I finished reading RUDDER by Thomas Hatfield and posted my comment on Amazon. I was surprised that they posted it because they restrict comments to books that are purchased from Amazon and I bought this book from Glenn Dromgoole in Abilene. I had him sign it because he is mentioned in the book as one of the editors of The Battalion, the student newspaper that Rudder battled with during his entire tenure.
The book is an interesting and detailed look at Earl Rudder's military career, but I was disappointed in the history of his tenure at A&M because no mention was made of Dean Fred J. Benson or of the Aerospace Engineering department, or of Robert Gilruth, who was running NASA during the Apollo program. We worked closely with NASA and Gilruth was often on the campus. He was also often in Washington working with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Dr. Wainerdi is mentioned but he was an assistant dean to Benson who was never mentioned.
It was a great read as I came to the campus the year Rudder was made president and went through all of the history of moving from an all-male military campus to a fully integrated campus with women. My wife, Lou, was one of the first women students and later my daughter was one of the first women to live in a dorm on campus, so I saw the whole thing.
I think the A&M Methodist Church should have been mentioned a little more. He did talk about Rudder growing up in the Methodist church. That is where I met Rudder and where many of his Deans and professors went to church. I taught his children in the first SS class I taught there and then taught the college age SS class for the next 20 years. His successor, Jack Williams was also a member.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
CLEANING CLOSETS
Everyone comes to this. A week of cleaning out closets with the intent of filling them back up with all the stuff that just can not be discarded. Sigh! Not a real interesting week, except.... We had lunch with friends in the midst of the sorting table and paper piles. Yep, paper piles since the office closet has a file closet. I do not file, except by severe necessity. Once filed, it is forgotten like it or not it probably will never be seen again. So I can not file bills to be paid, or anything to do with current taxes.
Next, it is shoes and purses. Some I have not used for at least three years. I have a pair of gold heels that I love and have not worn at all. I love them and can see elegant dinners and even dancing. Charles and I did boooge some this last month, but I can not do that in heels and stay upright. Guess my gold heels will go to some lucky girl who actually does elegant dinners with dancing.
Jacqui is ready to fly off to the Marshall Islands to teach We had a bon voyage party and we had excellent conversations with family we have not seen for awhile. We will miss her. A good thing was Clifferd driving us to the party in his new car. Very nice and still smells new. I love the GPS in the dash board and the phone that is voice activated (no hands). It has a sun roof. Charles read the operating manual and Clifferd said, "now you probably know more about my car than I do."
Church was good this Sunday. We miss Al and enjoyed Ken. Good job. Pastor Al is in Korea with his wife visiting family and preaching in their local church with her translating. I know they are enjoying the visit. We followed with our quarterly dinner on the grounds. Can Methodists cook, oh yes. Charles wanted to take chocolate and we did. No Sunday School but we would have missed it anyway since son Ernie and wife Suzy were with us and we talked too long over breakfast. The paper piles were gone. I think next week will finish the closets. We found some workers to remove the many dead trees around us. Last year's dry and hot spell caused cedar mites to kill a good many trees. The good news is that they are in front of the pole barn and we needed to remove most of them that had grown over the doors there. Charles will be able park his truck under cover now.
We had a good time at Writer's /Bloc this month and talked about blogs. I found I need to add key words so the blog shows up in a search engine. So, here they are: sex, scandal, elections, politicians, guns, TV stars, murder mystery stories, real and fiction. That should take care of that.
Next, it is shoes and purses. Some I have not used for at least three years. I have a pair of gold heels that I love and have not worn at all. I love them and can see elegant dinners and even dancing. Charles and I did boooge some this last month, but I can not do that in heels and stay upright. Guess my gold heels will go to some lucky girl who actually does elegant dinners with dancing.
