Here's What I'm Thinking

Tuesday, December 22, 2015 – The Winner of the 2015 National College Football Championship is “Texas A&M University!” Steve Harvey announced today.

Posted on December 22, 2015 | 2 comments

Tuesday, December 22, 2015 – The Winner of the 2015 National College Football Championship is “Texas A&M University!” Steve Harvey announced today.

Mr. M. C.? How could you make such a blunder and announce the wrong contestant as the winner in the beauty pageant? OK – “It’s a scholarship pageant.” So Here’s What I’m Thinking…

Remember the final scenes of Miss Congeniality when Gracie Lee Hart is on stage and crowns are being ripped off, Miss Rhode Island is in tears, and floral bouquets are being used as weapons? How many would like to have seen that take place as the final scenes of the Miss Universe Pageant the other night when Steve Harvey announced Miss Columbia as winner instead of First Runner-up to Miss Philippines?

Better yet. How many would like to see Suzanne Sugarbaker as Miss Columbia? I would like to see Miss Philippines trying to get the crown off of her head.

And finally, if it had been Suzanne Sugarbaker who was really first runner up, image the ass chewing Julia Sugarbaker would give Steve Harvey.

Ya’ll have a good day now. Go out there and promote world peace. And remember we are all Queen of Something! So wear your crowns proudly.

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Leslie Gore-Tex – Rodeo Queen and a Real Queen. From the Sweet Potato Queen Parade 2015, Jackson, MS.

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Posted in Misc.

Tagged Designing Women, Julia Sugarbaker, Miss Congeniality, Miss Universe, Steve Harvey, Suzanne Sugarbaker, Sweet Potato Q

Monday, December 20, 2015 – The Second Quarter of the Forty College Football Bowl Games.

Posted on December 21, 2015 | 2 comments

Monday, December 20, 2015 – The Second Quarter of the Forty College Football Bowl Games.

“A horse!” A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” from Shakespeare’s Richard III, Act 5, Scene 4, lines 7-10.

Texas version. “A quarterback! A quarterback. My team for a quarterback!” From Texas’ Coach V, Teams 5 (schools), Scene 5, (Bowls and Championships), players 10+

The five teams Baylor, Texas A&M, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and the Celina Bobcats (3A high school state championship lost the quarterback to a broken wrist on the first series played. Celina lost the game too.)

And now the Second Quarter of The Ridiculous Number of College Football Bowl Games that no one really cares about.

December 23

Bowl Number 11 – The GoDaddy Bowl begins at 8:00 PM on ESPN between Georgia Southern and Bowling Green. Go Daddy. This name offers so many directions. Let’s just say Go Daddy and leave the rest to TV commercials and social workers.

December 24 – Christmas Eve

Bowl 12 is The Popeye’s’ Bahamas Bowl that kicks off at noon on ESPN between Middle Tennessee and Western Michigan. I am not certain if the name of this bowl refers to the chicken franchise or the cartoon sailor. Who cares about the teams? One is in the Bahamas.

Bowl 13 is the Hawaii Bowl at 8:00 PM between San Diego State and Cincinnati on ESPN. Same criteria for Hawaii as Bahamas – who cares who is playing? Get me a drink with an umbrella in it.

December 26

Bowl 14 finds us in St. Petersburg to watch Connecticut and Marshall on our monopolistic favorite ESPN at 11: 00 AM. I would love to be in St. Pete again but only with J and R again.

Bowl 15 finds The Hyundai Sun Bowl between Miami and Washington State at 2:00 PM on CBS. Look you can change the channel to CBS.

Bowl 16 – is The I am so Bored Bowl. No wait. It is the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl between Washington and Southern Mississippi on ESPN. The Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas? Are you kidding me? Back to The I am so Bored Bowl. Anyway it is at 2:00.

Bowl 17 – The New Era Pinstripe Bowl between Indiana and Duke. I thought these schools played basketball. Coming to you live from the Bronx and Yankee Stadium on ABC at 3:30. Wait – there is a football bowl game, named after a clothing pattern, played between two traditional basketball schools in a baseball stadium. I am so confused.

