Inside of every older person is a younger person asking,
“Where Did It Go?”
Vol 3 Nr 2 February 2011
A Fun and Informative Rag for Those Who Have Been Around the Block and Attended at Least One Rodeo
SUPER FRENZY
And then it is Winter . . . Author Unknown
Steelers vs Packers
Are you ready for some football? It’s almost here, SuperBowl XLV on February 6, 2011. Super Sunday has almost become a recognized national holiday. Professional football as we know it began in 1920 with the 14-league American Professional Football Association. The APFA became the NFL in 1922, and had no serious competition until 1960, when the fourth AFL became a major power. After years of bitter rivalry, the leagues were forced to broker a merger deal to avoid financial ruin. The merger would be gradual, they decided: for the 1967 season, they’d share a draft and a championship bowl, and by 1970 they would be merged into a single super football league of 26 teams, the NFL. The NFL was still on top, but this AFL seriously influenced the NFL, unlike its predecessors. High-powered passing strategies and end-zone celebrations are its most durable legacies. The NFL absorbed the AFL in 1970; after that, the two “Super Teams” came from the two NFL conferences, the NFC and AFC. Since then, despite the occasional upstart football league that didn’t last, the NFL hasn’t looked back. Surprisingly, given the importance of the game, Superbowl history is rather brief: the
first Superbowl championship was held in 1967. Bowl games are nothing new in football, but the Super Bowl elevated the practice to an American sports tradition. It all started as a way for the champions of the two pigskin leagues of the time, the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL), to determine who really was Number One. Superbowl I, which capped off the 1966 season, took place on January 15, 1967 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Almost 62,000 fans were in the stadium to see Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers teach the Kansas City Chiefs a painful lesson about who was boss, to the tune of 35-10. Millions more watched the super cool new bowl game on TV; and thus a new football tradition was born. I believe I’ve seen every game but one on TV. I’ve seen two on cruise ships and also attended SuperBowl VIII in person at Rice Stadium in 1974. The game was between the Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings. I was working for a company which headquartered in a St. Paul Suburb and had some friends who had season tickets to the Vikings but could
not come to Houston for the game so used their option to get me tickets which I believe cost about $28. Tickets now range from $2590-$6590. There were 72,000 people there and Larry Csonka won the MVP. Other key players on the Dolphins roster included QB Bob Griese, DB Nick Anderson, OL Jim Langer, OL Larry Little, OL Wayne Moore, DB Jake Scott and WR Paul Warfield. The notable players for the Vikings included QB Fran Tarkenton, RB Chuck Foreman, WR John Gilliam, DL Carl Eller, DB Paul Krause, DL Alan Page, OL Ron Yary, and LB Jeff Siemon. One of the pleasures of football’s Super Sunday has always been its memorable TV ads. Super Bowl ads are known for a certain flair and over-thetop style, and have been used in amusing and startling ways to sell products. Who can forget the Bud Bowl ads, a tradition since 1988, in which bottles of Budweiser beer fight it out for the championship? The year 1984 saw the creepy commercial that introduced the CONTINUED, PG. 3
You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all... And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams... But, here it is..the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well...seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like... But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting gray...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change... Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d be. Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore...it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will..I just fall asleep where I sit! And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it’s over...its over.... Yes , I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done..... things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime.... So, if you’re not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don’t put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for good today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember... and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!! ‘Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.’
2 WHERE DID IT GO February 2011
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February 2011 WHERE DID IT GO 3
Stuck in a Rutt
Letter from the Editor “A f t e r a l l , t h e c h i e f business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing and prospering in t h e w o r l d .” -- Calvin Coolidge
I know I’m going to catch flak from my Texas University friends but I have always been impressed with the Aggie Band and stirred by the Aggie War Hymn. I found a little history on them to share with you. I did not go to TU or A&M so there is no collegial bias and I’m sure I’ll have tales to tell about Texas in some other issue.
