Category: Thoughts and Musings

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

Help Me, I Think I’m Having A Heart Attack

lewisotr

It’s beyond annoying, the number of calls I’ve gotten recently. I had a call blocker on my phone that weeded out all unknown numbers. But for the past few days I turned that feature off. I’ve been trying to schedule appointments with my spine surgeon, MRI, and pain management doctors and didn’t want to miss any calls. I think on average my phone rings 2 dozen times a day and on the other end will be someone lacking a complete ability to speak English. My name is evidently very difficult for these people to pronounce. Once I hear them I … Continue reading Help Me, I Think I’m Having A Heart Attack

Amazing Things, My Friends, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

My Friend And Mentor Dave

lewisotr

I first got to know Dave in 1972. He was a successful underground utility contractor and very well respected in the business. His office was located in Lubbock. Dave was my mentor, someone I could learn from. I figured if I watch him and handle my business like he did, I surely be successful. My first subcontract was working for him installing water lines in Burnet, Texas. It was actually more complicated than that. I was a sub to another sub that subcontracted to Dave’s company. That happens in our business a lot. Ok if you aren’t too confused I’ll … Continue reading My Friend And Mentor Dave

Aging, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Narcoleptic Motorcycle Rider

lewisotr

I think there are certain things that come naturally but good judgement comes with experience. I owned a Honda Goldwing for about 12 or 13 years but I sold it a couple of years or so back. I had plans, strictly in my head of getting off and touring the whole country on that bike. I even saw myself going up to Alaska. I just never got around to it and it wasn’t because I couldn’t find the time. Something kept telling me there was a better way for me to spend my time. I only took one long trip … Continue reading The Narcoleptic Motorcycle Rider

Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

This Is How “The Angora Chronicles” Got Started

lewisotr

The Angora Chronicles being 8-1/2 years old, I thought for the ones that are newer to this group I’d explain how it all came about. I started writing stories about growing up and the people I have encountered in business and throughout my adult life, more than 25 years ago. These stories were just something that I could leave behind for my kids and grandkids. Occasionally I would email one to a friend, especially if they were involved or knew the participants. A little over seven years ago I started a FaceBook Group that is called – “and then there … Continue reading This Is How “The Angora Chronicles” Got Started

The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

From Smudge Pots to Blinking Barricade Warning Lights

lewisotr

We were talking about smudge pots a while back. It got me to thinking about these old things and how when I was a kid in the 50s and 60s I would go with my dad out on jobs, many times at night. I would go stand next to one of the diesel burning things on a cold night, to stay warm. In typical kid fashion I wasn’t afraid of getting dirty, so the black smoke and soot would be all over me, but it made me feel like a “working man”. This is my recollection of how we started … Continue reading From Smudge Pots to Blinking Barricade Warning Lights

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

My Old Friend Fred

lewisotr

Fred was an old bachelor and had served his country in World War 2. He had traveled the state helping to build bridges in his younger days. When I got to know him he was in his late 70’s, maybe even early 80’s. I met Fred through Woody, my old accountant. Woody’s wife Lucy had a sister that lived in College Station Texas. Her name was Josie. Josie and Fred dated. Fred had retired and lived out on his sizable farm out east of Bryan near the little town of Kurten. He mostly just tended to his cows and would … Continue reading My Old Friend Fred

Crazy Times, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., My Friends, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Things That Young Men Do

lewisotr

A while back I was reminded of a happening by my long time friend Clay Simmons. He, Kenny and I were making a mad dash from somewhere to Marble Falls by way of Hwy 281 north, with Kenny behind the wheel. What the hurry was escapes me, but we were always in a hurry. When we approached the railroad tracks north of town the pickup sputtered as it started to run out of gas. Having a fleet of dump trucks we commonly had a barrel of gasoline tied off on the back with a pump in it, to rescue a … Continue reading The Things That Young Men Do

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Thoughts and Musings4 Comments

The Intricacies Of Spinal Surgery

lewisotr

The last time my spine surgeon worked on my neck problem, he just took a loop of wire (2010) and went around the plate and screws (2005) from the previous job he did. He put a fancy little twist on that wire. It doesn’t look like he’d be very good at fence work, but it’s lasted for the past 11 years. It appears something is haywire (that’s a pun I used there) up there again. Going back up to get another round of MRI’s done tomorrow and see what’s happening in there now. Then off to see the surgeon next … Continue reading The Intricacies Of Spinal Surgery

Aging, Another Daily Happening, Meeting New People, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

This Is My Life

lewisotr

Last night a fellow put out a plea for help on a FB Group I belong to. When it rains he gets water in his house. I was willing to help him or at least go by and see what it would take to remedy his situation. So I messaged him. This is how that went. Well I admit I didn’t send him a complete resumé with an introductory letter. It seemed fairly straightforward. I would have thought that this fellow may have seen that I wasn’t trying to do him harm. It’s like everything about my life is on … Continue reading This Is My Life

Amazing Things, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

We Have It Pretty Good, All Things Considered

lewisotr

I was thinking about the different times we find ourselves in today. If people are ever worrying about where their next meal is coming from, there is always someway to make another meal. Below is an article from Mother Earth News that ran back in 1970 (wow, over 50 years ago) that tells a little about how our ancestors made the land work for them. Old-Time Methods of Preserving Food Victor A. Croley shares old-time methods of drying and preserving food from pioneer days that can still be used today. By Victor A. CroleyNovember/December 1970 Mid-continent pioneers were mainly English, … Continue reading We Have It Pretty Good, All Things Considered