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Richard Meek '65

Well for those of you who can join me and the Duke of DuBarry for lunch, 11:30 tomorrow at Demeris' Bar-B-Que on I-610 feeder, next to the Houston Garden Center and across the freeway from NW Mall. Tha would be between W. 18th St. and Old Hempstead Hwy. Does anyon know if there's a New Hempstead Hwy.?

DOD the white tie is a step ablove the black tie. White tie is worn with tails. Therefore you look like a butler instead of a head waiter at a fancy restaurant in your black tie and tuxedo! Got it ? There will be a test tomorrow on this!

Rich LH

Keep on dancing!

Teddie Jordan

One of the best modern wildlife conservation success stories in Texas is that of the comeback of  one of my favorite birds, the Brown Pelican. As a child visiting my grandmother down in Aransas Pass I was enthralled by their comical look. 

But their population was already in decline. In 1918 it was estimated that there were 5000 of them nesting on the Texas Coast. By 1939 there were only 1034, and sadly by 1964 there were documented only 50! The Brown Pelican was placed on the endangered species list in 1970 (don't ask me what happened to take six long years). In addition to the long term effects of man and development it is believed that the then popular pesticide DDT, widely used by farmers throughout Texas, contributed to this rapid decline. DDT was outlawed, man got a little smarter in the effects of what we did to our environment, and today Brown Pelicans are once again plentiful, with an estimated 2400 breeding pairs reported on the Texas coast in 1995.

With a six foot wingspan and a bill up to 18 inches long, they are unique and impressive birds. They are said to have one of the slowest wingbeats of any bird and are graceful fliers. They fly over the water and watch for schools of small fish, mainly Menhaden and Mullet, near the surface. The Pelicans then dive 30-60 feet into the water scooping up their prey, water and all, quickly filtering the fish and expelling the water. It is said that one can temporarily hold as much as 2 1/2 gallons of water.

From my experience fishing every year in the Aransas, Redfish, Corpus Christi, Nueces, and Baffin bay complexes, we see at least fifty to one hundred of them each day on the water. When we come in at the end of the day and clean our fish at the dock more are waiting, and thoroughly enjoy eating what we don't take of the fish. It is not uncommon to see one swallow the entire remains of a 20 inch plus trout, head, tail, skeleton, and everything left in between, in one gulp.

And I just discovered in a book today a great limerick about this awesome bird: 

        A wonderful bird is the Pelican

        His bill will hold more than his belican.

        He can take in his beak

        Food enough for a week,

        But I'm damned if I see how the helican.

By Dixon Lanier Merritt, a founding member of the Tennessee Ornithological Society.

Wayne Lake

Beau,

Regarding your furniture woes, three words: Made in China. It does not matter the manufacturer’s name or the store where purchased, it’s all made the same and the unemployment of towns like Thomasville North Carolina are nearing 20%. Go figure.

I was commissioning equipment on a floating production facility in the deep water Gulf of Mexico (5000’) a couple of years ago and the day I left, they sent nearly all hands aboard to shore when they discovered that a cross member beam in the spar (floating cylinder section that the entire platform sits on) had a 18” deflection – guess what - Chinese steel – go figure. Scary but true and that’s why I try not to eat any food from China or any other parts of S.E. Asia. However, I was in a popular restaurant in Houma LA, ordered crawfish etteaufee  (sp?), asked the server where the crawfish came  from and the reply was Viet Nam – go figure.  

Theo ‘Audubon’ Jorden,

I also, like to watch the pelican as well as other shore birds of the gulf coast, especially skimmers and oyster catchers.   I understand that aeronautical engineers have studied the pelican’s flight as they are able to fly about a foot off the water, in formation of 4-6 without effort.

I think the reason it took so long to put the brown pelican on the endangered species list is because while the numbers were dropping in Texas and Louisiana, the Florida population was not – less DDT, I guess.    

Trick question:  Only the brown pelican was seriously affected by the DDT, why not the white pelican?