Bowl 18 – Give me a break. Really. There is a bowl game called The Camping World Independence Bowl? Guess there is. It is on ESPN at 5:45 between Tulsa and Virginia Tech. Does one have to camp out in the parking lot?

Bowl 19 is the Foster Farms Bowl. Is there a bowl game for Adopted Farms? This 9:15 kickoff on ESPN is between UCLA and Nebraska. Note: Nebraska has a losing record. Not to mention Nebraska fans wear giant yellow, phallic symbols of corn on their heads.

December 28

Bowl 20 is the Northrop Grumman Military Bowl at 2:30 on ESPN between Pittsburg and Navy. This one might be worth watching. Go Navy.

Bowl 21 is the Quick Lane Bowl – as opposed to the Slow Lane Bowl? This game is between Central Michigan and Minnesota at five o’clock on ESPN2.

December 29

Bowl 22 is Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl played between California and Air Force on ESPN at 2:00. Doesn’t Lockheed Martin make air craft?

Bowl 23 – In The Russell Athletic Bowl coming to us live from Florida at 5:30 on ESPN our teams are North Carolina and Baylor. Does Baylor get to wear one of its 10 variations of NIKE uniforms or is that a conflict of interest?

Baylor Band

Bowl 24 is The NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl between Nevada and Colorado State at 7:30 on Campus Insiders. Campus Insiders? That is what the schedule says. I think the ESPN people have been puffing in Colorado.

Bowl 25 is the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl at 9:00 between LSU and Texas Tech on ESPN. Goodie this is between a team I love and a team I do not love.

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December 30 – OMG – there are five more of these contests before we ever get to the next group.

Bowl 26 is The Birmingham Bowl at noon on ESPN between Auburn and Memphis. I wonder if Uncle Will Muschamp’s head will explode during this game prior to him becoming a Game Cock – which just adds more adjectives to describe Coach Articulate.

Bowl 27 is the Belk Bowl at 3:30 on ESPN (who else?) between North Carolina State and Mississippi State. What is the Belk Bowl?

Bowl 28 – The Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. OK I must watch because this game is the Fighting Texas Aggies and Louisville. Mercy – talk about The 12th Man in action. We just might get to see somebody called out of the stands to suit up for this one. This bowl could be named so many things. How about “The We Mortgaged Kyle Field Renovations through Franklin American Bowl?” How about “The Ernest Hemmingway – A Farewell to Arms Bowl?” Oh hell, let’s just call it the Mucinex Bowl and expectorate and cough and Gig ‘Em Aggies. BTHO Louisville.

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BTHO Louisville

Bowl 29 – The Holiday Bowl between USC and Wisconsin in San Diego offers a vacation to the Badgers at 10:30 on ESPN and sleep for me.

And that takes us to December 31 – New Year’s Eve when finally there will be some teams and games worth watching.

Our winners of this round are:

ABC – 2

CBS – 1

ESPN2 – 1

ESPN – 15

Corporate/Military Sponsors – 19

Nike – TBD

Adidas – TBD

Under Armor – Maybe one team

Russell Athletic – Maybe

Campus Insiders – Who? What?

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Posted in College Football, Misc., Native Texan

Tagged 2015 College Football Bowl Games, Auburn, Baylor, Baylor Bears, Big 12 Conference, college football, LSU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech

Saturday, December 19, 2015 – HOOK ‘EM HORNS! (For Today Only)

Posted on December 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

Saturday, December 19, 2015 – HOOK ‘EM HORNS! (For Today Only)

THE University of Texas at Austin, women’s volleyball team plays Nebraska this afternoon for The 2015 NCAA National Championship.

Photo by Martha

Let’s go ladies. Light that tower burnt orange.

And before we leave the orange …

LET’S GO BEARKATS. Sam Houston State University plays # 1 Jacksonville State in the semi-finals of Division I FBS.

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Posted in College Football, Native Texan

Tagged NCAA Volleyball, Sam Houston State Bearkats, Texas Volleyball, The University of Texas

Friday, December 18, 2015 – Your Guide to the 42 College Football Bowl Games and Who Wins.

