A Few Pics from the Texas Hill Country

Guadalupe River photo by Rich Glasgow

class="flickr-yourcomment">Here are a few morning shots of the Guadalupe River west of Kerrville. We stayed about half a mile west from this point...wonderful environs in which to unwind, detox, chill out and escape the wiles of the world. I didn't see a computer, turn on a TV or read a newspaper for 10 days. It was great! (can't say I didn't appreciate an occasional listen to talk radio, however...heh heh)

Guadalupe River photo by Rich Glasgow

Guadalupe River near Ingram, TX on HWY 39.

Guadalupe River photo by Rich Glasgow

Looking east on the Guadalupe River as the sun rises.

Guadalupe River photo by Rich Glasgow

A morning shot looking west on the Guadalupe River, near Kerrville, TX.

The Islamo-facist's Solution

Cox & Forkum 10-27-05

Via BREITBART.COM, the AP is reporting that Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is marching along side thousands of anti-Israel protesters in Tehran, who are calling for the destruction of Israel. They're not real fond of us, either.

While the Left and their lapdog media are bent on the destruction of the Bush administration, a renegade nuclear power is vowing to obliterate Israel in conjunction with Islamo-facists around the world.

It's a pity that the Left can only see the threat of their political opponants while being totally oblivious to the real threats.

Update: Ahmadinejad "defends his call to have Israel 'wiped off the map.'"

Didn't see this in the MSM, did you?

Maybe I missed it. I was on the road heading home to Dallas, but I didn't catch this on any of the hourly news updates. In any other universe this would be headline news. Go figure!

If You're Ever in the Texas Hill Country...

Luckenbach, TX photo by Rich Glasgow

I always cap off my visits to the Hill Country of Texas with a homage to Luckenbach. Shiner long necks are always in order when paying your respects here.

It was a little more laid back than usual, yesterday, when I passed through. Including myself, there may have been 8 other quietly reverent folks taking in the essence of this quintessentially Texas, albeit underpopulated, town.

Luckenbach comes to life on the weekend. Adjacent parking lots take up more space than the town itself to accomodate the crowds. But whether you come to see the eclectic visitors or the historic old buildings, Lukenbach is right up there with the Alamo when it comes to defining Texas. And like the Alamo, you can't just go there, tour it, and leave. You have to experience it. It has to be taken in.

So, come to Texas. Take in the Alamo and experience Luckenbach.

"Gone Fishin'

Well, not really, but just for the heck of it, I'll probably take my pole and tackle, just in case. In reality, we're heading to the beautiful "Hill Country" of Texas, on the Guadalupe River, east of Austin and north of San Antonio, to observe the Feast of Tabernacles in Kerrville, TX, with family and friends.

The "Feast," as we affectionately call it, is a religious festival that symbolizes and looks forward to the return of Jesus Christ and his 1000 year reign here on earth spoken of in the book of Zechariah and so many other places in the Bible.

We're staying at a place sans internet connection or cable TV...DOH! It's always an "adjustment" to be cut off from the minute by minute news cycles we've been accustomed to via the internet, cable TV and talk radio, but it will probably work out to be a pleasant break from the same ol' same ol'!

If you do happen to stop by here, check out my links. There are some really good ones you won't find on other sites.

See you in 10 days or so (unless I find a quaint little internet cafe down there...heh heh)!

Note to the Toledo "Hood:"

When "protesting" an organization which is critical of you, such as the neo-nazis, it might not be prudent to engage in riotous looting. It gives the racists a certain amount of credibility.

More Castastrophes

Yet, two more horrendous natural catastrophes with which to deal: a mudslide in Guatemala and the gigantic earthquake in Pakistan. It's impossible for us to truly empathize with the horror that must be taking place on the local level. We have our own problems on the Gulf Coast, but we need to do whatever we can to help. Individually and nationally.

Oh, sure, catastrophes have always happened the world around, but now we see and hear the results in an instant via the internet and cable TV. It could be truly overwhelming, but there must be something in us that "disallows" us to become totally immersed in the woes of those far off in distant lands. I don't mean to sound calloused or unaffected, but what can we do if and when catastrophes such as these, and even worse, continue to occur?

Certainly, we will do whatever we can, and more, to help these poor earthquake and mudslide victims, but at what point to we throw up our arms and say, "enough already! We can't handle any more trauma and disaster."

Well, we really can't ever come to that point. We will always have to do whatever we can to help, regardless of how discouraging and disheartening the situation may be. We can only hope that, as selfish as it may sound, that we are the ones who will be able to be on the giving end as opposed to those in need.

