As long as my two hands are fit to use...

Merle Haggard once recorded a song once called "Workin' Man's Blues" or something along those lines. As a radio DJ in a former life, I got the chance to play that record (and later CD) several dozen times. I actually enjoyed listening to it the first hundred times... but then like most repetitive practices, it got stale.

Back to the grind of working life after a week away has been an easy transition, but I miss being completely relaxed. Who doesn't miss that? It's Wednesday here which is one of my "long days." In at 9 and out around midnight... which a lunch and dinner in there somewhere.

Other than the purpose of putting my thoughts down in print, the only reason I'm posting today is because I just read an article about how to "future proof" your job. One of the reasons they list is blogging. Read about it here.

See you down the road.

Back on the blog-wagon?

There was quite a bit of time between posts here and if I said it was for good reason, I'd be lying. I just got away from writing for a while. I wanted to continue. But all that was coming to mind were people that have died. I didn't want to have a long list of eulogies here.

So here we are again. Why? I've recently re-discovered I don't need a computer to update the blog. A cell phone will do. So if you catch some a-typical spelling and grammar, blame it on the tiny keys and my opposable thumbs.

Austin, Texas

A major departure from the place our Texas forefathers ever envisioned. Instead of government and Texas heritage, today's average person will say "6th Street!" When you say Austin. They may have missed the point.

Well, most of the point anyway. It's so much more than that. But for now, it'll do. Technology has led us into the video generation. Austin has always had great music. Now the watering holes show video on lcd television sets and projector screens. Putting moving pictures with rhythm and notes is the next step. Radio will be dead in short time with video. They call that television. I've seen it before, but no more obvious than in my beloved capital. God save communication and preserve all of the point of it, not just part. Much like my hope for the public perception of this city I'm visiting right now.

Dear deodorant: Thanks for falling down on the job. Good thing I was planning on changing clothes before the convention. Love, -ch

On the road

I'm on the road today headed south along the busiest and more dangerous interstate highways in the country. I know this first hand based on several near collisions and one direct encounter with a wayward orange plastic construction barrel.

A while back I passed through Red Oak, Texas. I've never stopped there but two things come to mind about Red Oak. Back in my hometown, Mr. & Mrs. King ran the dry cleaners and men's wear shop across from my grandparent's flower shop. We went to church together, saw each other at town events, and were as close as folks in town could be I guess.

When Mr. King died, Mrs. Ruby Ruth moved off to be closer to her kids and grand kids. I remember hearing she settled at a nursing home in Red Oak. Back then I thought she was much too young for that. Even though she wore large glasses and had a large Texas hair do- it was white and poofy like clouds. Mrs. Ruby Ruth had a booming alto voice with a Texas drawl.

As a kid who spent afternoons at the flower shop once school was dismissed for the day, the only thrill of doing homework back when my pencil needed sharpening. If Tank wasn't around with his pocket knife, I could always head across the street to the dry cleaners. Mr. & Mrs. King had a pencil sharpener and we're never too busy to stop a visit for a minute.