Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

It Was The Day Before I Turned 16 Years Old

lewisotr

The 1960s were most definitely a different time than now when it comes to the horsepower of trucks. Today our trucks operate with 400 to 600 horsepower. Back then the common range was 180 to 250 HP. We still hauled equally heavy loads over the same roads as today. Trucks were used much longer and maintained must less than by today’s standards. It was common when we were hauling a heavy dozer in hillier areas for me to go ahead in a pickup to assist. When we knew there was a grade too steep coming up, Kenny would pull over, … Continue reading It Was The Day Before I Turned 16 Years Old

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Circling 4-Wheelers

lewisotr

Back in the winter of 1984, Kenny had a deer lease on several thousand acres of south Texas land between Laredo and Freer. He was so gracious to ask me down a few times. (or anytime I wanted to come). Given when that was, Kenny was almost 35 years old and I’m two and a half years younger. On one trip, when several people were also there for a weekend, but all still out hunting one morning, he and I both arrived back at camp, a nice house actually, on our Suzuki 4-wheelers. They were a matched set of machines. … Continue reading Circling 4-Wheelers

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Is It Bell’s Palsy or a Stoke ?

lewisotr

While we were living in Corpus Christi, I was home alone. I hadn’t slept well, but what’s new. I got up and went down stairs and made myself a cup of coffee. I went over and took a seat in my easy chair where I would be waiting for the sun to rise over Corpus Christi Bay. I was dressed in my usual attire for the coast, shorts and a tee shirt. As I started to sip my coffee I started to notice that my mouth wasn’t working exactly right. I’ve been drinking coffee for almost 50 years and this … Continue reading Is It Bell’s Palsy or a Stoke ?

Cecil LewisLeave a comment

The Andice BBQ (As told by Kenny Lewis)

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THIS IS A STORY I’VE STARTED TO TELL SEVERAL TIMES, BUT REALLY THOUGHT KENNY COULD DO MORE JUSTICE TO IT SINCE HE WAS THERE. It has been noted previously that Cecil Lewis was one of the toughest men I ever knew. He had a threshold for pain like no other. In the winter of 1986 it was predicted to fall below freezing and stay that way for several days. I had just built a new house between Georgetown and Andice. I suggested to he and mom that they close everything up at Smithwick and come stay with us for a … Continue reading The Andice BBQ (As told by Kenny Lewis)

Cecil LewisLeave a comment

Cecil Lewis Wasn’t Always A Patient Man

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My dad wasn’t a perfect man in every way. He was hard on us boys. Not just his sons, but all those that worked for him or even just hung out with us. He wanted stuff done and done then. He didn’t take to a lot of foot dragging. For any of his faults he could fly off the handle at the drop of a hat. But as strange at it may seem, if anything broke or got wrecked, he always kept his cool. It was as if at those times, he was transported to a different calmer place. I’m … Continue reading Cecil Lewis Wasn’t Always A Patient Man

ConstructionLeave a comment

Glenn The Fuel Truck Driver part 3 (why he was sent packing and how he quickly returned)

Michael Lewis

This explains some more details that Ronnie discussed in his earlier story Glenn The Fuel Truck Driver. Glenn had put a few years into the company when I’d finally had enough. Eddie our contract mechanic along with another contract mechanic were working on a Cat 973 track loader that had some unusual issues. This was a newer model machine that shouldn’t have had issues with bearings wearing out. The two mechanics had quickly decided that Glenn wasn’t greasing the machine properly so we called Glenn on the company radio and requested him stop by our location. Now Glenn was the … Continue reading Glenn The Fuel Truck Driver part 3 (why he was sent packing and how he quickly returned)

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Glenn The Fuel Truck Driver 2 (how and why he was hired)

Michael Lewis

After reading the story “Glenn The Fuel Truck Driver” written by my father earlier I felt the need to elaborate a little. At the time I was watching over the equipment and trucking fleet for Lewis Contractors. We were struggling to find a good Oiler to drive our fuel truck. Working as an Oiler is interesting to say the least. Everything you touch is laced in grease, mud, diesel and red hot to the touch.  It’s back breaking work crawling up and down the equipment and into tight spaces and the job consist of doing this dozens of times each day. I’ve … Continue reading Glenn The Fuel Truck Driver 2 (how and why he was hired)

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Glenn The Fuel Truck Driver

lewisotr

Glenn worked for the company far longer than most would have liked. I thought he did a good job, at least from my perspective. My perspective was what really mattered. I wanted someone that would show up to work, keep fuel in machines, keep the oil changed and the machines greased. He did those things as well as anyone who ever worked for me. I seldom saw him, much less talked to him. Glenn had 2 major flaws. He talked too much and he lied about everything. Figuring there are trade offs with everything, I didn’t see the talking was … Continue reading Glenn The Fuel Truck Driver

Meeting New PeopleLeave a comment

Meeting A Man On The Street In Maputo

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We were in Africa a few years ago. In Maputo, Mozambique we were staying at this hotel near the ocean. Early on the morning we were to leave I ran across a guy that was meandering in the yard. We struck up a conversation. He appeared to be about 50 – 55 years old, about my age at the time. His name was Dudek. When he found out I was from the US he asked me to do him a favor. Mind you, he didn’t ask for money, like almost everyone there did. Story goes like this: His family was … Continue reading Meeting A Man On The Street In Maputo

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Me and WordPress

lewisotr

I’ve been writing stories and sharing my random thoughts for several years on Facebook. It was suggested to me yesterday by my son Mike that I could simplify my life greatly by creating a WordPress account instead of directly entering everything directly into Facebook. So here I go. I now have my account setup and the typing on my iPhone seems easy and it’s certainly easier to read. So in coming days, hopefully this old dog will learn a few new tricks and make my life easier at the same time. So now I’ll publish this trial run and see … Continue reading Me and WordPress