Sunday, May 31, 2009
Frank Is On His Way Home From His Weekend ...
on the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country of Texas. I have not spoken to him but I am sure he and his buddies had a good time. They floated the river in inner tubes yesterday and today and last night they went to a concert on the river with Cross Canadian Ragweed providing the entertainment. He will be tired when he gets home and it will be back to mowing 20 or more yards tomorrow in the Texas heat. He will no doubt wish tomorrow he was back in the inner tube floating in that cool green water. The Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake Dam is an amazing place. The lake is well over 100 feet deep at the dam and the water released into the river is very cold. So cold, it was discovered in the 1960's to have killed off all of the native fish. From what I understand Lone Star Beer stocked rainbow trout below the dam during that time and created the southern most trout fishery in the United States. Later brown trout were added to the mix. As long as water flows were adequate year round, the fishery was sustainable. Problem was during the hot Texas summers, enough cold water was not being let out of the dam to keep the fish alive. A bunch of concerned sportsman formed a chapter of Trout Unlimited and obtained legal counsel and filed suit and were successful in forcing adequate discharges year round to keep the fishery going. Some giant rainbow and brown trout are caught each year by lucky and or skilled fisherman.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Frank And Three Of His Buddies Went Down To The Texas Hill Country ...
to get away from the big city for the weekend. They wanted to get away from the crowds and enjoy a nice quiet peaceful weekend camping out on the river.
Good Luck With That!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Dudley Has Been A Rail Fan His Whole Life ...
and always enjoys looking at or riding on trains. The largest railroad in the nation, Union Pacific has a huge yard in Fort Worth and Dudley has been driving by this yard on a semi regular basis for the last forty years. The railroad has a big shop at this yard and does routine maintenance on its rolling stock and its locomotives. Recently Dudley begin to notice an unusually large number of locomotives being sidelined at the yard. There are several rows of nothing but locomotives parked one after the other farther than the eye can see. Dudley has no idea how many are parked in the yard but it is a bunch and many times more than Dudley has ever seen at one time. Dudley's best guess is that the railroad may have some new device they are retro fitting to all of the 8000 plus locomotives in the fleet that will save money on fuel costs. Otherwise, what could justify the cost of sidelining so many locomotives at once?
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Dudley And Wife And Kids ...
went to a ballgame last night at the Ballpark in Arlington. We saw the Texas Rangers get beat pretty bad by by those damn New York Yankees. I think the final score was 9 to 2. We left a little early to try to beat the traffic jam getting out of the area but it didn't work. By the time Dudley was able to hop a ride on a golf cart to the remote parking lot, the traffic jam was in full force. We could have used valet parking but when they upped the price to $30.00, Dudley decided that was too much. The four tickets cost $220.00 and by the time you buy enough $6.00 hot dogs and $7.50 nachos and $2.50 drinks to wash it all down, you have spent close to $300.00 by the time you are done. It cost $15.00 to park in a remote parking place. I guess they have to pay those inflated players salaries some how. It did make Dudley feel a little better Booing Arod every time he stepped up to the plate. Dudley learned of some great news this afternoon concerning the Texas Rangers. Owner Tom Hicks is considering offers to sell a majority interest in the team. This is great news as Dudley has been hoping for an ownership change for years. Dudley can only hope that whoever buys the team and takes control will be serious about winning and put their money where there mouth is and spend the money needed to get some quality veteran pitchers. Perhaps then the Rangers will make it to the World Series someday. Dudley has been waiting over 30 years and it is time for the Rangers to make a run!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Good People Of The United States Of America ...
need to wake up. Our personal freedoms are being taken from us at an alarming rate. Dudley just read an article about a supervisor at a local hospital that took an American Flag to her office last Friday and hung it on the wall. Another supervisor saw it and took offense and complained to the higher ups and the employee was told to take the flag down. Never mind that this woman's daughter is currently serving in the military and is stationed in Iraq. Never mind that this woman's husband and her sons proudly served in the military. This is the United States Of America, if anyone does not like looking at our flag then leave. Go back to whatever shit hole you came from and don't come back. Quit coming to our country and taking advantage of our Educational System, our Government, and our Citizens and quit trying to destroy our Country!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Mapthefallen.org Great Website To Remember Those That Made The Ultimate Sacrifice On This Memorial Day ...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Frank Mowed The Yard This Morning ...
and then loaded up his kayak and fishing equipment and headed down to the river. He fished all afternoon and caught several largemouth bass and sunfish on his ultralight fly rod and ultralight spinning outfit. He had a blast and lost count of the number of fish he caught. Of interest is the first Red Ear Sunfish that he has ever caught. They are difficult to catch on an artificial lure but danged if he didn't catch a nice male specimen. He also caught a nice Long Ear Sunfish as well as a bunch of Green Sunfish. He had another great day on the water and he had the place to himself. Dudley stayed home all day and enjoyed watching the Rangers beat the Astros for the second day in a row. Tomorrow Dudley is going to watch the Indy 500 and will try to keep up with the score of the Ranger/Astro game during the commercials.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Frank Took His Kayak Down To A Local River/Creek ...
