Monthly Archives: November 2016

Tuesday, November 29, 2016 – Decorate! Decorate! Dance to the Music.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016 – Decorate! Decorate! Dance to the Music.

Does anyone remember when I lived in the duplex in Panorama? Plastic lawn ornaments were the lawn decoration of the day. My deeply devout Catholic neighbor placed a lighted plastic Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in the monkey grass between our houses. Baby Jesus’ light shorted out and blinked on and off nightly as if giving random communications to aliens. Maybe it was.

Here are some other lawn ornaments for your consideration – courtesy of me and Lowes.

What says Christmas more than Snoopy sitting on the fireplace burning his butt?snoopy-snowman-800x450

Notice to the right there is the brown snowman – snow person.  I think this is for people of color or those who live in highly polluted areas. It could also the parson brown from the song “… in the meadow we can build a snowman, then pretend that he is parson brown.”

In this lovely latex scene we have the Big Foot snowman descending on Santa Claus and the reindeer.santa-and-snow-man-800x450

But my favorite, in keeping with season is the inflatable nativity scene. nativity-800x450

If you examine closely, Mary’s headwear resembles the little paper top you are given when you get a mammogram. One must use their imagination and Sunday school experiences and not think the BJ looks like a small box of pampers.

The reindeer on the roof is from the Big Foot eating Santa display, but does add a certain element to the display. Up on the roof top, reindeer pause…

It is the placements of the lights that baffle me. Mary’s right breast and Joseph’s nether region appear to be lit. Given rain, squirrels and neighborhood mischief with BB guns, it is entirely possible electrical issues could occur. This creates unanticipated light shows that resemble random communications with aliens.

Then again, random communication with aliens with THE LIGHT is what it was all about in the first place. So light ‘em up and decorate, decorate and dance to the music.

Monday, November 28, 2016 – Nothing

Monday, November 28, 2016 – Nothing

If you do not have anything nice to say, then say nothing at all.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2016 – Three Rules of Life

Wednesday, November 23, 2016 – Three Rules of Life

Here are three rules of life by Mr. R. E. Duffey – aka Honeyboy or Brother

  1. Tell at least one person every day that you appreciate them.
  2. Whatever it is, if you have faith, it will all work out.
  3. Whatever the situation, there is always lots to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving

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Soldotna, Alaska 2014 – Photo by me.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016 – November 22, 1963 – Where Were You?

Tuesday, November 22, 2016 – November 22, 1963 – Where Were You?

It was 1:20 PM. I was sitting on the last row, second seat in Mr. Michael’s ninth grade physical science class at Magnolia High School, Magnolia, Texas.

The loudspeaker came on. We heard Mr. Lyon, the high school principal, say “President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas and has died.” He went on to say something about when the bell rang, go to your next classes, but buses would be coming and we would all go home.

My next class was English I with Mrs. Burnside. The next time I would walk a long hall way filled with people and surrounded by surrealist silence would be September 11, 2001. It is the silence and shock I remember the most of both of those historical events.

My mother was in the Rexall Drug Store on Main Street in Tomball when she heard the news. As she placed her items on the counter, the owner asked if she had heard. When she said yes, he said “I’m glad. If I had had a gun I would have done it myself.”

She said “We do not kill our leaders; we vote them out of office. I do not want these items.” She turned, left and never returned the store again.

Looking back, the assassination of President Kennedy marked a significant change in The United States and around the world. The world that followed was not pretty. Riots, protests and giant waves of anti-establishment against all sorts of issues such as war, race, gender, poverty, illiteracy, religion, and more took place. Each issue divided us as a nation even more.

We watched it all unfold in black and white on three national channels on the technology of that day – television. The weekend brought even more sadness and shock as the nation cried with Walter Cronkite and other national reporters. We watched never before heard or seen events unfold in front of us.

November 22, 1963. The world changed and we changed with it.

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Looking out my backyard (CCR), but photo by me.

Monday, November 21, 2016 -The Monday after Saturday College Football Awards and the Best College Team Football Team in Texas

Monday, November 21, 2016 -The Monday after Saturday College Football Awards and the Best College Team Football Team in Texas

Let’s begin with the UGLY Awards and there are many to be awarded.

First Place Ugly Award for really ugly is presented to THE University of Texas who somehow lost to a one (1) and nine (9) Kansas team in overtime no less. Perhaps it was those ugly blue bunting bird looking uniforms KU wore. (Thank you Dr. K.) The last time THE University of Texas lost to Kansas was 1938. Write that on your Rock Chalk, Jayhawk sidewalk.

The Star-Kist Tuna Award – Sorry, Charlie – is awarded to Head Coach Charlie Strong of The University of Texas. I sincerely thought and hoped it would be a good fit for all. The good news is that lots of coaches have FOR SALE signs in their front yards too with more coming soon.

With a possible FOR SALE sign in his yard, we have the Second Place Ugly Award presented to Texas Tech for losing to Iowa State 66 -10.Tech scored when the Iowa State women’s soccer team took over in the fourth quarter.

Third Place Ugly Award is presented to Baylor University losing to K-State 42-21.

Fourth Place Ugly Award is presented to the Texas Aggies for surviving 23-10 against The University of Texas @ San Antonio.

This presents a distinct possibility that Texas A&M and Baylor will meet in the We Suck Bowl to be played in a big high school stadium somewhere between Houston and Dallas.

