Celebrating Community Spirit

By Diane Forrest

If there was any doubt that our county has lost its community spirit, you have only to look at the events that have taken place in the last couple of weeks.   Not only was the whole world rocked by the senseless bombing at the Boston Marathon that killed three and wounded another 160, but a few days later, a plant explosion in Waco Texas leveled almost the whole town killing 15 and wounding another260 to 280 people.

Many horrific stories have come out of these events, that have cause the towns and communities to pull together to help those in need.  I have been reading some of the stories, and it warms my heart to see the actions our fellow citizens have taken.  In one story, newlyweds were nearing the finish line when the bombs went off causing each to lose a leg.  Donations from all over the country began pouring in to help with their medical expenses.  In fact a fund was set up to help all of these victims.

I read about the man whose boat was used as a hiding place for one of the suspects.  During the course of his capture, the boat, the man’s pride and joy, was riddled with bullets as the police fired upon the suspect.  As the community found out about his loss, they began to collect money for this man to replace his boat, however, he would have none of that.  He stated that I just lost a boat, many lost so much more, and he wanted to funnel the contributions to the fund to help those in need.  I just read an article where the emergency room doctors and staff sent pizzas to the ER staff at the hospitals in Waco thanking them for their hard work during their crisis.  The Waco staff responded in kind to the Boston folks by sending them some authentic Texas BBQ.

Stories like this abound during times of crisis, but also during ordinary times as well.  Anytime there is a need in my community, announcements are made in the newspaper, local radio stations, churches and schools and continued until the need is filled.

This is Community Spirit Month.  If you know of some need in your community, no matter how big or small, do what you can to help fill this need, or check needs in nearby communities.  You never know when you may be in need of some community help.

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Texas Perspective

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You folks might want to visit your friends and family living in TEXAS if the election turns out badly.

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Here's what can happen:

1: Barack Hussein Obama is President of the United States, and Texas secedes from the Union in summer of 2013.

2: George W. Bush becomes President of the Republic of Texas.

What does Texas have to do to survive as a Republic?

1. NASA is just south of Houston, Texas. We will control the space industry.

2. We refine over 85% of the gasoline in the United States.

3. Defense Industry--we have over 65% of it. The term "Don't mess with Texas" will take on a whole new meaning.

4. Oil - we can supply all the oil that the Republic of Texas will need for the next 300 years. What will the other states do? Gee, we don't know. Why not ask Obama?

5. Natural Gas - again we have all we need, and it's too bad about those Northern States.  John Kerry and Al Gore will have to figure out a way to keep them warm.

6. Computer Industry - we lead the nation in producing computer chips and communications equipment -small companies like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer, EDS, Raytheon, National Semiconductor, Motorola, Intel, AMD, Atmel, Applied Materials, Ball Micro-conductor, Dallas Semiconductor, Nortel, Alcatel, etc, etc. The list goes on and on.

7. Medical Care - We have the research centers for cancer research, the best burn centers and the top trauma units in the world, as well as other large health centers. The Houston Medical Center alone employees over 65,000 people.

8. We have enough colleges to keep us getting smarter: University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Texas Christian, Rice, SMU, University of Dallas, University of Houston, Baylor, UNT (University of North Texas), Texas Women's University, etc.  Ivy grows better in the South anyway.

9. We have an intelligent energetic work force, and it isn't restricted by a bunch of unions here in Texas.  It's a Right to Work State and, therefore, it's every man and women for themselves. We just go out and get the job done. And if we don't like the way one company operates, we get a job somewhere else.

10. We have essential control of the paper, plastics and insurance industries, etc.

11. In case of a foreign invasion, we have the Texas National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and several military bases. We don't have an Army, but since everybody down here has at least six rifles and a pile of ammo, we can raise an Army in 24 hours if we need one. If the situation really gets bad, we can always call the Department of Public Safety and ask them to send over the Texas Rangers.

12. We are totally self-sufficient in beef, poultry, hogs and several types of grain, fruit and vegetables, and let's not forget seafood from the Gulf. Also, everybody down here knows how to cook them so that they taste good. Don't need any food.

13. Three of the ten largest cities in the United States, and twenty- three of the 100 largest cities in the United States, are located in Texas. And Texas also has more land than California , New York , New Jersey , Connecticut , Delaware , Hawaii ,  Vermont Massachusetts,  Maryland  and  Rhode Island combined.

14. Trade: Three of the ten largest ports in the United States are located in Texas.

15. More miles of railroad track that any other state in the Union.

16. We also manufacture cars down here, but we don't need to. You see, nothing rusts in Texas, so our vehicles stay beautiful and run well for decades.

