Conroe, Texas

February 4

2010-02-04T03:50:00.000-08:00

February 3

2010-02-03T03:48:00.000-08:00

February 2

2010-02-02T03:44:00.000-08:00

February 1

2010-02-01T15:44:00.000-08:00

January 31

2010-01-31T15:40:00.000-08:00

January 30

2010-01-30T15:35:00.000-08:00

January 29

2010-01-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

January 28

2010-01-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

January 27

2010-01-27T06:42:00.000-08:00

January 26

2010-01-26T18:42:00.000-08:00

January 25

2010-01-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

January 24

2010-01-24T18:35:00.000-08:00

January 23

2010-01-23T01:24:00.000-08:00

January 22

2010-01-22T01:23:00.000-08:00

January 21

2010-01-21T01:21:00.000-08:00

January 20

2010-01-20T01:20:00.000-08:00

January 19

2010-01-19T20:19:00.000-08:00

January 18

2010-01-18T03:51:00.000-08:00

January 17

2010-01-17T03:50:00.000-08:00

January 16

2010-01-16T01:48:00.000-08:00

January 15

2010-01-15T02:34:00.000-08:00

January 14

2010-01-14T14:33:00.000-08:00

January 13

2010-01-13T07:51:00.000-08:00

January 12

2010-01-12T19:51:00.000-08:00

January 11

2010-01-11T19:47:00.000-08:00

January 10

2010-01-10T11:53:00.000-08:00

January 9

2010-01-09T01:34:00.000-08:00

January 8

2010-01-08T01:51:00.000-08:00

January 7

2010-01-07T01:48:00.000-08:00

January 6

2010-01-06T01:00:00.000-08:00

January 5

2010-01-05T01:52:00.000-08:00

January 4

2010-01-04T01:42:00.000-08:00

January 3

2010-01-03T01:42:00.000-08:00

January 2

2010-01-02T01:41:00.000-08:00

January 1

2010-01-01T01:38:00.000-08:00

About Time

2009-11-16T13:41:00.001-08:00

Well, it has been awhile and this wonderful idea for a blog has languished from under use and general crappiness.
I blame the economic downturn and the fact that no one wants to give me a zillion dollars.

So...
Look for a new project in the next month or so.
Trust me...

No Perverts Allowed

2009-01-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

I have heard rumors that all sorts of malcontents and perverts are moving to Conroe.
Let them be warned.
We want no wierdness here

Don't Mess with Old Folks in Conroe

2007-02-19T12:34:00.000-08:00

65-year-old man strangles pit bull during attack

CONROE, Texas (AP) — A 65-year-old retired truck driver who was attacked by a vicious pit bulldog during a neighborhood walk choked the dog to death as he defended himself.

Von Pardue suffered bites on his arms and hands during the Wednesday attack, which occurred shortly after Pardue began his routine morning walk. Pardue was treated at a local hospital, and the dog’s owners could face misdemeanor charges, police said.

Police said Pardue’s grip was so tight on the dog’s collar that he strangled the dog. Pardue said he didn’t know the dog was dead until it was unresponsive when police tried to move it.

Emergency medics washed Pardue’s bites and he received a tetanus shot and an antibiotic at the hospital, he said.

Sometimes, It just ain't good news

2006-10-06T11:22:00.000-07:00

Banning Books in Conroe?

A Caney Creek High School dad is fired up because the Conroe Independent School District uses the book "Fahrenheit 451" as classroom reading material.

Alton Verm, of Conroe, objects to the language and content in the book. His 15-year-old daughter Diana, a CCHS sophomore, came to him Sept. 21 with her reservations about reading the book because of its language.
"The book had a bunch of very bad language in it," Diana Verm said. "It shouldn't be in there because it's offending people. ... If they can't find a book that uses clean words, they shouldn't have a book at all."
Alton Verm filed a "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials" Thursday with the district regarding "Fahrenheit 451," written by Ray Bradbury and published in 1953. He wants the district to remove the book from the curriculum.
"It's just all kinds of filth," said Alton Verm, adding that he had not read "Fahrenheit 451." "The words don't need to be brought out in class. I want to get the book taken out of the class."
He looked through the book and found the following things wrong with the book: discussion of being drunk, smoking cigarettes, violence, "dirty talk," references to the Bible and using God's name in vain. He said the book's material goes against their religions beliefs. The Verms go to Grand Parkway Church in Porter.
"We went them to go after God," said Glen Jalowy Jr., Grand Parkway Church youth minister. "We encourage them that what you put in your mind and heart is what comes out."
Alton Verm said he doesn't understand how the district can punish students for using bad language, yet require them to read a book with bad language as part of a class.
Diana Verm and another classmate decided to read an alternative book. They leave the classroom when the class reads or discusses "Fahrenheit 451," she said. The two students were given "Ella Minnow Pea" by Mark Dunn because it shares common themes with "Fahrenheit 451," said Chris Hines, CISD assistant superintendent for secondary education.
"Fahrenheit 451" is a science fiction piece that poses a warning to society about the preservation and passing on of knowledge as well as asks the question about whether the government should do the thinking for the people, Hines stated in an e-mail to The Courier. Other themes include conformity vs. individuality, freedom of speech and the consequences of losing it, the importance of remembering and understanding history and technology as help to humans and as hindrances to humans, Hines stated in the e-mail.
"They're not reading books just to read them," Hines said in a telephone interview. "They're reading it for a purpose. ... We respect people's rights to express their concerns and we have a policy in place to handle that."
A selection process is used for materials other than textbooks, according to district policy. The materials must meet various standards, be appropriate for the subject, age and social and emotional development of the students and motivate students to examine their own attitudes and behavior, according to district policy.
While the district does not know of any other challenges to "Fahrenheit 451," there may have been students who have decided to read a different book. The district estimates about 1 percent of students request to read a different book than assigned, according to the e-mail. "Fahrenheit 451" has been used in CISD curriculum for at least 19 years and "likely prior to that," Hines said in the e-mail.
The district hasn't received challenges on any other books in the four years he's been with the district, Hines said.
A district student, employee or resident can challenge any educational material in CISD on the basis or appropriateness, according to CISD EFA (local) policy. An informal reconsideration is first attempted. Informal requests are not documented, so Hines said he did not know how many requests were handled informally.
The person can make a formal challenge, which Alton Verm did. A committee will be appointed to review the material, discuss the material and report findings about the request to the principal, parent and superintendent, Hines said. The process takes about two weeks.
The Montgomery, New Caney, Splendora and Willis school districts have similar policies.
NCISD banned "Draw Me a Star" by Eric Carle and "Absolute Power" by David Baldacci, but it has not received a book challenge in three years, Cindee Reynolds, NCISD superintendent/community relations executive assistant, stated in an e-mail to The Courier. Montgomery ISD received one request from a parent to review instructional material, but the district has not banned any books, Babette Eikenberg, Montgomery ISD human resources executive director, stated in an e-mail to The Courier.
Alton Verm's request to ban "Fahrenheit 451" came during the 25th annual Banned Books Week. He and Hines said the request to ban "Fahrenheit 451," a book about book burning, during Banned Books Weeks is a coincidence.
"Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read" is observed during the last week of September each year, according to the American Library Association Web site, www.ala.org. The week celebrates the freedom to choose or express one's opinion, even if it might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them, according to the Web site.
Jerilynn Williams, Montgomery County Memorial Library System director, said Banned Books Week keeps the public aware that it is imperative to have access to information in a democratic society. Banning books causes libraries to limit access to information by withholding a person's right to explore a wide variety of opinions to form their own opinions, Williams said.
"Not every book is appropriate for every person, but every person should have their work that they choose," Williams said. "The public library is for everyone."
The Montgomery County Memorial Library System has received 65 requests to challenge books since 2002, Williams said. The library has removed "Castro," for factual inaccuracies, and "Tomorrow Wendy," because it was not under the library's current guidelines, Williams said. The library also has a process for people to follow if they challenge a book, Williams said.
However, Williams said a public library is different than a school library.
"As a public library, we are the library for everyone," Williams said. "The school library is meant to be the library for that select group at that school."
To view a school district's policy on book selection or how to challenge a book, visit the individual district's Web site.

