This just made me laugh!

I really wanna learn to SCUBA ... have since that cruise in 1988 ... and even before as Neal and Sally and Bruce and others do. And since, as Johnny, Cynthia, Lamar and Claire have.

Maybe my only fear - ??? - I saw Dale Earnhardt (Sr) went SCUBA diving and he shave his mustache. THAT'S not happening here!!!

So here's today's Houston Groupon ad .... and I love the wording ...

If foam noodles can be found floating on the surface of almost every pool, think how many perfectly salted meatballs must be at the bottom of the ocean. Discover the sea's sunken treats with today's Groupon: for $15, you get a Discover Scuba Experience session from Sea Sports Scuba (a $30 value), which has locations in Katy, The Woodlands, Westheimer, and Northwest Houston. All participants must be 12 years of age or older and able to swim 200 yards, non-stop, using any type of stroke and without the assistance of a passing dolphin.

The veteran submerged seafarers at Sea Sports Scuba can instruct any landlubber on the basics of underwater breathing in a safe, welcoming environment. At each lesson, a wise, PADI-certifiedinstructor will dish the fundamental tenets of the dive and marine astronomy. Students will dive into the provided gear and equipment before diving into a heated indoor pool for practice. In one 60- to 120-minute session, submariners will be primed to move on to more-advanced sunken adventures and confidently curse humanoid ancestors for voting to phase out gills.

Though the class won't churn out scuba divers certified to dive alone, it might finally put to rest a persistent fear of bathtubs and really big puddles. Though breathing underwater can feel a little a strange at first, it quickly becomes second nature after a bit of submerged practice. Post-class, prepare to be able to shower for hours, retrieve all the coins from the bottom of every fountain, and diffuse nuclear bombs perched perilously above an abyssal alien city. Call ahead to schedule a class time, and bring along a suit and towel.

I received a letter

Back in the day when people wrote letters to one another, one was written to me on January 3, 1971.

That letter congratulated me on my achievement of Eagle Scout and gave me encouragement in my future endeavors. It meant a lot to me at my Court of Honor a few weeks later ... and I recall it today as its writer has passed away.

Robert C Byrd, Jr. was the senior senator from West Virginia and the longest serving lawmaker in US history.

On the day he wrote my letter, he defeated Sen Ted Kennedy as the Senate Majority Whip (I remembered the event, and being a native of West Virginia was proud of the achievement - so I can go to the history books to find the date, not relying totally on my memory as Sen. Byrd did in reciting poetry, Roman and British history, and personal references). I know it came through his staff, but staffs in 1971 were much smaller than. And it contained some personal comments that were, no doubt, from the senator.

I remembered that letter and today we remember Sen. Byrd.

Sen. Byrd should be remembered as an example of redemption. I'm watching CNN. They've already mentioned "it." We'll read in papers and hear elsewhere that Robert Byrd was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. (He did that as a young man and called it "the albatross he will always wear around my neck.") As a senator, he opposed the appointment of Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court and filibusters against the Civil Rights Bill. In years that passed, Sen. Byrd told everyone he was wrong in those instances (and in numerous others). He changed his mind ... he grew ... he corrected what he felt he had done wrong.

Perhaps THAT is what we should remember most and carry forward from the service of Robert Byrd. That you CAN change your mind, you CAN say "I was wrong" ... you CAN ask for forgiveness. That's NOT being wishy-washy. That's growing up (even if you're in your 70's ... 80's ... 90's).

Sen. Byrd was known as the "King of Pork" for his ability to get money funneled to West Virginia. I've heard the figure of $3 Billion in his 50-something years. Having been a disciple of Lloyd Bentsen and Henry Jackson ... "Princes of Pork" during their terms in the House and Senate ... I don't have a problem with that. "Pork" is why the Johnson Space Center is in Houston (and why rockets are launched in FL, researched in VA and AL, and tested in MS). I want MY senators and MY representatives to bring home that "bacon" to Texas. It's why I vote for them (yes, I have crossed party lines to vote for Kay)!!! Robert Byrd knew how to help out the "impoverished and land locked state of West Virginia" better than anyone.

But I remember the senator today, because, years ago, Robert Byrd helped my grandparents. And it involved a letter ... or two.

Neither of them could drive to the post office in Nellis, West Virginia. They'd stop by on Sunday and Wednesday when they went to church, carried by friends or the church bus of the Pilgrim Holiness Church.. They'd get their mail when my school teacher aunts had the chance to bring it to them. But back in the day when letters and the mail were integral forms of communication, when most citizens expected (and even took for granted) daily delivery through "rain or sleet or gloom of night" ... my grandparents were at the mercy of others ... but they were served by THEIR senator.

