Another Passing....

The size of my already small family became ever smaller yesterday with the passing of my Mom's older sister. My aunt Kay was a remarkable woman who overcame profound deafness, as a result of a childhood illness, to become a charming Navy wife, a caring mother and grandmother and a professional artist. She read lips so well and spoke so clearly that often we forgot she had almost no hearing. With the vagaries of modern life we saw too little of her, but her kindness and love of family will keep her in our hearts forever...

Native Plant Sale...

We'll be having a large native plant sale/fundraiser at the Sibley Nature Center this Saturday, April 5th. We have a large selection of shrubs, ornamentals, grasses and trees that do well in strong sun with low maintenance and water needs. The sale starts at 9 a.m. We expect that the plants will go quickly.....get there early. Our greenhouse is behind the Sibley Center on E. Wadley, adjacent to Hogan Park [the dog park entrance]. See you there....

Bitter as wormwood...

"For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of hell".
Proverbs 5:3-5

This passage was quoted by Cal Thomas in his column today. I just love it......"bitter as wormwood". That's great....and from Scripture too!

Spanky...

From the "Captured Moments" hall of fame, Spanky and Our Gang. For some unknown reason I always really liked this song. Now it brings back memories of driving my college roommates car around San Antonio. My roommate and his brother both had brand new 1968 Buick Gran Sports courtesy of their rich grandfather. Luckily my roommate was very generous with it's use. He had loads of 8 track tapes too. Spanky being one.

Elaine "Spanky" McFarland later took over Mama Cass' role in the Mama's and Papa's after Mama Cass' unfortunate cheese sandwich demise. Spanky is still around and sounds great.

Long lost kin......?

Regular readers and friends might look at the photos above and say, "Cute, more pictures of D. Daphne Dog". I don't blame you...but this isn't D. Daphne.

Over the last several years I've gotten linked up informally with other dog owners/lovers in an email network that tries to find homes for needy dogs and the photos above and others came to me this morning. I really couldn't believe my eyes. This dog in need is a clone of D. Daphne Dog. I have never seen two dogs look so much alike....especially dogs of mixed breeds. The coloring, markings, the ears, the size and build, the slight upward curl to the tail are all identical.

From what I know, D. Daphne was found, along with other littermates, abandoned along a highway when she was a puppy. My first conclusion was that this dog in need certainly had to be one of her siblings. But, a reply from the caretaker of this dog informed me that he is only one year old. So much for the littermate theory.....but they have to have come from the same source somewhere not to long ago. My Mom has been hinting about a dog, and she loves D. Daphne, perhaps she'd like her clone?

Reunion '08

Do you know the whereabouts of anyone in the Midland High or Lee High classes of '67 and '68? Send them here..... big doings this summer.

Soccer Season....

The sports folks at Midland High seem to want me busy. I started out last year doing the MHS football website and photos. Earlier in the year I picked up the Lady Dawgs basketball assignment and this week was hired to do the MHS boys soccer coverage. I enjoy helping out the old alma mater, meeting new people and it's nice to get paid for doing something so enjoyable.
MHS Dawgs Soccer

Sibley Center Groundbreaking...

On Tuesday we held the ceremonial groundbreaking for our Million Dollar expansion at the Sibley Nature Center. Thanks to all those who worked hard and/or contributed to make this addition a reality. A special thanks to Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick who thought enough of our plans to work for us in obtaining a matching grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

And now, "Groundbreaking, The Movie"

2001: A Time Odyssey....

Tonight, Turner Classic Movies aired "2001: A Space Odyssey". I've seen this many times over the years and I still like watching the first hour or so, the rest rather drags on after you've seen it so many times and the ending is a tad too '60s psychedelic for me. But what got to me tonight was the realization that this film was made 40 years ago. 40 years! Damn!

I suppose what is so brain fuddling about this is that "2001" still has a modern feel for a film made in 1968. The space ships look like they could have been designed last year as do all the computer screens that control the Saturn probe. I'm sure that the filmmakers thought that quite possibly, we'd be going to Saturn in 2001, 33 years after the film was made and that computers would be thinking entities competing with humans for control.

