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Richard Meek '65

Wayne, being a fan of Thomas Jefferson I just did a quick check on the quote you listed at the bottom of your posting because I also liked it. According to an article from the Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia they have found nothing in Jefferson's writings to that effect. You can check them out at WWW. According to them the statement was actually made by Gerald Ford to a joint session of Congress on August 8, 1974. The closest they could come from Jefferson was "The natural course is for liberty to yield as government grows larger". That may not be exact because I'm going from memory but I think it is pretty close.

Good stuff Wayne.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance,

Rich LH

Beau Wann, Jr.

Goot eefenink mine belov ed waltripians,
      Hey Rich, what the heck does the TJ encyclopedia know nohow...Thomas Jefferson probably woulda said it...if he'd a thought of it...maybe he did say it, but just didnt tell anyone...yeah, thats the ticket, thats how I'm gonna tell it anyway...
      HOT???? HELL DAMN RD it is so hot...how hot is it??? It is so hot, the ice melted on the cement pond, quelling any idears about ice skating...go ahead, think about...I'll wait...hmmmmmmmmmmmm...times up...and the coffee is a perkin...I dont know what the heck I mean either...demented...

The little woman went upstairs to work on stuff...so, me and Cat Jack, being the sooper troopers and good allround fellas that we are, trudged our weary and creakin selves up the fershlerginer stairs to be close to DW...so, thought I'd get on the Forum...missed some of the responses from yall...so glad to see lots O folks on board...HI TO ALL!!!! HAIL TO ALL!!!!! Well, not hail hail, the hard ones that fall from the sky, but maybe the softer ones, oh say, RAIN!!!!!! Cant believe this heat and dryness...this early in the summer...we still have July and August and September to go...pretty dogone smart for an algebra flunky huh????

I think I'll start selling insurance...my next door neighbor is our State Farm agent, and they just got back from 2 plus weeks in Hawaii, and now are in Destin Florida for 2 plus weeks...must be nice...stinking insurance companies...

Got a new truck...well, got it at the end of last year, and someone already hit the side of it with a shopping cart from Home Depot and it only had 400 miles on it...30 years ago, I would have leveled Home Depot, but I have mellowed...only uttered a few...thousand curse words...most of em you wouldnt recognize, cause I made em up, but curse words they are...BP shot up to 120/70...normally it's 110/60...well, the exigent circumstances and all you know...

Just got the truck fixed at Tommy Vaughn...they did a bang up job, pun intended...they even detailed the whole truck...WOW...bettern the way I do it, mostly....I asked em if they do this as a service to all US GOOD AND LOYAL CUSTOMERS...no, they said, only if I wreck it...so I guess I'll have to wreck it once a month to get this good a detail job...nah, just funnin...I did put the truck in the garage, and been riding my bike...dont want to get er dirty, plus my bike gets 40 MPG, did I mention that before???? Oh, prolly did didnt I...

Me and Lizabeth, (my beloveds middle name, if she had one) and the dynamic duo, Coop and Cat jack, went to ye olde country estate in the high country, last Saturday...HOT???? Well, I wont go into that...but in the past, it seemed it was hotter in the city, and relatively cooler in the country...now, it's just the reverse...breaks 100 up there in the high country almost everyday...we just did a few things, check the feeders and cameras...forgot to take batteries, so had to leave things as they were...low on corn, and it has jumped up to 7.99 per 50 pounds at Buccees, and 7.99 for 40 pounds at Academy and else where...corn should be as "high as an elephants eye" this time of year...most all the corn along 290 has burned up from lack of rain...lot of it cut down and plowed under...guess ah aint a gonna get no dadburn grits cause of lack of rain...Oh bother!!!!!

Our creek is dry, as is the creek that runs south of us, so I set out 3 watering stations at the ranch...about 1/4 mile apart...bought some of the small blue pools at academy for 10 bucks apiece...got em weighted down with concrete and stones, plus steps in and out so the little critters dont get shut out of the water, and once in, they can get out...filled em all up, of course after dumping a lot of water on myownself, but thats ok...drys real quick in this heat...both boys, of course, had to test each pool, and then shake the water off on me...ok ok, I'm good with that...