Speaking of birds and conservation in the coastal bend, consider the plight of the whopping crane. I think the number of adults dropped to 39 around 1970 and due to conservation, recently over 250. However, a couple of years ago, several adults starved to death while wintering in Aransas, partly due to the Texas drought (natural), partly due to the drawdown of the aquifers near San Antonio (man made) that feed the Guadalupe River and partly due to the lack of circulation of water as a result of closing of Cedar Bayou (greed and powerful Bass family influence). They depend on eating blue crabs and the crab numbers are dwindling in San Antonio Bay, mostly because of the lack of much needed fresh water (river) but also the closing of Cedar Bayou.   Cedar Bayou was closed to protect wildlife during the Ixtac oil well blow out in the 70’s – a prolific well (50-60,000 BPD) in the Bay of Campeche and the natural pass was never reopened. The Bass family of Dallas owns San Jose Island where they run a large cattle operation. They have fought the opening of Cedar Bayou due to logistical operations – it would cut their range in half and create additional cost in moving cattle – Boo Hoo! Bass money and influence in Austin is ruining San Antonio Bay, google Save Cedar Bayou for additional information.

From Lake Wobegone where I’ve got some really colorful birds on my feeder this summer like Goldfinch, Pine Grosbeak, Pileated and Downey Woodpeckers, House Finch, Cardinals, etc.

wtl  

Charles Charlie Brawner

Teddie, Really liked the photo!  Reminded me of the movie Tin Cup...Molly Griswold bet David Simms that Roy McAvoy could hit a golf ball off the floor of the bar, through the door, over the patio, into the river and make a pelican fly off its post.  A 170 yard impossible golf shot.  But, don't know if it was a white or brown pelican.

John Burgess Webb

 wonderment:

Richard Meek '65

God morning Waltripians. Some good chatting going on here. Burge that is a great picture of that little girl and the Manatee. It looks like they are equally fascinated by the other one.

As usual Ted great photo in your posting. It is really great to have the big birds making such a good comeback they are off the endangered species list. If anyone is interested in watching them in a great setting head on down to Sargent's Beach. Right on the intracoastal canal there is a restaurant called Sting Rae's. Owned by a very nice lady named Carla Rae. There really serve some excellent seafood.  They prepare a white wine, butter and lump crabmeat sauce that they put on broiled flounder. Paige likes the sauce so much she just orders a bowl of the sauce, a bowl of rice and a salad. I have even tried their rib eye steak and that is excellent also. They serve fresh seasonal vegetables with their entrees which is a nice treat.  Anyway the brown pelicans usually put on a show flying back an forth and gliding in formation. They always have live entertainment on the weekends at Sting Rae's. Another point of interest is Sting Rae's i right next to one of only two remaining manned swing bridges on  the Texas intracoastal Canal. As I understand it there isn't enough land on the Gulf side to put in a bridge that's high enough for boat traffic so the swing bridge continues to operate.

Wayne, after doing a little quick checking, according to what I read the white pelican was on the endangered species list just like the brown pelican. It is now off that list just like the brown pelican. I did find out some facts about the white pelican that I did not know. The white is bigger than the brown. It's wingspan is about two feet bigger. The California Condo is the only North American bird with a bigger wing span than white pelican. The condor is about 10 ft. The white pelican is about 9 ft. and the brown pelican is about 7 ft. Also the white pelican is migratory while the brown pelican is not. The whites migrate all the way up to Canada. They nest on islands in lakes so their nests are safe from predators. Since their numbers are increasing it is not unusual to see them in places like Iowa along the Mississippi River. Pelicans in Iowa, interesting huh? They also fish differently than the browns. We're all familiar with how the browns just collapse their wings and plunge into a school of fish. The whites duck their heads in the water while swimming. The whites also cooperate with each other by swimming around a school of fish, bunching them up before dining on them. Pretty fascinating. Well you probably now know a lot more about pelicans than you really wanted to know. So I'll let you find out any thing additional you're interested in.

Everyone have a great week and,

Keep on dancing,

Rich LH

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

I'm still trying to download the rest of the July 10 Fuddrucker pictures.  In fact, I thought today my technical problems were resolved.  All the pictures downloaded and were saved and you could actually view them, but all my other pictures from previous gatherings went to Twilight zone - they vanished and my heart sank!

