Jennie Anderson (Dylan)

 How artsy, but Stephen, where is the browse button?  How do you make them move?  I'm on a mission to do this!

Stephen Ray Puckett

I sent you an e-mail message about this. 

Steve, wishing it will go well for you.

Ingrid Sears (Spiteri)

Bernard, no need to feel like a latter day kook...didn't intend to make you feel that way.  You had some good comments and I like Richard's take on everything.

Robbie, I guess old age and California has corrupted me.

John Leediker

Greetings from Arizona.....just to add to Benard's points.....we ALREADY have a tax on our food. It went into effect earlier this year. In a couple of weeks there is a vote to raise the state sales tax by another 1%....and we've had state income tax ever since I've lived here....21 years as of this year. I am sure you all have probably read about our new law making it a crime in AZ to be an illegal immigrant.....that is getting us lot's of attention......pretty much makes racial profiling a legal thing.....what's next? I just heard on the news that the first "roundups" are scheduled to start tomorrow.....if you come to visit in AZ....don't forget your passport :) I read above some comments about cataracts....forgot who it was.....but I have had the lenses in both eyes replaced now due to cataracts.....nice thing is I am back to having perfect vision again. Surgery on your eyes can seem like a scary thing, but it is not bad and the results are remarkable.

Take care all......

-John (legal in AZ)

Jan Barnes (Nimtz)

Speaking of whirling & spinning, try watching my new toy in the 45 mph wind gusts we had yesterday.  Been wanting one of these for years and just had it fabricated & installed.  It is a 'toy' as it is purely ornamental (even at 30') and not functional at least for pumping water or providing wind energy that is.  But it is perfectly designed and to the scale of a real one.  If anyone in south central Texas is interested, I know a young man who is looking for business. 

My new hobby is sitting on the porch watching it spin until I get vertigo.

Richard Meek

Jennie, I think your philosophy of the glass half full is great. I know you reinforce that with your bike riding, getting the endorphins flowing.

Steve, send me the instructions you sent Jennie if you will. I'm such a computer neanderthal that I need all the help I can get!

Ingrid, remember we're deleting the words old and old age. You stay fiesty. . . kicking and screaming, right?

BJ, don't hesitate to interject things into the Forum. It stimulates people's thought processes. For those of you who haven't thought about it in a while get a copy of Rudyard Kipling's poem, "IF". It's a good philosophy anytime but particularly in times like we're having now. It's time for people like most of us that have moderate views on things start getting their backs up and letting politicians know what you think. Remember Peter Finch (?) in the movie Network.  ."I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore"? It's time we stopped letting people on the right or left fringe dictate things because they're organized. You don't have to participate in marches,, just talk to people you know, part in dialogs like this, send letters to all your elected officials.. I'm sure we're all tired of being taxed to death and feeling like we're not getting much for it.

If anyone could help get Sheila Jackson Lee defeated in the upcoming election I would be for ever grateful! Sorry, got on a little rip there. Elected officials listen to their constituents. Ask Ken Armbrister. When I did some lobbying in Austin and Ken was a senator, he could hardly wait to hear what I had to say. Right Ken?

John, how do you think most of the people in AZ feel about the new law? I get the impression that AZ has a bigger problem than TX with illegal immigrants than but I think the courts will eventually strike it down. I'm not sure the states have the authority to do some of the things they're trying to do and it's a super highway for civil rights abuse.

Keep on dancing,

Rich

Jan Barnes (Nimtz)

To Ingrid and everyone else...

"Do not resent growing old.  Many are denied the privilege."

Bernard Brady

Jan-

I have long admired your profile photos and now a genuine windmill.

Wow!  You are living the dream, girl.

Seriously, I sometimes reflect on the fact that some of my very best friends

never made it to age 40. One of my dearest- David Seto Of Reagan High fell

out of a tree while exterminating hornets when he was 23. Left a wife and a one year

old daughter. I never quite got over that one. Live every day to its fullest- BJ

Kay Watters (Greene)

Hmmmmm.....the old Cork Club.  I spent a New Year's Eve there in 1967.  Kissed Wayne Newton, wwwweeeelllll, actually if you went onstage to get a kiss at midnight, he would kiss you, peck, peck.  We were guests of an oil executive.  Brought back memories,

The windmill is truly a "looker" - it would be great to have one to aireate my pond.

have a good weekend all.  BJ, glad you are also on the Forum.

