The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between our classmates. There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.

Forums work when people participate - so don't be bashful! Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum and then click "Submit".

Larry Reid '63

Jenny, You are amazing! Thanks for tracking down the Foster family. Sorry to hear about Jimmie and Ronnie. If I remember correctly Jimmy married a neighbor across the street from me named Judy White? Judy was another one of those special people.

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Isnt she ! ! !  I believe AMAZING about sums it up. 
    Friday night, and I'm bachin it for a  couple of days.  this house isnt the same when Lilibet is gone.  She's up in whacko waco for her installation as Madame President of the BETA ETA chapter of DELTA KAPPA GAMA....an aside here, I was a member of TAPPA KNU KEG AND I PHELTA....hmmm, ok, I'll leave that one alone.

     I'm so glad she is a part of that organization of professional teachers assoc.  Gives her something and someone other than me and the dogs and cats on the hill.  "See the sun going round, see the eyes in his head spinning round...the fool on the hill..."   Forgot about that song until just now. Havent heard it  in forever.  Who sang that tune?   6th demension?   Oh bother!

     My daughter-in-law Julliete came out to have lunch with me today, since everyone is out of town on this special weekend.  What a delight she is. Lights up the room when she comes in.   I do have one problem with her, she talks sooooo fast, my defective ears cant keep up.  Heck, even if I had 20 20 hearing I still wouldnt be able to keep up. But, no complaints here, she is a gem!

    Today is my youngest sons 48th birthday.  He and his finance' are in San Diego for a wedding of a friend.  And what a coinkydink, Kevin just proposed to his long time girlfriend, and she said yes.  They are staying at the Del Coronado Hotel and sent pictures of the occasion.  I was at that hotel in 65-66, or actually Coronado Island for training. Visited it, and it was nice back then.  Even nicer today, almost 55 years later.

    Tomorrow is Mine and Lilibets 34 anamaversary.  Not as long as some of yall, but pretty long time.  We're still treating it as a temporary relationship, dont know how much longer we are going to stay together, maybe another 100 years or so, but that's it, that's my limit.  Then Sunday, is Fathers day for all us dads and moms too. Some had to be both mother and father.  And to those folks, I say a double howdy howdy for being there for your kids..

    And then there's that nagging old day called a BIRTHDAY...hmmm...how old am I?   73 methinks.  I dont know, I'll have to ask Lilibet when she gets home tomorrow or Sunday.  You know, I know why I dont like Math Problems....I have enough problems of my own to be fooling around with other probs. and that's the truth...thbbbbb!

    Still havent finished the Cooper Memorial Ice House.  Havent started on the bar yet, or gotten a bid on a pool table and shuffle boad, but I will.  Mind you, Rome wasnt built in a day.  Saw two walking sticks today!  Actually they were so big, should be called walking logs.  I've never seen so many WSs and certainly not as large as these.  Hmmm, I wonder if they are paused to take over the whirld like the "BODY SNATCHERS". Any of youse youtes see that movie with Kevin Mcarthy and whoever else. At least I think it was Kevin Mc.

     Ok, time to deplane and go to sleep.  Just gave Jack his meds at 11, and been stalling about going to bed.  House sure is empty without Lilibet.  When she's gone, I try to stay up till 3 or 4 in the morning AM, sort of makes time pass quicker, but tonight I'm a tad tired.  I wonder who will be in the bed when I get there,  Dixie-Belle, Lacy, or Annie-Bob. Of course it could be Danica Pattrick, now that would be different.

       I never know. It's been Lacy for most of this week. She curls up next to me in the crook of my left arm and snores.  Who'd a thunk an 8 pound cat snores, and very loud too.  It is a high pitched snore, but a snore none the less.

Ok, ok, I believe I was singing off.....la la la la la
Keep the sun at your six and mind the playtypus duck, Bill....
Your frien and resident box O nuts...BeauCephus T. Magillicutty esq.

Post Script:  My sister and brother in law that live in Virginia sent several BD cards to me. I opened one, or actually it was all ready open.  It was a card from US Community Tree Recovery Blanco River, Texas.  Seems they planted and named 5 trees after me.  Imagine, having 5 trees named Beau Wann.  I guess the trees dont have a say in the naming process. 

        I didnt know trees had proper names, other than Oak, Maple, etc.  I do hope this doesnt cause a row amongst the ttrees in the forrest.  I knew that you could have a star named for someone, but why would you?  Oh the thoughts to ponder, I'm no rocket surgeon, so all this ponderin is plunderin my grey matter for answers.  Why is there a W in ansers?  Oh the Humanity...!!!!

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Goooooooood mornin chappell hillllllll !    Saturday morning and got a couple cups O joe in me.  "Joltin Joe Dimaggio..."  My mind is just a jumble of mindless drivel.  There was a song about Joe Dimaggio back when he was on a hitting streak.  Miller or Dorsey or one of the big bands came up with it.  What pray tell does that have to do with Saturday or anything for that matter?  Just in case youse youtes wanted to know that bit of useless information....Well, I wwouldnt want youse all to miss any sleep thinking about the aforementioned.... Donno, just sayin!

