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Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hey Scotty, good to have you back.  When I rode my bike with TEXAS ROLLING THUNDER, we went through Tennesee, memorial day week 2012, on our way to Washington DC, we stopped at an elementary school where they had prepared breakfast for us and put on a program for veterans.  Small school in the smokie mountains.  Some of the kids were barefoot, like we wanted to be in school. But I suspect theirs was not necessarily out of want, but more about not having shoes. They were very gracious and curious about us grizzled old men and our bikes.  About as curious as I was about them.    Great experience for me!

Bradley Seals

Mrs. Kahla was my home room teacher and was a really great person. She live a long remarkable life. I remember she attended some or our reunions. I always enjoyed those conversations. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Chilllly eenen to youse youtes.   We had 41 this morning. No frost, dew point was rather low.  I generally get to experience all low temps and frosts first hand courtesy of our pup Dixie Belle (the tomcat) Lee. She starts in on me at least an hour before sunup and continues until I relent, get dressed, make coffee and go outside in the freezing snow. Well, if it did snow, then that would be the truth wouldnt it.  Speaking of which, I sure wish it would snow at least one time on the hill so I can use my sled, and chunk a snowball or two, and fill a 120 gig SD card up with pictures. All yall would be welcome of course, to the great snowball chunkin.

      I've added a new name to Dixie Belle, as I'm sure you knoticed, because she thinks she's a cat now.   A mouse, Stewart Little, Jerry, or Topo Gigo has taken up residence under our new deck.  Dixie has made it her life mission to hunt that little bugger down and play with him or her, whichever the case may be. Jack hopes she catches it too, so he can eat said mouse.     Dixie  did have a mouse in her mouth last week, I saw the tail sticking out and heard it squeaking to high heaven.  I made Dixie drop the mouse, which of course ran back under the deck.  I do hope it was ok, sort of!

    I've had to put flagstone down around part of the deck because Dixie keeps trying to dig under where she knows the mouse hangs out. When she digs, she gets dirt all over the deck and everywhere. Why cant you get a digger to dig where it's needed, like a well, or septic system?  Well anyway, it does keep her busy and entertained I suppose.  

     Back to the cold, when it's below 72, then as far as I'm concerned, it is minus 71 and colder.  I use to be a furnace, but now, when the wind shifts out of the north or I even think it does, or watch a Blue Belle commercial, I just freeze.  I'm freezing now....brrrrrrrr.  I dont guess it has anything to do with getting older eh what !

     The bluebirds are back, came back sometime in October. I keep saying I'll write the date down, and then never do.   Here's one for you, the hill is covered in bluebonnets, so is the ball field.  Not blooming, but the greenery.  They are pretty much ground huggers untill they get ready to bloom.  Next spring ought to be quite interesting with all the bluebonnets, if they all bloom.  The ball field will be blue field of dreams instead of just field of dreams.   When they do start blooming, yall are all welcome to come and take pictures.  If your like me now, I dont really care about taking pictures of anything anymore, except snow, which we never have.

    I use to fancy my self as a pretty good photographer, but looking back at most of my photos, I wouldnt even rate as a third rate rank amature photographer.  I got a few good keepers, but most are just junk.  I have thrown away thousands of photos recently, you know the ones, the out of focus rose that was so beautiful, a blur of a bird or two that maybe could have been an eagle or something substantial.  The group pictures where half of the people are not in the picture, or they have no heads etc, you what I'm talking about.

    I'll bet I have spent 10s of thousands of dollars on developing alone, money that could have beeen better spent on say, whiskey, or something useful, burgers and fries.  thank goodness for SD cards now eh!  Also the photos should have something written on the back explaining who what when where and why on the back, but doesnt.  You think you will remember, but you dont. "Who the heck is this", or "what the heck is this suppose to be", or "where was this".  "Is this your aunt bozo? No, I thought it was your uncle dufus"....

    Here I've gone on for a spell, but really just got on to say howdy, so howdy.

Happy trails to you howdy doodians...keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride..

Your frien and resident resident, Cephus E Lee, esq  Grand poobah of CHIMACS and Wolverton mountain  

Beau Wann, Jr.

      Good chilly morning all yall !  41 again this fyne day. Sunrise was red, which means "red sky in the morning, sailors warning...red sky at night sailors delight"... We could use the rain. We put out 200 pounds of rye and 150 pounds of winter peas.  Chad across the valley on the next ridge, has plowed his pastures and planted oats. We generally have lots of dew except when the humadidity is low like it is in the winter. Some of the rye has sprouted, but it takes the peas a while to come out.  I love the color of rye and oats etc. the green is almost electric emerald.  Some of the ranchers and farmers planted early and the oats and rye are already sprouting and SHOUTING "GREEN" ! ! ! !

