[by Robert Darnell]
We rented this house at Bermuda Beach and came down last Friday. Jerre, Becky, Natalie, and Bob. We have been beach bumming, shell picking, sun bathing, swimming, and walking.
Sunday, Ron, Sylvia and Licia came. Ron tried his luck at fishing and I think he caught three about the size of your little finger. Sylvia and Licia played in the surf and picked up shells. They had a good time and went home that night.
Monday morning David, Jan, David and Jen dropped in. They stayed until Wednesday. Everybody continued to do all the usual things and had a lot of fun with no sun burn.
Tuesday Annie and David Whitlock came so we had a crowd Tuesday night. We went down to the East End of the island to a little seafood place called Tuffy's to eat supper. It was great and we were right by the ship channel where we could see the ships standing in -- standing out -- and laying to. Everybody ate seafood and had a blast. Jennifer put on a show with her two-year-old syndrome.
That morning all the kids and ladies went to the jungle water slide. It was fun for the kids, but not for Jerre, Jan, and Annie standing around waiting.
David and Bob played nine holes of golf. Also, last Saturday Bob played nine holes and Becky and Nat drove the golf cart.
Yesterday the big excitement was Hurricane Bob and Skylab is falling. Bob rose up out of the gulf suddenly and went on in somewhere in Louisiana. We got no effect from Hurricane Bob. Skylab fell today somewhere off in nowhere and no one was effected.
end
Showing posts with label Becky Darnell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Becky Darnell. Show all posts
Monday, March 23, 2015
Cozumel
Dec 20th '78 [by Robert Darnell]
The three meskiters are heading to Cozumel. Jerre & Becky are opening their Christmas presents.
Got to Cozumel about 9. Dark, dense jungle, insects, snakes, gators, head hunters, and cannibals. We made it ok to the Sol Caribe, a beautiful hotel and surroundings carved out of the raw jungle. Beach, pool, and grounds you can't believe. Drank some rum, danced some. Really good music. They celebrate Xmas on the 24th. Have a rain forest bar called the hippopotamus which we will check out.
21st
Jerre hit the beach early. Becky and Rawb rode some motor scooters. Saw the El Presidente and a beautiful lagoon. Did not have much trouble with the head hunters and cannibals. Just flexed our muscles and stared them down.
Swam through a winding lagoon with overhanging jungle trees full of boas and monkeys. Also saw 3 toed sloth. Passed a jungle bar with underwater seats. Very cool. Wound up at a beach which was only rocks. Hard to walk on rocks. Water beautiful blue and clear.
Big crisis -- came back to the room and the A/C wasn't working. Hottern' Hades. Complained and the sent up a young fellow who changed out the whole A/C in 30 minutes. Now it's cool cool. Jerre also found some ice. Now if she can get her hair fixed we are going to eat.
We ate a big meal. Becky lobster, Jerre fish, Rob shrimp. Lobster too hot -- Beck and Jerre changed -- Jerre got mad at Rawb; ran back to room 100 mph.
22nd
Got on a boat. Two crew members six passengers. One crew man snorkeled and dove for conchs. He got a bunch. They trolled for swordfish but didn't get any. Then fished over the side and caught a bunch. We sailed through many dangerous reefs and rip tides finally arriving at a wild uninhabited island. After a gorgeous landing we finally got on the beach. They built a roaring pit fire and cooked the fish. We had five dishes and some fruit, cheese, beer, and cake. The beach was beautiful with white powdery sand and clear blue water and palm trees. Not many wild animals just geese, raccoon,
albatross, and sea gulls.
When we got back to the hotel our A/C was out again for the 3rd time. And it was the third time they replaced it. Here's hoping.
They are having a big fish fry down in the jungle but we are going to McDonalds for hamburgers and shakes.
Sat. 23
Rawb got up early and went down to the beach with some coffee. It was really pleasant down there that early. A man and woman from Canada were there exercising and swimming in the cold water. They were health nuts. Jerre and Beck came on down for breakfast and after that we rented a Jeep. Things down here take a long time and there was quite a wait getting the Jeep.
We finally got it and took off on a tour of the island and the Mayan ruins. We stopped at San Francisco beach which was totally unique Mexican. It was nice and pretty. We asked the guy there how to get to the Cedral Ruin and he said the first road to the left off into the jungle. We took it and got about two miles back in there and ran out of gas. The Jeep had been given to us completely empty.
We walked out and back to the beach, took a cab back to our hotel.
Rawb went back with a guy in another Jeep with some gas and we finally got going again.
This time we found our way into the Cedral Ruin. It was not down the first road where we ran out of gas. the people in there were so primitive you wouldn't believe it. They said that they raised bananas for a livelihood.
From there we went to a lighthouse and saw another ruin on the way. This was along the Caribbean side of the island.Very wild with large breaking surf. We saw some iguanas.
Back to the hotel and then into town to buy some t-shirts for Beck and her friends. Jerre had the Montezuma all day but stuck it out and kept going. Rawb got it later in the day and Becky that night. The hotel had a posada and Mexican food festival but we could not attend because of Montezuma. We tried to get something light to eat but couldn't pull it off.
Coming back to the hotel Rawb stopped at bar for bottled Coke and ice for Jerre's stomach's sake. Jerre & Beck went on to room. When Rawb got to room no one was there. He had no key so stood outside holding ice and Coke until ice turned to agua. He was most puzzled but could not scratch his head because both hands were full.
Some time later here came the two who said they had been trapped in the elevator. It wouldn't move or the door wouldn't open, Their rescuer was a small five year old kid who knew the mechanics of elevators.
Christmas Eve Sitting by the Pool at Sol Caribe
Mexican music cha cha chiatcha chi chi chi cha cha chiatcha chi chi chi
Palm trees waving in the breeze coconuts dropping on peoples' heads and fat bellies.
Jerre and Becky and other bathing beauties soaking up the rays. A palm frond covered bar with Mayan boys in yellow pants and white shirts running in and out carrying people rums and Coca Colas and pina coladas.
Two cats are out there playing volley ball in the pool. Many kids are splashing. The flowers and trees and bushes are beautiful red pink yellow, orange green violet and all shades ... Reminds me of the mown grass and mesquite beans at Abilene.
Everybody fritters oiling fixing turning walking running talking twisting looking eating drinking bending stooping stretching. Feliz Navidad.
Exciting wild apple eating contest going on down at end of pool. Whistle blows and contestants try to eat an apple dangling on a string. Squealing yelling snapping -- all striving for the grand prize. The one who eats the most -- if any of his apple in the prescribed time is the grand prize winner. Everyone fighting for the grand prize. Stretch snap gobble bite growl snarl. Tweet -- oh the winner -- What joy -- a six-year-old. The grand prize -- oh joy -- a bottle of Grand Prieur!
We sweated and strained and walked -- Jerre moaning -- Robert cussing -- Becky swatting at the swarms of mosquitoes. She couldn't stand it any longer so made a mad dash for a spot of light at the end of a long tunnel of vines which luckily was the road. Rawb and Jerre stumbled out sweating and exhausted and Jerre moaning with the Montezuma. We stood there in the open thanking our lucky stars that we had made it out, wondering what would happen next when lo and behold a jungle cowboy in a pickup truck came along and gave us a ride to San Francisco Beach.
On Snorkeling in the Caribbean
The rocks and coral are rough and tough on tender skin and feet. The trick is don't buck the wave action just float with it and pretty soon you're just floating around in there with the fish and eels. Becky saw a six foot long eel and it scared her to death. She came back in like a storm. Rawb went out to see it and sure 'nuff it was a scary thing. You don't bother it -- it don't bother you.
Allegro Nuevo Uno
Christmas Eve at Sol Caribe
We went down to El Presidente for a snack easy on out decimated stomachs. Got a bowl of fiery hot soup and sandwich. Here's hoping. What do you know -- the A/C just went off again. We are going down town to catch the festival if any.
This Christmas Eve is about like any other Sunday night. They all walk around the town square sit and eat fruit and candy off of carts -- they had a party in the town park but they do that every Sunday. Drink Cokes and beer and have hat dances, etc on a raised stage. The city donates baskets which are given away.
They were having a few private pinata parties -- where the kids beat on a stuffed animal with bats and beat goodies out of it -- jolly fun.
No St Nick no Christmas trees, no fireplace -- no presents, no jingle bells -- no Donner no Blitzen no Christmas Dinner -- no church service.
Going to bed hopefully no Montezuma tonight -- get up real early and catch that plane back to Houston -- neat and organized.
The three meskiters are heading to Cozumel. Jerre & Becky are opening their Christmas presents.
Got to Cozumel about 9. Dark, dense jungle, insects, snakes, gators, head hunters, and cannibals. We made it ok to the Sol Caribe, a beautiful hotel and surroundings carved out of the raw jungle. Beach, pool, and grounds you can't believe. Drank some rum, danced some. Really good music. They celebrate Xmas on the 24th. Have a rain forest bar called the hippopotamus which we will check out.
21st
Jerre hit the beach early. Becky and Rawb rode some motor scooters. Saw the El Presidente and a beautiful lagoon. Did not have much trouble with the head hunters and cannibals. Just flexed our muscles and stared them down.
Swam through a winding lagoon with overhanging jungle trees full of boas and monkeys. Also saw 3 toed sloth. Passed a jungle bar with underwater seats. Very cool. Wound up at a beach which was only rocks. Hard to walk on rocks. Water beautiful blue and clear.
Big crisis -- came back to the room and the A/C wasn't working. Hottern' Hades. Complained and the sent up a young fellow who changed out the whole A/C in 30 minutes. Now it's cool cool. Jerre also found some ice. Now if she can get her hair fixed we are going to eat.
We ate a big meal. Becky lobster, Jerre fish, Rob shrimp. Lobster too hot -- Beck and Jerre changed -- Jerre got mad at Rawb; ran back to room 100 mph.
22nd
Got on a boat. Two crew members six passengers. One crew man snorkeled and dove for conchs. He got a bunch. They trolled for swordfish but didn't get any. Then fished over the side and caught a bunch. We sailed through many dangerous reefs and rip tides finally arriving at a wild uninhabited island. After a gorgeous landing we finally got on the beach. They built a roaring pit fire and cooked the fish. We had five dishes and some fruit, cheese, beer, and cake. The beach was beautiful with white powdery sand and clear blue water and palm trees. Not many wild animals just geese, raccoon,
albatross, and sea gulls.
When we got back to the hotel our A/C was out again for the 3rd time. And it was the third time they replaced it. Here's hoping.
They are having a big fish fry down in the jungle but we are going to McDonalds for hamburgers and shakes.