    Talked to Lilibet last night. They are packed and ready to depart about noon today. That'd put em here around 2ish....YEAAAAAAA!  Instead of making lunch, maybe we'll go out to eat seein as how it is our aniversary.  Shoot, maybe I'll put on a clean shirt ! ! !     Man, who'd a thunk it. 36 years with the same partner, pardner!  We've had our ups and downs, bbut mostly middles.  Any problem we've had was all her fault of  course.  I was never to blame, pure as the wind driven snow....any of youse youtes believe that, I've got a bridge for sale called London.

     All the special dates this weekend, fell exactly as they sit today. Kevins BD Friday, our wedding Sat and of course the moonyhoon on Sunday, my BD and Fathers day.  Couldnt have gotten a nicer gift than  Lilibet. A gift that I've had everyday for 34 years perzactly to the day.

     I understand we are due some rain maybe today, for sure tomorrow and Monday I hope.  We've had .16 a couple days ago and .02 yesterday, not enough, but will take all we can get.  Added two more rain barrels to the farm house.  Put in two several months ago, and we got less than half inch of rain and it filled the two to overflowing.  Added two more last week, and .16 of an inch filled those two up.  It's the metal roof that is so effecient with water flow. So now, we have 200 gallons of rainwater which I've been extracting one bucket at a time, watering everything that needs watering. We have a well of course, but waste not want not I allus say.  And so did my mom, God rest her soul!

    Ground is cracked in someplaces, looks like an oithquake has struck.  Now that's a scary preposition.  We do need the rain.  Had a small grass fire in the middle of 290 just west of CH.  CHVFD got there very fast ahd had the salutation under control in a tick or two.  Hooray for the men in blue...or whatever color they are in.  I love the boots they wear, and have always coveted a pair. They remind me of "swashbuckler" boots, "Three Musketeers" boots if you will, and even if you wont.

    Is it 2 yet?  Dang, Hurry up 2!  Just talked to my beloved, and they are "a fixin to" go to their last meeting, a brunch meeting, or a meeting brunch, whicheva comes foist, then on the road again at High Noon!  We've talked about going and spending an hour or two in Waco, but just never have.  I always hate to leave the pups for longer than a couple of hours.  Hmmm, wonder if there are any pup sitters up heah.  Hmmm, no matter how you slice it, dont think there's enough time between Jacks mornin meds at 7 to his nafteroon meds at 3.  Oh well, if God had wanted me to visit Waco, I'd be livin there, right?

    After watching "FIXER UPPER" with Chip and Joanna Gaines for years, they got me hankerin to move to Waco.  Are those two folks not something!  I believe Joanna is probably the best designer and decorator in the universe.  The things they do to those houses are nothing short of a spell by Merlin, or some very hard woik, whicheva comes foist.  I would like to visit their bakery and B&B and their new restaurant.  Maybe I'll look for a motel that would allow our children to stay.

    Ok, I'm just ramblin, I'm sure folks arent interested in our everyday mundane stuffola.  Guess I'm just lonesome.  "Ol lonesome George"...member him?  George Gobel?  Ifin yall got computers and can conjure up Youtube, in the search box, type in "The Tonight Show", or Johnny Carson, or even George Gobel.  Up will pop the time Ol Lonesome George was on the TS with Johnny of course, Dean Martin, and Bob Hope and others.  Most hilarious meeting you've ever seen.  they dont have shows like that anymore.

   You can conjure up most any TV show including Amos N Andy.  Tony Randall owned the rights to the A N A show until he passed away. 

   Ok, guess I'll sing off for now...lalalalalalala...

Hey Larry R., so glad you've been on the forum.  The new picture I suspect, is a recent one, and does you proud, young man! 

I believe I was signing off...this is "Ol Lonesome George" bidding you good day and happy trails, til next time we meet...

Teddie Jordan

Cephus, enjoy your special day tomorrow and eat all of the birthday cake you want, but I’m afraid that at our age the wrinkles in our birthday suits are probably permanent! So no skinny dipping in the creek.

Beau Wann, Jr.

     TJ, come to the front, Tj, come to the front....Thanks Teddie, my beloveds finally home, had a visit from my Grandaughter LUCY.  That, my friends, is all I wanted.  She baked a chocolate fudge cake, and baked a zillion chocolate chip cookies, and brought a Hawaiian Shirt for me all the way from Hi wahya.  She drove all the way from Galveston just to see me.  What a beautiful child she is.

    Dont think I'll be swimming in the creek, no water no how.  That might change tomorrow or Monday...not me skinny dippin in the creek, but that the creek might just get some water. I do remember in me younger days doin a little bit O skinny dippin.  Be more like fatty dippin nowadays.  Time to deplane.  need to run to the store for some breakfast supplies, my eldest and his wife are  coming over for breakfast.  I am so blessed ! ! ! ! ! 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Well, it's here ! ! !  BD day oncet (east texas for once) again .  I sincerely thank all the well wishers.  It is nice to be remembered whether it's ones BD or not, dontcha think?    I was feeling old years before todays BD.  Lot of it has to do with being TOLD that you are old, or where society places the standards on youte, middle age, and old age.  Mostly the morons in the media egged on by  self important professors,  set the bar wherever they want IT to be, whatever IT is.   "This is what a man of 73 should feel like....this is what a woman of 35 should feel and act like"...."oh, you cant do that, youre too old...youre too young"...

     Age doesnt really bother me so much except that we are TOLD that it should bother us, and "beware"...Wouldnt it be marvelous if only one official site or place knew the age of everyone, and each individual was not told when they were born or how old they are.  I'm sure there would be a lot of curiosity and wondering how old one was, and knowing me, I would probably be leading the charge.