Jesus, in Conroe?

2006-10-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

Image Of Christ Brightens Foyer

CONROE, Texas -- A Conroe woman said the area behind her front door is her sanctuary after an image of Jesus Christ appeared.Anna Glover was amazed by the image, which appeared shortly after she moved in."We’ve been here about three years, three years in November and it was shortly after we moved in and you'd walk by and say, ‘wow what is that,’ you know," said Glover. "Every time we had people over we'd say you have to see this."Anna first noticed the image when she left her porch light on one night. She said the reflection from the glass on to the ground was vivid."If nobody else saw it I would think, OK, I'm off base, but when they do I think this is cool,” she said.She considers her foyer a sacred part of her home and didn't question why this image is here."I feel pretty secure when I see Jesus Christ lands up on my door step," said GloverGlover has been getting ready to sell her house in Montgomery County, and hopes the next owner will appreciate the image as well.

Someone is desperate to sell their house?

Finally, the Intel Mystery Explained

2006-09-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why the new chip being designed for Intel is code named "Conroe"?

Answers to the Mystery

The Fishing Report

2006-09-12T08:43:00.002-07:00

You should know it is a slow day in hell when the only news of worth that shows up on a google search of Conroe is the local fishing report. It is really frustrating when you have pictures and stories to post, but blogger does not seem to do pcitures lately.

The fishing report it is then.

Go figure.

Sept. 11, 2006, 10:43PM
FISHING REPORT: Bluegill in Conroe

By SHANNON TOMPKINS
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Conroe

Catfishing has been productive for anglers targeting baited holes along channels in 20-25 feet of water, said guide Butch Terpe.

White bass and hybrid bass continue holding over ridges, humps and points topping out 15-20 feet below the surface. Trollers dragging deep-diving plugs trailing a small spoon have been the best bait.

Some mornings, schools of whites and hybrids are chasing pods of shad onto shallow flats and shoving the baitfish to the surface, Terpe said.

A few largemouth bass weighing as much as 4 pounds have been taken on Texas-rig plastic worms fished around cover in 2-8 feet of water, he added.

Good concentrations of large bluegill are hanging around rocks, lilies and other cover in 2-4 feet of water and hitting meal worms or nightcrawlers, Terpe said.

Midmorning has produced best fishing during recent days.

The lake is about 4 feet below normal level, and surface water temperature is 82 to 86 degrees.

Bookstores

2006-09-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, Conroe had a small, family owned bookstore. It was located where H&R Block and Cici's Pizza is today.

I spent hours in this store looking at and purchasing books. One of the most prized jobs that I could think of was being able to work there.

Usually the owners hired someone who spent all four years of High School working at the book store.

I purchased my first copy of the Dungeons and Dragons game there against the wishes of my parents.

Eventually Hastings and Barnes and Noble drove it out of business. It was such a cozy place to look through the books and chat with the owners.

YMCA

2006-09-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

If you drive around downtown Conroe for long enough, you will eventually run across a sprawling complex of buildings just north of downtown that was once the home of the CISD administration building. The only CISD area left is the official CISD Swimming pool.

Way back in the olden days, the CISD pool was the Conroe YMCA. It is where I took swimming lessons as a child and generally developed a bad attitude about the YMCA swim instructors.

I don't know when, but the YMCA moved to what is now the Conroe Recreation Center near Candy Cane park. Once upon a time in High School, I played raquet ball there.

Now the YMCA is located off of South Loop 336, but probably not for long.

Anyone else remember taking swimming lessons at the Old Old YMCA?

Old Library

2006-08-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to the county tax office in downtown Conroe to get your car tags renewed?
If you have lived here long enough you might remember that it is in the old main branch building of the county library.

The long line of clerks who hand out car tags and scorn in equal doses are lined up in the middle of what used to be the children's section of the library. I spent a great deal of my youth there and now it is inhabited by evil minions of the tax collector.

Ever wonder how Woodforest Bank scored the only ATM machine in the tax office? Something seriously wrong with that.

I miss the old library because it reminds me of being a kid in Conroe. The New Library just reminds me of bad times. New isn't always better.

Summer Time in Conroe

2006-07-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

I have really been ignoring this blog for too long. Right now I am roving around the town looking for things to put here. Kind of like a squirrel hiding acorns for the winter. Hopefully I can load on up juicy things to share, then ration them out over the coming months, just in case I can't find other things to rant about as I go.

So far, it has rained.
I don't mind rain.
Rain is much better than last summer's drought.

There is such thing as too much rain.

Anyone remember the big flood of 1994?

I do.

12 feet of water in my house
My car did not make a good submarine

It was more than scary.