We've made some progress in this direction but fall woefully short in both of these areas. We landed men on the moon one year after "2001" came out but all we've done since 1972 is have humans circle the planet. The face recognition, reasoning powers and conversation synthesis of anything like the HAL 9000 may be another 40 years away.

Priceless....

Spending all morning flying in a Huey with the doors open, shooting pictures ....two of my favorite things in one. Getting paid to do so........Priceless!

Groundbreaking....

The Springboard Center groundbreaking ceremonies, luncheon and celebrity events were a great success, highly entertaining and very touching. Thanks to all those who made it possible; especially the staff and talent at CBS7 and The Young and the Restless! Here are some photos of the day.

Ya'll Come.....!

The Springboard Center is a community based not for profit substance abuse counseling center. We have been operating out of cramped rented quarters downtown since 1999. As a board member I'm pleased to say that with more than generous financial support from the community we've raised about half of the $3 million+ cost of our new medical detox and treatment facility. And we're ready for the groundbreaking this Friday, snow or not!

The public is invited.....which means you! Our special guests will be soap opera diva Ms. Jeanne Cooper of The Young and the Restless, along with Josh O'Connell, producer of this long running CBS daytime drama. Other cast members in attendance is a distinct possibility. Ms. Cooper is our national spokesperson and Josh has told us that he is looking for ways to incorporate The Springboard Center into the Y&R storyline.

The Springboard Center facility is a long needed resource in Midland offering medical detox and substance abuse treatment to every member of the community no matter of their financial situation or ability to pay. There is no such facility in the area currently.

The groundbreaking will be at 11 a.m. this Friday at our site on Corporate Dr. off of N. Big Spring St., behind the First National Bank branch. Thankfully I ordered a tent....and today I asked them to throw in a heater. Please come say hell-o to Ms. Cooper, she's a captivating, caring and very sweet lady. Her Young and Restless fame not withstanding, I'm equally impressed that she has appeared in many of my favorite old time TV classics like Perry Mason and films like The Kansas City Bombers.

Photo Op's.....

One of the secrets of photography, I've learned, is just to keep plugging away, let people know of your interest and show them your work. Some interesting upcoming opportunities generated this way:

‡While in Boerne last weekend I met some very caring folks who run a weekend camp for severly handicapped kids. They asked if I'd be interested in coming down soon and photographing one of their weekends for use in presentation materials. A privelage!

‡This Friday, The Springboard Center will have the groundbreaking for our new $4 million facility. Attending will be our national spokesperson Jeanne Cooper, star of the CBS soap The Young and the Restless. Associate producer Josh O'Connell, having seen my shots of Ms. Cooper on a previous visit, has asked me to generate a portfolio that they can use in their national promotion of Ms. Cooper's involvement.

‡The best! Last fall I sent some photo samples to my alma mater, Trinity University, as a preliminary to entry in their alumni art show. Today I received a letter from Trinity asking me to be one of several "event" photographers documenting the visit of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who will speak at Trinity in March. An honor!

Honor Flight.....

In my army career, and during the last several years in Midland, I have 100's of hours flying in helicopters; parachuting out of some of them too. I'm one of those whacko's who really loves flying in them with the doors open at low altitude. Except when getting shot at, it's great fun to me. But I don't think I've ever had as much fun, pleasure really, as I did today while flying in a Huey with my good friend Bruce Crandall. His face lit up like a kid at Christmas when he took over the controls of Gregg Baiano's huey.

Bruce was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery while flying a Huey almost exactly like the restored Vietnam era model we were in today for three hours. Though he has briefly flown a few helicopters since his army days he basically stopped flying Hueys after a serious crash in 1968. Today he flew us all the way back from Iraan, Texas...a 45 minute flight. Like riding a bike, you just never forget how.

Several days ago when my friend Gregg heard that Bruce was in town, he said he would deem it a great honor if Bruce would take a flight in one of Gregg's three restored Hueys. So, today that's what we did, flying to Iraan to eat one of the best barbeque lunches I've had in Texas. Along with us was the new director of the Commmemorative Air Force, a fomer Army chopper pilot himself and Bruce's son Donovan who flew up from Houston today just for the event. Also I had called my friend Jose, the news director at CBS7 News, to see if they might like to send a reporter along. Jose called me back to say that no, he didn't want to send a reporter, he was going along himself and bringing their dirctor of photography to film the trip. So, next Monday, I understand, look for our trip and interviews with Bruce on the news at 6 and 10. And if you are in Iraan, try the barbeque joint, it's better than anything in Midland.

