Monthly Archives: August 2015

Tuesday, August 18, 2015 – One More Honeyboy Photo

A sincere thank you to all of you for the LIKES and beautiful comments about Honeyboy. If you knew him, he soon became your Honeyboy too.

When looking for photos of him I found this one.

When I first saw it I thought – Did he shoot a bear? In Louisiana? Upon closer investigation I saw that it is someone’s finger across the lens. Therefore, Mama took the photograph. We all know photography was not one of her greatest skills.

That is also why I know that either Cousin Joe or I took that photograph of him sitting on the rock in Colorado. Photography was not one of Aunt Claudie’s skills either. And we all knew that Uncle Ralph always had difficulty focusing – whether it was the camera or the world.

But back to the photograph. I believe that you is, my dear sister, sitting in Honeyboy’s lap and appearing to be drinking something from a bucket that would classified as an environmental hazard even back then.

Please let this be one of the cousins whose descendants still live in Louisiana – up around Alexandria. That would explain a lot of things about the shallowing of that end of the gene pool.

And the background appears to be – well, at least it doesn’t look swampy.

Monday, August 17, 2015 – Randall Edwin “Honeyboy” Duffey

Randall Edwin “Honeyboy” Duffey

August 17, 1907 – February 18, 2000

About a week ago I began to think what I would post for Honeyboy’s (HB) birthday.

Colorado – 1968

One afternoon I was reading a Facebook post by Kevin Cochran – one of my former students. Kevin posted an excerpt from a feature column he had written in a 2007 Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine about the restorative powers of autumn.

While HB did like college football, it was autumn with deer (or any other hunting) season and fishing that restored his soul.

Uncle Dale (as in sister’s name sake) on the left with HB and the fish.

As I read Kevin’s excerpt, I realized there were moments I had been with HB during the waning light as darkness descends watching rutting deer appear among the shadows at the edges of the fields. There were moments when I watched Honeyboy and experienced with him the “quiet solitude” as Kevin describes.

Duck blind somewhere in Louisiana

So for all the Dales, Donnies, Dennys, Gregs, Rays, Davids and everybody else Honeyboy taught to love and respect the outdoors as much as he did, you know you have experienced the feelings Kevin describes with Honeyboy too.

Thank you, Kevin for the beautiful memories of our father, grandfather and great-grand father – Our Honeyboy. Used with permission.

“Autumn is to the year as evening is to the day. Just when fish begin to bite better and rutting deer appear among the shadows at the edges of the fields, the light fades away. We get a brief, frantic flurry of activity in the waning light, then the dark of night descends. Yet in that otherwise bleak night there burns a guiding light, especially for trophy trout hunters in South Texas. While the hoopla over pigskin rivalries, macho hunts for Muy Grande and camaraderie shared by waterfowlers hiding in brushed blinds draw others away from the bays, we keep on plugging in quiet solitude. When other sporting seasons end and winter settles in, our high times are just beginning.”

Photo by me.

Photo by me

Thursday, August 13, 2015 – Merry Christmas and the Domino Dog Days of Summer

With the temperature predicted to reach 102 today, here’s a Christmas photo to remind us cooler temperatures are coming.

Our photo today is the traditional family photo in front of the tree. Clarification: it is the photo that is traditional. The family well…

At the far right, we have Niece#1 playing a joyful tune on the piano.

Photobombing long before it was popular and jumping from behind the tree is Nephew#1. Nice camo to blend in with the tree, D.

In front of the tree is my sister, Dale and her country-western singer hair-do of the day. In front of her is Nephew#2 holding Domino the Dog. Next to him is Niece # 2, petting Domino and then inserting her fingers into her mouth.

This, I believe is also a photo of Domino the Dog. It maybe our Cousin Itt like the one fromThe Addam’s Family.  I believe our Cousin Itt is from the Colfax, Louisiana family tree branch and the shallow end of the gene pool.

Stay cool! Blue Bell is on its way!

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 – LOAD, READY, AIM, FIRE, RELOAD! A&M Give Us Room!

Today’s post is definitely coming from the random/access side of the brain. I think that is the left side. You can skip to the bottom line if pressed for time.

So many wonderful comments regarding Monday’s and Tuesday’s posts. And most about Cousin Donnie. Yep, that is what a national championship will do for you. The fame extends way beyond your circle.

There were Comments, Likes, related stories told, a sent YouTube video, a share on FB and a bunch (John Wax math term) of readers. All of this, of course, after I realized my Facebook settings had to be reset – once again. But more to come about The Chinese Bandits, LSU, Alabama, The Texas Aggies and all the rest as the tent revival of the Autumnal Religion of The South begins – College Football!

Of course none of the people pictured in HWIT (aka – Family) have commented. I am going to blame it momentarily on the FB settings and perhaps incorrect tags on my part.

Please know Baylor and Oklahoma State graduates that I know prominent people in Waco and Oklahoma and I can get your parents’ money refunded for your degrees if you do not start reading HWIT. – Especially when I write about you!

Which brings me to today – It is a rehash of the July 27 post with some reminders and more info you need to know since college football kickoffs are days away and more people are following.

Blog Name: Here’s What’ I’m Thinking (HWIT)

What is HWIT about? Whatever I am thinking. But it usually centers on college football, some other sports, the Texas Aggies, the educational institution, Texas, life in general and with some politics thrown in to piss off people.

Daily Goal: Write something Monday through Friday that will make at least one person smile (hopefully laugh) and/or think.

Access: You do not have to access Facebook to read HWIT. One can enter the following into their search engine – Drdrd85.me. That is the site of Here’s What I’m Thinking. The site then connects to Facebook and Twitter.

Settings: My settings on Facebook are Public. This is intentional. I want people to read Here’s What I’m Thinking. So your Likes/Comments on FB are public too.

Comments: This is where it gets tricky. One is able to leave a Like/Comment on Facebook and one is able to leave a Like/Comment on the site of Here’s What I’m Thinking. However, what is Liked/Commented on FB is NOT shared with Likes/Comments on HWIT and vice versa. Are you still with me?

Reteach – HWIT connects to Facebook. Facebook does NOT connect to HWIT. This creates two sets of comments. I know all the techno nerds know what that means.

Still not there?

Barbara leaves one of her wonderful Likes/Comments on Facebook. Dale leaves one of her wonderful Likes/Comments on HWIT, Barbara does not see Dale’s comment, but she can if she chooses to go to the site. But Dale does not see Barbara’s comment because Dale is not on FB. This is unfortunate because there are funny comments on FB and HWIT. Never mind, just leave comments.

Bottom Line – THE BLUE BELL TRUCKS ARE COMING! HOORAH! HOORAH!