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Richard Meek '65

Good morning Waltripians. It was a great weekend wasn't it with the rain ? Such a relief. I hope we get that fall feeling in the air here soon. We're going to the UH game on Saturday. It would be great to have it in the air to do a some tail gating and then watch the game.

DOD, I am an avid reader. I'm currently reading a western titled Blue Eyed Devils by Robert B. Parker. He was mainly a mystery writer before he passed away a couple of years ago. He is a favorite of mine. His main character over the years has been PI Spenser set in Boston. Parker is really an excellent writer. He was an English professor before he got successful writing. You would probably like the main characters in Blue Eyed Devils, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. They do gun work for a living. Sometimes as law men, sometimes outside the law. Just depends on circumstances.

On the subject of dogs. Liz the wonder dog has appointed herself to handle keeping the back yard free of squirrels and Robins. She takes great offense if the cheeky little buggers persist in coming in there.

Don't forget the upcoming WABEC meeting on the Wed. the 27th.

Also plan to attend the Waltrip Homecoming doings on Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st. See the Waltrip Alumni Assn. website for details. Waltrip is playing Reagan on the 30th.

Got to move on.

Keep on dancing,

Rich LH

Dance like no one is watching

John Burgess Webb

i object to this kindle stuff,there is nothing like laying a good book on my chest and pondering what ive read;no electronic smell or the feel of plastic for me.a book well bound is a comfort,sometimes a joy.a book like 'the first circle'by aleksandr solzenitsyn just wouldnt tranfer the feel of the gulag on kindle.turn the page.

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Reporting 1.3" of rain at my place in Anderson, strange my neighbors on the north side of the hwy reported 1" and next neighbor on down only 1/2, but it was wonderful to wake up to thunder and light'ning finally.

Unfortunately when I returned home, the A/C was not on again.  Seems the weather blew out a capasitor?  Had it go out Labor Day too, connector?  anyway $500. later, all is currently fixed....what next?  If this keeps up, my dream of buying a new SUV at the end of the year, will be just that, a dream.  Uncle Sam wants his usual surprise of additional  $225.00 from me, because I work and collect S.S. from my deceased husband, so that gets mailed today.  Sometimes I wonder if it would be better to quit and live on a fixed income, don't think so though.  I pay 359.00/mo medical even  with the school paying a little. Come on Medicare in Feb. I'm going to finally be able to drop the insurance. I'll look around for a supplement later down the road.

So now along with the snakes, scorpions, mice, I now have a nutra or a beaver, thinking nutra as it is awake during the day, in my pond.  Kinda cute, must have had to leave someone's creek that dried up and now is living in my pond.  he is eating all my pond lilies, and dragging in tree limbs and leaves, do ya think he is building something down in the pond?  Hope not, if he's not detrimental, I'll let him live and think the winter will freeze him out.  Any suggestions, Beau-man, or Richard, maybe you could bring your trusty dogs out and scare him away!!!

Richard Meek '65

Mornin' to all you fine Waltripians on this bright sunshiny day! It is really amazing how the vegetation is perking up. Shows what a little rain and not being in an oven every day will do.

Kay, I would think that old dude or dudette in your pond is a beaver if he's Dragging sticks , etc. up to it. Put your binoculars on him and see if he has a flat tail or pointed one. Flat, it's a beaver, pointed it's a nutria. The beaver will build a lodge out of trees, etc. The nutria will usually dig a burrow in the side of the pond. I'd bring Liz up to chase it for you but she'd probably want to bring it home as her pet. I don't think that would work out too well. Particularly if it's a beaver. He'd want to put a dam on the creek behind my house. That would get the Harris County Flood Control folks all upset. That would get the PETA people upset. Oh yeah the crick backing up into people's houses would get the neighbors upset. If you need help with that old boy I'll come help you but I 'spect I'll leave Liz the wonder dog out of it. Except maybe to visit. she loves to visit folks.

Cephus and Burge I would have to concur that books are preferable to a Kindle. I've never used a Kindle but it doesn't appeal to me. Reading a book or the newspaper is a sensory experience as well a reading experience. As you've mention the smell of a book or paper and handling it is all part of it. I could get the Chronicle online for about a third of the cost of home delivery. But going out to pick up the paper in the morning and opening it up while standing there is all just part of it. So I vote for books and newspapers. It's good to see that Paige's grandkids are avid readers of books.