I hope you enjoy the football theme. I was fortunate enough to have season tickets for the Houston Oilers from 19781980, the “Luv Ya Blue” days. I got ‘em a few days before they drafted Earl Campbell and lost them a few days before they fired Bum Phillips. Just right! Gene Rutt - Publisher/Editor
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Full Page $399 per insertion for 3 months 1/2 Page $263 per insertion for 3 months 1/4 Page $149 per insertion for 3 months 1/8 Page $ 99 per insertion for 3 months 1/16 Page $ 59 per insertion for 3 months ADD 10% FOR SINGLE INSERTION For best effect, always advertise for at least three months. “Inflation is not caused by the actions of private citizens, but by the government: by an artificial expansion of the money supply required to support deficit spending. No private embezzlers or bank robbers in history have ever plundered people’s savings on a scale comparable to the plunder perpetrated by the fiscal policies of statist governments.” --Ayn Rand
Super Bowl from page 1
MacIntosh computer system, and in a 1980 commercial, Mean Joe Greene was inspired to trade his jersey to a young fan for a cool Coke. In more recent years, Go Daddy ads have been most memorable. The best Superbowl commercials are tiny works of art, starring Hollywood favorites like Cindy Crawford and Elijah Wood. They’d better be good, because they’re expensive, and are often never shown again. For Super Bowl XXXIX, a thirty-second commercial spot cost $2.4 million; that’s $80,000 a second. But to commercial advertisers the costs are worth it, because the Superbowl TV audience is a ready made pool of consumers who don’t mind watching an entertaining ad or two. Super ad prices pay for themselves when the money rolls in, whether you’re selling computer services or a bowl of potato chips. Incidentally, the average cost for a 30 second commercial during Superbowl VIII was $103,000. The Superbowl may be just over 40 years old, but few days are surrounded by as much hoopla and anticipation as Superbowl Sunday. Usually held on the last Sunday in January or the first Sunday in February after post-season at a time in the early evening. Super Bowl Sunday isn’t just a sporting event, it’s an opportunity for millions of Americans to revel in their favorite game. Considering the millions who watch (and the multimillions in advertising revenue they produce) this annual bowl game is certainly one of the most super sporting events ever to enter the American consciousness. Few among us haven’t attended at least one Superbowl party. Whether a tailgate party outside with hot dogs and hamburgers, a Superbowl bar party with beer and pretzels, or a full-fledged soiree with 20 friends in front of a new bigscreen TV, most of us have enjoyed Super Bowl camaraderie in the past and will do so again. By the time the game starts, the average true fan will have been partying for hours, chatting with friends about the upcoming game, downing lots of snacks, and watching the copious Superbowl pre-game shows on the tube. Few Sundays in the year are nearly as popular as Superbowl Sunday. The Super Bowl halftime show takes place after the second quarter. This gives both teams a chance to regroup and discuss the strategies and
plays they need for the rest of the game. It also gives the fans a break from excitement and a chance to sit back, relax and take in some fantastic entertainment. To be selected as the entertainment for the Superbowl halftime is a big coup for anyone because it provides exposure to millions of people across North America and the world. The past ten Super Bowl games have featured impressive halftime shows that wowed the crowds. 2010 - The Who 2009 - Bruce Springsteen 2008 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers 2007 - Florida A&M University Band 2006 - The Rolling Stones 2005 - Paul McCartney 2004 - Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake 2003 - Shania Twain, No Doubt and a surprise visit from Sting 2002 - Rock Group U 2 and a tribute to 9/11 2001 - A star-studded line up with AeroSmith, Nsync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and rapper Nelly 2011 This year the half time show will feature The Black-Eyed Peas One of the most controversial halftime shows at the Super Bowl occurred in 2004, when the star’s top came down and bared her breast to the crowd. Although many people dismissed it as accidental, there was a lot of controversy because many people felt it was deliberate. This ruined what the organizers wanted to be family entertainment, which is what halftime shows are designed to be. Since young and old gather together to watch the Superbowl, it needs to be acceptable to all viewers. In the beginning days of the Super Bowl, the halftime show was a very small affair, just to keep the fans occupied. Now it is a big event - almost as big as the game itself. Those who do not follow football teams during the season, watch the halftime show. So, let’s warm up the snacks and ice down the drinks. It’s almost time for the Super Bowl. Much of this information is courtesy of: www.super-bowl-history.us
4 WHERE DID IT GO February 2011
Random
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February 14-20
The Most Expensive Coffee in the World Not just an urban legend
Week What is Random Acts of Kindness Week? Random Acts of Kindness Week focuses on the spirit of hope and goodness. It is a springboard for action. A time to be open, to act upon thoughts of generosity that arise spontaneously from your heart. Just notice what happens as kindness ripples out! The week is an invitation for individuals, schools, community groups, service clubs, businesses, health institutions, schools and churches to join hearts and hands to create a better world. A kind act is “random” when it is unexpecteddone simply out of the will to extend goodness, person to person, without expecting anything in return. Join in the “kindness revolution” today and make a positive difference on this planet that we all call “home.”
Computer Tips Ron Jones Owner - Friendly Computers
Out of The Park When Microsoft released Windows 98 SE, everyone quickly realize that a robust and stable operating system had finally become available. A short time later, we all started hearing about Millennium Edition which was going to solve any and all problems associated with computers. We watched on TV as a kid beat on a keyboard with a plastic hammer and then observed his smiling mother as she used the wonder of the restore point to undo all the damage. What a joke! The most prevalent thing ME provided was an abundance of frustration. Like the Knight on a white horse, Windows XP was released and many of us still enjoy using this great computing tool. Apparently Microsoft concluded that the next step after XP should be an operating system with great inherent security so they released Vista. The objective was met. Vista is so secure it is almost impossible for a typical user to complete any work with the thing. Yea, it looks “pretty” but, in my opinion, most of the advantages over XP end right there. Maybe Microsoft looked at Vista compared to XP and experienced flashbacks about ME because Windows 7 is to Vista as XP was to ME. It is a great operating system and it is pretty too. Hardware requirements are quoted as being far more demanding than those stipulated for XP and I am sure that projections are factual for users who are involved in extremely demanding computational or video intense applications. My experience has shown that Windows 7 runs great on systems even when Microsoft projections indicate totally inadequate performance. I have Windows 7 Starter installed on a Netbook running applications like QuickBooks and Photo Shop with adequate performance. Especially if you use a machine with anywhere close to the recommended hardware capabilities, your experience with Windows 7 will be very enjoyable. Microsoft did “hit it out of the park” with 7.
