Category: Thoughts and Musings

Crazy Times, Meeting New People, Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

lewisotr

The year was 1991. I had spent 20 years digging ditches and I thought enough is enough. The economy was in the crapper. The great real estate boom of the 80s was over and all the big water and wastewater lines had been constructed to the far reaches of the city and beyond in Austin. The future didn’t look so swell for our business. I needed a break. I thought it was time for some new scenery, so to speak. I had two groups of employees by that time. The old and the new. It was time for the old … Continue reading The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

Amazing Things, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

It Was A Day, Not So Unlike Today – October 6, 1971

lewisotr

I got off work up in Burnet where I’d been shooting dynamite all day, so we could lay sanitary sewer lines all around town. I had to make sure I didn’t run the track drill any that day, because I couldn’t afford to get as dirty as doing that would get me. Big Jimmy Palmer stayed up ahead drilling. I hit the road to Austin as soon as I could. I wasn’t as clean as I needed to be, but I knew I could shower at my sweethearts place before our big date night. But no way I’d be able … Continue reading It Was A Day, Not So Unlike Today – October 6, 1971

Thoughts and Musings12 Comments

The Killdozer – Haven’t Many Of Us Been This Fed Up Government.

lewisotr

When we were on the train from Denver to Moab, Utah last week (September 2021), our guide was telling the story of this happening, as we passed by Granby, Colorado. I remembered it happening, very well. Today is a special day. June 4th 2018 marks the 14th anniversary of the Killdozer’s rampage through Granby Colorado. Sit down kids and let me tell you a tale, about a reasonable man driven to do unreasonable things. Marvin Heemeyer was a man who owned a muffler shop in Granby Colorado. The city council ordained to approve the construction of a concrete factory in … Continue reading The Killdozer – Haven’t Many Of Us Been This Fed Up Government.

Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

Being Lucky Is Much Better Than Being Smart, Sometimes

lewisotr

When riding the train from Denver to Moab, Utah a few days ago the little speck on a mountainside appeared. Our docent on the train told us the story of some teenagers, 4 of them that were around 15 years old went for a joy ride, unauthorized by the parent of one of them. The Oldsmobile Station Wagon was stopped by a law enforcement officer. Discovering that none of the kids had a drivers license, he made the decision to let them go, but insisted that one of the gals would have to drive. As they headed on their way, … Continue reading Being Lucky Is Much Better Than Being Smart, Sometimes

Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Princess Mobile Phones

lewisotr

Back in the early 70s there was a fellow that started a new mobile phone service operating out of Austin. It was a far cheaper option than Southwestern Bell had at that time. That service could run into hundreds of dollars per month. I believe it cost “X” amount per call placed plus something like 50¢ per minute. Some high rollers would actually spend over a $1,000 per month, but it was the cost of doing business. Larry Bird with Capital Communications, the new guy, tapped into some new technology which allowed for a fairly small radio box to be … Continue reading The Princess Mobile Phones

Funny Happenings, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

A Good Laugh Will Take You A Long Way

lewisotr

We are moving on down the road again this morning. As we headed out, with Madeline behind the wheel, I almost immediately started complaining about the seat in this thing. I actually blamed her for turning all these knobs on the side that adjust the lumbar and the hardness in the seat bottom. I cranked them both ways, belly aching the whole time. Mind you I wasn’t coming down too hard on her because I fiddle around with things constantly, so I had in the back of my mind that I could be the culprit. “It’s like sitting over here … Continue reading A Good Laugh Will Take You A Long Way

Amazing Things, My Friends, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

Just Imagine My Surprise

lewisotr

I haven’t been posting much lately. Call it being tired and worn out. Or I could blame it on a bout of COVID 19 back in March and then a pinched nerve and in my neck and left shoulder. All the above hasn’t made be feel all that much liking getting out and doing things and writing about them. Before I go on, let me tell you I’m also not all that pleased with FaceBook and how they have treated many of us. Therefore doing business with a business that is 180° from where I am on about 99.99% of … Continue reading Just Imagine My Surprise

Marble Falls and the Area Around it., Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

$$$$When My Dad Passed On

lewisotr

My Dad did a lot of things throughout his life that I was very proud of him far. He was a very generous guy. He really would give you the shirt off his back. He’d even pull his pants off and hand them to you on Main Street, if he thought there was a good reason for doing so. He really didn’t care what anyone thought. “They can just kiss my ass“, was the attitude he went through life with. To just say he did things his own way just doesn’t seem adequate. He took it to a whole new … Continue reading $$$$When My Dad Passed On

Crazy Times, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

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

lewisotr

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