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David Cordell

Lowell,

The only time I have gone to a quarterhorse race was a few years ago in Ruidoso. Three horses were "put down" on the track while we were there. One broke his leg so badly that you could see the lower part flopping around while he kept trying to run. Very disturbing to watch.

Race horses are such admirable animals, but I wonder if some owners and trainers don't sometimes take risks that are close to inhumane.

Jerry May

Lowell, yeah we only went to the 440 variety.  If that race had been run at 330 yards GCE would've lost. As it 

was, he needed all that 100 plus yards to make up for the bad start to win by a nose in that race.There are actually (11) sanctioned distances in QHR. 

But like you we prefer thoroughbreds!

Two stories: 1) We took our Dad to his first horse race at Louisiana Downs. He studied the heck out of the program and picked a decent handicapped horse. His horse was "wire to wire" but threw his jockey on the last turn!! His reaction was so funny. "Awww man, I knew that horse had my name on it!! 

2)We knew a man locally who had a filly named 'Lady Prince'  She showed some speed, but had little experience.

Especially at any Class I track like Oak Lawn! (where Arkansas Derby is held) He entered her and she didn't run last; just next to last! 
Poor guy was so disappointed, Bob called a friend-Bryan Krantz, who owned a Class II track in Kenner, La; Jefferson Downs. (no longer there) 

So, we talked the man into running his beautiful filly in a race there claiming " maybe she needed a race as a confidence booster, since was over her head at OakLawn". He was reluctant at first, but finally conceded. He came back from Louisiana jubilant! Lady Prince had won going away!

Lowell Tuttle

We used to go to Hot Springs Ark. every year for the racing festival of the South.   There are stakes races starting with the week before the Arkansas Derby, running every day.   100,000 prize every day.   We always stayed at the Arlington Hotel with basement massage and hot springs bathing.   Very nice.   Used to be a casino and the mob was involved.   Also, some really great restaurants and golf courses.   Retirement community...and they have some great antique auction houses.

Anyway, in those days the Derby was on Saturday as no Sunday Racing.   The Derby was the only time when the beautiful infield was open.   Bands playing.   Very classy old type track with wooden bleachers, paddock right there next to the track.   You could look over the rail down on the horses, turn around and walk 50 feet to place your bet.   Grand old track bars and restaurants.

They had parkiing problems on Derby Day and a few others.   The First Baptist Church is across the street from the race track.   They sold parking on Racing Day...A bit ironic the church gets money from gamblers...

Always bought a tip sheet from some derelict hawking them on the street.

I love Hot Springs, The Arlington Hotel, the massages, the restaurants, and of course the camaraderie with my UT friends (who we all went together with...)  Went back once or twice since, but it has been a while...

The 1970's was fun.

Ron Knight

FEMA/Asheville Update

Well lo and behold FEMA finally sent me the $750 check that was to go to most families after Hurricane Hulene back in October last year. Just over two months ago I decided to appeal one more time since Trump is in office now. They approved me in mid April and I just got the check on May 28th. It still won't cover the damages I incurred of just over $2000, but I'm happy.

And Steve Healy was out here this past couple of weeks with his church group helping Helene Victims. Thank you Steve and all you have done for  our country.

Jim Bedwell

Ron,

GREAT!! What a difference it makes to have the adults back in charge!!

Lowell Tuttle

That Glea Ramey team photo had Bob Kirkpatrick in the center.   I was thinking it looked like Bruce Munday...No offense to either, I hope.

The FEMA budget in the Big and Beautiful budget is slated to cut out the part that is the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and stopping all spending back to 2020-2023.

I don't know what that does to Asheville, but there are still spending dollars earmarked here in Houston as well as other communities, including Galveston, who have planned or are receiving those funds.

I know nothing, but i think it affects the roadwork and city improvements support given by FEMA to non Federal roads, and community rebuilds to an improved level of withstanding storms/floods/and generally getting detroyed.   It also is for people raising their homes, or assist in raising their homes.   I think Galveston and the Texas coast was designing ideas for building walls or gates with federal funds assist.   Probably a direct assault on fire proofing communities in Ca too...

