A Re-Post from the past, to wish "All Ya'll a Merry Christmas

still true today... click on the link to "jump back" in time to the "future"'

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each and every one of you..Glenn

"The Sack"

 

http://glnroz33.blogspot.com/2009/12/sack.html

If You dont take time to listen to this Tape, I don't know what to Tell Ya.

John Henry Faulk was a Texan that carried controversity in his hip pocket, which is one of the reasons, I think, he never got his due recognition.

This is a Merry Chirstmas wish to you (even to those who might not believe in Christmas).  You decide whether you want to experience this Christmas story written and spoken by John Henry Faulk, but perhaps it is a lot of people's story also.

I hope you had a good year and a Happy Season and forward..Thanks, Glenn

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO LISTEN :AUDIO TAPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2PpV-T-q-I

 

 

.

 

I Apologize,,

I apologize to Ms. Eva and Ms. Bernie for deleting  their comment!

With my earlier draft I had mentioned that I would not publish comments on the previous post because of the "Political" nature of its content.

I was mistaken, thinking that I could put hold the comments "on hold" after posting.  Now I know that can't be done.

Again, Ms. Eva and Ms. Bernie,, I apologize

Glenn

Not Politics at Stake Here,,,just OUR PRIVICY and LIBERTY

I know that writing about POLITICS is a BAAAADDDD thing to do on a blog,,but PLEASE Read this and have a comment even if you don't post one.  Am I just being an OLD FOGGIE Codger or does anyone else see this as an intentional chipping away at our PRIVACY and LIBERTIES??

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57552225-38/senate-bill-rewrite-lets-feds-read-your-e-mail-without-warrants/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title

Serching for the On-ramp to Blog Return

To quote Mark Twain, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated”.  I am still around and looking back over the past year, I think it has been the most varied and busy one so far.

“All’yall” which is plural for “everyone”, if you live in the south, remember the tale of my Christmas night episode and the following several weeks.  The Boss had a full time “patient” to look after (me) for several weeks.  What you probably don’t know is that her dad, which was 92, became ill and was in and out of the hospital during this time frame.  Sadly, he passed away in June, but things were ok with him about his journey.  He had prepared for this situation which was a great part of his personality but it is not a short and easy process taking care of a person’s affairs.  The Boss had a large bundle to tote with all the legal and personal affairs of which needed tending.

 About three years ago my middle daughter adopted a one year old little boy from Russia. Then she, last year,  went through the process of adopting a newborn infant.   The mother changed her mind after the baby’s birth and the disappointment fueled the idea of another adoption.  She decided that an overseas adoption was less likely for the mother to “back-out”.  An adoption agency found a baby boy in The Republic of Congo and the process was started again.  A while into the adoption, the agency called my daughter and said, “We have access to another infant the same age but not the sister of the little boy”.  “Sure, why not”, my daughter’s instant reply.  Sooo, the two infants,  got here around middle summer.  The little girl, Adina, had a severe case of pneumonia.  We doubt that she was getting treatment in the Congo.  Pics to the left show "arrival" and then three months later.

My only “demand” was that she was not going to The Republic of Congo, having the other two to take care of.  Ye’uh , right, I have that much “say-so”, but as it turns out, her husband and his sister took the trip, was in the Congo for a week, several unexplained, to us, situations about getting out of there, the brave two young people got on a plane to Houston.  Immediately off the plane and directly to a hospital after the plane landed in Houston, then we could breathe a lot easier.   Treatment and a proper diet have allowed the little flowers to bloom.  I think that from this point forward I shall refer to them as my little “Menagerie of Mischief”.

 

Since my “episode”, I have felt soooo much better that I have accumulated a long list of things that needed tended around the old home place, re-roofing the barn, cleaning out the barn (6 pickup loads), general cleanup and trimming,,,oh and The Boss’s deck (added a storeroom to put left over stuff from her dad’s house, and ours)…..so guess what? Not much blogging or writing although I am still involved with The East Texas Writers Guild.  I hope to get back into “the stories” soon. 

 

I hope everyone is doing great, or at least OK.  I try to keep up with reading the posts, but have done a less that adequate job of commenting. 

Doe This "Ring A Bell" with any of Ya'll?

Ok Imma Bitin' It Off - UPDATE

A lotta things been going on around here, but thoughtt I would update ya'll on The Boss's backyard "reading deck"...It is slowing going for and Old Codger...I gotta git through with this thing so I can start on "The Hotel".  Reckon this thing will stand up under the Old Codger...I will walk softly...

"And They Don't Give a Damn"

It has been a while since I posted two days in a row but after watching two weeks of the "so called" political conventions I have about had a "bellyfull" of all the BS we are subjected to.

Sadly, I came across this story on Yahoo.  Old Codgers like me will remember this music maker that passed away today.  If we would follow more closely to the advice of this simple song from Joe South, a southern songwriter and performer, a whole bushel load of our nations problems could be solved. 