Sen. Byrd received several letters from my mom regarding the lack of rural delivery in West Virginia, not only to her parents, but a number of others on Brush Creek. I was quite young, but I can remember the day when we put up a shiny silver mail box in front of their house on Boone Co Hwy 1. I'm sure there was a letter from Sen. Byrd in there a time or two as well.

Robert Byrd was Dedicated and Devoted; Complicated and Controversial; a Son and a Servant of the people.

When asked in an interview about all the things in his home state that bore his name ... buildings, highways, bridges, roads ... he said that in the end, that's all nice, but when they opened him up, Robert Byrd hoped all would see "West Virginia" written on his heart and THAT was what was most important to him.

Amen!

Eating in Austin

As much is Austin is a football town, Austin is a food town! My favorite place to eat is Threadgill's - both the original place on N Lamar and the place I like best on Barton Springs at Riverside. Both have great a place in Texas history.

http://www.threadgills.com/

Biggest reason I like them - no matter who goes with you, everyone in your party will find something they like. Texas country favorites are on the list (Chicken Fried Steak, Pecan Crusted Chicken) as well as burgers, meatloaf, and grilled items. There's even Liver and Onions which I hear are good but NO amount of money will ever get me to eat. There's also all kinds of sides - 28 choices. Now, I'm a meat and potatoes guy - but mostly MEAT. But they have GREAT vegetables. My faves are the San Antonio Squash, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Texas Black-Eyed Pea Caviar, and Garlic Cheese Grits Threadgill's offers a 3-choice or 5-choice plate. And while they don't ADVERTISE all you can eat, you do get refills. They have great portions, good prices.

My next favorite place is Mandola's Italian Market. They have two locations, the original on N Lamar at Guadalupe in The Triangle, and the new one out on Bee Cave Road. I went to college with Damian Mandola (co-founder of Carrabba's) and that surely might prejudice this recommendation were it not for the good food ... and the happy responses from others! It's a casual atmosphere. They have good Italian food (to go and sit down, as well as menu and table service). There meats and food in the Deli. An then there's DESSERTS!!! Cakes, cookies, gelato - yum! Lots of choices and sampling is encouraged!!!

Ohhh ... Damian also has a winery with an adjoining restaurant ... link below - review comes later!

http://www.mandolasitalianmarket.com/

http://mandolaestatewinery.com/

Across the parking lot from mandola's Italian Market is Flying Saucer ... aka - BEEEEEEEER! 75 taps from all over the world, including Austin and the Hill Country.

I HAD to eat at Bess Bistro because it's owned by Sandra Bullock. I'll come back because of the food. They offer half price appetizers (they're called "morsels" on the menu) for happy hour (2:30 - 6:30 M-F), daily specials, and brunch on Sunday. They have a wonderful atmosphere - nice but not pretentious.

I had the Smoked Bacon Mussels for $5. There were 18 in a great tomato bisque with a bacon ragout. But the pan grilled garlic-butter chiabatta bread ... OMG!!! The bread MADE the meal. Okay - everything else was well crafted, and who expects 18 mussels in an appetizer? It was dinner for me on a Friday evening. They "only" had 4 beers taps and I was thinking - sure, B, M, C and SB (Shiner Bock) ... but NO - Austin Amber, Purple Haze, Hop Devil and Pecan Porter. Yummmmmm! Great choices. BTW - I missed Sandra by 18 hours. According to my sources, so did most other in the restaurant as she sat unassumingly at a table with baby Louis, her hair pulled back, no make-up, and blue jeans.

http://www.bessbistro.com/

A surprise find was the Texas Embassy on 6th Street - Cuban food! The traditional Cuban sandwich was spot on to Tampa ... 16 beers on tap at $4 per pint was great. It's touted as a gathering spot for games - there's a back porch and upstairs. I was there with Neal Scott for the World Cup (USA- England). We sat at the bar and had a 50-inch TV within easy eye sight. I loved the restroom doors - pay attention when running to the bath rooms!!!

http://www.texasembassyaustin.com/

Austin is a BBQ town. Uncle Billy's Brew and 'Cue on Barton Springs and Stubbs are two places I've eaten. They do well with whatever you like. I'm a sausage guy.