Did see my donkey friends, this time on their own property...couldnt entice them to come to the fence, didnt have any apples...gad, you have to bribe everything...didnt get a picture though, they disappeared into the forest when I dragged my camera out...saw "Bambi", bout 2 or 3 months old fawn, still in spots...cutest thing...couldnt get my camera out fast enough...mama came out to let Junior know, his choice of friends, was not acceptable...ok fine, see ya...

Gonna have to replace bout 400 ft of fence on the west side of the south pasture, hogs have just about rendered it useless...5 strands of barbed wire...think I will replace it with 5 inch tops and wood planks and then line with hog wire...anyone need some experience with fences, or just like all this heat and want to be out in it???? Just one more project added to the list, but this one is a high priority and has worked it's way to the top O the list...heavy sigh, it's always something, eh....no complaints though, blessed are we...

there was mention earlier about the USS Texas BB35...lots o interesting information on that ship...not the first Texas though...the first Battleship was the USS Maine, no BB number or designation...the second battleship was a USS Texas, the first if you will, again no BB number or designation...Both commissioned in 1895, but since researching this, I have found discrepancies in the dates, but whats a few years, give or take...keels laid for Maine in 1888, and for Texas 1889...Texas launched 1892, and commissioned 1895...wow, took em 3 years to outfit and shakedown...of course we know what happened to the Maine, blowed to smithereens by space aliens or ???? Refloated and scuttled 1912...

Texas the first, considered the "first battleship", was decommissioned in 1911 and sunk with target practice in Oct 1911...boo...the USS Indiana was the first commissioned battleship with a BB designation of BB-1...There was some question, from an unnamed source, a know-it-all type, that said the USS Texas the second, BB-35, had 15 inch guns...not so mon ami, she had only 14 inch guns, and 10 of em, so, I guess you could say, if you were a math major, that she had 140 inch of gun...yeah yeah yeah...of course the know-it-all does not believe me, even though there is irrefutable evidence...in fact, the first Maine had 4X10inchers, and the first Texas had only 2X12 inchers...and starting with the BB-1, the USS Indiana, 8 battleships had 4X13 inchers...the onliest one in that bunch, the USS Iowa, had 4X12 inchers...

Seems they went back to 12 inchers with the second USS Maine, BB-10, all the way down to the USS Arkansas...which is 24 battleships...the only thing different was the number of guns, from 4 on the Maine, to 12 on the Arkansas...

Starting with the USS New York, BB-34, they put 14 inch guns times 10 on 4 ships, then 12X14 inchers on the next 7 battleships down to the BB-44, the USS California...then they brought out the big guns, if you will pardon the intended pun...16 inchers, starting with the BB-45, USS Colorado down to the last battleship, BB-64 USS Wisconsin...nary one mention of any 15 inch gun period...so far, my research turned up two 15 inchers but they were of the Third Reich...one was the Bismarck, and cant remember the other one...they had some slated for 16 inch guns, but never got too far on them...one was scrapped on the drawing board, and two had their keeps laid, but were scrapped in the yard...

Then the "know-it-all, says there was a battleship with 20 inch guns and was a product of the nips/Japanese...au contraire mon ami...researched that bit O info, and so far all I have found was that the Brits were just TALKING about a 20 inch gun, not even on paper, just talk...

The two largest battleships, of course were the two Japanese ones, the Yamato and cant remember the other one, but they had 18.1 inch guns, that as far as anyone knows, never fired on another ship, such as the U.S ships...The guns were not that accurate, or really that powerful...seems the Emperor didnt research enough...of course we sunk both battleships, yea for us...the only other 18 inch was, believe it or not, on a British ship, not even a battleship, just a heavy cruiser, HMS Furious...and they only had one of the buggers located aft...it was one tenth of an inch smaller than the Japanese...the ship was commisioned 1917...but there was a problem, mon ami, seems that when they fired the big gun, it just about wrecked the ship it was so powerful, so back to the ol drawing board...so in 1918, was refitted to become an aircraft carrier...HMS Furious...it is bad luck to change the name of a ship, no matter what you do to the ship...we had a ship we changed the name of, and it had the worst luck ever...I'll try to find the story...

