Rites of passage

We have a new driver in the family! It was made official this week after my daughter passed her driving test in Roby. I cried as I handed my money to Ms. Bright, the test administrator. My girl was proud, but she let me drive home. She said she was too stressed out from the test.

I had my own initiation this week, into middle age. I was buying some snappy new shoes and started talking about phones to the salesgirl, whom I thought was around my age (I keep thinking I'm 18, 24, around there somewhere). She said she remembered the old phones at her grandmas. I said, oh, yeah, the big black rotary phone. She said, no, it was peach-colored, and you had to stick your fingers in the slot and turn it. There was my clue that I was out of the conversation. Obviously, her grandma and mine had years between them. And if someone doesn't know what a rotary phone is called, well, jeez. I didn't realize what it would mean to know so much. I feel very experienced (euphemism for nearly 50).

I'm about to let you know how ignorant, once again, I am about the voting process. They started running the election tallies on tv Tuesday night, and we noticed the proposition numbers were coming up. I didn't see the propositions on my ballot, I thought we would be voting on them when we vote for governor Nov. 2. Surely they weren't only on the republican ballot? Maybe they were on the back? I don't know. I may never understand politics. But I'll keep trying!

I saw in the Feb. 26 issue of the Sweetwater Reporter that Matt Counts, son of late Fisher County Sheriff Mickey Counts, was promoted to Sergeant by Sweetwater Chief of Police Jim Kelley. Mike Counts, brother to Matt, is a Sergeant in Snyder.

T. Baker Smith has been busy surveying up and down FM 1614 and FM 611. I'm supposing this is for the Kinder-Morgan CO2 pipeline. In the Clay Johnson letter I received in 2006, it said the line would run through several counties to include Scurry, Fisher and Stonewall. They've been putting sticks on the south side of 1614, about 50 feet inside property lines.

I want to remind everyone that Hobbs Holler is on Facebook and Twitter, two networks that are fun to browse and peck around on (waste time).

I've been feeling guilty about this, so just in case some of you grammatically correct readers want to knock me around for constantly ending sentences with prepositions, Grammar Girl helps me justify my usage. With or without justification, though, I am a proponent of grammatical freedom. I figure that if I've conveyed my thought to you through words, then any means is justifiable.

Okay, okay, okay. Have a nice day, talk to you soon.

Applecore, Baltimore

- Prickly Pear cactus -

The photo won't give you a clue about the title, it's just one that I took at Rough Creek Saturday afternoon. I like the red hue of the cactus. That was one sweet day.

We got a call Saturday morning at 6:41 a.m. from a number in Baltimore, Maryland. That's early even by telemarketer standards. I answered, but there was no one on the line.

I looked the number up on the web and found that many people had been getting calls from the same source. It ended up being the time and temperature number for the state of Maryland. I e-mailed them and apparently it is some kind of glitch and they've had many people contact them. They were hoping to report it to the phone company today and resolve the problem. Apparently, some folks got as many as 11 calls at 3:00 a.m. I'm lucky to have gotten just the one.

In a note of passing, Tim Counts died Sunday week. He was the brother of Sheriff Mickey Counts, who died in December. Jimmy D. Parker, Jr., Kenneth Gordon Allen and Judy Rushing Clifton also recently died. In Sweetwater, well-known business man and former mayor Jere Lawrence died Feb. 18.

Voting will take place tomorrow, so get ready to hit the polls. I actually voted early at the court house, first time. I had no idea how to do it. I wandered around asking a stranger where to go. I finally found the polling booth in the county clerks office. They were very helpful and lined me out. It only took a few minutes and I got to have a small adventure. On the way out, I told the woman, whom I had first asked, where the voting place was in case she was asked again. She was very nice, sitting on the bench in the atrium with a broken leg. She said she wasn't even from this county.

The Hobbs School is the voting place for local constituents. I know some people think voting doesn't count, but it's kind of like the lottery: if you don't play, you can't win. I'm still working on understanding the voting process. If you want to vote local, you have to vote democratic because there are no republicans running, and frankly, there never are. I think it's funny, because I don't know anyone in farm country who likes democrats on the hill, you know, that one in Washington. They think they're liberal.

I guess there's a big difference between country democrats and city democrats.