Uncle Billy's has moist and tender BBQ, generous portions, plentiful fried okra ... and very tasty home-brewed beer. There's a Honky-Tonk Happy Hour sat and Sunday 2-6 ... and it what Austin is all about. one word - Go!!!

http://www.unclebillysaustin.com/

Stubb's is close to the downtown action, just a few steps off Sixth Street. It's been ages since I was there but the line down Red River on a recent Friday night shows there's something worth waiting for inside ... like fried green tomatoes, smoked duck quesadillas, and Texas onion rings!

http://www.stubbsaustin.com

Out on Bee Cave Road towards Driftwood is Salt Lick BBQ. It's a wonderful place with spacious grounds. Expect a wait at prime times. The meats are good but I pretty well stuffed myself with their slaw.

http://www.saltlickbbq.com/

There's also a little blue stand on the corner of 7th street and Nueces that has GREAT food and you can see it being cooked on the pit outside. Nothing fancy ... but honest, hard-working folks making great food at a great price ... $3 and $4 sandwiches.

Austin also has lots of good Mexican food. The tried and true is Matt's El Rancho. If you drive to the east side of I-35 into the Hispanic areas, there are lots of good places.

http://www.mattselrancho.com/

Once place I'd never visited was The Oasis. It has the best sunsets in Texas, and it was lovely the night I was there. We had great guacamole and good queso on chips which were way too thick and mass produced (I like my chips thin and crispy). I asked a friend what was good on the menu and he said it was all down hill from there. I've heard the same comments from friends in the two weeks after my visit. The hamburger I had was edible but not memorable. But the sunset ... awesome ... bring your camera!!! Learn to use your manual setting or you'll miss out on spectacular pix!!!!

http://www.oasis-austin.com/

Again - the opines here are my own. yes, LOTS of places I've missed and many I wanna try - Artz Ribs, a cupcake place, Taco Hut and more.

Life's uncertain - eat dessert first!

America … Melting Pot … and NOT!!!

The recent activity in Arizona and a conversation with my "idea person" brought this incident to mind ...

A couple of years ago, when ICE was still INS and I still had my own business and wasn’t dealing with high school teen-agers everyday, I had a client who owned a 1,500 unit apartment complex – one of the largest in Houston - and a number of other properties around the US and Canada. They were based in Montreal and the CEO (and client) went to college at Cornell. Houston was their US headquarters.

My company did the newsletters and much of the other printed materials required for running the operations in the United States … including business cards, letterhead, envelopes, brochures, flyers, and bandit signs. We even designed the advertising for newspaper, magazines, malls, and bus stops.

So, one day, members of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services show up at the apartments on Gulfton Drive in Houston and orders the owner to round up all his housekeeping, maintenance, grounds and other assorted support staff and asks them to produce their Green Cards. He does and they do ... every one of them is “legal” and some are second, third and FOURTH generation Americans!!!

“You need to see anything else?” the owner asks. “Anyone else???”

When informed they were satisfied with seeing all the ID’s they’d requested, the owner (CEO) and the accountant (CFO ) then produced their own Green Cards, from Canada and India, respectively.

The INS leader paused and stammered … “y’all didn’t look ‘illegal’.”

LOOKS??? What did “looks” have to do with the “raid???”

Unfortunately, we’ve used “looks” many times in America. Today, we call it “racial profiling” ... and I have, in fact, been racially profiled and “mistaken” for a Hispanic in a multimillion dollar neighborhood (twice). My "crime" was driving a beat-up little pick-up truck that was favored by lawn maintenance workers .. and being in the neighborhood after 6:00pm.

Forget all the problems of segregation in the South, perhaps the greatest (and most disgusting) instance of racial profiling took place in the 1940’s when thousand of Japanese Americans were herded into “relocation camps” based on the color of their skins and shape of their eyes ... when at the same time on the East coast of America, millions of Germans and Italians were allowed to go “free” because there were NOT as easily identifiable!

But ain't that America ... for you and me ... ain't that America ... something to see, baby ... ain't that America ... home of the free!!!

40th Anniversary - May 4, 1970

Lest We Forget ... Four Dead in Ohio

I remember the Kent State shootings and wrote about it in my ninth grade journal in Mr. Stander's class. That was 40 years ago today. I lived less than 200 miles from Kent State University.

After Lyndon Johnson left the presidency, I had really hoped the Richard Nixon would quickly bring an end to the war in Vietnam. It wasn't as quick as we thought (sound familiar?).

In the late 1990's, I was in a group in Houston and one gentleman's name sounded familiar. When I asked him if he was perhaps in someway related to a victim of the Kent State Four, he said, that yes, one was his daughter.

"I am so sorry to have asked," I said.