Jacqui is ready to fly off to the Marshall Islands to teach We had a bon voyage party and we had excellent conversations with family we have not seen for awhile. We will miss her. A good thing was Clifferd driving us to the party in his new car. Very nice and still smells new. I love the GPS in the dash board and the phone that is voice activated (no hands). It has a sun roof. Charles read the operating manual and Clifferd said, "now you probably know more about my car than I do."
Church was good this Sunday. We miss Al and enjoyed Ken. Good job. Pastor Al is in Korea with his wife visiting family and preaching in their local church with her translating. I know they are enjoying the visit. We followed with our quarterly dinner on the grounds. Can Methodists cook, oh yes. Charles wanted to take chocolate and we did. No Sunday School but we would have missed it anyway since son Ernie and wife Suzy were with us and we talked too long over breakfast. The paper piles were gone. I think next week will finish the closets. We found some workers to remove the many dead trees around us. Last year's dry and hot spell caused cedar mites to kill a good many trees. The good news is that they are in front of the pole barn and we needed to remove most of them that had grown over the doors there. Charles will be able park his truck under cover now.
We had a good time at Writer's /Bloc this month and talked about blogs. I found I need to add key words so the blog shows up in a search engine. So, here they are: sex, scandal, elections, politicians, guns, TV stars, murder mystery stories, real and fiction. That should take care of that.
FUZZY LUNCH
We had doctor appointments in the morning in Weatherford and in the afternoon in FW so we called Ashley to have lunch with her and Emilyn. Her choice was FUZZYS. I would never have chosen to eat Mexican food at a restaurant named Fuzzys but we were glad that we did. The food was great and well priced. Emilyn loves the black beans that Ash got to add to her chicken salad. She also gobbled down the rice. Nancy had a great beef salad and barraco beans (pinto beans with bacon and beer). I had a soft chicken taco that was good.
We saw two FW police officers, and man and a woman who came past and I had to ask them if they knew Kevin Morton. They did and I told them that he was our pastor in Cross Plains. They smiled and told us to have a good day.
The outside temperature according to my Avalon was 114 but came down to 108 while the radio station was reporting 105. I know that my steering wheel was hot enough to burn my hand.
We saw two FW police officers, and man and a woman who came past and I had to ask them if they knew Kevin Morton. They did and I told them that he was our pastor in Cross Plains. They smiled and told us to have a good day.
The outside temperature according to my Avalon was 114 but came down to 108 while the radio station was reporting 105. I know that my steering wheel was hot enough to burn my hand.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
CANCER SURGERY AND MEET THE AUTHOR
We have been busy all week with rain almost every day until today. Today started with Kiwanis at 7 in the morning, quick drive to the dermatologist in Abilene who cut and scraped a cancer in my ear lobe. He also drove a couple of nails in my skull with his nitrogen bottle. Only one time in the last many years he didn't squirt those liquid nails in my skull. I went by the hearing center to exchange some plastic parts I ordered by mail that didn't fit my hearing aids. They gave me some batteries for my trouble.
Tonight we had Bill Neal as the Meet the Author at the Cross Plains Public Library. I had the pleasure of introducing him. His wife had decorated the table with a small pair of spurs that were worn by him as a boy. I showed them and explained that his grandfather had him on a horse before he could walk. He has a ranch now but doesn't ride his horse. He reviewed his fourth and latest book about a sex and murder triangle of rich families living in Amarillo. They had grown up in Georgetown before and during the Civil War. They were Methodists and helped establish Southwestern University. During reconstruction they made their fortunes in driving longhorn cattle to California and Colorado markets, moved to run the XIT ranch in the Panhandle. There the children of the three rich families had married and got into a lover triangle. The wife, who had two children, told her husband she wanted a divorce to marry the other man. The husband has her committed to an insane asylum in FW, the lover helped her escape and they fled to Canada. The husband tracks them down, "rescues" his wife and recommits her, then kills her lover and his father, is tried for both murders, takes the stand and admits the murders, has a great lawyer and the jury finds him not guilty. To find out why they gave that verdict, we have to read the book, so I bought one.
