Category: Thoughts and Musings

In and Around Austin, Meeting New People, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Larry Was Standing With The Hood Up On His Pickup In The St. David’s Parking Garage

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I had mostly been thinking how I could get out of that place and escape the jungles of Austin before the traffic picked up at rush hour. It was about 2:30 PM, but knowing that by 3:30 I’d be trapped. That’s just the way Austin traffic works. I had already passed by this fellow but there wasn’t anyone behind me, so I backed up to get close to him. “You need some help“? He said he did so I found a place to park and went over to him. A dead battery. He had hooked up a little booster battery … Continue reading Larry Was Standing With The Hood Up On His Pickup In The St. David’s Parking Garage

Crazy Times, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

I Had A Jeep Cherokee That Had A Bad Habit

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This car had a strange quirk about it. We would go each day and have lunch at The Pecan Tree Cafe in Waller which was a 10 minute drive from our job in Hockley. There were usually 4 or 5 of us riding together to lunch. At precisely the same spot every day it would die, on a straight and level stretch of highway. When I say die, I mean die. Like pull over on the side of the road and in just a few seconds it could be restarted and we’d continue on our way. It took a few … Continue reading I Had A Jeep Cherokee That Had A Bad Habit

Amazing Things, Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Talking About Trademarks & Copyrights

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We had an accountant that worked for use for several years. Previously GK Worley had worked for a wealthy fellow over in Rockdale for a good many years. GK told me the following story. Pete Coffield, the wealthy gentleman built a new much needed motel in Rockdale many years ago. He had Whitey, his black driver, drive to the nearest town with a Holiday Inn Motel in it and take pictures of their sign. Then he took the photo to a local sign guy to build some signs for his new motel. Not wanting to copy it exactly, he had … Continue reading Talking About Trademarks & Copyrights

Marble Falls and the Area Around it., Past Angora Chronicles Stories, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Elmer Gibbs

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I was thinking about Elmer Gibbs just the other day. I guess I didn’t know about his musical skills before running onto this old newspaper clipping. He, as far as I know had his finger in several pies. He was the owner or manager of Great Texas Lumber Co and a Realtor. He was always kind of a mystery man around town. But he had connections. He was instrumental in getting Roy Myers signed with the San Antonio Toros, which lead to his becoming a Denver Bronco. The above are just mostly my memories, but I’d welcome any other comments … Continue reading Elmer Gibbs

Aging, Amazing Things, Grandchildren, My Family, My Sons, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

A Father’s Day Message To My Sons & Grandsons

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Sometimes the best lessons that life gives are not about learning the right things to do, but rather learning from the things not to do. As a son, you can observe how your father handled situations, but it can be difficult to emulate his moves. Instead, it is more beneficial to watch what your father did and then avoid making the same mistakes he did. I don’t necessarily want my sons and grandsons to follow the same life journey that I have traveled, as it has been a difficult and challenging road. Fellows, take the things you observed me do … Continue reading A Father’s Day Message To My Sons & Grandsons

Aging, Amazing Things, Cecil Lewis, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Cecil Lewis, my father, was a handsome man with certain flaws

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To know him was to witness wisdom and a lot of contradictions. I didn’t resent his tough love, for it paved my way. But if I could change one thing, it would be his struggle with alcohol. Without that burden, he would have been near perfection, a true role model. Yet, I still treasure the lessons he taught me, and they are still within my heart. He was selfless, always helping others in every endeavor. He possessed both physical and emotional strength, forever. Adversity didn’t hinder him; it only made him more resilient. He taught me the worth of perseverance, … Continue reading Cecil Lewis, my father, was a handsome man with certain flaws

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

My Trench Box Is Bigger Than Your Trench Box

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This special trench box was built in our shop and used on one project, a 72” and 84” water line line for a new water plant project in Austin, Texas. I have serious reasons to believe it is the largest trench box ever built. It measured 44’ long x 12’ tall with an 8’ tall stacker section to go on top, making it 20’ tall. This box isn’t for just anyone. We had two EX 1200 Hitachi Excavators that were used to dig and lay the pipe and took them both to advance the box ahead. The approximate weight of … Continue reading My Trench Box Is Bigger Than Your Trench Box

Aging, Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

How Old Am I ?

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I’m So Old That: When I first started in the underground utility business we used batter boards and string lines for setting grade on wastewater lines. A good 6’ wooden folding engineers rule and a torpedo level were the grade setters best friend.About a decade later before lasers became widely used. (Early 1980s)Many of the old school inspectors wouldn’t trust lasers so had us set up batter boards to use to prove out that the laser was shooting a straight line and grade. I’m So Old That: John Deere and Caterpillar hadn’t started making hydraulic track excavators when I first … Continue reading How Old Am I ?