Sat. 23
Rawb got up early and went down to the beach with some coffee. It was really pleasant down there that early. A man and woman from Canada were there exercising and swimming in the cold water. They were health nuts. Jerre and Beck came on down for breakfast and after that we rented a Jeep. Things down here take a long time and there was quite a wait getting the Jeep.
We finally got it and took off on a tour of the island and the Mayan ruins. We stopped at San Francisco beach which was totally unique Mexican. It was nice and pretty. We asked the guy there how to get to the Cedral Ruin and he said the first road to the left off into the jungle. We took it and got about two miles back in there and ran out of gas. The Jeep had been given to us completely empty.
We walked out and back to the beach, took a cab back to our hotel.
Rawb went back with a guy in another Jeep with some gas and we finally got going again.
This time we found our way into the Cedral Ruin. It was not down the first road where we ran out of gas. the people in there were so primitive you wouldn't believe it. They said that they raised bananas for a livelihood.
From there we went to a lighthouse and saw another ruin on the way. This was along the Caribbean side of the island.Very wild with large breaking surf. We saw some iguanas.
Back to the hotel and then into town to buy some t-shirts for Beck and her friends. Jerre had the Montezuma all day but stuck it out and kept going. Rawb got it later in the day and Becky that night. The hotel had a posada and Mexican food festival but we could not attend because of Montezuma. We tried to get something light to eat but couldn't pull it off.
Coming back to the hotel Rawb stopped at bar for bottled Coke and ice for Jerre's stomach's sake. Jerre & Beck went on to room. When Rawb got to room no one was there. He had no key so stood outside holding ice and Coke until ice turned to agua. He was most puzzled but could not scratch his head because both hands were full.
Some time later here came the two who said they had been trapped in the elevator. It wouldn't move or the door wouldn't open, Their rescuer was a small five year old kid who knew the mechanics of elevators.
Christmas Eve Sitting by the Pool at Sol Caribe
Mexican music cha cha chiatcha chi chi chi cha cha chiatcha chi chi chi
Palm trees waving in the breeze coconuts dropping on peoples' heads and fat bellies.
Jerre and Becky and other bathing beauties soaking up the rays. A palm frond covered bar with Mayan boys in yellow pants and white shirts running in and out carrying people rums and Coca Colas and pina coladas.
Two cats are out there playing volley ball in the pool. Many kids are splashing. The flowers and trees and bushes are beautiful red pink yellow, orange green violet and all shades ... Reminds me of the mown grass and mesquite beans at Abilene.
Everybody fritters oiling fixing turning walking running talking twisting looking eating drinking bending stooping stretching. Feliz Navidad.
Exciting wild apple eating contest going on down at end of pool. Whistle blows and contestants try to eat an apple dangling on a string. Squealing yelling snapping -- all striving for the grand prize. The one who eats the most -- if any of his apple in the prescribed time is the grand prize winner. Everyone fighting for the grand prize. Stretch snap gobble bite growl snarl. Tweet -- oh the winner -- What joy -- a six-year-old. The grand prize -- oh joy -- a bottle of Grand Prieur!
***
Running out of gas in the dense jungle while lost looking for the fabled ruin of El Cedral, Rawb used cuss words never before invented -- Jerre had Montezuma bad and could not walk but did anyway. It was so dark and dense back in there even at midday that you could only see small patches of light here and there. We had to carry everything out of the Jeep -- couldn't leave anything because the savages would strip it if they discovered it while we were gone. We started the hike not bravely at all, real chicken. The biggest danger was the tigers that domiciled in that area.We sweated and strained and walked -- Jerre moaning -- Robert cussing -- Becky swatting at the swarms of mosquitoes. She couldn't stand it any longer so made a mad dash for a spot of light at the end of a long tunnel of vines which luckily was the road. Rawb and Jerre stumbled out sweating and exhausted and Jerre moaning with the Montezuma. We stood there in the open thanking our lucky stars that we had made it out, wondering what would happen next when lo and behold a jungle cowboy in a pickup truck came along and gave us a ride to San Francisco Beach.
On Snorkeling in the Caribbean
The rocks and coral are rough and tough on tender skin and feet. The trick is don't buck the wave action just float with it and pretty soon you're just floating around in there with the fish and eels. Becky saw a six foot long eel and it scared her to death. She came back in like a storm. Rawb went out to see it and sure 'nuff it was a scary thing. You don't bother it -- it don't bother you.
Allegro Nuevo Uno
Christmas Eve at Sol Caribe
We went down to El Presidente for a snack easy on out decimated stomachs. Got a bowl of fiery hot soup and sandwich. Here's hoping. What do you know -- the A/C just went off again. We are going down town to catch the festival if any.
This Christmas Eve is about like any other Sunday night. They all walk around the town square sit and eat fruit and candy off of carts -- they had a party in the town park but they do that every Sunday. Drink Cokes and beer and have hat dances, etc on a raised stage. The city donates baskets which are given away.
They were having a few private pinata parties -- where the kids beat on a stuffed animal with bats and beat goodies out of it -- jolly fun.
No St Nick no Christmas trees, no fireplace -- no presents, no jingle bells -- no Donner no Blitzen no Christmas Dinner -- no church service.
Going to bed hopefully no Montezuma tonight -- get up real early and catch that plane back to Houston -- neat and organized.
The Night we picked up Duffy
22/Dec/75 [by Robert Darnell]
The moon was bright in the sky.
Excitement at our house ran high.
Becky was excited because she was going to get old Duffy [other names considered: Raggy, Rag Mop]. Jerre was excited because she was going to get to clean up after him. Pat was excited because he had never seen one. Robert was excited because he was going to get to drive out the Katy and Gulf Freeways and back.
Oh Holly-Day Joy. What excitement!
We picked him up.
Jerre said, "Let's go home and get him trained before bedtime."
Becky said, "I want to hold him."
Robert said, "Damn that truck."
Pat said, "What is it?"
Duffy said, "Yipe Yipe Yipe...
Yipe Yipe Yipe...
Yipe Yipe Yipe Yipe Yipe."
The moon was bright in the sky.
Excitement at our house ran high.
Becky was excited because she was going to get old Duffy [other names considered: Raggy, Rag Mop]. Jerre was excited because she was going to get to clean up after him. Pat was excited because he had never seen one. Robert was excited because he was going to get to drive out the Katy and Gulf Freeways and back.
Oh Holly-Day Joy. What excitement!
We picked him up.
Jerre said, "Let's go home and get him trained before bedtime."
Becky said, "I want to hold him."
Robert said, "Damn that truck."
Pat said, "What is it?"
Duffy said, "Yipe Yipe Yipe...
Yipe Yipe Yipe...
Yipe Yipe Yipe Yipe Yipe."
Notes from Robert, 1975
The most profound statement I've heard today:
Weather Fantastically Beautiful
Instructions -- go Shopping
I went and I know that an all time world record for merchandising was set today.
Pat and I took the TV to the ranch last night. Old M and Old P were having a good time out there. The television worked great.
Pat and I shot some serious 8 ball.
Jerre and I went to the Main Bank Party at Riot Hegency. The music was bad.
21/Dec/75
Up early. To the ranch. Pat, Beck, Sunshine of my Life, and me.
Old M & P, David, Jan, L. David, and had an Italian Party. Old P cooked spaghet -- also chicken.
Burned brush, picked up wire.
Weather-- Crisp, cool, and bright.
Old M & P are so happy to be here and we are all thrilled that we can have this kind of X-mas.
The kids groomed Molly.
"If Henry Kissinger really wants to tell the Russioans how the cows eat the corn with regard to Angola, he might point out to the Kremlin the value of American Wheat to them versus the value of a slice of African Bush."Date 20/Dec/75
Weather Fantastically Beautiful
Instructions -- go Shopping
I went and I know that an all time world record for merchandising was set today.
Pat and I took the TV to the ranch last night. Old M and Old P were having a good time out there. The television worked great.
Pat and I shot some serious 8 ball.
Jerre and I went to the Main Bank Party at Riot Hegency. The music was bad.
***
21/Dec/75
Up early. To the ranch. Pat, Beck, Sunshine of my Life, and me.
Old M & P, David, Jan, L. David, and had an Italian Party. Old P cooked spaghet -- also chicken.
Burned brush, picked up wire.
Weather-- Crisp, cool, and bright.
Old M & P are so happy to be here and we are all thrilled that we can have this kind of X-mas.
The kids groomed Molly.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Texas-Tennessee Coalition Chili Formula MXVII
By Robert Darnell [Date unknown, Note: Jack Moore was 85 years old]
A few weeks ago we went to College Station to see Jack Moore from Abilene, who was one of Robert's early sponsors in his high school years. Jack was partly responsible for forming Robert's lovely personality. He is such a good old boy.
We hadn't seen Jack in 30 years and he's getting on up there in years now -- eighty-five. It was a nice visit with him, his wife, Ann, daughter, June Ford, her daughter Janie and several of Jack's grandchildren. Becky was specially glad to meet one of the grandsons, Clay, who is a senior in high school. He took her on a tour of the A&M campus which really made a hit with Becky.
It was at that visit during a weak moment that Rob and Jerre agreed to enter the great chili cook-off which was coming up October 24th in Flatonia. Jerre cooks chili at home for the family and it is good but it is not the hot, spicy, greasy, vaporizing, lava melting, belly scorching brand that you usually find at chili cook-offs.
Never-the-less we entered and the week before the contest Jerre and Rob bought all the ingredients except the meat. Jack got that from old Mack Eplen's Butcher Shop in Abilene. It was Mack Eplen's super number one chili ground brisket. They wrote a song about Old Mack Eplen, "Mack the Knife." and Jack Moore is legendary like a Pecos Bill, but those are other stories.
Jerre and Bob worked with their formula all week and practiced with cooking procedures. They named the chili "Texas-Tennessee Coalition Chili Formula MXVII."
David, David, and Jennifer planned to go to the cook off, but had to cancel at the last minute because of a big real estate deal that David had pending on Saturday. Sylvia and 'Lish talked about going but Sylvia had to work.
Bright and early Saturday morning, like 5 AM, Jerre, Bob and Beck got loaded up with the pots, cooker, utensils, ingredients, chairs and table, and headed for Flatonia which is a little over 100 miles West of Houston. Houston is 140 miles SE of Austin, and Austin is 65 miles NW of Round Top.
Well, they rolled on out and stopped in Columbus at the City Cafe for breakfast. The City Cafe is one of the few places left where a family almost any size can eat breakfast and the bill is still under $10.00.
They arrived at the neat little town of Flatonia and found all the streets blocked to traffic and everything shut down for the "Czhilispiel." They located the registration tent and were assigned their cooking spot. It turned out that there were two hundred cooks and they were lined up all up and down Flatonia's Main Street.