I know that most folks on this forum aren't sports fans so I hope you'll indulge my comment about everything that is going on in college football realignment. I am opposed to it. For those of you who are A&M or UT grads who support all this I apologize in advance if you're offended. I thinkA&M going to the SEC and now UT, TT, OU & OSU decamping for the PAC12 stinks. I get pretty peeved at them trying to put spin on it like we're trying to do what's best for the university and the State of Texas. Excuse me but that is BS. They're just money grubbing. In the case of A&M and UT they're mainly trying to one up each other and money grubbing. I read where UT AD DeLoss Dodds was making a big deal out of giving $5M to the University. Excuse me? The UT athletic program generated $158M in revenue last year. And they managed to give the university $5M? Well aren't they generous? I expect these major university athletic departments to start announcing that they will break away from the university and start their own college because that old style school is holding them back. This is a classic case of grown men behaving badly! A good start to bringing some sanity back to it, would be if they would grow up! Thanks for indulging my venting.

Keep on dancing,

Rich LH

Stay Calm, Carry On

Richard Meek '65

Well DOD it looks like all the college realignment has quieted down for today. The PAC 12 told UT, TT, OU & OSU that they didn't want them to join after all. SO UT DeLoss Dodds says that that settles that. They'll definitely focus on the Big 12 now. Making it more solid. Right until someone else waves some $$$$ around. In a sense of fair play and making the Big 12 more solid he's all for all equally dividing the tier 1 revenue (cable) and tier 2 revenue (network TV). Oh tier 3 revenue (the Longhorn Network) they'll keep every penny of the $300M. And it's non-negotiable! Oh yeah about that annual game with A&M. . . . .welllll it would be pretty hard to schedule that game. In remarks today about A&M taking their football and going to play with the "big boys" in the SEC, new Chancellor John Sharp said, Yep they're definitely out of the Big 12 and are SEC bound. Oh yeah if we don't play the Thanksgiving Classic with UT that will be all their fault. He forgot to add nan a nan a nah. Now have you ever seen grown men do a better imitation of sulking 8 yr. olds? Don't they provide nice role models for the young people at their respective universities? Oh well it does provide some comic relief from watching the Astros have a record breaking season, dealing with triple digit heat and no rain. I think you have a great Idea about moving UT to say Ok and A&M to LA. They're so self absorbed they wouldn't even notice that they're no longer with us. Great idea!

You are correct. WABEC will meet on the 28th, Wed. at Gabby's. Your agenda is correct also. It shouldn't take more than 30 seconds. Then we can focus on evaluating the burgers and barbecue.

Ted I visited with a lady last night that is a National Field Trial Judge. I learned a lot of interesting things from her. Has Gus ever done any field trial competition? It sounds like it's really intense.

Well I better return to my capitalistic endeavors and see if I can get a few things finished before it's time to go and play with Liz the Wonder Dog!

Adios muchchachos y muchachas,

Rich LH

Stay Calm, Carry On

Glenda McDonald (Smith)

Hi Everyone, I have enjoyed reading all the comments from various classmates.   Jimmie, thank you for the sweet comment on 9-17-11.  And to add to your comment...thru it all, we are still Best Friends!  Yes, God has blessed our life and our marriage and we are Thankful each & every day.  Life has been good.  Good times, Good health, Good Family and Awesome Memories.  But,WOW! has it gone fast or what!  We woke up and we are all in the so called "Golden Years"!By the way, Larry & I cannot figure who made up that comparison!!  We are still active in our two businesses and Nationally active the Registered Texas Longhorn Association.  We did have a scare a couple of weeks ago with the Tri-County fires in Magnolia, that is where one of our herds are located and we did have to frantically move them to another location for a couple of weeks.  But thanks goodness for the little rains we have been getting.  Our in-convenience is minor to all the people that homes, business, and lives in the Texas wildfires.  Hope each of you weathered the Texas HOT summer okay.  Larry & I talk about the friends,classmates and the Waltrip days like it was just a couple of years ago.  We also love hearing thru e-mails all the time from Coach Burton.   What a Guy!  Look forward to communicating with everyone.   Til next time Larry & Glenda

Jim Taylor

OK Mr. Meek.  You are really messing with our minds.  You set the FOF (faithful old farts) meeting also known as WABEC for Wednesday the 27th!  Now you are saying Wednesday the 28th.  I'm not sure we can stand this wishy washy stuff.

