Author: lewisotr

One Hell Of A Guy, If I do say so myself.
Amazing Things, The Jollyville Years, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

The Smells Of Going To School In The “Old Days” At Pond Springs.

lewisotr

Our 7th grade classroom was the principals office which also doubled as the administration office. Mr.Scotty Pyle, the Principal, taught us. A Ditto machine like the picture below was kept in that room. In the days before a Xerox Machine, methanol and isopropanol was used in the duplicating process. That smell was always present in that room. It being a 3 classroom school, each teacher taught 2 grades, so 3 teachers, the principle (he was our teacher), the lunchroom lady and her helper. There may have been a janitor/maintenance man, but I don’t remember one. The kids swept the floors … Continue reading The Smells Of Going To School In The “Old Days” At Pond Springs.

Amazing Things, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Nothing Says Class Like A Nice Hood Ornament

lewisotr

Seen on a “64” Chevy Pickup in Liberty Hill a while back. Quite a few years ago I had a fellow that worked for me. In fact he still works for me and has since he was just a kid, in the late 70s. Heck we were all kids back then. Manual is of Mexican descent and he like many of those fellows, didn’t mind adding a bit of class to their vehicles. I guess in today’s terms, it would be called bling. Manual had a fairly nice Chevy pickup and one day he showed up to work with a … Continue reading Nothing Says Class Like A Nice Hood Ornament

Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

Parking a Little Close.

lewisotr

I pulled into a parking space that has a tree right up close by it this morning. Noticing how close it was, I was hesitant to get out and go in, thinking that would be a fine mess if I forgot it was there and swung into it as I back out later. I’m living dangerously today so I decided to chance it, and walked into an appointment. That made me think about one time I went into a podiatrists office in South Austin and parked right next to the building. This was in the early 80s. I went in … Continue reading Parking a Little Close.

Aging, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

I’m Scared To Death

lewisotr

We are constantly being told that big tech can hear what we are talking about through our smart phone, even if they are turned off. They can even see us through the camera. I have mostly poo-poo’d all that. But how many times have we been talking about something or a product, then it will pop up on our FB feed or in an email. It’s freaky, but I have been laying it off to being pure coincidence. We dropped Satellite TV, Direct TV to be specific a few months ago in favor streaming. In which I’ve been very pleased … Continue reading I’m Scared To Death

The Early Days, The Jollyville Years, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

What’s In The Name ?

lewisotr

The reason I took to the name – The Angora Chronicles – Angora goats were mine and my brother Kenny’s first business venture.The year was 1960. Shelton Kennedy (one of my Dads very best friends) was a goat man.When it came time to sell off his years kid crop, he sold 20 freshly weaned goats to us each. We had no money so he let us pay him after we had sheared them and collected the money. He sold the goats to us for $2 each.We lived on 65 acres of the hilliest, rockiest pasture land in all of central … Continue reading What’s In The Name ?

Aging, Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

A Trip To The Apple Store

lewisotr

Went to The Domain in Austin yesterday morning to get my IPhone screen replaced at the Apple Store. It was going to take a little while so I found a good vantage point so I could watch the comings and goings. That’s quite the place. I’m not sure I could ever settle in and get that homey feeling there, but to each there on. It’s fairly pricey to rent one of the many apartments throughout the place. It seems more like you are in New York City or San Fran, than Austin. Heck I’ve even got a granddaughter, Holly living … Continue reading A Trip To The Apple Store

Amazing Things, My Family, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

The Magical Minds Of Children

lewisotr

I was driving down the road this afternoon with my 4 year old granddaughter, Sofia in a car seat in the back. I’ve been experiencing issues with my brand spanking new hot tub, the one that I thought would never get installed. In the week since it got installed, there have been a series of it working fine, then suddenly it will throw a breaker and shut down. Then I get the tech out to fix. That’s already happened 3 times. This guy has been great. It’s obvious that he knows his business, but there are some real oddities happening. … Continue reading The Magical Minds Of Children

Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, No Place Like Bertram, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

BBQ For The Super Bowl

lewisotr

I went to the best BBQ Joint around and bought the largest spread I could carry. It was on a huge circular tray with every kind of meat imaginable. It even had a huge pile of burnt ends that tasted like delicious rib meat for sure. Did I tell you I love beef ribs? There were juices almost running over the sides of the tray. I had to be very careful not to tilt it and spill it. Perhaps not the best way to package that kind of a spread for transport. I think that’s the way they bring it … Continue reading BBQ For The Super Bowl

Amazing Things, The Early Days, The Jollyville Years3 Comments

Capital Plaza And Greasy The Pig

lewisotr

When I was 9 years old, in November 1961, Austin was a very different place. It got it’s first shopping mall. It was called Capital Plaza Shopping Center. It wasn’t anything like some of the ones that would follow. Hancock Mall, Highland Mall, & Barton Creek Mall were a decade or so later. The center piece of Capital Plaza was a Montgomery Wards Department Store. There were about two dozen other stores located within the center. The first McDonalds in Austin was built there. Prior to this time there there were small little strip centers, like Delwood and of course … Continue reading Capital Plaza And Greasy The Pig

Aging, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, Thoughts and Musings4 Comments

A Simple Trip To The Drug Store

lewisotr

A few days ago I drove up to the window at Walgreens in Burnet to pickup a couple of prescriptions. Prescriptions that I’d been trying to get refilled for several days. But finally got a text telling me they were ready. She kept telling me that I didn’t have anything ready yet. After debating the issue a few moments I finally sent my phone in for her to see for herself. “Lady it’s not like I’m making it up”. After looking she let me know, with a little smirk on her face that my prescriptions were ready at CVS, and … Continue reading A Simple Trip To The Drug Store