Crazy Times, Meeting New People, Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

lewisotr

The year was 1991. I had spent 20 years digging ditches and I thought enough is enough. The economy was in the crapper. The great real estate boom of the 80s was over and all the big water and wastewater lines had been constructed to the far reaches of the city and beyond in Austin. The future didn’t look so swell for our business. I needed a break. I thought it was time for some new scenery, so to speak. I had two groups of employees by that time. The old and the new. It was time for the old … Continue reading The PreCast Concrete Venture That Exposed Me To A Ponzi Scheme

Amazing Things, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

It Was A Day, Not So Unlike Today – October 6, 1971

lewisotr

I got off work up in Burnet where I’d been shooting dynamite all day, so we could lay sanitary sewer lines all around town. I had to make sure I didn’t run the track drill any that day, because I couldn’t afford to get as dirty as doing that would get me. Big Jimmy Palmer stayed up ahead drilling. I hit the road to Austin as soon as I could. I wasn’t as clean as I needed to be, but I knew I could shower at my sweethearts place before our big date night. But no way I’d be able … Continue reading It Was A Day, Not So Unlike Today – October 6, 1971

Thoughts and Musings12 Comments

The Killdozer – Haven’t Many Of Us Been This Fed Up Government.

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When we were on the train from Denver to Moab, Utah last week (September 2021), our guide was telling the story of this happening, as we passed by Granby, Colorado. I remembered it happening, very well. Today is a special day. June 4th 2018 marks the 14th anniversary of the Killdozer’s rampage through Granby Colorado. Sit down kids and let me tell you a tale, about a reasonable man driven to do unreasonable things. Marvin Heemeyer was a man who owned a muffler shop in Granby Colorado. The city council ordained to approve the construction of a concrete factory in … Continue reading The Killdozer – Haven’t Many Of Us Been This Fed Up Government.

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, Old Dog - New TrickLeave a comment

Hanging Upside Down

lewisotr

I have had problems with ruptured discs in my neck for much of my adult life. In fact about the only serious surgeries I’ve ever had, have been on my neck. Three of them, starting in 1985, again on 2005 with I hope the last one in 2010. Now most of the vertebra in my neck region are fused together do using plates and screws and even one is wired together with what looks like bailing wire twisted together. That one freaked me out the first time I saw an X-ray of it. The doctor assured me it was good … Continue reading Hanging Upside Down

Thoughts and Musings3 Comments

Being Lucky Is Much Better Than Being Smart, Sometimes

lewisotr

When riding the train from Denver to Moab, Utah a few days ago the little speck on a mountainside appeared. Our docent on the train told us the story of some teenagers, 4 of them that were around 15 years old went for a joy ride, unauthorized by the parent of one of them. The Oldsmobile Station Wagon was stopped by a law enforcement officer. Discovering that none of the kids had a drivers license, he made the decision to let them go, but insisted that one of the gals would have to drive. As they headed on their way, … Continue reading Being Lucky Is Much Better Than Being Smart, Sometimes

Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, The Early Days, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Cecil and Brackenridge Hospital

lewisotr

One night in 1963 my Dad, Cecil Lewis fell sick. We lived out on Bull Creek. This wasn’t the first time he had been deathly ill from the same cause. He had a long history of stomach ulcers since soon after he and momma married in 1948. The doctor told him he would need to stop drinking and watch what he ate. When he felt his ulcer acting up he went on a diet of soda crackers, sweet cows milk and raw eggs. Usually a few days of consuming those three things he would improve and go back to eating … Continue reading Cecil and Brackenridge Hospital

Crazy Times, Funny Happenings, On The Job, The Construction Biz3 Comments

Glenn and the Hat

lewisotr

If you grew up in Marble Falls, you knew Glenn. If you ever passed through Marble Falls you may have encountered Glenn Lewis. His was a real cowboy, doing ranch work most of his life. You always hear it said, that ol boy was born a hundred years too late. In Glenn’s case, there was never a truer cliché ever used. He was rugged, both inside and out. As a young man you would seldom see him that he wasn’t riding a horse or didn’t have one in a trailer behind an old pickup. He was 5 years older than … Continue reading Glenn and the Hat

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

The Princess Mobile Phones

lewisotr

Back in the early 70s there was a fellow that started a new mobile phone service operating out of Austin. It was a far cheaper option than Southwestern Bell had at that time. That service could run into hundreds of dollars per month. I believe it cost “X” amount per call placed plus something like 50¢ per minute. Some high rollers would actually spend over a $1,000 per month, but it was the cost of doing business. Larry Bird with Capital Communications, the new guy, tapped into some new technology which allowed for a fairly small radio box to be … Continue reading The Princess Mobile Phones

Funny Happenings, Thoughts and Musings2 Comments

A Good Laugh Will Take You A Long Way

lewisotr

We are moving on down the road again this morning. As we headed out, with Madeline behind the wheel, I almost immediately started complaining about the seat in this thing. I actually blamed her for turning all these knobs on the side that adjust the lumbar and the hardness in the seat bottom. I cranked them both ways, belly aching the whole time. Mind you I wasn’t coming down too hard on her because I fiddle around with things constantly, so I had in the back of my mind that I could be the culprit. “It’s like sitting over here … Continue reading A Good Laugh Will Take You A Long Way