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Ron Knight

Happy Birthday Steve-O!!!

Hope you have a great day. It's my son's birthday today as well. Think we'll venture out for lunch.

Bob Davidson

Janalu,

I'm sorry about your poor daughter -- just remember that as a teacher she is ruthlessly propagandized in cultural marxism.  Rod Dreher had a good article this morning that gives a perspective on that issue.  He used to write for Texas Monthly and The Dallas Morning News.  I like him -- I was actually interviewed by him for his book about Crunchy Conservatives.  Some of the things I said made it into the book, but unattributed.

The link:   https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/america-woke-elite-monoculture/

David,

I took Joe Kruppa's class on media.  It was sort of the opposite of Silber:  in the same auditorium, but an engaging audio-video show with a super-friendly emcee leading things.

The people I liked always referred to her as "Patty" -- I know her name was "Patricia" -- I hope it wasn't like in German class where our professor told us that he should only be addressed as "Herr Doktor Schmidt" and we always referred to him as "Freddy" behind his back.  I did not enjoy Patty's class -- I thought she was smug and smarmy, especially when she had that debate on the Viet Nam War in class and played anti-war music to set the tone -- when I talked to Dr. Gregorian (the Plan II Director) about her and her class, he moved me to Steve Ross' section second semester.  I loved that one.

For some reason, Dr. Gregorian seemed to enjoy talking to me -- it made up for Mrs. Moss disliking me.  I found him fascinating and one of my favorite professors at UT.  He was my advisor until he left in the Silber firing exodus of UT profs to the Ivy League.  On his recommendation Zulfikar Ghose took over after he left -- so both of my official advisors were Middle Eastern natives.  Mr. Ghose was still actively teaching in 2005 when my son visited UT and was kind enough to pretend to still remember me.

Per Patty:  Charlemagne was an enormous warrior (contempories described him as 7 feet tall, which she thought was exaggerated -- his dad was called Pepin the Short so he probably looked extra tall by comparison) who united France, Northern Italy, and Germany into the Holy Roman Empire by huge personal energy and brute force.  "Holy Roman Empire" is three falsehoods:  it was not holy, Roman, nor an empire.  Although he spoke a half dozen languages including Latin and Greek, he was most proud of being able to sign his own name to documents (he was one of the few literate nobles of his time -- usually they used priests to read and write for them) -- "C Rex."  He got his empire to be "holy" by spreading Christianity by executing everyone who refused to convert, especially the Saxons.  I probably don't remember much else from college, but somehow that stuck in my head.

Professor Ross was miltary historian and a Napoleon scholar and much more to my taste.  My favorite memory of his class:  he told a great story about when he was working on the Russian campaign for a book and went from Moscow to Warsaw.  It was winter and very cold, so he went to one of the foreigner-only stores in Moscow and bought a very nice leather coat and warm fur hat on the cheap.  One night when he worked late at the Polish National Archives, he walked home through Warsaw.  His spoken Polish was only fair and when he was accosted by a group of thuggish-seeming Poles on the street, he couldn't understand what they were yelling at him.  When they ganged up on him and started to shove him, he forgot being a polite visitor and started cussing in English and fighting back, thinking he was being mugged.

His attackers looked stunned, and one said in English, "You are American?"  He replied with something like "Fuck yes, shithead."  They totally backed down, started slapping him on the back, talking about their relatives in America and how much they loved America, and took him to a tavern for beers.  They told him that Russians never went out alone in Poland and when they saw a guy dressed like one, they were going to teach him a lesson.  When he got to Berlin, he was back in the America-hating part of the world.

Holly Hobby

Happy Birthday, Steve! 

Holly Hobby

Bob Davidson, my forever and beyond all eternity, beloved friend and trusted confidante,   

I am SO proud of you. The language you quoted in your post.  Sigh.  It is true.  Never underestimate the power of a few well placed swear words.  

You never cease to amaze me. And never could I cease to love you. 

Bob Davidson

Holly,

On Mythbusters one of the fun episodes was when they measured the physiological effects of cussing in situations like dealing with frustration and pain.  The result was that it is an excellent emotional and physical release. 

It is contrary to what my dear mother always told her children:  "Cursing is the way stupid people express themselves."

Bob Davidson

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9189539/Science-reveals-swearing-sign-intelligence-creativity-helps-endure-pain.html

David Cordell

BobD,

From the article you linked: "There has been a myth that such language is the 'poverty of vocabulary,' but in a 2015 study, Jay put this idea to rest."