Sunday's Must Watch: "60 Minutes"

Can't tell you the last time I watched 60 Minutes, but I'll be watching tonite to see former FBI Director Louis Freeh discussing the scandle clad Clinton administration and his new book, My FBI. Check your local listings and buy the book. Consider it a referendum vote against one of the most corrupt administrations in our history.

"Serenity Now"

Saturday is my day of rest. After working my sizable butt off all week long, I deserve it. We all do.

The last three weeks or so I've been working in Phoenix. Normally I would be home on weekends and fly out on Sunday evenings from Dallas to hit it hard early Monday morning. This trip has been a little different. We're going on vacation next week and I needed to stay here to make sure I meet a deadline. So I've been spending the last couple of weekends here in Scottsdale.

What could be more gloriously rejuvenative than a late afternoon stint, poolside, to soak up the positive rays and reflect on God's wondrous creation on this restful day? I had the pool all to myself. The sun was getting low in the sky, silouetting the poolside palm trees. The temperature was an autumnal 90 degrees and a slight breeze was kicking up. It was pretty much perfect, as most days are, here in paradise.

And just as I was getting settled, peaceably, in my chase lounge, about to thank God for all He does, at least four, extremely boisterous "little ones" emerged to enthusiastically play the dreaded "Marco Polo" game.

While I gathered my things to head inside, the "Serenity Now" Seinfeld episode came to mind, where George's dad desperately hollers "SERENITY NOW" as if to immediately invoke peace and quiet. It never worked! It didn't work telepathically, either.

But then I remembered that there was a time in the New Testament when Peter rebuked some little rug rats only to be chided by Jesus Christ, himself. Turned out that Jesus held those kids in pretty high esteem and warned that we, too, need to be more like little children, at least when it comes to being pure and innocent.

I wonder if kids played "Marco Polo" back then.

Scottsdale's Big Flag Revisited

Scottsdale's Giant Flag photo courtesy of Arizona Republic

The giant tent at WestWorld in Scottsdale has been under intense (no pun intended) scrutiny from the locals who believe the giant flag, visible for miles around, is a bit too garish. Seems, it "just doesn't fit in with the Sonoran colors." Well, La de frickin' da!

As much as I love Arizona, Scottsdale and the entire Valley of the Sun, there are more than a few who esteem the desert to be sacrosanct, and you know, those bold, red, white and blue colors aren't really native to the surrounding environment. Look for a more environmentally correct color to be there real soon.

Check out the piece in the Arizona Republic.

DeLay accuses Earle of taking illegal contributions

Tom DeLay says Ronnie Earle is guilty of the very crime of which DeLay is being charged...taking corporate money. Whereas it was legal for DeLay to do so, under the law, it was not legal for Earle. Heh heh!

Rep. Tom DeLay said District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who is prosecuting him for trying to involve corporate money in Texas politics, has taken such contributions himself.
"It's real interesting he has this crusade against corporate funds. He took corporate funds, and he's taken union funds, for his own re-election. That's against the law," Mr. DeLay told The Washington Times yesterday.

It's my observation that, more often than not, the left is guilty of what they accuse others of doing. It's become one of their MO's.

Miers, the Disenfranchised Right and the Far Left

Republicans are having canniption fits over the nomination of Harriet Miers. From the pundits I heard and read today, I'm leaning in the direction that Bush may have chosen her as a result of the lackluster republican senate, who more often than not, capitulates to the left. It may not be so much that he is avoiding a fight with the dems, but very probable that he couldn't depend on the spineless republican senate to back up a really conservative nomination.

Major Mike has a great piece which explains how President Bush may actually "get" it when it comes to the fight that is before him. Go there right now and read it. (Thanks to Hugh Hewitt for this.)

The bigger problem conservatives have is the weak batch of republican leaders holding office and their unwillingness to stand up and fight for conservative causes and conservatives under fire. One case in point is the Tom DeLay situation. Where are his supporters and why aren't the so-called conservatives standing up and blasting Ronnie Earle. He's got a paper trail and a sorry reputation, after all. Why aren't influential republicans going after Earle? But that's another subject, sort of.

It's my opinion that conservatives out here in flyover country are deluding ourselves to think that "we" have control of the republican party. I think it's safe to say there are many conservatives in the party, but not that many in positions of political power. Why?

I think the answer lies in the democrat party. Did you hear Algore's speech today? Go to Breitbart to verify that he's bonkers (can anyone even imagine what it would be like had he squeaked into the Whitehouse?) And he's one of their main guys. All of their spokesmen, leaders, shakers and faces are extremely left wing. They're Leftists! They have become the party of Howard Dean, Michael Moore, Al Franken and MoveOn.org.

As much as we enjoy the antics of the left for entertainment sake, it's not a good thing for the country that the dems have raced so far to the left. For all practical purposes, they are now the socialist party. That has had an adverse affect on the republican party.