So, me 2, know-it-all 0...Now, I am always open to correction...not ashamed to admit I am wrong, and always delight in the REAL AND ACTUAL FACTUAL INFORMATION, unlike my "know-it-all"...all the info above, was researched on the web, so if I got it wrong, they got it wrong...

The actually largest guns ever produced were two by who else, the Third Reich, Krupp family, called Gustav and Dora...they were both 31.5 inches, mounted on railcars, took 500 men each to man, and was commanded by a major general...and were devastatingly accurate...barrel life was about 300 rounds...nothing like German engenuity, eh what??? Just think, we can deliver that much fire power using an unmanned drone, and hundreds of miles, instead of 26 miles...

Hey Wayne, I think I'll pass on the Vietnam book, for now...I got into reading them for about 5 or ten years, 20 to 30 years back...didnt realize for a spell,  they were making me so depressed, had to stop reading war books...even so called fiction novels, based on the real thing...but no harm no foul...I will keep yours in mind and maybe pick it up sometime...

I sawr the funniest movie the other day, "PASSED AWAY" with Bob Hoskins and other folks that I recognized, but dont know their names...it was made in 1992...It was hilarious...dont know how I missed it the first time around....also sawr today, "GEORGE BURNS AND GRACIE ALLEN" TV show on channel 318, for those with comcast...that show, that pair, was just pricelessly hilarious...I forgot how much I missed those folks...brilliant comedy, just brilliant...Jack Benny, Bob Hope, etc...

Sawr and article on FIREFLIES, in the Sunday Houston Pravda...I do remember em in my yout...we had em here in the 40s and 50s, then they just seemed to disappear...saw them a lot when we visited my grandparents up in Little Rock, Ark and surrounding areas, Hot Springs etc...such a fond memory...nights up there were clearer and cooler, and just seemed so, so, special...and they were of course...quiet, and streets were oil soaked dirt...

Now that I have sufficently bored you to tears, and sleep, I guess I will bid you adieu...for now...but I give you fair warning, "I'll be back"...

seems to be another sleepless night, so I might be back sooner than later, oh joy for you good folks...but, "I yam what I yam"...

Keep the sun at your 6, behind a cloud, and ride boldly ride, with the airconditioner on full blast...your frien and brother
Beauregard aka "Chats a lot" (my lakota indian name)

John Burgess Webb

ive really enjoyed the comments lately;they sem to go to the heart of the matter,our liberties and our freedoms.well established and reiterated by abe lincoln;who fully understood the magnitude of union and established both the reasons for the preservation and the base for reconciliation at gettysburg.his will was later carried out by grant at appomatox;conditions from a hard-bit general,to his former enemy;a fellow officer and gentleman,were carried with dignity.as far as the soldiers were concerned,all had done their duty as they chose their loyalty.we remain the united states of america.i hope this fourth of july is rewarding for all of you,those who listen and those that speak up from time to time.

for those of us who love history,we are always seeking 'the story'that shines with truth.so much is being shut out in an effort to re-write history so to me the sources must triangulate or bust.we learn every day so to me reading 3or 4 sources on the same subject is a luxury because i have the time.those of you who contribute also bring a perspective from what you have discovered.

i found a couple of pictures on an historical site for the 'battleship texas';this must be the one that was used for gunnery practice.
 

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Hey Johnny Johnny ---- Happy Birthday!!

Everyone have a great and safe 4th of July - stay as cool as you can. 

If you are traveling like Richard and others, have fun!!  That fishing trip is right "down my alley"  - grew up fishing on Lake Travis -- yep, baiting those worms or minnows on my hook.

God Bless America!

Hugs,

J

Paige Talley (Meek)

I hope ya'll have a great 4th of July. It never fails to make my heart race to see this Grand Flag billow in the wind. Thank you to all who have set about to protect it. You too make my heart joyful with pride. 

Although there were many Americans and Texans coming and going in the area when I lived in Belize, it was still foreign soil. I observed their pride of their country and the celebrations surrounding their independence, etc.

After about a year a new Ambassador was appointed to Belize. A “meet the Americans” dinner was arranged for him on the island and all the Americans were invited. There was a “guest registry” at the front desk with red, white and blue flowers arranged near by. As I recall a stately dinner was served of chicken, green beans, potatoes and a patriotically decorated cake for dessert.