Ah, yes. "Settled science". I call bullshit on that.

One of my very good friends can't get through a sentence without invoking the F-bomb. I didn't realize how smart he is.

Separately, I am depressed that you remember so much subject matter from college classes. I am more inclined to remember the good looking girls.

I always got along well with Donette Moss. I recall Vartan Gregorian's appearance and beard. Both have changed. I can't believe he is still around. https://www.carnegie.org/about/trustees-and-staff/vartan-gregorian/

Separately, again, about famous people I have met, I think I forgot to mention The Who's front man, Rodger Daltrey. I have described that meeting in detail on these pages.

I'm guessin' that Phil Huber is the guy who has met a lot of famous people, or at least taken their photos. I'm not sure if you were on the Forum when this photo that Phil took was posted. Charles Manson.

Holly Hobby

Steve Keene

All,

Thanks for the many well wishes on my birthday.  Unfortunately I have more years than well wishers this past few years.  I hope to become a better person when I finally grow up.

Holly Hobby

Overwhelmingly slammed. On such occasions I walk away for a few minutes and do something else. “This” is my something else.

Moments ago hung up from call with CEO of a large hospital system. As always, the CEO proves the most patient, empathetic and understanding of my client's issue.  But by the time I've had enough and go directly to the CEO I'm ready to stick my head in the oven. 

It’s no secret our health care system is broken. Neither is it a secret that predatory health care billing is a leading cause of bankruptcy in our country. Lesser discussed is the fact most people don’t really look at their health care bills. I understand.  There’s a reason they’re difficult to understand. It's profitable. 

Among the nations’ leading healthcare providers/hospitals is predatory billing.  The majority of them exceedingly  clever. Does this mean the CEO is in on it too?  Not necessarily. Similar to the chief of police in a large (or small city) are times when his/her hands are tied, unless he/she doesn’t mind being faced with the forced  "it was a difficult decision but I've decided to resign..."

Here’s the takeaway:

1.  Unless incapacitated, w/ every encounter with a health care provider/ hospital, ask for a “highly detailed bill complete with CPT codes. Made it clear you want a CPT code for every single service/item including one band aid or two Tylenol. 

2.  Understandably, you  will not receive it on the spot.  At first, you might get a runaround. Hold your ground. Neither health care providers/hospitals want to part with fully itemized bill. Not when there are ways to get around it, despite federal legislation. 

3.  When asking for highly detailed bill including CPT codes, make it clear you also want ICD codes pertinent to the specific CPT code. 

 4. At the same time,  ask for NPI # and put it in your phone or write it down.

5. If hospitalized, in the hard copy portion of your patient file is a “do not include” in patient chart.  Tell them you want to see it.  By law, you have the right. You'll also have to stand your ground. 

Countless times I’ve heard Medicare recipients say, “I don’t bother paying attention to medical bills because my share isn’t that much.”  Maybe or maybe not. Either way, predatory billing does and will hurt  your children, grandchildren and great grandchild yet to be born. Fraud hurts everyone.  In the words of the CEO with whom I just hung up "but the patient has responsibility, too."  True, but sure would be a lot easier if patients knew the questions to ask. Hope this might help.

Hollis Carolyn Heyn

David Wier

Has anyone been following this (The Office of the Former President):

Trump Establishes Office of the Former President to Keep Political Options Open - Headline USA

Holly Hobby

Hollis,

Writing in parts. So glad you asked. I wasn't thinking. I should have explained the meaning of each code. But as I began thinking how to best explain it occurred to me you need more than a textbook definition.  

Of every investigative case I’ve worked, including the brutal execution style torture and slaying of  four people, two of them, high school football stars, nothing gets my blood boiling like the  exploitation of innocent patients, among them whose death is imminent,  leaving loved ones reeling in grief simultaneous to many of them guaranteed further shattering and/or bankruptcy d/t to medical bills.

You’re not only savvy, within you is investigative antennae. I know this because your  question told me of course, you knew you could google CPT, NPI and ICD but something told you there's more  to understanding the definition for each code. You’re spot on. First, some fundamentals.

Several years ago I was working an organized crime involved homicide. As an investigative journalist you meet all kinds of people, some whom you have no doubt are cold- blooded killers but you talk to them anyway. And they talk to you.  It was during the above-mentioned homicide investigation that  one of them  bragged “you know mafia has infiltrated the health care system, don't you?"   I didn't, but wasn’t surprised. Looking back the only thing that surprises me is how long it took to become obvious.