Rain and the San Jacinto River are not the best of friends, especially if Lake Conroe fills up.

I'm Back

2006-03-29T09:13:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have been on break, but that is life. Fall asleep then wake up and realize that Conroe wasn't a dream.

Yesterday marked 86 days until my 20 year high school reunion. Twenty stinking years since I ran out of Conroe High School and found a beer to drink.

Since I have been slacking on the good old Conroe blog, I am going to dedicate the next 85 days to remembering the people and places that made up my childhood here.

This is going to be fun.

Eating and Stuff

2006-01-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

I don't eat out a lot anymore, but I do know that eating in Conroe can either be boring or even worse, boring.

There have never been what I would call great dining places in my hometown, but there have been a few decent ones. The bad news is that all of them have closed over the years. Seems like if it isn't deep fried and dipped in something, people around here won't eat it.

One place that I have found tasty is the Baytown Seafood Restaraunt on Frazier. Good food (fried mainly, but what ever), good prices, and good portions. The menu and atmosphere are not fancy, but it works for me.

Which brings me to a project. I will prowl around the town and see what I can nail down as decent dining opportunities. Then I will come back and post it here. Places to dine in Conroe.

Of course the dreaded south county offers a great many eating establishments, but I won't deal with that here. I will lurk around my town and see just who has what to eat and if it is any good.

Stay tuned.

Are you from around here?

2006-01-10T11:45:00.000-08:00

I am not a sensative type usually, but today I was driving a coworker to the mechanic's shop to get their car when the discussion came around to Conroe. He is from out of town, lived most of his life in Florida as far as I can tell, and had some rather nasty comments to make about my town.

From the look in my eyes I am pretty sure he knew he had stricken a nerve because he quickly asked "Are you from Conroe?"

Well, hell yes buddy. It isn't a perfect place and Grangerland is a damn scary portion of the local area, but Conroe isn't that bad.

It is kinda hard to explain. I spent most of my youth bitching and moaning about this town and now that I am an adult, I can't imagine a much better place to live. Yes, there are the die hard idiots that any place has and sometimes local politics make your head spin, but Conroe isn't the armpit of hell that I once considered it. In fact, the more I think about it, the sheer volume of dumbness that I particpated in as a kid leads me to believe that Conroe is a pretty damn good place to be. Any where else and I would probably still be locked up for something petty and vile.

As an adult, Conroe is fun. Well, at least I think it is. My rabble rousing days are long over and I don't know what young adults do for fun these days, but it can't be too bad here. Once upon a time the Outback Steakhouse had a damn fine bar. They freshly squeezed grapefruits to make my Salty Dogs. That is service. For a good beer there was Molly's Pub. Wayback in the day, there was even Tejas Bar and Grill to quench your need for cheap beer and fried food.

Yep, Conroe ain't half bad.

Here is yet another Conroe Blogger, I think.

Thomas' Own Personal Piece of Doomcake

Sad Things in Conroe

2006-01-09T11:40:00.000-08:00

Funeral Held For Slain TCU Football Player

Authorities Have Not Said If Suspect Had Motive For Killing

POSTED: 10:37 am CST January 5, 2006

CONROE, Texas -- Loved ones and friends gathered Thursday to say goodbye to a Texas Christian University freshman football player gunned down outside a friend's apartment in Conroe.The funeral for Kasey Davis was held at the West Conroe Baptist Church Thursday morning.Davis, 20, was home for the holidays when he was shot and killed early Tuesday morning as he pulled into the Forest Creek Apartments on Montgomery Park Boulevard.Officers later arrested Jeffrey Lasiter, 42, and charged him with Davis' murder. Authorities found a rifle they believed he used to kill Davis in the front seat of his pickup truck.So far, authorities have not said if there was a motive for the killing.

Local Bloggers?

2005-12-14T14:12:00.000-08:00

I have been searching blogger.com for local bloggers. It has been long and frustrating, but I have learned that Intel's new generation of Chips is going to be called "Conroe". That is freakin scary.

Here is one local blog, seems like he is an attorney in the local system. I fear the law here, don't ask why and I AM INNOCENT.

Matthew's Foray into Blogging

Conroe the Music Capital of Texas?

2005-12-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

See the story here, or read it here:

Revitalization of downtown Conroe will succeed only if a sufficient "critical mass" of businesses can be recruited into that area, according to the consultant hired to assess the city's development efforts.

Roger Brooks, president of Washington-based Destination Development Inc., also recommended Conroe establish a brand identity as the "Music Capital of Texas" in order to set apart its proposed arts and entertainment district. However, the district - which carries an estimated price tag of $25 million - won't become a major drawing card for local residents and tourists alike until a significant number of restaurants, entertainment venues and retail stores are positioned in a nine-block area he labeled as the "Conroe Commons."

"This isn't about your typical marketing projects, like events and flyers," Brooks said. "It's much more about real estate development than marketing."

Brooks presented what he termed "the first draft" of his 113-page report Wednesday at a special meeting of the City Council. Various civic leaders packed the council chambers at City Hall to hear his hour-long presentation.

Attracting out-of-towners won't work until the city finds methods to attract its "primary" market of the approximately 500 people who work downtown, as well as local residents, he said.
"If you can't get people who live here to spend time and money downtown, how can you expect anyone from out-of-town to do that?" Brooks said. "This is about community."

Three delicatessens - all open for breakfast and lunch - two coffee shops, five additional ethnic restaurants, a bakery and a confectionary shop are "the minimum" requirements for a dining district, he said. The area should include three pubs with live entertainment every evening, a sports bar, a wine shop and one or two dance clubs.

According to Brooks' report, Conroe needs to develop a "lifestyle center" that doesn't necessarily revolve around retail, but "is driven by entertainment, events and an active nightlife in an intimate, beautifully landscaped setting."

Ambiance, he told the council, is the "No. 1 priority" in transforming downtown into a tourism destination.

To accomplish all that, Brooks recommends the city focus on a nine-square-block area bounded by Davis, Pacific, Collins and Frazier streets. Particular emphasis will be placed on Main Street from Davis to Collins and on Simonton from North Pacific to North Thompson.
The implementation of gateways, plaza areas and streetscapes along those routes is estimated at $2.4 million. This "core" downtown area would feature extended sidewalks for outdoor dining as well as landscaped buffers between sidewalks and traffic lanes. Brooks' study suggests making a stretch of Main Street between Simonton and Collins pedestrian only.