I invite you to take a short 3 minutes and see if this YouTube video has any effect on your thoughts,,at all.. Thanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMiutrnur0c

just click link,,, i couldn't get the video to embed

"Yep, The Sack"

This month our club, The East Texas Writers Guild, hosted a small contest with a sentence prompt;  In October I saw a barefoot girl with a brown paper sack under her arm walking along the highway.

I said "what the heck, let's see what happens."  So here is my attempt.

I saw it and I smiled.  An unusually warm evening for the week before Halloween brought my rocking chair to the front porch.  Living in the country did not mean you’d never see your neighbors.  Several were enjoying the evening walking up and down the road in front of the house in which I grew up. 

The barefooted girl walking by carrying a brown paper sack under her left arm caught my attention.  A slight grin kept anyone from having the first idea what she was thinking.  With Christmas being only a few months away, instantly my notion of a paper sack snapped my imagination.  Growing up, my daddy, and from the stories I heard about his daddy, Christmas was a time, for what my girls call “Pa(w) Pa(w) Sacks”.  Christmas morning brings small brown lunch sacks twisted shut. All sorts of treats restes inside the paper container.  The thought of the sweet and brightly colored ribbon candy causes my jaws to tighten and my saliva glands to kick in.  There is no way to eat these wavy pieces without a gluey sweet stream running down your chin and onto the appendages holding the slick object. These gooey treats along with the orange candy peanut marsh mellows in addition to an apple, an orange and a selection of seasonal nuts makes up these gifts. The contents varied little over the years.  This consistent pattern was only a small part of the larger pattern of the security of youth.   Growing up, we always listened to the stories about how these sacks were the highlight of the season.  Gifts were often small and inexpensive or non existent.  Everyone had faith that the sacks would be there.  Some years the “loot” would be a little heavier it seemed, but always the weight felt like a bundle of gold. The gold was not just what was in the sack but knowing with confidence and the meaning of its intention.

Times change and the leaves shed from the trees with the seeds bringing new growth.  Eventually the oak passes the tradition of dispersion to the younger sprouts while the oak is taken back into nature’s cycle. The “Pa(w)Pa(w) sacks still appear on Christmas morning. It’s a circle we all get to experience.  Where is this young “sack lady” in this cycle.  I wonder at first, what is in that brown paper bag?  She gives no clue with her sly smile but each step is true and with determination.  I didn’t ask her.  With a glance in my direction, I think I saw her lift her head a little higher and stretch her stride a little longer.  The sly grin was now a big smile.  Yep, I know what was in the little brown bag.

"What can I gitya?"

good morning folks,

Ya’ll have become acquainted with me and most of my moods.  I think I am a person with which is fairly easy to get along.  I got a small “gripe”.   Not with you folks and it ain’t a big one.

The Boss and I “eat out” a lot.  I mean a lot.  Hell, I buy her Christmas present in August and hide it in the oven until Christmas.  She ain’t found one yet.  She is visiting our middle daughter so I can talk about her.  Last night I stopped in at Cheddar’s after our writing meeting, for what we call in the South, “supper”.  We visit there on a frequent basis.  To me it is an upscale Dairy Queen on steroids, so you have to give them a little slack.  The food was good last night, and unlike several trips the food was hot. 

A few places that The Boss and I go, the waiter asks us if we will request them to be our waiters on our next trip.  I have two daughters and myself that worked in the restaurant industry in our college days;  I tip fairly, and toward the generous side if the waiter has made a good “showing”.  I am even lenient in what comprises a good “showing”.  Last night, it was only on the third (initial serving) glass of tea that I received the unsweetened version – and – I had to flag a separate waiter to bring the rolls (have to order separately) that I had requested.  The food came and it was good, so I was happy.

So see?  I am reasonable;  knowing that  a lot of youngsters now days see things differently than when I grew up.  I even heard the same things from the old folks when I was young.  “Long haired hippey, when ya gonna get a haircut?”  It was a sight to be seen.  The back of my hair actually touched my shirt collar.  “Them commie-freak Beatles are gonna be the end of our youth.”  I am getting off track here, but I just wanted to show that I understand the older generations misunderstanding of youth. The Boss has accused me of trying to “straighten out” these mislead young’uns with an explanation of what they obviously have missed.  Last night I decided I was going to skip any “lesson session”.

Case in point:  What is the waiter/waitress  thinking?   I haven’t really figured that out yet but I have a theory.  I want to know if any of you have ever experienced this situation.

You get your meal, you get drink refills,,sometimes,, and then you get you check.  That is about it.  Ok, you give the waiter cash.  (If you use credit or debit card then it is a different issue).   You figure the rate of tip 20-30% of food bill, I don’t use the tax as computation.  They bring back the change in dominations  and they are larger than the acceptable tip range.  I wonder how many people just leave the closest smaller amount using the one’s, ie singles.  Ok you may have guessed.  Because my daughters have told me this is the first and easiest lesson you learn when waiting table.  On the average, you are going to end up on the short end of the stick when the table leaves the lesser amount. 