Richard Meek

Jan, the area around Boerne is really great.  Back in the early to mid '80s I went to several management retreats at the Guadalupe River Ranch (it was owned at one time by Olivia de Haviland). Do you know if it is still operating? What a relaxing place to spend a few days. We used to go over to Comfort also. And stop at the Sister Creek Winery in Sisterdale. Tried to buy an old house there, built in the 1800s, to restore. Never could strike a deal on it. I guess God was looking after me on that one.

Do you remember the late 80s movie, Milagro Beanfield War? There is a character in it named Amarante Cordova. Amarante is a pretty senior guy so every morning when he wakes up he looks in the mirror and says "God, thank you for giving me another day!" A good way to start every day! If you haven't seen it get a copy and watch it. It is excellent! It was directed by Robert Redford. Some other suggestions for your weekend viewing; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Half Moon Street, Goin South(Jack Nicholson  ) & Eye of the Needle. Enjoy

Stephen Ray Puckett

Jan asked for my help making her windmill spin.

Sure, easy:

See, I fixed it...

Bernard Brady

Stevie Ray-

Nice job on the windmill.

I've seen those. Back in my drinkin days...

You are one of my long term heroes !

Bernard

Jennie Anderson (Dylan)

I'm getting addicted to seeing what funny pictures and words are going to pop up on the forum!

Richard, you should retire from the insurance business and become a travel agent and wine connoisseur.  Better still, run for Sheila's office.  She ABSOLUTELY infuriates me.  I'll be your campaign manager!  You won't win though.  NO ONE seems to be able to beat her!  She's my representative too!    

Today, my mission is figure out how to make pictures move on this site among other things!!!!!

I hate this oil spill, as I'm sure you do too!  Didn't we learn anything from Alaska, like containment at the site, like ways to dissolve it before it ruins habitats, like, and probably the most important, having a series of ways to shut off the oil, so it won't keep flowing out! This could have been better handled and I hope heads roll!  I'm not a lover of big oil companies and the ways they spend their money!

Jan, I would love to come one day and sit on your porch.  

John Leediker

Robby, carrying the passport while in Tucson is a good idea.....but guard it closely as those are hot items for getting stolen. How often do you get to Tucson? I was there on Wed. to call on one of my customers, Raytheon. Richard, I agree, the immigration law faces a lot of scrutiny over the coming months. Arizona really needs fed help on the border issue.....too many drug thugs are crossing daily and bringing drugs and trouble into the USA. It is just a matter of time until the real troublemakers, the Mid-East terrorists, start to take advantage of the "holes" to bring in "nukes", etc... in the meantime, the fed gov't just looks the other way.... AZ can't handle the problem without help. Just yesterday, a county deputy was attacked, and shot, by 5 drug thugs carrying AK47's just south of Phoenix. Several shoot-outs between vehicles have occured right on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson over the past couple of years. It is a real problem. Although the immigration law is not the solution,  we are hoping it will bring enough federal attention to the matter to get the fed to make a move to close down the border. Take care all......have a nice weekend.

-John

Talley Hudson

I've been reading the latest posts with interest.  I am very naive politically.  I don't like to debate politics, so this is unusual for me to even write about it.  I work for a city--the closest form of government to the people.  Our city council does not sit around trying to think of ways to come up with new laws to make life difficult for the citizens.  The ordinances they pass come from multiple complaints/comments/requests from the citizens, and a lot of investigation and thought goes into their decisions.  Obviously you can't please all the people all of the time, but what has been developed for Redmond reflects the wishes of the majority of the citizens.  Then we move to the county, the state and the federal government.  Each level seems more remote from the people, and I now wonder what some of those laws are really about and where they come from.  The debate gets stronger and what is finally passed has little to do with the original intent plus there are so many extra things added on that don't make sense.  I hear the debates about how people do or do not want government to "interfere," but I find that people of both major parties like the laws that are passed when it benefits them (or their personal beliefs).  Someone on the forum suggested it is time for a viable third party, and I agree.  In listening to people, I find that there are those who are at both ends of the spectrum, from extremely liberal to extremely conservative.  But I wonder how those views fit with today's world.  It seems like most people I know fit somewhere in the middle and yet there doesn't seem to be a party that represents us.  In the words of Rodney King--"can't we just all get along?"  As I said, I'm naive, but to continue to hold on tenaciously to outdated ideas just doesn't seem to be working.  The world is changing, like it or not, and we've got to try to change with it.  I wish I had the solutions; unfortunately, I only have the questions.  But I welcome feedback.