    Just think, another category of "betting" would run rampant in Vegas.  "How old is so and so"? Odds are 10 to 1 against or for whatever.  Not being a gambler, I have no idear how betting woiks.  Of course one might run up against a 25 year old wanting to marry an 11 year old.  Maybe some type of warning device could be worn by underage kids, "WARNING, WARNING, ACTUNG, ALTO, STOP, BEWARE, DANGER ZONE, STEP BACK AWAY FROM THE CHILD, STEP BACK AWAY FROM THE CHILD, IT IS YOUR LAST WARNING BEFORE CALAMITY BEFALLS YOUR BUTT..." or woids to that defect.... but then that would give away their age wouldnt it. 

     Oh the humanity...so many points to ponder.  Speaking of points, what the heck is a "point of light"?  "We need more "points of lights", or woids to that defect. Do points of lights have anything to do with AGE?  My recollector doesnt recollect just whom said that, but doesnt matter, but what is it?  You want more points of lights, go outside on a clear night and just look up, whaaaaaa ? Yeah, hows them fer pints of lights?  Oncet (east texas for once) again, not being a rocket surgeon, most things that dont include rocks and dirt and grass, allude me.  I try to just take thangs as they are, and move on.

    Ok, getting ready for  my BD and FD and Anniversary Breakfast. Got, "from scratch biscuits" ready to go, 20 minute grits ready to cook, sausage gravy poised to be, and of course bacon, sausage, ham and eggs dutifully standing by.  Coffee is already a go and a hot and a black and a GO.  In one of my favorite mugs...I have so many.    YUK, coffees cold. That's my que to deplane boss.

   All youse fine youtes have the same kind of day I will have, a blessed and wonderful day.

Your frien and resident old guy,  BeauCephus Allan Badillion Traherne, jr, esq....

Post Script:   Here's some woids to live by, told to me by an old indian chief, chief Runamuck from the fagahwe tribe      "Unga balla wonga abbra cadabra, frisom on the jip jap", or,  "Never ever trust a naked bus driver"  a rather loose translation, but close enough.

    Here's one of me own:  "When in danger and in doubt, run in circles scream and shout".....

Bill Traill

Happy Birthday Beau !!

Linda Bolton (Roffall)

Happy birthday Beau. Hope you enjoy your day. Eat lots of cake and ice-cream and celebrate another year !  Keep those posts coming, we all enjoy them so much .

Ruth Ellen Winters (Schmidt)

Happy Birthday Beau.  Hope you had a Blessed Day. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Thank you Bill, Linda and Ruth for the BD wishes and everyone else that has been so kind. "No man is a failure with all the friends one has..." or woids to that effect. I believe that comes from "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE", my all time favorite movie. We watch it every Christmas whether we want to or not.  I use to know the dialog by heart, but being an old forgetful youte, well, youse youtes know what I'm talking about.  If you do, let me know will you!

     Already on my 3rd cup O Joe.  Let my beloved sleep in so I fed the cats and dogs and gave Jack his meds. Checked on Little Miss outside, but she's not up yet. I dont know where she goes at night, but hope it's someplace dry and safe.  I've fixed up a plethora of beds and safe houses for her,  even have two beds on the back porch for her. I sat out with her till past midnight on the porch, brushing and loving on her.  Gave her some fresh baked chicken along with some dry food.  Anyway, I stayed with her till we both fell asleep.

   Little miss likes sardines, and got one inside cat, Annie-Bob and our pup Dixie-Belle that also like sardines.  Sardines are very good for a critters coat.  Well, it isnt good for the sardines coat, but one must make sacrifices where one can, doesnt one!

     Got just over an eench of rain yesterday, yeaaaaa!   More on the way.  Already been down in the valley this grey morning to unlock the gate and check for skunks.  We saw one down by the creek Saturday eenin. First one we've seen since a couple of years ago when I had to evict the last skunk family from the premises. 

      Didnt want to kill them, but was forced to because some of them appeared to have rabies. They were out in the day time and since they are suppose to be nocturnal animals, being out in the daylight isnt normal. Checked with our vet, and also wildlife people, and they said I have to kill them.  So I did, sorry to say!  Getting rid of the stinky polecats was another preposition alltogether. whew, stinky!!!!!

     Anyway, I do hope that Saturday night live skunk was just passing through.  Got a wiff of one last night, but seeing as how the wind generally blows from the south, direction of 290, i figured one got disturbed south of us, I hope,  Too bad such a beautiful critter like that is sooooo uh undesireable.

    Party's over.  Had a great time yesterday, which is a departure from past years. I dont know what it is about celebrating ME, but just never liked to do that.  Love celebrating everyone else, just not me.  But this year was different, guess I approached it differently than in past years.  Just go with the flow.

   Eldest son, Billy Joe, and his wife Julliete came over for breakfast, and just had a swell time. They left around 11:30, then up drives my in-laws and a friend of theirs.  Again had a good time.  In Laws brought lunch, and was surprisingly good.  Mother in law didnt cook it!

      Now before you get all bent about my speaking ill of me MIL, she is a well known BAD COOK.  For example,  deviled eggs, good, deviled eggs mixed with salmon,  very very very bad.    Her reasoning, or maybe it was Max's idea, was, "salmon is good for you"!  It maybe good for you, but you just dont want to mix it with certain things like, deviled eggs, ice cream and cake and a whole plethora of any food group, cept FISH.