Richard Meek '65

Good morning Waltripians. I still kind of like the locations of Oklahoma and Louisiana. That way A&M could be LA A&M and UT be UT OK (since OK is about as high as they rank in my book). Or maybe it would be more appropriate to reverse them LA UT and A&M OK. that may be the ticket.

My apologies on the WABEC confusion. It is on Tuesday the 27th. Or if you want it on Wednesday it's the 28th. Also we can meet at Gabby's or Hub Cap Grill on 19th St. Maybe so I don't get more confused we should just leave it at Gabby's on the Tuesday the 27th this month. But if you prefer we could switch it to HCG on Wed. the 28th. Or we could switch to HCG on Tuesday the 27th. or we could switch to  . . . Hmmm I think let's leave it at Gabby's on Tues. the 27th. All in favor signify by raising your hands. All opposed same sign. The ayes have it unless someone wants a voice vote.

Yours in wishy washiness,

Who am I?

Oh yeah, Rich LH

John Burgess Webb

how low can they go?according to a report on breitbart.com.,fake army notification personell are showing up at the door of military spouses in oklahoma city claiming that their husband has been killed.is cruel and unusual become the lowest common denominator for the anti-war clique?these people are creepy-crawlers;not fit for human compassion.there are intelligent ways to express ones objection to war;this is the lizzard brain at its worse.spouses of our warriors in harms way are the most vulnerable in our society;they live with anticipation every minute of the day.slime who perpetrate this  evil dont display a jot of grace.they should recieve none.

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Well, the swamp thingy turned out to be a beaver X 2....took down my only native pecan tree on the bank!  Someone told me to call TX Wildlife and Fisheries, they are endangered???come on, but I will call on Monday. Found one in the reeds, it curiously looked like it had cat eyes....scared the begeebers out of me!! I think I scared him too.

Got a much needed break when the school's pipe burst in the cafeteria.....sending water throughout the school and 3" of water in my office, next to the stage, (was the dressing area at one time)!  Result, 2.5 days off for the whole school.  School Board wake up....we need repairs!

It has been so nice to wake up in the morning and feel morn. cool outside....plenty of walking time, checking the beavers in the pond, estimating which trees will probably not survive the dreaded summer......but with the realization that God is simply redesigning  theTexas landscape.   Can't get enough of walking in God's creation and taking it all in without the heat....a good thing about the time off. I've decided this is where I know Him best, just Him and me.

Beau, I know you just drink in all of this on your walks with your beloved dogs....watched a good game yesterday around my housework....Texas A&M ag. Okla State.....A&M petered out in the 2nd half, made a huge amount of mistakes, comical, and let Okla. State beat 'em by 1 pt.  I am not involved in the politics, think the whole thing is silly, and you are right....it's all about power, prestige and money, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU MEN AND THE EVIL OF POWER, sports, politics, mighty corp, banks, etc.....wish we could go back to simpler times. 

Watched PBS Classic Country songs and singers last night and jived to the music, sure brought back memories, does anybody have any Oldie parties anymore, used to, you could find one easily, put on your penny loafers, poodle skirts, ponytails and out the door, well maybe not that old-style. But Glen Campbell, BJ Thomas, took my breath away. Thanks, Beau, I didn't buy the set of CD's...$150.00...from them, even though I had grandious dreams of having a party with the 'oldsters around here.  Enough for me, church this morning....(without my Pastor Dan, in Wisconsin now).

I'm dancing, Mr. Richard!

Jennie Anderson '65 (Dylan)

 Kaye, I wish some people would work as hard as a beaver works.  The government doesn't pay him to work, but does offer him security through protection laws,  so as to have a place to build his dreame home....all tax free.  I sort of wish I was a beaver.

Scotty Croom

spent birthday weekend in ft. worth...had great lunch thurs. w/jimmie lee,charles and kay taylor,reagan 65...we caught up on everyone in past...

Richard Meek '65

Good morning Waltripians. Another grand morning in paradise. I took Liz the wonder dog for a walk through Bee Creek Park in College Station yesterday in the late afternoon. Whew the temp. was 98 in the shade. not sure what the heat index was. This is the end of Sept. right?