"You're creating a life and vibrancy to a place people are drawn to," he said. "The most successful towns in America all have well-designed plazas or gathering areas."
The 15 retail stores in the core area would reflect the dominant theme of arts and entertainment, Brooks said. That includes six galleries with "artists in action," a memorabilia shop, a bookstore (new), two stores that focus on home furnishings and accents and specialty shops like a day spa, and antique shops that are not simply second-hand stores.

Recommendations:

-- Hire Downtown Development Director -- $90,000 base salary ($120,000 including taxes and benefits)

-- Develop brand identity, guidelines, standards and adopt downtown zoning, architectural design standards, gateways, façade improvements and signage for downtown Conroe -- $100,000 for professional services

-- Implement development of gateways, plaza area, streetscapes and additional parking (including design, engineering and development, including public art and related amenities -- $2.4 million

-- Develop Heritage Place Park's "amphitheater" into a true amphitheater -- $2 million ($1.25 million in development costs and $750,000 for lighting, sound, dressing rooms, scaffoldings, etc.)

-- Develop an expanded parking lot on Main Street between Collins and Pacific streets -- $120,000 for property purchases

-- Convert the Elections Central office into a "black box" theatre and events facility -- $2.5 million

-- Prepare a feasibility study for an 800-seat performing arts center on the site of the Liberty Theater -- $85,000 (for study), $12-$15 million for estimated initial construction costs

-- Expansion and improvements to the Crighton Theater -- $50,000 for acquisition of building next door, $500,000 for technology upgrades to theater

-- Develop an upscale RV park within walking distance of the downtown core area, perhaps just east of the railroad tracks -- $2.5 million

-- Develop four visitor information kiosks (city of Conroe working with the Convention and Visitors Bureau) -- $15,000

-- City of Conroe needs to provide direct supplemental funding for new arts and entertainment initiatives -- $63,000 annually

The King Comes to Conroe

2005-11-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

This is Travis Intermediate School in Conroe.

It houses 5th and 6th grade today, but way back in my days it was a Junior High, 7th and 8th grade. It was an old building then and it is even older now. After a little checking I found that it is 80 years old. For Conroe, that is a miracle that it is even still standing.

Before my time, it was Conroe High School. The only really cool thing about this place is that I went there once upon a time and on August 24, 1955, Elvis Presley played a concert on the football field here.

The very same place that I watched 7th and 8th grade friends play football was where the King had sung his songs in my favorite little Texas town. Not much of a story, but just a strange fact.

I imagine that it was a bit more exciting then than it is now.

Fight result of built-up tension

2005-11-21T09:31:00.000-08:00

Lots of fun at a local high school. The place that I graduated from many years ago.

You can read it here or here:

Tensions had been building for weeks at Conroe High School before Thursday's melee, according to parents and students.
They said the fight was between students from Conroe and those who evacuated Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina in August and now attend Conroe High School.

On Thursday, the standoff boiled over into a massive brawl involving at least 30 students who fought each other before school in the cafeteria and front hallway.

According to Conroe Independent School District spokeswoman Kay Galindo, several students received citations, with possible charges ranging from assault to disorderly conduct and disruption of school. Nine students have been recommended for expulsion and will not be allowed to enroll in any other CISD school, or Texas public school for that matter.

"(The expulsion process) becomes part of the disciplinary record, and it's recognized by all other schools in Texas," Galindo said.

Security was boosted at the school Friday, with an increased number of Conroe ISD Police as well as Conroe Police Department officers on hand to patrol in the area and on campus, according to Galindo. Students were also checked randomly with metal detector wands, she said.

Nevertheless, about 500 students - 18 percent of the student population of around 2,700 - opted to stay home from school.

"Typically, 100 students are absent, which is about 3 to 4 percent of the students," Galindo said.
One student, a Conroe resident who has been recommended for expulsion because of the fight, said there had been smaller fights between the Louisiana and Conroe students ever since Louisiana students started attending school at CHS.

"There was a lot of arguing," said the student, who didn't want his name used. "We'd try to talk with them, and they'd talk down to us. They'd try to jump our friends. I think it's going to get worse."

The student also thinks Thursday's fight won't be the last.

"It's going to go down again," he predicted.
Gwen Williams, an evacuee from New Orleans whose son attends Conroe High, said her son wasn't hurt because he stayed out of the fight Thursday.

"He knew it was between the New Orleans kids and the Conroe kids," she said, "so he stayed away from it."

But her son has had two incidents at school that could have escalated if he had handled things differently, she said. One was a case of mistaken identity when water was thrown on him. The second incident happened after the fight when another student called him a "punk."

"I said, 'Don't worry about words; walk away from it," she said. "My kids are meek and mild. They're not kids who get into fights."

Conroe is the third stop in the Williamses' saga since they fled New Orleans and the first time the children have ever been in public school, Williams said.

"I guess the Conroe kids think the New Orleans kids are getting better treatment," she said. "They haven't been what we've been through."

One Conroe woman, whose son was expelled, said she believes the Louisiana students and their parents have been given preferential treatment.

"No New Orleans kids were arrested, but one Conroe kid went to jail," she said. "They had all the New Orleans parents in the cafeteria and were catering to them. I know kids need an education. But when you have kids not following the rules, they should all be disciplined. This is their (the Conroe students') school, but you ought to have the same consequences for all."

Treatment was not different for the Conroe and Louisiana students, Galindo said.
"We strongly believe that they are all Conroe High School students," she said. "We treat them all fairly and we don't differentiate where someone might have lived before, because we have students come here from all over."

Thursday's fight was not the first in the state involving factions of Texas and Louisiana students. Another incident occurred Thursday at Lincoln High School in Dallas, when the school lost power in the morning.

Several fights reportedly broke out between Texas students and Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New Orleans, officials and students said. Dallas police and school district police officers were called to keep order on the campus.

Once power was restored, the school's principal held a meeting with New Orleans students to address their concerns and "to make sure there wasn't anything escalating there."
And in Houston, five students were arrested after about 20-25 Louisiana and Texas students got into a fight at Jones High School in September. That fight started when a Jones High School student allegedly threw a soda can toward New Orleans students, according to Houston Independent School District officials.

The incident has not been an isolated one.

"That incident was certainly the gravest," HISD spokeswoman Lisa Bunse said. "We've boosted security there, and some of the local ministers came in to assist with counseling. We know students are dealing with issues. The kids from New Orleans have a lot on their plate, not only moving to new schools but losing their homes. Tensions have run high.
"The schools have been good at dealing with telling students that we have to be patient because these kids are going through a lot."

