Home Sweet Home

Well, you may be wondering why I haven't blogged lately. I'm home! I have a project at Tuttle Oklahoma, and is with in driving distance of home. This carries certain requirements. I have to drive from home everyday to the well, I have to drive home at night. No staying in the travel trailer. I will have to sleep in my own bed with my wife every night. Can you imagine what we will do for a job?..

I have included some photos, so you can get an idea of how tuff I have it this week.
Wish you were here.......................................

...and the antelope roam....

More from home on the range.

I caught these two antelopes close enough to get a picture one morning. The whole herd had been near the cattle guard going into the lease ever since I've been here. There is approximately 100 of them. These two were by them selves today.


Well the next time you here from me, I will be closer to home. We are packing it up and heading to Tuttle Oklahoma. I know, I'm shocked also. See you soon!





















Wish you were here............................

Still in Gail Texas. But, I had a visitor this week! My little wife came from Forney Texas to visit. She spent a long weekend with our youngest granddaughter Abby, while her folks, Bubba and Sis went to San Anton Texas for a little vacation before school starts. She was able to put the little travel trailer in order. We now have 2 places to live. One normal size and one small size.





We were able to get a little shopping in while she was here. We went to Post and bought some knives for the trailer at a antique mall. We also found the Gail Wal-Mart open one day. We spent some time in there just looking at all Mr. Wilson has to offer. Karen was able to find some old plates to paint on.

I might say, after going inside, it's safe to say, he has at least one of everything. I took several photos of the inside and found it to be very organized.










We also made it to the local museum. However, it wasn't open. I'm thinking they just moved everything over to Mr. Wilson's Wal-Mart.






Wish you were here............................

Gail Texas

I have found myself in Gail Texas. Where is that!? you ask. Well, it's in the middle of no where. You can't even buy gas here! The only store in town has never seen a credit card, and they don't sell gas gas! I guess that question has been ask enough for the proprietor to buy a sign that says " We don't sell Gas". Cash is king. I have parked my newly acquired travel trailer in the local RV park at Gail Texas. But, when I need gas or anything after 5 PM, I have to drive north to Post, 32 miles, West to Lamesa, 32 miles, East to Snyder Texas 32 miles, or South somewhere, 42 miles. The top photo is "Down Town" Gail.

I wonder sometimes when I travel to different places, 'why do people live here' or 'how do you end up in a place like this? Most of all, 'what do these people do for a living? We all end up somewhere, I guess. Each of us have a long list of reasons why we are where we are.

This is a photo of the Gail Wal-Mart. This is an actual store. He opens up on Thursday and closes on Saturday afternoon. I haven't had time to shop there yet, but I am going to if I am here long enough. You could also use this as an "I Spy Photo" too. He has one of everything, some may work.

So, how do you think this guy ended up in a place like Gail TX, with a store full of used up stuff? He could have grown up here, and his family never threw anything away. I guess he could have been passing through town and ran out of gas. Found out they don't sell gas in Gail, bought a local junk store. I'm open to ideas. So put your ideas in a comment and lets see how many ways this could happen.

I'm sure some folks have a plan and actually know where they are going and why. I know that Missionaries plan where they go and how long to stay and all that. But, for me, I just don't know. Seems like I have found myself in a place that I like very much, have all I could ever ask for, and still I wonder, 'is this where we are supposed to be?'

The RV park in Gail is for sale, and I am low on gas..................................

Wish you were here....?

Aliasville Texas

Chances are, you have never been to Aliasville Texas. As a matter of fact, you probably never even heard of it. I talked to folks that lived 30 miles away, that didn't know where it was. Well that's where I have been the last couple of weeks.

The photo on the left is really all that's left standing. I think it was some kind of store in the past. It is abandoned now. Just next door to this building is the Clear Fork of the Brazos river. (lower photo) There was some kind of mill or something here at one time. Now all they do is fish from the bank near the mill or what ever. There is a Baptist church on the hill and a restaurant! Someone has taken an old house and re-modeled it in to a little restaurant. I have worked in this area before and never knew about it. We always brought a lunch or went without. Then the day I left, I heard it was here. So this trip I have taken advantage of it. It has old wooden squeaky floors, old tables and chairs, but fixed really nice. It even has a claw foot bathtub in the bathroom. They also have Bed and Breakfast near by.



So if you ever in North Texas around Possum Kingdom Lake, drive over to the Aliasville restaurant and mention my name and pay cash. Try the shrimp, or chicken, and they have great hamburgers.... the coconut cream pie is great, and the chocolate cake is.... well, its good.

Wish you were here.........

Trip to the Hill Country

You are looking at a photo of Three Rivers Texas. A weird town. The town is here because of a big Valero Refinery. You can see it in the back ground. The town starts where the refinery ends. Everyone works there, or at one of the businesses that support the people who work there. There is no Wal-Mart, no grocery store or church. There is a Dairy Queen, (big in Texas), a Pizza Hut and a couple of c-stores. One has a Subway and the other has an independent BBQ place. One good thing is the price of fuel. Its the cheapest around. I think the Valero Station has a pipe line under the street to the refinery. Three Rivers has, I guess 3 rivers nearby. The town is full of fishermen on the weekend. So I think there are some lakes around. The country is nice. Rolling hills, with a few large Live Oak trees. Its been raining alot, so everything is green. The weather is hot (95 degrees with 100% humidity) but not unbearable.





We rigged up on an old Dominion well the Chaparral bought. It is located in the middle of a very busy oil field. Wells are being drilled all around us. This photo shows some of the country and the rig. We haven't seen any gators here, but they tell me to watch for rattle snakes.





The crew are all Latino. Pee Wee is the tool pusher. He is a big man, stands at least 4' tall. Runs his ship tight. Its funny to see him yelling at one of his men's belt buckle. These guys are all business. No idle BSing. So I'm by my self, unless a lost salesman happens by.





One neat thing is, this is the first time
I have ever had a brand spanking new unused hot of the press never had dirt on it rig. Everything is new. As you can see, there is no oil or grease anywhere. However, somehow I managed to get some pipe dope all over my jeans the first day. Oh well..... Wish you were here.

Anybody seen a GATOR!!!!!

It's not all bad in the gulf of Mexico. I got to go fishing with some real neat folks. Scott in the middle was the host. He owns a 1989 Ocean Master boat that he has completely restored. We left Matagorda Bay early Saturday morning and headed out into the Gulf. Of course , I was sea sick by the time we hit blue water. Oh well.... We went about 55 miles before we stopped to bait up. It was a cloudy day and the water was rough. It took until noon to get there. I caught the first King fish and then the next 2 also. We decided to stop and eat lunch. Well, that's when I lost my breakfast. I was the only one that got sick. It didn't slow me down, I caught 3 more Kings, before I finally ate lunch. We had a ball. If you want to see all the pictures of this trip, email me and I will send you the album.

Back to work on Monday and we found out why they call this the Gator Hole. We had a friendly gator next to the rig. He seem to be ease all day while we worked. We fed him bread, crackers, brisket and sausage. But he just set and looked at those juicy roughnecks all day long. We really never saw him lick his lips but we were sure he was thinking about it. I think we will call him Smiling Jack. The fun never ends........




Smiling Jack