Kay you are right the morning had a nice fall feel to it but that wasn't the case at 5:00 in the PM. If TPW won't remove your beavers, Beauchephus and I could come up and trap those critters. We could transport them to Beau's cement pond. They would fit right in at Casa Wann. Intrepid woodsmen that we are it might be like having Laurel and Hardy gallumping around your pond. I can just hear the Mr. & Mrs. beaver talking . .. "Martha will you look at those two ijits coming this way." Yes I see them Harold. They've got one of those trap thingies." "Yeah like we're going dumb enough to walk right in because they put a few pecans and twigs in it." You're right Martha. They don't look like very bright bulbs do they?" "No they don't Harold. That one with the beard has already nearly fallen in the pond twice" " Whoops he almost fell in again. Well at least it's entertaining to watch them. I'll bet  that near miss got his boots full of water." "I hope they go back to the big city soon so we can get on about building our winter lodge". "Yes, that lady that lives in the house seems like she'll be a good neighbor. Well Martha I'm getting hungry. Let's go find a tender sapling to munch on."

For all you Cougar alums  we went out and watched the Coogs whup up on Georgia State. They won 56-0. They were on the 2 yd. line at the end of the game. Coach Sumlin had his 3rd string quarter back take two knees to run out the time. Coogs are now 4-0.

Here is a quote worth pondering: "If you didn't know how old you are. How old would you be?" Satchel Paige     You're not old, just older.

Don't forget there is WABEC meeting tomorrow at Gabby's on N. Shepherd at 11:45.

Keep on dancing,

Rich LH

Stay Calm. Carry on

P.S. Kay, if you want to wear a Poodle skirt to an oldies dance go right ahead. I don't have the least inclination to do that.

Teddie Jordan

Kay, according to the 2011-2012 Texas Parks and Wildlife annual summary of hunting and fishing laws you can eliminate by trap or by "lead" your nuisance beavers. Beavers are a non game species and are under the fur bearing rules. They may be trapped or shot on your own property without you being required to have a trapping or hunting license, especially if they are posing a nuisance by destroying your personal property. They may also be taken at night using a spotlight, which is not legal for any game species.

Of course you or your designee would need to make sure it is safe to do, and I would recommend going ahead and consulting with your local game warden in advance of any remedial action.

Good luck.

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Thanks, Ted, good info that I search for this morning but could not find.

My principal is going to talk to our Game Warden at the game tonight about my problem, he is out of Bryan, CS area.  He also is willing to come out and eradicate the beavers.  He has been hunting them since he was 13, has music of running water to coax them out, so I think I'm going to go with this effort, maybe he'll ask the game warden to come out with him....that would be interesting!  I'll go out and say good-night to the biggy boggers, I judge the big one at 50-60 lbs and he's caught up to 90 lbs.  Didn't know they grew this big.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Kay....NOOOOOOOOO, dont hurt those poor little darlin beavers...beavers are people too...
If you trap em, bring em to my house, they can live in the cement pond...I'll even chunk in a couple o two by fours, and a nail gun if they need it...I'd say to relocate em to my place in the country, but we aint got no water nohow...both cricks are dryed up...let me look at the south crick, cause up till this year, it always had water in it...if it still does, you can let em go up there...and it's not far from your place, so you could visit as often as you like...I love beavers, beavers are my friends... I know one of them personally too...Ol Bucee Beaver....

Had the usual 30 suspects at chruch Sunday...one of the stalwart pillars of the church has fallen ill...she is close to 90...be hard to imagine the church without her...of course hundreds of others have preceded her...good hard workin volunteers...After 30 years, kind of hard to imagine how far we've come...of course my beloved has been a member there for 55 years....she has seen a lot in that little ol country church in the city...congregation was up to over 800 active members, and had two services on Sunday...now we can barely muster up 30...

But, we had the Bell Choir play two tunes Sunday...my beloved is one of the bell ringers, as usual...she generally is involved in just about everything..I played in the bell choir and sang in the choir when we had about 2 dozen singers and almost that many bell ringers....now there are 3 singers, and 8 bell ringers...the times, they has  changed...

My beloveds birthday is this Saturday...it snuck up on me once again...If she would have it on the same day every year, instead of moving it around like she does, I would nt forget it...But no matter, cause I havent a clue what to get for her....she says she has everything she needs...and I cant buy her clothes or shoes...Hmmmmm a quandry for sure...I was thinking she needed a new gun, or maybe some ammo, maybe some new doodad for the bike, or my truck...Well, I'll sort it out somehow, I generally do...somehow...