In Other Awards

The Cat that Ate the Cardinal Award goes to The University of Houston Cougar(s) who ate the Cardinals of Louisville 36 to 10 spoiling all Louisville hopes for a big bowl and maybe Lamar’s Heisman hopes. Nice cat smile, Shasta.

The Snow Globe Game AwardSnow U/OU Award goes to OU vs. W.Va. – OU 56 West Virginia 28. I am glad OU wore red pants with their white jerseys; otherwise one would have lost them in the snow and on the field after it stopped snowing. West Virginia still was unable to find them on the field – red pants and all.

The Taste like Chicken Award goes Pistol Pete and the Cowboys of Oklahoma State as they dined on frog legs defeating TCU 31-6.

This sets up the Big 12 Conference Title to be determined at Bedlam next week. Notice: neither of the schools is in Texas.

Michigan and Ohio State both receive Poopy Undies Awards with Ohio State escaping Michigan State 17 to 16. Michigan had more difficulty than anticipated winning over Indiana 20 to 10.

This sets up The Big Ten Title game between Ohio State and Michigan next week. I am going with the team that wears ugly helmets.

The Thanks for Participating Awards go to Alabama and Auburn. Both teams won handily, but both should have against Cupcake We’ll Take the Gate Receipts schools. This sets up the Iron Bowl next week. Roll Tide.

The Longest Yard Award goes to Florida for stopping LSU on the goal line on fourth and one to defeat the tigers and win the SEC East. Score: Florida – 16 to LSU – 10. Yea. Guess who’s coming to College Station for Thanksgiving Dinner?

It was definitely a week of ugly in Texas football. But there is one bright orange spot coming out of Huntsville, Texas.

The best football school currently in the state of Texas is the #5 Sam Houston State University Bearkats. The Bearkats are undefeated for the second time in program history and will host the winner of Weber State and Chattanooga on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. from Bowers Stadium.

http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92955&SPID=11345&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211310989&DB_OEM_ID=19900

Perhaps there is National Champion Football Shirt from one of my alma maters in my future after all.

Texas Flag @ Sunset (800x600)

Saturday, November 19, 2016 – Those Hippies on a Bicycle – The Ruin of All Social Order

Saturday, November 19, 2016 – Those Hippies on a Bicycle – The Ruin of All Social Order

I just finished this book. It is a light history filled with how the two-wheeler changed and influenced the world. Below is one of my favorite passages.

Margaret Guroff – The Mechanical Horse – How the Bicycle Reshaped American Life, pgs. 121-122.

By the 1960’s, the specter of the slick-haired, leather-jacketed juvenile delinquent had been replaced by a fearsome new teenage minority: the hippie, whose hallucinogens, campus activities, psychedelic music and improvisational hygiene threated to destroy the social order. Critics blamed the generation’s wildness on parental overindulgence – such as handing out bikes to our children without requiring work in exchange “We have given our children a free ride since the day they were born, and now we can’t understand why they demand so much,” opined the California philanthropist Mrs. George Buccola in 1967. “We gave them that bicycle.”

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Photo by Gniece #3 – Blair. Taken in front of my house. I am screaming “How do I stop?” But, you really don’t forget how to ride.

Happy Saturday and BTHO UTSA!

Friday, November 18, 2016 – 11-18-1999 – 2:42 A.M. Here!

Friday, November 18, 2016 – 11-18-1999 – 2:42 A.M. Here!

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July 8, 2014 – Photo by me.

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Last year @ 2:42 AM – Have no idea where this came from. Claim if you are the photographer.

Thursday, November 16, 2016 – Jonathan Swift , Ignatius J. Reilly and Me

Thursday, November 16, 2016 – Jonathan Swift , Ignatius J. Reilly and Me

Thank you to my government employee friends and the literary people especially us liberal arts folks – especially Brit Lit and Grit Lit majors. You recognized yesterday’s quote from Swift’s Thoughts on Various Subjects written about the British monarch George I and published around 1726.

And yes, regardless of political leanings it is said with every transitional period of government and has since the 18th century when Swift wrote about the rise of Parliament and decline of the monarchy when the sun never sat on the British Empire.

Speaking of centuries, here is another great quote from John Kennedy Toole’s outstanding, laugh out loud and well deserved Pulitzer Prize winning book about Nawlins, Louisiana – From A Confederacy of Dunces:

“I am at the moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip.” Ignatius J. Reilly.

So me!

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Here’s to the beginning of The Silly Season – the filing of bills in the Texas Legislature. Photo by me.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 – Job Vacancies – Now Hiring!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016 – Job Vacancies – Now Hiring!

Employer: President Elect Donald Trump and the Trumpets Transitional Team

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Galveston – 2011 – Photo by me.

Number of vacancies: Approximately 4000 positions available from clerical staff to upper management levels.

Job Location: West Wing, White House, Washington D. C.

Education Requirements: None required beyond high school or GED

Work Experience: None required

Pay Grade: Entry level

Note: Not an equal opportunity employer. People of color, alternate life styles, and other religions and beliefs besides evangelicals need not apply.

“When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him.” Jonathan Swift

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Austin graffiti wall – 2013 – Photo by me.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016 – Light One Candle by Peter, Paul and Mary

Tuesday, November 15, 2016 – Light One Candle by Peter, Paul and Mary

“… let anger not tear us apart; light one candle to bind us together with peace as a song in our hearts…”

Don’t let the light go out!