Construction, Crazy Times, On The Job, The Construction BizLeave a comment

My Dallas Hotel Room For The Night

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It was about this time a year in 1988. There were several of us in the underground utility business from Texas that belonged to an Association of Utility Contractors would meet in Washington DC in June. Among other things we would attend a Congressional Breakfast. It was a time where you could eat and visit with various politicians from around the country and let them know what we needed them to be working on. I was the Texas Chapter President for a couple of years, so it was a big deal to go to Washington DC. I had business in … Continue reading My Dallas Hotel Room For The Night

Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, Smithwick, The Early Days2 Comments

Road Hunting; In The Middle Of The Day !

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As boys growing up in Smithwick, we always had venison in the freezer. In order to do that we had to take advantage of every opportunity to shoot a deer. We had been working down around Jonestown and we’re headed home. When we got to the top of the hill just before getting to Turkey Bend, Kenny looked out across a clearing and saw a nice fat doe and threw on the brakes. We always had a deer rifle in a gun rack behind the seat in those days. He learned across me and made a clean shot out of … Continue reading Road Hunting; In The Middle Of The Day !

Crazy Times, Meeting New People, Smithwick, The Early Days, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

You Can Take The Boy Out Of The Country, But………

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I was down at Turkey Bend one time visiting all the old Hall women as they were referred to. This consisted of sisters, Mabel Hall Wilson, Earlie Hall Croft, Mamie Hall Franck, and their sister in law Libby Hall. They all lived there in one little wad, so when you went to visit one, you just about needed to make an afternoon of it, but it was always a pleasure to do so. I always called them Aunt, not because they were my aunts, but out of respect. I’m not sure why that was respectful, but it was. I know … Continue reading You Can Take The Boy Out Of The Country, But………

Crazy Times, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

Why I Am Impatient

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It just occurred to me that I seldom will order anything that I can’t get next day shipping on. If I buy something I want to touch and feel in right then and there. People ask why I don’t order new cars and trucks, so I can get them exactly like I want them. I always think, what if I order it and it takes 2 or 3 months to get it, and then it isn’t exactly what I want. That could happen, easily. I order a pizza for delivery and I’m pacing the floor, waiting for it to get … Continue reading Why I Am Impatient

Crazy Times, In and Around Austin, The Construction BizLeave a comment

They Made The Mayor Cry

lewisotr

A long time ago I had a contract with the small city of Sunset Valley, a suburb on the southwest edge of Austin. The contract was to rebuild a crumbling street. When we finished, a condition of getting paid was I had to go to the City Council Meeting where the payment would be approved and they would write me a check right there on the spot. What I didn’t realize was there was a new mayor, a lady, and a couple of new male councilman. I sat through the entire meeting, with the approval of my payment coming at … Continue reading They Made The Mayor Cry

Crazy Times, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Wild Rides

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Kenny and I had would take the engine off of a push type lawn mower and then tie a rope on it. The object was to sit in the little hole in the middle and with a horse pulling it we would get in a big open field and start circling to see how long the rider could stay on. It’s amazing how much dirt and dust can be stirred up doing this. The bad part (actually there were many bad parts) to doing this was the only real way to hang on was to grab under the bottom lip … Continue reading Wild Rides

Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

All My Sons

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Madeline was moving some her favorite pieces of furniture to our new place in Corpus a few years ago. She was the one setting up the furniture move, because I had proven that I wasn’t a good mover. I asked her who was bringing the stuff down. She proudly proclaimed “All My Sons”. Puzzled, because we had decided that it was all the really good stuff (stuff that cost too much) and me moving it wasn’t going to work. We have a long history of severe damage every time I have moved anything. In my mind our sons learned everything … Continue reading All My Sons

Amazing Things, On The Job, The Construction BizLeave a comment

The Techno-Redneck or Gadget Man

lewisotr

Over the past 30 years I have adopted two nicknames. I like each equally. It all started back in the mid 90s when mobile phones were becoming more widely popular and affordable. I always thought I wanted to newest thing out so when a new gadget hit the market I tried to be the first to have it. I usually had a string of employees that were more than willing to take my hand me downs. I didn’t feel too bad about buying the new cutting edge devices because I was convinced that being in the forefront could help one … Continue reading The Techno-Redneck or Gadget Man

On The Job, The Construction BizLeave a comment

Cell Phones On The Cheap

lewisotr

After the prosperous years of the 80s came the real estate bust of the late 80s and early 90s. Kenny, Coy (of double tailed quarter fame) and I were once again teamed up again doing work together. The days of mobile phones had given way to pagers and pay phones. Mobile phones were very expensive in the early days. My average phone bill in the 80s was $1,000 – $1,200 per month. That wasn’t for the whole company, that was just me. I stayed on the phone constantly, conducting business and doing a fair share of BS’ing. Those costs just … Continue reading Cell Phones On The Cheap