There are about 5,727 Hurricane Katrina evacuees in HISD schools. In the Conroe ISD, the number of evacuees from hurricanes Katrina and Rita reached a high of around 900 earlier this school year, but it has gone down to 638, according to Galindo.

Forty-seven of those students are at Conroe High School. Galindo said Thursday's fight was the "first and only one of this type" that has happened at the school this year. On Friday, the day after the fight, with its heightened security and high number of absences, it turned out to be a "very positive" school day.

"Teachers and parents greeted the students, and it was a great place to be," she said.
The Conroe mother whose son was expelled because of the fight is trying to organize a meeting of parents of both Conroe and Louisiana students, as well as CISD officials, to figure out things and make things better.

"Who's going to protect our kids and say, 'This has got to stop?'" she asked. "There's going to have to be some kind of medium."

The Door

2005-11-11T17:46:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is a bit wierd, but it is something that I have been meaning to write about for some time. I have been working in the same building for the last 11 years. The building was brand spanking new when we moved in and a lot has changed during this time. I have been through at least 5 bosses and many more employees have come and gone in that time frame. You might say that nothing really stays the same for too long around here.

Well, almost nothing stays the same. The picture below is of "The Door". This particular is always open. ALWAYS. What makes this strange is that one day last year, I was standing there, looking around with a queazy feeling in my innards, when I realized that for the first time in ten years, "The Door" was closed. Shut. Sealed. Secured.

I can't tell you why, but there was a wierd terror building inside of me when I realized that the one constant in my work life had changed. The first thought I had was "What the hell is wrong? Why is it closed? What aren't they telling me around here?" It was serious paranoia and fear. My favorite writer Hunter S. Thompson would have described it as "THE FEAR." I knew it that day and I was worried that the feeling would never leave me.

What made the realization even worse was when my new boss walked by. She had been on the job just about 2 months and was just getting the hang of things around our building. There was no way she would understand my terror at "The Door" being closed, or so I thought.

She looked at me, looked at the closed door, and made an eerie remark: "Why is that door closed? Is something wrong? That door is never closed."

I nearly bolted and ran for my car. "The Door" being closed was one thing, but someone who had barely been in the building a couple of months realizing that it being closed was wrong is something else. I just don't feel like I can get the feeling of doom that accompanied the site of "The Door" being closed across to anyone who doesn't see it on a regular basis.

The story does have a happy ending though. The boss summoned a member of the custodial staff who unlocked and opened the door. I felt better and it has never been closed since. Never.

Upate

2005-11-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

Other than a wierd murder-suicide, Conroe has been quiet for the past few weeks.

On my way to work on Monday I discovered that my side-o-the road sofa was finally gone. I guess TXDOT got tired of it being there for at least five weeks. Maybe this weekend I can get a photo that has a good story to go with it, a Conroe story that is.

Not So Famous People From Conroe

2005-10-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Interviewing Norman

Slow week. The sofa is still there on the side of the road, but I have a plan.

The star of the movie linked above is from Conroe, Texas, but he probably doesn't want anyone to know.

Of course I know.
I have seen him here.

No kidding. I know this guy. Trust me.

Cans of Orange Whoopass

2005-10-19T21:57:00.001-07:00

Orange Whoopass: 1) mythical source of power and karma derived from sacred, never-say-die 1980 and 1986 Astros teams. Generally evoked when the Astros rip another team, pitcher, etc. or when a Zone-dweller is stressing the need to do so. (ex. "It's time to open up a can of orange whoopass on the &%#$ Braves.")

I have been a Houston Astros fan since 1985 or so. It was during that year that I started in a fantasy baseball league based around the Astros.

It was during that time that I learned all about baseball, the Astros, and most importantly, Heartache. During this same time period I also began visiting the Astrodome and in the dark corners of the Dome I heard the rumors of the Orange Whoopass. It was the perverts and weirdoes that whispered at the urinals about a secret vault deep in the bowels of the Astrodome. The vault is temperature controlled and top secret in the worst way. Ancient orange colored cans are kept there, stored zero degrees Kelvin; absolute zero, none more cold. I doubted the existence of this secret stash of super powered karma for far too long, but its existence was reestablished this year when the Astros faced their age-old nemesis, the Atlanta braves.

On October 10, 2005, the Astros faced the Atlanta Braves in an 18-inning game in the first round of the playoffs. I was watching the game and came away stunned when Chris Burke hit a homerun to win the game in the 18th inning after 5 hours and 50 minutes to win the series for the Astros. Soon afterward the stories started to fly.

According to my source the Astros front office sent a motorcade to the Astrodome during the 11th inning. The vault was opened and the team officials made a serious decision; do we open a can of the orange, or do we take a less serious action? The rumors have flown around Houston, but from what I can gather, at least one can of pure Orange Whoopass was warmed to somewhere near 0 F, the frost scrapped off and then transported to Minute Maid Park. Sometime during the 17th inning the frost was sprinkled on the Astros’ bats and players by Jose Cruz and the fate of the Astros was cemented.

As the National League championship series wore on and the Astros gave up a heartbreaking loss in game 5, I heard that the team had made a decision to warm and perhaps drink an entire can of Orange Whoopass. There was nothing left to lose and despite the scarcity of the Orange Whoopass (I have heard stories that less than 12 cans were brewed and stored), it was all or nothing time.

As I sit here now, celebrating the first ever Houston Astros’ visit to the World Series, I know that something happened. Whether it was the frost off of one of those legendary cans or perhaps a small swig from a cold can by each player, it doesn’t matter. The Astros have taken that last step and hopefully there are a few drinks left in that can, just in case.

Contra Flow This

2005-10-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

If anyone was watching the news during the Hurricane Rita fun of several weeks ago then you probably heard about the wonderful contra-flow lanes that the Texas Department Of Transportation set up to help the traffic get out of Houston.

What you are seeing is a picture of the hugest fecal impaction imaginable when it comes to evacuating Houston. This is I-45 at FM 1488 in Montgomery County, just inside the Conroe city limits.