People are still getting finally, their 750.00 from Hurricane Beryl last June...there was lot's of chatter like Ron's on Nextdoor.   I am guessing temporary living expenses will soon be coming to an end.   If folks had windstorm, here in the tier 2 area, most deductibles now are 2% or 3% and even 5%.   There is a house down the street which had a 120 foot pine tree crash through.   They tore it down and re poured the foundation, and now the framing is going up.   Looks nice.   Must of had good insurance, or lots of cash to rebuild...2500 sq ft would cost about 25,000 for debris removal, and 2-2.50 sq foot to re build...400-500,000.   Maybe they coudl re build for 1.80 to 1.75...still 350,000...

The house next door to me which burned down from the Beryl storm results is finished and looks great.   I am guessing 500-600,000...plus the living expenses...They ended up moving back in and the friggin dog had puppies...now four barkers nextdoor...

Those two losses alone add up to about 1,500,00-.  That's a lot of homeowner insurance premiums.   When you figure 4000 per home, 300 homes is 1.2 million...  I would not invest in being a property and casualty company selling insurance for home/dwellings any time.   That's why GEICO and Progressive basically don't sell more than 1-3% of their policies on property.   State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Nationwide, and the new guys on the block Sage, Kin are over exposed...IMHO.

Lowell Tuttle

I liken the 750 FEMA emergency fund to being like having emergency road service on your car insurance or with AAA.

You break down and have to be towed.  Of course, you need it right away.   If you are in a high-traffic area and there's not too much commotion going on, you get your tow truck and they hopefully get billed directly and you go about your day.

If it's a disaster, or if you are way out in the country, you send in your receipts and await payment.   You may have to ask for it a few times...FEMA has poor claims service in the eyes of many...but, for some, it's pretty good.  

Now, with increasing disasters pending, and with the staff cuts (possibly warranted, I am not arguing that,) it will be slower and more time-consuming...To get claims closed as quickly as possible management will direct more denials.   Appeals will be more common...

Claims.   I am sure we have a few adjusters in our class.   I am guessing not too many claims adjusters in our class to advanced to claims manager or claims VP for a large company.   It is a very distressing job.   Too many claims are assigned to each adj. and the grading of job success is based on speed, coming in under the reserve, and how many claims have to be re opened.

Progressive has it figured out.   A lot of their claims managers moved to other companies with the P philosophy.  And, their processes have flouirshed elsewhere.   Overpay fast, get the claim closed.   At least with total losses and sheetmetal losses.   It cuts expenses way way down.   It is hard to translate that process to a governmental bureaucracy.  

Bob Wainner

CHERE MAULDIN (RHS Class of 1967)

This morning, I learned on Facebook from Mark Jamey Mauldin (Chere's brother who was in the RHS Class of 1969).....that his Sister, Chere Mauldin passed away in California last night.

I am very sad to hear this news about Chere.  She had been fighting cancer for many years.

Chere was the Captain of the Eaglettes her Senior Year @ RHS......and she was the RHS Homecoming Queen her Senior Year @ RHS.  Chere was a great friend.......a wonderful person, super personality as well as very attractive. Chere was also runner-up in the Miss Texas Pagent to the winner "Phyllis George".  Phyllis George sadly passed a few years ago. I remember a story Chere once told me about her acting career in New York City. She was a stand-in for an actress who was in a John Travolta movie.  Chere told me that was so cool that she got to kiss actor John Travolta. 

Back during my 3 years @ RHS.....Chere & Mark lived down the street with me.  I hung out with Mark a lot in those days. I remember in the Spring of 1967...Chere suggested to her brother Mark, that he might want to consider trying out to be an RHS Cheerleader.  Well, back then, Mark & I did a lot of the same things together...so, I said, why not...I'll try out for Cheerleader with Mark.  Turns out that Mark didn't quite have the required grades to be eligible to try out...and I did (I had a little above a "B" average). Note: Mark did go on to earn a Bachelor's Degree @ The University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Continuing....So, I went ahead and tried out for the 8 person Cheerleading Squad against 5 guys & approx. 100 girls in front of 7 judges. Well, I got lucky & was chosen along with Jim Baker (RHS Class of 1969) and 6 girls...3 from the Class of 1969 & 3 from the Class of 1968. My Senior Year was a great year for me...and the RHS Football Team became the best "Football Team" & still is.....in RHS History. 