Online interview with Jimmy Patterson [click on icon at right]

Visitations....

It's odd sometimes how things work in life.

It seems like seeing old friends suddenly comes in a torrent. As the New Year approached I was invited to Boerne, Texas to be the guest of my good friends Gen. Tom and Toni Hill. Tom was a fraternity brother and I met Toni my freshman year at Trinity University also. I lived with Tom and Toni for four months when we all were in the army at Ft. Benning and after 40 years they are like family to me. Since our last visit together in 2003, we had a lot to catch up on. And with their extended families, their big gold dog and my Daphne in their large country home, it was a great time for us after a somewhat downsized Christmas.

On New Years Eve several other fraternity brothers who live in San Antonio came out for the day as well as my old high school classmate Bonnie who I haven't seen in decades. Laughter and remembrances were non stop while my friend, the other Pancho, and I took photos. It was tough to leave.

And so today I was pleasantly surprised when I received a phone call from two other dear friends, Bruce and Arlene Crandall. As you may recall Bruce is a recent Medal of Honor recepient, a ceremony I was honored to attend at the White House last February. Bruce and Arlene have been on a whirlwind appearance schedule since then, but are slowing down to spend three days in Midland. I think, perhaps, the invitation from my friend Gregg Baiano to spend two days flying in his restored Huey helicopters may have swayed Bruce to take this break from his rapid paced schedule. More fun will now, undoubtedly, ensue!

Jingle Bells.....Bam, Bam, Bam!

What better way to cap off that Christmas day cheer than to hear gunfire outside your house. Close outside....

As I was watching "The Greatest Story Ever Told" on the television about 11:30 Christmas night I heard a loud "pop" outside. In the first microsecond your brain optimistically says, "firecracker". But if you've spent years in the army firing every conceivable type of weapon, the second microsecond say's, no that's "gunfire". I muted the TV and heard muffled angry voices somewhere outside. Then "pop, pop, pop, pop, pop". No doubt about that, a semi-automatic pistol sounding like it was in the street directly outside.

Not being sure exactly what was going on I doused the lights in the den and staying below the window lines I reached my cellphone and called 911. The operator asked what the emergency was. Giving my name and address I told her that I was certain that there was gunfire in the street somewhere near my house. Her reply was, "we'll have someone check it out". Somehow I thought that she might ask a few more questions like, "do you see anyone" or is "anyone hurt". But no, "we'll check it out" was all I got. When you call 911 with a "shots fired" report you would expect to see flashing lights within a minute or so. As I peaked out the window for the next 20 minutes, what I saw was......nothing.

When people are firing automatic weapons somewhere near my home, I rather expect flashing lights, so this didn't sit well with me. Not wanting to be too alarmist, I phoned my neighbor across the street this morning and asked her if she heard anything last night. "You mean all the gunfire", she asked. This confirmed that I'm not whacko, so late this morning I went to the police station to ask about the incident. I later received a call from a Sgt. who confirmed that another neighbor, a block up, had also called and that he had reported shots fired by persons in a vehicle..firing at another vehicle and that in fact three police units had answered the call.

Knowing that neighbors were not trying to kill each other and that this was probably just two groups of armed drunks passing through the neighborhood makes me feel better but also sad to realize that this sort of thing can happen anywhere, even in a good, quiet, residential neighborhood with assistant District Attorney's as neighbors on both sides of your house. Merry Christmas.

Gratitude...

Christmas around here has not been the same the last two years for a variety of reasons. But, as I've learned, there is much to be grateful for. This time three years ago I was preparing to go into to heart surgery......this year I'm not.

For the past three years on Christmas Eve, I've shown my thanks to the folks in the cardiac unit at the hospital by taking them a little treat. In the photo above I'm at the Cardiac unit and this time I'm not hooked up to the monitors, now that's gratitude!