the other evening after work. He fished for about three hours and had a good time. He caught six or seven sunfish and a small bass. They provided great sport on his ultralight fly rod and spinning outfit. Dudley bought him a couple of Yozuri Pin's Minnow lures online a while back and they are catching the fish. They are only two inches long and weigh 1/16 of an ounce. He wants me to get him some in a larger size so he can try to catch some bigger bass. Dudley does not get to go hunting much these days so he satisfies that urge by hunting online for good deals on hunting and fishing equipment for Frank to use out in the field. As much as Dudley enjoyed catching fish over the years Dudley has come to the realization that hunting for and finding the fish was as much fun as catching them. Hunting is an instinct that most people have lost but not Dudley. He was born to hunt and fish.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Dudley Had A Busy Day Yesterday ...
and is staying at home today resting up. Dudley drove over to Arlington, TX to the Rangers Ballpark to the first base ticket office. When Dudley got there he was a little disturbed to see the parking lane by the sidewalk was blocked off by orange traffic cones and there were signs posted stating no stopping or parking. The nearest parking was across four busy lanes of traffic and a wide median. Being disabled and with some pretty severe limitations to his mobility, Dudley took a chance and parked illegally and displayed his handicapped parking placard on his rear view mirror and walked up to the ticket window. Dudley had ten thirty dollar tickets to the private suite from the game that got rained out a while back. Dudley hit a home run as Dudley explained to the ticket lady that he could not climb stairs and needed four tickets at the top of the section. In order to get four tickets together she had to upgrade to much more expensive seats and she did not charge me the difference! The upgraded seats are a lot closer to home plate on the third base side. The game is sure to be a sell out as it is against a popular Yankee team. It seems that a lot of Yankee fans had the misfortune of not being born in Texas but they got here as fast as they could. Dudley also got four seats in the lower home run porch three rows from the field for Frank and three of his friends for a game next month against the Astros. The last two tickets Dudley exchanged for two seats in the lower home run porch at the top of the section in case Dudley goes to the game against the Angels in September. Depending on how the season plays out that could end up being a very important game.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Dudley Has Seen It All Now, The Bacon Bra ...
Monday, May 18, 2009
No Matter How Many Times Dudley Watches This ...
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Dudley Signed Up For A New Service The Other Day ...
with his wireless phone carrier. It is a tracking program where Dudley and wife can track their children's whereabouts via a computer. Dudley signed up for a free 30 day trial. The cost after that will be 9.99 per month. I think it works by triangulation of the cell phone you are tracking between the three nearest cell phone towers. It is not perfectly accurate and has a margin of error of up to a couple of miles. In some cases it is dead on. Yesterday afternoon, Frank was at the ballgame in Arlington and Dudley checked the aerial map view out and it showed Frank to be at the ballpark somewhere in the area of the left field. I found out later that was where he and his buddies were sitting. If it utilized GPS and satellite technology, I am sure it would be more accurate but this is pretty cool the way it is. I bet a lot of people with teenage children are going to use this service. The Rangers won again today and are four and one half games out in first place. We got rained out at the ballpark a while back. This afternoon Dudley and daughter went over to Big Sis's home and picked up the unused tickets from the rained out game. Dudley is going to go by the ticket office this week and exchange the tickets for a couple of up coming games. Am going to try and get some tickets to a game with the Yankees and a game with the Astros. I hope the Rangers keep winning, it is a lot more fun to go to the ballgame when your team wins.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Iv'e Got Your Forgiveness Right Here ...
You Can't Always Be Smooth ...
Friday, May 15, 2009
A Psalm For Our New Changed America From Big Sis ...
The politician is my shepherd -I am in want:
He maketh me to lie down on park benches.
He leadeth me beside the still factories.
He disturbeth my soul.
He leadeth me in the path of destruction for the party's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Depression,
I anticipate no recovery for he is with me.
He prepareth a reduction in my salary. In the presence of mine enemies,
He anointeth my small income with taxes: my expense runneth over.
Surely unemployment and poverty shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in a mortgaged house forever.
