Crazy Times, The Construction Biz, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Chief The Stuttering Mexican

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Back in the days, the 1970s and into the 1980s when blasting was necessary on almost every project, we would have to hire outside “blasting contractors” to supplement our forces. We had done this for a big subdivision we were building and this guy was well into a project and he hadn’t shown up for a couple of days. I would stop by and it was evident his crew was without leadership and therefore without direction. So I ask where their boss was. No one knew but they were beginning to get concerned because payday was coming up and he … Continue reading Chief The Stuttering Mexican

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

Things Are So Much Different Now Than They Were 50 Years Ago

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When I was a teenager, you could get a gun pulled on you and not end up dead. During a two year time frame, my junior and senior years, I was on the receiving end of a handgun four times. Each circumstance was way different from the others. But back then people knew how to point a gun at you and not pull the trigger. Now when someone shows you thier gun, there is a good chance they are going to shoot you. In fact out of those four incidents, there was only one time that a gun even discharged. … Continue reading Things Are So Much Different Now Than They Were 50 Years Ago

Crazy Times, Thoughts and Musings4 Comments

The Schefflera Plant Incident

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Madeline had a plant she always kept right outside the front door in a huge pot. She took such great care of it. She would have me bring it in during part of the year. She always monitored my coming and going with it to be sure I didn’t knock any leaves off of it. She was very particular about that Schefflera. It was about 4 feet tall, therefore it required a large pot which was really heavy. She said something to me one day that I didn’t take real kindly to and rushed out the front door. I know … Continue reading The Schefflera Plant Incident

Crazy Times, On The JobLeave a comment

The Strange Case Of The OSHA Inspections

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We were involved in a very high profile construction project in Austin, the north extension of Loop One. This was during a time span between 2005-2007. We were a subcontractor relocating various water and wastewater lines to allow for the highway expansion. All eyes were on us, as we were working for a consortium comprised of two large highway contractors, with oversight by TxDot, The Tollway Authority and City of Austin. Our work is always under scrutiny, due to the dangers involved in digging deep trenches, but this project had many extremely difficult circumstances with traffic congestion being one of … Continue reading The Strange Case Of The OSHA Inspections

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times2 Comments

It’s All About Timing

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A fellow I know used to enjoy having a few beers in the afternoon as he’d make his rounds feeding cattle and such. It was pretty late in the evening, or perhaps I should say night, it occurred to him that he didn’t want to start the next day with a dirty pickup. So he pulled into an automatic carwash, the kind that has an arm that starts at the front on the passenger side and slowly makes its way down that side, circles around the back and heads back to the front spraying soap and water the whole way. … Continue reading It’s All About Timing

Crazy Times, Meeting New People, Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

The Strange Encounter With Heiko

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 When we first bought our home in Corpus Christi back in 2012 we did a minor makeover job to it. This mostly was done before we moved in. We hired a contractor to do the remodeling and painting. We also found a pool contractor to build what I called the largest hot tub or smallest swimming pool in Corpus.  I couldn’t find a good and affordable landscape company so I was glad when Madeline handed me a business card that a fellow had stopped by and given her. Madeline had been out in the front yard, when this very large … Continue reading The Strange Encounter With Heiko

Amazing Things, Crazy Times, Marble Falls and the Area Around it., The Construction Biz, The Early DaysLeave a comment

More On Blasting Rock In Marble Falls

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We encountered many people through the years with crazy notions about their house being destroyed by blasting. Some truly believe their house would fall down around them and others believe money will start falling from the sky. We had a situation many years ago when installing waterlines for a new development out on Mormon Mills Road in Marble Falls. There was a local banker, we had never done business with, but our Dad had a long relationship with him. He lived up that direction. I always considered the guy a shyster, but what did I know. Kenny and I encountered … Continue reading More On Blasting Rock In Marble Falls

Crazy Times, Meeting New People, On The JobLeave a comment

A Cat On His Shoulder !

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Once a fellow called me to come to his office and talk about a big project he was getting ready to build. I’m not sure how he came across our name. When I got there his secretary took me into a conference room. In a few minutes the dude came in carry a big fluffy furry cat and set it down on the table. Then the cat jumped from the table to his shoulder. We conducted the whole meeting with me looking across the table at a guy with a big furry cat on his shoulder. We didn’t make a … Continue reading A Cat On His Shoulder !

Aging, Funny Happenings, Thoughts and Musings5 Comments

Just Because I Claim To Be Perfect, Doesn’t Mean I Am

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A few days ago, while making a Meals on Wheels run, I made my last stop by this one lady’s place. I make hers last so I feel free to stay and talk longer. We’ve been taking this lady meals for quite a while. My wife exchanges books with her, as they seem to enjoy the same type of reading. Being alone last week on the run, Madeline was off on a rafting trip in Colorado and Utah, the lady mentioned she had read everything on the place and that she was going to re-read something. This was my intro … Continue reading Just Because I Claim To Be Perfect, Doesn’t Mean I Am

Aging, Amazing Things, The Construction Biz, Thoughts and Musings, TravelsLeave a comment

Going To Vernal, Utah

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I took my wife to the airport this morning (Friday actually) where she caught a flight out to Denver. By tomorrow she and three others in her party will be in Vernal, Utah. A several day rafting trip down the Green River is in her future. As we drove to the airport I ask her if she remembered that we almost moved to Vernal Utah some fifty years ago. She very much acted as if she had no idea what I was saying. I went on to explain that a few months after we married, in the middle of 1972, … Continue reading Going To Vernal, Utah