    We played dominoes, or they played dominoes, I fell asleep at the dominoe table in the middle of a game! Woke up on the couch sandwiched between a cat and a dog, both snoring!  Dont know how I got there, but was glad to be there, as it's always good to be SOMEWHERE.  Max and Jeanine are both 90, or soon will be, and I'm almost 20 years their junior, AND I FALL ASLEEP! ! ! !   Oh the humanity! 

    (scuse me whilst I refresh my coffee...)  Sorry, took me longer than I thought it would, had half a biscuit...Ok, where was I?   Oh yeah, I FELL ASLEEP PLAYING DOMINOES ! ! ! !  Oh the humanity!  Hmmm, seems I did that one already.   When the Fall Fling rolls around, hope I dont fall asleep in the middle of that!    That would be tragic.  Have to have plenty of coffee and NODOZE handy.

   The Cunninghams brought a friend from church, Andree' . It sounds like Andrea, but if you put an A on it, in French, that is masculine, and she certainly isnt that. She has lived here in America for many years, but still has a very strong french accent, which I love, hooray!  

    I didnt do like I normally do, and just wonder about someone, I asked this time.  "Where in France are you from etc?"     Oh man, to my delight and hers also, she told me all about herself. She is from Verdun, sight of one of the bloodiest battles in WWI, 1916 and again in WWII 1944.  Pattons 3rd army liberated Verdun Sept 2 1944, and Andree was there to witness it. 

    She said when the GIs came into town, her mother saw how dirty the GIs uniforms were, so she washed over 300 or so in just a couple of days.  I asked her was it by hand, and she just smiled and said, "yes, no machines back then"  silly me!   She has 4 other sisters I think, my french is not very good, my english isnt very good eyether come to think of it.  Her mother had her and all her sisters making pies and any hot meal they could come up with for the GIs.  She said the GIs gave her something they hadnt had in a long time, and I just couldnt understand what she was saying.

    Andree said that a GI gave her a pair of OD pants, or GI pants, and her mother quickly "took them up" so they would fit Andree, as she was only 10 at the time.  Andree said she hung around the GIs wearing those pants, thinking she was one of them.  I saw a twinkle in her eyes, not bitterness at having been under nazi rule for 4 years, but of love and happiness for her GI liberators.  She said she sat next to Patton when he stopped in Verdun.  Being deaf and not fluent in French, I sure missed a lot of words, but was glad to hear what I was able to.  What a lovely and gracious lady.

    Seeing as how there was a lull, or coffee break during the Dominoe sleep over, I bid her come into the office to show her something.  My computer!   I conjured up the internet, then typed in Verdun, and clicked on what I thougt was a good site, and lo and behold, up pops her town. She tried to tell me just where Verdun was geographically, and the Moselle valley,  but when the map popped up, she gasped with delight.  We perused that site and others, and seems she didnt know she could do that with her computer. 

    I typed in just any old word, and showed her how easy it was to conjure up whatever she wanted. Before she left, she thanked me for the lesson of the internet, and said she may never have to leave the house again.  Sure wish my hearing was better, really my understanding of the words I have lost because my hearing is no longer 20/20. My grandaughter warned me that would happen if I didnt work hard at whatever I was suppose to work hard at.

     I showed Andree a picture of my Uncle Richard (tooty) in his GI uniform, and one of him in his combat fatigues in some snowy village in Jan 1945.  It is a small picture, but one could see a clock tower in the back. Andree examined the picture with a magnifying glass, and said it wasnt in France, the clock tower wasnt French.  Must have been German.  Just think of the history that has been lost over the years from families like mine and others.

    I cant tell you how wonderful it was to sit and talk to "history" live.  She is, as I would have expected a woman from France would look like, short and petite and just as sweet as one could possibly be.  Wow, what a birthday this one turned out to be.  Wonderful ! ! !

    Time to sing off, need another cup O Joe, and check on Little Miss.  Again, thanks for all the BD wishes and just for being there, I'm blessed beyond all belief! ! ! !

Keep the sun at your six, if it coms out today, and ride boldly ride...

Your frien and resident ol sleepy person, BeauCephusMarcellefrenchy jr esq

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Ok, corrections to the above post. Diane said Andree' said she was 8, I heard 10, and I even repeated it back to Andree'. Since I never make mistakes, we will go with my version, 10. Also the GIs gave them candy, something they hadnt had in 4 years.  And, it was the Canadians that first came through. Andree's mother offered to wash clothes for the men, and wound up with 300 BAGS, not uniforms, 300 bags of laundry to do, which Andree's mother gladly did in a miraculously short time. This was in late August and early Sept '44.

  At Christmastime as more GIs came through Verdun, Andree's family baked pies and made as good a christmas meal as they could and shared it with the men using items from all the GIs gifts.  Andree and her family sang Christmas Carols, which produced tears from the GIs and Andree's family as well.  Despite all the suffering experienced in the last four years under BUTTHEAD NAZI RULE, she said that Christmas of 1944 was wonderful. 

    How lucky we were to have heard that story.  I'm glad things worked out for Andree and her family.