I'm thinking of doing a run of Hobbs Holler in print. There would be a lot more info, stories, photos, etc. if I decide to do so. Let me know if any of ya'll would be interested. Before anything else, I need a mailing list.

Keep snug, April showers aren't that far away!

The Lion didn't sleep last night

You know that old saying, "In like a lion, out like a lamb"? The one that I drag out every year in utter amazement at the changing of the season? Well, it roared last night, lots of lightning and thunder, a little rain. I know we still have some cold days ahead of us, but this is the first switch, and once the storms start coming, you can be sure spring is on it's way. This yellow daffodil that Jess photographed in the yard told us it was true.

My favorite event of the year, the Rattlesnake Round Up, will be happening March 11-15, but I also want to let you know about the Sweetwater Music Festival, which will be going on March 23-27. For more information you can contact the SMF Event Coordinator at (325) 725-1160 or sign on to Facebook and look at the Hobbs Holler profile to find the SMF link. Venues will be Java Jax, Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium and the Sweetwater Texas Theatre.

I never did find out what went on at the Hobbs school a couple of weeks ago. The sheriff's report just said call for deputy.

The USDA has awarded the Fisher County Hospital District funding to install a GESPER unit and to fix up the Dietary Dept. If you don't know what a GESPER is, just click on the link and learn all about it.

I'm making it short this week, I just noticed the clothes hamper is regurgitating clothes, so I better get on it. Enjoy this sunny day and catch you next time.

Moms are strong

This week I unloaded and loaded Miss Grand-daughter from the car and I'm pretty sure I overexerted one of my stringy muscles. I used to have strong, full mom muscles, but the only ones left are in my brain, trying to figure out how to outsmart my kids. Believe me, I'm starting to lose that race. Or just realizing how far behind I really am.

Here is the Hobbs kids photo I promised you last week. I recognize a few kids, like on the front row Darlene Teel, Penny Price and Sherry Anderle. I think a little girl named Esther who briefly attended is hanging off the side. I see Mary Ellen Cave sitting high right. I recognize Kristi Price and some Anderle boys. Anyway, if you know the names, comment on the bottom here and I'll add them in. Thanks, Penny, for the photo!

My dad has promised to introduce me to a real Hobbs buff whom he says has photos and scrapbooks dating way back when, and even some paraphernalia from when the military airplane crashed in the 1950's. I hope to meet her soon and share her memories of the community with all of you.

Here's an article I ran across called Folklore of the Rattlesnake, which seems timely, since the Sweetwater Jaycees Rattlesnake Roundup is just a month away, and on subject, since it mentions Buddy Burnett and other locals. The link I put to the story is a web page, but you can click at the top of it and download the whole article for easier reading.

I also found a photo of a blown out well near Hobbs on the Portal to Texas History website. You can spend a lot of time there just clicking around. Tons of info.

I don't know what went on at the school this week that required an ambulance, sheriff's vehicle and DPS. I had hoped it would be in the paper, but the Sheriff's report only went to Feb. 6. If I see it next week, I'll let you know. I guess I could just call up to the Sheriff's office and ask, but it would probably be annoying if I were calling up there all the time asking what's going on. I guess I could text them: WGOA (what's going on at) ----- (fill in the blank). I bet they'd appreciate that.

For those who love music (I do!) Sweetwater will be hosting a music festival Mar. 23-27. Check out the event on Facebook and suggest some of your favorite bands for the show. You'll have to log in to see the info.

The wind is blowing, how unusual, and flurries are forecast for this afternoon. Check out the Hobbs, TX weather at NOAA. Wear a coat if you're coming this way!

The day the music died

This past week, I had three different people recommend Lubbock as a shopping haven. We usually go to Abilene, but I decided to ignore the ruts and go the other direction.

On the way there I heard on the radio that the plane crash Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper died in had occurred that day in 1959. I found out later that it was actually Feb. 3, but I'm setting a scene here. Anyway, it only seemed appropriate that I visit the Buddy Holly Center since I was on the way to his home town.

I was surprised to learn that his career only lasted 18 months and yet he made immense social impact, not just locally or nationally, but as an international figure. He was just a boy from Texas.

The museum is unassuming from the outside, but the interior is streamlined and clean (so important to me). The man running the place was very nice and friendly (also very important to me). There were guitars, guitars and guitars! There is a lot of information to read, written in a time-line on the wall and partitions as you walk through the museum, and includes ALL of music history, mentioning such influential musicians as Leadbelly and Jimmy Rogers. If you get the opportunity, stop by and visit the center on Crickets Avenue. I got a t-shirt!