After some maneuvering with the traffic patrolman we were able to park our car in the cooking spot and spread our stuff out beside it. Jack and Ann showed up at the same time we did and they parked down by the lumber yard. We set up our table and chairs and started a charcoal fire in the cooker. It was soon pretty obvious what amateurs we were because everyone else was cooking with kerosene cookers and we were the only ones using charcoal.
Also we were cooking too much chili. Most everyone was cooking only two or three gallons, and we had a ten gallon pot.
Becky was assigned as the official onion chopper and that plus the smoke from the charcoal fire made her cry. She attracted several young Kikkers who wanted to rescue her from her Cinderella job. Especially they wanted to be sure that she survived so she could be at the dance that night. They asked why she was crying, and she said because she didn't want to eat her Daddy's cooking -- it made her sick and that's why she is so skinny. They asked her why she didn't eat her Mother's cooking and she said her Mother was too busy to cook.
With our charcoal fire and ten gallon pot, we had trouble browning our meat, so we decided to cut our formula to about 3/4. We finally got it all worked out and Chili started simmering pretty good.
The beer drinking started immediately on arrival. Everybody went directly past "Go" to the beer keg and that operation continued all day long and went smoothly without a hitch.
Our booth was just across from the bandstand so we had a front row at the music. This is the same band stand where Willie Nelson started and from which many other famous musicians have played.
Beck and Clay and some of the small fry went off to the kiddy rides and the armadillo races. The older ones sat around and told stories.
Jack told about the time he was eating dinner with a farm family in West Texas. The mother put a dish of butter on the table into which she stirred some good old syrup. One of the kids stuck his knife in the bowl and licked it. Then he stuck it back in and threw it on the floor.
His old Paw back-handed him out of his chair and yelled: "How many times I told yew -- Don't throw yer knife on the floor without lickin' it!"
Then old Rob told about the time he was traveling up in East Texas for Stauffer Chemical. He was looking for a Mobil Gas Plant up around Bobo and Blair. It was a hot summer day and the way was dusty and sweaty and Rob was wishing he had a cold drink of water.
He saw an old farm house by the road with a well in the yard. He stopped. It was a run down unpainted house with a rusty tin roof and a junky yard. He had his doubts but went ahead up to the door and knocked. A woman came to the door who was the dirtiest woman he had ever seen. Her dress had dirt and stains from months of wear. Her hair was greasy and stringy -- dirty hands -- dirty feet.
"What 'cher want?"
"Well, I was er... uh... thinking ... ahem. Uh, could I have a drink of water from your well?"
The husband came up behind the woman and he was just as dirty as she was. Then four little kids showed up and they were dirtier than the parents. Not only dirty clothes but soiled diapers and snotty noses as well.
Then as Rob was drawing the water from the well the old Grand Paw came around the corner from the back yard. Now that old man was so dirty he made the others look almost clean. That man was old and never had washed in his whole life.
The water was up and the community dipper was hanging there so Rob had to go ahead and get a drink.
He took the dipper and looked at it -- dipped the water -- and started twisting the dipper around the way you do, trying to drink out of a spot where no one else drinks out of it. He had it twisted around almost 360 degrees until his hand and wrist were inverted and he was drinking next to the handle on the other side when he heard one of the kids say:
"Look Maw, he drinks just like Grand Paw does."
Jerre was promenading around checking all the action when a handsome young feller gave her a big hug and kiss because she looked so delectable. She was all a'flutter the rest of the day. The Kikkers and Stompers were really prowling that day.
While moseying around Robert ran into Leon Hale. Robert reads Leon's column in the Houston Post every morning and often cites him in his conversations. He introduced Leon to Jerre, Jack, Ann, Beck, June, and Clay and they were glad to meet the celebrated columnist. Leon was one of the judges in the Chili Cookoff.
Our booth consisted of a card table, chairs, cooker and pot -- but most others were decorated up with a theme -- Wild men from Borneo, Convicts from Huntsville, Devils Den, Long Rifles, Civil War Canoneers ,,,
Playful Pleasure Saloon gave out free shots of Tequilla and Nachos. They were very popular.
Swiss Chalet with shots and sox... they yodeled. Hawaiians with their portable grass shack.
The Hornydillas -- Queen Bee with her drones buzzing all over the place.
Mexican Hot -- shots and many, many more.
Little shops scattered around selling coffee, Cokes, hot chocolate, Kolaches, hot dogs, nachos, hamburgers ... etc.
The portable chemical heads were a top attraction. Long lines queued before them all day.
One lady was giving free squirts of Tequila out of an enema bottle. None of our crowd would take any. Finicky stomachs.
The weatherman participated beautifully. Crisp -- cool all day -- no rain -- no heat -- no cold -- just right.
After all the chili cooking, chili tasting, walking and talking and drinking and more chili tasting we were plenty tired by five o'clock when the winners were to be announced.
We waited expectantly but when they did not call out our number we felt sure some mistake had been made. But decided not to file a protest, and just let the judging stand.
We all packed it in and headed for our respective homes about six. Jerre, Rob, and Becky headed for Houston. They stopped at Frank's -- one of the world's great highway restaurants -- in Schulenburg for supper. They had some chili and chili dogs ... then on home.
Please pass the bicarb, Pappy.
end
A few weeks ago we went to College Station to see Jack Moore from Abilene, who was one of Robert's early sponsors in his high school years. Jack was partly responsible for forming Robert's lovely personality. He is such a good old boy.
We hadn't seen Jack in 30 years and he's getting on up there in years now -- eighty-five. It was a nice visit with him, his wife, Ann, daughter, June Ford, her daughter Janie and several of Jack's grandchildren. Becky was specially glad to meet one of the grandsons, Clay, who is a senior in high school. He took her on a tour of the A&M campus which really made a hit with Becky.
It was at that visit during a weak moment that Rob and Jerre agreed to enter the great chili cook-off which was coming up October 24th in Flatonia. Jerre cooks chili at home for the family and it is good but it is not the hot, spicy, greasy, vaporizing, lava melting, belly scorching brand that you usually find at chili cook-offs.
Never-the-less we entered and the week before the contest Jerre and Rob bought all the ingredients except the meat. Jack got that from old Mack Eplen's Butcher Shop in Abilene. It was Mack Eplen's super number one chili ground brisket. They wrote a song about Old Mack Eplen, "Mack the Knife." and Jack Moore is legendary like a Pecos Bill, but those are other stories.
Jerre and Bob worked with their formula all week and practiced with cooking procedures. They named the chili "Texas-Tennessee Coalition Chili Formula MXVII."
David, David, and Jennifer planned to go to the cook off, but had to cancel at the last minute because of a big real estate deal that David had pending on Saturday. Sylvia and 'Lish talked about going but Sylvia had to work.
Bright and early Saturday morning, like 5 AM, Jerre, Bob and Beck got loaded up with the pots, cooker, utensils, ingredients, chairs and table, and headed for Flatonia which is a little over 100 miles West of Houston. Houston is 140 miles SE of Austin, and Austin is 65 miles NW of Round Top.
Well, they rolled on out and stopped in Columbus at the City Cafe for breakfast. The City Cafe is one of the few places left where a family almost any size can eat breakfast and the bill is still under $10.00.
They arrived at the neat little town of Flatonia and found all the streets blocked to traffic and everything shut down for the "Czhilispiel." They located the registration tent and were assigned their cooking spot. It turned out that there were two hundred cooks and they were lined up all up and down Flatonia's Main Street.
After some maneuvering with the traffic patrolman we were able to park our car in the cooking spot and spread our stuff out beside it. Jack and Ann showed up at the same time we did and they parked down by the lumber yard. We set up our table and chairs and started a charcoal fire in the cooker. It was soon pretty obvious what amateurs we were because everyone else was cooking with kerosene cookers and we were the only ones using charcoal.
Also we were cooking too much chili. Most everyone was cooking only two or three gallons, and we had a ten gallon pot.
Becky was assigned as the official onion chopper and that plus the smoke from the charcoal fire made her cry. She attracted several young Kikkers who wanted to rescue her from her Cinderella job. Especially they wanted to be sure that she survived so she could be at the dance that night. They asked why she was crying, and she said because she didn't want to eat her Daddy's cooking -- it made her sick and that's why she is so skinny. They asked her why she didn't eat her Mother's cooking and she said her Mother was too busy to cook.
With our charcoal fire and ten gallon pot, we had trouble browning our meat, so we decided to cut our formula to about 3/4. We finally got it all worked out and Chili started simmering pretty good.
The beer drinking started immediately on arrival. Everybody went directly past "Go" to the beer keg and that operation continued all day long and went smoothly without a hitch.
Our booth was just across from the bandstand so we had a front row at the music. This is the same band stand where Willie Nelson started and from which many other famous musicians have played.
Beck and Clay and some of the small fry went off to the kiddy rides and the armadillo races. The older ones sat around and told stories.
Jack told about the time he was eating dinner with a farm family in West Texas. The mother put a dish of butter on the table into which she stirred some good old syrup. One of the kids stuck his knife in the bowl and licked it. Then he stuck it back in and threw it on the floor.
His old Paw back-handed him out of his chair and yelled: "How many times I told yew -- Don't throw yer knife on the floor without lickin' it!"
Then old Rob told about the time he was traveling up in East Texas for Stauffer Chemical. He was looking for a Mobil Gas Plant up around Bobo and Blair. It was a hot summer day and the way was dusty and sweaty and Rob was wishing he had a cold drink of water.
He saw an old farm house by the road with a well in the yard. He stopped. It was a run down unpainted house with a rusty tin roof and a junky yard. He had his doubts but went ahead up to the door and knocked. A woman came to the door who was the dirtiest woman he had ever seen. Her dress had dirt and stains from months of wear. Her hair was greasy and stringy -- dirty hands -- dirty feet.
"What 'cher want?"
"Well, I was er... uh... thinking ... ahem. Uh, could I have a drink of water from your well?"
The husband came up behind the woman and he was just as dirty as she was. Then four little kids showed up and they were dirtier than the parents. Not only dirty clothes but soiled diapers and snotty noses as well.
Then as Rob was drawing the water from the well the old Grand Paw came around the corner from the back yard. Now that old man was so dirty he made the others look almost clean. That man was old and never had washed in his whole life.
The water was up and the community dipper was hanging there so Rob had to go ahead and get a drink.
He took the dipper and looked at it -- dipped the water -- and started twisting the dipper around the way you do, trying to drink out of a spot where no one else drinks out of it. He had it twisted around almost 360 degrees until his hand and wrist were inverted and he was drinking next to the handle on the other side when he heard one of the kids say:
"Look Maw, he drinks just like Grand Paw does."
***
Jerre was promenading around checking all the action when a handsome young feller gave her a big hug and kiss because she looked so delectable. She was all a'flutter the rest of the day. The Kikkers and Stompers were really prowling that day.
