Author: lewisotr

One Hell Of A Guy, If I do say so myself.
Crazy Times, Meeting New PeopleLeave a comment

My Encounter With Zoran

lewisotr

When we first bought our place in Corpus Christi in the spring of 2013, and was getting moved in, I would see a fellow that easily could have been homeless walk along the side street, then cross Ocean Drive and disappear under the hill into Cole Park. This guy appeared to be about my age, looked a bit scraggly and always unshaven, but didn’t really have a beard. One of those guys that you wonder how he appears to never shave, yet never has a real beard. My house was full of windows, especially on the lower floor, looking out … Continue reading My Encounter With Zoran

Crazy Times, My Friends, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

After The Big Wreck (sequel to the 13 Vehicle Accident)

lewisotr

I’m not sure if it was because of the wreck or just because, but Mary Alice has always been the classmate that Madeline and I have held the closest and been the most constant friend throughout the past 54 years since moving on from high school. She has spent many holiday feasts with us and watched our sons grow up and them have kids. Our sons think of her as the crazy old aunt (said in an endearing way). She has the ability to talk about any subject and talk she can do. One time, 15 or 16 years ago, … Continue reading After The Big Wreck (sequel to the 13 Vehicle Accident)

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., My Friends, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

A 13 Vehicle Accident In Marble Falls

lewisotr

Usually you think of multi-car wrecks happening in Austin or Houston or Dallas. A little known fact is there was a wreck that happened right in Marble Falls, Texas that involved 13 vehicles back in the spring of 1970. I was involved. It was my senior year and I only went to school in the mornings and worked at a local car dealership in the afternoon. This one afternoon things weren’t to busy at the car lot so I ran home and grabbed a small trailer mounted air compressor and headed to Kingsland to drill a few holes for dynamite … Continue reading A 13 Vehicle Accident In Marble Falls

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, Kenny Lewis, My Family, My Sons, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Santa Comes to Dripping Springs

lewisotr

We had moved to Dripping Springs in the mid 80’s. It was a great place to raise kids. Life was really wonderful. Madeline was able to find something to occupy her time with every second of every day. And night. All of the little angels were involved in sports and a variety of other activities. We had an active church life with a great church family. Madeline was the Den Mother for the younger boys. It was Christmas time and we were hosting a party out at our place. Bunch of little Cub Scouts everywhere. Madeline could talk my brother … Continue reading Santa Comes to Dripping Springs

My Sons, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Gifts That Mean The Most

lewisotr

I am a little sentimental about gifts that my grandkids give me, even more so of things my sons made or bought for me when they were small. One gift that dates back almost 40 years, that I count as one of my most treasured possessions. It stayed out on my dresser for years, but somewhere along the way it got put in my sock drawer and remains there to this day. Most people would look at this prized possession and wonder why I have it in my sock drawer. The answer is simple. It was a gift this one … Continue reading The Gifts That Mean The Most

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Private Fallout Shelters in the 1960s

lewisotr

Fallout or Bomb Shelters were both used to describe these underground structures. Talking about the Nike Bases that were built to protect Bergstrom Air Force Base made me think back to the early 60s in Austin. My dad was working for a construction company doing what I’ve spent my lifetime doing, installing underground utilities. The company transitioned into building “private underground bomb shelters” all over Austin. The only one I remember ever seeing built was over in a neighborhood off of Airport Blvd., very near the old Austin Airport.I wonder how many are still intact after all these decades. The … Continue reading Private Fallout Shelters in the 1960s

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, The Early Days, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Nike Missile Bases Built To Protect Bergstrom Air Force Base

lewisotr

In 1960 my Dad, Cecil worked as a construction inspector for Marvin Turner Engineering. He was assigned to overseeing the building of two missile launch sites in the Austin area. There were deep underground silos dug into the ground where the Nike Missiles were to be launched from. I’ve read that the launch sites were decommissioned in 1966. I think the program was being scuttled before it really ever got off the ground. There is one off of Bee Caves Rd. The Command Center, for both launch sites, has now become the Bee Caves Armory, is across Bee Cave Road … Continue reading Nike Missile Bases Built To Protect Bergstrom Air Force Base

Amazing Things, My Family, My Sons, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Willy Willy Christmas Tree

lewisotr

If I started telling you about the Willy Willy Christmas Tree you’d have no idea what I was talking about. But to Madeline and me, we have known this special tree by that name for 50 years. That special tree is the Zilker Park Christmas Tree that just about every Austinite has probably stood under and twirled around. When our first born son, Matthew (born in 1974) was young, 2 or maybe 3, we had planned to go see “The Christmas Tree” one evening. There had been a big build up to seeing it, he had probably seen it on … Continue reading The Willy Willy Christmas Tree