While researching this subject, I came across a story that describes how Richardson's (The Big Bopper) son had him dug up and autopsied, then gave the casket to the Texas Musicians Museum. I think a big "No, thanks" would have been in order. What a weirdo, and how distasteful. I keep grimacing even as I'm writing this.

I also read that Waylon Jennings was originally supposed to ride the plane, but was talked out of his seat. I bet he felt like someone walked across his grave when he heard about the crash. Or maybe that's what buoyed his career. I'm sure that many more journalists before me have pondered the variables and what the future of music would have been should the passengers of that flight been switched around.

We also visited the Science Spectrum and the South Plains Mall while in Lubbock. We took a drive down University and saw the Texas Tech stadium (Jones AT&T) renovation in progress. I thought they were building a new one, there's so much construction going on.

I would like to go back another day and just spend the whole time walking in and out of shops around the campus. I spotted Freebirds burrito shop, which has been featured in Texas Monthly and is also where the son of one of my friends works.

We were really pooped by the time we got through. We left home at 8 a.m., got to Lubbock around 10 a.m., right when the Buddy Holly Center opened, and arrived back home around 5 p.m. We were nearly passed out by the time we got to Post, but rallied with a trip to the Dollar General to buy diaper wipes (requested by my son for my grand-daughter) and Cokes.

It's so funny when people ask me where I'm from, like the man at the BH Center. When I say Hobbs, they automatically think New Mexico, but then when I say Texas, they have no clue. Then I have to start naming towns closest to farthest: Rotan, Roby, Snyder, Sweetwater, etc. Sometimes I say Lubbock, but that's not helpful when you're actually there. I could say "Center of the Universe", but that might not be a useful descriptive.

Let's talk Superbowl! I've heard that people want the Saints to win, but bets on the Colts are giving the indication that the gut feeling is Peyton & team will dominate. Predictions of a 28-34, 24-34 Colts scores are popular, with the Saints coming on strong, but the Colts succeeding in the end. Mr. Husband wants the Saints to win, reasoning that if they do, this will leave the Vikings (our favorites) as true second place, since the Saints are who beat them out of the Superbowl spot. If the Colts win, then the Vikings are just one of the many who lost. He thinks the Colts will win, too, though. Oh, well, we'll just watch and let the potato chips fall where they may.

More winter for us this week. I'm going to try not to think about it, but it's kind of hard to ignore when Frosty's cold fingers tickle up the bottom of your coat and under the three shirts you're wearing.

Despite the cold weather, I noticed some crocuses or something coming up in the kids yard. The rose bushes in their and our yards have not died back, either. I guess it's because they're on the southeast corner of the house.

I was looking for a brochure online used for identifying weeds, and I thought it was distributed by Monsanto, but maybe it was another company, or you can only get it if you're at the retailer's. Did you know that Monsanto is suing Dupont? Sometimes I find so much information while surfing that I can hardly get through an article, I'm sidetracked so many times. Anyway, I was looking for the brochure online (which I didn't find) and came across, once again, the USDA Plant Database. I did a search for the common name of all plants in Fisher County. You can configure it any way you want, and there are identifying photographs of each plant. It's so useful and easy to use.

Soon I hope to post a photo that Penny Arnold sent me of a group (could be the whole student body!) of kids on the playground at the Hobbs school. I can pick out a few, but maybe some of you out there in reader land can identify others and give the exact year. It must be sometime in the 1970's, one kid has on a pair of very groovy pants.

I wish you all sanity, warmth and a week that goes well. If you already have warmth, then I wish you bathing suits and a beach to wear them on. I know that's where I really want to be.

Mardi Gras is in nine days, so Happy Fat Tuesday if I don't talk to you before then. Boy, New Orleans is getting more than their fair share of publicity, don't ya think? Oh, well, let's just eat some King Cake and celebrate Carnival!

I'm just a constituent

I took this photo in Mitchell County yesterday. I thought, "Oh, Schlumpy!" I've never seen a windmill looking like it had wilted.