So I regrouped, went back and brought up my last backup on July 30 --- and that's where it is for now.  Whew!! at least all the old pictures are back and I'll keep trying.

Hugs,

J

Bunny Paine (Clemes)

My latest novel got a GREAT REVIEW!

"This was a brilliant retelling of the lives of two lesser-known historical figures and well worth reading. . .

"Fabulous, truly fabulous!

"What I loved most about this novel was the author’s portrayal of the extremely sexy, magnetic, and alluring John Wilmot. From his incredibly quippy and sharp dialogue, to his lovably bold and confident romantic antics, I was completely absorbed by this enigmatic man. I could not wait to turn the pages to find out what he would do or say next. I cannot say enough about how exceptional the author’s depiction of him his. By far one of the best characterizations of a romantic hero I have ever read.

"Equally fabulous was the development of the heroine, Elizabeth Mallet. Her growing love for the earl was written in a credible, realistic fashion. A woman trapped by social convention, she was feisty enough to follow her heart and do everything she could to be with the man she loved despite the entire world discouraging her from him."

http://www.historyandwomen.com/2012/08/a-winters-day-restoration-tragedy-by.html

Order it on Amazon!

Bunny Paine-Clemes

Beau Wann, Jr.

Howdy Mine fine waltripines...Yea Bunny Paine...I've been trying to write a book...yeah, I know...ME??? Well, it does excercise the fingers on the old atari commodore 64...So, I know how hard it is to actually get one writ, let alone be a best seller...What an accomplishment for Bunny, what a legacy...I am going out and get a copy...I do hope it is in a bookstore...If you can only get it on line, I will have to let the little woman order it. I'm not good at "online shopping" ...I can pick stuff out allright, fill that shopping cart to overflowing...but when it comes to checking out and paying, I have to put all my items back on the shelf...or proverbial shelf.

Once all the remodeling is done, I will resume writing my book...Maybe Bunny will give lessons to me on how to stay focused on subject and characters...I'm like that guy in "As good As it Gets"...real tempramental when it comes to working at something...I get real narrow minded and tunnel visioned. Thoughts run through my head like water through a screen door, so staying focused on one thing is like trying to learn quantrell physics...

Anyway, we are having new tile floors put in downstairs. Had to totally move out and upstairs. Kinda like apartment living again. All the furniture is in a POD in the driveway. Against the deed restrictions, but I like messin with the nazi homeowner ass ociation. They're just gonna have to grin and bear it.
REMODELING SUX BIGTIME...once we are through and moved back down stairs, Then the upstairs will have to be redone. Hope to get it all done by the end of August..."oh pulease God, let us be through by then"!!!!

Diane and I and Cooper and Jack and Annie-Bob, are living in one  bedroom, and the other 5 cats are living in the other bedroom. For an obsessive compulsive like me, this is pure torture. Will this count as "hell"? When my time is up here, can I bypass the next hell and move on to heaven??? I sure hope so. This is pure d hell for me.

I hope wherever I go, all the furniture is where I need it to be. I would hate to have to move all thaat furniture around in the hereafter. 

Been watching the olympics, mainly because it's too hot outside to do anything, and the house is torn up all to hell and gone. I coulda been in the olympics...yeah, me...cept, they didnt perzactily have my sport listed..."Recess and Lunch", and "Syncromeshed Furniture Moving", and "cement pond decoratin" aka "Lawnmower toss"...I am good at what I do...at least that's what I keep telling myself.

Oh, Diane and I are sleeping in the bed she had when we got married, an antique 200 year old Iron Double Wedding ring bed. The folks back then sure were little people. Must a belonged to the "Little Women" family.
Anyway, a double bed mattress fits, but barely.  It's what we slept on for the first 3 years of our marriage. I dont know how we did it. I guess we were smaller then. You cannot turn over or do any moving around without smackin the other person and waking them up. I am a mover and shaker in bed..."Jimmie legs"..A kingsize is barely big enough, and then you add 6 cats and two dogs, and a partridge in a pear tree...

