Category: Meeting New People

Crazy Times, Meeting New People, The Construction Biz

We Weren’t Made To Feel Very Welcome In Victoria, Texas

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Back in the late 70’s things were going pretty well for us in the construction business, but had slowed a bit. As things often happen, a miracle job fell out of the sky. A Burnet County fellow had gone off to Houston and was doing well contracting with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. I knew of this guy but mostly just by name. He was a generation ahead of me, about my Dads age. He had been offered an opportunity to bid a project for SWB in Victoria. He didn’t have the manpower nor the proper sized equipment for such an … Continue reading We Weren’t Made To Feel Very Welcome In Victoria, Texas

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

Crazy Times, Meeting New People, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Connecting People (it’s like connecting the dots)

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It’s strange how people all around the country are connected and we never realize it. I was reading about the Wolf Family from Georgetown (they owned the land where the Wolf Ranch Shopping Center is located). We did a lot of work around that development and got to know some of that family. Actually I had known Harry Robertson that married into the Wolf family since childhood. His sister had married one of my first cousins, back when I was just a kid, so we would see them every so often. Later Harry operated a Gulf Station at I-35 and … Continue reading Connecting People (it’s like connecting the dots)

Crazy Times, Meeting New People2 Comments

The Rainbow Vacuum Cleaner Salesman

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The son of a friend of ours had failed at several different jobs and vacuum cleaner selling was going to be his ticket to the future. The sales pitch to us was he just needs to come to give his presentation (his mommie asking for him) so he can get his act down. We didn’t know this young man actually, perhaps we had met a time or two, causally. The mother was the girlfriend of a family member. He arrived and vacuumed every room in the house demonstrating how much better his was that the one we had. All the … Continue reading The Rainbow Vacuum Cleaner Salesman

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Back When I Was “Retired”

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Oh what a difference six years can make. Back then I was retired, getting up and walking a mile or so down Ocean Drive and then onto Shoreline Drive to the wharf area to watch the sun rise up over Corpus Christi Bay. I really met some interesting folks on those strolls. While out for a walk one morning I ran across an interesting fellow. We walked and talked for a mile or so. Very interesting guy. When we were parting ways that first morning we actually did our introductions. “Well I’m Tom Sawyer” to which I said “I’m Huck … Continue reading Back When I Was “Retired”

Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, Meeting New PeopleLeave a comment

The Guy Had An Accident Well Actually He Had Two

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This happened back in the winter of 1981 – 1982. It was a cold evening. I remember when it was by the same way I mark time for so much of my life. By what vehicle I was driving. It was 3/4 ton Chevrolet long bed, crew cab, a 1982 model. Chevrolet had started making a 6.2 liter Diesel engine for their pickups. It was advertised to be the greatest advance in power that had ever been. I had to have one. I found one. I didn’t care what color it was or where I had to go to get … Continue reading The Guy Had An Accident Well Actually He Had Two

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Meeting Fine Folks Over A Meal

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I went out south of Bertram one Saturday morning back in 2014 to a Texas Ranger Cross Dedication. After the dedication we were invited back to Fort Croghan in Burnet for lunch. I got my plate of catfish and set down at one of the long tables. Seated across from me was a nice couple that I started chatting with. The Angora Chronicles was something pretty new at that time, so I told them all about it. Actually it was mostly the lady that I engaged with. I got her name and invited her to join us in our story … Continue reading Meeting Fine Folks Over A Meal

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, My Friends, 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, Meeting New People, My Friends, The History of TexasLeave a comment

Over The Hump

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A story about Howdy Fowler (yes our own Angora Chronicles Friend – Howdy Fowler) and his adventure of a lifetime. “Howdy told me once that this adventure is the single greatest highlight of his life and to have it captured on the pages of Texas Monthly – Don’t get much better than that”. I asked Howdy about some pictures one time and he came thru with this one. This is a story that was written by Carol Chapman for the February 1995 issue of Texas Monthly. NOW THAT STORY: THE REAL REASON THAT camels are called ships of the desert … Continue reading Over The Hump

Amazing Things, Meeting New People, The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

What did we talk about that afternoon?

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This is an add-on to a story about an afternoon conversation I had with our then Governor Mark White. It was mostly centered around the over crowding problem in Texas Prisons. He knew I was in the construction business and was seeking my assistance in piloting a program to give early release to some worthy prisoners that just needed a break. He thought that if they could come out and show up to work (digging ditches, if you will) and not get back in trouble, they could find their way more easily back into society. We did some planning and … Continue reading What did we talk about that afternoon?