Richard Meek

Morning all, taking a break from the world of insurance. Had a great weekend working in the yard. The weather was wonderful. Hope you all had a great one also.

John I had lunch Friday with an attorney friend who's opinion I respect a lot. He thinks that AZ is probably on solid ground from having the authority to enact their law. His analogy is the securities industry. The feds are the primary regulator but the states have authority within their state to regulate the same area. Of course federal takes preeminence when there is a questions of who decides something. That seems consistent with my knowledge of the law from law school and ojt. The feds definitely are in charge of securing the border. He agrees with me that it is probably going to be an open door to civil rights violations regardless of the additional law your governor signed last Friday. It is still fairly vague and then you get into the areas of overzealous enforcement.

Talley, I think the answer is that the moderate majority needs to organize and make their voice heard. Then they need to stay organized and stay involved. The religious right and the equivalent group on the left have been very well organized for many years and due to that have had inordinate influence on elections at all levels. For years  the party that dominates elections has been the one that is the most effective in turning out their freaky fringe. The reason for that is most people have this goofy idea that voting isn't important. They'd rather focus their attention on important things like American Idol, Dancing With The Stars and Survivor. It doesn't have to be people's sole mission in life but some attention to it would make a tremendous difference.The folks in the middle don't realize how much power they are sitting on. So they need to get off their backsides and do something for longer than six weeks at a time. The people on the fringes realize the power they can mobilize. That's exactly why we have people on the Texas Board of Education changing history books to fit the view of things. When the next primaries come around try going to your precinct convention, Democratic or Republican and just see what goes on. They're usually so small you have a perfect opportunity to get involved. I don't think a third party is the answer. Mainly because they don't have the dollars to make any impact. Sure you ocassionally have an independent or  Libertarian get elected but they're usually not effective. So in my opinion you have work within a major party and bring like minded (hopefully moderates) with you.

Jennie, at one time I thought about getting into politics but I'm not sure I have a thick enough skin and I sure don't have a big enough wallet. I do think in Sheila Jackson Lee's district you'd have to run as a Democrat and take her out in the primary. Trying to run as a Republican in her district would be an even bigger uphill battle. I think the Repubs that keep trying still think they're part of Bill Archers old district. Wine and travel sounds like a lot of fun though.

Jan, I'm sure I wouldn't recognize Boerne now. The president of HBU retired there about three years ago. During the process of he and his wife building their retirement home he kind of filled me in on the area. When I was the incoming president of the state insurance agents association I picked the Guadalupe River Ranch for my BOD retreat to do our planning for the upcoming year. The GRR was pretty basic back then, no phones or TV's in the rooms. When I set it up I also asked that it be sans spouses so we could get a lot of work done. That went over ok but when the directors got there with no phones or TV's I thought I might have the shortest tenure in the history of the association. But after a couple of great meals with good wine we did get a lot accomplished.

I hope everyone has a great week

Rich

Richard Meek

Rob, I'm not familiar with Terra Andina winery. Open it and give it a try. It may be excellent. If it's not  remember that you can use wine to marinate meat or use in the crock pot if you don't want to finish the bottle. The one you don't want to use that way is a bottle that is really bad. If it tastes sour and smells like wet cardboard it is "corked". That is caused by a bacteria that comes out of contaminated corks. It won't hurt you but you would have to have non existent taste buds to drink it. If you get a bottle like that don't pour it down the drain though. Take it back to the store and get your money back. I'm with you, what happened to the dialog that was going on?

Ok, John, BJ, Kay , Jennie and everyone else where have you gone?

John you would appreciate this. I'm sure that you are aware that LULAC is trying to get everyone to boycott anything connected to AZ. Well, they scheduled a demonstration at the Astros game since they're playing the DBacks. They had four demonstrators show up. Just before the game one of them pulled a ticket out of his pocket and went into the game. I guess he doesn't understand what a boycott is.