If you saw the movie “The Bucket List” you may already be aware of this coffee. Jack Nicholson’s character mentioned that it was the best and most expensive coffee in the world. It was not until late in the movie that a little more information about its source was revealed by Morgan Freeman’s character. Kopi Luwak coffee comes from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, an area well-known for its excellent coffee. Also native to the area is a small civit-like animal called a Paradoxurus. That’s the scientific name, the locals call them luwaks. These little mammals live in the trees and one of their favorite foods is the red, ripe coffee cherry. They eat the cherries, bean and all. While the bean is in the little guy’s stomach, it undergoes chemical treatments and fermentations. The bean finishes its journey through the digestive system, and exits. The still-intact beans are collected from the forest floor, and are cleaned, then roasted and ground just like any other coffee. Research by food scientist Massimo Marcone at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada showed that the civet’s endogenous digestive secretions seep into the beans. These secretions carry proteolytic enzymes which break down the beans’ proteins, yielding shorter peptides and more free amino acids. Since the flavor of coffee owes much to its proteins, there is a hypothesis that this shift in the numbers and kinds of proteins in beans after being swallowed by civets brings forth their unique flavor. The proteins are also involved in non-enzymatic Maillard browning reactions brought about later by roasting. Moreover, while inside a civet the beans begin to germinate by malting which also lowers their bitterness The resulting coffee is said to be like no other. It has a rich, heavy flavour with hints of caramel or chocolate. Other terms used to describe it are earthy, musty and exotic. The body is almost syrupy and it’s very smooth. One must wonder about the circumstances that brought about the first cup of Kopi Luwak coffee. Who would think to (or even want to) collect and roast beans out of animal feces? Perhaps a native figured it was easier to collect the beans from the ground this way, rather than having to work harder and pick them from the trees? We’ll likely never know. But because of the strange method of collecting, there isn’t much Kopi Luwak produced in the world. The average total annual production is only around 500 pounds of beans. Because of the rarity of this coffee, the price is quite outrageous. If you can find a vendor, the current cost for a pound of Copy Luwak is around $300 or more. Some more adventurous coffee houses are selling it by the cup, but you won’t likely find it at your local coffee shop just yet. The coffee isn’t so spectacular that it’s truly worth that amount of money. You are paying for the experience of enjoying such an unusual and rare delicacy.
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February 2011 WHERE DID IT GO 5
Libations for February Please Drink Responsibility
KICKOFF PUNCH Punch Bowl Ladle Ice cubes Punch cups / mugs 6 oz. pineapple juice 8 oz. orange juice 3 cans/ bottles of club soda or ginger ale 6 oz. lemon juice 1 pint light rum ( add more or less if desired ) Mix everything but club soda together in punch bowl. Chill a few hours and then add a small amount of ice to keep cool. Add large bottle ( about 36 oz.) of club soda before serving. Decorate with fresh lime or lemon slices.
LUCID LINEBACKER
1 ½ oz. Lucid Absinthe 2 oz. Pineapple Juice Muddled Mint Leaves Lime Wedge Topped with Sprite or 7-UP
PUNTER PUNCH
4 oz. Flor de Caña 7-year Grand Reserve 8 sugar cubes 3 oz. club soda 2 oz. lemon juice 2 tsp peach brandy 2 tsp cinnamon bark syrup 2 oz. CAMUS Cognac Method: 1. Dissolve the sugar cubes in 1 oz. of club soda (this generally involves muddling to help process) 2. After the sugar cubes are muddled/dissolved, add the rest of the ingredients one at a time and stir as added 3. Add ice once all of the ingredients have been added and stirred 4. Stir the punch until it is chilled Strain the punch into a glass or punch bowl, depending on the size of the portion and top with 2 oz. club soda TOUCHDOWN 1 oz vodka 6 oz Red Bull® energy drink Fill a shot glass with Absolut Mandrin. Separately, fill a highball glass a little less then 1/2 way with Red Bull. Drop the shot class of vodka into the glass of Red Bull and slam it. When you are done downing this energy shot, throw your hands in the air and yell “Touchdown”. Now see how many points you can score.
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6 WHERE DID IT GO February 2011
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At quiet times, on airline flights or sitting in long meetings, the subject creeps up on my easily digressed mind and me. Where the hell did all the pieces of the Aggie War Hymn come from and why does it have the hold it has over those lucky enough to be Ags, or luckier still to be in the Band? I have a few Aggie books, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything that remotely begins to explain it (beyond: “Pinky Wilson wrote it”. And he didn’t write the music. He did better than that. He stole it, which is appropriate, right and just.) Why is all this overlooked? It’s a rich, eclectic gathering of stuff that makes one of the great raucous incitements to riot ever put to music. Band members know a few things that most Ags don’t because we’re in the middle of it. (We’re the Bee-Cues, Bravo Quebec, members of the hardest working outfit you ever saw.) There are likely a few things Band members, as individuals, don’t know because it is (at least when I was in the Band) difficult to know what’s going on clear across the band in another instrument section. SO it starts off with Recall. It’s an old honest-to-gosh bugle call that signaled troops to return to station. It became identified with the end of the working day. At A&M a holiday was off to an official start when the bugler played Recall right after morning chow: sweet music indeed. The Band, for its performance purposes, knows how to get the student body’s attention and make it feel good, too. Play Recall. Play it twice.
