Smith Valley

Over at GH's blog, Flygirl mentioned how lucky those of us that lived in Smith Valley were to live there.
I won't argue.

I vividly remember when they built the Smith Valley Shopping Center and opened up Walden's Drug store, Baker's 5&10, the IGA, and Jack Dempsey's Hardware. Other shops came and went, but those lasted a while. On Sundays, the parking lot was a great place for kids to gather on their bikes and have a bicycle rodeo!

Fish fries at the Smith Valley Community Center were a festival.
For years, folks would come and set up booths like you could find at a carnival.......throw darts at balloons, try to knock down bottles with a softball, a dunk-tank.......all to the sounds of live Country music being played in the dining tent. Everyone for miles around would turn out......a great place just to walk around and see-and-be-seen.
The baseball diamond was also a great gathering place on hot summer nights!

The Volunteer Fire Department started out at the Community Center, then moved over to new digs on Runyon Road. For a couple years during the summer months, the firemen would show a movie on a set evening.
Folding chairs for 30 or so were set up in the lot behind the building facing the screen....movie projector in the back door. They sold snacks.....popcorn, candy, soda pop, to help raise funds for the department. My memory is that most times there would be a good crowd, but I don't remember watching the movie very often.....again, it was more a see/be seen affair......kids running wild, doin' what kids do.
What a great memory!

Then there was The Beehive!
Mr. Clements called it "The Greasy Spoon", and that was an apt description.
If you stayed in the Beehive for more than a few seconds, everyone could tell you had been there.....the smell of old grease in the deep fat fryer permeated your clothes with a VERY distinctive odor!
I worked there our Sophomore year........15 years old.
The owner would come in for half an hour as I started my shift, then he would head home to watch TV, leaving me alone there until near closing time. He'd come back to grab the cash drawer and lock up as I headed down the hill to my home.

Those of you that ever spent time at the Beehive will remember the booths. I wish I had taken pictures of all those booths! The table tops of the booths had the names/initials of all the "In crowd" carved in them.
Some of the patrons I remember.......
GH and Ferdy.
Vicky and Joe V.
Dickie Bird.
Lila S. and Harry L.
TPO
Hawkeye
Ron S.
So many.......I can't possibly remember them all.

I've blogged before about how great it was to grow up in that time/place.
I know the B-Ville crowd probably had similar, but different experiences.
Smith Valley was my "Walton's Mountain".
It was family.......truly a place where "Everybody Knows Your Name"!

Go Fish!

My son made it home from Vancouver, B.C., and helped me scan the pictures of the GGFF. Thank you son!

At left, "Reel Job" is suspended on a winch just 15 feet from Tools' back door. Here you see Tools and JT, with the help of "Famous Amos" the boxer, getting ready for another attempt at terrifying the fish. (Click pics to enlarge.)



TwoDogs and Tools at the end of his canal. Tools home is just to the right of this pic.
Most of the homes in this subdivision have canals like this one behind them, giving homeowners access to Galveston Bay.





Tools congratulates JT for being the only member of our party to successfully land a fish on this trip!







Tools demonstrates what we did best while we were
scaring fish away from the bait......











JT at his position atop the 150 Horsepower Yamaha.










Tools displays TwoDog's proud catch.......a mussel shell!









Greybeard and TwoDogs at the bow. (Greybeard's training wheels are just out of the bottom of the picture.)







The streetside view of Tool's lovely home.








TwoDogs and Greybeard pack the car on the last day of the adventure........."Do we really hafta go?"






TwoDogs clicking the shutter,
Moe, Curly, and Larry?