While moseying around Robert ran into Leon Hale. Robert reads Leon's column in the Houston Post every morning and often cites him in his conversations. He introduced Leon to Jerre, Jack, Ann, Beck, June, and Clay and they were glad to meet the celebrated columnist. Leon was one of the judges in the Chili Cookoff.
Our booth consisted of a card table, chairs, cooker and pot -- but most others were decorated up with a theme -- Wild men from Borneo, Convicts from Huntsville, Devils Den, Long Rifles, Civil War Canoneers ,,,
Playful Pleasure Saloon gave out free shots of Tequilla and Nachos. They were very popular.
Swiss Chalet with shots and sox... they yodeled. Hawaiians with their portable grass shack.
The Hornydillas -- Queen Bee with her drones buzzing all over the place.
Mexican Hot -- shots and many, many more.
Little shops scattered around selling coffee, Cokes, hot chocolate, Kolaches, hot dogs, nachos, hamburgers ... etc.
The portable chemical heads were a top attraction. Long lines queued before them all day.
One lady was giving free squirts of Tequila out of an enema bottle. None of our crowd would take any. Finicky stomachs.
The weatherman participated beautifully. Crisp -- cool all day -- no rain -- no heat -- no cold -- just right.
After all the chili cooking, chili tasting, walking and talking and drinking and more chili tasting we were plenty tired by five o'clock when the winners were to be announced.
We waited expectantly but when they did not call out our number we felt sure some mistake had been made. But decided not to file a protest, and just let the judging stand.
We all packed it in and headed for our respective homes about six. Jerre, Rob, and Becky headed for Houston. They stopped at Frank's -- one of the world's great highway restaurants -- in Schulenburg for supper. They had some chili and chili dogs ... then on home.
Please pass the bicarb, Pappy.
end
Friday, January 23, 2015
Sick on 4TH of July
By Robert Darnell
Our plans were to get up real early on the fourth and go to New Braunfels. We were going to stop at Columbus for breakfast at the Main Street Cafe. Eggs, bacon, hot biscuits, coffee, and orange juice -- costs about $1.00 there and it's good.
At New Braunfels we were going to check in at Camp Warnecke and ride the rapids all day. After dinner at Krause's or the Pines Inn we would come on back to Houston that night.
But along about two o'clock Sunday night our plans were changed but we didn't know it at the time. Robert woke up -- he had been feeling out of sorts when he went to bed and then at two o'clock he was really getting sick. His stomach hurt, his head hurt, and he had to go to the bathroom.
Almost exactly the same time Becky woke up sick and vomiting. They both continued this for the rest of the night and Jerre was up all night taking care of them. Monday, Robert tried to go to work but couldn't make it, so stayed in bed all day. Becky did too, so they both just laid there flaked out in the sack. Some time late in the day they ate some jello and chicken noodle soup. Jerre continued to buzz around taking care of things and the doctor prescribed some pills which helped.
Along about sundown Jerre said "Whoops, I think I've got it." And got sick in the bathroom. She plopped in bed and all three slept through the night.
When they woke up on the 4TH Robert and Becky were over their sickness, but feeling weak. Jerre slept all day, until late in the afternoon at which time she felt better and ate some jello and drank some coffee.
Surprisingly now that the sickness is over we feel so rested and refreshed it's unbelievable. So obviously some good came of staying home and resting and relaxing.
Anyway in a short time we are going on up to New Braunfels and spend a weekend riding the rapids.
Our plans were to get up real early on the fourth and go to New Braunfels. We were going to stop at Columbus for breakfast at the Main Street Cafe. Eggs, bacon, hot biscuits, coffee, and orange juice -- costs about $1.00 there and it's good.
At New Braunfels we were going to check in at Camp Warnecke and ride the rapids all day. After dinner at Krause's or the Pines Inn we would come on back to Houston that night.
But along about two o'clock Sunday night our plans were changed but we didn't know it at the time. Robert woke up -- he had been feeling out of sorts when he went to bed and then at two o'clock he was really getting sick. His stomach hurt, his head hurt, and he had to go to the bathroom.
Almost exactly the same time Becky woke up sick and vomiting. They both continued this for the rest of the night and Jerre was up all night taking care of them. Monday, Robert tried to go to work but couldn't make it, so stayed in bed all day. Becky did too, so they both just laid there flaked out in the sack. Some time late in the day they ate some jello and chicken noodle soup. Jerre continued to buzz around taking care of things and the doctor prescribed some pills which helped.
Along about sundown Jerre said "Whoops, I think I've got it." And got sick in the bathroom. She plopped in bed and all three slept through the night.
When they woke up on the 4TH Robert and Becky were over their sickness, but feeling weak. Jerre slept all day, until late in the afternoon at which time she felt better and ate some jello and drank some coffee.
Surprisingly now that the sickness is over we feel so rested and refreshed it's unbelievable. So obviously some good came of staying home and resting and relaxing.
Anyway in a short time we are going on up to New Braunfels and spend a weekend riding the rapids.
New Year 1976
By Robert Darnell
Old Mom and Old Pop came in from the Ranch.
Pat working at Ernie Cole's.
Becky playing with Amy and Sara.
Jerre and I went to Shumway's New Years Eve Party. People we saw:
Lanier
Liz
Shumway
Fay
John Reed
Jean
Jackson
Artie Lee
Roy Bray
Tom Draper and wife
Harry Reed
Chester Reed and wife
Dick Skinner
Dana Roberts
David Cayan and wife
John Sowell
Rust Staub
Dick Collier and wife
Joe Evans and wife
Ron Marney
Chuck Reagan
Annette
John Sutly and wife
Bill Shepherd
Don Clark
Perry Penny and wife
Otis Cable and wife
Sam Jeffry and wife
Shirley Rowe
Bill
It was a good party -- good food -- drink -- we whooped it up at midnight. Danced a little -- not very good music.
Got home about 2 or 3 -- Pat came in about the time we did. He had been to Baker;s. Old P and M stayed up and watched Guy Lombardi that new comer on television.
New Years Day -- Pat went to Corpus Christi. Jan and David and David and Ron and Sylvia came over. (Hogs and Dogs). We watched:
Cotton Bowl Ark 31 -- Ga 10
Rose Bowl UCLA 16 -- Ohio St 10
Sugar Bowl Okla 14 -- Mich 3
Food -- Sm Turk -- Beef -- Venison -- Black-eyed Peas -- Cheese and cheese dip -- Onion dip -- etc.
Weather cloudy -- great day.
Charlie Madden and Claudia came over -- Took picture of family.
Jenny visited Becky and Becky spent night with Jenny.
end
Old Mom and Old Pop came in from the Ranch.
Pat working at Ernie Cole's.
Becky playing with Amy and Sara.
Jerre and I went to Shumway's New Years Eve Party. People we saw:
Lanier
Liz
Shumway
Fay
John Reed
Jean
Jackson
Artie Lee
Roy Bray
Tom Draper and wife
Harry Reed
Chester Reed and wife
Dick Skinner
Dana Roberts
David Cayan and wife
John Sowell
Rust Staub
Dick Collier and wife
Joe Evans and wife
Ron Marney
Chuck Reagan
Annette
John Sutly and wife
Bill Shepherd
Don Clark
Perry Penny and wife
Otis Cable and wife
Sam Jeffry and wife
Shirley Rowe
Bill
It was a good party -- good food -- drink -- we whooped it up at midnight. Danced a little -- not very good music.
Got home about 2 or 3 -- Pat came in about the time we did. He had been to Baker;s. Old P and M stayed up and watched Guy Lombardi that new comer on television.
New Years Day -- Pat went to Corpus Christi. Jan and David and David and Ron and Sylvia came over. (Hogs and Dogs). We watched:
Cotton Bowl Ark 31 -- Ga 10
Rose Bowl UCLA 16 -- Ohio St 10
Sugar Bowl Okla 14 -- Mich 3
Food -- Sm Turk -- Beef -- Venison -- Black-eyed Peas -- Cheese and cheese dip -- Onion dip -- etc.
Weather cloudy -- great day.
Charlie Madden and Claudia came over -- Took picture of family.
Jenny visited Becky and Becky spent night with Jenny.
end
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Letter from Nassau
Nassau Beach Hotel, Nassau, Bahamas
By Robert Darnell [Date unknown, written on Nassau Beach Hotel letterhead from Hotel's 20th anniversary 1959--1979]
We decided to go back to Nassau. Jerre and I remembered our trip there 10 years ago with Clemensons, Harveys, Novells [sp]... and stayed at the neat little Emerald Beach Hotel. Big wide uncrowded beach. Powdery white sand and azure water. We made out plans for an eight day trip. Got away from Houston on Tuesday morning. The flight was uneventful. Changed planes in Miami and then got to Nassau about 3:30.
Rented a Volkswagen and went to the Hotel. It had changed so much we didn't recognize it. Found out that the old one had burned and they had only rebuilt one wing. Their schedule was off and they didn't have a room for us so sent us to the Ambassador.
We stayed there one night but didn't like the room, so next morning moved to Nassau Beach Hotel.
Jerre and Becky spent more time on the beach than the sand crabs.
First night we ate downtown at an old native restaurant. Rum swiggles and grand food.
As usual, eating is a big problem. We eat a big breakfast at one of the hotels -- not much lunch and then try to pick a good place at night. Most of them are too high and too much food.
Took a trip around the island in our VW. Looked at beaches, condos, and caves. Saw one small native village. Talked to some boys, went in a restaurant and took some pictures. It was a nice day for driving because it rained a lot and was nice and cool.
You drive on the left side of the road here and it took 5 or 10 minutes to get used to it. Will he forget to drive on the right when he gets home?
Stopped at the rum brewery and had a free one. Took more pictures. Saw some old caves where the early ones lived. More pictures.
Ate lunch at the Cafe de la Mer. It was neat until they shut the curtains because of rain. Made it hot. Ate some conch chowder which is what we eat most of. They had hot bread and butter which made the whole thing worthwhile.
Jerre and Beck keep hitting the beach and old crabby Rob drifts down every once in a while. They are brown as nuts and he uses sun screen so he is as brown as a clear sheet.
We hit the Paradise Island Casino one night but only walked around and played the slot machines. The cheapest chips they had to Black Jack and other games was $5, so we couldn't afford it.
They also have a small Casino in the Ambassador where we stayed the first night.
This left-hand side of the road driving is interesting to say the least. Jerre is always saying "Oooooh, look out," and Becky says "Oh shut up," and Rob says, "Two heads are better than one. Whoops -- that was close!"