First time, the trumpets sound with first and third valves down, G (Concert F), B and D, a long path through the horn. It’s an easy, low frequency tone, so even a lousy musician can hit that first note right on. It has a strange, deep, hollow sound, as though addressed mostly to folks that can’t be at the game. The second round comes out with all the valves open, the shortest path through the horn, in the highest key that the horn can execute the call. This time it’s C (Concert B flat), E and G. This sound splits air, a call to all living souls. Everyone’s standing up and we’re only using the brass horns. Hullabaloo. There can’t be any reasonable explanation for this. Possibly it is some 20’s era catch phrase. One story holds that it emulates the sound of World War I tanks moving through the mud. It’s a little nonsensical, but a lot hairier than your basic “Boola Boola”. It carries no complication whatever, using one note in kind of a cadence count. It’s a great transition for the Band because it’s on the move now and several hundred troops need to concentrate more on alignment and cadence than picking out the notes on the horn. One of the better openings for a drum section anywhere, anytime. Caneck Caneck. The main chorus of The Aggie War Hymn isn’t original music. It’s an old ragtime era song, but not rag music, called “Hello, My Coney Island Baby”. That’s the melody. I saw Tony Orlando (yeah, THAT Tony Orlando) perform once on television. I once spied a barber shop quartet in Cleveland singing it on local TV. I figure old Wilson
February 2011 WHERE DID IT GO 7
heard the piece in New York before shipping out to France and calculated it would be the perfect backdrop for verses really insulting to Teasippers. It truly is a “shoot the lights out” kind of work: music to bar-fight by. Musically, the Band has a lot of respect for it. There’s not much goofing around. Just play the music. The baritones, and reeds have a couple of features, up and down runs that connect phrases. The trombones do not embellish but provide a downward tracking backbone, one note per beat where the rest of the Band has two. The drum cadence alone qualifies as a dangerous weapon. Just for effect, the Band plays it twice. The student body sings the second verse twice, “Good bye to Texas University” Good luck for the Aggies. But what is this “stuff” at the end of the verse? Could it be a voice rendition of a drum roll off? “Chig a rig a rem. Chig a rig a rem. Rough stuff. Real Stuff. Texas A&M.” One A&M president (a non-Aggie, no less) said it was Chickasaw for “Beat the hell out of t.u.” The words ricochet away to “Saw Varsity’s horns off”, something the student body was doing before the War Hymn existed. The music is “Go tell Aunt Rhodie”. The music issued to my trumpet and me was kind of a bugle voluntaire. It’s a fantastic and creative bit, clearly audible above the message to Aunt Rhodie, that stitches the Band’s discipline through the sound riot going on around it. I never did know if any trumpets had a melody part on “Saw Varsity’s”. If not, the rest of the Band holds its own without the trumpets in the melody line. The trombones rule supreme. The most frightening thing the Band ever does is the few counts right after “Saw Varsity’s” and before “Wildcat”. Nothing. Four full counts of nothing. I’m sure many observers aren’t fully conscious of it. But there are few instances where a performance organization gets so much effect out of silence. On a street march, you hear the shoe taps on the street: click, click, click, click. Hoo-wah. “Wildcat” is wonderful. It explodes like a bomb out of the preceding quiet. I think it sounds like bagpipes when it’s really right. It’s the one thing in the War Hymn music (the full Band rendition) that may be truly original. Isn’t this where the bass horns butt in, spitting through their mouthpieces with the big double stinger in the middle? Then comes “Hot Time”. Probably the only time you’ll ever hear this piece used to ease
things in and calm a performance down. And the trombones don’t get the message. The first phrase has the whole Band playing “Hot Time” but I’m certain the trombone line hits the first notes of “Our Boys Will Fight” before making a top-down ya-ta-tahtah-tah counter to the second phrase. On the close, the second time through “Hot Time”, The Col. didn’t seem to mind a little trumpet free-lancing. There always seems to be at least one trumpeter playing the “hot time in the old town tonight” phrase an octave over the music sheets. In the right circumstances, the Band is done but the crowd is in full frenzy, pleased with itself, very pleased with the Band. Or the Band is on the march and moving on to some other piece of music. I believe I first saw and heard the Band playing the War Hymn on the streets of Liberty Texas in 1956 at a bicentennial celebration (for Liberty, the Atascosita District or the Liberty Bell. I did forget those specifics.) I remember, during my college years, being part of the mechanism that makes that amazing sound. I have seen the 30th cadet since me to march at file 11, Bugle Rank. (She is obviously the sharpest cadet in the Corps.) We were appointed deliverers of the War Hymn. We were gods. We were part of something made of nothing but people now gone who passed it to us, and people now there, to whom we passed it. If we keep our old heads clear, we know that we’re the only ones who remember when we delivered the show. But we can go back and see it and hear it. Physically. We’re still there. Us. When we were the best we ever were. No, I really haven’t had anything to drink -- maybe too much to think. I apologize for the length of the story. I have indulged myself too much. Gig ‘em Aggies Patrick Harris/Cleveland
“LUV YA BLUE”