All that was fun and the people around you laughed at your jokes and sarcasm (because they actually got the jokes) but the heart stopper was the American Flag billowing in the breeze.

I had not seen the flag flying since I had left the airstrip in Brownsville, Texas. My heart swelled and tears streaked my cheeks.  

It didn’t matter where I rested my head, I was a Texas-American !!!

BTW… no one signed the “guest registry”.

My your heart and your Flag soar high this weekend !!!

Jimmy Brown '65

 I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

AND TO THE REPUBLICFOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD,

INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

Everybody have a wonderful and safe 4th of July !

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey Johnny, HAPPY BIRTHDAY...and Jimmie Lee too....and all our waltrip family...sometimes I forget to actually WISH folks a happy birthday, even though in my mind, I do and have...If folks could hear the conversation I carry on in my head with myself...well, you would be...amazed and asleep...

Hey Burge, the first pict is the first USS Texas, that one had only 2 X 12 inchers and was smaller than the BB-35, USS Texas the second...Second pict is BB-35 and had 10 X 14 inchers...

like you and others, I love history...and our AMERICA...dont mind em correcting mistakes in history facts, but not changing things for political correctness, or to apologize to the rest of the whirld for PULLING THEIR CHESTNUTS OUT OF THE FIRE A ZILLION TIMES, AND SUPPORTING EVERY NATION ON EARTH WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR A ZILLION YEARS...right is right, and wrong aint...

I guess you heard what the Director of the VA cemetery here has gone and done, or tried to do...MAKE EVERYONE OMIT THE WORDS GOD AND JESUS FROM ALL THEIR PRAYERS AND WELL WISHES TO THE FAMILY OF THE FALLEN SOLDIER/SAILOR/MARINE/AIRMAN/COASTGUARDSMAN...who dregs up these snakes anyway...must be an appointment and payback for...?????

She has been there a year, and her future there aint looking too promising...we hope...I may just paint GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND PRAISE JESUS CHRIST, on the side of my truck and drive through the hallowed grounds of HOUSTON NATIONAL...

Some minister took her to court about her wanting to make him omit God and Jesus from his prayers...guess what????  He won...

If you go out there and say God and Jesus Christ, without winning a lawsuit, whats she gonna do???? have you arrested...????? kick you out of the cemetery????? bring it on witch...

Texas legislature is now involved...as other groups are...also she wants all honor guards to have rifles inspected, all serial numbers recorded among other stupid criteria or they cant fire a salute to the fallen warrior...once again, what could she be thinking, and who above her is telling her to do this????? I can only imagine...Texas is not a favorite state of the folks in D.C. !!!!! AND WE DONT GET A SPACE SHUTTLE????? Like Houston, Texas had nothing to do with the space program....Guess where that came from????

AND THE BEAT GOES ON....

HEY DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY...GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS AND FAMILIES...IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WE PRAY...AMEN....COME GET ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gets my blood up more than anything...

Douglas Romans

God bless you Beau, (or am I allowed to say such blasphemy???)

Bravo buddy--You gave the old "you-know-who" at our VA cemetery a report from all of the Texas's 14-inchers. I hope she is "relieved of duty" as soon as possible since she deserves no less. Your (and Rich's and Burge's) historical documentation of the USS Texas was most informative--keep up the good work.  Everyone have a nice and SAFE 4th of July as ,I believe, our nation is in desparate need of salvation from forces both foreign and domestic.

DougR     

John Burgess Webb

we are being destroyed by false locusts;its not incompetance,it is protracted.if you are a patriot then you are a racist neanderthal at best,you have no place in the progressive new world order even though you have paid for it and voted for it.watch this premature "political season" go white hot."bussed in"anarchists will throw their rocks and newspaper boxes through your window some day;hide and watch.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey DougR...good to hear from you...as much as some may hate the words "God" and "Jesus" for political correctness etc et al and whatever, there is no denying that this country was founded on Christian/Judeo fundamentals and beliefs, like it or not...no one complains about folks using the term "Allah", or "Buddha", or Muslim Brotherhood or any other term, they just complain about anything to do with Christians...just like folks have done for centuries...just ask the Jews...time has come to take a stand, and I BE STANDING, BY GOD, AND WITH GOD, AND FOR GOD, AND IN THE NAME OF GOD...BY GOD...