    Thanksgiving week is such a busy week for everyone, us included. Lots of house cleaning and preparing dishes for the big meal on Thursday.  Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, even more so than Christmas.  The only pressure on T-day is not tto burn the food yet dont undercook it.  Christmas is so stressful to me, the giving and receiving of presents. What to buy for this person and that person. You want to always get the right thing for a loved one, and sometimes you are right on the money, and sometimes you miss the mark a mile or two.

    Of course whatever you bought for your mom, was the right thing at least she said so.  When I got my first job at Mangum Super Value, I never had to worry about having the monet to buy presents. Generally I'd get mom some Fabrege' parfum.  I remember one year I got her a white faux fur lined collar winter coat. (I didnt know what FAUX FUR was back then, I thought it was the real deal)   I bought it at the Palais Royal on  43rd and paid 60 or 80 dollars for it.  thanks to my paycheck at .60 cents an hour and about 25 dollars a day in tips, it was pretty easy to amass a fortune like 80 dollars. It was so beautiful, I just had to get it for my mom.   I'm pretty sure she liked it, but dont remember seeing her wear it. 

    Last time I saw it, my sisters were cleaning out moms house and it wasnt the same beautiful white I remember, but a dingy yellow.   I guess they threw it out. It was sort of dated and not as beautiful as it once was from the eyes of a 16 year old kid.  But still....life was so simple yet so complicated when we were children !

     Now, I just get everyone a gift card and let them decide how to spend it.  Saves wear and tear on my shopping nerves.   Wouldnt it be nice to be a zillionaire?  I know just how I'd spend it too!  Every charity I could find.  All the animal shelters, hospices, libraries, people shelters, food kitchens, churches, you name it. It would be christmastime 365 days a year till it was gone.  Would I buy myself something?  Probably just food.  I have been blessed with everything I've ever wanted, and things I didnt know I wanted, and things I really dont want, and need nothing! 

    You know what I really miss at Christmastime?   Waiting for Foleys downtown to unveil the Christmas decorated windows and the Thanksgiving day parade, the smell of the food being prepared at the Walgreens and Woolworths lunch counter, the LC Cafeteria and all points inbetween.  I dont recollect ever seeing or smelling pizza on any of the aforementioned menus, did you?   I'm not a pizza guy, oh a bite here and there, but it gets old after the first slice.  But a HOAGIE from Woolworths was, as far as I was concerned, the best of the best, and only .29 cents.  A huge brick shaped piece of cod from the LC Cafeteria with all the trimmings. I think it was .85 cents.

      "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..." what a wonderful time we had back in them good ol days eh what!  Seems I paid attention to detail of what was good in my youte.  Here's hoping we have a crisp cold December, of starry nights and frosty mornings, the hint of wood smoke from the fireplace from the night before,  the smell of hickory smoked bacon and rich black coffee wafting about the house! 

     Speaking of which, I smell the bacon and coffee, so gotta run. 

Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...

Your frien and resident memory keeper,  Cephus E Lee, esq, head potentate and grand poobah of memory lane.

Llynn Roff

I too had Ms Kahla for speech.  I, doing my chimney work, went to a customer with the last name of Kahla.  This is not the most ordinary name, so I stated to the gentleman," I had a teacher at Waltrip with your last name".  He said "That's my Mother".  I guess that is the benefit of growing up in Houston.   

Ronna Brand

Beau, often your messages give me the warm fuzzies-you have a gift!   Thanks!

Pat Brantley (Ross)

Beau, your story about the Christmas coat reminded me of my husband’s gift to me.  When he was in medical school I worked to support us.  We had no money for presents, so he started giving blood for a research project to get the money to buy me new shoes.  I had no idea that he was doing this.  That was our first year of marriage, and 48 years later I still have those shoes.  Of course they are a mess, but I love them and would never dream of throwing them out.  

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Thank you Ronna, if it were'nt for good folks like Mrs Kahla and you and the class of 64 where else would I get my inspiration ! ! !   Seriously, we were born in a seemingly majical time period, for us, or at least for me,  In the little town of Mayberry Oak Forest.  Talk about blessed  !   I certainly was for sure.  Still am !

    Pat, thanks for telling that story to us. That is one story worth remembering and passing on.  Sort of the "Gift of the Magi" .  Lean times do produce the best in some folks, like you and your husband.  Keep those shoes, in fact have them framed, I'm serious.  