“Luv Ya Blue” was the term given to a movement by fans of the Houston Oilers of the National Football League in the late 1970s that featured fight songs, pom-poms and other features more reminiscent of the college game than the NFL. In the early 1970s, the Houston Oilers had fallen on hard times. In 1975, Bum Phillips was hired as the coach and ushered in a new era for the Oilers. With the help of stars such as Billy “White Shoes” Johnson and Elvin Bethea, the Oilers had their first winning season of the decade in 1975. In 1978, the Oilers drafted one of the most dominant running backs in college football, Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell of the University of Texas. Campbell went on to become the NFL Rookie of the Year, as well as the Most Valuable Player in 1978. Led by the charismatic Phillips, the team quickly became a sensation in Houston. Many team members, including Campbell, began adopting Phillips “good ole boy” attitude by wearing cowboy boots and “ten gallon” cowboy hats. As the 1978 season progressed, Campbell contributed such a large part of Houston’s offense that many fans began referring to the team as the Houston “Earlers”. This would soon change, however, as Campbell himself would give Oilers fans another catchphrase to use while cheering for their team. On November 20, 1978, the Oilers took on the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. In order to boost team spirit, the Oilers gave each fan a blue and white pompom before the game. The sight of over 70,000 fans waving the pompoms inspired the Oilers to a 35-30 victory, behind Campbell’s 199 rushing yards. After the game, Campbell stated, “The display of ‘Luv Ya Blue’ was a chance for people of all races and backgrounds to come together as a city. More than that, it was a feeling that the players and fans shared without even talkin’. We owed it all to one man: Bum Phillips.” After that night, blue-clad fans began to bring “Luv Ya Blue” signs to the Astrodome. Face painting also became popular, with many fans sporting the Oilers’ logo painted on their cheek. Pep rallies were often organized and the Astrodome was regularly sold out as the entire city went wild for the Oilers. Houston’s energy based economy was also booming at the time due to rising fuel prices, and this gave a large sense of optimism that boosted Oilers fans. Additionally, many thousands of new Houstonians had recently moved in from other parts of the US due to the surging economy, and the Oilers became a common cause for new and established citizens to feel civic pride. “...number of IRS audits to continue to rise.”
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8 WHERE DID IT GO February 2011
Tropicalattitude
Kala Garcia, Realtor 832-721-7121 kalarealtor@gmail.com
“Celebrating the Waterfront Lifestyle”
Dickinson - Commercial property on high traffic road FM1266. 1.9 acres. 8,600 sq. ft steel building with store front. Warehouse with 3 bay doors, lots of office space, security fence. Area for parking 70 + cars. 3/2 house next door included. $549,000.
San Leon - (14th Street) Wonderful 3 story on huge corner property. 3/2-1/2/ + extra room, work shop with bay doors, 3 balconies with beautiful views, recent A/C and flooring. Approx. 1800 sq ft. $175,000.
Dickinson Darling - Nice 2/1/1 for investment or live-in. Open family room and dining area, recently updated kitchen. Fenced, Central Heat and AC. Nice sized backyard. Good buy! $63,000
Galveston - Wonderful water views of the beach and the bay, 2/2/2 plus a full efficiency apartment, 20,000 sq. ft lot on Galveston’s west end. 2 huge balconies, open island kitchen, living and dining area, woodburning f/p, large bedrooms, lots of windows to view the water. $189,000
Waterfront
League City Waterfront Condo, beautiful views. elevator - 2/1 , Open, high ceilings, Gorgeous bamboo floors, all appliances included, pool, workout room. 50 ft Boat Slip included (Davis Rd) $89,000.
Pearland Silverlake - Perry Home, 3/2 plus gameroom,. Split floorplan, Stnless steel appliances, lg walk-in closets.. Formal Dining. Ready for immediate move-in, Big backyard. $159,900.
House #1
House #2
Bacliff - TWO for the price of ONE! Income producing property. Low Property Tax Rate! Owner Finance Available. Seller will look at reasonable offers. (Baker St.) $100,000.
Gulf Coast Realtors
312 FM 517 W 832-721-7121
Dickinson, Texas 77539 www.gulfcoastrealtors.net
What’s all the Flap about Flamingos
For what it’s worth, I like ‘em. I like the live ones you only see in zoos or botanical gardens of maybe Hialeah Racetrack in Florida but, I’ll admit, I also like the plastic ones you see in yards too. Plastic yard flamingos are the epitome of tropical tacky but are also endearing. Aside from the parrot, the flamingo is probably the bird most associated with “tropicalness.” There is the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas; Flamingo Gardens in Florida; even Flamingo Land in the UK as well as countless other businesses that operate under the feathered pink umbrella. The presence of plastic flamingos in a yard tells you something about the residents of that abode. They are either completely naturally tasteless without a clue or have a good sense of humor and enjoy the tastelessness designation. I had some plastic flamingos of my own stolen from my yard one time and yes, I experienced a sense of loss. Probably the most asked question about live flamingos is “Why do they stand on one leg like they do?” and the answer, of course, is “if they didn’t they’d fall down.” Flamingos are found in tropical and subtropical areas, except for those trailer parks in Wisconsin. The scientific classification of Flamingos is confusing. Parts of their bodies are like that of storks, other parts are like herons and they have webbed feet and waterproof plumage like geese. There are five species and they have appeared to evolve from shorebirds 30 million years ago. Fossilized flamingo footprints estimated to be seven million years old have been found in the Andes Mountains. Their most characteristic habitats are large alkaline or saline lakes or estuarine lagoons that usually lack vegetation. Lakes may be far inland or near the sea. A variety of habitats are used by flamingos: mangrove swamps, tidal basins and sandy islands in the intertidal zone. The presence or absence of fish may have a great influence on the use of lakes by some flamingos. Flamingos are generally non-migratory birds. However, due to changes in the climate and water levels in their breeding areas, the colonies are not always permanent. Most flamingos that migrate will return to their native colony to breed. However, some may join a neighboring colony. When flamingos do migrate, they do so mainly at night. They prefer to fly with a cloudless sky and favorable tailwinds. Flamingos Page 11
February 2011 WHERE DID IT GO 9
Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary.