My web page

My son in law is putting together a web site for me. He sent this as his first draft. Not bad for his first web site to do and the first draft. Let me know what you think and changes I should do.
Click Here

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THIS

i posted this to another link but thought I would share it here as well.In January 1977 on Fry Road, my house burned and I lost all my school pictures along with everything we owned. We made the front page of the Johnson County Journal that day. It was the coldest day of the year. The water, from the tanker, was freezing before it got to the end of the hose. All the firemen could do was to stand by and watch it burn. Mom and dad lived across the street and we were visiting with them when we heard the sirens. We had no idea it was our home that was on fire. I ran out of Moms and ran to our home and started to open the front door, the fireman pulled me back to the ground. My dogs were inside and I wanted to let them out. Another fireman stooped down close to the ground, opened the door - fire shot out like a bat out of _____! My dogs perished, a mother and her 3 - 4 week old puppies. After a couple of days I walked the ashes to find anything - NOTHING. The only site that was standing was the fireplace bricks. It was amazing on how many people would drive up the lane to Mom's house and honk their horn. I would go out to their car; they would be bringing clothes, money, food and toys for the kids. At this time we had our 6 kids and a foster child, a total of 7 kids. They did not leave their names or any information on who they were. I can't tell you how much this was so appreciated, the community and neighbors helping a family in need. The mayor of Greenwood came to see us to see if there was anything he could do. I think he was more afraid we were going to sue the county. We had tried to get a fire hydrant installed on Fry Road. A year later there was a fire hydrant installed. Ha. I still have the newpaper from that day. A builder had a spec home right up the street and offered the home for us to live. We moved into the home, we had only been there for a couple of days and one of my brothers came over to visit. He through his cigarette butt in the fireplace. Later on that night, after we were all in bed, the fire alarm went off in the house. An alarming sound after what we had just been through. As I jumped out of bed the house was full of smoke - Called 911 - I could not find where it was coming from. I got all the kids up, loaded them in the car and pulled the car out of the garage. I ran back inside and started throwing their clothes out the window (in the snow). The fire department arrived - the smoke was coming from the fireplace. The cigarette had ignited the debris that had been left in the ash box from all the small debris pitched in the hole from a new construction site. And the flue was closed tight. As you can imagine I'm terrified of fires. I later learned that my grandparents home had burned down the same time of year only 50 years earlier.

Do You Remember Nickel Cokes?

SUNDAY!
Sunday, at Indianapolis Raceway Park......
The Little.......Red...........Wagon!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey Mom!
Oh Mom!
Here comes the Omar Man!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hedges,
Hedges Pontiac......
Hedges Pontiac.
Dollar for dollar, you can't beat Pontiac,
And deal for deal you can't beat Hedges!
(819 East Washington Street)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The whole town's talkin' about the J-Boy,
The J-Boy,
at Jerry's!
The whole town's talkin' about the J-Boy,
at all Jerry's Restaurants!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poll Parrott,
Poll Parrott,
they're the shoes you wanta buy!
They make your feet run faster,
As fast as I can fly!
(As fast as you can fly?)
Yessiree, let's try!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Weidemann's, Weidemann's Beer.....
Satisfies a thirst, monumental and sincere!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Winston, Winston, tastes real good,
Rich and full like a cigarette should!
Flavor that's rich and full and true.....
try a pack of Winston's!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gotta get newwwwww seat covers!
Gotta get newwwwww seat covers!
To give your car "that new look"!
Seat Cover Charlie's!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where did you get that hat,
Oh, you lucky fellow?
At Levinson's, Levinson's, Levinson's, Levinson's...
Yes sir!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be young and fair
and debonair,
be sociable...
have a Pepsi!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerry Alderman!
Jerry Alderman!
Jerry Alderman,
55-Hundred North Keystone.....
Jerry Alderman Ford!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm sorry to say this junk runs through my head more often than I would like to admit.....
Bouncin' Bill Baker and mornings on WIBC, where I heard most of this stuff, ruined me for life!

Do you remember the jingles to some of these ditties?
We'll attempt to sing them together on 29 April.....
(Dogs will howl and cats will seek shelter beneath the sofa!)

How 'bout you.....
remember any to share?

24 March Smorgasbord

Gone Fishin',
Gone Quiltin',
Gone doin' good deeds for hurricane victims.

All gone?..........I don't think so!

You know you have something to say!