This is the place that made the mayor of Houston and the Harris county judge go nuts. The bridges over the San Jacinto River are under construction and the state is attempting to widen I-45 to four lanes both ways. The only problem for Rita evacuees is that this created a huge bottleneck of trouble. There was no way to contra-flow I-45 further south because the shit hits the fan right inside the city limits of Conroe. I get the feeling that the powers that be in Harris County would have just filled the damned river in and let the cars drive over the blockage. I think the final count was nearly 8 hours to get the spot in the picture in shape so that traffic could cross the river, then travel north on all available lanes.

I am sitting on the FM 1488 overpass that is another Conroe traffic legend. For years (All of the 1980s and most of the 1990s) the overpass was too low. Every darned big rig in the state plowed into it. It took nearly 15 years of constant demolition derby for the state to raise the overpass to an acceptable height. Now you understand my issues with the current I-45 widening project. If another hurricane hits Houston, this spot is going to be the largest fecal impaction imaginable, again.

Things I Find on the Side of the Road

2005-10-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

Almost two weeks ago this sofa turned up on the side of State Highway 242, just southeast of Conroe I bit. I can’t explain why, but I figured it would make an interesting picture. I guess the jury is still out on that one.

With the weather finally cooling off here I guess the sofa makes a much better picture than the two deer and raccoon that marked the first 200 yards of driving this morning. I was even more disturbed when a deer made a slow walk across the road behind me. There is no way to explain how it survived, but deer and rush hour traffic around here are not the best of friends.

It was the damnedest thing to watch this buck just trot, ever so slowly, across two lanes of traffic. Of course I wasn’t making things any safer by watching out of my rear view mirror and ignoring the folks in front of me. What can I say, bad habits developed from years of pizza delivery die hard.

Once upon a time in the early 1990s I commuted between College Station and Conroe every day. It was easily an hour and half trip one way and that was traveling at a brisk 65 miles an hour. Every morning my coworkers received the road-kill report as I strolled in the door. I still have a fearful memory of the raccoon that had to be rottweiler-sized. It was lying on the shoulder of Highway 6 and it was freakin HUGE and very dead. I don’t want to go on too much about it since it might bring the nightmares back.

I guess there is a reason I prefer dead sofas on the side of the road these days.

Ask a Yes or No question You will

2005-10-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

One of my few prized possessions is my talking Yoda. He is designed so that when his hand is squeezed he greets you with the sentence in my title. Then he acts like a magic 8 ball, only Yoda style.

“Will anyone ever read this blog?”
Yoda: ”Simple question you ask, no I answer”

Yoda is a cruel toy. When I first saw him in the store I threw a fit. I grabbed him and ran to show my wife. She rolled her eyes and acted as if I was a complete moron.

“Will I get one of these for Christmas?”

Yoda: “Simple question you ask, yes I answer.”

Guess what? My wife had spotted it a couple of weeks earlier and it was already hidden in the house, but I wouldn’t find out for a couple of months. It may seem simple, but I really love my talking Yoda. My wife hates him. Especially when I start trying to imitate his speech. The mere sound of his voice makes my dogs bark. They really go crazy when they see the little green monster and hear him. Some animals have no taste.

“Will anyone understand my obsession with this toy?”

Yoda: “Clearing your mind are you or another question you wish to ask?”

Okay, sometimes Yoda is a bit weird, but as far as I can remember, the old Magic 8 Balls weren’t much better.

His permanent place is in the computer desk, next to the monitor. This way he stays hidden till I need him and the dogs don’t go crazy for no reason. ”Should I end this entry now?”

Yoda: “The answer you seek is no.”

Okay, then I guess I should end this by telling everyone that there apparently a new talking Yoda that speaks over 500 different phrases. I haven’t asked yet, but maybe I should.

“Will I get a new Yoda for Christmas?”

Yoda: “The answer you seek is yes.”

Yoda is so cool.

A Big Foot Expert in My Hometown?

2005-10-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2005/10/13/local_news/news/news10.txt

Interesting. Conroe Police have a latent footprint expert who travels to bigfoot conferences. Stranger and stranger around here everyday

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady arrested in South Dakota for DUI

2005-10-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, the man is my elected representative, but not for long. Time to vote out the problem and get problem solvers. Nothing personal against Kevin Brady, but to do "MY" work in Congress I think you need to be smart enough not to get nabbed for drunken driving. Not just drunk, but stupid in my opinion.

Following story from the Conroe Courier online

While he stopped short of admitting guilt, Brady said he would accept "every consequence" of his actions, even if that meant a jail sentence.
"To me, regardless of how this turns out, what it says is that you don't get behind the wheel," he said. "I take full responsibility for my actions."
Clay County State's Attorney Tami Bern indicated it was unlikely the fifth-term representative would spend any time in jail. DUI is a Class One misdemeanor in South Dakota, punishable by a maximum jail term of one year and a $1,000 fine. But she said the standard sentence in similar situations is a fine of $350 (court costs are an additional $53) and having your South Dakota driving privileges revoked for 30 days.
"We ask that everyone get the same situation," Bern said. "The standard sentence does not deviate."
Brady, who holds the leadership post of majority deputy whip in the 109th Congress, was in Vermillion, S.D., to receive an Alumni Achievement Award from the University of South Dakota, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. After the awards dinner Friday, Brady was pulled over by a state trooper for a problem with the taillights on his vehicle, according to South Dakota Highway Patrol Col. Dan Mosteller.
"He (Brady) was stopped for an equipment violation," Mosteller said. "There was no evidence of erratic behavior (by the driver) of the vehicle."
Brady confirmed he was given a field sobriety test and submitted to a Breathalyzer test administered by Trooper Brent Mohrmann. According to the trooper's arrest report, he commenced his investigation after smelling alcohol on Brady.
"Based on the observations at the time following the tests, he (Mohrmann) formed an opinion and arrested him," said Mosteller, who said the arrest was made at 11:44 p.m. Friday.
Once arraigned at the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Brady was asked to submit to a blood alcohol content test. He refused, according to Mosteller. Bern said a portable breath test is not considered scientifically reliable enough to be used as evidence in court. A driver is presumed automatically under the influence if the blood alcohol content is 0.08 or greater, she said.
"That's why we ask for a blood test," Bern said.
South Dakota law requires drivers charged with a third DUI to submit to a blood alcohol test.
Brady's attorney in South Dakota is Lee McCahren, who did not return phone calls Tuesday. Bern said McCahren has not given any indication whether he intends to plead out the charge or contest it in court. Brady's case has been scheduled in court for Nov. 8 at 9:30 a.m., she said.
During a brief telephone interview, Brady said he had been drinking after the awards dinner with some friends at "one of the old college hangouts." He was on his way back to the hotel with his wife, mother, a sister and her husband in the car when he was stopped.
Because it was homecoming weekend at the university, law enforcement officers were on the lookout for drunk drivers, according to Clay County Sheriff Andy Howe. Brady said he was "glad" that the officers were doing their job.
"That night, I never imagined I was anywhere even close to the legal limit," he said. "But the fact is, getting behind the wheel, even if you think you're fine is never a wise decision. I have to hold myself to a higher standard. Law enforcement ought to be doing the sobriety tests to discourage people from driving."
Brady declined to comment on what impact his arrest could have on his political future. A member of the Ways and Means Committee, Brady also serves on the Joint Economic Committee and House Policy Committee, as well as the Social Security and the Trade subcommittees.
Most recently the point man in the White House's passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, Brady will be up for re-election in November 2006.
Reaction to Brady's arrest was typically along bipartisan lines. Texas Democratic Party Chairman Charles Soechting said it was "deeply troubling" to see Brady do something as "reckless and irresponsible as driving drunk" at a time when "the people of this country have lost so much respect for elected officials."
Although Soechting did not comment on whether this would help Democrats uproot Brady out of the 8th Congressional District, a party official said Brady's arrest "isn't about elections, but about character of our leadership. People have to decide that for themselves."
Texas Republican Party Chairwoman Tina J. Benkiser said Brady enjoys the support of his district and "will no doubt draw upon that support this time." She said it was "too early to know anything" regarding how the incident would affect Brady's career.
While no one from the U.S. House Ethics Committee would comment on Brady's arrest, a person familiar with the process said incidents of this nature are usually handled by the voters and not by the committee.
Closer to home, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Mike Valdez, who is running for County Court-at-Law #3 judge, said his fellow Republican was a "straight shooter" who will accept any responsibility that needs to be taken. When told Brady announced he was willing to take his medicine, Valdez, a big supporter of the "Shattered Lives" program, said that proves the "kind of guy" Brady is.
"That's what the Shattered Lives teaches, accepting the consequences of our actions," Valdez said. "I don't think this will impede him. The reputation that he has and the work that he's done remain unchanged with this outcome."