     I remember first years of our marriage, Diane and I of course.   Lean times for sure, but not unbearable. Seemed to be a happy simple time as well.  I remember the first year, unbeknownst to either of us, we gave each other the same presents, winter gloves, umbrellas and raincoats.  We both needed those three things!  Couldnt believe our eyes on Christmas morning. Had a good laugh, along with misty eyes. Well, mine was MANLY MIST of course.

    One Christmas I was absolutely stumped as what to get for Diane.  I looked and shopped and looked somemore until it was Christmas eve. I can tell you I felt lower n a frog down at the creek Bottom. I was absoulutely distraught.  My beloved deserved so much, and I had nothing to give!

     It was getting dark, and I pulled into Millers Outpost on Hwy 6 west.  Seems I wasnt alone, store was filled with late minute shoppers.   As I careened from counter to counter, I found sweaters and gloves and scarves and all sort of great things I knew Diane would love.  I filled a basket up to the brim with wonderful colors of sweaters and things, all just made for my beloved.  WOW how lucky I was to happen into that store.

    I checked out, grinning like a cat in a fish market. I started out the door, and DE DO DE DO DE DO DE DO, I set off the shop lifting alarm.  I was sure embarrased.  The line at the counter grew longer, so I was just joking around about the alarm and my purchases, loud enough to be heard and bring a smile to the crowd. The clerk checked all my packages and indeed they were all accounted for.

     So out the door I went, only to hear DE DO DE DO DE DO DE DO...set the alarm off again, so again with the jokes, and laughter from my audience as the clerk checked the packages against the receipt thinking he'd missed one.  I started doing a tap routine and soft shoe, telling jokes as I danced,  and one young lass joined me dancing!  The clerk handed the packages to me and the receipt, and away I went only to be stopped by the DE DO DE DO DE DO alarm. 

    I was grinning, and danced back to the checkout counter, and soon had everyone dancing and singing and laughing. OMG I was stuck in the twilight zone, repeating Christmas eve for eternity. The poor clerk and manager just hung their heads shaking them from side to side with eyes rolling.  The manager waved me to go on, so on I goed to the sound of DE DO DE DO DE DO, I turned and looked at the manager and he just hollared "Go, please go, I want to go home sometime before new years", the crowd was screaming and dancing and singing Jingle bells and other carols. 

      As drove away, I saw the manager go over and turn the DE DO machine off.  I can tell you, myself and about 3 dozen people were having the time of their lives, no pushing or shoving or middle fingers or shouting, just laughter and song and dancing and fellowship, and we owe it all to the DE DO machine.  That was probably the last time I ever enjoyed shopping for Christmas. Now days, they'd probably just shoot me for setting the DE DO machine off three times.  

    As far fetched as the above story seems, it's true, really happened. Maybe I should have gotten everyones name, and we could have had a reunion every Christmas eve. Well, not at Millers Outpost, like a lot of other great stores, they went out of bidness long ago.

    You remember me talking about having another "PARTY ON THE HILL" sometime in Feb, maybe Feb 3? Remember I said we would have live music, I would sing and play the guitar?  Well, methinks I misspoke!  Last night I was diddling on the computer, and playing my music on the program provided.  Diane was watching something on TV, so I was listening via headphones.  I think it was the Seekers, and I was singing along, having a good time.  Then the Skyliners "This I Swear" and "Since I dont have you", and We Five and Elvis and just lots of moldy oldies. 

     After a while, Diane comes in and gets my attention showing her phone to me. Seems she had videoed ME singing and swaying to the music.   I thought, no, that's not me, that guy is singing off key and besides he's bald and fat and ugly! ! !  I looked closer, and it WAS ME...OH NO...I sounded terrible, somewhere between a gut shot Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam with his legs caught in a bear trap.  Oh the humanity ! ! !  Diane asked how I can sing on key when I'm not singing with the music, and off key when I am singing along with the music.  I told her that the recordings were actually off key!  Dont think she bought that !

     Got me stumped, especially since I have perfect pitch, not brag, just fact.  I cant sing perfect pitch, but I can hear it when someone is just a little sharp or flat, when others cant detect the mistake.  I'd make a good piano tuner I reckon !  So, I guess live music is out unless ALL YALL SING ALONG TOO, to drown me out ! ! ! 

    Got to only 50 something on the hill this morning.  Sat out on the deck with the pups and my beloved and two steaming cup O joes and watched the suns rays sneek out of the clouds here and there.  Decided we would go out for breakfast rather than make a mess at home.  Need to do that more often, had a good time and good breakfast, just the two of us.  We did manage to take a piece of bacon home for the pups.  I wanted to take the gravy with us, but gravy doesnt do well in a paper sack.