I am reading RUDDER the story of Earl Rudder who was the president of A&M when I went to work there. He was a Methodist and most of the Deans and department heads as well as many profs were also members, so that I made a lot of friends from attending Sunday School and working with the Wesley Foundation. The biography tells about Earl's growing up in a home without electricity or plumbing with his mother cooking on a wood fire, much like the time I moved to a farm without plumbing. We did have electricity but had to carry water from a shallow well and heat it over an outdoor pot.
I just finished reading about his major military event, the capture of the German guns on Pointe du Hoc on D-Day. He had a bullet go through his thigh but left a clean hole that had a band aid put on and kept going. He had another blast that put shrapnel in his chest and head that kept coming out for years later. In spite of the wounds he continued to lead the troops as they fought through to the French country.
Carol Walt recommended a book SHIP OF GOLD IN THE DEEP BLUE WATER that her engineer relative read about a boat that sunk during the gold rush carrying a cargo of gold from SF to NY. I got it on Kindle and started reading it. Right now the ship is foundering off the Atlantic coast in a hurricane. Hasn't sunk yet, but things are hairy.
I also bought a new Kindle book that is the second one in Mobley series. I wrote about the first one some time ago. It was a great book about Texas during reconstruction and I expect this one to be a great follow-up.
Tonight we had Bill Neal as the Meet the Author at the Cross Plains Public Library. I had the pleasure of introducing him. His wife had decorated the table with a small pair of spurs that were worn by him as a boy. I showed them and explained that his grandfather had him on a horse before he could walk. He has a ranch now but doesn't ride his horse. He reviewed his fourth and latest book about a sex and murder triangle of rich families living in Amarillo. They had grown up in Georgetown before and during the Civil War. They were Methodists and helped establish Southwestern University. During reconstruction they made their fortunes in driving longhorn cattle to California and Colorado markets, moved to run the XIT ranch in the Panhandle. There the children of the three rich families had married and got into a lover triangle. The wife, who had two children, told her husband she wanted a divorce to marry the other man. The husband has her committed to an insane asylum in FW, the lover helped her escape and they fled to Canada. The husband tracks them down, "rescues" his wife and recommits her, then kills her lover and his father, is tried for both murders, takes the stand and admits the murders, has a great lawyer and the jury finds him not guilty. To find out why they gave that verdict, we have to read the book, so I bought one.
I am reading RUDDER the story of Earl Rudder who was the president of A&M when I went to work there. He was a Methodist and most of the Deans and department heads as well as many profs were also members, so that I made a lot of friends from attending Sunday School and working with the Wesley Foundation. The biography tells about Earl's growing up in a home without electricity or plumbing with his mother cooking on a wood fire, much like the time I moved to a farm without plumbing. We did have electricity but had to carry water from a shallow well and heat it over an outdoor pot.
I just finished reading about his major military event, the capture of the German guns on Pointe du Hoc on D-Day. He had a bullet go through his thigh but left a clean hole that had a band aid put on and kept going. He had another blast that put shrapnel in his chest and head that kept coming out for years later. In spite of the wounds he continued to lead the troops as they fought through to the French country.
Carol Walt recommended a book SHIP OF GOLD IN THE DEEP BLUE WATER that her engineer relative read about a boat that sunk during the gold rush carrying a cargo of gold from SF to NY. I got it on Kindle and started reading it. Right now the ship is foundering off the Atlantic coast in a hurricane. Hasn't sunk yet, but things are hairy.
I also bought a new Kindle book that is the second one in Mobley series. I wrote about the first one some time ago. It was a great book about Texas during reconstruction and I expect this one to be a great follow-up.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Middle of the week
Somehow I have missed Tuesday. Probably because I overused Monday. I love Monday mornings as our church in CP has prayer meeting first thing in the week; peace that passes all understanding. Charles comes to the prayer meeting most weeks but this Monday he went to the library board meeting. There are a couple of ladies there that are DANGEROUS. They have a bad, bad case of enthusiasm and always spread it around and catch volunteers. This little library in our little town was the second place winner last year for the Best Little Library. We have the tire of a space shuttle and it is treated like the crown jewel of the town. Charles is the resident rocket scientist involved with the artifact.