Last night I decided that I was going to just go with the average;  one way she was going to be “shorted”  the other was that I was going to be long.  I was going to just let the chips fall where they landed.  You’re right .  It happened.  But,,these kids work hard and she was “working” instead of depending on someone else to tote her load so I relented.  I skipped the lecture about how this game works against her and let that part go.  I simply asked if she had a single dollar.  The tip should be about 2.60 and she brought back a five and two ones.  The food was good and to her credit there were a lot of people there so I was feeling a little sympathetic and I was going to give her the 5, take the one, and leave her 4.00 instead of the 3.00.  Her immediate response was;  “I brought you the right change.”  Ok, I wasn’t going to give here the “tip” that my daughters had learned early;  you bring small denominations and more often the customer will be more generous. (not my research).  I eventually had to say plainly, “Do you want a three dollar tip or a four dollar tip.”  She actually seemed to stop and have to consider my question.  Then, it seemed like a light went off in her head and she broke out in a big grin and said “ye’uh, four would be better.”  I don’t think it was the case with this young lady, but I am prone to believe that some think that you will always leave the larger, even though you have computed a proper amount.  Should I have explained any of this or just let her go on dealing herself a “short hand”?

"In a Bit,,," Repost

There is nothing like the glowing warmth of a campfire. Snapping and popping, the oak logs piled high with the yellow and orange flames squirting upward through the tightly stacked cracks from the bark still on the wooden fuel.

Too large to be intended for the fire, cut sections of trees served as resting stools for more than one annual trip to the familiar river bottom. Without confirmation, each has in intended occupant. Time has a way of etching routine without formality. The unceremonious act of who takes their place in cadence is stamped in time.
It seems one always has “one more thing” to sort out and put in its place. The last to take his place in line. The last to turn out the lantern. Beyond the reach of the campfires shine clattering of assorted gear indicates the restlessness. All, except this one, have gathered at their appointed places amongst the bark covered thrones.
“What are you doing out there? You gonna come on or what? We ain’t gonna wait all night.”

The strings are tuned and the whistles are wet. We wait momentarily.

“Well, are ya coming?”

From the darkness and damp, with clarity comes a chuckle and reply.

“In a bit, perhaps, you old codger, In a bit.”

The usual banter and ribbing of “always late” and “it’s gonna be daylight soon" offers a familiarity to the situation. We know we are going to have to wait. A round with flask and a dirge of song pushes the hour past.

The shifting of logs and flicker of flame, upward the embers struggle to rise. The glow still strong but not quite as bright, the warmth still surrounds us all. The sweetgum stump, awaits in quiet with sounds from just beyond. It seems the clatter is not intense as it was some time earlier.

“The music is old and bellies are full, if you’re coming on, then ya gonna have to do it soon. Not sure of the duration with this routine of fun.”

A chorus of laughter votes in favor of wit, but certainty not at all certain. Waiting for a reply I sit suddenly quiet as I listen for anticipated answer.

“In a bit, perhaps, when I finish. In a bit.”

The campfire out, the reminding ashes, what’s left of the mighty oak, a reminder that dawn is near. The river fog cloaks the forest near and water still between the banks flows. The cold ashes swirl about and, with a grin, I answer the wind’s invitation ; “are you coming”.

“In a bit, perhaps, you old codger, In a bit.”

CWM  "TOODLUMS"    July 24,1949  -  August 9, 2010

..

This Is NOT a Warm and Fuzzy Feeling,,Book

This is NOT a warm and fuzzy feeling book.  It is an exercise in Brinda Carey's healing process descibing an incredible story that is not an isolated incident.  This situation is more "common" than the "cold".  The Boss is a retired CPS worker and it is a shocking fact that these cases are epicemic in numbers. 

A member of our East Texas Writers Guild, Brinda Carey takes you through her experiences of growing up being "abused"; in several ways. 

In addition to her story, the book is a virtual treasure trove of phone numbers, websites and other ways to connect to groups and associations to help curb this cancer on our society. I bought a book to give away,  I started reading it at the office and continued that night (reading my hardbound copy) until I finished the story.  The soft cover, I am  giving to anyone that asks for it.  If more than one asks for it, I will make a "number lot" and have someone at the office to draw the winning number.

Even if you don't buy the book, (but it is loaded with information on warning signs and other helpful information), please drop by her website and give her a note of support.  The won't take long..

Let me know if you are interested in the "free raffle".