So, as it turns out...as I mentioned before...had I not made that RHS Cheerleading Squad...I might never have met Madalyn; Because that P.E. Class I was in with the Drill Team & the other Cheerleaders was the "only" class I had with Madalyn in the (3) years I attended RHS. 

So, I feel like I owe so much to Chere......or Madalyn & I might not have been together these past 15 plus years.

Also, back in those days.....most people don't remember this. But "The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders" were comprised of Dallas/Ft. Worth area High School Cheerleaders.  5 of us from RHS tried out in last summer 1967...but as it turns out the organizers of "The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders" would only take (2) High School Cheerleaders from any one High School.  So, from RHS, Jim Baker & Debbie Sholtess made the "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading Squad". They were absolutely the BEST of all of the DFW Cheerleaders...with their tumbling skills. So, yeah, funny, I'm one of the very FEW guys who ever tried out for the "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading Squad"...*smile*.

Sad to learn that so many of our classmates from the Class of 1967, 1968 & 1969 have passed away.  Now that I'm 75......that age doesn't seem so old any longer. I feel like I have been blessed to have had these 75 years of LIFE!

Bob

Lowell Tuttle

Very sorry to hear of Chere's passing.

Lowell Tuttle

The attack by Ukraine of Russian aircraft, taking out many including one of their two AWAC type planes too, it 18 months of planning.   

So, it's interesting to me that Zelensky sat in the Whitehouse listening to Trump and Vance tell him he "didn't have the cards."  And, knowing this was up his sleeve, with the planning in advance required...and the timing...

Wow!

Well, I guess Biden should have told Trump...

Jan Alexander

David Cordell

I am not convinced that Zelinsky didn't inform Trump.

The scenario I am imagining is that Trump should have plausible deniability in order to have a role as something of a fair broker between Russia and Ukraine. Thus, pretend that Trump didn't know.

If I were Z, I would not want to make Trump look bad, especially after the disastrous Oval Office meeting. He still needs the money. So, if Z informed Trump in advance, Trump wouldn't be angry and would have something positive or neutral to say to the press in response.

I haven't watched the news, so if this turns out to be way off base, I was just joking.

Lowell Tuttle

David.   All the news outlets are carrying the story that the US was NOT informed.

So, that probably means they were.

Ron Knight

My congratulations to the Texas Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders Women's Softball teams that advanced to the Final Round of The World Series of Softball, AND congrats to Title IX. 

Texas defeated the Tennessee Lady Vols in their Semi-Final game and Texas Tech defeated my OU Sooners, the winner of the last 4 in a row National Championships, to get there. OU has created a dynasty under Head Coach Patty Gasso ( 8 National Titles ) and this makes the Texas Tech win really stand out.

I encourage all of you to watch the Finals that begins Wednesday on ESPN. The Finals are a best of three series. Wednesday and Thursday games are scheduled along with a Friday night game if necessarry. Texas Tech is the Cinderella story here, but their picture is a star, just ask OU. I'm proud of my State of Texas having an all Texas Final in Women's Softball.

Patrick Mahomes has come out on social media cheering on the Red Raiders. Where are the Texas faithful?? Matthew McConaughey????

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

"Was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day,

I was out choppin' cotton and Brother was balin' hay....."

So...........What do you think Billie Joe MacAllister and 'that gal' was a'throwin' off that dadgum Tallahatchie Bridge?

Some things better left unsaid, I reckon'..................

Have you ever chopped cotton?

A thankless, back-breaking, sweaty job, I hear.

We 'city folk' ain't got no understandin' of what REAL work is, right?   (Heard that one before, y'all?)