Lizzie Is Getting Ready To Go On A Retreat ...
with our church to East Texas. She should have a lot of fun. They have a lot of outdoor activities. The camp is situated around a big private lake. If Dudley was there he would be fishing his heart out trying to catch some bass or sunfish out of that lake. If Dudley were hungry he could try to catch some crappie or catfish. Dudley is not hungry as he and daughter just got home from eating at Chick Fillet. Dudley picked her up from school and then we went and Dudley bought a couple of Lottery tickets. Then it was off to the Post Office to mail a package. In a little while, Dudley will be driving Lizzie up to the church to see her off for her trip. I bet she will have a lot more fun than the rest of us here at the Dudley domicile. Dudley will enjoy watching the Texas Rangers play baseball tonight and this weekend. They are in first place and have really been playing well. It is a good thing as the Dallas Mavericks were eliminated from the playoffs again. There is always next year I guess.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A Chance To Test Out Exactly How Creative ...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Anyone That Rides In A Car That Thinks It 's A Tank Ought To Believe In The Right To Defend One's Family, Self And Home ...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
P. eople E. ating T. asty A. nimals ...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Quick-Start A Rumor ...
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Here Are Some Photos Of Frank's Kayaking Trip ...
on the Brazos river yesterday. That is his friend Chace holding the bass and loading his kayak. The photo of the small bass with the dam in the background was Franks first fish of the day. He said he caught it on his third cast and caught a second small bass a short time later. Chace caught his bass early in the trip. They caught three bass so quick, they thought they were going to tear up the bass. Then for whatever reason the bite shut down and they did not catch another fish the whole trip. They had a great time being on the river and that is what matters. They launched at the dam and paddled down a little over eight miles on this trip. Frank and Dudley floated this section in a canoe about five years ago. It was Dudley's last river trip. Dudley was so tired after the trip, he was unable to get to his feet. The man that runs the canoe shuttle service drove his Jeep down to the waters edge and Dudley was able to pull himself up to his feet by grabbing on to the front bumper. Dudley then got a ride up to the top of the hill where he could make it to the truck. Dudley's muscular dystrophy is a lot worse now than it was five years ago. When Dudley was a teenager, he spent many enjoyable hours fishing and canoeing up on the Illinois River in Northeastern Oklahoma. His stepfathers family had a cabin up there on the river. Those were some great times but distant memories for Dudley. I am glad Frank is able to follow in his father's footsteps. And Dudley can offer the benefit of his years of experience on the river to his son. Before he left, I told him if he heard banjos near the river to paddle like hell!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Dudley Is Holding Down The Fort Today ...
and it sure is quiet around the Dudley domicile. Frank got up before the chickens today and met one of his buddies. They drove two trucks down to the Brazos River and went kayaking/fishing below Lake Whitney Dam. The trip they took today is a little over eight miles in length. I just talked to Frank a little while ago. They had just loaded up their kayaks and were heading out. He said they had a great time. He caught two bass and his friend caught one. Not a great day of fishing but a great day to be out on the river for sure. Dudley's wife an daughter left this morning to go to East Texas for Mother's day. They will be back tomorrow. Dudley has been watching the Indy 500 Qualifying and is getting ready to watch the Mavericks basketball game. Tonight the Rangers will be on. Not sure what I will do tomorrow, probably not much of anything. Quiet relaxing weekends are nice. Hopefully Frank took some photos of his trip. If he did, I will try and post them tomorrow.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The Is Connie Culp, The Recipient Of The First ...
ever face transplant performed in the United States. The photo at the top was taken sometime before her husband Thomas shot her in the face with a shotgun. If it is any consolation he shot himself after the attack on his wife. Both survived and he is currently serving a seven year sentence. The second photo is an x-ray of her skull showing all of the lead shot embedded in what used to be her face. The third set of photos taken much later after the shooting shows the before and after photos following the transplant surgery. The most amazing thing to all of this is in researching the story behind the photos, Dudley learned that Connie plans on getting back with her husband upon his release from prison. If you ask Dudley, she should have her head examined!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Happy Birthday Dudley Turns 50 Years Old Today ...
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
When We Left The Ballpark In Arlington ...
the other night, we drove right by the new Cowboys stadium on the way home. It is one impressive sight. It looks like a giant space ship and cost in excess of one billion dollars to build! Dudley used to think a billion dollars was a lot of money but after all of the government bailouts a billion dollars just does not seem like all that much money any more. Of course the taxpayers got to pay for a good portion of the cost to build the new Cowboys stadium which is almost as big as Jerry Jone's ego. Dudley would like to think that he might be able to go see the Cowboys play a game in the new stadium one of these days but with the ticket prices, who knows if he will be able to afford to go. The season ticket prices are so high the Cowboys are requiring a huge down payment and giving the lucky fan 30 years to pay off the balance. I guess some die hard Cowboy fans may have to sell their vacation home if they want to continue as a season ticket holder in the new stadium. Dudley is going to be stuck at home today, the city is repaving the court in front of Dudley's domicile. Dudley does not want to get his pick up covered with asphalt.
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