The Ventures....

The Ventures will be inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame this coming March. Well duh dudes it's about time. The Ventures have been playing rock n'roll for about 50 years having come together in 1958 and they are still touring! Their first big hit, "Walk Don't Run", still a classic, hit #2 on the charts in 1960. Their influence on rock has been profound with over 30 major rock stars declaring The Ventures to have been a primary influence on their own music. They were the sixth largest selling group of the 1960's. With over 110 million albums sold worldwide, the group remains the best selling instrumental rock group of all time.

Here is a 1994 rendtion of some of their hits. My Mom still loves to listen, occasionally, to Telstar on my original LP Album. By the way...I'm back to posting new classic bands on my website, Captured Memories

Dispatch from the front..

Hello and I hope everyone reading this is having a wonderful day. My name is Sgt Thomas Moses [top left in photo] and yesterday I received a package from you. First off I wanted to say thank you; I have shared many of the items with the soldiers under my care. Our unit has many responsibilities however my guys are pretty specific. We run a route security team thru Iraq ensuring the safety for anyone going anywhere at anytime. My guys and I are from all over Texas most of them are from the Dallas area, I am from Midland. During this time in our lives for many of my soldiers this is their first time not only out of Texas but their first time out of country and for many of them their first time away from their families and friends. Your boxes have helped them all; I always ensure that we share them.

My background, I have spent 33.3% of my life serving in the Army Infantry and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I have found that teaching those around me and helping guide young soldiers thru their lives is my calling. My family supports me more than I could have ever hoped and they have packed up and moved from country to country and city to city to ensure I have the support I need to carry out my missions.

During this time I ask that everyone take some time and realize what is really important in their lives. It's not the game systems nor the cars we drive, it’s the people around us everyday. Having been in Iraq for 3 out of the past 5 years I can truly say we are making a difference every day, one person at a time, and although I don’t believe Iraq will ever be a total democracy like what we have I do believe the people here will grasp and embrace their new freedom and understand that they hold their future within their hands. Once again I thank you all and I would also like to thank Cathy Gilleland, Mo and Cheryl Gaddis; I received your packages as well and I would like to apologize for not writing sooner but in my defense we have been quite busy with missions and I have 21 young and older soldiers (age 18 to 47)to tend to everyday being a parent isn’t ever as easy as it looks.

God bless everyone and take time to smell the flowers. Husbands take time to hug your wife and kids and share a sunset, buy someone something just because life is to short and embrace it with everything you have and you will never regret it. Thank you all again and have a wonderful new year.

Sgt Thomas Moses
11B20 Infantry leader
Iraq Delta RST/ACC


P.S. Who ever thought to put the bore snake in the package thank you very very much.

For more information: West Texas Troop Salute

Christmas for Our Troops...results

It has been just one week since our 600+ gift packages were mailed to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today we received this email. Sure makes all the work of many people worthwhile....

Dear Scott, Wallace and Gail and all others at West Texas Troop Salute,

I am completely in awe with the generous package I just received from your organization! WOW! I shared with everyone and I can't express how truly impressive this box really was. A camera, batteries, a phone card, not to mention the Cheezits, which are my personal favorite, and so much more that I cannot mention them all. I am so grateful for people who rally to support the Soldiers. This is a 15-month tour and frankly, it is miserable. Not simply the conditions, but also the workload. Sometimes I really cannot imagine getting through another 6 months working 17 hours a day, every day (and the war-fighting troops are working much harder to make our area safer for the Iraqi people), so it is critical at times that other people are putting in time, too, to show us that our work and sacrifices mean something to other who are home. You choose to sacrifice time, effort, and money to show us your support and that is encouraging and inspires more greatness from us. Personally, I am proud to share these times with people like yourselves who want to accept some of the burden in bringing some love and support to the Soldiers out here. You are doing a tremendous service for your country and for that, I will always be grateful for your time and efforts - this one package means more than you know.

I am from El Paso and I am not sure how you got my info, but I am so pleased, once again to be from the best State in the Union! Thank you with all of my heart.

Sincerely,
Nancy Preston

Captain, Engineer Branch
Brigade Engineer
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
FOB HAMMER, Iraq