Thanks,,

http://www.brindacarey.com/

Ok,, I am bite'n It Off

Bite'n off more than one can chew is sometimes right up my alley.  Zig Ziegler,  who is a master motivational speaker, once wrote in the foward of his upcoming book that he weighed much less than what he actually did at the time.  He figgered that in six months, at 2 pounds a day it would be a snap.  In fact, it would be so easy that he waited another 3 months to even start his diet.  Well, old Zig is never wrong in my book,,, This Old Codger decided that I needed a "playhouse".  A room, buidling, or hut down by the barn in which to do some "reed'n, rite'n and no rithmatic", so I mentioned this to The Boss.

"Ok, but what about the outside, covered reading deck that you promised to build for me?"  (Now you imagine her look for yourself.)

"OK, Dear,, but I was going to do that and not tell you and let it be a surprise."..(Now imagine the look I got with that.)  "But now I guess it won't be a surprise."  (Ok I know that is lame, but whadda ya gonna do?)

So, I have been working on her deck and it is coming along pretty much on schedule. 

I see you there a'thinkin',,,"what the hell does that have to do with Old Zig?  Well, I will tell you.  Zig talks about his momma trying to get him to do this, that and another, and she would say "Zig, you're just like Grandma's biscuits,,,she used to say 'they squated to rise and got caught in the squat'."  Ok, I will translate;  you have to push to keep going in order to reach your goal, so just like Zig saying that he weighed much lessat the time but had time to lose,  I have "named" my playhouse, (actually the design has developed into a larger room that will sleep one of my girl's families - with a small bathroom)..We'll just have to see how far i get with that.  So to "take my oversized bite "and see if I can chew it,  I am showing you the sign that I made that will hang on the front porch above my rocking chair...  Ok, time for me to "chew".  Now, I will have to hurry up with the "Grammy Deck", and get started on my project.  It wouldn't hurt if ya'll gave me a nudge of encourage every now and then by saying, "How's the hotel a'comin'?"  Rates will be reasonable  :)  :)

Field of Dreams or just Day Dreams

Not much of a story… to most. We all know where most of the boundaries lie. We have all kinds of signs What is the speed limit? I dunno. Well look for a sign, Duffus. We all know they are there. It gives some sort of comfort to know they are there. Sometimes you have to LOOK. How did you learn what that road sign meant. Somebody probably told you. Others have to experiment and learn about the wonders of technology. Radar. Still in a way that is a sign. This posted photo is a sign. Now that you have glanced back at the pic and have asked yourself, “ Has he lost his ever loving mind”?

Nope, Yep, well I dunno, but here’s how it goes.

Back before color television and video games and every kind of sport imaginable, there was “little league” boy’s baseball. I know, I know all you weemen liber’s ( I got three daughters, remember?), ya’ll are going to say “We didn’t get to play baseball back then”. Well, that is a different story and different day.

The season was short, not like today, where the extra games, play-offs and such, go nearly all summer long. You got at it and got it over with, but in those few short seasons, each learned about guidelines. Rules- Rules- Rules. Why so many rules? I dunno. To keep honor and chaos in its rightful spot, I suppose, and at times it did.

You learned that the “Dads” were engineers, coaches, councilors, medics, and on and on. The field had been neglected for years. A Dad with a host of other Dads cleared brush and mowed until you could see where the old field was. Chicken wire was restrung on the back stop. I don’t know who paid for the chicken wire but I can tell you it was from the community.

Everyone’s Dad worked. Coaching time was after that. Part of the “coaching” was that if the coach was late or couldn’t make it, you practiced anyway, on your own. The Dads umpired. You didn’t give your Dad or anyone’s Dad any lip. You did not want to be “out” the second time. There was amble transportation. Yep; Moms and Dads. Somebody’s parent had to leave early. Yep, hitch a ride with somebody’s Mom or Dad. Maybe even eat supper with them. Do you see a pattern here?

Socialization. That term has just about worn me out. Play baseball for a season with these mentioned guidelines and you will get plenty of socialization. Who bats first? Who bats fourth? What is the difference? I know. Do you? Everybody gets to bat. You barely had enough to field the team anyway; wealthy, poor, and in between. “It’ll all even out in the end”; ( title of a great song a friend of mine wrote, different story and different day). You showed up every time. Practice or game, you were there because the others couldn’t play if you were not there to be part of the team.

I could go on and on, and probably will with a lot of stories about the “players” that I encountered on this field of dreams. Yep; quite a few of them too. About the PHOTO? Oh, like the story, not much. If you can use your imagination, you are looking from the home run fence back down the right field fence line. If you LOOK veeerrry closely, you will see HOME.  Yep, and a sign of the past.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

The newspaper was lying openly on the coffee table. My father in law had left it open in order to ask if I knew the man in the photo. I did. He had made for me a couple signs. The detail is cut by a computer and they can be applied to a smooth surface. The article explained how he had bought the old movie theater. It had been storage building for an appliance store for many years and he hopes to renovate it back to a theater. It was known that I had an interest in saving old buildings of all sorts but movie houses were especially intriguing to me. I made a mental note to drive by and look at the progress myself.

