Category Archives: Texana

Mason County, Texas

Posted on January 25, 2009 | Comments Off on Mason County, Texas

Scott at The Fat Guy, apparently already suffering from the noise and traffic of San Antonio, although he just recently moved there from Dallas, has taken up a casual comment I made about considering moving to Mason County. He likes winding, dark, two-lane roads, fly-fishing, hunting, and plenty of open spaces and few neighbors. The links he found and the comments he’s drawn so far make me wish I could move tomorrow. That’s the great thing about these Internets. You can go back to the country and still make a living, if you need to. But, until Mr. B. finishes school (about nine more years) and Mrs. Charm retires, it will probably not be possible for me.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Mr. Boy, Mrs. Charm, Rancho Roly Poly, Texana

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Roe V. Wade

Posted on January 22, 2009 | Comments Off on Roe V. Wade

Sounds like someone’s name. In a way, it is. Two people. Thirty-six years ago today, the US Supremes handed down their decision in this Texas case–establishing a right to abortion under the Fourteenth Amendment. Almost immediately it became the political cause celebre that has preoccupied the country ever since.

Reinforcing the right by forcing the rest of us to pay to promote them abroad was one of the first things Barry did was expected to do. It’s long been said that black women get the most abortions. I’ve always supported it, with restrictions such as banning them in the third trimester unless the life of the mother was clearly threatened. But for some who still fight "the culture of death" that’s never been enough.

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Posted in Texana

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W’s legacy

Posted on January 16, 2009 | Comments Off on W’s legacy

I voted for GWB in 2004 because I knew the liar and traitor John Kerry would be much worse. But GWB disappointed me in every way except on Iraq. He didn’t have to let the Dems and media browbeat him so much without fighting back. But he did. Worst of all was the way he let Iran walk. He’s left Barry to deal with their nukes and Barry doesn’t have the cojones, let alone the political backing.

So in that sense GWB was a lousy president and history (insofar as anyone is left to write it after the nukes start going off) will say so.

With that in mind, we’re going to damn the recession and fly ahead to D.C. on Mr. B.’s spring break in March. We’ll tour the Capitol, the White House, the museums, the zoo, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, and visit his grandfather’s grave in Arlington. Because, among other reasons, it seems to me to be perfectly possible that none of that will be around much longer. When the terrorists start setting off their Iranian nukes, D.C. very likely will be the first target.

UPDATE:  Nevertheless, I agree with Thomas Sowell. Bush was and is an honorable man.

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Posted in Texana

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Queen Bess

Posted on January 11, 2009 | Comments Off on Queen Bess

The first American to earn an international pilot’s license (in 1921), Bessie Coleman was a cool Texan from Waxahachie who bought her first biplane at Love Field in Dallas: an old JN-4 ("Jenny") with an OX-5 engine. With it she became a sensational barnstormer and occasional parachutist. But in 1926 she fell to her death from its open cockpit when the plane went out of control. Nowadays she’s memorialized all over the place, including the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame–and in at least one book.

Inspired by Miriam’s Ideas.

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Posted in Texana

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Good sports analysis

Posted on January 6, 2009 | Comments Off on Good sports analysis

The daily’s good sportswriters, Kirk Bohls, Cedric Golden, Suzanne Halliburton and Alan Trubow are the icing on the cake after a satisfying Texas win. Even when the Longhorns lose, KB, CG, SH, and AT are there to explain why. Around the rancho, they complement the good game announcing/commentary of KVET-FM ("The Genuine Austin Original") and their Longhorn Radio Network. Thanks, guys, we wouldn’t enjoy it half as much without you.

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Posted in Library, Rancho Roly Poly, Scribbles, Texana, Texas Football

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Damn cedar fever

Posted on January 4, 2009 | Comments Off on Damn cedar fever

It’s back, the annual winter malady whose culprit pollen isn’t really cedar and doesn’t really cause a fever. It’s complicated. It’s about junipers called mountain cedar, and when the stuff gets up your nose you just feel feverish. Mostly my eyes and the roof of my mouth itch, and of course my nose runs. Runs where? Not far enough. It’s a Central Texas curse that simply must be endured until we get enough rain to clear the pollen out of the air. And in our continuing drought that will be a problem. Have to use the Neti pot. Bleh.

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Posted in Rancho Roly Poly, Texana

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Happy New Year, y’all

Posted on December 31, 2008 | Comments Off on Happy New Year, y’all

Still scouting around for appropriate links for likely end of the year sentiments.

I hope the IDF can end the Gaza deal with minimal casualties of its own. I’m sure our spineless leaders–who nevertheless provide IAF bombs–will force them to quit soon, as they always do.

Mr. Boy claims he wants to stay up until midnight, but he probably won’t make it. He had a sleepover last night at a pal’s place out in the western hills, events which usually mean little actual sleep. Fortunately he hasn’t heard about this yet, so we’re safe for another year, anyhow.

I’m hustling to finish a Civil War historical novel in time for Amazon’s Feb. 2 fiction contest. That will be it for me and make-believe. My next literary attempt will be some non-fiction Texana.

Mrs. Charm and I will spend a quiet evening and then enjoy her day off tomorrow, although forecast is for chilly. At the least we’ll get going on airline reservations for a planned D.C. trip in March.

UPDATE: My novel made the first cut to the top twenty percent. Then it went down in flames on the second cut to five percent. Oh, well. Bragging rights, at least, in the impending hunt for an agent.

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Posted in Mr. Boy, Rancho Roly Poly, Texana

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