Ol Cooper has 8 kiddos so far this year...4 at Lamkin and 4 at Emmott...names like Calista; Donel; Tristan; Minere...what happened to Ted, Frank, Bob, Mike, Wayne, Lloyd, Jane, Helen, Jackie, Jimmy Sue, Jimmy Lee, Peggy Sue...where did all those names go????  What, not good enough for folks now days???? Well, they were plenty good back when, and still good now, if you ask me...I have a hard time remembering names like Calista and Minere...They just dont seem to fit the folks they are attached to...those are all 2nd graders...most have a real reading problem...Just got Donel, and I have never seen a 2nd grader, or first grader or even a kiddegartener as small as he is...He's not much bigger than my old lunchbox...sweet kids all of em, but toooooo soft spoken for my tired old ears...even with my bionical ears, I still cant understand em... I do hope ol mellow yellow fellow Cooper can help em...They are all so shy and havent yet begun to feel at ease with a creature larger than themselves...Donel and Minere are so small, they could ride cooper...

Tonights Coopers big night...He goes to Harvard...elementary school in the Heights...gonna put on a reading symposium for em...Cooper and a couple of other pups...hope he doesnt embarass me...I'll bet thats what he's thinking about me..."hope beaupa doesnt embarass me", or words to that effect...

Meeting of the WABEC today...the president was late, in fact, I was the onliest, (east texas for only) one not late...I was so early, I fell asleep waiting on the usual suspects...only two regular regulars showed up, and two non regular regulars was were in attendance...which, if my Jethro Beaudine cypherin is correct, makes out to be 4 irregulars...
We voted yea on all the good stuff, and nay on all the bad stuff...you'll just have to come to a meeting to figure out just what that is...for reasons unbeknownst, it is all classified TOP SECRET...

I remember somewhere round 50 years ago, if we held a WABEC meeting,  the discussion would be about booze, food and girls and football, and cars, and Mad Magazine and Hot Rod Magazine and the latest Elvis tune, or other top 40 hits....today was close to that, Lawrence Welk, medications, canes and walkers, medicare, social security, dentures, new glasses and bionical ears etc...yup, "the times they are a changin"...

DOD

Robert Derrick

Teddie,

So you are saying it is OK to shoot  (at night with spot light)  the armadillos that are destroying my yard since they are a non-game species and fall under the fur bearing rules (ie fur under their bellies), and a real nuisance, and not get in trouble with the SPCA, EPA, NAACP, SPEC's, or Beau and RH?? (Also, I have not renewed my hunting license either).

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey Robert, NO it isnt ok...you must get special dispensation from the pope before you can do all that stuff...or, you must meet with the WABEC at some point in time, so's we can vote on it....we been thinking about having a WABEC meeting up in Navasota, or Hempstead, or anywhere it is convenient for youse youtes up there...whadaya think???? good idear????? Maybe some Saturday???? or anyday youse guys would like to....anyplace too...

Good rainy eefenink mine fine waltripines...
   Me and Cooper and DW just back from Harvard Elementary School on 9th and Harvard in the Heights...we are worn out...we had 3 groups of over 100 kids and parents in each session...wow, the turnout and response couldnt have been better....It was Just Cooper and a 12 year old "Lassie" collie named Bonnie Lass to entertain the kiddos and parents and teachers...Ol Coop has now reached "ROCK STAR"  status...THEY JUST LOVED HIM AND BONNIE SO MUCH...and well they should...the dogs sat with 4 kids each session and let them read to them, and then when it was over, EVERYONE was allowed to pet and love on both dogs...What a turnout...I am draggin...and at the end of the event, I could tell, ol cooper was tired...his tail was still waggin, but kind of droopy... Cooper is now on the couch with Jack and DW and 3 cats, just sawing logs...

We might get some more schools this semester...well, not me and Cooper, cause we already have 3 schools and a Hospice and a Handicap center...thats about all we can handle...It's hard to imagine that Cooper was a rescue dog...he was within hours of being put down at the pound when Lisa from the Lab Rescue League stepped in...then I saw him and he and I just connected and the rest as they say is history...can you imagine euthanizing something so magnificent???? I know, it's done everyday, all day long...some arent as lucky as Cooper...makes me sad...

The Bak Pak Critter program started with just 3 dogs, and has evolved to 50 teams, and 20 schools...not bad eh??? we even had one cat in the program, who has now passed away, but he was good with the kids...If it helps just one child, it is all worth it...but I have a feeling that it is helping a lot of kiddos....yeaaaaaaa!!!!!