Can anyone  prove allegations claiming organized crime has infiltrated our health care system?  Hope so. But I won't be among those trying.  I've had my share of death threats thank you. Cont

Holly Hobby

editing insert: TARV

Hollis  

Part II

Don't worry. I've never required much sleep. All my life a few hours here and there is more than I can bear. I'll be up and roaring  to go by 7-7:30  a.m.  

 CPT stands for “Current Procedural Terminology.” There are 3 categories of CPT codes. CPT 1 is the largest category. It's also the one most applicable to patients. 

Within CPT 1 are thousands of codes used to document every service; procedure; evaluation; visit; surgery and anything else provider by a health care giver.  Also  CPT 1 is code contains non-specific code for supplies; i.e. sutures, trays, drugs, IV drip etc.  CPT I is where the money is.

Here's an example of CPT code for supplies r/t ICD code: "Transcatheter removal of permanent leadless pacemaker, right ventricular."   "Transcather" tells us this is a heart patient. It also tells us he/she has undergone an aortic valve replacement. Together is documentaton for one or more ICD  (diagnosis code).    CPT code for one of the "supplies, is the pacemaker.  

We already know there'll be a CPT code for the health care provider(s) performing the transcatheter removal.    Already we also know there'll be a CPT code for the procedure itself.  Do not worry. You do not need a clinical background to understand  CPT codes.  I just wanted to illustrate some of the working parts of  CPT I codes. 

NPI tells us the provider(s) identificaton #. It also tells us the facility where the procedure was performed.  BUT here's where the patient can be screwed BIG time. As in thousands of dollars screwed never knowing he/she was screwed. Make no mistake. I'm not talking about no-name hospital systems. Neither am I talking about your average Joe specialist.  (Caveat:  I'm the WORST doctor snob.  The smart ones humor me and we end up long lasting friends. good friends.  The pussies  run for their lives.)  We don't have Medicare. We still have private insurance but I understand the pickin's are lessened with Medicare.  Don't let that get in the way, Hollis. I'd rather talk to you one on one to explain to explain. 

If any advice I could give you besides medical coding it's:  BE A DOCTOR SNOB.  YOU set the stage for the relationship.  If he/she can't handle it, walk.  It's a two way street: your doctor needs to trust you just like he/she expects you to trust him/her.  

Last, whether pandemic non pandemic, someone has to pay for CPT codes. Private insurance may cover some of it as well as Medicare, Medicaid. Yes, hospitals do write off losses.  I get that. I also get it's not the front line to blame for our broken health care system. They, too are vulnerable.

Something else you need to know:  NO it is not true hospitals get paid more for Covid patients. It IS true d/t to new CPT code explained below, the ARE allowed to report pandemic related supplies, services etc.

Covid: if God forbid you or someone you love ends up in the hospital for Covid also imp to know:    “effective Sept. 8, is a  new CPT code, 99072 for documenting “additional supplies, materials, and preparation time required and provided by the physician or other qualified health care professional and/or clinical staff over and above those usually included in an office visit or other service(s), when performed during a nationally declared public health emergency due to respiratory transmitted infectious disease.”

Code 99072 is SUPPOSED to be documented only once per in-person patient. But are there ways around it?  Yup. Of course there are.  Either way code  99072 also covers: 

“pre-visit phone call to screen the patient (symptom check), provide instructions on social distancing during the visit, check patients for symptoms upon arrival, apply and remove personal protective equipment, and additional cleaning of the examination/procedure/imaging rooms, equipment and supplies

• Three surgical masks
• Additional cleaning supplies (e.g., hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes)
• visit or other services rendered drugs, trays, supplies, or materials provided) not reimbursable in any services and procedures. "

CPT Category II applies to health care providers. Within is incredibly interesting information, an eye opener for patients 

CPT Category III applies to temporary codes documenting new and experimental service and procedures.

I really hope this helps, Hollis. This is a very basic tutorial of CPT codes and how you can learn to protect yourself.  I knew I wouldn’t have time to explain tomorrow, maybe not the weekend either so wanted you to have the info tonight.  of all the codes CPT 1 is the one you want to hold close to your heart, and wallet.  In the meantime, feel free to email if you might want a more indepth explanation, or better understanding how to protect yourself re NPI #.  Sandra and Jan have my email address.  Be safe. Hollis. And stay well. 

David Cordell

Trump tried to be a dictator??