Hey Burge, I dont be hiding and watching, I be locked and loaded and watching...stand fast to your beliefs and roots folks...God never promised our ride wouldnt be bumpy, he just promised us a smooth landing...folks have died for less, but never for more than God...and if you're a believer, Christ died for us...and we all know, "greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for that of another"...

Even if one does not believe in a higher being, just read Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and if you have a copy of THE APOCRYPHA, the book of Ecclesiasticus or the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach...good words to live by...

Ok, I leave it alone...almost got rain today...storm clouds blew in, huffed and puffed, but no precipitation...boo...actually pushed the lawnmower by the cement pond today, and walked all around it, did not drop anything in, glory be...was so excited, decided to open a bottle of wine, May 2011, Chateau de Hootchy Kootchy...hmmmm, good stuff...

Went by Best Buy to get a new tripod for ye olde Brownie Hawkeye...got a salesperson that was as deaf as I... neither one of us remembered to bring our ears...my beloved and just about half the store was in hysterics, because neither one had eyes either...just wore me out trying to communicate with that bozo...and thats what he's prolly saying about me too...

I know, the jokes on me...big whoop...doesnt hurt my feelings at all, just glad I can be entertaining...lifes too short and serious to be serious all the time...seriously...

Back on the BB-35, each gun turret weighed 532 tons, of which 128 tons was armor, and 62 tons for the gun...took 70 people to operate the system...as Rich the LH stated earlier, maximum range was about 22,000 yards...the gun could actually fire further, but was limited by the maximum elevation of 15 degrees due to some stupid treaty we had with a third whirld country or two...the Following ships, BB-36, USS Nevada, and BB-37, USS Oklahoma, had the same 14 inch guns, but with a 30 degree elevation, which enabled them  to fire 35,000 yards...looks like the treaty got squashed...info states they could fire almost two rounds a minute...about 1.25 and 1.75 rounds a minute...not too bad, considering it took 4 bags of powder 420 pounds, and projectiles weighing from 1275 pounds to 1500 pounds, to load and fire...

Sorry about all this battleship stuff, I just find the logistics fascinating, as well as the history...

Fried some okra for the first time, without any help...hmmm, edible, but just barely...I used grapeseed oil because it isnt bad for you and generally is a good oil to fry stuff in...sure miss my moms frahed okry and frahed grain damaters...

What the heck time is it anyhow????? Hmmmmm midnight 30, well burn mah clothes...

Been watching the little girl across the street, Mercedes, whom I believe is 13 or 14, with a new boy that just moved into the neighborhood...looks like a thug to me...they have been playing touchy feely via tickling, and shoving and pushing and finally hugging...have been sitting on the swing in this heat all day for days...I dont remember those days, although I know they happened...I'm sure I made a complete ass of myself back then, but what the heck, it was half a century ago...watching these two carry on, like they were going to spend the next 60 years together, seems sort of silly and futile...I remember love back then...it was wonderful, and frustrating, and hurt too...now look at us...all growed up and wondering how kids get to be so silly...kinda like we were...

Ladies, I still smell the Aqua Net hairspray yall wore back then...dont remember any perfume, just the hairspray...but back then, I thought that smell was heavenly...I was so shy and scared to death of girls back then...oh, I masked it by being cocky and a clown and a jerk too...seems my model didnt come with an instruction booklet...well, that was half century ago, and when you say "half century" it doesnt sound so bad...

Anytime a girl touched me, felt like an electric shock...heck, just to be hugged and kissed by one of you lovely ladies, was THE HOLY GRAIL...I fell in love quick and often...young dumb and full of bubble gum...that was me...

I remember falling in love in the 7th grade, (had to go to Aldine) one of about a thousand times I fell in love, but this particular fine young lady was just the cats...had a smile that just lit up the Milky Way...(still has that smile) rode the bus to Aldine with her...(she said I was cute, but was too short. that just about killed my soul right then and there. I fooled her, grew up to be 6 foot 11...yeah yeah, in my dreams)... I bought a bottle of perfume and took it to her house and gave it to her mom to give to the young lady...I was so nervous, bout puked mah guts out...so many beautiful girls, so little time...

