Crazy Times, The Construction BizLeave a comment

While Building The South Austin Hospital – Early 1980s

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We had contracted to install the water, wastewater and storm drainage for the new hospital that was being built just west of South 1st on Ben White. We were getting down to the end of the project. Everything had worked out about as well as we could have hoped for. It was time to hook into the city’s 66″ water main that crossed Ben White and continued south on James Casey Drive. We were required to tap into this large main at night, since it was the major source of water for all of South Austin. We worked through the … Continue reading While Building The South Austin Hospital – Early 1980s

Amazing Things, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., On The JobLeave a comment

What Is A Good Wage To Pay A Feller?

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The talk goes on and on about what the minimum wage should be. It is commonly referred to now as a living wage. This is not going to be a commentary on that issue. The first minimum wage I read was $.25 per hour back in the 30’s. When I entered the workforce in the early 70’s I think it was around $1.60 per hr. Graduating high school in 1970, left me bouncing around doing several jobs for the first few months. I had an independent streak going, so I didn’t stay tied down to any one thing for very … Continue reading What Is A Good Wage To Pay A Feller?

Cecil Lewis, SmithwickLeave a comment

Cec And The Spare Tire Rack

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Back in 1968 Cec bought a new 1/2 Ford Pickup down at Truck City Ford on Ben White Blvd in Austin. Back in those days pickups hardly ever came with a rear bumper from the factory. They were all installed by the dealer and most of the time in this area they were supplied by D&D Bumper in Seguin, Tx. The dealership name would be imprinted in it, so when you bought a bumper you paid for the privilege of advertising where you bought your truck everywhere you went. There was a brand new thing that he couldn’t do without. … Continue reading Cec And The Spare Tire Rack

Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, Kenny LewisLeave a comment

Lackey vs. Lewis (As told by Kenny Lewis)

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Our parents made us aware of danger by telling us the consequences of what would happen if we got to close to something that might hurt us. One was that if you got too close to a Snapping Turtle, it would bite you and not turn loose until lightning struck. That was the case with Cec, when he got in a fight. Ronnie found that out when he embattled Cec and literally pulled his top front two teeth out trying to get his thumb out of his mouth. Dad operated a fishing camp on the family land he had inherited … Continue reading Lackey vs. Lewis (As told by Kenny Lewis)

Amazing Things, Meeting New PeopleLeave a comment

Rubbing Shoulders With Eva Longoria

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Once during a rant earlier on my Political Speak Group I related the following true story. I’m not reposting it in its entirety due to my desire to not politicize this group. But you can gather I have a very different view of life than she does: Now for the story. I was invited to sit on the floor at a San Antonio Spurs game in the owners seats at courtside. Eva and Tony Parker were an item at the time. She was seated a couple of rows behind us. Several times she got up and walked along in front … Continue reading Rubbing Shoulders With Eva Longoria

Crazy Times, Thoughts and Musings1 Comment

The Story That Shouldn’t Be Told

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There was a guy once that left Houston to go with his wife and a son to Augusta, Ga. to visit yet another son that was training there with the US Army. This absolute idiot of a guy decided to go on the Atkins Diet while traveling. Not the brightest move I’d say. If a person eats only meat, cheese and eggs for several days, his regularly is not exactly in check if you know what I mean. The Atkins Diet Plan instructs you to take Psyllium Fiber to help with the above condition. The time to take a bunch … Continue reading The Story That Shouldn’t Be Told

Crazy Times, The Early DaysLeave a comment

I Was Just About As Hungry As I Had Ever Been

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I was a 17 year old kid, a growing boy I was. Butch Sayers got me to go with him to Marysville, California to deliver a truck load of Corriente Steers (Mexican Roping Steers). We left Marble Falls in the middle of the afternoon and arrived in Del Rio at the stockyards after dark. The trip had been sprung on me suddenly and I didn’t have a chance to eat before we left. I mentioned to Butch a couple of times that we may want to make a stop and get a bite to eat. All he was thinking about … Continue reading I Was Just About As Hungry As I Had Ever Been

Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Narcoleptic Motorcycle Rider

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I think there are certain things that come naturally, that good judgement comes with experience. For me, even though I owned a Honda Goldwing for about 12 or 13 years I only took one long trip on it. That was to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I know that’s not that far by some motorcycle traveling enthusiasts standards. I think I trusted myself on that trip because it was cold going up. Of course I just made it to Fort Worth the first night. On the way home it rained straight down, hard a good part of the way home. Being a chronic … Continue reading The Narcoleptic Motorcycle Rider

Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, The Construction Biz, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Cecil Lewis Was Always Resourceful And He Taught Us

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In the early days of our roadbuilding careers, there was a need to haul heavy pieces of equipment, mostly a D-7 Caterpillar Bulldozer, from Smithwick to Jonestown. We didn’t always have trucks that had the horsepower and the gears to get us over all the hills. We knew from experience which ones were going to give us fits, so I’d go along in a pickup and before we’d get to one of those such hills we’d pull over and hook a chain to the front of the truck and I could give just enough of a tug with the pickup … Continue reading Cecil Lewis Was Always Resourceful And He Taught Us

The Early Days, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

I Am Very Fortunate That My Mother Kept So Many Of The Little Keepsakes From My Childhood

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I have so many things now to look back on and to help me recall my childhood, all thanks to my mother. This little wallet is an example of the things she held onto, on my behalf. The remote isn’t really old, but is being used to demonstrate the small size of that wallet. This very small kid size wallet, that my mother name and address in, was from Mexico. As you can see I carried it many a mile. How it survived is beyond me. This was bought in the very early 1960s. On the same trip there was … Continue reading I Am Very Fortunate That My Mother Kept So Many Of The Little Keepsakes From My Childhood