     Just gonna be Dianes folks out for Thanksgiving this year, our boys and grandchildren are runing to and fro, hither and yon and having T-day with their spouses families.  I'd love to have a lot of folks over, but it's just too much work for my old bones to bear.  I've already cooked the ham and fresh green beans, and cut up the squash and onions, thawing the turkey as I type.  Diane is making from scratch, from real pumpkins, pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheese cake.  We've got all the china and silver ware on a freshly ironed T-day table cloth, all looking so festive.  We'll eat at the island and not disturb the table.

    Guess I'll deplane boss. Keep the sun at your six and "ride boldly ride..."

Your frien and resident nutter Cephus E Lee esq  and singing to high heaven...la la la la...DE DO DE DO DE DO....   

Susan Howard (Bowman)

Oh My!  Beau, you just made my holidays!  Your posts, the last two especially, brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes.  Some laughter, too!  Bless you!  We have so much to be thankful for...especially our special friendships and the fact that we share our lives with each other!  Thank you!  

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  We are truly blessed to have lived so many years and have so many good memories.  The best part is, we are still making memories!  May God bless you during this season and always!

Patricia Williamson (Williams)

I'm thankful to be off work this week with time to catch up.  Beau, your posts were heart touching and brought back so many memories.  I had Ms. Kayla for speech as well.  She was such a kind and classy lady.  We were lucky living in a simpler far less complicated time when playing outside was fun, fewer product brands stacked the grocery store aisles and we valued the time we spent with our family and friends WITHOUT cell phones, cable tv, Netflix, Amazon Prime, computers and video games.  Yes, I am thankful tonight on Thanksgiving Eve that we have the memories of the 60's to treasure in our lives.  Patty Williams

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Hi Susan, Hi Patty, so glad to see someone on here other than ME.   Here's a question for ya...was there a so called "black friday" back in our youte?   I dont recollect one, nor does my beloved.  Progress is a fine thing, unless it takes away dignity and character, at least that's how I view it!   Havent been shopping the day after thanksgiving in forever. Dont remember if ever.

      We dont knead to go shopping day after T-day, we have our own black Friday ratcheer in river city, and that starts with P and rhymes with T and that spells t rouble !  Yup and yesiree(your name here).  We still had lots of things to put away from dinner on T-day, so I figured we'd get that done and then go enjoy coffee and the pups in the boat haus. 

   I jauntily strolled into the fambly room/kitchen/dining room and what ot my shock and amazement, ALL the cabinet doors were open, and trouble/Diane was standing in the middle of the room, hands on hips, gazing at said open cabinets.  "uh oh" I says to myself, "this cant be good" !   And shonuff, it wasnt! ! !   I tried to back out of the room as stealthily  possible.  Aint no such thing as stealthiness when trying to avoid trouble in the form of REARANGING THE KITCHEN CABINETS ! ! ! ! 

     "If you wanted a glass, which cabinet would you most likely go to" says my beloved.  "uh, the one that's open WITH the glasses" says I !   Man, I just hate trick questions!  You know the ones we had in math, "if mary had 17 and one half apples, and she gave bozo 1/3rd of them and a woim ate a tenth of them, when is Christmas"?   Yeah, you know the drill.   Wrong answer. "No, where would be the best place for all the glasses" my beloved kept pursuing.   "Why cant we just leave them where they are, because I know WHERE they are , now" I whined...OH The Humanity! ! !

    The good news is, the glasses stayed where they are, for now, but we moved just about everything else and then moved them back when THAT, didnt work.  Up and down the ladder, fetch and tote, to and fro...Oh my aching back legs knees ankles hips and shoulders and arms.  My ears dont hurt, that's a good sign, but then again, they dont work eyether, so why should they  hurt! ! !

     We did move all our good china to a place that makes them more accessible, which is good because we vowed to use them more. Might as well get some use out of them instead of just Christmas and Thanksgiving, eh !   We've been here 3 full years, and we are still under construction. We have moved everything in the house in every room at least half dozen times each and in some cases more.  What is wrong with us??????   I guess we're obsessive compulsive, and not really GOOD obsessive compulsives, because we just keep rearranging and never seem to get it right.

     You know, if you PEOPLE, were really GOOD GOOD friends, ALL YALL would come over everyday and help us, yeah, that's the ticket, "Waltripians, come on down", or up ! ! !   I'm sure there are some of you out there that have very good visions of how something should be, couch here, chair there etc.   We have no vision at all, not even 20/20 ! ! !   However we move something the first time, is never how it should go. How it should go requires at least 5 or 6 attempts, and then sometimes it's right back where it started!