The rumble of the diesel pickup engine died away and the Sunday morning was deathly quiet. I had a perfect parking spot; within twenty feet of the ticket booth. I sat in my truck listening to the clicking of the hot engine cooling. I got out of the truck and walked under the awning. An earnest smile stretched across my face. The last time I had been to this movie house was still fresh on my mind. I can’t remember the title but it was an English movie. It had a police chase scene that lasted most of the movie and I was forever confused about the siren noise. Years later I realized all European police cars made the same sound. I was a small boy, about ten or eleven years old. I was in the fourth grade. This was the same night the junior high building burned to the ground.

The front entrance was locked and the ticket window was boarded up. The side of the building had a large door used for the emergency exit. The construction men were using this door because of its location to the main theater. I turned the knob. It was unlocked and the door opened easily. A broken brick propped against the bottom held it open allowing a large shaft of sunlight through its opening. Stepping inside, it only took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. There was no resemblance to its earlier years. Plaster had almost completely fallen away from the red brick structure wall. About a half dozen metal folding chairs haphazardly arranged themselves around an ancient wood burning heater. This must be what a dungeon must smell like. Dampness and mold mingled with wild animal excrement. What a mess.

Being careful of where I placed my steps, I made my way toward the concession stand area. Without warning the exit door slammed shut. The noise cracked off the brick wall and echoed back from when the stage one stood. Eternal blackness was complete. A person’s first instinct is to put their hand in front of their face. My hand was not there, or at least it was not visible. A touch to the forehead confirmed the darkness. Logic is an unarmed alley in the battle of panic. A mental retracing of my steps around broken glass, rusty nails and other debris hampered my ability to find the exit. Not even a sliver of light seeped its way around the rickety door frame. If I waited a few minutes, hopefully my eyesight would further adjust to the blackness. They did not adjust.

I have heard that when you lose one sense, another will compensate to make up for that loss. Surely that was happening. The atmospheric interpretation changed. The cool air felt filtered and refined. Pungent mold odors morphed toward a hint of corn oil. Visions of molten yellow butter laced around the distinct memory of popcorn. They obviously were cleaning the snack bar area and had yet to clear away the years of spilled ingredients. No? The sharp report of filth was lacking. Sliding my feet instead of taking steps, a stationary object obstructed my movement; I bumped my knee. Reaching forward, searching for identification, I recognized the feel of an upholstered seat back. The cloth was cool and dry to the touch. A brocade patter was consistent across the entire back. Moving my hand downward I could recognize the shape as being a seat familiar to most move houses I had visited. I stood until my balance was steadied. If I sat for a few minutes surely my vision would adapt. The seat was soft and comfortable. I rested my elbows on the arm rests.

Stone quietness has a way of screeching. This was not that. Electronic scratching erupted from the darkness straight ahead. I relaxed my grip on the arm rests. My hands were going numb. Instantly the white reflection was blinding…..



 
  http://www.youtube.com/embed/6W4_mUBWxwU?rel=0" 

The screen faded to black. A soft blueish glow through frosted diffusing panels scatted along both wall casts a hazy hue throughout the theater. Small white lights at the end of each row of seats illuminated the carpeted isles toward the rear entrance. On the left east wall a white box with glowing red letters marked the side EXIT. My initial though; I will sit awhile and enjoy the event but the door opened and a bright shaft of sunlight eased its way into the chamber. The house lights dimmed. I knew it was time to go.

As I looked at the peeling paint from the stately marquee, I sat in my truck listening to the clicking of the hot engine cooling.

A fun Place to Drop By and Visit "Tin Star Ranch Hand"

A few weeks back I re-upped my Facebook account and was reunited, rather quickly, with some of my old high school buddies.  I think I am joined in opinion with almost all of them that we had a  unique friendship amongst us all.  We all had very fond memories of each other and our teachers.

One of these folks spent his career with the Texas Department Public Safety, one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the state and in my opinion any where,,,but that aint the point.  He has had a Blog for quite sometimes and it has some very good (interesting and humorous) stories.  It's hot and you may not want to go outside and play in the heat of the day, so I recommend that you drop by and say "howdy" to the old TIN STAR RANCH HAND.  I think the pleasure will be yours.  Tell him that old Glenn Bert "sent'cha"

http://tinstarranchhand.blogspot.com/

"Dry Docked" Me and Toodlums

Another repost to expose my new found high school mates to an adventure with a school mate (that has passed on)...and myself...

Carlus Wayne Morgan, AKA;  Toodlums

“Dry Docked”

Women are the only ones that do dumb things. Men always have a reason, even if they don’t really need one.

You have met him before, but I have to keep changing his name so that I don’t have to pay him royalties. From here on, in this episode of adventure, I will refer to him as “Todlums”. Todlums and I have been running together since we were about twelve years old. He was over at the office just last Friday. I invited him to lunch but I knew I was safe from buying his lunch, because he is always late, but that is another story and this is this one.