Then there was the morning we went down town. Jerre and Beck went shopping on Bay Street. Rob walked all over town. He went to the government house, the water tower, a fort, a church, the Queen's Staircase. Met them at Avita's for a cool one. It was coffee but they were so hot the coffee tasted cool. Jerre and Beck had been to the old Nassau Straw Market and they wanted Rob to go back and take pictures, which we did. Horse-drawn surreys, shops, natives, and long boats. What a mob.
Becky bought a visor and the little sales guy was about half as tall as she is. He would reach up and put one on her, No -- too big -- here try this one -- looks good -- or, maybe you like this one better. Here, that's a good one. I'll take it. Beck to the beach again. What a basking.
The water is unbelievably clear. You can see bottom at 20 feet like it was drinking water. We snorkeled some but Rob's snorkel was too little, so didn't do much.
Made a trip to the Botanic Gardens and some more gardens. Beautiful flora and fauna -- more pictures -- another feast. Pictures!
Nearly every morning we eat a buffet breakfast. Fruit, rolls, bacon, ham, sausage, eggs, pancakes, juice, coffee.
On the trip Jerre is reading "Random Winds," Rob's reading "Kane and Abel," Becky is reading four books.
We all went out in the bay to Para-sail. Rob and Becky para-sailed and Jerre took pictures. Becky went first and she took off like a feather and when she came back in she landed like a butterfly.
When Rob took off he took off like a rock, and they dipped him in the water for about thirty seconds. Then as he went up he was spewing seawater out of his mouth like a faucet. When he landed he came in like a hippopotamus, and they landed him in the water off the platform.
We all three took a sail boat ride -- cruised around in the coral sea and landed on a small "isle."
A convention group was having a buffet and show one night down in the garden under our balcony. We ate room service and listened the native bongo's most of the night.
Most of the people are from Germany, England, France. Met some from Miami, Canada, and Pennsylvania.
One night we went to a Polynesian restaurant and had Chinese food. The atmosphere was great. They had thunder and lightning which made Jerre say, "Ooh" -- Beck would say "Oh, shut up," And Rob would say, "Two heads are better than one" -- Whoops, that doesn't go here.
end
By Robert Darnell [Date unknown, written on Nassau Beach Hotel letterhead from Hotel's 20th anniversary 1959--1979]
We decided to go back to Nassau. Jerre and I remembered our trip there 10 years ago with Clemensons, Harveys, Novells [sp]... and stayed at the neat little Emerald Beach Hotel. Big wide uncrowded beach. Powdery white sand and azure water. We made out plans for an eight day trip. Got away from Houston on Tuesday morning. The flight was uneventful. Changed planes in Miami and then got to Nassau about 3:30.
Rented a Volkswagen and went to the Hotel. It had changed so much we didn't recognize it. Found out that the old one had burned and they had only rebuilt one wing. Their schedule was off and they didn't have a room for us so sent us to the Ambassador.
We stayed there one night but didn't like the room, so next morning moved to Nassau Beach Hotel.
Jerre and Becky spent more time on the beach than the sand crabs.
First night we ate downtown at an old native restaurant. Rum swiggles and grand food.
As usual, eating is a big problem. We eat a big breakfast at one of the hotels -- not much lunch and then try to pick a good place at night. Most of them are too high and too much food.
Took a trip around the island in our VW. Looked at beaches, condos, and caves. Saw one small native village. Talked to some boys, went in a restaurant and took some pictures. It was a nice day for driving because it rained a lot and was nice and cool.
You drive on the left side of the road here and it took 5 or 10 minutes to get used to it. Will he forget to drive on the right when he gets home?
Stopped at the rum brewery and had a free one. Took more pictures. Saw some old caves where the early ones lived. More pictures.
Ate lunch at the Cafe de la Mer. It was neat until they shut the curtains because of rain. Made it hot. Ate some conch chowder which is what we eat most of. They had hot bread and butter which made the whole thing worthwhile.
Jerre and Beck keep hitting the beach and old crabby Rob drifts down every once in a while. They are brown as nuts and he uses sun screen so he is as brown as a clear sheet.
We hit the Paradise Island Casino one night but only walked around and played the slot machines. The cheapest chips they had to Black Jack and other games was $5, so we couldn't afford it.
They also have a small Casino in the Ambassador where we stayed the first night.
This left-hand side of the road driving is interesting to say the least. Jerre is always saying "Oooooh, look out," and Becky says "Oh shut up," and Rob says, "Two heads are better than one. Whoops -- that was close!"
Then there was the morning we went down town. Jerre and Beck went shopping on Bay Street. Rob walked all over town. He went to the government house, the water tower, a fort, a church, the Queen's Staircase. Met them at Avita's for a cool one. It was coffee but they were so hot the coffee tasted cool. Jerre and Beck had been to the old Nassau Straw Market and they wanted Rob to go back and take pictures, which we did. Horse-drawn surreys, shops, natives, and long boats. What a mob.
Becky bought a visor and the little sales guy was about half as tall as she is. He would reach up and put one on her, No -- too big -- here try this one -- looks good -- or, maybe you like this one better. Here, that's a good one. I'll take it. Beck to the beach again. What a basking.
The water is unbelievably clear. You can see bottom at 20 feet like it was drinking water. We snorkeled some but Rob's snorkel was too little, so didn't do much.
Made a trip to the Botanic Gardens and some more gardens. Beautiful flora and fauna -- more pictures -- another feast. Pictures!
Nearly every morning we eat a buffet breakfast. Fruit, rolls, bacon, ham, sausage, eggs, pancakes, juice, coffee.
On the trip Jerre is reading "Random Winds," Rob's reading "Kane and Abel," Becky is reading four books.
We all went out in the bay to Para-sail. Rob and Becky para-sailed and Jerre took pictures. Becky went first and she took off like a feather and when she came back in she landed like a butterfly.
When Rob took off he took off like a rock, and they dipped him in the water for about thirty seconds. Then as he went up he was spewing seawater out of his mouth like a faucet. When he landed he came in like a hippopotamus, and they landed him in the water off the platform.
We all three took a sail boat ride -- cruised around in the coral sea and landed on a small "isle."
A convention group was having a buffet and show one night down in the garden under our balcony. We ate room service and listened the native bongo's most of the night.
Most of the people are from Germany, England, France. Met some from Miami, Canada, and Pennsylvania.
One night we went to a Polynesian restaurant and had Chinese food. The atmosphere was great. They had thunder and lightning which made Jerre say, "Ooh" -- Beck would say "Oh, shut up," And Rob would say, "Two heads are better than one" -- Whoops, that doesn't go here.
end
Letter from Maui
Hotel Inter-Continental, Maui, PO Box 779, Maui, Hawaii, 96753
By Robert Darnell [Date Unknown]
Aloha there from the Makani Koffee Shop on Maui. We just imbibed our first cup of java since breakfast and that's a long time for two old coffee heads like me and Jerre.
All we did today was get up at seven -- Houston which is two here. Walked over the grounds and beaches till six here, when the coffee shop opened. We hit the beach about nine, sunned, swam, and jogged down to the lava point at the other end.
The NBA is having a convention at the hotel, and, we never saw so many tall people in our lives. Becky only comes to their knee-caps. They are having a luau out on the lawn tonight and Jerre is going out there and steal some pork and poi.
After we left the beach this morning Becky and Robert played tennis for a little while over at the tennis club. It was hot and pooped us out pretty quick. Becky is improving as a player.
Our United plane landed at Honolulu Thursday night and we had to change to Hawaiian Airlines for the hop over to Maui. At first we got bumped and they left us standing with our bags out in the lobby. We screamed and yelled real loud, so they came back and told us if we sprint one-half mile in five minutes we could catch the plane. We made the sprint okay, but when Robert went through the concealed weapons check-point the alarm sounded, so he had to go through again after emptying his pockets. The alarm went off again, so they made him take off his belt. The plane was beginning to move, and he was running as best he could with his pants down around his ankles.
Becky and Jerre were sprinting out the gate with the cosmetic kit, two purses, two tennis rackets, books and magazines, and papers waving in the wind. They all finally grabbed onto the steps just as they were moving away and, with a last mad dash, got in the plane.
There were just three seats left scattered throughout the plane and they plopped in them completely out of breath. As soon as Robert could breath again and get his pants back up with the belt on, he started checking all their loose stuff. He yelled back at Jerre if she had the camera and she said "No."
He started cursing and yelling, "Stop the damn plane."
We left our camera back at the check point and that camera has more sentimental value than this whole plane.
It took the pilot, tour guide, and two stewards males to quieten him and they told him that would get the camera and bring it over to Maui the next morning. He quieted down.
When we got to the hotel which is really beautiful, fine, plush, neat, and cool, the baggage did not arrive. This got Jerre upset because her hair rollers were in a suitcase and she damn well is not going to do without those rollers. However, the baggage did come on in shortly, so everything was okay then.
Friday we rented a neat Jeep and went to Lahaina Whaling Village. It is a fine old town with shops and restaurants and art galleries. We saw the biggest tree we've ever seen -- a Banyan tree about the size of a city block.
They have an old whaling boat museum, and a mission built about 1790. Then we drove up in the mountains where it is very green and cool with water falls.
We at lunch at a very quaint restaurant sticking out over the beach with sail boats anchored all around.
It's now midnight Saturday night -- Houston -- and all our legs are so tired we walk stiff. We are going to eat at the Tennis Club and tomorrow morning hop over to Waikiki.
end
By Robert Darnell [Date Unknown]
Aloha there from the Makani Koffee Shop on Maui. We just imbibed our first cup of java since breakfast and that's a long time for two old coffee heads like me and Jerre.
All we did today was get up at seven -- Houston which is two here. Walked over the grounds and beaches till six here, when the coffee shop opened. We hit the beach about nine, sunned, swam, and jogged down to the lava point at the other end.
The NBA is having a convention at the hotel, and, we never saw so many tall people in our lives. Becky only comes to their knee-caps. They are having a luau out on the lawn tonight and Jerre is going out there and steal some pork and poi.
After we left the beach this morning Becky and Robert played tennis for a little while over at the tennis club. It was hot and pooped us out pretty quick. Becky is improving as a player.
Our United plane landed at Honolulu Thursday night and we had to change to Hawaiian Airlines for the hop over to Maui. At first we got bumped and they left us standing with our bags out in the lobby. We screamed and yelled real loud, so they came back and told us if we sprint one-half mile in five minutes we could catch the plane. We made the sprint okay, but when Robert went through the concealed weapons check-point the alarm sounded, so he had to go through again after emptying his pockets. The alarm went off again, so they made him take off his belt. The plane was beginning to move, and he was running as best he could with his pants down around his ankles.
Becky and Jerre were sprinting out the gate with the cosmetic kit, two purses, two tennis rackets, books and magazines, and papers waving in the wind. They all finally grabbed onto the steps just as they were moving away and, with a last mad dash, got in the plane.
