Come Hell or high water I am going to see "2012" this weekend. I might even make a double header and see "Men Who Stare at Goats" also.

It has been almost a week since I wrote a full entry. I was in Austin watching the three grand kids and had a wonderful time being with those bright creative kids. It is hard for me to believe the girls are already teenagers. The kids all look skinny but they eat like horses. I took them to Waterloo Restaurant in Austin and watched the girls vanish huge cheeseburgers. The morning after their parents returned I went to Kerrville to visit my Brother in Law Mike Farhoudi and his wife Vinna. Mike has been on chemotherapy for a couple years and has decided he has had all the pain and agony he can take.

Mike is one of those wonderful people that makes one question God when they die. He is the sweetest most considerate men I ever knew. He and Vinna raised three wonderful sons. He has fought Liver cancer for years without bitterness. Now all modern medicine can do is minimize his pain. Where have all the billions spent on Cancer result gone and what good has it done? The way I read the cancer trends is that the declines in mortality from the various cancers is mostly due to life style changes. Fewer are smoking, healthier diets are being used, industry is reducing it emissions, people are exercising more, and yet cancer treatment consists of the same barbarous "poisoning" of the cancers as was practiced 50 years ago. All modern medicine has done is detect cancers earlier. It is not at all clear that early detection actually leads to better survival rates. It ain't happening to me but I am bitter to see such a good man is such shape.

Prior to leaving for Austin I had decided to make my life even more complicated by photographing all 254 county courthouses in Texas. So as I passed through the various counties I would make an excursion to the county seat and photograph the courthouses. Each time I took a picture I would write a mobile blog entry with my iphone. When I finally returned to "Shattered Manor" Wednesday. I discovered my email server had decided I was a spammer and was blocking all the mobile entries. When I finally got caught up on the entries I discovered there are many places that have pictures of all 254 current and most of the obsolete courthouses. So shall I continue or just collect courthouses as the opportunity arises? Please check on our daughter's writing by clicking HERE.

Click the picture for comic strips on-line.

On an a fishing trip to Alaska, two Texans from Odessa crashed in their private plane on a remote and uncharted Bearing Sea Island .

Both survived.

One of the men brushed himself off and then proceeded to run all over the island to see if they had any chance of survival.

When he returned, he rushed up to the other man and screamed, 'This island is uninhabited, there is no food, there is no water. We are going to die!'

The other man leaned back against the fuselage of the wrecked plane, folded his arms and very calmly responded,

'No we're not. I make over $250,000 a week..'

The first man grabbed his friend and shook him. 'Listen, we are on an uninhabited island. There is no food, no water. We are going to die!'

The other man, unruffled, again responded.

'No, I make over $250,000 a week.'

Mystified, the first man, taken aback with such an answer again repeated,

'For the last time, I'm telling you we ARE doomed. There is NO one else on this island. There is NO food. There is NO water.

We are, I repeat, going to die a slow death.'

Still unfazed, the first man looked the other in the eyes and said,

'Do not make me say this again. I make over $250,000 per week, I am a Baptist, and I tithe as well as make offerings into our building fund.

'MY PASTOR WILL FIND US!'

Power is not alluring to pure minds.
Thomas Jefferson

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Austin County Courthouse


The county seat is Bellville. My iphone map showed the county set to be in Sealy. But the county building there was one sixth the size of the Sealy city hall. A groundskeeper told me the courthouse was in Bellville. I had 20 minutes until sunset and it gets dark quick now. My old eyes just don't adjust like they used to. I found the courthouse only after asking for directions twice. With my creaky voice and sore throat I must have sounded like some kind of pervert because both time the people backed away from my car while they answered.

The courthouse is of the modern boxy style. But unlike the thing in Fredricksburg this building had style and class.


This and a bronze bell is all that was left after a fire destroyed the previous courthouse.

I found a web site that has multiple good pictures of ALL the Texas County Courthouses. Click HERE to admire some beautiful and some not so beautiful courthouses.

Colorado County Courthouse


The county seat is Columbus. The city is almost surrounded by the Colorado River. The courthouse is getting extensive upgrade to wiring, electronics, plumbing, and other things required in a modern office. All the scaffolding and trees makes it hard to see the building. Two years and they should be finished I was told by the guy running a backhoe.

The dome looks like it is made out of iron and must be massive. It is certainly more ornate than the dome on the Blanco County Courthouse.


However, like many of the old style courthouses the clocks are wrong. I expect the clocks will be repaired during the renovation.

Fayette County courthouse

One of the grand old style courthouses. This one in LaGrange, home of
the Weikel bakery. I had to sto. Too sleepy and throat really sore.
Dug the Cepasol out of the suitcase and the walked around the square
to wake up. I am sitting on a wall around the Veterans Memorial on
Veteran's Day. Thinking of Dad and Uncles who served. Thanks!




http://lyn1937.com/

Gooolllllyyyy!

The magnificent rest stop near the Johnson national park has free
wifi. First time I have noticed at any rest stop. I guess powerful
corrupt politicians get such remembrances. The whole county probably
numbers less than 30K. I didn't like him live and still don't.




http://lyn1937.com/

Peeper color

We may not get much leaf change here in Texas but when we do it is awesome. This was taken 8 miles from Kerrville after Fredricksburg. The shot is a composite of 5 taken with my iPhone. I got so sleepy on the way that I got a room at Motel 6 to take a nap. Room 117 has a great AC & a comfy bed. Slept like a log for 2 hours until my alarm woke me. Missed connections with Sis so I will visit her tomorrow on my way home or to Goliad. Destination depends on my night's sleep. http://lyn1937.com/

Blanco County Courthouse

This is in Johnson City. Yes that Johnson (LBJ). It has been the county seat since 1890 when the county seat was moved from Blanco, Texas.