Back to Monday, we got together after the board meeting and drove to Abilene to pick up a prescription and of course had good reason to eat out; back home on full and we enjoyed a good nap.
Tuesday, that I lost, was sweaty. Lydia came to clean my house and I went into town and helped Sue in the final stages of renovating her old house. She pulled her old rug up and there is a beautiful wood floor underneath. I just purchased a new buffer and we played with the floor restorer and spray wax. We were pleased with the floor. I love being surprised when I find fantastic things. We finished early and Charles picked us up and took us to Dairy Queen in all our cleaning glory.
He is so good. He drove in to deliver a salad to the church for a funeral and take us to lunch. Sue remembered some old stories about her sister Lou, and their parents. I hope she writes all her stories down to share. Sue has a way with remembering and sharing the old time stories.
Today, Wednesday, is just a good day. It rained last night and the grass is turning green and tall. I cooked and did laundry and he mowed. We feel tidy now. Somehow, these are the best days.
Back to Monday, we got together after the board meeting and drove to Abilene to pick up a prescription and of course had good reason to eat out; back home on full and we enjoyed a good nap.
Tuesday, that I lost, was sweaty. Lydia came to clean my house and I went into town and helped Sue in the final stages of renovating her old house. She pulled her old rug up and there is a beautiful wood floor underneath. I just purchased a new buffer and we played with the floor restorer and spray wax. We were pleased with the floor. I love being surprised when I find fantastic things. We finished early and Charles picked us up and took us to Dairy Queen in all our cleaning glory.
He is so good. He drove in to deliver a salad to the church for a funeral and take us to lunch. Sue remembered some old stories about her sister Lou, and their parents. I hope she writes all her stories down to share. Sue has a way with remembering and sharing the old time stories.
Today, Wednesday, is just a good day. It rained last night and the grass is turning green and tall. I cooked and did laundry and he mowed. We feel tidy now. Somehow, these are the best days.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
BUSY JULY 8 WEEKEND
We had lots of company this weekend with both of my children with their spouses, Nancy's daughter, my granddaughter, Vanessa, the nurse from Lubbock, and my granddaughter, Ashley with her husband and my great-granddaughter, Emilynn. This was the first visit by them since our wedding April, 2011. We were glad to be able to visit, sit on the porch to watch the stars come out. My daughter, Kathy arranged for all of us to eat at Perini's Ranch restaurant at Buffalo Gap Saturday evening joined by Sue Neal and her two daughters along with Doug Hodel. I couldn't believe that I was the only one who had beef, which is what the restaurant is famous for. We were outside next to a Stamford high school 40th reunion. They were located around a concrete dance floor and had a DJ playing music. My great-granddaughter has just started walking and had a ball whirling around to the music while clapping her hands.
This morning everyone came to church except Nancy's daughter who had to get back home. This was the first time my kids had heard our Fort Worth policeman pastor, Kevin Morton. I was unable to sit with them because I found out when I got there that I was Worship Leader this Sunday.
After church we all were able to gather around one table at Mexico City cafe where we enjoyed eating the buffet and watching Emilynn eat with her hands, her small fork but preferring her mother's large fork. She ate a plate full of food with her two lower teeth.
My son tested out a new gun. This is a good place to test fire your weapon. My son-in-law, Keith, wanted to plant a cottonwood tree and I told him that all he had to do was cut some branches and put them in the ground. He cut some branches and put them in water to take home. I told him to get them in the ground tonight and when he comes back from a trip to Cooperstown next week they will be growing. They are cotton-less cottonwoods and will do well in his yard in San Antonio.
The great bonus after they left and I had my nap was about 6 p.m. we had a rain shower that lasted all of three minutes and measured 0.1" of rain. And we appreciate every drop. We ran off a raccoon that was handing on my bird feeder. Normally they don't come out in the daylight.
