Charlene and I had a great time, (along with long-time broadcaster Barry Warner,) judging singers for a trip to Nashville and a recording demo.
There are some amazingly good, and bad voices out there!
This was a 10-week contest and we handled the finals. Marketing guru Doug Harris hit another homer with this gig.

Barry “The Sports-Mouth” Warner is one of the good guys in Houston broadcasting.
We’re two of the “old-timers” who are left standing.

So as the rain day approaches I’m back out in the dirt.
My legs ache and my little wheelbarrow is not moving so fast the second day.
I had let the crews put plates down to ease their placing a line under the street,
and allowed use of my over-sized driveway on one side for crew vehicles.
Some neighbors parked on the other driveway.

Anyway, as I’m slowly shoveling along, three guys with shovels appear at the gate.
A backhoe drops another yard of dirt! Yikes guys I can’t use that!

I can’t spread all this before the rains tomorrow…
The foreman says: “Step aside Mr. Jackson, you’re done for the day!”
With that, they finished ALL the dirt work that we could do with a soggy yard, and promised to come back in October with more as things get dry. (They’ll be in the neighborhood for a year.)

(I won’t post the other shots, I mean, dirt is… dirt right?)
But the point is, this crew, very busy, took pity on a poor guy struggling along.

Yea, the crew chief ordered the backhoe, but the guys on the shovels volunteered.
Guess the big guy upstairs was showin’ that what ya put out can indeed come back to ya.

Oh… and never talk to me about city crews being lazy or not caring about the communities they work in.
THIS group went above and beyond. I’m more than a little grateful for their kindness.

I remember L.O. telling me years ago, “You know son, I’m still strong, but year by year I can feel my strength leavin’ me.”
I thought to myself, “Wow, gettin’ older is a bitch!”
Well… Now I know how true that statement is.
This is the tale of the great Intervale dirt movement of ‘09

New waterlines going in, so I can get free dirt. It’s mine of course, but the city acts like they’re doin’ ya a favor.
The tractor sinks trying to go to the back of the property so we dump 1 1/4 yards by the little barn.

(Note the rut, and the fact that I’m already shoveling)

My tools are NOT ideal. A half-spade shovel, iron hoe, and small, rusty wheelbarrow.

I thought I was gonna get mostly top soil, “good dirt” as the guy said.
Erm, No. Didn’t turn out that way, note that this is mostly CLAY

AND IT IS IN B I G HARD CLUMPS!

As of this writing I’ve managed to create a crude motorcycle path where it usually floods

Fill in various low spots created by the dogs, and build up a path for the concrete stones to the Toy Hauler.

Every muscle in my body ACHES.

AND…
If I don’t finish moving that pile of clay before it rains?
I’ll have a motorcycle jump whether I want one or not.

It’s official. If I can’t afford to HIRE such a thing to be done?
It. Doesn’t. Get. Done!

Learn to look at what you think you see with a more critical eye.

This happened next door in Pasadena, where all the refineries down here are built.
Couple moves in. she gives him bling, they buy seven goldfish and start a life together.
As is wont to happen, there is discord.
She gets an apartment down the street from his house, and asks for the bling back.
He says no way it’s mine.
She says, “Well, there will be blood.”

Today police went to her apartment after the guy reported the fish had been stolen.
He said when he asked her, she said she was busy having a fish fry.

Sure enough, cops find a frying pan in the kitchen with four battered up and fried goldfish.
“Where are the other three fish” asks the officer.
“Ate ‘em” sez our Texas gal.

No charges filed as they were considered community property.
Do not mess with Texas womenz.

My GF lives in Pasadena.
I love my animals.
I’m being a vewy good boy!

“I’m a widdle teapot…”

Or:

Hey Craig! Here’s yer “wide stance!”

Good gawd I loathe this li’l creature. He had more than his 15.
Please Lord, let him fade away… quietly.

I enjoyed my years doing Astros spots.
From time to time, Pam Gardner would ask me to participate in various fun PR events.

This is a pic from one of my favs… announcing the ‘Stro’s/Dodgers lineups from the floor of the Dome.
We claimed to set the “indoor projection record” when they confirmed I could be heard “up top”.

This shot is from ESPN. They used the stunt to open SportsCenter that night.

Here’s the video

I’m SO tired of the narrow-minded blather that passes for discourse on the net.

I was moved to song. (Apologies to those real song writers I know and love!)