Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Teaser Tuesday

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

______________________________

The Southerners A Journalist's Odyssey by Marshall Frady

"I grew up not only a Southern Baptist, but a Southern Baptist minister's son, in the small cities and towns of my father's nomadic pastorates over the inland South -- the plainer, pre-shopping-center South of roadside gas pumps and rusted RC Cola signs and flat little main streets, where a rigorous religiousness was simply one of the natural elements, like heat or lightning, of the surroundings." [page xv]
page xxiii:
"...I also came to suspicion that, no matter what sophistications he may later imagine he has acquired and however intensely he may become involved in the wider affairs of the world, anyone bred a Southern Baptist will always have a sense of still being on the outside looking in: he can never completely overcome a certain wonder and titillation at being a part of large secular matters."
A third sentence from the chapter about Huey Long, "The House of Long."
"There is, to be sure, something elusively exhilarating about his unabashed and romping celebration in his power -- suddenly bellowing to an unruly assembly of other Louisiana politicians, 'Shut up, you sonsabitches, shut up! This is the Kingfish talking!'." [page 23]

Toast to Texas





Check out KWED's videos of the Toast to Texas. http://www.youtube.com/kwedseguin

Texas Independence Day











On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico and became the Republic of Texas.
Life was never the same again.





When Perfect Isn't Good Enough


Monday, March 2, 2009

Actor James Whitmore

Hubby and I recalled when we saw James Whitmore perform in a one-man play as Harry Truman in Denver and what a marvelous acting job he did. He was truly an actor. We didn't see his one-man performance as Will Rogers (think I've mentioned that my father and Will Rogers were cousins).

If you are a praying person . . .


A year or so after we moved to Seguin, I met a delightful woman in a Bible Study Class - Carolyn Hyatt. Carolyn and her husband Bob had recently moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico and of course New Mexico is my old stomping grounds. We discussed our love of the state and some mutual acquaintances, ranching families, great restaurants, 'cowboying,' horses, books - everything - Carolyn and Bob are friendly, interesting, and a great deal of fun!
Carolyn, among many other skills and achievements, is a Master Gardener and since our Green Thumb Son always tended our Colorado garden (which was lovely), I never did anything in this regard. When I decided I wanted a butterfly-hummingbird-flower view from the corner chair in my sewing room, Carolyn and a friend of hers were most helpful in giving me advice and tips as to what could be planted in this area.
Carolyn and I both volunteer at the Children's Advocacy Center, belong to a ladies social club, were in Bible Study Classes together... You get the picture. We had many opportunities to meet and chat and I love Carolyn.
Carolyn and Bob lived all over the country, moving as the military sent them. Bob served thirty years in the Air Force, retiring with the rank of colonel. Bob and Carolyn have horses (they moved to a Seguin home with several acres so Carolyn could garden and the horses can roam and because of Carolyn's love for animals). They have varied interests and are multi-talented and - I repeat - are so much fun! It is always a pleasure to be with them.
On Wednesday, February 11th, Carolyn suffered a major stroke and was airlifted to St. Luke's Hospital in San Antonio. The doctors operated that night and Carolyn is still in very serious condition. If you come upon this site (perhaps while Googling "Seguin" or "Nonsense Trivia by a Stumbling and Ignorant Dilettante"), and feel so inclined - say a prayer for my friend Carolyn. God be with her. God bless Carolyn and Bob and their family.