Well, I'm not gonna complain, at least we have a bed...sorta...

Ok gonna sign off for now. hope to get back on when I got more time. sorry this was such a short note...
your frien and brethern...Beauregard cephus DOD

Steve Puckett '65

You may enjoy the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgSxBPxWJCE which shows the rodeo parade in early 1962 with Lassie and a brief bit showing the Waltrip band starting a maneuver. 

I loved the fat stock show & rodeo. I especially liked seeing TV celebrities IN REAL LIFE!  This is a picture of Roy Rogers downtown in 1952.  I was somewhere on the sidewalk almost close enough to touch Trigger.

Teddie Jordan

Steve, what a great picture. It brings back a flood of good memories!

Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

We've got home movies my mother took of Roy and Dale at the Houston Fat Stock Show & Rodeo when they turned out all the lights and had the spot light on them prancing around the arena to shake hands with all the lucky kids who were able to be lifted up to the rail to see them close up.  Also have movies of Gene Autry on his horse at another rodeo making the rounds of the arena.  Those were the good old days, weren't they?

Richard Meek '65

Good mornin' to all you Waltripians., Steve, that is a great picture of Roy Rogers. It does bring back great memories. I had forgotten what a beautiful animal Trigger was.Thanks for posting it. Jimmie Lee I was one of those lucky kids that got to shake hands with Roy at the rail of the arena. One of my grand dads always took me to the rodeo. After Roy shook my hand I rushed back to tell  him (this was told to me years later) that in addition to shaking his hand Roy knew my name. I was in heaven because he knew me. Roy had greeted me with "Howdy Red". Never entered my young brain that Red was a pretty likely nick name for every red headed kid! The innocence of youth. I liked the Rodeo and stock show when they were smaller. I remember the featured cowboys were around after the show so people could get pictures and shake hands. I remember getting to meet the Cisco Kid and Pancho as well as the Range Rider and Jim. It was better when it wasn't so huge.

Beau, I can get a mental image of you competing in the Olympics in the lawnmower toss. I think there is potential there to develop a Homeowners Olympics. it is mind bogling.

Keep on dancing,

Rich LH

Dance Like no one is watching!

Robert Derrick

Steve, ditto. Great photo. Jimmie Lee, we must find a way to post your video. I would love to slow motion it and look for myself. I think I made almost all those rodeos back then. (Jackie, any chance?)

Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

Robert, the rodeo home movies are now on DVD.  My brother had every one of the reels copied and I'm amazed at the quality.  I have no idea how we'd get it on The Forum, but if there's any possibility, I'll be glad to share them.

Teddie Jordan

One year a guy in my dad's Army reserve unit who worked at the colosseum during rodeo let our family come down and watch Roy Rogers and Dale Evans rehearse their show the night before they opened. We really enjoyed watching them as real people work through their rehearsal. They even argued a little a couple of times like a real married couple will do, and of course that really humanized them. We talked about that for years in our family. They were really good people.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Been so long ago, hard to tell what was real and imagined. I saw Roy and Trigger and Dale and Buttermilk, and Gene Autry and Annie Oakley and I think George "Gabby" Hayes was at one of the Rodeos. Oh, and Pat Butram with his jeep Nellie Bell was at the one with Roy and Dale. At least in my mind, I THINK thats how I remember it. I'm pretty sure I remember Pat buttram driving Nellie Belle on the floor of the arena and it backfiring, you know how it did in the movies...

Yup, the Colliseum was the best venue for the rodeo and fat stock show, in my humble opinion. I rode the rides at the carnival one year, and got sickern a dog. My sisters and cousins, It pains me to say, could ride any ride and not get sickness...not moi...guess I hadnt reached my "manly manhood" status back then. Well who did at 9 or 10 years old.

Cant conjure up any images of any of the other stars when it was at the coliseum, but when it moved to the Astro dome, saw Elvis one year, and Johnny Cash and June carter Cash. Didnt matter the magnitude of the star, the rodeo and fat stock show, was never the same again once it moved to the Atrodome, at least for me.