All in all a great weekend. The only disappointment was only 3 came to SS class. And it was about Ezekial who has these great visions of cherubims with wings, hands, wheels and eyes everywhere.
This morning everyone came to church except Nancy's daughter who had to get back home. This was the first time my kids had heard our Fort Worth policeman pastor, Kevin Morton. I was unable to sit with them because I found out when I got there that I was Worship Leader this Sunday.
After church we all were able to gather around one table at Mexico City cafe where we enjoyed eating the buffet and watching Emilynn eat with her hands, her small fork but preferring her mother's large fork. She ate a plate full of food with her two lower teeth.
My son tested out a new gun. This is a good place to test fire your weapon. My son-in-law, Keith, wanted to plant a cottonwood tree and I told him that all he had to do was cut some branches and put them in the ground. He cut some branches and put them in water to take home. I told him to get them in the ground tonight and when he comes back from a trip to Cooperstown next week they will be growing. They are cotton-less cottonwoods and will do well in his yard in San Antonio.
The great bonus after they left and I had my nap was about 6 p.m. we had a rain shower that lasted all of three minutes and measured 0.1" of rain. And we appreciate every drop. We ran off a raccoon that was handing on my bird feeder. Normally they don't come out in the daylight.
All in all a great weekend. The only disappointment was only 3 came to SS class. And it was about Ezekial who has these great visions of cherubims with wings, hands, wheels and eyes everywhere.
Some of Nancy's kids
Friday, July 6, 2012
FRY BREAD
I have heard from a friend that fry bread is unique and not to be confused with soppillias. Anyone else have an idea where to get fry bread? There is a special place just outside of El Paso, an old Indian reservation, that served bread baked in an outdoor adobe oven, but not fry bread. The reservation is right on the Rio Grande so I do not know how safe it is right now.
We enjoyed our visits to Juarez in the 60s. There was a government project just over the boarder that specialized in selling original, hand made Mexican crafts, dishes, art, etc. I wish now that I had shopped more.
I only tangled with the boarder once. I did not think when I took two metal chairs with me one day to be repaired by the welder in Juarez. We had a good day and picked up the repaired chairs on the way home. There I was stopped by the US boarder guards who wanted tariff on the chairs. "But they are my chairs." I said. We had a conversation and I did not have to pay on my J.C. Penney chairs.
It always tickled me that when I bought avocados in Juarez as I had to cut them in half at the boarder to bring them in. On each avocado was a sticker that said, "grown in California". Well we know California is not safe, but avocados? I kept the pits which make nice house plants.
We enjoyed our visits to Juarez in the 60s. There was a government project just over the boarder that specialized in selling original, hand made Mexican crafts, dishes, art, etc. I wish now that I had shopped more.
I only tangled with the boarder once. I did not think when I took two metal chairs with me one day to be repaired by the welder in Juarez. We had a good day and picked up the repaired chairs on the way home. There I was stopped by the US boarder guards who wanted tariff on the chairs. "But they are my chairs." I said. We had a conversation and I did not have to pay on my J.C. Penney chairs.
It always tickled me that when I bought avocados in Juarez as I had to cut them in half at the boarder to bring them in. On each avocado was a sticker that said, "grown in California". Well we know California is not safe, but avocados? I kept the pits which make nice house plants.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Reunion in Fremont Nebraska
We did have a very good reunion. It was wonderful spending a little time with some long standing friends. Ron and Em Scheer led us out into the boon doggles Friday night for a meet and greet cocktail party. So many good snacks. My granddaughter, Jacqui, and her friend, Amanda Dawson, traveled with us and helped drive; excellent drivers. They looked pretty at the party and the next night at the dinner. Ron and Em were both in my class, which by the way was 60 not 65 years ago. They were honor students, lived in Fremont since then and have a big, good family.