    Oh well,  if all that is the worst that happens to us, we are blessed and grateful.

    It has been so beautiful up here this past week, nice and cool and sunshiny.  Me and the pups sleeping in the yard, at least till the buzzards started circling.  Then we retreat to the boat haus.
Ok, this was gonna be a brief post just to say howdy, but when have I ever been brief !  

    Hope all had a good and uneventful thanksgiving, unless it was welcoming of a new grandbaby or three. Gonna have a birthday party next Saturday for the birthday people in our family.  My mother in law 89, sister in law  60, our eldest son 49, and youngest grandaughter turning 18, all birthdays in December.  I think I'll celebrate my birthday also, well it is 6 months from and to.  I was thinking since it is a birthday month, I'd just get a can of "Ready Whip" and turn it upside down and squirt it in my mouth.  I know none of yall have ever done that, right?

     Ok, time to go....keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...

your frien and nutter, Cephus E Lee, esq...."a firey steed, a cloud of dust,  and a hearty HI YO SILVER, THE RE ARRANGER"

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Thought I'd change my photo to something more recent. The old photo I used was from the set of "TORA TORA TORA".  I spent almost 30 days leave working on that picture as an extra. Got paid 30 dollars a day, which was more than I made serving my country.  They took out .85 cents for lunch everyday and they always had steak and potatos plus other items on the menu.

    The new photo of Me and Cooper was a few years back at the christmastree farm up north of 2920 on Cypress rose hill road.  My beloved, Cooper and the grand kids and I use to go every year. What a wonderful time we had. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Hello myne children !   Do you remember me telling youse all about the wonderful bluebirds that come back every October?   Hmmmm???  I use to love the little darlings, but NO MORE ! ! ! !  I pulled Dianes car out of the garage, and mine from the side of the garage, and parked close to the front of the house by the fence.   The bluebirds went nuts and were banging into the windows and side mirrors and excrementing on said VEEhicles.   If our VEEhicles were purple, the color of their excrement, it might not have been so bad, but since both are SILVER, it sort of stands out like...purple excrement on silver VEEhicles. 

    I tried putting towels over the mirrors, but to no avail, the  birds were flinging themselves against the windows. I imagine it was because they were seeing another bluebird in the reflection of the mirrors and windows, stupid birds! ! !   I finally had to put Dianes silver steed up and park my truck over on the ball field around first base.  That put a stop to the terrorist excrementing by the terrorist bluebirds.  Now they just hang around the bluebird houses I put up!  Needless to say, I dont really care for bluebirds anymore.

     For the next party on the hill, I was thinking about tacos and tamales and chili.  Whaddaya think?  I think it's wonderful.  Diane makes beef tacos that are 2nd to none.  I know of a great place for tamales and they are reasonable.  I also make fresh "PICO DE GALLO" and also have a ton and a half  jalopenas, and we also make great chili.  So, it's all settled, we is havink a FIESTA ! ! ! ! AYE YI YI YI condeladioswherto, porque blah blah blah blah....minnie the moocher, yeah yeah yeah....oops, sorry, got carried away.

   When I reread my posts, before I hit submit, and sometimes after I hit submit, I notice a lot of misspelled woids, and dyslexic spellings.  Some of the woids are mispelled on porpoise, and others are misspelled because eyether I  have developed dyslexia, late in life, or my fingers go faster than my brain. I was assured by the director of the Nuihause (sp) center that a person cannot develope dyslexia later in life. You have to be born with it.   My wife attended the N center for various reasons during her 40 years as a teacher. 

     Seeing as how I am a late starter, late bloomer, I think the lady at the N center is incorrect in her assessment of dyslexia.  It could have been dormant all these years, then all of a sudden, BOOM, awakened by a blow to the head, (lord knows I've gotten a lot of those over the years),  or maybe bluebird excrement fumes, or aliens!    Yeah, that's the ticket, ALIENS, BLUEBIRD ALIENS, ha, and she called herself an "educator". 

    HiJinx, Tom Foolery, Chicanery, foul play, whatever you wish to call it, it does seem to turn ones ability to think in forward terms, to backward terms.  Does anyone have any idear what I just said?   Me neither!  See, it's already reared it's ugly head in my head, "crazy I am yes"! Ha, I gnu it,  I'm JEDI KNIGHT, YODA....

    Time to deplane boss.  Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...

Your frien and serious nut job,  Cephus E Lee, esq and serious gobledegook slinger...  