WAZZZZ BEEN-UP-DOC?

Our cup runneth over!

Guess who?

Take a look here
(Also added to the Blogroll.)
More Blog is better!

Welcome, Tools!

Check out our Blogroll......
There's a new Blog in town!

"Reel Job" has to do with the passion of a Saltwater Fisherman.

I commend Tools for perserverence.......we tried like heck to get his blog up and running while we were there last weekend, and it refused to cooperate. He's gotten this far on his own effort, and I bet that was frustrating at times!

Again, welcome my brother......I'm glad to see your success!

Jerry Adam's Legacy

Today I received the following note.
I asked Kelley for permission to reprint it here, and she agreed:

From: Kelley Williams
Hello,
I wanted to thank you so much for what you wrote about Jerry. My name is Kelley (Jackson) Williams and Jerry is my father.
I surf from time to time just typing in his name to see what comes up and that's how I found your post.
I was adopted by my mom's parent's, lived in Greenwood and married a CG grad. My 4 year old son looks a lot like Jerry......at least that's what my family thinks. Let's just hope he doesn't get the teeth! He definitely has the dimples.
I wish I could have known Jerry. I was only two and a half when he was killed. I've always wanted to know if the men he was flying with that day made it back from Nam. I hope so.
I visit 187thahc.net from time to time. It's a great site. Take Care and thank you again.
kw

Kelley would like to hear from anyone that knew Jerry.
You can reach her at:
klwatdirecwaydotcom
(Change the at to @ and the dot to .)

God Bless you, Kelley.
Your Dad made the world a better place to be, in more ways than one!

The GGFF After Action Report

Success is determined by the parameters you set.
Not getting the results you want? Redefine your parameters!

The GGFF was a resounding success.
I just need help with redefining our expectations!

We had a ball.
I'm still amazed at how quickly friends that have been separated for years can so quickly get comfortable with one another.
Stir memories with a few old stories......
fill in some blanks with new information......
laughs and smiles all around quickly establish a feeling of brotherhood.

Plane fare to Galveston....
The cost of the fishing license.......
A $30,000 fishing boat and a ton of expensive fishing tackle......
many gallons of gas at exorbitant prices........
and in "the box?".......
ONE Speckled Trout!
Cost per ounce of fish? I don't even want to think about it!

But we did eat a bunch of fresh fish!
(Great dinners were served at "Shelley's Restaurant",
at "Miller's Landing", and "The Red Snapper Inn".)
Thank goodness someone had better luck at catching fish than we did......those dinners were mighty tasty!

I was favorably impressed with Galveston.
Most areas by the sea these days have become very "tourista".
Galveston is more laid back, and more "small town" feeling.
Restaurants and other businesses are more "Ma and Pa" than big franchise.........very comfortable.

Thank you Tom, for putting up with all us yahoos.
We have memories of four wonderful days, and as soon as I can,
I'll be sharing pictures of the event with all of "Vandy's Kids".

We Need a New Guide!

Well, we spent the afternoon on the water.
Cap'n Tom failed us again.
Nary a nibble on the end of anyone's line.

John suggested it first, and we all agreed.......
we need a new guide!

We hear there is someone quite knowledgeable about "Grouper Holes" and chumming that is available somewhere down around Sarasota, FL..
We are gonna try to make contact to see if we can schedule a fishing trip there.....
Sure as heck can't be any worse than our luck here!

Me Too

I shaved today too. My last time until Sat. March 25.
I am going to Pearlington, Mississippi March 19. It's on the bay at the Mississippi and Louisiana Line.
The town was hit by a 26 foot wave during hurricane Katrina. Going to build some 12' x 16' buildings for people to live in who are still living in tents and campers.
Wish us luck and safety.

Good News, Bad News.....

The good news:
The weather cleared and has been better than we expected.

The bad news:
Not a bite.
Not one.
Not a single DAMN BITE!

Tools promises a better day tomorrow......says a frontal passage today is what is causing our problems. I'll take his word on it.