Unlike the other more elaborate courthouses this one has a simple low dome.

I took a bunch of pictures of the courthouse. I am planning to take pictures of all 254 Texas County Courthouses and publish a book on-line of the pictures.

On the way to visit BIL Mike and SIL Vinna.

Gillispie County Courthouse


This ugly building is in Fredricksburg. You would think a picturesque old town like Fredricksburg would have one of those beautiful old courthouses. Wrong! The old Germans did not go for extravagance.

The light was completely wrong for this picture. But I was so disappointed in the building that I did not try for a better lighting. On future trips to Kerrville from Austin (from photographing Travis county courthouse to photograph the Kerr County courthouse) I will arrange timing so that I get there early morning.

The town is full of fine old world style buildings and homes and is full of tourists. Plainly the city has gone to great lengths to attract tourist money.

Senior grandaughter

She is finishing a sciene project about cesium. I relearned stuff
while supporting her research. Beautiful young woman.




http://lyn1937.com/

Please remember to click on this LINK to Misty’s hub pages. She has earned more from her Google ads than I have in the last year. I hope you also click on her ads. She needs the money and I need her to have the money.

Some months ago I posted about an UPPER ROOM book (Remembering Your Story) that I thought would help anyone write the story of their life. Passing on our life story is as important as our medical history so that our descendants will know where they came from and might even help them understand some of the more mysterious part of their lives. As I was packing for the trip to Austin to visit with the three Austin grandkids I discovered the book under a stack of several other “must read” books. Apparently ”Remembering Your Story” did not seem like an instantly doable thing. Nevertheless I packed it. Last night, about 3 am, as I was trying to adjust to a strange recliner I dug the book out of my suitcase and browsed through the pages. Eventually I adjusted to the recliner, (BTW, Leigh the recliner was very good) and covered myself with the most luxurious huge duvet. At least I think it is called a duvet. I used to call similar things comforters until the women in my family started laughing at me. When I woke this morning I had 4 pages of notes on my iphone with ideas for stories from my childhood. I love my iphone.

Just before they left our daughter and her husband told me that one of their kids told them that they like “pops” to be here because they get to do “stuff”. I affirmed that if the parents had not specifically and clearly forbidden a food (like sandwiches and ice cream) or activity (staying up late) then I saw no harm in giving the kids a parent break. After all I only do this maybe twice a year. After the parents left we made a run to the grocery store and stocked up on ice cream, deli lunch meats and cheeses. I made my semi-dagwood sandwiches last night. I do need to make another run and get paper towels and mayonnaise.

Right now there are only two of the kids. The third one is at a track meet. It always thrills me that she is a distance runner. When I was in high school anything over 220 yards, IMHO, required a car. She is supposed to be home late tonight. The two slept late today. “Well pops it is Saturday you know.” So I was the first one up at 10 am. When they came staggering downstairs I fixed the “grannie” approved ziplock bag omelettes for each one. I went light on the jalapeno and meat lest they turn into “foaming at the mouth carnivores”. I did discover that Austin is high enough that the cooking time I use in Houston was 1 minute too short. Tonight the younger granddaughter is going to make spaghetti.

I just watched a short movie about a softball game in 2007 between a Washington state team and an Oregon state team. The story is true and the message is great. Watch it at http://www.responsibilityproject.com/films/player/the-home-run/.



He was wrapped in several blankets because he was cold. He is almost heart stopping handsome and has turned into quite a writer. He writes an advice column for his school newspaper.

I caught this picture as she was watching “Pirates of the Caribbean Black Pearl”. The room was almost too dark for my iphone so I had to “enhance” it. The processing led to the noisiness.

I decided to put the new license sticker and handicapped license plates on the Ford late the night before leaving for Austin. Just after it was too late to correct the problem I discovered I had scraped off the inspection sticker instead of the registration sticker. The ford had just been inspected in July. So I gather up the bits and pieces and tried to smooth them out and stick back to the windshield. Fortunately the date of inspection is still intact. I hope if I am stopped the cop will listen to my story and believe me when I tell him I will get it reinspected upon returning home. On the way here up Hwy 290 I saw a city cop, deputy sheriff, or state trooper about every 10 miles. I did keep my speed within the limit.


The Robertsons of Cement Book is on-line at http://lyn1937.tripod.com/cement/index.html.



My Wind Chime store is not selling so I am cutting the prices in half. Buy now! Help CAMERON!

Click the picture for comic strips on-line.

NUTTY PEACH CRISP
1 (29 oz.) can sliced peaches
1 pkg. butter pecan or spice cake mix
1/4 c. melted butter
1 c. coconut
1 c. chopped pecans

Place peaches with juice in 9 x 12 oblong pan. Sprinkle cake mix over peaches. Layer the butter, coconut, and chopped pecans. Bake in 350 degree oven for 50 minutes.
Thank Sammy for another good easy recipe.
I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.
Thomas Jefferson

Webtvers email comments to Lyn1937 and I will paste into the comments. This Tripod comment form is not compatible with webtv.