We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others. HOWEVER, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took: The melody out of music, The pride out of appearance, The courtesy out of driving, The romance out of love, The commitment out of marriage, The responsibility out of parenthood, The togetherness out of the family, The learning out of education, The service out of patriotism, The Golden Rule from rulers, The nativity scene out of cities, The civility out of behavior, The refinement out of language, The dedication out of employment, The prudence out of spending, The ambition out of achievement or God out of government and school. And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others!! And, we do understand the meaning of patriotism, and remember those who have fought and died for our country. Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts as they stand at attention with their hand over their hearts!
YES, I’M A SENIOR CITIZEN! I’m the life of the party...... even if it lasts until 8 p.m. I’m very good at opening childproof caps.... with a hammer. I’m awake many hours before my body allows me to get up. I’m smiling all the time because I can’t hear a thing you’re saying. I’m sure everything I can’t find is in a safe secure place, somewhere. I’m wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that’s just my left leg. I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps. Yes, I’m a SENIOR CITIZEN and I think I am having the time of my life! Now if I could only remember who sent this to me, I wouldn’t send it back to them, but I would send it to many more too! Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let’s be happy While we’re here. Go Green - Recycle CONGRESS!! Now I remember, thanks, John Garnett for sending this.
Aft-ter Thoughts:
by Captain B. G. Willie
An Amish boy and his father were visiting a nearby mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny silver walls that moved apart and back together again by themselves. The lad asked, “What is this, father?” The father, having never seen an elevator, responded, “I have no idea what it is.” While the boy and his father were watching wide-eyed, an old lady in a wheelchair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched as small circles lit up above the walls. The walls opened up again and a beautiful twenty-four-year-old woman stepped out. The father looked at his son anxiously and said, “Go get your mother.” 9TH ANNUAL GALLOWAY GALLOP MARDI GRAS FUN RUN RETURNS TO THE KEMAH BOARDWALK The Galloway Gallop Mardi Gras Fun Run returns to Kemah on Saturday, February 26, 2011! The run begins at 8 am with a certified 10K and 5K race, followed by a Kid K dash at 9 am. This is the ninth year for the popular fun run, which benefits The Galloway School, an accredited, nondenominational, non-profit private school for grades PK-3 through 6 located in Friendswood, TX. The race will be the first event with Kemah’s official Krewe du Lac Mardi Gras festival, so don’t miss all the other Mardi Gras fun to follow. Details of the Mardi Gras schedule can be found at: www.krewedulac.org
PET OF THE MONTH
Desperately seeking a foster…Sally and her sister were rescued running along some railroad tracks. She is about 2 years old and is a lot of fun and very active. She’s also a border collie mix so she’s smart as a whip. She would be best placed in a home without children or other dogs. She has been heartbreakingly returned to SCP for the reasons given and will be staying at a boarding kennel if a foster parent cannot be found for her.. With a firm hand and the Cesar Milan handbook at your side, you can become her pack leader and relieve her of her need to be the lead herding dog of the house In addition SCP is seeking foster parents for the following: Belle, a Chihuahua, with 3 puppies that are 6 weeks old; a dachshund female with 3 puppies that are 2 weeks old; Wally, a 5-month-old Chihuahua returned because of family problems; T Beaux, a black Lab mix male returned because the teenager who wanted him is going off to college and the parents don’t want the responsibility of caring for him. Our animals are shown at Petco (Bay Area Blvd. at Space Center Blvd.) every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at Petsmart (Baybrook Mall) the first and third Sunday of the month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. PLEASE SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS Second Chance Pets 281-286-3535 www.secondchancepets.org
From a San Francisco newspaper: To all you hunters who kill animals for food, shame on you; you ought to go in the store and buy the meat that was made there, where no animals were harmed. I am calling in regard
10 WHERE DID IT GO February 2011
HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY,
A Memo to my Pets
RONALD REAGAN The image of the lifeguard seems to represent what Reagan was to America and to the freedom-loving people of the world. He lifted our country up at a time when we were in the depths of economic, cultural and spiritual malaise. We were told that we must accept that the era of American greatness was over; but with his optimism and common sense, President Reagan held up a mirror to the American soul to remind us of our exceptionalism.