I bought a boat, but first. My brother in law and I bought a dump truck. We hired another brother in law’s brother to drive that dump truck. You have to follow this real close now. With no fault of his ,he (the brother in law’s brother) rolled the dump truck down the side of an iron ore mountain. I am not talking about on the wheels. I am talking about on one side, on the top, on the other side. Etc. The insurance company was quick and efficient. I mis-spoke earlier. We bought a boat. I do not recommend this process, just buy the boat first.

One Monday night I called Todlums.

“Let’s go fishing tomorrow.”

“You don’t like to go fishing.”

“I do now, I got a boat - pause - and some beer”.

“OK.”

“Come on RIGHT now, you are going to stay here tonight so you want be late tomorrow.”

“OK.”

A gloriously beautiful day it was. The sky looked like it was spray painted with sky blue paint. The wind was very light causing hardly a ripple on the entire lake. It was seasonably warm. The humidity was high. We took a short swim before off to the scaly creature’s habitat we did go. In Texas, I am pretty sure it is a law that you cannot fish close to where you “put in’the boat. You must, I am sure, straddle in, life jacket up, slowly ease away from the lake bank and then run wide open until you can no longer see the vehicle that brought you to the event. We did this with professional precision. With speeds reaching excess of plenty fast enough. Water spray provided a feeling of cooled jubilation.

“How about here?”

“OK.”

“Let’s drink a beer first; it’s hot.”

“OK.”

There is nothing like the sound of puepussstt echoing across a smooth glimmering lake. I placed the Cloud’s Pleezin Po-Boy sandwich on the bow of the boat to bask in the morning sun. They would be perfectly heated by the time lunch rolled around. It is just hard to explain the allure of such an event. After the first refreshment, it was noticed that we probably weren’t in the best fishing spot on the lake. It was determined that before we got our gear all wet and tangled, we would go to that cove over yonder. In a few minutes, we got to “over yonder” and killed the engine.

“Man, this is the spot. let’s drink a beer before we start.”

Puepussst,,,,,puepussstt .

“We are going to catch ‘em today, man’alive. Just as soon as I finish this I am gonna bait up.”

“Have you ever been over to The Landing?”

“No, but I know a fellow, who’s buddy catches big’uns every time he goes over there.”

“Gimme one of those sandwiches and a beer before we head out that-a-way.”

The Landing was sure to hold treasures of sightseeing even if a fish never flops. No luck there either. This went on pretty much all day. A safe bet would be that the spinning prop got more fish than was caught by the total number of angles that day. I have seen a gazillion bumper stickers that read Any Day Spent Fishing is better than the Best Day Working. I am convinced that included the fact if you never wet your hook. This was one of those days, but the horizon was reaching up toward the flaming orb. It was time to head to la casa.

The sixteen foot bass boat glided effortlessly up onto the sandy beach. I told Todlums to jump out and back the trailer down the ramp. I would do the obligatory redneck circle with the boat and drive it onto the trailer. He would then pull me and the boat up the ramp. This can only be done by a man wearing a feed store cap and preferably the sleeves cut out of an old faded denim shirt. I was fixed, plus a half-finished Travis Club Senator cigar made by Finch Tobacco Company, San Antonio, Texas, clinched dead center in my mouth finished the list. This was going to be a snap.

Todlums got into his ‘62 Chevrolet pickup truck and only on about the fourth try got the trailer backed far enough into the water. Finishing up the ceremonial circle, the boat slid up on the trailer and its belly found the supporting cradle. Peering through the back glass of the pickup, Todlums was watching with anticipation for my signal. That’s when I spotted it. The Chevy was a three speed on the column and the shift lever was sticking straight up. The transmission was either in second gear or still in reverse. Now you tell me which one it was.

I certainly did not want to look silly in front of the scattered strangers around the loading dock so for caution’s sake, I yelled out to Todlems.

“Be sure it is in LOW (gear).”

Todluns thought I said, “I’m ready let’s go.”

The truck’s engine roared to life. There was an acute backward movement of the blue truck. Hell bent for bassacwards we went. The rear of the truck souged off into the lake until the tail pipe was blowing bubbles like a trapped whale breaking wind. Todlums was still looking out the back glass right at me; eyes bigger’n dinner plates. Before the whole truck got under water, Todlums had sense enough to hit the brake which slung the boat backwards, squirting off the trailer. I, Captain boat-pilot, had it under control. No problem. The boat was driven from the front swivel seat. The throttle was on the right side and the steering stick was on the left. Sitting tall and unnerved, I yanked back on the steering stick to twist the boat left and I showered down on the throttle to the peg. The moss green Kingfisher lurched forward like a big frog and rammed snugly against the bow stop. Evenrude was squealing at top lung. Todlums recognized the error of his direction and stabbed the gear shift into sure enough low gear. Out we started. The trailer once again dislodged from under the fiberglass watercraft. The boat prop caught hold and forward we went back onto the trailer. This one was going to be one for telling about. About a third way up the ramp, in all the excitement, the six cylinder pickup engine coughed and almost died. Todlums pushed in the clutch and raced the engine to top RPM’s.,,and jumped off the clutch. One more time, backwards I was headed. The trailer was built to tilt in the middle for easier loading and when center of gravity was reached, the back of the boat crashed onto the concrete ramp. Todlums was on his way, so, in short time, the full length of the boat was resting quite firmly on its belly. The back of the boat and motor prop were still slightly in the lake. Boat motor was still at full scream. Mud and water was reaching tree top heights and mud was raining down like from a slop filled volcano. Women and children. were running and screaming, hiding behind trees. One old dog was barking and jumping up and down. Everyone was in general disarray.