That has enabled the "right" to move way too far to the left as well. Zell Miller, for example, is still a democrat and admits that his party has left him. Miller represents the democrat party of years gone by and he's far more conservative than many republicans in office. Sadly, when one party moves left, the other one does too.

Today, the republicans are like the dems of old and conservatives really don't have anywhere to go. President Bush knows who is on his side and who isn't. He knows he may not have the 50 votes for the type of nominee with whom we conservatives would be happy, because the senate has slid so far toward the left.

The trend toward the left for both parties is disconcerting for those who embrace conservatism. Our only consolation seems to be in the New Media, which Gore so apoplectically attacked today (he called us digital brownshirts!).

The New Media is the only force fighting the move to the left, but the politicians are slow or afraid to confront their leftist foes and they allow themselves to be unduly swayed by their intimidating leftist comrades. The conservative movement needs an infusion of effectual leadership in step with the real conservatives in flyover country.

PS

By the way, we can all "thank" Sen. McCain, more than any other republican senator, for weakening the resolve of conservatives, by joining, so often, with the left and forming the "gang of 14" among other of his "joint ventures."

Be sure to read Mark Levin's piece about the damage that McCain has wrought.

Noonan: "...Whitehouse not at all afraid of the right"

Regardless of where you come down on the Miers' nomination, Peggy Noonan's WSJ piece is a must read. Here's a taste:

The headline lately is that conservatives are stiffing the president. They're in uproar over Ms. Meirs, in rebellion over spending, critical over cronyism. But the real story continues to be that the president feels so free to stiff conservatives. The White House is not full of stupid people. They knew conservatives would be disappointed that the president chose his lawyer for the high court. They knew conservatives would eventually awaken over spending. They knew someone would tag them on putting friends in high places. They knew conservatives would not like the big-government impulses revealed in the response to Hurricane Katrina. The headline is not that this White House endlessly bows to the right but that it is not at all afraid of the right. Why? This strikes me as the most interesting question.

She follows up with the possible whys and wherefores. Go there and read the whole piece.

The Left Should Love Conservatives

Take a look around and see the vast ideological diversity among conservatives, if in no other area than the reactions of Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court. According to the left, the strength of this country, and everything else, is in our diversity. I wholeheartedly disagree with that politically correct pap, but, such as it is, that's what the left believes. So, where is the praise from the leftists that diversity of beliefs and opinions is alive and well among conservatives.

Contrast the criticism among republicans and conservatives (note, they aren't synonymous) when it comes to President Bush, and the dems when they monolithically stand up for their guy regardless of what he has done to malign their party or country. Are there any surviving dems who spoke out against Clinton? There may be one, but he's in jail...You know, the one with bad hair from West Virginny?

The dems are overtly monolithic. Oh, there may be some under publicized, behind the scenes disagreements between the whacked out Cindy Sheehan backers with those who hope to be thought of as mainstream dems, but when push comes to shove, the public democrat face is united. They stand up for and behind their embarrassments. Has any respectable democrat spoken up against the harangues of Charlie Rangle, Ted Kennedy, Algore, and so on, ad infinitum?

On the other hand, Republicans and conservatives are rather quick to come out and publicly chide those with whom we disagree or are acting illegally. Case in point...If DeLay is found guilty of money laundering (the latest charge), then let him pay the price. That's not how the dems treat their crooks.

So, is there anything we can deduce by this observation? Absolutely! It's this...For the Left, the means justify the end, regardless. The Conservatives actually try to play by the rule of law. The rules should be the same for everyone, but if one side has no regard for rules, then the fight isn't exactly fair is it? The funny thing is that everyone on both sides realize this and nothing is done to rectifly the inequity. You'd think that the conservatives could at least be more vigilant in pointing out the blantant errors of the left, but more often than not, conservatives just try to get along with them; to no avail!

All is fair in love, war and politics...Unless you're a conservative!

Regarding Harriet Miers...

If diversity is the answer, then the question probably has something to do with President Bush's nomination of Whitehouse Counsel, Harriet Miers. Opinions are all over the place, but, what is most disconcerting to conservatives is the tacit approval from the left. That's enough to horrify any conservative. That we don't know much about Ms. Miers, at this point, gives us the opportunity to sit back and see what transpires. The array of opinions are educational. We need these debates.

Much will be said and written today and in days hence, but one of today's best reads is by Thomas Lifson, Don't Misunderestimate Miers, over at The American Thinker. Check it out.

Living Large in Scottsdale

Some pretty large living goes on here in Scottsdale. "Average" isn't in the vocabulary. Ugly doesn't exist. Everyone here is living life in the "world of wonderful" as my high school buddy (Jeff Smith, RIP), would put it. SUV's are required driving. Million dollar homes are passe'.