There were just three seats left scattered throughout the plane and they plopped in them completely out of breath. As soon as Robert could breath again and get his pants back up with the belt on, he started checking all their loose stuff. He yelled back at Jerre if she had the camera and she said "No."
He started cursing and yelling, "Stop the damn plane."
We left our camera back at the check point and that camera has more sentimental value than this whole plane.
It took the pilot, tour guide, and two stewards males to quieten him and they told him that would get the camera and bring it over to Maui the next morning. He quieted down.
When we got to the hotel which is really beautiful, fine, plush, neat, and cool, the baggage did not arrive. This got Jerre upset because her hair rollers were in a suitcase and she damn well is not going to do without those rollers. However, the baggage did come on in shortly, so everything was okay then.
Friday we rented a neat Jeep and went to Lahaina Whaling Village. It is a fine old town with shops and restaurants and art galleries. We saw the biggest tree we've ever seen -- a Banyan tree about the size of a city block.
They have an old whaling boat museum, and a mission built about 1790. Then we drove up in the mountains where it is very green and cool with water falls.
We at lunch at a very quaint restaurant sticking out over the beach with sail boats anchored all around.
It's now midnight Saturday night -- Houston -- and all our legs are so tired we walk stiff. We are going to eat at the Tennis Club and tomorrow morning hop over to Waikiki.
end
Letter from Santa
R D Darnell's ... by Robert Darnell [Date unknown]
Your house was really very quiet tonight. Only two real snores and one embryonic snore. And a little breathing from the back yard. It's not like it used to be. Not even like last year when the house was full of snores.
I got on down the chimbly. Your chimbly is easy -- nice and clean and smooth -- and left a few things for what's left of you.
Had a glass of nog. I like your nog because you use that good stuff -- Crown Royal. I didn't find any cocoanut cake this year. I guess the little folks were the only ones who thought of that. Rufus came sniffing around but he didn't bark or bother me. I guess he now knows that I'm coming on Christmas and he doesn't get excited about it. The only one that used to bite me every time was that punk "Baby."
I really have been busy tonight. There's a lot more people that there used to be and a lot of them out of work. They sure need old Santie's help this year.
I noticed you all went down to Grace Pres to a candle-light service in honor of the one we are all working for. I peeked in on it and it sure was a cheerful celebration. That singing was really good and I thought old Rob was the best one there.
Jerre stayed up so late wrapping that I almost had to pass you by, but she went to bed just in time. I thought that when the Darnell family split up and spread out into three other domiciles she wouldn't have as much to do but it seems like she has more.
I caught all three of the other domiciles and they were all a big load for me. That's the way it is. Where there once was one there is now four. It really keeps me busy with all this expansion. Oh well, it's better to wear out that to rust out. Becky's domicile will soon make it five.
Like the man said: "...Let's all remember to stop and smell the roses."
Ho ho ho -- a Merry Christmas to all,
Old Santa
end
Your house was really very quiet tonight. Only two real snores and one embryonic snore. And a little breathing from the back yard. It's not like it used to be. Not even like last year when the house was full of snores.
I got on down the chimbly. Your chimbly is easy -- nice and clean and smooth -- and left a few things for what's left of you.
Had a glass of nog. I like your nog because you use that good stuff -- Crown Royal. I didn't find any cocoanut cake this year. I guess the little folks were the only ones who thought of that. Rufus came sniffing around but he didn't bark or bother me. I guess he now knows that I'm coming on Christmas and he doesn't get excited about it. The only one that used to bite me every time was that punk "Baby."
I really have been busy tonight. There's a lot more people that there used to be and a lot of them out of work. They sure need old Santie's help this year.
I noticed you all went down to Grace Pres to a candle-light service in honor of the one we are all working for. I peeked in on it and it sure was a cheerful celebration. That singing was really good and I thought old Rob was the best one there.
Jerre stayed up so late wrapping that I almost had to pass you by, but she went to bed just in time. I thought that when the Darnell family split up and spread out into three other domiciles she wouldn't have as much to do but it seems like she has more.
I caught all three of the other domiciles and they were all a big load for me. That's the way it is. Where there once was one there is now four. It really keeps me busy with all this expansion. Oh well, it's better to wear out that to rust out. Becky's domicile will soon make it five.
Like the man said: "...Let's all remember to stop and smell the roses."
Ho ho ho -- a Merry Christmas to all,
Old Santa
end
Friday, January 16, 2015
The Houston Open
By Robert Darnell [Date unknown: when Becky was thirteen]
I'm rather an old fellow and never collected an autograph in my life.
Last year I went out to the Houston Open on Friday and that night was telling my wife and 13 year old daughter about all the famous golfers I had watched that day.
Becky, my daughter, asked why I didn't get her some autographs. I said "Becky, you don't collect autographs." She replied, "Well, I'd start if you had got me some."
On Sunday I went back to the Open with Jerre, my wife. While we were standing around the 18th hole watching all the great pros come in I thought I might as well try for a few autographs.
I had a program and borrowed a pen. The first one that came plowing through was Lee Trevino. Me an old grand-dad, and a bunch of little kids were all holding out our pens. Trevino went storming on by muttering to himself, but no signatures.
The next one I tried was Arnie Palmer. They said he was over by the clubhouse. When I got there he was in the locker room, I started in but the door keeper said, "Whoa, man, where you goin?'"
I said "I was going to get Palmer's autograph."
He said "Hey, you can't do that ... dummy...."
The next one I noticed was JC Snead. He was carrying a load of equipment in both arms with some small packages of golf balls on top. One package of balls fell off so I picked it up with a smile and gave it to him and asked for his autograph. "Naw, I can't do that," he said, "I'm loaded and in a hurry." So I replaced the package of balls and went off.
I though, "Crud, it's not so easy to get these things."
I saw an old guy standing there whom I recognized. He was mopping his brow and saying, "I'm going to get me a tall cool one." I asked for his autograph and he said, "Sure," and signed my program. "Gee, thanks." I'd gotten one.
When I got home I showed my program to Becky and said, "See, I got you an autograph."
She asked, "Who's that?"
And i told her, Julios Boros."
"Who's he?" she asked.
Oh, well.
end
I'm rather an old fellow and never collected an autograph in my life.
Last year I went out to the Houston Open on Friday and that night was telling my wife and 13 year old daughter about all the famous golfers I had watched that day.
Becky, my daughter, asked why I didn't get her some autographs. I said "Becky, you don't collect autographs." She replied, "Well, I'd start if you had got me some."
On Sunday I went back to the Open with Jerre, my wife. While we were standing around the 18th hole watching all the great pros come in I thought I might as well try for a few autographs.
I had a program and borrowed a pen. The first one that came plowing through was Lee Trevino. Me an old grand-dad, and a bunch of little kids were all holding out our pens. Trevino went storming on by muttering to himself, but no signatures.
The next one I tried was Arnie Palmer. They said he was over by the clubhouse. When I got there he was in the locker room, I started in but the door keeper said, "Whoa, man, where you goin?'"
I said "I was going to get Palmer's autograph."
He said "Hey, you can't do that ... dummy...."
The next one I noticed was JC Snead. He was carrying a load of equipment in both arms with some small packages of golf balls on top. One package of balls fell off so I picked it up with a smile and gave it to him and asked for his autograph. "Naw, I can't do that," he said, "I'm loaded and in a hurry." So I replaced the package of balls and went off.
I though, "Crud, it's not so easy to get these things."
I saw an old guy standing there whom I recognized. He was mopping his brow and saying, "I'm going to get me a tall cool one." I asked for his autograph and he said, "Sure," and signed my program. "Gee, thanks." I'd gotten one.
When I got home I showed my program to Becky and said, "See, I got you an autograph."
She asked, "Who's that?"
And i told her, Julios Boros."
"Who's he?" she asked.
Oh, well.
end
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Jerre Mailed some Snacks to Becky
By Robert Darnell [Date unknown]
It was ten o'clock in the morning and just as Jerre was going out the door for a workout, the postman came.
He had a letter from Becky up at Camp Arnold and Becky said that the food was terrible and that she was hungry. Not really, but she wasn't eating much. Jerre thought, "Oh my, I really ought to send her something to nibble on even though it's against the camp rules." She decided to go down to Jumbo's and get some snacks to mail.
At Jumbo's she got some Pringles and squirt can of cheese. They were things that she thought could be mailed to camp without being noticed. She brought the stuff home to wrap it for mailing.
She called the Post office then to get the requirements for wrapping food for mailing. They told her it had to be sealed with stick 'em on tight -- no break 'em tape which she did not have any of. Scotch tape would not do.
She went ahead and wrapped the package intending to go after the tape a little later.
Then she decided to make some blonde brownies to mail the next day. After she made the brownies with subsequent mess, she started to clean up. She opened a package of new rubber gloves to use while cleaning up, but found that they were both for left hands.
Jerre wouldn't clean up without the gloves and wouldn't leave the mess so she had to run down and exchange the gloves.
She finally got the mess cleaned up and the package wrapped so she piled everything on the table including her purse while she changed clothes to go back to the store for the stick 'em on tight -- no break 'em tape, and then to the post office to mail the package.
Then for some reason all the stuff she piled on the table fell off onto the floor. This sort of rattled her so she took everything out to the car and locked the house doors, but she left all her keys on the table. She was locked out -- no car keys, no house keys.
One of her bedroom windows was unlocked so she got a yard chair to stand on, to crawl in the window.Then she realized that she needed a screw driver to get the screen off so she went to the garage for one. Just as she came out of the garage a cloud burst opened up and absolutely buckets of water dumped on her before she could get out of it.
The rain only lasted for a few minutes so she got the screen off and the window open. As she went through the small window head first she realized why women are referred to as broads.
Anyway, she got the keys and on out to the car and back to Jumbo's for the tape. She looked for fifteen minutes but couldn't find the tape so asked for some help. The girl said "Sure. I know where it is." But after they looked for another fifteen minutes she finally concluded that they didn't carry stick 'em on tight -- no break 'em tape except around Christmas time.
Jerre left Jumbo's just about in tears and beginning to think there was just about no way that she could get the Pringles and squirt cheese mailed to Becky that day.
However, as she was leaving the store someone said that, "... Maybe the drug store down on the corner had some of the tape..." So she went on down there. Glory be, oh happy day, they had some. She ran into Dr Webber in the drug store and had a cheerful chat with him, so began to feel better.
She got the tape and went out to the car to finish the wrapping. So there the package was all legally wrapped and ready for mailing. As she was driving out of the parking lot onto Westheimer Road, she noticed that traffic was piled up in all lanes as far as she could see.
"My goodness, is this the five o'clock traffic? I started out at ten this morning to mail Becky a package and here is it five!"