Keep on dancing,

Rich

Kay Watters (Greene)

Now that is just too funny.....that he boycotted, crossed the "line" and went in, don't think he knew which side he was on or what he was boycotting.

My grandsons are Puerto Rican and American.  One being born in P.R. - now they are saying if you are born in P.R. you will need to update your birth certifcate or get a new one to prove your American citizenship????  We are really turning into a prejudiced and full of hate people, when we start looking at anyone other than ourselves because of their nationality.  I really thought we had gone further than this, since the '60's, seems we are right back there again.

Does anyone use those rubber corks and the gidget that removes the air?????????? in the wine bottle.  I bought a set at Mesina Hof after touring their facility.

Richard Meek

Kay I've used those for years. I think they help extend the life of the wine. It also helps to put the wine in the refrigerator. Just be sure to take it out so it can get to the point of being cool not cold before you drink it. If it's cold you don't taste the fruit taste from the grapes. All you taste is the alcohol. Probalby TMI.

Rich

Stephen Ray Puckett

Kay & Richard - I still use my wine thingie/gidget, having bought one it seems like 20+ years ago with some extra stoppers.  Mine is by VacuVin but I see another by Trudeau.  Not sure if it works but it sounds reasonable, is easy to use, and I need some kind of stopper/cap anyway since we rarely finish the bottle at once.

Anyone here interested in making and collecting stereo photos?  

Richard Meek

Steve, you use the same brand I do. I've also been using mine for over 20 yrs. It is ironic that oxygen is what brings out special flavors and body in wine but after to much exposure to it the wine loses that. the VaccuVin sure helps extend that process.

Bernard Brady

Mornin Richard-

Some of us "posters" are here but just in a listening mood. I owned my own insurance

agency from 1987 to 2009. I was not aware that you were president of the Texas

insurance agents council. I would consider that a very high honor.  I'm proud of ya,

We've got some impressive folks in our graduating class!! If we could each take a little time

to boast on ourselves, with permission, I think that we would all be amazed. For example:

I was named the Outstanding Young Coloradoan in 1983 by the Colorado Jaycees and

had my photo taken with then Governor Richard Lamm by his desk in the State Capital

Building. I was 36 at the time. Then I was honored as JCI International Senator. Scotty

Crooms has the same very rare award. Our education at Waltrip was truly world class.

I'm proud of all of you, Bernard

Stephen Ray Puckett

When I was little we bought shoes from the shoe store a few doors down from the Garden Oaks Theater.  As I recall, they sold Buster Brown  and Red Goose  shoes.  Buster Brown was always being pitched by Andy Devine on the "Andy's Gang" show: "Hey, Kids. I Live In A Shoe. That's My Dog Tige.  He Lives In There Too". There was a nifty x-ray machine  that showed the 'fit'  of your shoes.  I loved to see the bones of my foot and, if nobody was looking, my sister and I would stick our hands underneath so the other could see the hand bones waggling.  We did that as often as possible.  Cool!   Froggy the Gremlin was cool too!  I had one

Mildred Sue (Suzie) May (Cunningham)

Suzi Smith McMillian sent me this link:

http://www.facebook.com/n/?pages%2FRemember-in-Houston-when%2F107646629279272&mid=250cbbdG52b2698aG1bea768G4c&n_m=suzie.may%40verizon.net

I'm sure that you need to substitute your email address for mine at the end of the link in order to make it work. Steve if you know something else that needs to be done, please share.

I think that you'll enjoy the comments & photos!

Stephen Ray Puckett

Per Suzie's post: When the Facebook logon page comes up, substitute your own Facebook e-mail address and then add your FB password.  Of course, this only works if you are already signed up for Facebook, otherwise you need to do that first.  Then, when the Houston FB page comes up, you can scroll, etc.  If you want to post or comment, you must click on the Like box at the top, then you can post and comment.  Hope this helps.   Lots of fun stuff there.

If you like Houston history, see also

http://blogs.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/

http://houstonradiohistory.blogspot.com/

http://www.hellohouston.com/History.Cfm

http://houstonist.com/2008/12/05/houstons_past_rediscovered.php

http://www.familyoldphotos.com/tx/coll/houston.htm