"Boss" come Look-A-Henuah !!!

Talking to "The Boss":   "Get-n-henuh" and look at this" !!!
It was a rainy early spring Sunday afternoon, The Boss was in the bedroom reading and I was "flipping" through the channels.  It was too rainy to be outside or walk down to the barn.
     I clicked onto the CMT (Country Music Television, I think) and there were two young ladies in a "second time around shop" and they looked right familiar.  I am a Fred Sanford sort of person myself so I stopped there for awhile. Pretty soon they mentioned "here comes Mom and Dad."  They came on to the scene, I raised up in my recliner and hollered " (see opening line).
  "What is it?"  The Boss doesn't like to be interrupted in the middle of a good book.
  "Come in here and see if this is who I think it is."
  "Just tell me what you think."
  "No, get in here."
Me getting the Evil Eye, she came into the den. 
   "Who is that?" 
   "I can't see.  I have on my reading glasses."
    "It's Phillip Sikes."




Some of you that read this who are from my area will know him and his family from A. J.'s Pizza in Overton, Texas.  That was where I had a one horse lumber and hardware store when I first moved back from South Carolina.   My Yankee and far off friends would not have had the pleasure of ever having one of their great pizzas.  That time era was fifteen (15) years ago and I had not seen or talked to Phillip since they moved from Overton so you should be able to imagine the grin I had on my face.


This past weekend The Boss and I took a "no plans" mini-vacation to Bastrop (Texas)and surrounding area.  On the way back Saturday, I saw a sign "Round Top Road".  Sliding gravel and a little too tight right turn we were headed to Round Top, Texas.  Good directions from a local and five minutes, we turned into the Junk Gypsy store.  Phillip and gang were not there but we had a great time browsing the store and talking to the very friendly and helpful staff.  We got there late but had about 30 minutes to look around and get suggestion on a great place to have supper and a local bed and breakfast.  I left a note, fake pizza order, and my telephone number. 


We call the lady for the bed and breakfast:  "We are in Brenham and are going to a movie in a little while and yes we happen to have one room open.  No there is no key, it is unlocked, first room at the top of the stairs.  Just leave the front door unlocked for the others, we don't have any crime in Round Top."


Phillip and I had a great telephone chat today and I am looking forward to getting back in that area.  In the meantime, take a few minutes and do some "Google-ing" and see how much fun you will have seeing how a couple of young ladies and their parents dropped what they didn't like and started doing what they love.  I heard many times, "do what you love and you will never work a day in your life"
Their second season is scheduled to being June 12.

http://junkgypsyblog.com/


http://gypsyville.com/

Our Education System is Losing Its Mind

You know sumthin' ? I don't build furniture for a profession and I never did...BUT,,as a last minute choice of a senior elective class...Coach Pat "Poogie" Camp's woodshop class has stayed with me more or as much as any other subject that I took,,,building material sales/distribution and caststone manufacturing was the forks in the road that I traveled. Every day I use principles and procedures that I leaned in that wood shop..."If you are gonna do it,,do it right... I have seen the "rubber hammer" do its number in Coach Camp's hand more than once..."Now, put it back together correctly"... Oh and do NOT sweep a big chunk of wood into the sawdust collection system... Reckon?

Mike Rowe has something here,,, less than 2 minutes to watch

http://youtu.be/b50_bRcUi00

Reverently Remembered

Seventy seven (77) years ago yesterday, shortly before school turned out for the day, an event happened that changed the life of East Texas forever.
I graduated from this high school in 1968 therefore I knew none of the students or teachers from that fateful day.  I do know some of the relatives of the survivors.  It was not talked about very much when I was in school, the pain was still too great.  It is also too painful of a memory today, but more is written about the event and I think it is important that we pay homage to the ones that lost their lives that day.






Google "New London School Explosion" for more reading and click on link for a local news story.






http://www.kltv.com/story/25006091/a-look-back-77-years-after-the-new-london-school-explosion?utm_content=bufferb2426&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Repost,, haven't written anything lately but this is still timely.

 

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

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”.

My reply: “In a bit, perhaps, you old codger, In a bit.”

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

May Issue of East Texas Writers Guild newsletter, The Next Chapter

I you would like to look over, this is the May newsletter for The East Texas Writers Guild;

The Next Chapter.

http://etwritersguild.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/TNC-May-2013.pdf

"The Possum",, another Texan Gone...

...Who's gonna fill his shoes,,Who's gonna stand up Tall?
Who's  gonna sing the "Opery",,, and tha The Wabash Cannon Ball"?

I don't know a country (Texas) "picker" that has not worn out a pick-up load of git-tar strangs picking  George Jone's songs.

http://youtu.be/xi3GgoLtlWk



http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/04/26/george-jones-dead-country-superstar-was-81/?intcmp=features

Wanna See What's Happening At or EAST TEXAS WRITERS GUILD

Instead of reposting my article here, right now, you can just click on link

 

 http://etwritersguild.org/ 

 

and then Click on  the  (red)The Next Chapter April 2013 and you can read the "pdf" .  My article is on the second page.

(read the entire thing)

 

 

I hope to get back to writing stoies in the near future.  I haven't forgotten "all-ya'll",,, It's just been kinda crazy down this way..

Thanks, Glenn