Teddie Jordan

Cephus, I’ve been on here way too much lately, but if you’re telling me that your 90 year old in laws drove all of the way up there to see you all,  brought lunch, and brought a very interesting guest, and played dominoes while you were passed out, and did all of that on Father’s Day no less, they are troopers and totally impressive in every way!!! They rock!!!

Sandi Schlesinger (Stark)

Beau, hope you had a great Birthday. I usually celebrate for a couple of weeks. Might as well keep the fun going.  

Sandi Schlesinger (Stark)

So glad to hear Linda Webster came through her surgery and is doing so well. 

Sandi Schlesinger (Stark)

Adding my prayers for Jim and Beverly Allen. 

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Thank you TJ and Sandi.  I shall continue to endeavor to persevere upon the continuation of my yearly age old tradition of old age and partying hardy.  At the moment, I am enjoying an adult beverage, cocoa, hot chocolate to ward off the chill of 70 degree weather.  To add some decadence, little marshmallows all awash and afloat.  I have a cat on my head, a dog on eyether side of my person, and Wagner on the victrola. Ha, dont tell me I dont know how to celebate.

    It is now 11:59, rapidly approaching the withching hour and the start of another day.  OOPS, it is tomorrow already which means it is today.  Let me first say this about that, a very warm and happy BIRTHDAY WISHES GOING OUT TODAY TO;      JIMMIE LEE, AND LAURICE MONTALBANO,  SO GET OUT THE FLAME THROWER AND LIGHT THOSE CANDLES..   "Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUOU,  happy birthday to you! ! !"  and many more....!

Beau Wann, Jr.

A correction to the above post:     "witching hour".  Thank you and goodnight Mrs Calabash wherever you are!

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Update on Jim Allen - Many prayers and God Bless

Beau Wann, Jr.

    Lots of prayers and good thoughts  for Jim and Beverly.  And happy birthday to Dennie Marek, Don May, and Doug Romans....Speaking of happy birthdays, we have had 4.5 inches of rain this month, and most of that came this week.  We were in a drought. Now all rain barrels are overflowing, and was holding  off mowing down in the valley lest a fire start from exhaust heat off the tractor. Never thought about it before moving here,  but seems It's quite common during a drought.  Finally have been blessed with rain to which I'm sure all the trees and critters are enjoying. 

    Diane and I have been taking turns staying with our semi-new kitty, Little Miss.  She showed up a month or so ago and since we needed an outside "barn" cat, we fed her lots and often.    Took her to the vet Tuesday for shots and a fixin.  Seems she had previously been fixed, and she's barely a year old. Someone must have dumped her out here, or she's gotten away somehow, or maybe she belongs to one of the other ranchers in the area.

      She spent the night Tuesday at the vets. We picked her up Wednesday and have her isolated in the Pink room.  She's the sweetest thing, and such a lover kitty. I stayed with her half the night,, which is to say, I sat in the rocking chair and she slept in my lap, Diane stayed with her the other half of the night and suffered the same torture, a sleeping kitty in your lap.

    Not very interesting stuff, but not much else to do up here on the hill because of the dreary rain, not that I'm complaining, heavens no.  When there is a long drought, I know now to be patient, because it's gonna rain eventually, and when there's a plethora of rain, and all is wet and muddy and dreary, eventually it will stop and become sunny and dry again, and the process will repeat itselt for another zillion years or two whether we're here or not.

     Her highness Princess Dixie-Belle Lee and One eyed Jack do not like the rain.  They will however get in the swimming pools we have provided them on hot days. Cooper on the other hand would never get in an actual body of water, but had no qualms about taking me for a walk at midnight in pouring rain at 35 degrees.  Go figure!  What I wouldnt give to walk once more with cooper in any kind of weather.

     Time for me to deplane, Dixie-Belle wont go outside unless I go, and she needs to go out.  Keep the sun at your six, when the clouds move out, and ride boldly ride.

Your frien and resident meteornologist BeauCephusBenFrank Jr, esq...

Beau Wann, Jr.

     STOP ME BEFORE I COOK AGAIN ! ! ! ! !   I am a confessed serial COOKER ! ! !  Lordy lordy lordy miss clawrdy.   It all started with the almost 7 pound chicken I bought.  Man she was a beaut!  Ha, 7 pound chicken got nothin on me.  Everyone loves a tender chicken dont they!  Yeah, I thought so, and I'm no perception eyether.  I tried to stuff it in the pressure cooker, and all the liquid was displaced by my beautiful 7 pound chicken.  Before long, water was everywhere. (always remember to add the water after you put the chickent in)

    Didnt slow me down moren an hour cleaning it up.  I finally got the glorious 7 pound chicken stuffed into the pressure cooker sans most of the water.  Decided to add a stick of butter for flavor and all, dontcha know.  This wasnt no hucklebuck butter, land  O Goshen, it were Land O Lakes!   Turned on the pressure, and 30 mins later it was still trying to pick up steam whilst pushing more water and chicken juice out onto the center island.

   No worries, that's what they make paper towels for. I think they should make a little larger roll though, cause the puny rolls they give you wont hardly clean up diddly chicken juice.  Ok, pressure cooker is out, but hey, this is a multi purpose pressure cooker, and will do a slow cook, HA, no stoppin me now.  I set the controls on auto slow cook for 6 hours.  In hindsight, that was about 3 hours too long. 