I shore nuff did, many a time, many a time.........

But muh' kinfolk....... They was GOOD people, do ya hear me now?

Ha,ha!       ("Pass the biscuits, please, Young'un'.... And the grits and black-eyed peas, too!")

David Cordell

Thanks for the date reminder, Janalu.

"There was a virus goin' round; Papa caught it and he died last spring,

And now Mama doesn't want to do much of anything.

Seems like nuthin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge.

And now you tell me Billy Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge."

I think she was just throwing flowers off the bridge.

I have never chopped cotton, but one summer I worked for RISD doing groundskeeping work, and I chopped more weeds than I could count.

David Cordell

Ron,

About the UT vs TTU NCAA final softball series -- Gotta love those Texas women!

By the way, I'm guessin' that I may be the only person in our class who has received paychecks from both of those schools.

Texas Tech paid me a lot more!

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

No way!

Billie Joe jumped off that bridge 'cause his guilt was eatin' him alive!

The minister (the preacher man in southern talk) who stopped by the house said he saw a girl and Billie on the ridge throwing 'sumpin' off, and then the girl who was at the dinner table with the family, went later up there, to throw flowers from the bridge.  Why was she feeling sad enough to toss flowers?

'Cause she KNEW why ol' BJ jumped, and she had a twinge of guilt too!

And I have a pretty good hunch as to what was thrown from that high perch, don't you?

David Cordell

Janalu, please answer your own question!

We're watching Field of Dreams (1989) for the umpteenth time. Baseball and a bit of time travel. Gotta love it!

Lowell Tuttle

Never chopped cotton, but did spend one summer in Canada pickin strawberries...course, it was only about 65F and we had to wear a sweater when it was cloudy.

They gave us immigrant workers the "second" rows to pick.   That pissed me off enough to throw some hay or grass into the pint containers with the "nice" strawberries on top.   

I am pretty sure we got 5 cents a pint.   The good pickers got the first dibbs on which row to stoop to.   We got seconds.

David Cordell

Gosh, Lowell, if you are representative,  it sounds like migrant workers can't be trusted!

Separately, looks like UT versus TTU  softball will be on ESPN tonight.

Ron Knight

David

I'll be watching tonight's NCAA Womens Finals in Softball. And yes I forgot you were at Tech. In fact, you stated how much you guys loved that house!!! It should be a great matchup. Tech's pitcher Canady is a load to handle, both on the mound and at the plate. I predict it will take a game 3 to decide the champs!!!

Jim Bedwell

I always loved this song. What a voice she has!

David Cordell

Rock fans --- about Heart. Is Nancy Wilson a really good rock guitarist? She seemed to gyrate a lot in that video, but I can't see (and don't know enough about guitar)  if she is all "show" or if she brings the goods.

I have posted this video of Heart performing Stairway to Heaven at Kennedy Center Honors before, but i just love it, especially watching the reactions of Plant, Page and Jones. Bonham's son is playing drums. Note a few celebrities in the audience.

Jim Bedwell

Ron,

Ace guitarist Greg Koch plays tonight in Asheville at the Asheville Music Hall at 8:00. I saw him last night in Nashville. Highlights of the show included a great Roy Buchanan song, a Led Zeppelin classic, "Stumble" by Freddy King, and as always "Folsom Prison Blues". He's got an excellent keyboards player who also plays bass with his left hand. And his son is an excellent drummer - I told him that unlike Jimmie Vaughan, who never satisfies, that outstanding trio never disappoints! This is the 4th time I've seen them the last 3 years. Jimmie Vaughan is a good rhythm guitarist (he can strum) but he's no good as a lead guitarist, unlike his brother SRV. Like Florida guitarist Rusty Wright told me about Jimmie, "His solos start slowly, they go nowhere, and they don't finish nearly soon enough!" Amen, brother!

David,

Nancy Wilson's probably nothing special as a guitarist but I like the piano playing with the minor chords! Don't know if she was playing that or not. And she didn't develop the chronic weight problem that her sister did.