Wildlife

2005-10-13T12:18:00.000-07:00

I walked out the backdoor last night around 10 pm and came face to face with a smallish raccoon. He seemed very surprised to see me, almost as surprised as I was to be standing less than ten feet from him.

The little critter turned tail and ran after a short stare-off that he didn't feel the need to carry on for too long. Growing up in the Conroe area has always been an adventure as far as the wildlife goes. During my childhood it was snakes of all sorts and rabbits. They were everywhere I went as a boy and after a while, they just weren't that exciting. It still irritates me to this day when people see or hear of snakes and run screaming in circles or hide under the bed. I actually had neighbors from Michigan who hid inside the house for several hours after a snake spotting incident in the back yard.

For me it is simple. I take a look, see if the offending reptile is poisonous or not and then deal with it. I will admit that poisonous snakes still get treated to the business end of my shovel, but these days it is just the occasional copperhead. There hasn't been a sighting of a coral snake, water moccasin, or the rare rattler in ages. All the other snakes get a free pass. They eat too many vermin for me justify killing them. Now I can't prove that they keep me vermin free, but there is that part of my brain that tells me that I would be overridden by little furry varmits if the snakes weren't allowed to do their parts. I am strange that way.

The wildlife situation is a bit stranger these days too. I live within 8 miles of my boyhood home and I am infested with deer, rabbits, raccons, birds, a few snakes, foxes, and even bats. What really saddens me is that as time goes on and Montgomery county expands its population, these critters are going to vanish too. I really want my children to be filled with the excitement and mystery of seeing a wild fox chase the squirrels in the backyard. It is breathtaking to watch a doe and her twin fawns wander past the windows. Most of all, I dig the woodpeckers that visit the trees and feeders in my yard. Four different varities at last count and I find that pretty darned impressive.

Now that I put some thinking to the problem, I think the hummingbirds are really cool too. I spend way too much time stalking them with the digital camera, but never seem to be able to catch one in a picture.

Basically I feel like I live in a wildlife refuge, but I worry that it isn't going to last much longer. I find the critter relaxing and exciting and I really want them to be there for my kids, but it just isn't going to happen.

A Quick Aside That is Conroe Related

2005-09-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Saw this post and laughed for some strange reason

A Texas Woman Sues 'Extreme Makeover'

Sep 21, 9:50 AM EST

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- A woman is suing ABC's reality show "Extreme Makeover" for unspecified damages, alleging its decision to cancel her appearance contributed to her sister's suicide.

In a lawsuit filed Sept. 9 in Los Angeles Superior Court, Deleese Williams, 30, of Conroe, Texas, claimed the producers subjected her to needless humiliation and goaded her sister, Kellie McGee, into insulting her appearance.

Williams says a psychologist and numerous doctors told her she needed an "eye lift, ears pulled back, chin implant and breast implants."

She was also told she needed dental surgery to break and reset her jaw for a successful "makeover," the lawsuit said.

Just hours before the dental surgery was to take place, Williams was told she was being dropped from the show because the recovery time wouldn't fit into the schedule, the lawsuit said.

Williams said she returned to Texas devastated. Four months later, her sister killed herself.

"She knew that they could drop her at anytime, but she didn't believe they would," Williams' Houston-based lawyer, Wesley Cordova, said Tuesday.

The lawsuit said McGee suffered from bipolar disorder, but Cordova said the show drove Williams' sister to kill herself.

Williams is suing ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Co., for alleged breach of contract, willful infliction of emotional distress and negligence.

"The most tragic part is that Deleese is now too ashamed to even go out in public," Cordova said.

ABC said Tuesday that all participants know in advance that their makeover may not happen.

"The ABC Television Network wishes to express its sincere condolences to Deleese Williams and her family for the loss of Kellie McGee," the company said in a statement.

"In regards to `Extreme Makeover,' all participants are made aware that if doctors or producers have any concerns about a procedure, the makeover will not go forward. ... The producers endeavor to handle each potential makeover participant with the utmost care."

Williams said she applied to "Extreme Makeover" in December 2003 and was selected to meet with producers in Los Angeles.

There, Williams was videotaped recounting the ridicule she suffered as a child and her years in an abusive marriage to an ex-husband. Makeover'

Her lawsuit alleges that her husband and sisters were also interviewed and encouraged to make disparaging comments about her looks.

