This Article Made Me Laugh

Bill Clinton states he couldn't sleep for two years after Hillary lost. He doesn't admit the real reason, but his excuse probably keeps Hillary from nagging him day and night. In most situations, I might feel a little compassion for someone with such problems, but with him, if it's like being in Gitmo with loud pop music being played for 24 hours each day, it's only a small sample of the punishment he deserves.

It Would Only Take a Payload of Rocks

From what I've seen about the hypersonic missile strike, nuclear weapons will be a thing of the past. A payload of rocks, breaking apart a few thousand feet above the ground, at multiple times the speed of sound, would destroy huge sections of a city. There would be no radioactive after effects, and the destruction horrific. With the added fact missiles of this type are too fast for protective measures, those that have them can call the shots.

Salted Pecans and a Lesson Learned

Years ago, probably when I was around 12 years old, I started dipping into the salted pecans at my grandmother's to satisfy my appetite while waiting for Thanksgiving dinner. I would eat a few, go back for some more, ate too many, and they came back up. I made it to the bathroom unobserved, and hid the evidence with a toilet flush. I never told anyone, since such things were frowned upon...or at least I thought they were. I really don't know. I do know I had my first encounter with heartburn that day, and the dinner wasn't quite the enjoyable event I envisioned. 

Since that time, salted pecans are something I avoid. I've tried them, but liking the taste is gone, and will never return.

Early Thanksgiving

We're celebrating Thanksgiving on Wednesday due to some out of town ventures by family, and hunting. It will be good, but a reminder of my family is all gone, and all I will have to celebrate with them are memories. For those that have family still around, savor the day, and never forget every Thanksgiving may be one of their last. 

ZZ Top, La Grange and Nissan

In Texas, there is a historical address: 1629-2099 Rocky Creek Road, La Grange, TX 78945. Current photos on Google don't show anything but a pasture. A little research finds this was once the location of the famous "Chicken Ranch" ZZ-Top had the song "La Grange" which many probably don't know was about the brothel. That probably includes Nissan, which plays the instrumental in one of their commercials. In a way it's ironic. In another, it's an indication of how time blurs the past, and most people really have no idea about events of decades ago.

I've been to La Grange; even stayed one night, but a severe storm overnight left my car with some hail damage, which placed a damper on the trip. It has a quilt museum and one of my wife's favorite quilt shops in the downtown area. It also has a convenience store called the "Texas One Stop" on Hwy 71 that has some really good baked goods. It's a good location for traffic since it's one of the first places to stop for fuel, or to stretch your feet on the highway that runs from IH-10 to Austin. A visit to the large cemetery next to Colorado Street shows the numerous graves of the unfortunate during a Yellow Fever epidemic in 1867. There are too many graves with that year as the year of death, and the birth dates indicate many were young.

La Grange is close to the Hill Country, but doesn't have the steep hills, or is as dry. Nestled in a bend of the Colorado River, the city, and surrounding area, has some astounding oak trees. That, and the pastures in the outskirts allow some of the best grazing for cattle. Leaving town on 77 allows a twisting drive along one of the most beautiful sections of highway in Texas, but it's just more of the beauty of the city. The county court house is remarkable. The older streets are filled with magnificent live oaks, and there are restaurants for most taste preferences.

While the city is most known for a brothel long gone, it's not what many would envision. To me, it's a comfortable city, rich in history, and I was a little surprised with my first visit. I had no idea of what to expect, but my wife's anticipation of visiting the quilt museum was worth visit. She wasn't disappointed, and neither was I. Since that time, we've been back, and if we're traveling in that area, we will usually make it a point to pass through to stop at a quilt store.