Sarah Palin
Sargent, TX
“Explore the Undiscovered Charm”
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CLEAR LAKE TEA PARTY Tuesday February 8, 2011
“Actions Speak Louder“ Town Hall Meeting
Guest Speakers: Corie Whelan - American Majority Cheryl Johnson - Galveston County Tax Assessor Bud Caldwell - “The Greatest Generation” Geri Bentley - Outline “Citizen Lobbyist” Class (Class will be offered in conjunction with “Watchdog” training at a later date)
Open Panel Question and Answer
Date: Tuesday February 8, 2011 Location: Kemah Community Center Hwy 146 at FM 2094 Kemah, TX. 77565 Time: 6:30 PM Bring your family, neighbors and friends! E-Mail: info@clearlaketeaparty.com Web: www.clearlaketeaparty.com
Dear Pets: When I say move, it means go someplace else. It does not mean switch positions with each other so there are still two of you in the way. The dishes on the floor are yours and contain your food. All other dishes are mine and contain my food. (Please note: Placing a paw print in the middle of my dinner does not stake your claim on it, nor do I find it esthetically pleasing in any way).
Dog: Don’t think for a minute that making a sad face and whimpering pathetically will get you out of trouble when I find a puddle of pee on the carpet. The face and whimpering only validate that you knew it was wrong when you did it. Cat: My sitting down to bite into a juicy sandwich is not a signal for you to begin gagging loudly and then hocking up the most disgusting hairball in history.
Dog and Cat: The proper order is kiss me, THEN go lick The stairway was not de- yourself. I cannot stress this signed by NASCAR and is not enough. a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object and To pacify you, I have posttripping me doesn’t help be- ed the following message on cause I fall faster than you can our front door: run. Rules for Non-Pet Owners I cannot buy anything big- Who Visit and Complain ger than a king size bed. Lo- About Our Pets: cate your inner beast and remember that sleeping animals They live here; you don’t. can actually curl up in a ball, so it is not necessary to sleep If you don’t want their hair perpendicular to each other, on your clothes, stay off the stretched out to the fullest ex- furniture. tent possible. I like my pet better than I My compact discs are not like most people. miniature Frisbees. To you, it’s an animal; For the last time, humans to me, it is an adopted child like to use the bathroom alone. who is short, hairy, walks on If by some miracle I beat you all fours and is speech-chalthere and manage to get the lenged. door shut, it won’t help to claw, whine, meow, bite the knob, or Dogs and cats have adget your paw under the edge vantages over kids. They eat and try to pull the door open. less, are easier to train, usually (Trust me on this one please. come when called, don’t ask I’ve been using the bathroom for money, never drive your for years . . . canine or feline car, don’t hang out with losers, attendance is not mandatory.) don’t drink or smoke, don’t worry about the latest fashWhen you see me asleep ions, don’t wear your clothes on the couch, it is not funny and don’t need a gazillion dolto make a sudden leap onto lars for college. And if they my stomach and drop a chew get pregnant, you can sell the toy, bone or jingle ball on my results. crotch, no matter how much that makes the other family members laugh.
February 2011 WHERE DID IT GO 11
Flamingos from Page 8 They can travel approximately 375 miles in one night at 31-37 mph. When traveling during the day, fly at very high altitudes, possibly to avoid predation by eagles. Now wouldn’t that be a sight. The Greater Flamingo is the tallest, standing 43-51 inches and weighing 7.7 lbs. Their wingspan ranges from 37-39 inches for the Lesser Flamingo, and 55-65 inches for the Greater. The Caribbean Flamingo has a wingspan of 59 inches. They have good hearing but little or no sense of smell. Flamingos are very social birds. Breeding colonies of a few individual flamingos are rare, while colonies of tens of thousands is common. In zoos, flock size ranges from 2 to 340 birds with an average of 71 birds each. They devote considerable time to collective displays before, during and after breeding. Several hundred to several thousand are all simultaneously with ritualize postures and movements to synchronize breeding. Sometimes one display is performed but more often a predictable sequence of displays are carried out: head-flag, wing-salute and twist-preen. They spend most of the day feeding, preening, resting and bathing. Breeding birds feed day or night. Non-breeding birds feed only at night and spend the day sleeping or involved in comfort activities such as bathing. Flamingos spend about 20% of the time preening compared to waterfowl which only spend about 10% of the time. Flamingoes preen with their bills. an oil gland near the base of the tail secretes oil that the flamingo distributes throughout its feathers. Flamingos swim readily and bathe in shallow fresh water, submerging the whole body. Flamingos are fed a varied diet in zoo environments in order to maintain their pink coloration as well as general health. With a population of more than 330 flamingos, Busch Gardens in Tampa has the largest flock of Caribbean flamingos of any zoological park in the world. On the other hand, Hialeh Race track has approximately 900. Throw the flamingo flight during the opening credits of Miami Vice into the mix along with all this information and you should have a pretty good education and exposure to flamingos. Incidentally, in the Galveston Bay area we sometimes confuse Roseatte Spoonbills with flamingos because of the pink color. We also had a stray flamingo hanging around the bay a few years ago but that one must ISSUE MONTH: have been lost because the only ones we usually have here are of the plastic variety. January 2011 Incidentally, the creator of the pink plastic threedimensional flamingos that have graced possibly millions of yards, many associated with mobileAD homes retired back around REVIEW PROOF 2000. At that time, heVERY was the only person who had been CAREFULLY: photographed and featured in National Geographic Magazine Please carefully review your ad with an artificial animal.proof Such are the ways of fame. and return this approval form By the way, someone e-mailed last issue complaining ASAP. Make anyme necessary changes about having typos in this rag. Between my old eye and fax back to 281.474.1443 or sight and e-mailthere to Art@Baygroupmagazines. ice cold beer I’m surprised are not a lot more. com. Please proofany whenmore such However, I would like to return headthisoff your representative tells you. Our complaints by mentioning that I know I have used two deadlines vary from month to month spellings of the plural of flamingo (flamingos or flamingoes) so please return this form AS EARLY in this piece and they are correct. I checked. AS both POSSIBLE to ensure that your So there!