Luckily the traffic was courteous and let her work her way out into the left-turn-lane so she could get on down to the Post office. She got it mailed and on back home about five forty-five.
She got out of the car and into the kitchen and laid her purse down and was taking a deep breath. The front door banged open and Robert barged in: "What's for dinner?!"
end
It was ten o'clock in the morning and just as Jerre was going out the door for a workout, the postman came.
He had a letter from Becky up at Camp Arnold and Becky said that the food was terrible and that she was hungry. Not really, but she wasn't eating much. Jerre thought, "Oh my, I really ought to send her something to nibble on even though it's against the camp rules." She decided to go down to Jumbo's and get some snacks to mail.
At Jumbo's she got some Pringles and squirt can of cheese. They were things that she thought could be mailed to camp without being noticed. She brought the stuff home to wrap it for mailing.
She called the Post office then to get the requirements for wrapping food for mailing. They told her it had to be sealed with stick 'em on tight -- no break 'em tape which she did not have any of. Scotch tape would not do.
She went ahead and wrapped the package intending to go after the tape a little later.
Then she decided to make some blonde brownies to mail the next day. After she made the brownies with subsequent mess, she started to clean up. She opened a package of new rubber gloves to use while cleaning up, but found that they were both for left hands.
Jerre wouldn't clean up without the gloves and wouldn't leave the mess so she had to run down and exchange the gloves.
She finally got the mess cleaned up and the package wrapped so she piled everything on the table including her purse while she changed clothes to go back to the store for the stick 'em on tight -- no break 'em tape, and then to the post office to mail the package.
Then for some reason all the stuff she piled on the table fell off onto the floor. This sort of rattled her so she took everything out to the car and locked the house doors, but she left all her keys on the table. She was locked out -- no car keys, no house keys.
One of her bedroom windows was unlocked so she got a yard chair to stand on, to crawl in the window.Then she realized that she needed a screw driver to get the screen off so she went to the garage for one. Just as she came out of the garage a cloud burst opened up and absolutely buckets of water dumped on her before she could get out of it.
The rain only lasted for a few minutes so she got the screen off and the window open. As she went through the small window head first she realized why women are referred to as broads.
Anyway, she got the keys and on out to the car and back to Jumbo's for the tape. She looked for fifteen minutes but couldn't find the tape so asked for some help. The girl said "Sure. I know where it is." But after they looked for another fifteen minutes she finally concluded that they didn't carry stick 'em on tight -- no break 'em tape except around Christmas time.
Jerre left Jumbo's just about in tears and beginning to think there was just about no way that she could get the Pringles and squirt cheese mailed to Becky that day.
However, as she was leaving the store someone said that, "... Maybe the drug store down on the corner had some of the tape..." So she went on down there. Glory be, oh happy day, they had some. She ran into Dr Webber in the drug store and had a cheerful chat with him, so began to feel better.
She got the tape and went out to the car to finish the wrapping. So there the package was all legally wrapped and ready for mailing. As she was driving out of the parking lot onto Westheimer Road, she noticed that traffic was piled up in all lanes as far as she could see.
"My goodness, is this the five o'clock traffic? I started out at ten this morning to mail Becky a package and here is it five!"
Luckily the traffic was courteous and let her work her way out into the left-turn-lane so she could get on down to the Post office. She got it mailed and on back home about five forty-five.
She got out of the car and into the kitchen and laid her purse down and was taking a deep breath. The front door banged open and Robert barged in: "What's for dinner?!"
end
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Hurricane Alicia and the Aftermath
by Robert Darnell, 8/18/83
It rained and it rained and it rained. Wind blew, it thundered, it lightninged, and it rained and the wind blew.
That was Hurricane Alicia, named after our grand daughter, which came in Wednesday night.
We had been watching and listening to reports of the storm for two days as it lay off the coast of Galveston and tried to make up its mind which way to go.
We have watched them so many times here in Houston and most of them go on off to South Texas or Mexico or go back East to Louisiana.
But this one decided to pop right on in over Galveston and on in to Houston Proper. It was blowing pretty steadily and raining lightly on Wednesday night about bed time. No one was home except Jerre and Robert. Becky had gone to Aggie Fish Camp up at Palestine, for Aggie freshmen.
Robert went for a walk before bed time and it was nice and fresh. Very comfortable. Jerre stayed up till 1 o'clock washing clothes in case the water went off during the hurricane.
During the night it really got to popping. You could hear the limbs snapping and falling. We had a steady rain of pine cones on our roof. Rufus barked at the thunder.
The electricity went off about four and actually we got very little sleep all night.
We got up about six and checked things out. We had a good flashlight and lit some candles. The water pressure was low so we took a shower in case the water went off completely and so we would be clean during the storm.
The wind and rain were really coming on. The trees were bending from one side to the other and looked like they would all snap. The yards and streets were waist deep in tree limbs and branches, and it just kept raining and blowing.
Jerre got out some food warmers with candles and cooking alcohol. She cooked us up a good breakfast of eggs, sausage, rolls, jelly and coffee. We ate out on the patio and watched things blow and fall.
About eight thirty the wind quit blowing and everything got pretty still. We were right in the eye of the hurricane. Robert went outside and took some pictures of the litter.
Then in about an hour the wind started blowing again from the Southwest. The eye had passed on and was headed out toward Katy.
Wade called from Possum Kingdom and said it was bright sunshine, hot and dry and one hundred degrees.
Hope they get some of this rain.
We spent most of the day after it quit raining cleaning up fallen trees and limbs. Many big trees fell in the neighborhood. One huge oak tree two houses down fell on the electric line. It'll probably be several days before we get the lights back on.
It's night now and raining again. We're cooking some meat out on the gas cooker on the patio.
All we got is candles. No TV, no air conditioning, woe is us -- alas -- alas ...
Oh well, tomorrow we'll get it started again.
The Aftermath, by Robert Darnell
"Oh well, tomorrow we'll get it started again."
When I wrote that, little did I know what it's like to clean up after a hurricane.
The electricity was off two days and the weather got sticky hot. It was just too hot to move and no place to go to get cool.
Jerre and Bob both went to work Friday morning. Everything was on at Jerre's office and she worked all day. Nothing was on at Bob's office, so it was mostly shut down.
He went down to the health club to try to get started and it was all shut down until Monday. Bob took an iron out to the repair shop to get it fixed for Becky to use at College Station. On the way he stopped at twelve stores looking for ice to go in the cooler where we have all our food.
He finally found two bags at a small remote corner grocery.
Most of the neighbors were out raking, cutting, and stacking lumber. The whole neighborhood looked and sounded like a lumber camp. Bob worked for a while and got so hot he thought he would bust.
When Jerre got home they decided to go down to Clear Lake to check on the boat and to ride in the car to stay cool.
The Clear Lake, Kemah area was a battleground of trash and rubble. The water had been up in the whole area about eight feet.
The boat made it out okay and was still tethered in its stall with no damage.
That night they went to bed and thought it would cool off, but it just got hotter and stickier. They spent a miserable night and got up exhausted.
All day Saturday they tried to get things going. they washed some clothes at the washeteria to keep cool. They ate at a restaurant to keep cool, they went shopping to keep cool.
Finally, at five o'clock the electricity came back on and they got the air conditioner and refrigerator to running.
They were feeling quite good about things. The house started cooling down. They washed dishes, and ate supper. Becky came home. She had a great time and was in good spirits from the Fish Camp. She was excited about the hurricane damage.
Then at ten o'clock -- POW -- the lights out again; a transformer had blown. Remembering how hot it was the night before they decided not to stay home and found a room over at the Westchase Hilton. Checked in there about mid-night and got a good night's sleep.
Sunday morning about eleven o'clock the electricity came back on and the house started cooling down again.
It rained and it rained and it rained. Wind blew, it thundered, it lightninged, and it rained and the wind blew.
That was Hurricane Alicia, named after our grand daughter, which came in Wednesday night.
We had been watching and listening to reports of the storm for two days as it lay off the coast of Galveston and tried to make up its mind which way to go.
We have watched them so many times here in Houston and most of them go on off to South Texas or Mexico or go back East to Louisiana.
But this one decided to pop right on in over Galveston and on in to Houston Proper. It was blowing pretty steadily and raining lightly on Wednesday night about bed time. No one was home except Jerre and Robert. Becky had gone to Aggie Fish Camp up at Palestine, for Aggie freshmen.
Robert went for a walk before bed time and it was nice and fresh. Very comfortable. Jerre stayed up till 1 o'clock washing clothes in case the water went off during the hurricane.
During the night it really got to popping. You could hear the limbs snapping and falling. We had a steady rain of pine cones on our roof. Rufus barked at the thunder.
The electricity went off about four and actually we got very little sleep all night.
We got up about six and checked things out. We had a good flashlight and lit some candles. The water pressure was low so we took a shower in case the water went off completely and so we would be clean during the storm.
The wind and rain were really coming on. The trees were bending from one side to the other and looked like they would all snap. The yards and streets were waist deep in tree limbs and branches, and it just kept raining and blowing.
Jerre got out some food warmers with candles and cooking alcohol. She cooked us up a good breakfast of eggs, sausage, rolls, jelly and coffee. We ate out on the patio and watched things blow and fall.
About eight thirty the wind quit blowing and everything got pretty still. We were right in the eye of the hurricane. Robert went outside and took some pictures of the litter.
Then in about an hour the wind started blowing again from the Southwest. The eye had passed on and was headed out toward Katy.
Wade called from Possum Kingdom and said it was bright sunshine, hot and dry and one hundred degrees.
Hope they get some of this rain.
We spent most of the day after it quit raining cleaning up fallen trees and limbs. Many big trees fell in the neighborhood. One huge oak tree two houses down fell on the electric line. It'll probably be several days before we get the lights back on.
It's night now and raining again. We're cooking some meat out on the gas cooker on the patio.
All we got is candles. No TV, no air conditioning, woe is us -- alas -- alas ...
Oh well, tomorrow we'll get it started again.
***
The Aftermath, by Robert Darnell
"Oh well, tomorrow we'll get it started again."
When I wrote that, little did I know what it's like to clean up after a hurricane.
The electricity was off two days and the weather got sticky hot. It was just too hot to move and no place to go to get cool.
Jerre and Bob both went to work Friday morning. Everything was on at Jerre's office and she worked all day. Nothing was on at Bob's office, so it was mostly shut down.
He went down to the health club to try to get started and it was all shut down until Monday. Bob took an iron out to the repair shop to get it fixed for Becky to use at College Station. On the way he stopped at twelve stores looking for ice to go in the cooler where we have all our food.
He finally found two bags at a small remote corner grocery.
Most of the neighbors were out raking, cutting, and stacking lumber. The whole neighborhood looked and sounded like a lumber camp. Bob worked for a while and got so hot he thought he would bust.
