Pulling A Tooth

Sofia is getting to the age where she is starting to lose teeth. She came over the other night and wanted me to pull her loose tooth, her first. I sent her to get a handkerchief from my chest of drawers to aid in getting a grip. She pointed to the tooth. I worked and worked with the tooth and it wouldn’t come out. It was bleeding a little but would not come out. I finally told her we needed to wait and give it a little more time. She went on her way. She got over to her house, … Continue reading Pulling A Tooth

A Good Deed, That May Never Go Away

This story goes back several years. It all started when an old gal I know needed some help. She desperately needed some help. She lives in a very decrepit old house. I got word that the City (an unnamed city) was going to condemn her home that had been in her family for many decades. There was junk piled up higher than an Elephant’s Eye. (I finally found a way to incorporate that line in a story. It was included in a nasty letter I received from a homeowner years ago that we had installed a wastewater line adjacent to … Continue reading A Good Deed, That May Never Go Away

Tommy Houy was a Honda Motorcycle guy all the way

I think his first motorcycle was a 125cc that he had when I first came to school in Marble Falls. That was starting in 8th grade. I don’t think he ran all over on it, but rode it over on his side of town. Then he jumped up to a 350cc. It was metallic blue. That’s the one he wrecked on. (More on that below) During the repairing of it, he switched the color to a metal flake orange. A few years later he went up to a 450cc, then eventually a 750cc. Buy the time he and I became … Continue reading Tommy Houy was a Honda Motorcycle guy all the way

Speaking Of Having No Filter

This story popped up as I was looking for something else. It was first published on here about 9 years ago. I wondered how things have changed. I really guess they haven’t. One of my lovely DIL’s bought me this very nice and may I say perhaps appropriate cup, albeit the biggest cup I’ve ever seen.I’m not into the whole hashtag thing so I thought it best if I did a little research to be sure that there wasn’t some hidden meaning behind it. I did find the following article about people with “no filter”. I have to admit I … Continue reading Speaking Of Having No Filter

A Father’s Day Message To My Sons & Grandsons

Sometimes the best lessons that life gives are not about learning the right things to do, but rather learning from the things not to do. As a son, you can observe how your father handled situations, but it can be difficult to emulate his moves. Instead, it is more beneficial to watch what your father did and then avoid making the same mistakes he did. I don’t necessarily want my sons and grandsons to follow the same life journey that I have traveled, as it has been a difficult and challenging road. Fellows, take the things you observed me do … Continue reading A Father’s Day Message To My Sons & Grandsons

Cecil Lewis, my father, was a handsome man with certain flaws

To know him was to witness wisdom and a lot of contradictions. I didn’t resent his tough love, for it paved my way. But if I could change one thing, it would be his struggle with alcohol. Without that burden, he would have been near perfection, a true role model. Yet, I still treasure the lessons he taught me, and they are still within my heart. He was selfless, always helping others in every endeavor. He possessed both physical and emotional strength, forever. Adversity didn’t hinder him; it only made him more resilient. He taught me the worth of perseverance, … Continue reading Cecil Lewis, my father, was a handsome man with certain flaws

How Old Am I ?

I’m So Old That: When I first started in the underground utility business we used batter boards and string lines for setting grade on wastewater lines. A good 6’ wooden folding engineers rule and a torpedo level were the grade setters best friend.About a decade later before lasers became widely used. (Early 1980s)Many of the old school inspectors wouldn’t trust lasers so had us set up batter boards to use to prove out that the laser was shooting a straight line and grade. I’m So Old That: John Deere and Caterpillar hadn’t started making hydraulic track excavators when I first … Continue reading How Old Am I ?

San Antonio’s Union Stockyards

Below is about the best article I’ve found on the history of the SA Union Stockyards that has now been closed for more than 25 years. From The Houston Chronicle “Union Stock Yards says goodbye after 112 years in San Antonio” John W. Gonzalez | April 22, 2001 SAN ANTONIO — After 112 years as a landmark of the South Texas cattle industry, the Union Stock Yards held its final auction last week, giving workers and well-wishers one last chance to savor its colorful yet faded traditions. In an auction barn that used to witness thousands of transactions a day, … Continue reading San Antonio’s Union Stockyards

A Fast Trip South

I find myself in an awkward situation this morning. I’m writing a book currently that is based on friendships and what friends mean to us in life. I haven’t mentioned this to anyone except those within my tight family circle. I just came up with the idea a few days ago. It will be wrapped around several stories I’ve previously had on The Angora Chronicles and a few other thought’s that I have on the subject. Enough of this. Now on to my dilemma. I have a friend that would be very much a part of the book, because he … Continue reading A Fast Trip South

The Patience Of Job (like in the Bible)

I’m not professing to be a biblical figure, but always hearing that saying seemed relevant to this odyssey I’ve been on for over four months, while trying to get my sickly truck running. THE STORY I hired a young man to make what I thought was probably a simple and straightforward mechanical repair. But it turned out to be anything but. The last thing I’d ever want to do is harm this young man’s reputation. He seems like a very nice and knowledgeable person. I have told him it’s never my intention to leave a bad review, but it would … Continue reading The Patience Of Job (like in the Bible)