Category: Thoughts and Musings

Crazy Times, My Friends, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Don’t Just Follow The Crowd

lewisotr

Back in the high flying times of the 1980s, there were several of my contractor friends that enjoyed going to Las Vegas, as did I. There were about 10 or 12 couples this one particular weekend that all left Austin on Southwest Airlines together bound for a great fun filled weekend in Vegas. It was a flight that took us through Tucson, Az but we weren’t suppose to de-plane, just a short stop-over. It was a fun flight with a festive atmosphere. I never heard anything said that I thought was out of line. Just a lot of fun and … Continue reading Don’t Just Follow The Crowd

Amazing Things, My Friends, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

The Two Minute Talk That Has Lasted Me A Lifetime

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Udo was of German descent. He had a coarseness about him, but an incredible refinement as well. He adapted to the situation he was in at the moment. When he retired after a long career in the excavation business, he sold me his office and yard, along with some heavy equipment and trucks. We lived across the street from he and his wife, so our visits were frequent. In retirement he moved from his lifetime hobby of flying planes, to flying helicopters. He would often fly me around to look at my projects. It helped him stay in touch with … Continue reading The Two Minute Talk That Has Lasted Me A Lifetime

Crazy Times, My Friends, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Watch What You Say. You Never Know Who’s Listening.

lewisotr

I met a friend for breakfast every morning when were working together. When I got to the restaurant that morning my friend Gerry wasn’t there yet but I took a seat at our regular table. One table away was a older man, very pleasant sort of fellow and we struck up a conversation about the first one thing and then the other. After a bit Gerry came in an took a seat. He and I chatted like we did every morning. Nothing real deep. The conversation got around to “did your in laws make it in last night” kind of … Continue reading Watch What You Say. You Never Know Who’s Listening.

Aging, Amazing Things, Crazy Times, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Old Holland Page Kenworth Truck

lewisotr

When I was a small boy and would go visit the Holland Page Construction Yard. My greatest thrill of all was when we would go there and his big Kenworth Haul Truck was there dropping off or picking up a load. Below is a picture of a truck that looks so much like that old Kenworth. It was a 1940 model. It was retired in 1964, with 4.5 million miles on it. The same driver had picked it up at he factory and driven it every mile or so was the tale. His name was Mullins. I have no idea … Continue reading The Old Holland Page Kenworth Truck

Amazing Things, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

What Would Life Be Like If This Move Had Taken Place

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Back in 1963 or 1964 my dad was working for an old highway contractor in Austin. Holland Page, as a young man had started building Texas roads and highways when they were moving dirt with fresno’s and teams of mules. Mr. Page and Cecil Lewis developed a real liking for each other. We would go in with our dad to the office on Saturdays. We would prowl around the shop and yard area, which was about 4 blocks north of US 183 on North Lamar in Austin. Mr. Page would caution us about watching for rattlesnakes out in that jungle … Continue reading What Would Life Be Like If This Move Had Taken Place

Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, Kenny Lewis, The Construction Biz, The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Impersonating My Brother

lewisotr

For years Kenny and I sounded amazingly alike on the phone. We both have what I guess is a distinct Smithwick accent. I’m doubtful that Kenny ever took advantage of that. My wife admits to getting us confused a few times. Maybe she or Kenny can tell us if any of those conversations ever went hay-wire. If they did, I never heard about it. On the other hand, I can’t tell you how much confusion I caused by letting different ones think they were talking to Kenny when I was the one they were actually talking to. Our Grannie Ruby … Continue reading Impersonating My Brother

Kenny Lewis, My Sons, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Special Connection Between Brothers (this was written and shared almost 3 years ago – but it still applies)

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Nothing else is like the love of a brother. A brother that can make you so mad that for a moment you will write him off, thinking it’ll be alright if you never speak again. But within minutes all is forgiven, if not forgotten. The sibling that will do battle for you at the drop of a hat is the same person you have fought and argued with more than everyone else in the world combined. Early in their lives, Matthew, the oldest and Mike the second in birth order had a close relationship. Somewhere along the way, as they … Continue reading The Special Connection Between Brothers (this was written and shared almost 3 years ago – but it still applies)

Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

I Just Want To Turn Y’all On To Something Else

lewisotr

Sometime back I became concerned that something may happen to Facebook or mine and Facebook’s relationship and all of my stories would go up in smoke. I was made aware of a program or perhaps it’s a platform called WordPress. That is what I’m typing this narrative into now. It is more of a blog format. Besides the security that all my words are just being entrusted to Facebook, I found that by using WordPress I could dress up my stories with better graphics, insert photos and go back and edit articles much easier than going directly to FB. You … Continue reading I Just Want To Turn Y’all On To Something Else

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

Dynamite Headaches

lewisotr

I have talked extensively about blasting rock and handling explosives (or mishandling as the case may have been). As I’ve said before, my days in the blasting game came early in my life, mostly before I was 30 years old which was up until the early 1980’s. Most of what I learned about blasting rock was from Cecil Lewis or Burnet, Texas blasting legend LJ Henderson. Of course trial and error and being self taught was where I learned the most I suppose. Since there wasn’t a school to actually go to learn the trade, you start out loading a … Continue reading Dynamite Headaches