OK, OK, I be headin for dream land, well at least to sit in the chair with three or more cats, in the dark, contemplating the past present and future...

Never pass up a chance to tell the ones you love that "you love em"...how much they mean to you...after all, they love you...Happppppyyy birthday to all and to all a good night...

Your frien and brother...BeauCephus aka sir chats alot...my nom de plome of the round table...

SEE, WE CAN ALL LOVE ONE ANOTHER,
NO MATTER WHAT OUR HERITAGE IS...

 

AND IF YOU DONT, I AM GONNA COME OVER AND PLANT ONE OF THESE TREES IN YOUR YARD...

John Burgess Webb

i was going to p.s. that i was being facecious but beau beat me to it.the germans 'hid and watched'.it was a truely progressive society,where murder of the inferior was made legal by just enough judicial partisapation and aquiessence.we do have a country under god,for those who believe. 

                                                          A TAPASTRY

                                                                                 symbolizing the eternal nature of gods' servant,known by many names and in englis, the 'son' of god and co-creator of all that is cognizant;jesus,the christ.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Sorry Burge, didnt mean to trample...but I knew what you were saying...complacency is a killer everytime...

Good Sunday morn mine waltripians,
       Sunday-go-to-meetin day for some of us...had the usual 30 suspects, counting the choir,  minister, piano player, ushers, communion servers, kids, etc...We actually sang "MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE" as the last hymn...needless to say we all sang LOUD...sounded like the norman tanerbacle choir...you remember norman dont you???? Had real bad case of tanerbacles on his feet...had to hollar every step O the way...

Talked to Jim and Ruby Thiessen...I know, I mention them everytime, but they are such great folks...Glad they have been in my life over the last two centuries and melliniums...delpheniums...geraniums...all them iniums...

Ok, it's early, so I'll go take a nap and then get back on about midnight at the oasis...
SURFS UP!!!!!!!!
Heres a pic of my eldest, Billy Joe, on my 11 ft "big gun" surf board, at Surfside back in August 69. Methinks he doctored it up a tad, ya think????

Teddie Jordan

Beau, great picture.

There was an interesting article in the Parade section of today's Chronicle about our national anthem. The anthem was of course written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 and was inspired by a naval battle with the British in the War of 1812. But it wasn't adopted by congress as our national anthem until 1931. The article argues that because it is ackward to sing that it should be replaced, by more lyrical  and postive songs about our country, as our national anthem.

I disagree with this argument and think things traditional should be left alone. We've all heard so called singers butcher the anthem and others of lesser ability limp through it, but we've also heard a number of performers give inspiring renditions.

One of the songs the article recommends as a replacement is America the Beautiful. It mentions the bluesy rendition of that song, which is my alltime personal favorite, by Ray Charles. This just happens to be one of the patriotic songs available for your listening pleasure, thanks to Jackie, on the Military Salute section of this website.

Give it a listen. I guarantee you that Ray will knock your socks off, and make your spine tingle with pride in our country and appreciation for our military men and and women and their families.

Jim Taylor

Just received a call from Jim Hendley's sister in law with some very sad news.  Jim passed away early today from an apparent heart attack.  Plans right now are for a visitation on Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Pat Foley Funeral Home.  Funeral on Thursday at 10:00 AM at Pat Foley. 

Jim was a great guy and he will be sorely missed.

Beau Wann, Jr.

I'm of the same mind  as you, Teddie, I say, if it aint broke dont fix it...sure, it's hard to sing, but heck fire, just lower the key...there, problem solved...You are so right, America The Beautiful sung by Ray Charles is about as good as it gets...heard it many times, and still not jaded...

Sad news about Jim Hendley...I remember him as such a gentle soul...He and Rick Strickland and Robbie Boswell, and I, tried to write and record a song at Rickys house on Sue Barnnet and 43rd street...If memory serves me correctly, and dont know why it should now, but as I recall, Jim wrote the words and we all tried to write the music...I think the title was, "The Most Beautiful Thing"...never could come up with a satisfactory tune...too bad, it would have been a fitting memorial to Jim...he had a great voice...and intellect...and like I mentioned, his was such a gentle soul...sad to say, I never saw him after high school...