When Jerre got home they decided to go down to Clear Lake to check on the boat and to ride in the car to stay cool.
The Clear Lake, Kemah area was a battleground of trash and rubble. The water had been up in the whole area about eight feet.
The boat made it out okay and was still tethered in its stall with no damage.
That night they went to bed and thought it would cool off, but it just got hotter and stickier. They spent a miserable night and got up exhausted.
All day Saturday they tried to get things going. they washed some clothes at the washeteria to keep cool. They ate at a restaurant to keep cool, they went shopping to keep cool.
Finally, at five o'clock the electricity came back on and they got the air conditioner and refrigerator to running.
They were feeling quite good about things. The house started cooling down. They washed dishes, and ate supper. Becky came home. She had a great time and was in good spirits from the Fish Camp. She was excited about the hurricane damage.
Then at ten o'clock -- POW -- the lights out again; a transformer had blown. Remembering how hot it was the night before they decided not to stay home and found a room over at the Westchase Hilton. Checked in there about mid-night and got a good night's sleep.
Sunday morning about eleven o'clock the electricity came back on and the house started cooling down again.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Robert's Rush
Travelogue typed here in its original form, date unknown ...
We rolled in here this morning about 5 AM . Not sure what day it is. We banged on the door and got Hunter awake to let us in. We all ... Jerre, Robert, Becky, and, Lisa piled down and went to sleep immediately.
We had been driving all night up from Atlanta through the Cumberland Mountains at Chattanooga and Nashville. It rained all the way and the driving was horrible. Robert kept trying to stay awake and stay on the road. Jerre kept trying to stay awake and keep Robert awake by throwing ice water on his face, head, neck, and back.
Some way they stayed awake and on the road. Becky and Lisa slept on. Jerre kept saying "If you run off the road and kill us, I'll kill you."
Bob would say "Don't do that." And she would throw some more ice water on him.
She would say "Stop awhile and rest." And Bob would say "Naw we ain't gettin' nowhere if we stop."
They did stop at the Nashville and ate some waffles, except Jerre ate some chili. Soon after she asked Rob if those Maalox No 1's, that he is always eating, are any good for belly burn? She ate some and they were.
When they woke Hunter up she was mad as an old wet hen because they were so late. She expected them in earlier, and cooked a whole lot of food, but they didn't show. Anyway, you know how Hunter is when she gets mad: A real Tiger.
They all slept about three hours, then woke up to the smell of bacon, eggs, toast, and coffee. We all got up and ate that good stuff.
We were going to lay around all day and goof off but Hunter had a long list of things for us to do. So, instead of laying around we had to "lay to."
Some of the things Ol' Mom had cooked were chicken, rice, black-eyed peas, tomatoes, pound cake, apple pie, ice cream, coffee, milk, etc. We dang sure didn't go hungry.
While we were eating supper a neighbor told us we could have some fresh tomatoes out of her garden. Ol' Mom gave Robert a large grocery sack which he filled with good ripe fresh tomatoes.
Becky and Lisa laid out in the hot sun to keep a peak on their St Tropaz tans, a'la St Thomas and St John. They wanted the peak to be in bloom when they get back to Houston.
Some people named Bower came by looking for a body. Old Mr. Peavy had died and they felt sure he was at the funeral home down the street. He wasn't there and they wanted Hunter to find him for them. She did.
Jerre, Rob, and Hunter went to Wal-Mart and the grocery store. They got some snacking stuff for the trip to Houston, tomorrow. Hope to get started about six.
End of entry
We rolled in here this morning about 5 AM . Not sure what day it is. We banged on the door and got Hunter awake to let us in. We all ... Jerre, Robert, Becky, and, Lisa piled down and went to sleep immediately.
We had been driving all night up from Atlanta through the Cumberland Mountains at Chattanooga and Nashville. It rained all the way and the driving was horrible. Robert kept trying to stay awake and stay on the road. Jerre kept trying to stay awake and keep Robert awake by throwing ice water on his face, head, neck, and back.
Some way they stayed awake and on the road. Becky and Lisa slept on. Jerre kept saying "If you run off the road and kill us, I'll kill you."
Bob would say "Don't do that." And she would throw some more ice water on him.
She would say "Stop awhile and rest." And Bob would say "Naw we ain't gettin' nowhere if we stop."
They did stop at the Nashville and ate some waffles, except Jerre ate some chili. Soon after she asked Rob if those Maalox No 1's, that he is always eating, are any good for belly burn? She ate some and they were.
When they woke Hunter up she was mad as an old wet hen because they were so late. She expected them in earlier, and cooked a whole lot of food, but they didn't show. Anyway, you know how Hunter is when she gets mad: A real Tiger.
They all slept about three hours, then woke up to the smell of bacon, eggs, toast, and coffee. We all got up and ate that good stuff.
We were going to lay around all day and goof off but Hunter had a long list of things for us to do. So, instead of laying around we had to "lay to."
Some of the things Ol' Mom had cooked were chicken, rice, black-eyed peas, tomatoes, pound cake, apple pie, ice cream, coffee, milk, etc. We dang sure didn't go hungry.
While we were eating supper a neighbor told us we could have some fresh tomatoes out of her garden. Ol' Mom gave Robert a large grocery sack which he filled with good ripe fresh tomatoes.
Becky and Lisa laid out in the hot sun to keep a peak on their St Tropaz tans, a'la St Thomas and St John. They wanted the peak to be in bloom when they get back to Houston.
Some people named Bower came by looking for a body. Old Mr. Peavy had died and they felt sure he was at the funeral home down the street. He wasn't there and they wanted Hunter to find him for them. She did.
Jerre, Rob, and Hunter went to Wal-Mart and the grocery store. They got some snacking stuff for the trip to Houston, tomorrow. Hope to get started about six.
End of entry
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Santa Claus Letter
One Christmas Eve Long Ago When Sylvia turned 24
Dear Santa:
These are critical years for those who believe design can improve the human condition. The idea is as old as Utopian Thought. What is "new?" Melding of observable behavior patterns and understanding of client aspirations and needs, and use of emerging technology to affect the built environment might be accomplished by design.
Whether this is the basis for a new aesthetic is not yet clear. But no conscientious planner or designer can ignore a growing body of knowledge waiting application.
Pat
***
Dear Santa Claus,
I've been urging mother to let me open a present.
Well, Smokey's learning to talk real good, You don't have to worry about him biting you, he might bark, but he won't bite.
How do you like our Christmas tree? I think it is the beautifulest tree we've had. I hope you fill my stocking. Do you like my little guy on the mantle? Bev made it. You know the lady I've known so long?
Look at all the presents under the tree. I've got 11 or 12. We've got candles all over the house this year. You know Christmas Eve is Sylvia's birthday. She'll be 24!
Be sure and stop by David's house, They are not going to be able to be with us on Christmas. Jan had to work everyday except Christmas! That's terrible isn't it?
Well, Good Bye!!
Becky
***
Ho Ho Ho
This country air really makes a feller sleepy. From Nottingham to Shannon Valley Drive to the Ranch... you Darnell kids sure change around a lot for Christmas.
Becky, you are the only little one left so my job is getting easier every year at your house. I hear you are beginning to ask silly questions like "Is there really a Santa Claus?" Believe you me if I ain't real this sure is a tired old nothing and I sure don't feel like nothing.
Anyway, real or not, here it is, and here is a pretty neat bicycle for you, Becky. I hope it works better than the one last year. Oh, well, we all make mistakes.
I see old Pat and Ron and Sylvia over there asleep. They are so big now that they don't need my toys; just some work clothes and vitamin pills to keep 'em going.
There's old Jerre and Robert, too. They are so dam old they don't need nothing but two rocking chairs and some Geritol.
I met Smokey down in the barn in the hay and he can almost talk. In fact he can talk to a Jolly Old Elf like me. He said he likes to chase around here after birds and armadillos. He says he really knows how to hunt quail, track 'em down, and point at 'em and all that stuff, but no one ever taught him so he just plays dumb and goes ahead and chases armadillos because it is easier and less regimented.
Well HO HO HO and I'm going to grab a quick piece of cake and a short nap in the hay and then I'll be on my way.
Tell David , Jan and David I missed them out here but I'll catch them in Houston.
Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and Au Revoir.
Jolly Old St. Nick
Dear Santa:
These are critical years for those who believe design can improve the human condition. The idea is as old as Utopian Thought. What is "new?" Melding of observable behavior patterns and understanding of client aspirations and needs, and use of emerging technology to affect the built environment might be accomplished by design.
Whether this is the basis for a new aesthetic is not yet clear. But no conscientious planner or designer can ignore a growing body of knowledge waiting application.
Pat
***
Dear Santa Claus,
I've been urging mother to let me open a present.
Well, Smokey's learning to talk real good, You don't have to worry about him biting you, he might bark, but he won't bite.
How do you like our Christmas tree? I think it is the beautifulest tree we've had. I hope you fill my stocking. Do you like my little guy on the mantle? Bev made it. You know the lady I've known so long?
Look at all the presents under the tree. I've got 11 or 12. We've got candles all over the house this year. You know Christmas Eve is Sylvia's birthday. She'll be 24!
Be sure and stop by David's house, They are not going to be able to be with us on Christmas. Jan had to work everyday except Christmas! That's terrible isn't it?
Well, Good Bye!!
Becky
***
Ho Ho Ho
This country air really makes a feller sleepy. From Nottingham to Shannon Valley Drive to the Ranch... you Darnell kids sure change around a lot for Christmas.
Becky, you are the only little one left so my job is getting easier every year at your house. I hear you are beginning to ask silly questions like "Is there really a Santa Claus?" Believe you me if I ain't real this sure is a tired old nothing and I sure don't feel like nothing.
Anyway, real or not, here it is, and here is a pretty neat bicycle for you, Becky. I hope it works better than the one last year. Oh, well, we all make mistakes.
I see old Pat and Ron and Sylvia over there asleep. They are so big now that they don't need my toys; just some work clothes and vitamin pills to keep 'em going.
There's old Jerre and Robert, too. They are so dam old they don't need nothing but two rocking chairs and some Geritol.
I met Smokey down in the barn in the hay and he can almost talk. In fact he can talk to a Jolly Old Elf like me. He said he likes to chase around here after birds and armadillos. He says he really knows how to hunt quail, track 'em down, and point at 'em and all that stuff, but no one ever taught him so he just plays dumb and goes ahead and chases armadillos because it is easier and less regimented.
Well HO HO HO and I'm going to grab a quick piece of cake and a short nap in the hay and then I'll be on my way.
Tell David , Jan and David I missed them out here but I'll catch them in Houston.
Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and Au Revoir.
Jolly Old St. Nick
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