The New Microwaves

Depending on the Internet for most of my information, I looked to see when the microwave oven started making its way into kitchens everywhere. Well it says they first became available to consumers in the late 60’s. They were called Electronic Ovens. They never hit my radar until about 1977 or maybe it was 1978. Perhaps that’s when the first countertop models were introduced. Kenny and I had experienced a successful year and decided that would be the perfect gift for our wives for Christmas. We went out to find the very best we could afford. We found what was … Continue reading The New Microwaves

Kenny and the Bird Condo

The picture below is of a birdhouse. Not just any ole birdhouse. This is a bird condo. This is like 50 bird birdhouse. One day there was an old fellow sitting on the side of the road with this gigantic birdhouse that he had built and had it for sale. This was at a time when Ken would have a drink or two before he would head home. He decided to stop and inquire about the birdhouse. I don’t remember the exact money deal so I’ll just make up something close. The guy said he wanted $300 for it. Kenny … Continue reading Kenny and the Bird Condo

Kenny’s Gift To Me and The Story Of The Homeless Woman

Kenny went off to an auction one Saturday where wildlife and birds of all kinds were being sold. This was at the very end of the big ostrich craze. You all remember that don’t you? There have been several others too, the Emu , the Llama, the Alpaca where anybody that’s anybody has to have some if they ever expect to become wealthy. Anyway Kenny decided my little estate could use a couple of the giant birds. So unbeknownst to me he pulled in and opened the trailer gate and made me the proud owner of the two ostriches. Like … Continue reading Kenny’s Gift To Me and The Story Of The Homeless Woman

The Thanksgiving Feast

This time a year is always my favorite time to eat, like it is for most people. A few years ago I went to an ENT Doc in Austin. He sent me over to an all night sleep clinic. After doing the sleep study and every thing else I could do in hopes of getting a full nights sleep, this guy wanted me to wear a CPAP mask while I sleep. I just couldn’t see that ever happening. So I decided his second option may work into my overall plan better. He said he could go in and snip my … Continue reading The Thanksgiving Feast

Being A Super Snooper At Heart

I have a friend that I have gotten to know over the past few years. We met in the strangest of ways. This fellow had been a friend and one time roommate in Houston of Winfield. He had met Winfield and Millard through a girl he dated for for several years. She was their cousin that lived in Austin. RG had lost touch with the Scott’s and his old girlfriend. As he googled the name Winfield some of the stories I have written popped up. That’s when he found out that Winfield died several years ago. RG is not on … Continue reading Being A Super Snooper At Heart

George and the Misunderstanding

One day back in the late 1970s Cecil, our dad, called and asked if we could do a favor for George. George is Smithwick’s own George Despain. They both knew we did a lot business with Holt Caterpillar. “Would we put a set of dozer tracks on our account, so George could get the best deal possible”? George would give Cec a check for the bill. We readily agreed to it. Wasn’t any skin off of us. George got his tracks all was great. Kenny nor I gave it much thought, figuring that Cec gave the check to the other … Continue reading George and the Misunderstanding

A Hunting Trip To Utah

Back in the days, mid 1980s, when I had the energy to trek up and down mountains hunting deer I went off to Utah with few others to hunt for the big one. We were supposed to spent five days up there and not a one of us ever got a shot off. Of course it was the worst spell of rain to ever hit that area. It was however one of the greatest adventures that any of us had ever been on. This trip happened right in the middle of the double tailed quarter episode that I’ve written about … Continue reading A Hunting Trip To Utah

Chief The Stuttering Mexican

Back in the days, the 1970s and into the 1980s when blasting was necessary on almost every project, we would have to hire outside “blasting contractors” to supplement our forces. We had done this for a big subdivision we were building and this guy was well into a project and he hadn’t shown up for a couple of days. I would stop by and it was evident his crew was without leadership and therefore without direction. So I ask where their boss was. No one knew but they were beginning to get concerned because payday was coming up and he … Continue reading Chief The Stuttering Mexican

Things Are So Much Different Now Than They Were 50 Years Ago

When I was a teenager, you could get a gun pulled on you and not end up dead. During a two year time frame, my junior and senior years, I was on the receiving end of a handgun four times. Each circumstance was way different from the others. But back then people knew how to point a gun at you and not pull the trigger. Now when someone shows you thier gun, there is a good chance they are going to shoot you. In fact out of those four incidents, there was only one time that a gun even discharged. … Continue reading Things Are So Much Different Now Than They Were 50 Years Ago

The Schefflera Plant Incident

Madeline had a plant she always kept right outside the front door in a huge pot. She took such great care of it. She would have me bring it in during part of the year. She always monitored my coming and going with it to be sure I didn’t knock any leaves off of it. She was very particular about that Schefflera. It was about 4 feet tall, therefore it required a large pot which was really heavy. She said something to me one day that I didn’t take real kindly to and rushed out the front door. I know … Continue reading The Schefflera Plant Incident