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

That's strange, no bluebirds here in ole Anderson, only crazy bomb-bastic wasps and yellow jackets, flying ever which way, as though they  think they know this balmy weather is the beginning of summer and they need to make nests.  Honestly the mess of that....bluebirds, I mean, is horrible to say the least.

Love the pic Mr. Wann.  I've never seen Cooper look lovlier. 

That's all right, you got him back by making him tote everything out of your cabinets.  I need one of those handyman types. Have you noticed how deep they make those cabinets near the floor.  I just get out of breath stooping down, and please, don't tell me to get on my knees as for some reason I can't hardly use 'em anymore. 

I am so heartened by what you've been doing, that I've been doing  this for years. I thought I was the only one rearranging pictures, stuff,clothes in the closet,  ( I pulled out all my shoes and placed them on the bed and had 60 of 'em, culled those oh burgers out.  I've painted walls, moved furniture, laid floor tiles in every room, took drapes down, then put them back up in a new location, Lordy, it NEVER stops!  Almost like going out shopping for something new, because after the rearranging it does look brand new....(the look that is)  I've reupholstered couches and loveseat and pillows with "hot glue",  wouldn't recommend it, after regluing, I've decided this spring to let the summer fabric reappear.  But it was so much fun and I was crazy about the glue gun when I got it.  You can make simple curtains from then of course.    Just my 2 cents, just sayin.

Well, I'm going to go to Bellville in a bit, haven't been there for awhile, just to look around, poke thru some of their antique shops, go thru the park...it's a cute town.  Get away from the dogs, they're beginning to look like me.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     MY 2ND ATTEMPT AT POSTING...GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRARGGGGGGGGGGGGG

     Lost last post in cyber bully space.  I thought we were the onliest (east texas for only) ones that lived in a year round cornstruction zone.  60 pair of choes huh ! ! !   Your middle name Imelda?  Dianes middle name is Imelda !  She's always getting shoes in the mail from Club Maryland or some such place. With Diane, it's ok because she wears a size 4.

    I dont order on line anymore. Last time I tried to order stuff, I copied from the add below or above the one I wanted. Didnt discover it until I got a box from FEDEX from "Panties of the month club".  Try explaining that one to your wife.  They even have edible panties, imagine that. Id order some if they had ham and cheese or maybe spam.  God, life has gotten so complicated not to mention hilarious. So I'm not mentioning that, you didnt hear it from me.

    YOU can make curtains and upholstry from a glue gun?   We HAD a glue gun oncet (east texas for once).  I was gluing the soles back on a pair of boots. I really liked those boots, and the soles were salvageable, not worn down, so it made sense  to fix em.   I was in the process of the gluing project, when I got distracted. I was only gone a few seconds, ok, a few minutes.  When I got back, the glue gun was stuck to the boots and the boots were stuck to a chair. 

    Of course it was probably the strongest glue known to mankind and womankind because I couldnt un loose em.  I even broke the blade of a knife trying to cut em aloose.  I finally took em out to my shooting range and was gonna see if I could pry em apart with my 45-70 elephant gun.  My beloved came out and asked what was I doing. I explained the situation to her, she just shook her head and went back into the house.  I went ahead and shot the boot and the chair.

    That was sure some strong glue, because I hit the boot and just put a hole in it and the chair,  but did not knock the glue gun off or the boot off the chair.  Maybe I could turn it into a piece of art!   Yeah, that's the ticket. I got an idea of getting the blow torch out and maybe antiquing the chair and boot and painting the glue gun camo to try to disguise it.  So I painted the whole shebang camo and then lit the blowtorch and commenced to antiquing my art project.   It was going so well, until it wasnt. Whole dang thang caught fire.  I turned the torch off thinking that the whole art piece would be antiqued.  It was antiqued alright, crispy black.

    Fortunately I was outside in left field and had a fire extinguisher handy.  I wonder if this was how Mozart started with his statues "the thinker" and the "mona lisa".  I'm sure he and other geniuses had a rough bumpy Road when they started their careers in art.  So, I'm not gonna let this minor setback deter me, gonna try again sometime in the future, (distant future, with my wifes permission).

   Whom am I kidding, I havent an ounce of creative juice in my whole body, except creating a mess.  I think I've got a masterpiece when I get ice in a glass from the ice maker.  Oh well, we all cant be artsy and craftsy folks. 

    Kay, you hang in there, and just keep plodding along, same as us.  Feel free to come over and work on our place just for practice, you know keep you in shape and stuff.  I'm a serious "watcher" and "observer" of working folks, and will give you nothing but positive feedbag. 

    gotta run folks, kats are banging into my legs, they want to be fed, again!

Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...

Your frien and resident art guy,  Cephus R Michelangelo, esq.

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Ha, Ha, Ha.....tanks...., Beau, I'm still laughing at your glue adventure...how does Diane put up with you!

Has anyone used that "chalk" paint.  My grandkids left a great big dresser - dark brown - and I have visions of white chalk paint, kind of the distressed wintry look?

Xmas tree and trimmings coming up this week ...Aawww, thanks Beau, I'll have to pass on that extra work you offered.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     HA, she knows and I know, and she knows I know she knows, she could never find a replacement for me, the Rembrandt of chaos, Mozart of symphonic silliness, the Lizt of laughter, Wagner of wackiness...etc.

     Life would be so dull without my wackiness, and lets face it, less stressful as well.  "Beau, what did you do with the washing machine"?  she would ask.  "uh I took it down to the creek just to see how women use to wash clothes by beating it on the rocks dearest" I would reply.   Hmmm, sounds like an adventure in the making to me!  

    Just came back in from taking the pups out, hopefully, for the last time tonight.  HAVE YOU SEEN ALL THE STARS OUT THERE?   AMAZING! ! !   I feel sorry for folks that dont believe in a God.  Do they actually believe that all of this is just happenstance, coinkidink?   I dont think so.  I mean look at me,  no chance of a happenstance, there had to be some thought behind my creation wouldnt you think?  Lot's of planning and engineering and testing went into my model.  Voice over loudspeaker "Ok, this ones gone amuck, just throw it out and lets start over....no wait, lets unleash it on EARTH, yeah, that's the ticket..." or woids to that defect ! ! !

   Ok, gwina go to bed now, and possibly sleep. So all yall have a good eening, and before all yall go to bed, go out and look at the stars!

    Your frien and resident of chaos, Cephus B. Rembrandt, esq

Beau Wann, Jr.

     OH NO,  I'M HAVING TO PUT UP CHRISTMAS DECOMARATIONS. HEP ME YALL HEP ME....!!!!!!!!!!!

Teddie Jordan

Cephus, I was down in south Texas ranching, communing with nature, and working my too old Hiney off this weekend, and you are right about the stars. Sky watching from the hilltop down there is really good on these clear cool nights, and it's possible that Sparesly inhabited country, with our nearest neighbor that actually lives there about 4 Miles away, has a little bit cleaner air than these parts. With about 1/2 of one percent of the autos and eighteen wheelers and zero percent of the industry,  it's noticeably clearer at night. And you can't beat the sunrises and sunsets anywhere in Texas in October and November! 

Got our outside Christmas lights up already, our son in law's landscape guy's also do that this time of year. Now we are working on the tree and inside decos tommorrow. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Hey TJ, I do believe you have a more unobstructive view of the heavens down there than we have up here, although the view is nice at both places.  Having seen your place, the air there at night is crystal clear. 

    like you, I'm working my too old hiney off. Got in some tractor work, down at the crick and some road work etc.  Tomorrow after the bug man comes to spray death and distruction into the bug community, I'll start mowing the hill, again.  Our rye and winter peas have not yet come up.  Lack of rain !   We havent had rain since Harvey. I guess it will come eventually.  

Pat Brantley (Ross)

My husband is a star gazer.  He used to get everyone out of the car at the continental divide to look at God’s glory.  It is very dark up there and I was afraid a car would hit us the first time he did it.  Now I just enjoy the view.  My daughter and her husband had a telescope, but I think it got broken on a camping trip.  New Braunfels is getting too big to have dark nights.  We have grown over 80% since 2000.  We are part of the problem since we didn’t get here until 2010,

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hi Pat.   We use to have a telescope,  our eyes have been so bad, we never could see anything but the moon.  It was a refractor type and had a sighting scope on the side to pick up thje objects and get them in view of the mainest scope.  Never could get that thinkg to work, except to look at the moon.  Even though the moon was the largest object in the skye, sometimes I couldnt even find that.   the way our house was situated, I couldnt even zoom in on anyones bedroom, what a worthless scope that was.  Gave it away!

     I'm not really a star gazer, as much as I am a star geezer, dont know any of the cornstellations except the little dipper, and always wondered why the north star was not in the north. I've seen venus, I think, and have seen Saturn with it's rings, most impressive, and Neptune and Mars, but If someone hadnt told me what they were, except Saturn, I wouldnt have known.  Saturn is pretty and pretty hard to not know.