Guess it's time to go, everyone here but me, is fast asleep...DW went with me tonight, and thank goodness she did...she is so good with the kids, and helping me with cooper and to run interference between me and the kids and parents...I'm not good with crowds, to say the least...

Started taking 200mg of Celebrex for pain...my 7th day...They say that it has to build up in your system, and I think it has just kicked in, sort of...I always worry about the side effects...

You know it's getting close to Thanksgiving...and before you know it, Christmas will be upon us...I've told family to not get carried away with gifts for us...I tell em that every year...so now, we are drawing names to make it easy on folks...I think I am going to do like all new brides to be,do, and that is register at some place, so all anyone has to do, is go to that store, and look me up on the computer, and voila, my list of presnents comes up...I think I am going to register at SPECS Liquor, and at Walgreens Pain center...sounds like a plan eh!!!!!

Okk, I was leavin a few sentences ago, so now I'm really going for sure this time...
Keep the sun at your six and ride boldly ride...
DOD

Kay Watters '65 (Greene)

Robert, I am not bothered with armadillos (least don't really know) but the mole problem for the last 3 yrs is horrendous....makes spongy soil!  Do you have a remedy for moles?

Beau, you are breaking my heart, guy...there is absolutely no water anywhere around me....two neighbors very expensive improved creeks...are dry, suspect that is where these came from.  It is not good to be nice to them as they are making a home underneath my dam, or bryne, whatever, and it will collapse and I will get to have a dozer come out and re-do it.  They will have to go sometime and since they are labeled a nuisance instead of endangered....I'm giving them a good last meal though, don't care what Texas says....  Plenty of lillies for them to eat.  I'm sad about this too, but they say in the country one must be tough.

Maybe if it would just rain and they could go back to their creeks!  Everyone out here is enlarging their ponds, everywhere you look, now I would call that optimistic. 

About your church, it's a shame about the small numbers, ours too. Now that our pastor has gone on to bigger and better in Wisconsin; there were a lot of missing members last Sunday, and I got a call tonight that we might be able to hold Bible Study (i.e. adult Sunday School) if I will commit, which I have, and he's on to getting a few other confirmations for the visiting pastor.

Unfortunately, the big screen churches with the words bouncing on the screen to encourage singing, the brilliant and elaborate stage presentations, coffee, and all that; plus children and their young parents need to be with others their ages to be social together and make church fun, have also left our church, we no longer have Sunday School.  Our members are mostly quite old and German, not used to change, and not very welcoming. Our plus was our pastor and his young family. O.K. I'll be optimistic.  My Aunt (Wilma Johnson) lived on 1138 Columbia and taught 5th grade for about 50 yrs. at Harvard Elementary.  What a coincidence. Wonderful woman!  I love the Heights, used to drive back to wonder around and relive memories, old friendships, became a Catholic at All Saints there too. Don't even go anymore....darn everything changes as time goes on!

Beau, you must have been typing while I was....we could start a marathon, everyone take turns and we'll stay up all night....wouldn't our readers be surprised when they woke up tomorrow morning??  Hee, Hee.  That is sensational what you Diane and the Jack and Cooper did tonight!  Does my heart good as well, and I can read (but I'm not slowing down to make correct paragraphs...hee, hee.  Richard told me of the WaBC??? committee meeting to take place out here and I'm in!!  Would be special!

Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

Beau, I really like your gift registry idea for Christmas.  With Charles' family totaling 38 now (will be 39 by Christmas and 40 next year - our 40-year old daughter Betsy is expecting in March), we've been drawing names for years.  And, as far as presents for me from my kids and Charles, I just buy what I want, wrap it, and put their names on the gift tags.  Saves them a lot of time and mind-boggling decisions - they find out what they gave me on Christmas.  Maybe this gift registry idea would work and I wouldn't have to do the shopping and wrapping any more and my kids and Charles could actually "buy" the gifts before Christmas Eve.  Charles has always claimed he gets much better deals on gifts the day "before" Christmas, the day "of" my B-Day and the day "of" our anniversary, but you all know the real story on that.  By the way, we had our 43rd anniversary in August.

Scotty Croom

it rained in katy last nite...and cooled temps.....