Posted on December 18, 2015 | Leave a comment

Friday, December 18, 2015 – Your Guide to the 42 College Football Bowl Games and Who Wins.

But first – Kyle Field is NOT transferring from Texas A&M. At least the last I heard it was not.

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Tomorrow is kickoff to the forty-two college football bowl games. Forty –two College Football Games! Can you believe it? That is 80 teams and 80 bands, playing in bowl games that no one has ever heard of and playing teams no one cares about unless you or your child happened to attend. They are playing in college venues smaller than most Texas high school stadiums. Stadia? Several teams actually have losing records. These games are like a certificate of participation.

But to help you plan your holiday schedule for the ridiculous number of bowl games, here are the first ten. Note: The closer the games are to New Year’s Eve, the better the bowl game.

Beginning on December 19 – the first ten games fall into the Who Cares Category?

Bowl 1 – begins on ABC at noon with Alcorn State and North Carolina A&T in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. What exactly are we celebrating?

Bowl 2 – Opposite the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl at noon is the Cure Bowl on CBSSN between San Jose State and Georgia State. What exactly are we going to cure?

Bowl 3 – the Gildan New Mexico Bowl between Arizona and New Mexico on ESPN at 2:00. What is a Gildan?

Bowl 4 – the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl at 3:30 on ABC might be fun. It is billed as The Holy Bowl because it is between the BYU Mormons; I mean Cougars and Utah – aka Not Mormons. What a waste – Mormons in Las Vegas!

Bowl 5 – The Raycom Media Camelia Bow between Ohio and Appalachian State on ESPN at 5:30. We have a bowl named after a battery? This should be electrifying.

Bowl 6 – the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl finds Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech at 9:00 PM on ESPN. What exactly do the R+L Carriers carry? Oh well, one is New Orleans so who cares.

December 21

Bowl 7 – On ESPN at 2:30 we find the Miami Beach Bowl between Western Kentucky and South Florida. This could be called The Kentucky Hillbillies visit South Beach.

December 22

Bowl 8 – The Famous Potato Bowl – not to be confused with the not so famous Potato Bowl between Akron and Utah State on ESPN at 3:30. Oh no, the game is played on that blue field of Boise State. It tends to give me a seizure should I try to watch.

Bowl 9 – The Marmot Boca Raton Bowl at 7:00 on ESPN between Toledo and Temple. Marmot? Winter teams seeking time in Jimmy Buffet Land.

December 23

Bowl 10 – The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on ESPN at 4:30 Boise State takes on Northern Illinois. A bowl sponsored by a credit union?

So who wins the first 10 bowl games?

ABC – 2

CBSSN – 1

ESPN – 7

Nike – to be determined

Adidas – to be determined

Under Armor – to be determined.

Monday’s Here’s What I’m Thinking will guide you through the next ten (10) unnecessary bowl games. It begins with the GoDaddy Bowl.

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Posted in College Football, Politics

Tagged bowl games, college fo, ESPN, Texas A&M

Thursday, December 17, 2015 – I Must Take a Powder and Take to My Bed

Posted on December 17, 2015 | Leave a comment

Thursday, December 17, 2015 – I Must Take a Powder and Take to My Bed

Yesterday’s news from Aggieland is enough to send all Aggies into WTF is Going On Land. Kyler Murray announces he is leaving too! Coach Sumlin sent him home to think about it, but that probably means he is getting his luggage to move on. As the Aggies say “Highway 6 runs both ways.”

And if you think that is bad. I received an email yesterday saying “there will be no desserts at the Coach Gary Blair’s women’s basketball luncheon today.”

Pre Season All SEC pick, Texas A&M women’s basketball player – Courtney Walker? Can you throw a football like you can pass a basketball?

Where are my salts?

Oh yes, Happy Birthday, DeeWee.

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Posted in College Football, Misc.

Tagged Kyler Murray, Texas A&M Football

Wednesday, December 16, 2015 – Then and Now.