     I have seen UFOs, but without the aid of a spyglass.  Saw one in 1953, which was well documented and seen by millions all across the US. We wer on DuBarry and it looked like 3 or 4 large square lights in the east sky.  They sat there for hours.  Gov never said what it was, just that it was a UFO.   Saw several up at the ranch in leon county a few years back.  Strangest thing.  IT was a slow moving light going from west to east in the north sky, and lookd really low, and made not a sound.  Where our property was, was in the middle of nowhere, and at night was so silent, and knowing how much noise a helo made, it certainly wasnt a helo.

     The light went over me and Cooper just to the north and west of us, when it made an abrupt 90 degree turn to the south.   As far as I know, no one has anything that will make a perfect 90.  As it was headed south, just north east of us, it ran through a triangle of lights that was moving north  as slow as the single light.  The triangle looked to be hundreds of yards betweent the points on the triangle, maybe even longer. I couldnt make out a fuselage or craft, just the lights on the points.

     As it moved north, slowly, the single light slowly passed through the triangle, or under it, then when it got to the bottom of the triangle, it reversed course instantly and headed north with the triangle. Dont remember what happened next, but me and coop were perplexed.  I even called Diane and talked to her during the celestial event. She of course assumed I had gotten into the liquor cabinet, but that night no.  I sure would like to know what it was I saw in both instances.

     Wasnt a plane, or helo, or even a dirigible, all those make noise, and even if it was a blimp, and had a stealthy muffler on it, blimps drift from the wind, and these things moved straight without drifting.  Wonder why they didnt beam me up!  I would be a good study for ETs, dontcha think!   Of course they would have had to beam me AND Cooper up, because I wasnt going to leave him behind, not without a fight anyhoo!

    Oh well, life is interesting here and there. Havent seen any ETs up this way, just aeroplanes.  I was just going to say hi to Pat, and wound up giving a lecture on ETs.   Sooooo, guess I'll go

    Oh, on one of our trips through this antique store and that antique store, we came across a book on that mean old hate mongering slave owner and confederate murderer,  JOHN H. REAGAN.  The book is called "NOT WITHOUT HONOR", and was publishd in 1962.   Havent read it yet, because we just found it last week and havent had time.  It looks really, uh, dry and droll......WHOA, OMG OMG OMG

Guess what just dropped out of the book as I flipped through the pages?    A handwritten piece of paper that said Reagan married Edwina Moss Helms, daughter of Colonel Edwin and Diana Helms, Dec 12, 1832 at her home at Eaglewood near ANDERSON, TX in Grimes county.   HOW COOL IS THAT?   Hey Kay, have you heard of anything like that whilst you've been in Anderson?  

    Ok, gotta go. Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...

Your frien and UFO expert and historian, Cephus E. Lee esq

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Beau, that was purdy interesting....I have my own story about UFO's, my sleep experience that is.  Now for 8 yrs after I wouldn't tell this to anyone, for fear of what the might think of me....I was asleep alone at my home in 1960 area on 1 ac.  Suddlenly I was awake (Ithink) when I saw outside my patio window a round dish-like object with windows around it, hovering in my back yard.  Aliens were entering my utility room.  I couldn't move, just frozen.  Reading their mind, I heard them remark this one is not a healthy speciman, we don't want her.....(I had Diabetes I) and then they were gone.  I have always felt I was awake in a frozen daze, but many times I just tell..myself it had to be a dream, but if it was, it was the most realistic dream I have ever had.  Tha't's all folks, they left me alone.....lol.

I have a very old copy of Byron that My Aunt gave her sister written in it, when they lived in Temple, TX but no copyright page,  I wish I knew more about it though.  They both became school teachers.  Auntie Wilma lived in the Heights and taught for 50 yrs at Harvard Elementary.  She gave me a beautiful large picture from her classroom when she retired.  When is Antique Roadshow coming to town?????

Teddie Jordan

Happy birthday today to two beautiful classmates who were both born in Houston on this date in 1945. One was named Francine and one was named Frances, but they both go by Fran. This photo was taken of them at our 45th reunion. Happy birthday pretty ladies.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Wow TJ, two very lovely ladies...the happiest of boithdays to youse youtes.   Hey kay, I believe your UFO story.  Harvard Elementary?   My beloved Cooper and I put on two "reading demonstrations" in the library there. It's a rather small library, classroom turned into a library.  There were about 300 kids and parents there, and only about 150 people could fit at one time, hence the two demonstrations.   After the 2nd one, it's the only time I've seen cooper really tired. But what a trooper he was, he still greeted everyone there as we were leaving.

     I always tell folks that Cooper attended Harvard. Well, he did...Ok, time to run, coffee is perked, time to give jack his meds...