• Biden - 24 Executive orders in first week
• Trump - 4
• Obama - 5
• Bush43 - 0 

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/verify/verify-yes-biden-signed-more-executive-orders-in-his-first-week-than-any-past-president/65-06d6cad9-3027-41ef-96be-654216ad81e3

Biden and Kerry assure us that all the 11,000 workers on the pipeline will get new union, green-energy jobs, like working in a factory making solar panels. Not sure how they'll get work visas for China, though, or how effective unions are in that country.

Wayne Gary

David

Biden says by going to electric cars it will create many new good paying jobs in the auto industry.  I wonder what will  happen to the workers making the current models?  Will they be laid off or just moved from one model to the new electric models?

I can imagine Biden in the early 20th century saying that he would be signing an order to requiring the government to start buying trucks and automobiles to replace horses and mule powered vehicles and saying it would create all of these new good paying jobs. He would not take into account the loss of jobs in the wagon building and the mule and horse drivers not to mention the jobs for people cleaning up all of the poop on teh streets.

Lowell Tuttle

Is personal mobility sustainable and if it is how are the countries that have it doing economically?   Can it expand and sustain worldwide use of personal vehicles?

Ok, I leave it at that.

I was looking for our cross country team in the annual and thought there was a page for them, but apparently they just kept it with the track team.   While I was looking through our annual, after sports comes faculty.   The lead in page (193, I think) has Mrs. McLenney sitting at her desk with some colorful posters behind on the wall.  She appears to be dealing Tarot cards.   Does anyone know who staged this photo?   Pretty funny...

Mike West is home under hospice care.   He has no awoken in 3-4 days.  Takes water from a drop syringe.  He is off his meds. 

Steve Keene

David and Wayne,

While signing the executive orders Biden keeps changing the language and they are convinced we are too stupid to notice.. Equity instead of Equality for instance.  A 17 dollar an hour job making solar pnels is a long way from a rig supervisor that makes over $100,00.00 per year.  Biden also says the volume of jobs after eliminating 11,000 pipeline jobs will increase.   Maybe so, but the jobs were lost instantaneously by executive order.  The ramp up time for new jobs in solar and wind may take years.  What are the jobless supposed to do to eat and live until then?

Lowell Tuttle

These type posts are for in memoriam, but I am such a active poster, for now, this is for those who wish to read.   I will put it on Mike's in memorian later.

I am not sure there has been another friendship like the one I had with Mike West.  We began knowing each other in the 7^th grade at Belt Line Jr hi.   In those days, my close contact with him was hanging out with some of my friends and his friends as we waited “post” lunch in the unfinished courtyard behind C wing.  Mike and Hank Dubey, and Sam Duncan and some other guys from the Dover crowd liked to eat cinnamon buns in one bite, throw pennies, nickels and quarters against the C wing wall and fight to get them.  

Football games...(Mike was on the team a few years) school dances, Mike was also in The Key Club.  His Dover friends from before my time were Ronnie Parker, Keith Currens, Hank Dubey, Jim Madden and that crowd.

Later in school days, we raced through typing together and were in journalism class together. 

Mike and I attended a journalism class symposium at SMU in 1968, were stopped from entering Moody Coliseum to see Nixon because he was wearing a Eugene McCarthy button on his lapel.   We/he was allowed in if he removed it.

As we got older and got our driver licenses, it was also about the time we started going to rock concerts together as well as the opening of the Burning Bush.   Friday and Saturday nights there…chasing girls who frequented the place.  I was a “designated” driver for everyone in those days.   Keeping a clean healthy condition behind what would have been a crazy wheel.  Most of our trips then, were to the bowling alley and Love Field for pin ball, or to Kips for hot fudge sundaes.

Mike and Rusty Shields were the stockers for your Tom Thumb on Arapaho at Newberry for years and had quite a group of smokin poker playin all night stocker dudes.   Breaks were taken at the pin ball machine while munching Hamburger Hut fries and sandwiches.  Two pretty good machines.

I tried my hand for a few days as a cross country runner, with Mike and others on the cross country team.   I quit about my third day.   Mike was in it with Sam Duncan, Chuck Kourvales, Jim Litner, Johnny Powell, Lee Klepper, and Randy Rost.   Their workout each day was running 2-5 mile routes around Richardson.   Remember seeing those fools in their gear running?  We had some great cross country competitors…starting back in the Tommy Maupin days years before.

As high school came to an end, we toured to pick a college.  He and I drove down to Georgetown to check out Southwestern, but we went past on down to UT because Southwestern was basically closed.  I chose UT and Mike went with our good friend Dennis Matthews off to Univ of Houston.

