Dave Pierce — Images & Video by kenne
April 12, 2009 Dave had friends and family over for a crawfish boil, after which he played guitar and sang some of his songs. One of the songs was the recently written, “You Can’t See Main Street from Wall Street.”
Early Morning in Ft. Stockton, Texas — Images by kenne
Slideshow of images driving icy roads in west Texas, January 3, 2015.
The Woodlands, Texas, October 10, 2004 — Images by kenne
(CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO SEE A LARGER VIEW IN A SLIDESHOW FORMAT.)
After Virginia passed away this past April, I began going through photos to have in a video. I thought I had identified all family images with her, however, recently I was looking for an old document and discovered untitled images misfiled in a folder, “Master Plan ISD.” I wonder how many others I may have misfiled.
— kenne
Billy Joe Shaver, Conroe, Texas (June 3, 2006) — Image by kenne
I was listening to NPR this morning and there was a segment on one of my favorite country singer/songwriters, Billy Joe Shaver. His songs are probably better known than he is — Billy Joe Shaver Writes Country Songs — And Lives Them, Too. If you didn’t hear the segment, click on the segment title — he’s real country!
If you want to get even more of a feel for who is Billy Joe Shaver, watch the following video:
Somedays, the hillbilly in me just comes out — like I can’t help it.
kenne
East Texas Blues (Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, August 20, 2005) — Image by kenne
— from “Lone Star Blues” lyrics by Delbert McClinton
Surfing Off The Galveston Island Seawall — Image by kenne
Alms for the Shore
Ruthie Foster and Diunna Greenleaf, Heritage Place, Conroe, Texas (June 2, 2005) — Image by kenne
Kenne, Kika & Joy On Empty Patio (June 21, 2010)
Looking back on our move from The Woodlands, Texas to Tucson, I’m not sure which one of us may have experienced the most anxiety. One might think it would have been the cat, Kika (who passed away this past December), but Joy would probably argue that point. In many ways we have adjusted well to our new home, town and friends.
Now we are starting our fifth year here, longer than most friends and family would have predicted, especially since Joy has not grown to love southern Arizona as I have — we may very well be considering a different five-year plan after this year.
The four years we have lived here have allowed us to experience most of the things we took into consideration in making the decision to make the move: a new adventure, closer to Joy’s mother and siblings. We are now moving into our fifth year in the Catalina Foothills, not yet knowing what will be driving our next five-year plan, which is why I share again the following poem, “Birthday.” The poem could have very easily been titled, “Life.”
Campfire Stage, Conroe, Texas, 2003 Image by kenne
The original photo was taken at the Corner Pub in Conroe, Texas during the Christmas season.
It was a merry time, but this image of one of the band members out of Austin, on his cell phone gave a different image.
Christmas Eve Alone
In the shadows of street lights
Outside the courthouse walls
Mused as they access the night
Leaning against the door’s edge
Not sure if I should go in
Or stay out and take the pledge
Gazing into the dark pub
Not penetrating the door
Peppered by waiting eyes
My shadow touching each eye
Knowing only my dark image
Masked in a fear of replying
So lonely are the shadows
Confined by all nearby objects
Blurring in with all that glows
— kenne
Texas Art Gallery in Conroe, Texas (December 2002) — Image by kenne
— kenne
Corner Pub Still Life (2008)– Image by kenne
“The secret of a good old age is simply an honorable pact with solitude.”
. . . from One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel García Márquez
Front Door To Jackson’s Grocery, Double Bayou (The Place), Texas. — Images by kenne
All-time is created equal,
but we don’t use it equally.
Some are livin’ on bayou time,
while others in a New York minute.
My time is your time,
but it is not mine to give.
You can’t give away
something that isn’t yours.
…unless you share the moment.
— kenne
The Oasis On Lake Travis — 2002 Image by kenne
Today, voters in Texas have an opportunity to help determine how the state will be able to fund future water needs, especially considering recent trends in population and climate. As reported in StateImpact, “The state’s reservoirs are currently just over 60 percent full.” The continued drought throughout the southwest continues to worsen an already dire situation.
Recently we were visiting family and friends in the Houston area and on our return trip to Tucson, spent a couple of days in the Austin area. Having heard how low Lake Travis is, we went to The Oasis On Lake Travis for lunch, a scenic location we had visited several time over the years.
Lake Travis is currently 33% full. — Images by kenne
The Oasis, because of its high venue over Lake Travis has fared much better than many businesses on the lake. Another well-known restaurant on the lake, Carlos’n Charlie’s, open for nearly twenty years, shut down September 2, 2013. Jeff Beckham wrote in the NY Times article, “With Lakes Drying Up, Businesses are Parched,”
“The closing of Carlos’n Charlie’s was the latest and most visible business impact of the drought. In the past, thousands of patrons would arrive by boat and car to watch the restaurant’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show and listen to live music. But the boat docks have been unusable for more than three years.”
One of the Oasis decks well above the current lake level.
“In 2011, a coalition of governments, nonprofits and businesses commissioned a study to calculate a baseline economic and fiscal value to the area surrounding Lake Travis. The Lake Travis Economic Impact Report found that when the lake level dropped below 660 feet, visitor spending dropped by up to $33.8 million, resulting in up to 241 lost jobs and $6.1 million in lost wages a year. Lake Travis has been below 660 feet since April 2011, and the current level is about 620 feet.” (NY Times)
The last time Lake Travis was full was 2007.
Lunch-Time at the Oasis (October 28, 2013)
Currently, public boat ramps are closed on the lake and most residential boat decks are hundreds of feet away from the residence, high and dry.
“High and Dry” On Lake Travis
Jeff Beckham quoted Pete Clark, co-owner of Carlos’n Charlie’s — “It’s kind of like a sick friend in the hospital right now, but it’s still a friend and it’s still a great place. And it will be again.”
Let’s hope he’s correct, but like it or not, the odds are not good.
kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 
East End Park, Kingwood, Texas — Images by kenne (Click on any of the tiled photos for larger view and slideshow.)
Hikers and naturalists in general often carry a small plastic bag when outdoors to pick up trash left behind by people who routinely show a disrespect for nature. Whether on the trail or along roads in our National Parks, one will frequently see trash, especially beer cans, and from my experience the beer of choice for “trash-tossers” is Bud Light. Yes, I’m aware that Bud Light is the number one selling beer in America, which doesn’t say much for the beer-taste of Americans, whether we toss our cans or not. From my outdoor experience, trash-tossers beer of choice is America’s number one selling beer — coincidence, maybe.
Recently while visiting family in Kingwood, Texas, I took the time to walk the trails in East End Park, located along the shores of Lake Houston. These photos make my case! Since Bud Light commercials are directed at men, well, you can make you own conclusions as to the gender of trash-tossers.
kenne
— from urban dictionary:
Bud Light
Pure piss in a bottle. Popular at high school parties simply
because its cheap and available in bulk.
However, there is actually a good side to this alcohol-injected urine.
They make some of the funniest damn commercials around.
John: *Grabs last bud light*
Sarah: Hey John, wanna get me a bud light?
John: Um….sure, one sec. *Chugs Bud light*
John: *Pisses in bottle*
Sarah: Thanks! Mmmmm…Crisp!
CONCLUSION:
I you like piss in a can
and enjoy trashing nature,
you drink Bud Light.
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