   Reason I set the controls for 6 hours, one memorable occasion popped up in my rocket surgeons head of an incident well past and long since forgotton.  I remember my mom and grandmom and aunts and anyone else with a license to cook, telling me that when I bought a chicken to cook, "GET AT LEAST A 3 POUND CHICKEN".  The chicken incident I'm referring to, happend sometime around 79 or 80. My boys were 10 and 12 around abouts thereof. 

   I wanted to have fried chicken and mashed taters and gravy and all the trimmings for my boys. (I were a bachelor back in them halcyon days, single father and mother)   So, me and the boys went to the store and I spied some puny chickens around a pound or two, and then I heard a voice in me punkin haid saying, "when buying chickens, get at least a 3 pound chicken".  Well, I'm one of those folks that if a little is good, more is bettter.  3 pounds translates into twice as good when you purchase a 6 pound whatever.

    Well, I cooked this fine Sunday dinner, did I mention that it was for my boys, I'm sure I did, me being the fine father and all that I was and am.  Called my mom and got her recipe for crust and gravy etc, oh man, Im on the way to greatness!  This dinner could go down in the annals of  culinomics as a dinner fit for the Queen mum herself.  I'm here to tell you that the chicken turned out golden brown and for once the crust stayed on like Church's chicken does.  The colonel would a been so proud of me! ! !

    One small detail I forgot to mention, had a grease flare up and it caught the upper kitchen cabinets on fire. Once again, "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail", had me a fine fire extinguisher that put the fire right out, and didnt even disturb the cooking.  What the heck, I really didnt like the color of those doors anyway, and was planning to change them, eventually. Now of course, sooner than I had anticipated.  I've never really made "blackened" anything, on purpose, just sort of happened from time to time.  I wonder if anyone else has made blackened kitchen cabinet doors?

   Anyway, once the smoke had cleared, and the fire alarms shut off, the chicken was done and beautiful, all the trimmings were wonderful as well.  We sat down at the table and before we partook of our fine sunday dinner, we gave thanks to the lord for all our blessings, to which I might add, I believe I heard both boys in unison give thanks that we had a fire extinguisher.  An aside here, I held weekly fire drills at our house, so the boys would know what to do if such a calamity should befall us.  I just know they were groaning inside that now since the fire, I would probably step those up to twice a week. One cant be too careful can one!

    Ok men, dig in!  The charge of the light brigade, taters to the left of me, gravy to the right of me, peas all over the place and glorious golden brown fried chicken in front of us, and blackened kitchen cabinets behind us.  We all filled our plates and started talking and eating, taters and gravy etc when I noticed the boys were'nt eating the chicken.  I hadnt tried it yet, I wanted them to enjoy it first.  "Why men, you're not eating your chicken, why? "   "Uh dad, it's kinda tough" I believe they said in unison.  "TOUGH?  FRIED CHICKEN AINT TOUGH".

    "Here watch a master of fried chicken eating",  I bit down in a chicken leg, and my teeth bounced off, having made nary dent.  I  checked all the chicken parts, and you could barely cut them with a knife.  So, I  chunked it all out and we went to the health food store,  Dairy Queen and had burgers and frys, something I should have done to start with.  Most expensive dinner I have ever had.  I asked my mom later what I did wrong, and she said,  "you cant fry a 6 pound chicken, it's for roasting", "But mom, you said always get a 3 pound chicken, so I thought one twice that size would be better..." she replied, "son, next time, go to KFC and see the colonel"...

    Back to today, I've learned my lesson, maybe, 6 hours later, that ol 7 pound chicken was ready to come out.  It was kind of tender, and mostly falling off the bones, so had to get a speghetti thingamabob to fish the chicken out seeing as how it was falling apart in my fingers, and did I mention it was still hot?   Ok, got the strainer under the chicken and pried er loose from the cooker and just about to put it in another container, when my hand slipped and so did the chicken and it went sliding across the center island like it had a motor. "Houston we have a problem"! ! ! !

   I quickly ran around the other side of the island, slipping and sliding as I run, and caught that ol chicken before it hit the floor. Did I mention it was still hot.  My hands are really mad at me as we speak.  Fianlly got that ol monster bird, RODAN into a fridge container, when you know who shows up...the little woman.
It's a good thing I'm almost deaf, I thought I heard, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING"?  or woids to that defect.

   "Why honeybunch, I'm cooking dinner" I said right proud.   "COOKING DINNER?   she said.  "Well, I had a slight set back here and there" I said.  "A SLIGHT SET BACK ?  LOOKS LIKE THE ST VALENTINES DAY MASSACRE!  At least you didnt burn the house down!"   Ha, see there, always a silver linning! 

      Well, we got it all cleaned up, and I asked her what we could do with all that chicken that was so tender,  bordering on chicken mush.    Not to worry, my beloved saves the day, and whuuped out her rolling pin and commenced to making a pie dough and lined one of her pie pans and is at this very moment making a chicken pot pie.  I asked if I could help with anything else, and I'm not sure if she was being facetious or not when she said,  "why dont  you get on the "forum" and say howdy to all the folks, and tell em your wife wasnt injured in the 7 pound chicken massacre".

    Ok, fine, about that time I  Heard Dixie-Belle barking at the door, and directly the little woman hollared at the dogs and the cats, now it's me, two dogs and two cats banished to the office.   Here's a piece of advice for all youse youtes...leave the cooking to someone qualified, a card carrying fully licensed chef!   I dont think my soup and canned veggie expertise has suffered at all as a result of the 7 pound chicken meelee.  Think thats' what I'll stick to, canned stuff.

