Author: lewisotr

One Hell Of A Guy, If I do say so myself.
Crazy Times, My FriendsLeave a comment

Watch Out What You Ask A Friend To Do

lewisotr

My friend John, of “Rosalinda” fame (a prior story), was married to an extremely nice gal. Much too nice for his shenanigans. She was small, attractive with long blonde hair. She had been a school teacher but had recently become a real estate agent. John, knew that I had the ability to find out vehicle ownership with the tap of a few computer keys, just by knowing a license plate number. From that within just a few seconds I could see if that person has a criminal record, and other valuable information as well. He asked me if I’d mind … Continue reading Watch Out What You Ask A Friend To Do

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, On The Job, The Construction BizLeave a comment

Rosalinda

lewisotr

John has been good friend of mine for a very long time. After the following story we have remained friends, which is surprising. This took place back in the late 1980s. We were working on a big project in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas. It was a really tough job in one of the roughest areas of one the most crime ridden cities at that time. Everything was a disaster. We had to keep a sense of humor about it, keep the mood light or we couldn’t have endured. We both lived back in Austin so frequently flew on … Continue reading Rosalinda

Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Charlie and Minnie Campbell – A Love Story

lewisotr

This is a story about an old couple that showed up in Smithwick when I was just a kid. This story doesn’t involve actual family members. It does include the Smithwick Cemetery and a couple that were a part of the community for a few years. One day Minnie and Charlie arrived in an old Studebaker car. When people said their name, they always left off the p and b. It was Charlie and Minnie Camel. They never had children. They claimed they had no other close family. They just had each other. Minnie was from Oklahoma. She always said … Continue reading Charlie and Minnie Campbell – A Love Story

Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, On The Job, The Construction Biz, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Then and Now

lewisotr

I graduated from high school in May 1970. By the fall of 70 I went to work in the underground utility industry. I believe I was earning around $3.00 per hour. Considering the minimum wage back then was $1.60, I was doing pretty well. A top operator was paid $3.75 per hour. By late spring of 1972, I had learned enough about the business, plus what I had picked up being around trucks and machinery my whole life, I subcontracted my first water line installation project in Burnet, Texas. I had a crew of 4 or 5 people including myself. … Continue reading Then and Now

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Opening Day Of Deer Season

lewisotr

I was probably no older than 13, but maybe 14. At least old enough to drive myself down in the pasture to kill a deer. We had company in from California. My mother’s youngest sister and her husband. Knowing I’d have better luck if I went across the fence that bordered us to the west. That was LCRA Property. There was no hunting allowed on the LCRA. To young boys, especially sons of Cecil Lewis, there were certain rules that we didn’t abide by. Especially that one. Either those same deer had just left our property or would be crossing … Continue reading Opening Day Of Deer Season

Construction, Crazy Times, On The JobLeave a comment

The Devastation Caused By Zebra Mussels

lewisotr

Seeing a recent kvue article (link below) about the growing Zebra Mussel problem in several area lakes brought back memories from the winter of 2011-2012 when our company was awarded a large contract to clean up a water line up on the northern border of Texas at Lake Texoma. That was the first recognized Zebra Mussel infestation to reach Texas. Our contract was comprised of building appurtenances that allowed a huge rubber pig (a large cylindrical apparatus with an abrasive coating) that could be inserted in the lake end of an eleven mile six foot diameter water line. This would … Continue reading The Devastation Caused By Zebra Mussels

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Meeting Fine Folks Over A Meal

lewisotr

I went out south of Bertram one Saturday morning back in 2014 to a Texas Ranger Cross Dedication. After the dedication we were invited back to Fort Croghan in Burnet for lunch. I got my plate of catfish and set down at one of the long tables. Seated across from me was a nice couple that I started chatting with. The Angora Chronicles was something pretty new at that time, so I told them all about it. Actually it was mostly the lady that I engaged with. I got her name and invited her to join us in our story … Continue reading Meeting Fine Folks Over A Meal

Crazy Times, Old Dog - New Trick, On The JobLeave a comment

The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

lewisotr

The year was 1991. I had spent 20 years digging ditches and I thought enough is enough. The economy was in the crapper. The great real estate boom of the 80s was over and all the big water and wastewater lines had been constructed to the far reaches of the city and beyond in Austin. The future didn’t look so swell for our business. I needed a break. I thought it was time for some new scenery, so to speak. I had two groups of employees by that time. The old and the new. It was time for the old … Continue reading The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

Crazy Times, Smithwick, The Early Days3 Comments

The Race Was On

lewisotr

The story of one of the greatest car races ever held in Smithwick. His name was Curtis “Brown” Parker. Brown Parker was how he was known. He was the person my Dad looked up to more, maybe than anyone else. Brown was several years older that Cecil Lewis. I believe that Brown help him become a man in more ways than one in his early days in Smithwick, Texas. In the 1940s Brown and Eula left Smithwick and moved to California, the same as a lot of people did during that period of time. They operated laundries in and around … Continue reading The Race Was On