I listened to the GOP's candidates for Texas Governor the other night. I kind of liked Medina. I gotta tell ya, I get sick of hearing discussions about these three subjects: abortion, gay marriage, health care. It makes me want to cut my wrists the minute these topics come up. I wish they would quit smelling up the room with those dead horses. Those carcasses are so squooshy, they're liquefied.

I can appreciate a discussion about TxDOT, though. Hutchison talked about revamping this brontosaurus of an institution and complained about lane miles not being added.

TxDOT is always revamping. Now, if she was REALLY talking about overhauling at the executive level, then get on it. Usually what happens, though, is the re-do takes place at the blue collar level, then they burn out before reaching any higher.

The working man sector of TxDOT has been cut to the bone and some counties are working with a deficit of employees. I wonder if they have compared the cost of using contract labor against the cost of using the TxDOT county employees. Used to, the local employees did the mowing and replacing of guardrail. These things are done by contractors, now. That's why sometimes you see a piece of guardrail sit damaged for months. The contractor may feel like they can afford to take the monetary penalty of not working within the contract guidelines and not feel inclined to get the project done right away (they get charged by the day if they go over the time allowed in the contract; sometimes what they make way overshadows any tariff, so they can afford to take a big hit).

If the local TxDOT guys were allowed to do the job, it would get done much faster. So, you're talking about solving safety and aesthetic issues quicker. If things keep on the way they have been, our roadways will look like some of those other local states', I don't want to mention names, New Mexico.

I don't know, maybe it's an issue of liability or cost of equipment. I think a comparison report is called for.

As for lane miles, think about your county. Do you need more roadway or do you need more maintenance? You're probably thinking maintenance. That costs a lot a money. Maintenance includes not only the roadway itself, but ditches, signs and guardrail.

I know in bigger cities they're all hepped up on more highway, but I don't care about the cities. I don't live there. I don't feel bad about saying I don't care, because it's a reciprocal feeling. It seems we're always getting blanket laws slapped on us that don't really pertain to us, but since big politics is in the city, our country society is often not considered in legislation. Unless it's agricultural legislation, but that's behind a whole 'nother gate.

I don't claim to be a member of any political party, so don't be thinking I'm republican just because I watched the GOP debate. With so many variables, I don't see how anyone can dedicate themselves to one political group. To quote my mom, "I was never much of a joiner." I prefer to make my own decisions.

Okay, enough of all that.

If you are working on a project or book that requires Texas historical resources such as permanent records, newspapers, journals, books, manuscripts, photographs, or historical maps, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission holds a veritable cornucopia of information. It is possible to get microfilm records on loan through your local library.

I came across the website for the local Lion's Club, of which Fredda Buckner is the District Governor. Buckner is also CEO and General Manager of Big Country Electric.

I've got to go do some rat-killing, so I'll wish you all a good Sunday and warn you that garden planning should be going on now because spring is just around the corner. Time to get those Gurney's out!

The book is always better

I recently watched The Last Picture Show for the first (and only) time. Guess what? Yeah, like I said above. The star-gazing was great, with Florence Henderson, Ellen Burstyn, Randy Quaid, etc. It's just that McMurtry describes details, minute details on the page that give the story form. The film was very flat compared to the book.

I may have told ya'll this before, I'm notorious for repeating myself, but when I can't find anything to read at the library, one of my old stand-by sets is The Last Picture Show trilogy, which includes the aforementioned book, also Texasville and Duane's Depressed. Sometimes they make me laugh and sometimes they bring me down, but I know I can depend on them to be engaging.

My other favorite stand-bys are John Irving's Hotel New Hampshire, The World According to Garp, and The Cider House Rules; Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool and Straight Man; and Annie Proulx's The Shipping News.

I think McMurtry, Irving and Russo have similar writing styles, because they can give every detail of a scene without boring you to death. Have you ever read Jane Eyre? It's a good story, but after a page and a half of going on and on about some feeling Jane is having, I'm like "Hey, Charlotte Bronte, enough, already, I get it!"

Proulx's book is just plain good. I have not seen the movies of any of these books (except the one), but I understand that the people in The Shipping News were attractive. The characters in the book are not, it's integral to the story that they are not.

I think the only movie that has been true to the book is Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. When Mayella, played by Collin Wilcox Paxton, bats her eyes maniacally while being questioned in the courtroom, it's utter magic.

See, I do love the movies as well as books. I am mystified and in awe when they seem to do just the right thing on film, or have just the right actor to portray a certain character.