Pizza tonight.
Maybe some anchovies on it to remind us what fish tastes like?

Friday Morning Fog

The best laid plans.....

Up at 0500 hours, and we can see the distance of a football field.
Fog is so thick, you get slightly wet just walking through it.

Coffee with Irish Creme this morning, and comfortable talk about shared school experiences take the disappointment out of not being able to fire up the boat.

Yesterday, flights down for everyone were uneventful.
My flight arrived 10 minutes early, and my arrival at the baggage area was met by three smiling faces. We went immediately and purchased out-of-state fishing licenses......$38 for three days.

Just down the street for the necessities.........beer, bourbon, vodka, and, oh yeah......munchies!

Tom owns a beautiful little home with a canal at his back door. We're met by his old Boxer....."Amos".
Amos is instantly "one of the boys."
Tom's boat is hanging at the dock, ready to be dropped into the water and maneuvered via canal to the bay. It's a beautiful setting.

Beer in the fridge, except for three cold ones, we move to the patio overlooking the canal for some catching up on gossip and legitimate news.
We're all immediately comfortable.

Tom suggested dinner at "Shelley's". A good recommendation.
We ate on the patio, Gulf visible from our table.
Seafood for all but John......I think he ordered chicken because he saw a great deal of fish in his future.

Back home overlooking the canal with more long necks at hand, we talk until almost 10 P.M., when we all realize how long the day has been.
Two beds downstairs and two upstairs, we're all well rested this morning, sipping coffee, again sharing memories.

Fog? Who cares!
Happy St. Patty's Day, everyone!

More later.

The Grand Galveston Fishing Fiasco

Well, here we go.... I shaved last night.
That's the last time a razor will touch my face until next Wednesday!

TwoDogs, John T., and Greybeard today
converge on Houston to meet Tools for the start of the G.G.F.F..

Watch this space......
To the extent possible, TD and I will keep you up to date on our efforts to control fish overpopulation in the Galveston area.

By the way, yesterday Sara Jean had the nerve to ask,
"Whatcha gonna be eatin' while you're down there?"
What a Smart***!

I have full faith in Tools ability to guide us and put fish on the line,
and therefore fresh seafood on the table.

Along the way, we'll also be doing a little quality control checking
on a malt beverage or two.
We'll post as events unfold and time permits.

Wish us safe travels, good weather, and good luck!


UPDATE: 9 P.M.
Thank you all for the good wishes!
We are all here safely. Fishing licenses purchased......a good dinner in our bellies at a Restaurant patio overlooking the ocean.
The plan is to be up and out early in the morn, while the water is relatively calm.

Tom has a very nice place on a canal.....all he needs to do is lower his boat into the water and work his way out to the ocean. Beautiful.

We're all in good spirits. We've been talking about all our new bloggers.
We'll keep you advised.
Wish you were here!

Aloha in '07?

Again, let me see if I have the pulse of things here:

Looks to me like Hawaii would be agreeable to all.
Since this, no matter how much we all try to help, will fall heavily on GH, I suggest we let her sort out her calendar for dates most convenient for her.......then we can choose between those dates for a time convenient for most of the rest of us.

Having planned a big family reunion some years ago, I found that the best dates generally don't revolve around holidays, as many will have other family plans for those dates.
I've also found that if you don't put your foot down and set dates, things get put off ad-infinitum, so we need to start firming things up here.

We could plan for a couple dates for the entire group to be together, then individuals could strike out on their own agendas, or make further plans for group activities, if that is their desire.
I love the idea of biking down the volcano. GH can guide us to other activities.......floating through the lava pipe sounds wonderful, and the Pearl Harbor tour is top on my list.
Beyond that.......food, drink, and fellowship are all I care about.

So let's burn up the comments section here......
I think this could be something that would be better than "Elvis"!
GH, if we could impose upon you, please start looking at dates most convenient for you, considering the factors you would know best: weather, other tourist traffic, etc..
And Vandy's Kids.........COMMENT!
Make your preferences known!