"No, thanks you so much for remembering," he said.

As I teach, I have become so attached to the students. They are our future. How sad we lost William Schroeder, Sandra Scheuer, Jeffrey Miller and Allison Krause on May 4, 1970.

for more info ...

http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/05/04/kent-state-40-years-on-why-four-died-in-ohio/

Four Dead in Ohio

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'.
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drummin'.
Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to it.
Soldiers are gunning us down.
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.

Gotta get down to it.
Soldiers are cutting us down.
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'.
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drummin'.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.

Fish thoughts

It's no secret that fish are the laziest of all animals. Consider the warm, saltwater baths you indulge your feet in after an especially taxing double shift traipsing the floor of the town aglet factory. Now consider that this is the environment in which fish spend their every waking moment, floating effortlessly on warm ocean currents or, if they're lucky, the bubble-bath-esque wakes of a passing jet boat.

In fact, fish are so lazy that they can't be bothered to evolve unique species traits and instead crib their distinguishing characteristics from other animals. This well-documented biological plagiarism is evident in the "dogfish," the sea "horse," and the "tiger shark," a particularly loathsome hybrid that sullies the noble ferocity of the tiger with the moist, pallid gumminess of the useless shark.

Most common, of course, is the heavily whiskered "catfish," which half-heartedly chases undersea mice before falling asleep in an undersea sunbeam on top of your undersea computer monitor.

Triathalon Weekend

"I'm covering a triathlon this weekend," I said

"You're DOING a triathlon?" a friend inquired.

"Do I LOOOOOK like a triathlete?" I said, with self depreciating humor.

Actually, I was taking pictures of the triathlon. My assignment - to photograph the "flavor and the fun" of the event. They're feeding me, putting me up in this great house, and PAYING me ... to take PIX! (Another company does the individual photos of the participants - about 1,800 people).

ohhh ... I had to pick up 1,000 chicken wraps on my way down on Friday afternoon.

This is where communications is the key. My Fit Food called and said 1,000 wraps was a huge undertaking and instead of 4pm, could I pick them up at 5? No problem, I have a planning meeting with the APO/Theta Rho group, so I stopped to work on that. I called at 5pm - would 6pm be okay? No problem, still at meeting. I called at 6 - they'll be ready when you get here.

I'm glad I had the mini-van, because 1,000 wraps took up most of the mid cargo department. Think 18 milk crates! I put the two captain's chairs in the back area, and there were 9 crates on the bottom, 6 crates on top of that .. and we're off to Kemah. The mini-van now smells "healthy" with scents of chicken, curry, garlic, camino ... yummmm ... and why are these people jogging after me??? LOL (not really - just imagining)

Got to Kemah later than expected but took pix of the charity dinner, silent auction items, and had my first meeting with US Olympic triathletes Andy Potts and Matty Reed. We saw LOTS of each other during the weekend. Dinner was penne pasta and Barefoot Pinot Grigio (Barefoot was one of the event sponsors).

Found the house ... and it was awesome!!! It's a Bed and Breakfast right on the bay. If you followed my Facebook posts, you know that I slept on the porch. It just felt great. Sat in a chair and drifted off the the sounds of the waves ... birds ... wind .. the smell of the salt air ... and a "deliciously cold wind" - it felt great!!! Just a spur of the moment thing that really enhanced my mood and feeling!

Saturday morning it was rise and shine. The staff and workers were up at 3:30. I woke up later - 5:00am! LOL I'll post some links for my Saturday pix.

Now, I found the first problem on Saturday that was to become one of many - I didn't have my name badge or staff shirt. I had to talk my way through all the security places. Second, it was way cooler than I'd expected, but I had a sweatshirt. But what about tomorrow?

what else could go wrong????

About 8:30, I found out. I could see this triangular white spot in my pix. I double checked my meter setting. I looked at the scene, I checked my white balance again. Then I saw a black shadow. It was there, then gone, then on every third photo shadow. I hoped. I prayed. I knew it was a shutter problem. But maybe ... ??? Then the camera stopped working. I asked several other guys but no one had a camera I could borrow.

Soooo ... I emailed, sent tweets on Twitter, and posted a note on Facebook. As it started to rain, I took off to Houston.

Professional Camera Repair opens at 9:00am on Saturday and I was there to see Mike, the owner and DSLR guru, just a little past opening time. Ohhh - I had been there on Friday afternoon because the camera wasn't reading my memory cards - neither of them. A quick cleaning of the contacts seemed to do the trick. Maybe that was problem number 1. Mike didn't charge me and wished me luck in the photo shoot. This time, however, the fix wasn't as quick or simple.