17. Year-round golf.

This names just a few of the items that will keep the Republic of Texas in good shape.  There isn't a thing out there that we need and don't have.

Now to the rest of the United States under President Obama: Since you won't have the refineries to get gas for your cars, only President Obama will be able to drive around in his big 5 mpg SUV. The rest of the United States will have to walk or ride bikes.

You won't have any TV as the Space Center in Houston will cut off satellite communications.  You won't have any natural gas to heat your homes but, since Mr. Obama has predicted global warming, you will not need the gas as long as you survive the 2000 years it will take to get enough heat from Global Warming.

Signed,

The People of Texas

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P.S. This is not a threatening letter - just a note to give you something to think about!

SLEEP WELL TONIGHT - THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU!

National Watermelon Day

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By Diane Forrest

You know its summertime when you see those big watermelons hit the tables.   There is nothing better than diving in to an ice cold slice and feeling the sweet juice dripping down your chin and fingers.  After all they are 90 to 92 % water.  Then holding the seeds in your mouth to spit them out for a seed spitting contest to see how far you can make them fly.

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Watermelon is thought to have originated in the Kalahari Desert of Africa. The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt and is depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics on walls of their ancient buildings. Watermelons were often placed in the burial tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife.

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From there, watermelons spread throughout countries along the Mediterranean Sea by way of merchant ships. By the 10th century, watermelon found its way to China, which is now the world's number one producer of watermelons.

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The 13th century found watermelon spread through the rest of Europe via the Moors.

Southern food historian, John Egerton, believes watermelon made its way to the United States with African slaves as he states in his book, "Southern Food."

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The United States currently ranks fourth in worldwide production of watermelon. Forty-four states grow watermelons with Florida, Texas, California, Georgia and Arizona consistently leading the country in production.

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Today is National Watermelon Day.  It’s the perfect time to ice one down and slice it up.  Here are some fun facts about Watermelons:

• The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt.
• Watermelon is 92% water.
• Watermelon's official name is Citrullus Lanatus of the botanical family Curcurbitaceae. It is cousins to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.
• By weight, watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.
• Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.
• The first cookbook published in the U.S. in 1776 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.

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In 1990, Bill Carson of Arrington, TN grew the largest watermelon at 262 pounds that is still on the record books (1998 ed. Guinness Book of World Records).

The 26th annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering

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By Akindman,

Cowboy poetry is a form of poetry which grew out of a tradition of extemporaneous composition carried on by workers on cattle drives and ranches.  After a day of work, cowboys would gather around a campfire and entertain one another with tall tales and folk songs. Illiteracy was common, so poetic forms were employed to aid memory.

Typical themes of cowboy poetry include:

• Ranch work and those who perform it.
• Western lifestyle;
• Landscape of the American and Canadian West;
• Cowboy values and practices;
• Humorous anecdotes;
• Memories of times and people long gone; and
• Sarcasm regarding modern contraptions and/or ways.

The 28th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the nation's greatest celebration of the American West, its people, culture and traditions, took place January 30 to February 4, 2012, in Elko, Nevada. Every winter for the last 27 years, cowboys, ranchers, rural and urban people have traveled en masse to this small high desert community, to join with friends, family and others who care about the rural West. Together, they listen to poetry and music, learn about cowboy culture in the U.S. and around the world, experience great art, watch western films, learn a craft, and gather to eat, drink and swap stories.

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Each February, the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering – Texas Cowboy and Cowgirl poets, singers, musicians, and storytellers from all over prepare to converge on Alpine, Texas.  All those invited to participate are working cowboys and cowgirls, ranchers and ranch hands.

Cowboy poetry continues to be written and celebrated today. Baxter Black is probably the most famous, and possibly the most prolific, contemporary cowboy poet. Many cities in the United States and Canada have annual "roundups" dedicated to cowboy poetry. Cowboy Poetry week is celebrated each April in the United States and Canada.

There are other Cowboy/Cowgirl events throughout the US and Canada held at different months of the year.

Interesting Links to follow for more detailed information:

• http://www.alpineavalanche.com/gallery/news/article_8f134740-532c-11e1-9fe4-001871e3ce6c.html
• http://www.cowboypoetry.com/week.htm
• http://www.westernfolklife.org/National-Cowboy-Poetry-Gathering-General-Info/national-cowboy-poetry-gathering-home-page.html
• http://www.elkocva.com/cowboypoetry.shtml
• http://www.montanacowboypoetrygathering.com/
• http://www.azcowboypoets.org/

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