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey Kay...be glad to see ya at a WABEC meeting...yeah, thats the ticket, a forum marathon...an all nighter...a lock in...use to have those at the little country church in the city...all those kids are grown and gone now, our sons age...one of the little girls back then, was absolutely indefatigueable...just like the energizer bunny, kept going and going and going...those kids ran all over that church, from one end to the other and up into the bell tower...long about daybreak, everyone was asleep, but Marie...she was just jabberin away, I guess at whichever church mouse she could corral...fun times...she is now out in Hollywood, trying to be discovered...I heard she has done some commercials, but dont know which ones...she comes to town ever now and again...

I wonder what beaver pelt is going for nowdays...Kay, when you get your beavers, bring the pelts to rondevous up in the high country...we drink fire water, trade beads and blankets to the indians for stuff...oh...sorry, that was another time wasnt it...me and Jeramiah Johnson...

Jimmie Lee, we dont have quite 40 folks in our family...dont know whether to be thankful or sad...I love a big family, but there are always drawbacks to everything arent there...I think folks with big families are soooo lucky...especially if they get along...I guess thats why I have so many critters...I dont get along with folks very well, sometimes...I know it's not me, so it must be everyone else...RIGHT???? But I'm like Charles, best prices on Christmas eve...besides, if they held Christmas on the same day every year, it wouldnt sneak up on us so...one day, its 109 in July, and the next it's 109 Christmas day...what the heck is up with that????

Just last year, I finally got folks to draw names...man, you think I go kickin and screamin into the new whirld...trying to get folks to draw names was like pulling a sabertooth tigers eyetooth...now of course, it was everyone elses idea, and not mine...oh well, no matter...
Now, if I can get them all to MAKE something for the persons name they draw...at least make something for me...I have everything in the whirld I need, dont need a thing, but a part of someone I love, would be just fine....something from the heart...I know, it is easier said than done...

I am going to try make stuff for folks...there is a bead/stone shop down on 19th street, and you can buy all the stuff to make necklaces and bracelets, broaches...tourqoise, puka shells, coral, and other stones...Other than holding onto Coopers leash, I'm not really good with my hands, but think I'll give the jewelry making a try...if it turns out semi-ok, I will take a picture of it and post it, and get ready to take orders...I will, of course, give all my friends, (yall) special family rates...

Yeah, thats the ticket, I could become WHIRLD famous, just like James Avery...THA DUKE OF DUBARRY, JEWELRY...custom made...or not...I remember back in the olden days, when I was but a wee lad, I made a wallet in the cub scouts...It had it's flaws, like money wouldnt stay in it...but that wasnt a manufacturing defect, more of a manufacturers defect, like I would spend the money...guess thats why it didnt hold money so well...and I made ear rings out of that thin plastic strap, mainly white and black. I would glue them flat side to each other, after tying it into a half granny knot, then glue a clipon on the back...VOILA a earring...I even learned how to make em match, left going one way, and right the same way...made a candle too...my mom still has it...must be almost 60 years old by now...

My stuff wasnt really good...of course my mom would say it was...and Mz Hawkins...man, I dont care what you made, she loved it...that teacher was good for my soul, and Mz Kahla...two of the best esteem builders and ego boosters on the planet...they sure made me feel good about myself, at least for 55 minutes a day...

Ok, nap time...Ol Coop and Jack and all the cats are just snorin away, and here I sit awake...dont want to be contrary now do I...so it behooves me to get with the NAP PROGRAM here at the Wann compound...or else...

DOdzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Post Script: I almost forgot...HAPPY 43RD ANNIVERSARY JIMMIE LEE AND CHARLES...WOW HOW GREAT IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scotty Croom

it rained in katy 2 days in a row..hooray...who's going to alumni get-together sat. pm?? lola and i plan to go...

Robert Derrick

Kay,

I have had the same problem with moles for years. Have tried the Vitor spear trap, expensive poison worms, etc. They seem to get wise to the traps and push to worms back out of their tunnel. Have had my best luck finding a fresh tunnel and stomping it down. Then get a lawn chair, a beer and a 12 guage with #4 shot and wait a few minutes. When the dirt starts to move, fire from about 4 feet. They are only about 2 or 3 inches under the surface, so it will reach them. However, I have had times that after about 3 or 4 beers and becoming distracted, they slip past. But always a fun hunt.

Teddie Jordan

Robert, you in that lawn chair with that beer and that shotgun brings me quickly to images of Elmer Fudd waiting on Dat Dad Bwassted Wabbitt, and will probably haunt me for years to come! Do you wear a little hat and outfit like Elmer?

Thanks ol' buddy for making me smile tonight!