Update: The Chair is No More

2005-09-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

I very happy to report (no pics this time) that the dang blasted chair is gone. After getting my second fire started, I was able to watch the chair burn itself down to ashes.

The burn pile even lived till Tuesday afternoon when the wife saw it smoking and forced me to put it out. For some reason, leaving a nice bed of coals going so I can get a blaze easily in the evening just doesn't sit well with her. Oh well, I guess that is life. At least my burn pile will last a bit longer this way.

The Chair Must Die

2005-09-11T16:50:00.000-07:00

Now that I let everyone in on my secret past time of the burn pile, it almost appears that my FIL reads my blog. I walk into his house last night and pretty much the first thing out of his mouth was some snide remark about the chair and how it was never going to burn. Now, I would normally just go home, pour a ½ gallon of gasoline on the thing and be done with it, but after last night I took it personally. It wasn’t going to be a simple pour and torch job; I wanted to do it like a pro. That means build a real fire and let it have its natural way the damned chair without using any petroleum products. It’s taking pride in my work or in this case, my hobby that puts this kind pressure on me.

So, this morning I go in search of my fire building supplies. First off, I use dryer lint for my kindling. It is just the best thing for starting a fire the old fashioned way. Today though, my wife was shredding old bills and bank statements, so I grabbed a couple of handfuls and headed for the burn pile. Part of me was worried that this would doom the whole endeavor, but what the hell, if the shredded paper didn’t do the job then I would just go get my stash of lint and start over. The goal is burn the hell out of a chair, not build the perfect fire. Next thing I know I have a good base of shredded paper, shoved between two large logs, and covered with lots of nice dry twigs. This whole construct was covered by THE CHAIR.

The picture shows the sheer beauty and simplicity of what I was attempting to do. Start fire, burn chair, and dance a jig of success. Three matches later I had a great flame. The paper was an impressive fire starter, rivaling my usual lint and the game was on. Crackling flames, smoking wood, and a soon to be burning chair were going to start my day off just right.

Don’t those flames look great? For only using three matches and no gasoline it is not only a thing of beauty, but also a construct of great simplicity, which show cases my ability with dry material and a match. I would go as far as saying it was a work of art. I walked away to do some chores in the garden and eat lunch happy in the knowledge that when I returned, the offending chair would be gone and I could gloat a bit to my FIL the next time I saw him. The only problem was that four hours later the fire was out and that damned chair was still perched on top of the burn pile. It was laughing at me, mocking me, and gloating about my inability to destroy it. The urge to go get the gas and soak the whole show welled up inside me, but I fought it down and decided to investigate further before I took such an angry route. I poked and prodded the burn pile to uncover hot coals, but there didn’t seem to be any. That meant the fire had burned out without doing its job. I didn’t run for the gas, instead I went and got three handfuls of shredded bills and stuffed them between the two logs, stacked more twigs on top, centered the chair on the burn pile and grabbed a small, yet burnable looking log from the “to burn” pile.

My second construct as you can see is larger. More paper, more twigs and of course a back up log to toss on top. Once I got the flames going this time, I allowed the twigs to burn down a bit, then put the back up logs on the fire, under the chair. It may take all night, but the chair will die. I swear by all that I hold dear that the chair will burn. I will not be defeated in this battle.

And you thought life in Conroe, Texas was boring?

Legend of the Burn Pile: Weekend Boredom Gone Wrong

2005-09-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

Life in and around Conroe, Texas is not that exciting. I have been here since 1972 and sometimes I have had to reach really far down into the bottom of my mind to come up with fun pastimes. Lets face it; small town Texas is not always a thrill ride. Last winter though, I stumbled upon a new hobby, which I refer to as my burn pile. It sounds strange and believe me, it doesn’t get much better from this point on. First, a small bit of background information. I live on about ½ an acre of land with my wife and daughter. Last winter my wife finally felt that the dead tree in the backyard had to go. I had held her off for over a year with the argument that “The woodpeckers live in the tree,” but when she could finally verify that no more woodpeckers were present, the tree had to go. It posed some sort of threat to her and our house, so it came down. After the initial fun of cutting the tree down, my father and I decided that we weren’t paying to have the stump ground out. Hell, why waste good money when you can burn it out.

Getting permission to play with fire from my dad was an incredible rush, and I am an adult. His/my plan was simple. I would excavate around the tree stump, pile the remains of the tree around the stump and burn, burn, burn till stump and the tree were gone. I had no clue if this would really work, but it meant dousing a pile of wood with petroleum products and lighting that baby up. Over the course of last winter I spent many afternoons and evenings burning the tree and other various objects in the burn pile. There was just nothing better than putting a log or two in the fire, pouring on some flammable fluid, lighting it up, and drinking a cold beer while the flames went to work.

The stump and tree did disappear and I was sad when I had nothing left to burn. I made a promise to the wife that I would turn the spot into a flowerbed and I really meant to keep that promise till fate stepped in. Over the summer my wife decided that another tree in the yard was dead. I was excited despite having to pay someone this time to take the tree down. This meant yet another winter of the burn pile. It was a tradition that I had to keep up at any cost. Of course I also explained to the wife that I can’t build the flowerbed till this tree is all burned up. So here is the photo of the current burn pile. It consists of some old cardboard (summer project gone weird), two pieces of the tree, and part of a chair that broke while I was sitting in it. I half assed my first burn attempt by throwing some mineral spirits on top (Gasoline is far too expensive to use these days) and lighting up.

As you can tell, it didn’t get very far. Like I said, I kinda half assed the first attempt, but that will be all. My father in law warned me that the chair will never burn. For various reasons he thinks I am a fool for even trying to burn the thing, but just wait. That chair is going to burn one way or another, just give me chance. Now that I committed to the burn pile I guess I should show everyone my “to burn” piles. These two photos show just what my primary material supply looks like at this point. It may not seem like much, but I will find more. There is hope that the lot across the street will get cleared and I can gather more fuel for the fire.

I warned you, the legend of the burn pile isn’t too exciting, but its life here where I live and I enjoy it.

Welcome to the Conroe City Limits

2005-09-04T19:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome

2005-08-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Blog on Conroe, Texas. It is a small place, but it is where I have called home since about 1972, give or take a few months a time.

Conroe may not be that exciting for everyone, but feel free to follow along for a strange, if not wild ride through small town Texas.