We watched all the 4th of July programs, A Capitol 4th and Macy's and Houstons' etc...lots of patriotic sounds and sights...aerial fireworks of course speak for themselves...watched em with both pups heads in my lap, nappin...a purring cat on each shoulder and my beloved...FREEDOM to do that hasnt come cheap...what a great country we live in...I dont care what anyone says, IT IS A GREAT COUNTRY...

Saw the SPACE STATION fly by overhead at 9:11 this evening...it was traveling from the northwest to the southeast...saw it one night last week going from southwest to Northeast...

The passing of Jim, has sorta put a damper on my spirits this evening...maybe I come back later...I know I'll be awake, so sleeping wont be a problem...

Gods speed Jim...Gods speed...

Douglas Romans

Sorry to hear about Jim's passing--I had several classes with him and he was such a nice guy. God bless him and his family.

On a lighter note, today I went to see "The Tree of Life" written and directed by Terrence Malick, by some measure, today's supposed answer to Stanley Kubrick as a movie icon (in a weird analogy even Hitler was a genius in his own demented way). Only occasionally do I walk out of a movie in anticipation of its going to get better BUT after paying $7.00 I happily did so in this case. It was boring to tears and what little dialogue existed was uttered in virtually inaubile whispers.

The movie was still boring despite the spectacular views of downtown Houston--but you've seen all those buildings before. There's a rational reason this movie is being shown ONLY at the River Oaks Theater--no wider audience is possible.

DougR  

Teddie Jordan

I remember Jim Hendley singing at a couple of auditorium programs in what was probably our junior year and being totally blown away by his voice. It was as if a professional was in our midst.

Rest in peace Jim.

Douglas Romans

I got Jim Hendley's name confused with Norman Henley. I never knew Jim probably because he was 3 years older than most of us. Still we lost another 2 classmates recently.

Today's riveting launch is the last you'll see of this kind from the old US of A for a while.

Remedial Russian and a handy phrase-book are on the  training agenda for NASA astronauts. Hey, Popov, going our way? It's galling to think about.

DougR  

Jennie Anderson '65 (Dylan)

 I just found out I have the wet form of age-related macular degeneration.  I am having to have injections in my eyes.  First noticed it, when I couldn't read the math exponents or small print  of math problems on ACT and SAT practice tests which I have to tutor for my living.  Does anyone have AMD, b/c I would like to talk to them.  This could interfere with my bike riding and that is my worry, not to mention general life!

Jennie

John Burgess Webb

jennie,im sorry to hear about your eyes.though i hav'nt suffered macular degenaration,ive been myoptic since i was eight and my second catarac is getting into its final stage.i understand  the fineness of sight and the loss of it.i hope the drs. have gained the technique and experience to help you.ive known you since you were a skinny little kid who lived down the street;you matured to a fine young lady and a boon to those who know you.get well,

burge

Jennie Anderson '65 (Dylan)

 Thanks Burge and I am thankful I haven't had eye problems most of my life like you and other people.

I just returned from Florida to visit Janne and to see the Space Shuttle take off, which unfortunately was moved back, so missed that, but had our hotel room on the Atlantic anyway and kept it.  Did see Atlantis on the pad though.  We also swam with the manatees and that was soooooooooo much fun!  Everyone needs to do that once in their life!  We visited a rescue horse farm for race horses, mustangs, minatures, shetlands, and lots of other kinds.  Janne volunteers there and it is a beautiful restful place for the horses to live out their lives.  Some are Secretariat's offsprings and are quite beautiful.  They play in the ponds together, run free all together and everything.  Quite a sight to see and very moving too!

We went to this little town called Lake Placid which had 64 murals painted on buildings.  Amazing, absolutely amazing.  Who would think the sides of the buildings of the whole town would be huge murals?  If anyone is going to central Florida I would check it out.

Thanks again for the kind words, picked up my day that is for sure!

Jennie

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey Jennie, sorry about the MD...my mom suffers from that, in spades...she can see in her peripheral, but not straight ahead...has to have binoculars to watch tv...but, she is 92...when I send her flowers, I generally send a bouquet that has every color in the rainbow, and huge, so the colors are hard to miss...she can still hear ok, even though with hearing aids, and music is her foremost love...