Marge Johnson and Beth Kindler came north over the Platte River to attend school in Fremont that many years ago. Both looked fantastic and are still going strong. We have pictures, but they seem to escape us when we try and load on to the site. Marge lived in west Nebraska for several years where she married a veterinarian, Doc. They retired to Arizona and were active there until Doc was lost and Marge returned to Fremont to be close to family and old friends. Beth and her husband, David, owned a local restaurant, famous for their fried chicken. Both have busy families and I got to meet Beth's youngest son at the first party. Beth had her daughter and I had Ernie in the same hospital in the same week way back when.
This was the last hurrah for the summer. June started in May when we went to Port Aransas in South Texas and ended with the reunion in July. We are all used up and plan on rest and austerity in July. We have been too well fed at events and gatherings. Love you all, new friends and old as dirt friends.
Nancy
This was the first apartment that Nancy lived in when she was married. The windo on the upper right is the location of the apartment.
Marge Johnson and Beth Kindler came north over the Platte River to attend school in Fremont that many years ago. Both looked fantastic and are still going strong. We have pictures, but they seem to escape us when we try and load on to the site. Marge lived in west Nebraska for several years where she married a veterinarian, Doc. They retired to Arizona and were active there until Doc was lost and Marge returned to Fremont to be close to family and old friends. Beth and her husband, David, owned a local restaurant, famous for their fried chicken. Both have busy families and I got to meet Beth's youngest son at the first party. Beth had her daughter and I had Ernie in the same hospital in the same week way back when.
Nancy on the right with Jo Ann and Marge.
Jo Ann Gaughan and her husband Bill were there, looking good. Bill is recovering from a broken hip that took up much of their time last year. Jo Ann was my maid of honor when I married 60 years ago. 1952 was a busy year. There were many more I had not seen for years. Name tags were a good thing. We have had good people in our class and they are still around, all the way from as far as Australia. Part of the dinner was a memorial for lost classmates, 65 out of about 300 plus of us. They read the names and there were too many good people on the list. 
Nancy and granddaughter and friend place roses on ancestor graves.
This was the last hurrah for the summer. June started in May when we went to Port Aransas in South Texas and ended with the reunion in July. We are all used up and plan on rest and austerity in July. We have been too well fed at events and gatherings. Love you all, new friends and old as dirt friends.
Nancy
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
JULY 4
Today we celebrated the Fourth by going to the matinee and first production of 1776 in the Granbury courthouse. Even with a few local actors the play was superb. Great sound, great acting and a reminder of the problems in establishing a rebellion and founding a new nation. Then I got an email from Henderson telling what happened to the signers of the Declaration and it was a reminder of the sacrifices made by the signers.
We got back Monday driving from Olathe, KS in one day after a great visit with Ernie and Suzy there. We were coming from Fremont, NE for Nancy's 60th high school reunion. She got to visit with lots of her old friends. We looked at the homes in Fremont that she grew up in. Two are still pretty much like they were when she lived here. We visited the graveyards of her ancestors and laid flowers on the graves. We drove by an old Rosedale schoolhouse that Nancy's children attended many years ago. It has become a day care center.
We visited with Marge Johnson's friend Ray Hula, who is a wood carver. His carvings were amazing. I will try to post some photos later.
We got back Monday driving from Olathe, KS in one day after a great visit with Ernie and Suzy there. We were coming from Fremont, NE for Nancy's 60th high school reunion. She got to visit with lots of her old friends. We looked at the homes in Fremont that she grew up in. Two are still pretty much like they were when she lived here. We visited the graveyards of her ancestors and laid flowers on the graves. We drove by an old Rosedale schoolhouse that Nancy's children attended many years ago. It has become a day care center.
This is Nancy and me at the reception for the high school reunion.
We visited with Marge Johnson's friend Ray Hula, who is a wood carver. His carvings were amazing. I will try to post some photos later.
This bobcat was one of the most lifelike wood carvings. It had whiskers made from his paint brush bristles. He said it only took one week to do this. Amazing!
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