Oh, and I'll go one step further:
Alaska in '08!

Far Out, Man!

Lemme throw something on the table and see if it sticks.
Long term planning involved......therefore the title of the post.....

It's obvious from comments to many posts that travel is high on the list of things Vandy's Kids enjoy......a fishing trip in the near future, and we're all lookin' forward to a review of TD's China trip when he and Ms. TD are safely home.

Set me to thinkin'......
(I know, that's a danger on it's own!)

How much interest do you think we'd have in planning a Cruise/reunion?

A couple itineraries come quickly to mind.....
I've always wanted to do the Alaskan "Inside Passage" cruise.
We could start now to plan for a summer '07 cruise.

Or alternatively....
Hawaii!
Rumor is that GH's husband gives a wonderful tour of Pearl Harbor....places that normal human beings don't often see.
Wouldn't it be fun to go as a group and bicycle down a volcano together?

I'm throwing these out as "seed" ideas.
Whatd'ya think?
Got a better plan?

Frost Top Drive-In

Do you remember the Frost Top In Mount Pleasant. Coming home from work last week on highway 37, I was listening to an oldies radio station. Right before County Line Road, they started playing "House of the Rising Sun". I had to turn at County Line and cut through were the Frost Top use to be, though the Mount Pleasant Addition and onto Morgantown Road. That was the main song at the Frost Top one summer. I went down to apply for the job, and backed into the owner's car, very little damage.( Remember that Greybeard ) He felt sorry for me and gave me the job. I worked there for two or three years. This was my American Graffiti. The ironic thing is that just three weeks ago the Johnson County Sheriff Department busted a massage parlor in one of the small shops where the Frost Top used to be, for prostitution. They had their own House of the Rising Sun in Mount Pleasant.
If I remember right, help me on this Greybreard, just south of the Frost Top on old 37, there were Burma Shave signs.
I wonder what kind of stories our kids will be writing 40 years after the fact ?

9 March Free For All

In like a Lion, out like a Lamb.
I actually believed in the folklore behind stuff like that when we were young.
March here started off windy, but mild.
Does the wind count as "Lion"?

The "Ides of March" approach, as does St. Patty's day.
The 17th is also the start of the 1st annual "Trojan Weekend Fishing Fiasco" in Galveston, TX.

Details of that trip......what can be relayed to you without fear of arrest or divorce, will be forthcoming shortly afterwards.

In the meantime, it's free for all time.
Comments on any topic are anxiously awaited!

Mrs. Howard's Typing Class

"Why in the world are you wasting time with that class?"

That was Mom.......

Like Home Ec., typing was for girls.
I think she may have been worried her offspring was turnin' into a "poof".

I really didn't care too much about learning to type.
I had a hole in my schedule for that hour.
Ron did too.
We put our heads together and decided an elective class where we would be surrounded by girls was worth the risk of being kidded by our peers.

And we WERE surrounded by girls!

Try as hard as I might, I was never able to get my typing speed above 35 words per minute. I could go really fast at times, but my tongue always got in the way of my "eye teeth", and I'd have to back up and correct.

I think my speed is probably much better than that now, and I cannot tell you how glad I am that I allowed Mrs. Howard to introduce me to the Smith-Corona!

I think almost all kids get the class now, only they don't call it "Typing" anymore........now it's "Keyboarding".
Maybe that's more macho so the boys don't rebel?

My son types at 74 words per minute. I know that's not record breaking speed, but it amazes me to watch his fingers on the keypad......you cannot see them move that quickly. It's hard to believe he can think fast enough to stay ahead of where his fingers are headed.

But as I sit here steadily typing.......
excuse me, keyboarding this post,
I wonder about the other guys from our class that are now maybe still employing the old, tried and true, "hunt and peck" method to thrash out a message, and I smile........

Thank you Roxie, for putting up with two boneheaded thorns in the middle of all those roses.
And thank you for giving me an adequate skill that serves me well after all these years!