Jennie, there are, or were, stores that specialize in aids for macular degeneration patients...large magnifying aids for reading, etc...I will look on line to see what I can find...

Janet Strickland, Rickys wife, has macular degeneration...has to have shots in the eyes...going in this next week for cataract surgery...at least thats what I thought he said...

saw Ricky and Allan Geiser at Jims funeral...well, at the viewing Wednesday evening...talked at length with Jims brother...did you know, that Jim had open heart surgery at age 15, by Dr. Denton Cooley, to replace a heart valve...at that time, Jim was one of just a few survivors of that type operation...also Jim worked, or performed on one of the cruise ships for 5 years...tough work if you can get it...

Jims brother said that Jim lived life to the fullest, and enjoyed every minute...you could tell, by his smile...they had a great slide show of Jims life...pics of Jim standing in front of a hotel marquee with his name on it...there were a lot of folks at the funeral...good...that means Jim was a rich man indeed...sorry i never got to see him after high school...

Our Grandaughter, Haley, was with us this week and part of today...looked like she had two dogs attached, one to each leg....she generally sleeps on the couch instead of her room upstairs, because Cooper wont go up stairs...he sleeps on the couch with her, and Cat Jack sleeps in the chair next to her, unless there is an opening on the couch that he can squeeze into...

Cat Jack has been acting strange last few days...really strange...like standing at the backdoor like he wants to go out, only to be let out and then standing at the door like he wants in...now, he goes upstairs and lays in the corner of Haleys room...not normal for him...he usually wants to be around people and is so glad and waggly tail when he greets everyone...wonder if there is a dog behaviorist close by...really puzzling...took him on three walks today...and I even tried to run a little...dang little, just to tire him out...but at least I tried...running hurts me so bad, but if it can help Jack, then so be it...

Took 30 minutes of laying next to him, stroking his back and chest and head,  to calm him down and relax this evening...gave him his usual Saturday omlet and sausage or bacon, this morning,  plus a peanut butter flavor Frosty Paws ice cream treat after his third walk this evening...

you can get Frosty Paws in the freezer section of Krogers...gotta look hard for it, cause there is only a small section of it...however, they have a small floor freezer just for Frosty Paws, with signs on it at the Kroger on 43rd street...they come in "dixie cup" containers, which I cut in half and give each pup one half...my boys sure have a tough life dont they!!!!!!

Got a board meeting of BAK PAK CRITTERS, in the morning at our little country church in the city...
getting ready for the new school year...if any of you have a laid back pup that you think could work with kids, and if you have the time, there are training days scheduled at the end of July and beginning of August...
I can post the dates Sunday evening...Gonna take Cooper to the meeting and to Church in the morning to greet the folks...Cooper loves that so much...me too...

ok, guess I will sign off for now...bout time, eh???
yeah yeah yeah...hope to see yall at Fudds Tuesday...

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey Jennie, for starters, you can look at a website and get some idear about whats available...
www.cescvision.com the equipment aint cheap, but if it helps, then it's worth whatever it costs...
I be checking on more sites, and a store in Houston area...

found another site...www.myvisionaid.net/texas     

Jennie Anderson '65 (Dylan)

Wow Beau, thanks so much for the info!!!! I will utilize everything offered me.  I am getting injections and will be talking to Janet at our next Tuesday meeting.  

I have to give my dog, Bernadette,  an anti anxiety drug when she acts like that.  It is called Reconcile.  It is expensive, but I break the pills in half depending on how anxious she seems.  I adopted her after Hurricane Ike and she wondered around Galveston for a couple of weeks before I got her.  Standing at the door inside and then standing at the door outside to come right back in is one of her major symptoms. 

You do spoil your pets and I know they love being around you! 

Again, thanks for the info!

Jennie

Teddie Jordan

Will be out of town and miss Fudd's this month. Yall carry on and have a good time.

Jennie, sorry to hear that news but it sounds like the treatment will help control it. We will pray for that result.

You have inspired Fran and I both to set up appointments for long overdue eye exams.