Todlums got to the top of the hill. ( to this day, I don’t believe that he knew what happened until he got out of the truck.) He came running down the ramp and stopped in a linebacker’s stance and just stood there in total bewilderment. The noise was deafening. A fellow fisherman standing next to a picnic table was hunkered over, shielding his beer cooler from the falling mud pies. He was bent at the knees and his brow was furrowed down to the top of his big nose. His mouth was all twisted up in a snarl, with his three teeth showing. His squint indicated that he was not totally convinced that he was seeing what he saw. He was holding his hand out making a silly twisting motion. Finally I realized that he was indicating for me to turn off the motor. I slowly reached over and clicked the ignition off. If was absolutely quiet; the cigar still in its rightful location. The only sound heard was mud splats from falling lake bottom mixed with seaweed and the swinging stainless steel basket fastened to the inside rail of the boat, holding my last beer, swishing back and forth; Skerrshh, Skerrshh, Skerrshh.

Thanks Coach, I needed that

Just another "re-post" linked to FB.  I apologize if you fellow bloggers feel tricked into a site visit..maybe i don't feel too bad :)

I am tired.  Tired of this, tired of that…  I often find myself wrestling with things that other people are able to just leave alone. 

Nope, I am not going to gripe on a particular subject.  I am going to talk about a solution;  I hope.

As with almost all my teachers, my coaches had a big influence on my up-binging.

I would like to see a few, or even maybe a lot of things to be different. Things that are hindering me from which I might want to go or do.  Barriers, or at least obstacles, can sometimes get in the way.  It can be anything.  Imagine yourself and the things that are blocking your progress; business, school, reading writing, ‘rithmetic.  Maybe ailments.  I know I have a bushel load of those too.  It has to be something though, doesn’t it?  Something is always causing the soup to be a little too salty.

Then I remembered.  I seem to do more of that, now that the snow is gathering on the mountain, if you know what I mean. It has been a looonnngggg time since I was in high school.  Things change.  Those that have seen a glimpse of my stature, you can see that it might be described as robust.  I am not overweight.  Even though at 6’2”, I am just too short for the comparison scale to match my weight.  You might find this hard to believe but in high school, I ran track.  Hurdles.  I know, not your normal idea of a hurdler, but that is not the point.  I enjoyed a small level of success in this effort.  That is not the point either.  Wait, maybe it is.  I don’t know.

Our school was hosting a track meet with a large number of other schools.  The school had a tradition of excelling with its track program therefore a large number of schools wanted to come to our meets.  In most of the running events, because of the large number of participants, preliminary races or trials are run to determine the fastest times in each heat.  The finals were then run at the end of the meet to determine the ranking of the runners in that event.  The preliminary times were not as important as long as they were fast enough to make the “cut” for the final races. I was fortunate enough to make the finals in one of the events.  I truthfully cannot remember exactly which particular event.

Time came for the final event in that category to be run.  The coach and I were talking about “go, go, go” type of stuff.  He mentioned that I did not have the fastest time in the “pre-lims” and it had been nowhere close to my best times. It was a very cordial type of conversation.  My response was immediate, and was, I felt, true, “But Coach, it is raining!”  I am sure you can agree that I had a good point. 

I cannot remember seeing “Coach” without his Beechnut chew, and I never saw him spit; ever. He also was a robust man.  The race was ready to start and the starting blocks were in place.  He walked gingerly about twenty feet out in front of all the runners.  Stretching both arms out parallel, still chomping, he turned two 360 degree turns very slowly.  The other participants looked at me as if I had any clue about what he was doing.  I just shook my head.  The man with the starter pistol even looked at me. Coach swaggered back to where I was standing, grinned and shook his head in an affirmative nod. 

“Well, Bert, you are in luck”

“Coach, what in the heck are you doing and talking about?”

“No, excuses, I have determined that it is raining in all lanes.”

The starter pistol went off echoing against the brick walls of the gym and high school buildings. The race went well.

Again,,,”Thanks Coach, I needed that.”