I've always wanted to work on a movie set, just doing something like handing out water or putting donuts on trays. I really want to see the working part of the movies. It seems like that would be a story in itself.

You will have to lay in the bed that you made

You will reap what you sow, what comes around goes around, and, as Earl says, "Maybe Karma's behind this whole thing."

And if such beliefs hold true for malicious people, then they should hold true for the good ones as well.

There are probably some of you good folks that feel like Karma, good fortune, the bountiful fruits of life, are not bestowing gifts on you in return for following the rules, paying your taxes and doing unto others.

I recall a conversation I had with my dad one time when I was trying to read Exodus (couldn't get past the girding of loins while eating mutton or whose fault it is if the neighbor's donkey falls in a hole your servant dug). I was going on and on about how gripey those people (Israelites) were even though Moses was trying to help out. "They just complain and complain," I said. "First of all, he's leading them to their freedom. They say they're thirsty, he scrounges them water (with some help, ha, ha). They're hungry, he provides food (more help). Still, they kvetched and moaned. "I mean, what's up with that?" I asked, and I remember my dad's answer was like someone suddenly hitting a gong. "People still do that today."

I wish I could convey how powerful a message that was as it came to me that day. If I could draw a picture, I would have a lightning bolt striking my head. We still do it today.

I'm not much for being put on a guilt trip, so that's not what this is. This is what is sounds like when I talk to myself. I say, "Self, you are a good person for the most part, and you do have a good life. Just because you're a little put out by the weather or someone going slow in front of you (or perhaps more serious offenses) doesn't mean you are not reaping the fruits of life. Hey, Self, remember, you have a warm house, a fine husband, beautiful, smart kids, healthy, too. You have lots of friends and family that love you. And you got one heckuva dog in Sue. Yep, it's really not so bad. Not bad at all."

Then I pull out my list and mark Joy off. Okay, I thought that was pretty funny, but if you don't watch "My Name is Earl", you have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm not recommending it, either, because I'm sure some might find it offensive. I just think it's funny, sometimes. The basic message is good.

Anyway, I want to thank you all for coming to the sermon today, and if you could just leave a little money in the plate as you leave, I'll be able to meet you at Dairy Queen for lunch.

In the lane, the snow is glistening

See, here we are in Hobbs, the day after the big snow and the charming cottages and chalets were shining in the morning sun...oh, okay, it's Norway, not Hobbs, Texas or even the U.S. We have no darling pathway, except where a cow might roam. This photo was sent to us by our Nordic friend Joe Duncan. He says they're having a record winter with temps sitting at 0. I'm still jealous of Joe because he has a fjord and they seem to have a fantastical existence over there in Lillesand. Perhaps it's the grass is greener effect, but I always need a place to dream of going to. The last place I fantasized about was North Carolina. Go figure.

It seems that we are having our very own cold winter this season. We are re-establishing our relationship with Gray Fuel and have become very close. I can feel the propane burning. We're having to use the gas heater in tandem with the fireplace. Now that's cold, folks.

If you've ever wondered what YouTube is, but never knew what to look for, get a start by perusing Ricky Niell's videos. Then from there you can look at his friends and followers, or just search for what you want to see. Put in Fisher County, Roby, anything you can think of. It's really entertaining.

I'm going to close now because I keep having to run back and forth between the computer and the heater, and with the temp hanging in the 20's, the heater is winning. I hope the New Year will be good to you all. I've learned a lot in 2009, not all of which I can appreciate but which will, in the long run, increase my wisdom. Unless I forget, and that's always possible. Happy NY and Happy Birthday to my dad tomorrow!

Christmas Day update

In case anyone wondered how the snow affected us out here, my husband went to work around 7:45 a.m yesterday and I just called him, at 7 a.m., and he is still blading US 84 in Scurry County. Those TxDOT boys (and girls) are working hard!

My son and daughter-in-law were having a rough time getting back from Snyder last night. A bunch of people were stuck on the Camp Springs road and they couldn't get past, had to backtrack to the community center and get up on 180. I was worried, since I was babysitting, and it's been a long time since I've had a baby in the house all night (18 years!). Ah, I could've probably done it. I can say that because I didn't have to.

Have a good holiday with your families and friends! Stay warm or stay cool, wherever you may be.