Not that I mind. I've never eschewed prosperity because those are the folks who employ me. So, prosper on, Scottsdale, and every other community who can "capitalize" on capitalism. That's what keeps the economy going and the working folks working. I hate it when I have to work for poor people...There's always that uncomfortable feeling that you might not get paid.

My idea of "living large" in Arizona is to take in as many local amenities as possible. Today it was the "positive rays!"

I'm fairly well traveled, domestically and abroad, and there are two places I've been where you can honestly say the heat has a palpable feel to it, and as far as I'm concerned, that's a good thing. Scottsdale is one of those places. You can really feel the heat pressing down on you. It's not a matter of just being hot; it really feels as if it's pressing down on you. Some might think it to be oppressive, but I don't. I love it!

I'm not one who avoids the sun, or uses #95 sun screen. Pardon my political incorrectness, but I actually try to soak up those positive, vitamin D enriched rays as often as possible whenever I come to Phoenix.

That's what I did today. It was wonderful and it was totally relaxing. The time I spent laying out in the very hot Arizona afternoon sun was extremely therapeutic and medicinal. I only wish there was more time for this fulfilling activity.

In the meantime, I'll continue to serve my "eeeevil" wealthy customers who fly me out here and put me up in fine accommodations and reimburse me for all my expenses. I wonder how many people became homeless so that I could be here serving the "eeeevil" idle rich, the winners of life's lottery?

Day Trippin' in Arizona

Four Peaks photo by Dave Marynowski

There's a panoply of "day trips" out of Phoenix, but my favorite is the one heading northeast out of Scottsdale on Highway 87, aka the Beeline Highway, which takes you to Payson. Payson is an old west, picturesque community, founded in 1882, just south of the Mogollon (pronounced Mu-gee-yon) Rim and the town has been real special to me for 13, or so, years; but more about that in a couple of paragraphs.

Venturing eastward on Shea Blvd from Scottsdale is the first leg of the journey and takes you right by the famous Mayo Clinic of Scottsdale and just to the north, a few blocks, is Taliesin West, the winter home of the late Frank Lloyd Wright and current home of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture (which has some interest to me as I'm presently working on the last home he designed before he died). But let's get on down the road.

Just east of the town of Fountain Hills, Shea Blvd dead ends into the Beeline Highway. Hang a left and hook 'em to Payson; 65 breath taking miles to the northeast. I love this trip! It's been gorgeous from the moment I left the Hampton Inn this morning, but now my scenery endorfins are kicking in. The Ft. McDowell Casino and recreation center is up the road on the left and once I make it through that bothery stop light, it's non-stop to Payson. That is, unless I'm compelled to pull over to gaze at the spectacular vistas along the way.

Four Peaks can be seen from all over the East Valley, but as is evident by the above photo taken from the Beeline Highway, it's a much better view from out here. Saguaro (pronounced, sa-whar-o) cacti are everywhere.

Further north from where this pic was taken, the boulders perform balancing acts much like the old Disneyland ride. Meanwhile the road is becoming more interesting. The Beeline Highway was made for motorcycles and sports cars. It's a fast road and designed to be even faster. You've gotta watch out for radar, but the best way to enjoy the drive is to get behind a car or bike driver who knows the road and loves the thrill of the mountain driving...well beyond the posted speed.

I never tire of this trip. My parents retired to Payson in '92 and I was able to spend a great deal of time with them in the mid-90's while out here on business. Sometimes I would commute daily back and forth, which enabled me to catch numerous sunrises and sunsets enroute, while memorizing every curve, every notable rock and cactus. Each trip up or down the mountain excelled the previous one in majestic beauty.

Great memories help to make this trip so meaningful to me. My parents were the pot of gold waiting for me in Payson. They were the icing on the cake of this always delightful road trip. It's not quite the same since Dad has died and Mom has moved to California to live in an assisted living home, but I always treasure the memories everytime I make this beautiful trip "home."

I had lunch today at one of my family's favorite places, Creekside Steakhouse and Tavern, in Christopher Creek, a little town about 20 miles northeast of Payson. This area was made famous by Zane Grey who lived nearby and wrote about this "mystical wild Tonto country" in his many novels.

Before heading back down the mountain to Scottsdale, I made the obligatory drive by my parent's old house. Naturally, it's not kept up as well, but who could ever appropriately maintain my memories. Still, it was great to see the place where Mom and Dad were able to spend some of the happiest years of their life together. I'm looking forward to going back.

Did you hear the one about...?

Jason, over at G e n e r a t i o n W h y ? posted the following and it's worth a chuckle:

Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."

"OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!"

His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the President sits, head in hands.

Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"