    Ok, time to deplane, the dogs eyes are big as silver dollars and bugging out, why?, the two cats are starting to growl and yowl at each other, and both dogs are deathly afraid of the two saber tooth tigers in our happy little family.  "Ok you two, take it outside"  I grabbed both of em and chunked em out on the screened in porch..

Keep the sun at your six and stay out of the kitchen...
your frien and resident psycho chicken killer,  ChefBeauCephus esq...

Scotty Croom

if i make it thru buying this condo,i may need a vacation.....finally finished getting fin. docs sent...because of rental limits,could not get va loan..so,went conventional ...rain and now heat back...hope everyone is doing better....

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Hey Scotty!  Aint buying a house fun?  I've used my VA about 4 times, and I'm not sure if we used it on this house.  I'll have to ask Diane.  We used Capital Farm several times over the years.  The ink wasnt dry on the contract on this house when everyone wanted to refi it at much lower interest rate, so we did.  I dont know perzactly what the rate is, but it's at least 2 percent lower than what the rate was back in the 60's, and I believe that  3.5 percent back then was about standard.  Remember when we were getting around 4.5 percent on savings accounts at banks?  Sometimes more than that.  Times were so much simpler back then, so it seemed.

    So, where in Alabama are you?    You on the beach?  Margaritaville perhaps?   I was thinking how nice it would be to live up in Montana until I watched "Yellowstone Caldera" on the smithsonian channel.  Chappell Hill and Houston are just outside the edge of 1/2 inch of ash raining down on us. If not directly affected in the early days of a "yellowstone eruption" of course the "nuclear winter" would be upon us, and all the crops would be nonexistent because of no sun. 

     The scientists all say to stock up on supplies.  We all know that everything you see on TV and the internet is the truth and nothing but the truth so help you Google! ! !      How much more spam do I need to get?  Pork and beans?   Scotty, I do think that yall will be ok in Alabama, the further south the better!  Just stay indoors....for about 5 years, so they say.  And we all know who they are dont we, rocket surgeons!

   On to other exciting gnus up here in the Chappell Hill Caldron.  Our gnu Kitty?   I was afraid this might happen.  Our vet told us originally to keep Little Miss in for about 5 days after her surgery. Since she didnt have surgery, just shots, we decided to keep her in a couple of days and then turn her loose.  Well, that didnt happen!   We opened the door for her to deplane, she looked outside from her little bed on the couch in the pink room, looked at Diane and me, and the look was like ,"no, I'm ok here, you can shut that door now your letting the AC out,  put her head back down and burrowed deeper in the covers.  Tried again later on, and she has no intention of leaving.   Oh the catmanity!

    Now what are we gwina do?  The other two cats hate each other, I can just imagine what adding another cat to the fray would produce.  And we really needed a "barn cat".    Little Miss is the sweetest kitty though. We both go in and sit with her awhile each day and she just hugs us and clings to us.   Well, why wouldnt she, meals 24/7  cool place to sleep in the summer, warm in the winter, soft bed to sleep in,  no coyotes or other predators stalking her.   Well, she hasnt met Annie-Bob and lacy.  Oh well, we'll work it out I suppose. 

      HEY SCOTTY, YOU WANT A SWEET KITTY FOR YOUR GNU CONDOMONIUM?  I'm sure a cat would just be so wonderful for you, lowers the blood pressure, makes a person an all around so much healthier person, great for the attitude, everyone would see just how wonderful you are and all from a sweet little kitty.  I was thinking Annie-Bob would work for youse as long as she is an only cat.  If you want, Diane can bring your gnu kitty, meet you half way, say around Conroe.  We'll give you family rates, plus a veterans discount and senor citizen discount......Whattaya say pal, gnu kitty for you and your gnu condu and we'll throuw in some fondue?      Well think about it ok!

    Been seeing lots of deah up heah.  Saw a herd of about 2 dozen, mostly mamas and babies still in spots.  Saw four huge bucks, racks  tall and wide at least 8 points plus.  Back on Old Chappell Hill Rd, at a high water crossing, yes, we still have those up here,  a huge soft  shell turtle was swimming across the road. That ol boy was almost as big as one of the tires on my truck.  I'm glad it was me he swam in front of, I brake for all critters.  Not so other morons. Seems some people go out of their way to inflict harm on things. Well I wont dwell on the monsters of the whirld.

     The little woman is going in today to our little country church in the city, Oaks Presbyterian Church.  Then probably lunch with her parents and maybe the lunch bunch and then on to be with Lucy and her mon at  the BRIDAL GOWN SHOP IN THE GALLARIEA, where she will be sorting through wedding gowns.      As much as I love Lucy, I'm not really geared up for being in a bridal shop, believe it or not! ! ! !  However, as much as I Love Lucy, I would go anywhere with her and for her ! ! !   Whew, guys not allowed at the bridal shop! ! !

     Got most all the field work done, thanks to Dianes help,  cept down at the creek, saving it for another day. Need to rent a walk behind brush hog and wear snake boots, certainly no job for my beloved!  Or anyone's beloved!   So today, it being Sunday and all, methinks I'll just hang out in Coopers Memorial Ice House, or maybe ride pegasus!    Hmmm, maybe I'll just stay home and hang with the cats and dogs, yeah, they are all such good conversationalists, ought to have a whale of a time talkin to them , fer shure dude!