OH, I think the Lone Ranger (clayton Moore) was at one of the rodeos at the coliseum...and Tonto (Jay Silverheels)...I know yall remember the LRs horse...SILVER, but did you know that in the beginning, he called him "Dusty", that is until a new sponsor took over the show...SILVERCUP BREAD...And Tontos horse was "Scout", and also "White Feller" and "Paint"...

And we all know RR and DE horses were Trigger and Buttermilk respectively...and Gene Autrys horse was "Champion"...Most all the TV/Movie cowboys and girls lived in the San Fernando Valley, until land prices got so redicuously high, you had to be a fool not to cash in on the market. Gene Autry sold all of his holdings, exceopt for about 6 acres, so his horse Champion could live out his life in familiar surroundings.  Just somemore useless trivia that my brain conjures up for no apparent reason. I cant remember which teacher we had that said, "if you cant dazzle em with brilliance, snow em with BS" ...I think it was one of our teachers...coulda been a martian I suppose...

Someone mentioned The Cisco Kid, (Duncan Renaldo), and Pancho, (Leo Carillo)...remember their horses names???? Ciscos horse was "Diablo", and Panchos horse was "Loco"...
Zorros Horse???? "Tornado"...Robert E Lees horse??? "Traveler"...Andy Jacksons horse was "Truxton"...Ulesseys S Grants horse was, "Cincinnati"...And the only survivor of the Little Big Horn massacre was "Commanche", and for many years was said to be Custers horse, but it belonged to and was ridden on that day by Captain Miles W. Keough...Custor rode a horse named "Vic", which was slain at the Little Big Horn...General William Tecumseh Shermans horse was "Winchester"

Buffalo Bill, the real Buffalo Bill had two horse he favored, one that he road for show appearances, was a white horse named "Isham"...He used another horse as his hunting horse, "Old Charlie" ..."Old Charlie" died on the boat trip back from one of BB s european appearances, and was buried at sea in the atlantic...

Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) horse was "Toppper"...Here's an easy one, what was the horses name "National Velvet"???? Go ahead, think, I'll wait...time passes...yes, you are all correct, "PIE" was his name.
Here's a harder one...what was Kevin Costners Horses name in Dances With Wolves???
WOW, ok, you all got it right again, "Cisco"...Man, you guys are good...

Lots O useless and worthless trivia crowdin and cloudin up my mind...

I remember the rodeo parades mostly...one year it would be 30 degrees, and the next year 90 degrees...
One year my sisters High school marching band marched in the parade, and it was "blue cold" bout 30 degrees and wind was just a whippin down main street...Seems my sister was the only one that could make the bass clarinet sound like anything other than a frog, so she got selected to play it in the parade. The girls wore skirts...seems the powers to be, idiots mostly, wouldnt let the girls wear long pants, no matter how bad the weather was..."wasnt lady like"  ...OH BULLSHOOT...Sometimes peoples stupid gets in the way of common sense...I remember in our highschool days, didnt it have to be below 0 before they would let the girls wear pants????

Oh, well, I liked the parades back then, dont much care for em now though. All they do is clog up the streets, and make bad traffic even worse, and leave horse poo on the road...But, the little kids like em...those folks below 60 years of age...

I've either made your day, or bored you silly with my trivia, so I think I will sign off...Tile folks are about half through...gonna go check on Huckleberry Hound and his sidekick Goofus...
Happy Trails mine friens
Your frien and brother

Beaucephus DOD, and his horse "Big Oliver"

Posr Script: Here's another bit of trivia, (I just cant quit can I) Sgt Preston of the Yukons horse was "Rex and "Blackie" and of course his wonder dog "King"...

Jim Taylor

 "You betchum, Red Ryder!"

Beau Wann, Jr.

Red Ryder you say???? The actor Don "Red" Berry played him in the early 1940s...horses name? Thunder, Cyclone...
Jim Bannon played Red Ryder 1949-1950...horses name??? Thunder...

yippee kiyaa...and yeeha...

