Category: Thoughts and Musings

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

The History of Texas, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Sigmor Corporation – San Antonio, Texas

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It was first known as Sigmor, then Sigmor Shamrock, some years later as Diamond Shamrock and finally as Valero. TETCO came in sometime during a spinoff I think. In the beginning they where cheaper than other outlets. The stations were very barebones, with nothing but a small cashier area, restrooms and vending machines for snacks. They were only there to sell gas and oil with not servicing area. I remember it first being a cash only business. When they started taking credit cards, they would take any other companies card, imprint it and write in your address from your driver’s … Continue reading The Sigmor Corporation – San Antonio, Texas

Aging, Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, My Family, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Susan’s Signs and Bumper Stickers

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Susan is a cousin of mine. She lived for a while down at the river by the Lewis Pavilion. Well actually more like right after you came in the gate. She had a small RV. Seemed pretty ideal for her and the park. That way some was there to help shew out trespassers and such. The is very patriotic and back in 2020 a while before the election she erected a nice Trump sign out front of her trailer or maybe tied a Trump banner on the picket fence. Here came Kenny down later to check on things. He pulled … Continue reading Susan’s Signs and Bumper Stickers

Aging, Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Hard of Hearing

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I’m not sure what went wrong. May have been from running air tracks, with no ear protection when I was a younger fella. Or being around bulldozers and other noisy equipment my whole life. I don’t think it has anything to do with being yelled at by my wife because she’s never been a yeller. In fact she is so quiet I hardly know when she’s around. Or maybe I’m just not hearing her yell. But she’s been telling me for 20 years or maybe 40 years that I need some hearing aids. I finally decided a few weeks ago … Continue reading Hard of Hearing

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, Texas History, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Montopolis, Travis County, Texas

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Correcting The Record: I have been told by a noted Travis County Historian that the photo of The Montopolis Courthouse, Travis County has been found not be the case. There was no such Courthouse at Montopolis. My personal story about the area: I have very fond memories of the Montopolis Area of Austin. I really didn’t know much about the history.My construction office and yard was at 2801 Montopolis Dr. for about a decade back in the 70s & 80s. It was the old homestead that included a stone house, garage apartment behind and a metal shop building farther back. … Continue reading Montopolis, Travis County, Texas

Amazing Things, My Family, My Friends, Smithwick, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

Some of Smithwick’s Finest

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This is a post that Mona Gayle Waldrip posted in the very early days of the Angora Chronicles. Let me take a moment to say: “Mona Gayle you are so missed by so many people. Your pictures and your words meant so much to all of us.” I think the little boy out front in the middle was Kenny Jackson. Continue reading Some of Smithwick’s Finest

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

Dink’s Watch

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As a young teenager my friend Dink had a watch that I thought was the neatest thing. It was a Bulova Accutron. Those were the popular watch in the 60s that used a tuning fork instead of spring to keep them in rhythm. Instead of a tick tick tick, they hummed. By the time I was grown and Dink and I were in business together, the watch quit working. He had tried several places to get it repaired and the cost was more than it was worth. I talked him out of it, but I don’t remember the financial arraignment. … Continue reading Dink’s Watch

Amazing Things, Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Things Can Move Slowly At Times

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Trying to work out a little issue with the IRS. I finally got assigned a Tax Payer Advocate to help me figure things out. That was back about this time last year. I can’t call or email her. That just the way things are done. I have to either fax her question and she gets back to me or I can call her, and leave a voice message on her direct number. She has been very good all year about giving me updates on the progress. Of course that’s only one a month, and I need to strive to grab … Continue reading Things Can Move Slowly At Times