    Ok, I'm just chuntering on blather blather.  Ah due hope all is swell with everyone, and those that need extra care, are getting just that.  A cat might just be the ticket for good health, think about it!  So, Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride....

    Your frien and cat whisperer,  BeauCephusKatmandu esq...

Post Script:   Good thoughts going out to Jim and Beverly and Charlie B. and all who need good thoughts.   

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Sad news, our dear classmate, Charles Lowery, passed away on June 17.  Please keep his family in your prayers. Frances Lute saw his obituary in yesterday's Chronicle.

From Frances Lute 6/24/18 - Saw in today’s chronicle that Charles passed away. This write up was very informative as to his life since graduation. He was divorced from Alice Menefee who was also in our home room with Miss Parrott. His mother taught 7th grade English at Black. I remember her well. Frances

Charles Lowery
1946 - 2018 Obituary

Charles Lowery who died on June 17, 2018 was born in Marshall, TX. He was the only child of Lila Mae Williamson and Leon Lowery. When Charles was young the family moved to Nacogdoches where Charles began to excel academically.

Never losing his affection for his 'East Texas roots' the family decided to move to the BIG city: Houston where Charles was to start his 6th year of schooling.

Continuing to be 'the excellent student' he graduated from High School as the boy with the highest grades but alas, the Valedictorian and Salutatorian went to the top two girls. With his exceptional credentials he was admitted to the University of Texas' Plan B program, but chose to attend the honors program at University of Houston. Graduating with top honors he went on to attend the UH Law School. In the middle of the term he was in the Law Review (remember he was really smart), but he was drafted during the Viet Nam war, hence having to postpone becoming a lawyer.

Fortunately he was sent to Germany. Not only was he smart, but he could type really fast. During this time he met his lifelong friend: Ed Cimermancic with whom he spent hours discussing philosophies in the Beer Gardens of Stuttgart, as work allowed. When his German tour of duty was over he returned to complete his law degree beginning his career with Dudensing and Webb, later leaving to establish his own firm: Pusch, Lowery and Gilcrease….in retirement Jerry Gilcrease and his wife Paula remained the dearest of friends to Charles.

From the beer gardens of Germany, Charles began a life long struggle with alcohol, getting sober in 2000. During his almost ten years of shining, serene sobriety he ran an AA Class and served briefly as a trustee for the Houston Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, helping many people with their own struggles with addiction. Alas he suffered a re-lapse from which he tried numerous times but never fully recovered.

He is survived by his first ex-wife, Alice Menefee Doner who was that 'girl Valedictorian' from high school and their son Edward Lowery of Austin, TX. He is also survived by his second ex-wife: Sandra Lowery with whom he remained close and who will forever grieve his passing. He is also survived by their son Andrew Lowery of Houston, TX and granddog, Millie.

Charles was an honest, gentle, kind, smart and complicated person (but aren't we all?) He did not wish to have a formal celebration of his life. Remember him when you are cooking your favorite meal, working in your garden, taking a scenic road trip or watching an old black and white movie.

He will be cremated with his ashes scattered in his beloved East Texas and in Monterrey Bay, a place of many fond memories.

Should one desire/wish to honor Charles' life suggested donations: Father Martin's Ashley; 800 Tydings Lane, Havre de Grace, MD or our own Houston Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Published in Houston Chronicle on June 24, 2018

Scotty Croom

beau, we are ging to settle down in south mobile,al. bay area..daphne is southeast of mobile and the bay...our condo looks out to bay from our back deck...it is a small,but active area between i10 e. and the gulf...lots of farm land...traveling to georgetown,this friday to celebrate my sister's 70th birthday...will be joined by my son and dil, mother, youngest niece's brood and recently returned from tour in korea,my oldest niece and family..have never met her youngest son and oldest was just a baby,when last with them...

Beau Wann, Jr.

     Yea Scotty ! ! ! !    I'll bet that ocean breeze is heavenly on your balcony.   Man, dont know how you do all that traveling and keeping up with folks.   You need a vacation from your vacations.  Glad all is going well with you and yourn.  Maybe we'll see you sometime in the future. 

    Ok, summers almost over with.  Just past the sumnall equinox, means days are getting shorter and nights getting longer, and sweater weather cant be that too far away give or take 3 or 4 months. When it;s hot, cant wait till it gets cold, when it's cold, cant wait till it gets hot, er, or warmer than 19 degrees.

    "Little Miss" our newst kitty is still refusing to budge from her paradise.  Cant say that I blame her though.  She's missing out on 100 degree days 100 percent humadidity, being chased by coyotes and other predators if she were to return to the outside.  Might see if she wants to go out whilst we are wwith her.  Well, no harm no foul.  She is a true "lover kitty".  Just hugs and loves on me and purrs to high heaven, which gets me to purring. Watcha gonna do, just what we're doing.

    Sorry to hear about Charles passing.   I know the face, but not the name.   Also him being top guy in the GPA department would naturally put us on opposite ends of the spectrum.  Of couse you could say I was top at the bottom of the GPA  paradoxical paradigm.  Sure would like to have conversed with him about lots of things.  Demon alcohol has felled many a good man and woman.   .  Our thoughts and prayers with Charles family and friends. 

    Ok, time to deplane:  Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...
your frien and resident person BeauCephus