Jump to Invictus/Crowded Hallway

http://glnroz33.blogspot.com/2010/02/invict-us.html

click on link above to jump

Not a "Weekly Reader"

Brain twister that I saw written this morning.. See if you can read it?

Good example of a Brain Study: If you can read this you supposedly have a strong mind:

7H15 M3554G3

53RV35 7O PR0V3

H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N

D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5!

1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5!

1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG

17 WA5 H4RD BU7

N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3

Y0UR M1ND 1S

R34D1NG 17

4U70M471C4LLY

W17H 0U7 3V3N

7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17,

B3 PROUD! 0NLY

C3R741N P30PL3 C4N

R3AD 7H15.

I think is says,,,"Tiem ofr a Nap"

"Recolections"

Just a rec-col-lecting "Recolections"

just click on the site at the bottom to "jump" one more time..

http://glnroz49.blogspot.com/2010/03/ghost-from-past.html

Quick link to post old Stories for Facebook (maybe)

Just posting to try a link to a couple of old stories:
"Who is the Dairy Queen?"

click link and scroll down to ",,Dairy Queen"


http://www.glnroz49.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-03-08T14:42:00-08:00&max-results=7&start=14&by-date=false

Shameless "PLUG"

If anyone out there reads this,,,,I have a shameless "plug" for a couple of our writers' guild members who are allowing Free Downloads of their books. One is a standalone sequel to another book http://www.facebook.com/pages/C-R-Myers/172647982840194



and another one tells of a family tragedy.
...
http://brindacarey.com/

The price is right,,,you will be rewarding a couple of good up-coming authors as well as rewarding yourself..
Thanks,, GlenRose

A Thought from our Writers Guild Meeting Last Night

A fellow member of our writers guild was working on a "post" for his website and he shared this idea with me last night.  Thanks, Marvin, I will post a link to your article as soon as you get it posted but I couldn't wait.  I remember this as a youngster and now as an Old Codger it is more true today.  Please spent 4 minutes and watch this video by Red Skelton...Thanks, Glenn



http://youtu.be/TZBTyTWOZCM

..

"Where have all Ya'll Been"?

Some of us “old timers” remember a popular song by Johnny Rivers with which we ground a lot of cornmeal  into the hardwood floors of various Texas “honky-tonks” during the 60’s and 70’s.

I hadn’t thought of this old favorite for many years until I was looking for a topic for my return to the “blog-us-fear”.  Most have probably not noticed but I have been a little slack in keeping up with my posting and commenting on all my favorite blogs, but those of you who may have notice my absence, I figured I would kind of fill in the blanks of “how come”this has been.

Christmas is noted for being a time for surprises.  We had a great Christmas day.  I cooked a dressing and “The Boss” and I added all the extras and took lunch to her 92 year old Dad, who still lives at home.  We had a grand time.  The girls were going to gather at our house later Christmas day, so we returned home and started the “dressing routine” all over again. My goodness, the grandkids were a joyous bunch.  Squealing and a hollerin’, jumping, riding in the new John Deere sideboard wagon, American girl doll sleigh riding, cap guns along with a long list of other gadgets. 

All tuckered out, the kids, and some adults hit the hay pretty early.  The Boss and I usually stay up with the bunch that likes to talk and visit.  This is always a pretty good size group, but finally around 1:30 am everyone finally gave in to weariness.  That cool sheet on my bed felt great.  The Boss takes longer to get her list covered so she was still up around 2:00am, when I woke up.  No need to cover all the technical parts of my self-diagnosis, but I will jump to the part where I said, “Boss, meet me in the van, I need to go have my blood pressure checked.”  With little commotion, I told my youngest daughter, “don’t wake the others, I am going to have my BP checked and we will call you.  You can explain if anyone wakes up.”

Skipping over the details of the tubes, wires and vampire visits from the ER room, the next morning the cardiologist visited and said we would do the “dye routine”, but he thought he could treat the heart attack with just medicine due to the fact that I had immediately take a couple of aspirins on the way to the ER and fast reactions in getting to the hospital, damage seemed to be less than usual. A second option would be placement of one or more stints, or a less likely would be a bypass operation.  The next morning, we did the ”dye routine” and surprise, surprise I won what was behind door number 3.  He showed me the picture of the procedure’s results and he didn’t have to do much explaining.  Friday, I took a three- four hour nap while I received a triple bypass for a late Christmas present...

And you are thinking, ”What the hell does that have to do with Johnny Rivers?”  The next day, The Boss was showing me the “dye” picture again and I pretty much knew that at some point I would be writing this blog and out of the blue came a line of the chorus from this old Johnny Rivers song.  The publishers are just going to have to sue me for changing the words, but these changes reflect perfectly with what I thought at that moment.

                        So ta-ack a goo-ud look at my face

                You see my smi-ile, it’s back on my face

                Now look closer, it’s easy to trace

                “The tracks of My Years”...

(not actual pic,  The Boss has the real one somewhere,,lol)