Posted on December 16, 2015 | Leave a comment

Wednesday, December 16, 2015 – Then and Now. 1983 and 2015

Who watched the Republican Debate last night? The Democratic candidates debate this Saturday. See that is that liberal media programming the Democrats opposite the start of the college football bowl games. And on a weekend just before Christmas or ___________________(Fill in your holiday).

Buddy Glasses

Here is my Christmas Cheer for all of you potential POTUSES.

“You are not going to win

Against E – S – P – N!!

Even if you are on C – N – N!

Go Team Fight!

I found this photograph in “my papers” for my biographers. Of course my papers consist of multiple cardboard boxes filled with unorganized papers and pictures. I am going through the boxes prior to my biographers putting them in the Goodwill Store, or more probable, the trash or shredder.

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I took this photo of a man holding a protest sign on the steps of the United States Supreme Court Building. It was taken on my first trip to Washington D. C. Read the sign carefully. What were some of the issues then?

Here is what I find interesting. The year was 1983. That is correct – 1983. Throw in immigration issues of that day and fast forward to the present. Let’s see – Oh my! Why the issues are quite similar. Add foreign wars. Throw in a radical religious terrorist attack in Iraq – then referred to as “the hostage situation” And then add “emerging technology” and the world was on the cutting edge of gigantic leaps of cultural change in a forever changing world. The immigrants of that decade were Vietnamese and other Asian and Far Eastern countries escaping tyrannical rule.

Your assignment – pick a decade in United States/world history when these events and issues were NOT the issues of the day.

The more things change; the more they stay the same.

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Posted in Education, Misc., Politics

Tagged college football bowl games, Democratic debate, ESPN, Republican Debate

Tuesday, December 15, 2015 – From the Texas A&M School of Engineering

Posted on December 15, 2015 | 2 comments

Tuesday, December 15, 2015 – From the Texas A&M School of Engineering

I took this the other day at Reed Arena on campus. Notice it is the passenger side of the vehicle. Gig ‘Em!

Aggie engineer (800x450)

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Posted in College Football, Education, Native Texan

Tagged Aggies, Texas A&M

Monday, December 14, 2015 – Who Says I’m Not Festive or the Hippy Dippy Christmas Trees

Posted on December 14, 2015 | 3 comments

Monday, December 14, 2015 – Who Says I’m Not Festive or the Hippy Dippy Christmas Trees

Trivia – Who was the iconic standup comedian whose routines included The Hippy Dippy Weatherman? This is one of those that you either know it or you don’t – depending on your generation. Those of us who grew up in the shadow of the mushroom shaped cloud and The Cold War should know the answer.

I do like to decorate for the holidays. I AM FESTIVE! Just not in a traditional manner. My criteria – cheap and easy. That includes set up and break down. In fact, I actually overspent this year – almost $8.00 as opposed to the usual $5.00. That is because I was unable to find garland from last year. Of course I did find last year’s after I put these up these strands as I was looking for something completely unrelated.

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And having lived the Keep Austin Weird tradition (I was probably born with it), the weirder the decorations, the better. Allens? Did the judges finally come to judge your yard? I am working on some outside ideas for next year, but I want to ensure I do not get thrown into the HOA Detention Pond. But it is good to know people in the legal field.

So while you are thinking of the name of the Hippy Dippy Weatherman, enjoy my Holiday “trees.” Note: “Holiday” as no political connotations. It is total holiday inclusive. It means these may not come down until Fourth of July.

The John Wayne – Merry Christmas, Pilgrim, Tree.

The Gig ‘Em Aggie Tree!

The Paddington Bear Family Tree.

Normally known as The Cline Shrine, but during Christmas it becomes “The Elvis – I’ll Have a Blue Christmas Tree.” Thank you. Thank you very much!

The Tripod Tree.

The Christmas Movie Reel Wreath.

Also – Movie Wreath also available in red.

Answer: The Hippy Dippy Weatherman was the incomparable George Carlin.

It went something like this – Think back to the 1960’s and The Cold War era. A weather forecast done by a “hippy” and “dippy” weatherman. This was the closing line of the routine.

“Like wow. There’s a line of thundershowers headed straight for Miami. There is also a line of Soviet ICBM missiles launched from Cuba, headed that way, so I wouldn’t sweat the thunderstorms.”

