.

Rocker Update: I found out late this morning that the two rockers I bought were donated by a friend of mine. She wanted to know what I paid for them, but I wouldn't divulge that. Their family owned a famous West Texas business that I won't name but it rhymes with "Stinkies". These were from her grandmothers house at their ranch.

Post Game....

What a great evening for the MHS Bulldogs to slaughter the Lee High Rebels. We smeared them [now there's a word from my HS days]. Final score Dawgs 38 Rebels 21. A good game really and for many Bulldog fans rather troubling in the 1st quarter when the Rebels scored first and rather easily.

But the Dawgs responded in kind and kept up the effort. Star running back Brandon Batch went over 1000 yds. for the season; a feat made all the more special because his brother Barron was in attendance. Barron is the all time leading rusher at MHS and is now a running back for Texas Tech, though out of commission this season due to an injury. I had a nice visit with both brothers, nice kids.

Always a great time visiting with the players, coaches and other photographers during the game. A good evening, but everyone was ready to go home after the victory. It was cold...for West Texas. Enjoy some game pictures.

The Big Game....

It's the Big Day. The Big Game against crosstown rivals Lee High School. I'll be out at the stadium with my new compadres and compadrettes eating pre-game barbeque and cheering the Dawgs on while takin' some pix from the sidelines! See you there!

If it's game day, you need some pep!

Up from the doldrums...

Nothing like interesting activities to thwart further doldrumism.

I spent most of the afternoon, visiting with a recently relocated developer who has been in the local news lately. Things look to be brewing for me there. Bill is a new neighbor whom I met on my dog walks in the last months. We've become friendly and more than just talking business, he is a sports car racing enthusiast. Something I had guessed at by the really sweet Nissan NSX [top speed 165+ mph] he has had parked in the driveway occasionally. I found out today that among other "toys" he also has a Ferrari, soon to arrive.

Today while we talked business Bill, his wife and I drove down to Chaparral Racing to look around with my buddy Jim who manages the operations. Bill was impressed that the Chaparral Racing facilities have changed little from the glory days of the 1960's and that inside the nondescript buildings sit $5-7 million dollars worth of vehicles; the personal collection of owner Jim Hall. From a $1.2 million Ferrari Monza to a 1909 Cadillac to a classic 1957 Mercedes Gull Wing. All in mint condition. And like discovering King Tut's tomb, another whole room arrived at through a darkened old shop contains a Pennzoil Indy car, a 1963 Lotus Formula One car and a prototype racing Chevrolet Corvette that Jim Hall tested as well as a myriad of historic autos from the teens, 20's and 30's, like a Locomobile and a Whippet.

However the highlight of the tour was taking several laps around Rattlesnake Raceway, the test track. Bill was impressed, I loved doing that again, but his wife kept yelling, "slow down" so I'm not sure she liked it as much. I only got up to 90 mph.

Along on the tour were our soon to be County Judge and two members from a state transportion agency who may further our goal of having the Chaparral site be designed an historic area....and to have cars driving there again.

And....I've been wanting to do just a photo related Blog and here it is: Eclectic Photography