Category: Amazing Things

Amazing Things, In and Around Austin, My Friends, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and Musings4 Comments

Haufler Motors

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Udo Haufler was a trader at heart. He was born and raised in the Twin Sisters area Blanco County. He started buying and selling used vehicles after the war and settling in Austin. This is a car lot he was operating in 1953 in downtown Austin. I’ve never been clear what the actual address was. But I think it was possibly in the 2nd or 3rd block and a few blocks east of Congress Ave. He traveled far and wide buying the best quality used vehicles he could find. Those travels took him to the Lincoln Mercury Dealership in Conroe … Continue reading Haufler Motors

Amazing Things, My Friends, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

A Happening We Seldom Get To Enjoy During A Lifetime

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November 26, 2016 Madeline and I attended a birthday party for a friend. A friend that was our neighbor for about a decade in the 70s and 80s. Yes a 40 year friendship. This lady watched us go from a family with one little boy, to a house with 5 boys playing in the yard. To say those were transformative years for Madeline and me would be an understatement. Esther Haufler turned 100 today and we were there to help her celebrate the joyous occasion with many of her friends and relatives. Continue reading A Happening We Seldom Get To Enjoy During A Lifetime

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, My Friends, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

My Friend Udo

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I have had the great fortune to meet many people in my lifetime. None probably made a greater impact on me than Udo Haufler. Udo was my neighbor, my friend and my mentor. The first day of 1977, Madeline and I moved into a house on a very quite, secluded south Austin street. Albert Road was like being in another place altogether. It wasn’t like living in Austin. Directly across the street was a large 2 story house, with a horse stable in the back. Esther and Udo Haufler were the elderly couple that lived there. (of course now that … Continue reading My Friend Udo

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Thoughts and Musings, TravelsLeave a comment

Hauling Guns Into Mexico

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In the fall of 1984 I had a very big real estate deal happen that made me think I’d never see another poor day. So what did I do? Went and bought a new Lincoln Sedan. It was the Cartier addition. Very slick ride. It wasn’t for Madeline. No way she could get all the kids and their friends in it. She drove a suburban. I had a pickup or a suburban or both. I’m absolutely positive there was a reason I bought the Lincoln. I don’t think I’ll be running in to ask Madeline about this. If I remember … Continue reading Hauling Guns Into Mexico

Amazing Things, Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

I Always Wanted To Do The Right Things, But Circumstances Can Get In The Way

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Back in the early part of the 1970s we had a project relocating a water line on South 1st Street where a big “S” in Williamson Creek. (as shown in the photo below). Three new bridges were be built. We were on the tail end of that job, cleaning up and pressure testing. The City of Austin had a crew that performed the pressure tests and they came out twice and each time the line failed. The General Contractor that was building the bridges had already started work and it was imperative that we get that line approved or it … Continue reading I Always Wanted To Do The Right Things, But Circumstances Can Get In The Way

Amazing Things, Texas History, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Texas Counties and the Cities and Towns Can Get You All Confused

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It may be fun to look at the 254 Counties across our Great State of Texas and find counties that don’t match up very well with cities or towns of the same name. I’ll start with Pecos in Reeves County, while the county seat of Pecos is Ft. Stockton. And then there is Presidio County, but the county seat is Marfa and not Presidio. Sanderson is the Seat of Terrell County, while Terrell is a town east of Dallas in Kaufman County. But they actually let the town of Kaufman be its County Seat. Of course I’m always thrown off … Continue reading Texas Counties and the Cities and Towns Can Get You All Confused

Amazing Things, In and Around AustinLeave a comment

Roberta Crenshaw

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I became acquainted with this lady by owning land that adjoined property she owned in south Austin. Her obituary tells her life story far better than I can. She truly was a remarkable lady. The things she did will leave a mark of beauty on Austin for an eternity. Civic pioneer Roberta Crenshaw dies at 90 Parks activist fought to keep Town Lake serene. By Dick Stanley AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, February 09, 2005 Lady Bird Johnson often gets the credit for Town Lake’s beauty and its popular hike-and-bike trail, but when she was praised for that, Mrs. Johnson used to … Continue reading Roberta Crenshaw

Amazing Things, Cecil LewisLeave a comment

Cecil And The Blind Salamanders

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When we built the Guadalupe River State Park in the early 80s, I had Cec (my dad) down on that job driving a water truck. (Except when he bit my thumb – but that’s a whole other story). He brought his travel trailer over and camped out right down along the river. Some of the park people told us about a closed section of the park that no one was allowed to go. It was actually on an adjoining ranch that had been acquired by The Parks and Wildlife Department that was going to stay undeveloped. It was called The … Continue reading Cecil And The Blind Salamanders