Today version: In George Carlin’s memory – “There’s a line of sandstorms headed straight for Syria. There is also a line of Russian bombers headed that way, so, Dude, I wouldn’t sweat the sandstorms.”

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Posted in Education, Native Texan, Politics

Tagged Austin, George Carlin, Keep Austin Weird

Friday, December 11, 2015 – A Pencil Thin Mustache and Family Photos.

Posted on December 11, 2015 | 2 comments

Friday, December 11, 2015 – A Pencil Thin Mustache and Family Photos.

Dear Santa,

I promise not to be snarky on Friday until after Christmas. Please take that into consideration, because you know it is hard for me. Thank you. Love, D.

Christmas – and that’s what I’m calling it and if you do not like it, then stop reading. But Christmas Day is two weeks from today. Families will gather in love and celebrate The Reason for Season. But it is also a time of great fun. So Here’s What I’m Thinking.

What to wear? I am thinking that the Christmas T-shirt with the reindeer balls is not going to over well at midnight mass. I am not really seeing me wearing it to candle light at the Presbyterian either. Perhaps I should wear the one with the wine glasses. I should probably not plan on the LED, light-up necklace this year. Last year it kinda gave the image of the Star in the East blinking on and off.

I hope this is the year we have the big, lighted display in the front yard that reads “Remember, to the outside world, we look like a normal family.” It will explain a lot about a couple of memorable family photos from Our Family Christmas 2013.

This family portrait is my favorite sibling, Niece #2 and my great nieces and nephews and me. I call it “I wish I had a pencil-thin mustache” after the great 20th Century philosopher, Jimmy Buffet. However, the song that comes to mind, is “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, they’re altogether spooky – The Addams Family.” CLICK CLICK. But obviously you can see the genetic tendencies of who carries which gene for which color mustache.

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This family portrait is of my nephews preparing for a red hot competition of reindeer ring toss. I call it “Here. Hold my Beer” by the philosopher Bud Wiser Lite. I am glad this year they decided to use plastic rings instead of those cast iron horse shoes they used the year before.

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Yes, Christmas is a time for sharing. I hope this is getting you into the Christmas spirit. And don’t forget, ya’ll, we are the high end of both the family gene pool and Montgomery County.

Selfie of Dr. Buddy T. Cat

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Thursday, December 10, 2015 – Throw Back Thursday – Magnolia High School 1954

Posted on December 10, 2015 | 1 comment

Thursday, December 10, 2015 – Throw Back Thursday – Magnolia High School 1954

Let’s get in the Wayback Machine and go way back in time to 1954. In going through my father’s things, I found four rolls of negatives identified as “MHS Senior Trip, 1954.” I had them developed and share a few with you today.

Magnolia High School, Magnolia, Texas – Graduating Class of 1954 – Senior Trip

The class and their sponsors, one of whom was Mr. Duffey – aka Honeyboy, my father and another, head football Coach Swann went on the Senior Trip. My father must have been the official photographer while Coach Swann was the bus driver. I cannot recall the other two sponsors, but I am sure a few readers will be able to identify them along with members of the Magnolia Class of 1954.

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In New Orleans. The alligator is probably still there.

They drove in a school bus with stops in New Orleans, on to

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and then to Florida.

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A quick show of hands – how many teachers/parents would like to take a group of “know it all” seniors on an unairconditioned school bus on an week long trip today?

Florida Frolicking – I think I see Giget and Moon Doggie.

As you look (and laugh) at the photos, look closely – they were styling for the times. They wore short shorts, cool caps, jeans rolled up over the ankles with bobby sox, cool sports coats, sunglasses that closely resemble today’s Ray-Bans, and struck some “I am pretty cool” poses. In fact, they look pretty awesome. So Happy Days to enjoy and remember.

How cool is this guy? James Dean had nothing on him.

The Ladies of the Class of 1954 showing the latest fashions of short shorts, Keds – the first leisure shoes for girls and obviously the most recent styles in ladies millinery. And sleeveless blouses! How scandalous.