Ane then there's "Little Beaver", played by several children, most notabbly Robert Blake, who had a TV series about a detective, whose name escapes me at this very moment...dang, almost had it...dont you just hate that, got a name on the end of your tongue, but cant quite come up with it...I think it was an eyetalian name like...Fuddruckers...he had a cockatiel named...????

oh well, one of youse youtes will know who and what I am talking about...someone should, cause I dont...Blake was on trial for allegedly killing his wife...but was acquitted...Bronson???? no....bronchitis???? no... give it up man, you aint gonna think of it till midnight when nobody cares...they dont care now, so give it up...ok, fine...gonna go chunk stuff in the cement pond...

Happy Trails to ya...DOD

I GOT IT...BARETTA...TA DA...

Jackie Crowe (Finch)

Ah, yes the rodeo at Coliseum!  Fond times and also brings back a lot of memories of the year Guard girls ushered.  What an experience, remember girls?

Jimmie Lee, would love to see your DVD - do you have anyone that can load it to YouTube?

Beau, I feel your exhaustion from remodeling.  Not an easy project - there are things I need done at my house, but keep putting off exactly for that reason!

Okay I'm trying again to download the rest of Fuddrucker July 10 pictures - wish me luck!

We're having another Clay gathering on Saturday, October 20 thanks to Johnny.  Mark you calendars and I will send out reminders and post on website.

Hugs,

J

Jim Taylor

Teddie Jordan

Good for Johnny and good for us all on another Clay's get together. It will be much cooler and more pleasant then.

Thank you Jackie for all of your time and efforts spent creating and maintaining this website, managing the pictures and all.

Burge, the picture you posted of the little girl and the awesome sea creature is truly one of wonderment, in both directions through the glass. I keep going back and enjoying it. I have seen that awesome creature before but please refresh my memory, what is it called?

And Beaucephus, you remembered Beretta, even if is is spelled slightly different, because they make some pretty nice shotguns too.

Beau Wann, Jr.

Hey Teddie, yes, they make fine sporting equipment for the marksman, lawr enforcement,  hunter and clay pigeon enthusiast...never could get one of them clay doves tenderized enough to eat...and if memory serves me correctly, the creature in question is a MANATEE...Just happened to see a show on them on the aminal planet or a facsimile thereof...I was thinkink about gettin one for the cement pond...that or an alligator...

Jimmie Lee Smith (Brawner)

Jackie, regarding the DVD on Youtube, the portions of it with Roy & Dale & Gene Autry are amongst many "Smith Family Memories" that I seriously doubt anyone else would be interested in.  If someone can figure out how to get just those portions off those DVDs  and copied onto another one, I assume we could post it.  I know my son posts videos on Facebook all the time, so I'll ask him.  In case you want to see the happiest 4-month old baby girl in the world being entertained by her 11-year old cousin, catch it on my Facebook page - hilarious!

Teddie Jordan

Beau you're right, you can't eat those clay birds. My middle grandson Will, who is 11, loves to hunt and fish like his old grandad, and he has also fallen in love with shooting clay birds. And he is quickly becoming a better shot than me. Earlier this week we were down in Freer and I pulled trap for him and he went through a box of clay targets and several boxes of shotgun shells in no time. But it was fun for both of us. Here is a picture of him on his first real dove hunt last September, and Gus at the ready to do the retrieving. Will did all of the shooting that afternoon and we had enough birds for a good meal that night, each stuffed with a banana pepper and a hunk of cheese and wrapped in a slice of bacon and grilled on a hot bed of coals. Good stuff.

But just to be clear, for any bunny huggers we may have out there, we're not talking about those cute little doves that come to all of our backyard bird feeders everyday here in Houston. No siree Bob, we're talking about those man eating doves that are a threat and a menace to the women and children and upstanding citizens of south Texas.

On a different subject, Fran and I went and saw the newly released movie Hope Springs yesterday, and we would definitely recommend it. The movie stars Meryl Streep and Tommie Lee Jones as an old married couple in a rut, and Steve Carell as their marriage counselor. A lot of laughs and good acting by all three.