Category: Amazing Things

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Kenny LewisLeave a comment

Kenny Lewis was always hard on vehicles

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This was the result of a run-in with the bridge across the South San Gabriel River in RM 1869 just out of Liberty Hill, back in 1979. He hit the side of the bridge and flipped and landed about 30 feet below. Remarkably he wasn’t seriously hurt. He did get to spend the night in Brackenridge Hospital. I think he was pretty sore for a few days. A little addendum to this event: He got our mother and dad to pick him up at the crash site, but started feeling bad on the way to Smithwick, so had them turn … Continue reading Kenny Lewis was always hard on vehicles

Amazing Things, Smithwick, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

Early Boyhood Memories

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The Old Oak Tree at my grandmothers house along the highway in Smithwick (we lived in that house until I turned 4) that we played under and climbed in when we were kids. There were always at least a half dozen well made toy trucks and equipment, all constructed from metal that made their home under this marvelous tree. The Old Crib and Pens down behind the house. It is very weathered, considering it hasn’t been used or had any upkeep in more than 50 years. It was several decades old when I was a kid, for it to still … Continue reading Early Boyhood Memories

Amazing Things, Smithwick, Thoughts and Musings4 Comments

Leona May Purcell Lewis

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She was known by many names. Leona, Nonie, Aunt Nonie, Maw-Maw, which turned into Maw-Maw Nonie to Kenny and me somewhere along the way. She had a nickname that her Daddy called her by. She and I spent a lifetime of me asking her what it was and her telling me I’d never find out. In her later years I was talking to one of her sisters and posed a question in such a way that she blurted out the name. When I got back to her, I called her by that name. She was surprised that I’d found out. … Continue reading Leona May Purcell Lewis

Amazing Things, On The Job, The Construction BizLeave a comment

Customer Testimonial – Ex 1200 Hitachi Excavators

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The Hitachi Dealer ask if I would mind endorsing their machines. They were the first ones of that size they had sold. They said they would send someone out to interview me. I thought fine. I assumed an interview would be something like – ask me a question and I would answer it to the best of my ability. A camera person showed up on the job, stuck a microphone in my face and said “tell us about your project and the EX 1200 Excavators. I did the best I could, given that I had not even thought about what … Continue reading Customer Testimonial – Ex 1200 Hitachi Excavators

Amazing Things, Construction, Crazy Times, On The Job, The Construction BizLeave a comment

The Day The Dollar General Truck Caused Chaos

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Once when we were working on the Inks Dam anchoring project there were many obstacles to overcome everyday. There was one day when the stars aligned and it appeared we would have a banner day of pouring concrete. We ordered up 2 huge concrete pump trucks that were capable of sending concrete all the way across the length of the dam. They came out of San Antonio, at a hefty price for mobilization. We had a huge team of finishers that we had hired out of Austin to help place and finish the concrete. The concrete was batched out of … Continue reading The Day The Dollar General Truck Caused Chaos

Amazing Things, Crazy Times2 Comments

Lewis I Thought You Cheated

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This is another strange happening, like many other things in my life, that sure wasn’t scripted. I just happened. It was in my Sophomore year. We were still in the old building at Marble Falls and didn’t move to the new high school until midterm of that year. The teacher was Mr. Blanton. The subject was geometry. Since I seldom paid any attention to what was happening as it concerned the learning aspect of school, I became bogged down in that class in a hurry. I believe it was our first test of the year. As was my way of … Continue reading Lewis I Thought You Cheated

Amazing Things, On The Job, The Construction BizLeave a comment

The Techno-Redneck or Gadget Man

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Over the past 30 years I have adopted two nicknames. I like each equally. It all started back in the mid 90s when mobile phones were becoming more widely popular and affordable. I always thought I wanted to newest thing out so when a new gadget hit the market I tried to be the first to have it. I usually had a string of employees that were more than willing to take my hand me downs. I didn’t feel too bad about buying the new cutting edge devices because I was convinced that being in the forefront could help one … Continue reading The Techno-Redneck or Gadget Man

Amazing Things, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., On The JobLeave a comment

What Is A Good Wage To Pay A Feller?

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The talk goes on and on about what the minimum wage should be. It is commonly referred to now as a living wage. This is not going to be a commentary on that issue. The first minimum wage I read was $.25 per hour back in the 30’s. When I entered the workforce in the early 70’s I think it was around $1.60 per hr. Graduating high school in 1970, left me bouncing around doing several jobs for the first few months. I had an independent streak going, so I didn’t stay tied down to any one thing for very … Continue reading What Is A Good Wage To Pay A Feller?

Amazing Things, Meeting New PeopleLeave a comment

Rubbing Shoulders With Eva Longoria

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Once during a rant earlier on my Political Speak Group I related the following true story. I’m not reposting it in its entirety due to my desire to not politicize this group. But you can gather I have a very different view of life than she does: Now for the story. I was invited to sit on the floor at a San Antonio Spurs game in the owners seats at courtside. Eva and Tony Parker were an item at the time. She was seated a couple of rows behind us. Several times she got up and walked along in front … Continue reading Rubbing Shoulders With Eva Longoria

Amazing Things, Cecil Lewis, Marble Falls and the Area Around it.4 Comments

Momma May to many, but Grandma May to me. (she was my Paternal Great Grandmother) 1879-1981

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She was Judy Maybelle Clark Linebarger. She was a product of the Clark Family, of Pleasant Valley, I guess you could say a suburb of Marble Falls. When I was a kid she lived with her daughters moving from one to the other. It seems like she kind of moved with the seasons. It wasn’t because she wasn’t happy one place, but rather because she enjoyed all of her girls (all four) and choose to spend her later years with each. At least that’s the way it seemed. The time I remember her the most was when she was staying … Continue reading Momma May to many, but Grandma May to me. (she was my Paternal Great Grandmother) 1879-1981