First Mike looked at the pix, shook his head, then looked inside the camera.

See that, he said, shining the flashlight inside the body? One of the three shutter blades pulled off a rivet. That shouldn't happen, he said, and added that he wasn't able to do that detailed of a repair. It would have to be sent to Canon USA and would take 3-6 weeks. My heart sank.

I was on my way to meet Neal Scott and borrow his camera. It was now raining harder. I had to back out of the small parking lot onto Richmond Ave. As I concentrated on the traffic, I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. Crrunch! I stopped and looked. I had dislocated my driver's side mirror. I pulled forward to check out the damage. The electronic adjustment still worked - wheww! When I stepped outside, I could see the cracked housing. I was able to push it back into place And I saw the smudge of yellow paint and the dent. I wasn't bad ... it could have been worse. I just shook my head. What else could happen???

I drove CAREFULLY through the rain to meet Neal. We can always cheer one another up and so he did to me. We talked abot the camera issues, discussed whether the rain would stop for the Dynamo game Saturday evening, and made plans to meet.

As I left, a friend called. The day was getting better as we talked.

But talking was a distraction, and going back to Kemah I was in the wrong lane and ended up taking a tour around the University of Houston campus. I wanted ot be here for the Dynamo game about 6pm .. but not right now!!! LOL

Who does road work on a rainy Saturday??? TXDOT in Houston! What a mess sitting in traffic. Don't ask what could get worse!!!

I returned to the race in time for the seminars with Andy and Matty. They were great, the participants asked good questions, and both athletes had personal time talking and signing autographs. Some great pix. I sized some for friends and sent them off to Sam's Club and told them I'd pick them up that evening and bring them back on Sunday. Cool! Smiles!!!

With the day seemingly saved, I talked with the organizers and promoters (the guys who hired me) and they said I had some great shots, not to worry about what I missed.

As I left, I looked out, and here come Matty Reed on a jog ... just working out by himself. I grabbed the camera and snapped some shots. For a comparison, think about going to a local park and seeing Lance Berkman tossing a baseball in the air and hitting it ... or finding Phil Mickelson working on his 9 iron shots ... ??? Again - coolness!

Going into Houston a second time.

First, Patty had agreed to meet me with my official shirt and some warmer clothes. Got them and moved on. I got to Sam's and picked up the pix. They were okay but acceptable. As I changed into a long sleeve undershirt and Dynamo polo, I was looking for my glasses. My second crunchhhhh of the day - I stepped on them. I looked at the damage and the only thing I'd done was pop the wire off the bottom. Had I been thinking clearly, i would have run straight to Eyemasters.

But the rain and other problems had clouded my mind, and I was off to Robertson Stadium to see La Ponte Najarana. The good thing about Canon DSLR's ... and others ... you can adjust the eye piece to your vision - so I could see clearly through the lens. I didn't get the flashlight give-away item because I was late. I had missed tailgating with sally and Neal and others. So I wandered around the Soccer Fest ... took some pix ... chatted with folks ... but it was blurry.

I took lots of pix at the game watching from the end zone. But the Galaxy scored two goals at the opposite end. One of the Dynamo players received a red card. Not only did the Orange now have to play a man short for the rest of the game, but Luis Landin will be ineligible for next Saturday's game, and we've already lost Brian Ching to a hamstring injury for several weeks - so we're short both our key strikers!

I drove back to Kemah without incident ... but without the usual post game party. A bright spot were text messages from friends ... tough to read with just one lens though.

The night on the porch was windier ... but I had more clothes. And the shower was awesome!!! I had the house to myself each morning to get ready. What a fantasy!

Other than not being able to focus clearly, Sunday was a great day. It was bright and sunny and chilly. I took great pix (thanks again Neal for the great camera). The light house pix are awesome!!!! I had to adjust the camera by feel and there was a lapse or two. But more keepers than deletes!

The athletes enjoyed the race, the post race, the awards. Did I mention the weather was great??? I went back to the house and sat on the porch again, worked on photos, took a shower and headed out. I stopped at the fish market and picked up two pounds of fresh calamari - yummmm. I stopped at Baybrook Mall and EyeMaters - it took about 15 minutes to fix my glasses! Talked to my folks in two different conversations. Got some text messages. Did I mention how pretty the weather was???? Awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

No further damages or conflicts! The camera had a great time as well!

The weekend ended better than what it seemed. The good outweighed the bad. It always does!