tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777Thu, 15 May 2008 03:29:12 +0000http://www.biggolddog.com/streams.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)Blogger1012125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-6590770238519588614Thu, 15 May 2008 03:15:00 +00002008-05-14T22:29:12.248-05:00What other way to show your gratitude to the people who saved your brother's life than to pick up the phone and just say, "Thanks". That's what I did this afternoon, reaching Dr. Amy Marvin in Houston. Amy gave my brother CPR while her husband assisted and then administered the defibrillator which shocked him back to life. Amy, and I, were close to tears as she recounted the event, "he was gonehttp://www.biggolddog.com/2008/05/thanks-for-great-giftnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-8567311108271433144Tue, 13 May 2008 15:15:00 +00002008-05-13T11:30:28.176-05:00My brother, Mark, has had his name in the Houston paper before in his capacity as a deputy director of NASA. But I doubt that he has ever been on the front page of the paper as he is today. And I doubt that he wants to repeat the events that got him there. The newspaper article tells the story as one of luck, serendipity and good planning. Sometimes though, I think there is no explanation otherhttp://www.biggolddog.com/2008/05/god-watches-over-usnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-3522918213234276384Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:07:00 +00002008-04-30T17:24:18.516-05:00Last week, a blur now, was spent with Michael Peterson and his Real Life Tour, sponsored by the US Army. What a blast getting to know Michael, his band members, tour group and of course some great folks from the Army. The purpose of the tour was for Michael to speak to teenagers about making the right choices in life. And speak he did to over 2,000 kids at six schools, to large teen groups at http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/04/tournoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-6031552738036813802Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:00 +00002008-04-25T00:55:06.440-05:00Some months ago, through old Army contacts, I was asked to help bring Country and Western artist Michael Peterson and his Real Life Tour to Midland. The tour is sponsored, in part, by the Army and is aimed at reaching teenagers with ways to take responsibility and make correct decisions. I've spent the last three days with Michael and he is the real deal. I don't know that I've ever heard a http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/04/michael-petersonnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-531736833176167267Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:25:00 +00002008-04-18T17:30:53.089-05:00Faithful readers will recall that last year at this time friends Scott Davis, Terry Johnson and I [along with a lot of help!] staged what we called The West Texas Troop Salute at Rockhounds Stadium. Organized in only 2 months time, the event exceeded our wildest expectations with over 4,000 people showing their gratitude and support for our troops. We had intended to repeat the Troop Salute this http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/04/you-wont-be-forgottennoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-2045311241136637484Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:59:00 +00002008-04-15T00:17:31.600-05:00I've always liked and been interested in maps. I also love PBS' Antiques Roadshow. Tonight the two converged. I've seen some interesting things on AR over the years that are somewhat related to some of the things I own, like the Whistler lithograph that was appraised last year. Thanks to my grandparents I have a Whistler lithograph. But tonight a 19th century world atlas appeared that was very http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/04/i-like-mapsnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-1714604468404571594Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:56:00 +00002008-04-13T23:11:33.965-05:00It's amazing what shows up and where. Somehow on Spike.Com I ran into the uncut version of an interview with Jimmy Patterson at the MRT and My West Texas done with me right after the passing of The Big Gold Dog. I'm glad to find it saved; it sure brought back some memories. http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/04/lost-jimmy-tapesnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-5706617156669337965Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:15:00 +00002008-04-14T00:22:53.680-05:00The size of my already small family became ever smaller yesterday with the passing of my Mom's older sister. My aunt Kay was a remarkable woman who overcame profound deafness, as a result of a childhood illness, to become a charming Navy wife, a caring mother and grandmother and a professional artist. She read lips so well and spoke so clearly that often we forgot she had almost no hearing. With http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/04/another-passingnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-2494444687479863206Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:56:00 +00002008-04-03T21:07:31.421-05:00We'll be having a large native plant sale/fundraiser at the Sibley Nature Center this Saturday, April 5th. We have a large selection of shrubs, ornamentals, grasses and trees that do well in strong sun with low maintenance and water needs. The sale starts at 9 a.m. We expect that the plants will go quickly.....get there early. Our greenhouse is behind the Sibley Center on E. Wadley, adjacent to http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/04/native-plant-salenoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-530662464777051130Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:11:00 +00002008-03-14T15:17:07.330-05:00"For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of hell". Proverbs 5:3-5 This passage was quoted by Cal Thomas in his column today. I just love it......"bitter as wormwood". That's great....and from Scripture too!http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/03/bitter-as-wormwoodnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-4483383334043928002Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:40:00 +00002008-03-11T14:50:49.330-05:00 From the "Captured Moments" hall of fame, Spanky and Our Gang. For some unknown reason I always really liked this song. Now it brings back memories of driving my college roommates car around San Antonio. My roommate and his brother both had brand new 1968 Buick Gran Sports courtesy of their rich grandfather. Luckily my roommate was very generous with it's use. He had loads of 8 track tapes too.http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/03/spankynoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-8775053098827617090Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:04:00 +00002008-02-26T13:55:30.896-06:00 Regular readers and friends might look at the photos above and say, "Cute, more pictures of D. Daphne Dog". I don't blame you...but this isn't D. Daphne. Over the last several years I've gotten linked up informally with other dog owners/lovers in an email network that tries to find homes for needy dogs and the photos above and others came to me this morning. I really couldn't believe my eyes. http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/02/long-lost-kinnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-3760058621509194988Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:36:00 +00002008-02-21T23:37:26.158-06:00Do you know the whereabouts of anyone in the Midland High or Lee High classes of '67 and '68? Send them here..... big doings this summer.http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/02/reunion-08noreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-5030499756031306177Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:31:00 +00002008-02-17T00:36:16.502-06:00The sports folks at Midland High seem to want me busy. I started out last year doing the MHS football website and photos. Earlier in the year I picked up the Lady Dawgs basketball assignment and this week was hired to do the MHS boys soccer coverage. I enjoy helping out the old alma mater, meeting new people and it's nice to get paid for doing something so enjoyable. MHS Dawgs Soccerhttp://www.biggolddog.com/2008/02/soccer-seasonnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-1804726720266655293Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:38:00 +00002008-02-13T22:00:15.662-06:00On Tuesday we held the ceremonial groundbreaking for our Million Dollar expansion at the Sibley Nature Center. Thanks to all those who worked hard and/or contributed to make this addition a reality. A special thanks to Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick who thought enough of our plans to work for us in obtaining a matching grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. And now, "http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/02/sibley-center-groundbreakingnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-7301554383472229252Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:24:00 +00002008-02-07T22:43:17.927-06:00Tonight, Turner Classic Movies aired "2001: A Space Odyssey". I've seen this many times over the years and I still like watching the first hour or so, the rest rather drags on after you've seen it so many times and the ending is a tad too '60s psychedelic for me. But what got to me tonight was the realization that this film was made 40 years ago. 40 years! Damn! I suppose what is so brain http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/02/2001-time-odysseynoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-6791991245254502799Sat, 02 Feb 2008 03:52:00 +00002008-02-01T21:54:06.609-06:00Spending all morning flying in a Huey with the doors open, shooting pictures ....two of my favorite things in one. Getting paid to do so........Priceless!http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/02/pricelessnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-5313035349684997245Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:17:00 +00002008-01-28T23:21:03.944-06:00The Springboard Center groundbreaking ceremonies, luncheon and celebrity events were a great success, highly entertaining and very touching. Thanks to all those who made it possible; especially the staff and talent at CBS7 and The Young and the Restless! Here are some photos of the day.http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/01/groundbreakingnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-2392818846198693341Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:09:00 +00002008-01-23T22:54:41.575-06:00The Springboard Center is a community based not for profit substance abuse counseling center. We have been operating out of cramped rented quarters downtown since 1999. As a board member I'm pleased to say that with more than generous financial support from the community we've raised about half of the $3 million+ cost of our new medical detox and treatment facility. And we're ready for the http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/01/yall-comenoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-7261410304417025737Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:48:00 +00002008-01-19T00:18:06.714-06:00One of the secrets of photography, I've learned, is just to keep plugging away, let people know of your interest and show them your work. Some interesting upcoming opportunities generated this way: ‡While in Boerne last weekend I met some very caring folks who run a weekend camp for severly handicapped kids. They asked if I'd be interested in coming down soon and photographing one of their http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/01/photo-opsnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-3375037538136768911Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:10:00 +00002008-01-05T13:23:28.987-06:00In my army career, and during the last several years in Midland, I have 100's of hours flying in helicopters; parachuting out of some of them too. I'm one of those whacko's who really loves flying in them with the doors open at low altitude. Except when getting shot at, it's great fun to me. But I don't think I've ever had as much fun, pleasure really, as I did today while flying in a Huey with http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/01/in-my-army-career-and-during-lastnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-6957238716646798573Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:59:00 +00002008-01-02T22:22:51.345-06:00It's odd sometimes how things work in life. It seems like seeing old friends suddenly comes in a torrent. As the New Year approached I was invited to Boerne, Texas to be the guest of my good friends Gen. Tom and Toni Hill. Tom was a fraternity brother and I met Toni my freshman year at Trinity University also. I lived with Tom and Toni for four months when we all were in the army at Ft. Benning http://www.biggolddog.com/2008/01/visitationsnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-4145687313293249344Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:22:00 +00002007-12-28T00:40:51.114-06:00What better way to cap off that Christmas day cheer than to hear gunfire outside your house. Close outside.... As I was watching "The Greatest Story Ever Told" on the television about 11:30 Christmas night I heard a loud "pop" outside. In the first microsecond your brain optimistically says, "firecracker". But if you've spent years in the army firing every conceivable type of weapon, the second http://www.biggolddog.com/2007/12/jingle-bellsbam-bam-bamnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-1035865263348708208Tue, 25 Dec 2007 03:49:00 +00002007-12-24T21:56:05.563-06:00Christmas around here has not been the same the last two years for a variety of reasons. But, as I've learned, there is much to be grateful for. This time three years ago I was preparing to go into to heart surgery......this year I'm not. For the past three years on Christmas Eve, I've shown my thanks to the folks in the cardiac unit at the hospital by taking them a little treat. In the photo http://www.biggolddog.com/2007/12/gratitudenoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382777.post-9023515547902133422Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:36:00 +00002007-12-21T01:10:36.553-06:00The Ventures will be inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame this coming March. Well duh dudes it's about time. The Ventures have been playing rock n'roll for about 50 years having come together in 1958 and they are still touring! Their first big hit, "Walk Don't Run", still a classic, hit #2 on the charts in 1960. Their influence on rock has been profound with over 30 major rock stars http://www.biggolddog.com/2007/12/venturesnoreply@blogger.com (Pancho)