STEP 1:
latest edits make our deadline. It is the advertiser’s responsibility to check proofs carefully. This proof is for your protection. IT IS YOUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY to catch any errors made during the processing of this ad. BAY AREA HOUSTON MAGAZINE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERROR NOT MARKED. This is NOT a second opportunity to re-design the ad. Instructions have been followed as closely as possible. Any design or copy change may result in an additional charge.
STEP 2: CHECK AN OPTION
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12  WHERE DID IT GO February 2011
Gulf Coast Realtors 312 FM 517 W Dickinson, TX 77539 281-534-GULF (4853)
gulfcoastrealtors.net Find out what properties in your area sold for: www.propertyvaluesinyourneighborhood.com
Residential Owner Very Anxious
201 Baily Brook-Dickinson 4BR/4 FULL Bath, 2 1/2 garage w/large game room or 5th bdrm upstairs..comes loaded w/many upgrades. Beautiful open kitchen w/granite tops, built in office nook, huge pantry. $234,500
3724 Armand - Dickinson 4BR Like New. Lots Of Cabinets In The Kitchen And Closet Space In Each Room. An Added Bonus Is No Mud Or PID Tax. $199,999
71 Tarpon Bayou Vista 4BR, elevator & chair lift, tile floors, open kitchen, granite tops $295,000
418 Quail Ridge 4/3.5 Lakes of Bay Area Dickinson on 1.29 acres,fireplace, den, granite counters plus office $430,000
1118 Rippling Springs
S Shore
4/2 Like New Perry One story. 3 car garage, extra-large bedrooms, beautiful wood floors. Open concept, many upgrades. Washer/Dryer included. $218,500
4612 Edgemore Santa Fe
3BR on cul-de-sac, covered patio,top line appliances, room for horse, storage building
$189,000
1909 W Carter Ln 5BR LaMarque
Island kitchen/stainless range top,built-in double oven,den/ bookshelves galore,fireplace,wet bar. Master is down. Landscaped. $205,500
2909 18th Ave 3/4 TX City Open space. Huge kitchen w/ breakfast bar, dining area. Den with wood burning fire place and gameroom/office. Back yard offers patio and storage building. $104,900
3032 Longwood 4/4 Dickinson granite counters, SS appliances, travertine tile, mature trees, rear entry driveway w/parking area $145,000
7802 Forest Stone 3/2 Baytown
Split floor & fireplace. Open. Tile in formal dining, den,and kitchen. Bedrooms carpet. Large backyard. $114,999
Condos/Townhomes Texas City--Gatsby Condo’s-$42,500 Galveston-26501 Mangrove-$115,200 Galveston-27030 Estuary- $150,955 Seabrook-4011 Nasa rd one-$79,900 League City - 643 Davis - $133,000
Dickinson-2127 Casa Rio-$99k League City- 793 Davis- $89k Kemah-1140 FM 2094-unit 204--$117,900 Kemah-1140 FM 2094-unit 120--$149,900 Clear Lake-2323 Fairwind-$59,900
Commercial Building-Texas Ave, Texas City Office Building 3143 SF $ 40,000 3513 Dickinson Ave - Dickinson Shop-Office - Residence $549,000 Chelsea Manor - Texas City $35,000 4547 Vicksburg - Bacliff Commercial bldg, living quarters 4000 SF $175,000 2512 Termini - Dickinson Retail across from Post Office 1700 SF $1.50/SF/per mo 801 Main - LaMarque Retail 193 SF $ 25,000 Hwy 3 -Dickinson land Approx. 5 acres $425,000 Hwy 146 San Leon land 1.36 acres $150,000 1401 33rd St- Texas City land 9.49 acres $949,000 Financial Institution - Broadway St - Galveston 2760SF $312,000 or Lease $3,000/mo Hwy 6 - Alvin 1.23 Ac $250,000 Preston - Pasadena 4 ac $325,000 Texas City 4 acres great location $450,000
Rentals Seabrook Condo- 4011 Nasa Rd One- $700 Monthly League City Townhome- 643 Davis- $1350 Monthly Bacliff - 107 Ruth - $1400 Texas City - 9209 Yellowfin - $1300 Dickinson Waterfront Condo- 2127 Casa Rio- $1400 Monthly Texas City - 5002 Live Oak - $900
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