Just between getting settled in at Austin/Houston, we got together Labor Day Weekend 1969 for the Texas International Pop Festival at Lewisville, Texas…camping out three days, seeing the likes of Chicago, Freddie King, Spirit, Janis Joplin, Ten Years After, Led Zeppelin, Sly and the Family Stone, BB King, Grand Funk, and living for those few days in the Peace Love generation that in a way molded us for the future….assuming we didn’t take everything too seriously…

Mike and Dennis lived in a crazy dorm, the Hedges House, off Macgregor. I remember a resident friend of Mike and Dennis’ who had the entire Frank Zappa Mother’s of Invention collection and stayed in his room permanently in his pajamas.  It was college in 1969 at 18 years old.  I drove and bused from Austin a few times to hook up with those guys, give a send off to Larry Benson/Dobbins, going into the service, and head down to Surfside for some rather bad attempts at surfing the Gulf Coast.   We visited the Cellar, and Love Street…then Mike got married in Dickinson, to Claire, a real beauty.  Post wedding, our Dallas group headed off to Jimi Hendrix in the Houston coliseum,  and it was just a few times together after until that went south.

End of Claire (wife.) Then…for a while, us both at our parents…but..

In 73, we decided to rent a house in Oak Lawn in Dallas.   Our friends all gathered.  It was at the corner of Holland and Douglas.  Making that place livable was crazy.  The rooms were all painted psychedelic colors and had locks or several locks on both sides of each of the two or three bedrooms…obviously had been a den of iniquity.  David Savage moved in with us and built his own indoor treehouse.  Our gatherings in those days took us to The Cave, The Leatherballs Saloon, J Alfreds, Strictly Taboo, The Cedar Pub, and in or over by my office building, the Playboy Club and of course Mother Blues.  I moved out mainly because of the slow draining tub/shower stuffed with our hippie hair, but that six or eight month life and style sticks in my Mike West memory.   During this time was the story of David Savage, our roommate, building a TeePee, and building a greenhouse.   Without anything substantial to grow in our outside treehouse, David drove his van off to Nacogdoches, filled up two plastic garbage bags with cow manure of varying stages of ripeness, and brought them back to his fresh greenhouse in the hopes of growing some psychedelic mushrooms (complete failure…)  those are a country thing, not City.

Pam Rodreick, Randy Ferguson, Guy Nichols, Joann Fletcher (future West,) David Savage, Dennis Matthews, a bit of Pam Russell…and my UT friends David Mckamie among others were all participants.

Mike had begun the oil field service side business job with Tackaberry Fire & Safety.   Driving his 70 MGB GT around town after first marriage over.   Mike and his co worker, Robert (Rieger?) ran the Dallas office of Tackaberry over in a warehouse off Harry Hines behind the Dallas Market Hall area.   There were no office workers, just those two and all the fire extinguishers.   Going to his office and meeting for lunch or happy hour included a run of Dallas Industrial Hockey on their in warehouse hockey/floor rink.   Lunch was at The Double Nickel and happy hour was at the Busy Bee where they had ladies dancing, but it was real burlesque and they still had comedians in between the dances. 

During the 73 to 78 period, a central figure was Joann Fletcher who Mike had an on and off romance with.  She was central to our little group of friends that ran around together in Oak Lawn.

Mike and I were roommates again in my rent house from 76 to 78 on Boundbrook over off Stults road and Forest Lane.  We had some parties there with still some of the Oak Lawn crowd.   Even our parents and my Aunt Dorothy were entertained one Christmas.   Perhaps even Mike’s Aunt Jenny?  Becky and John West (Mike’s parents) were agog of their sons  Mike, Randy, and Tim.   He is purportedly related to both Richard Nixon and Jessamine West (author.)  Parents were not usually at our normal affairs.  The would have freaked at the 8mm film projector set up in the middle bedroom for all voyeur friends.  Nextdoor neighbor Richard Cooper joined Mike and I for some escapades.   Good times with him together.  Richard was famous for leaving the name Staubach with hosts at waiting stands in restaurants.   Mike and I met Richard (and his girlfriend) who rented next door to us.   From Michigan, they were in the back yard sunbathing one day.   They turned on their sides, raising their arm up and stayed that way a while, then, flipped to their other side and raised their arm.  We laughed at them and went over and introduced…pretty good friendship developed then.   It was the disco years.

Well, the Boundbrook arrangement ended as I moved off to Houston in 78…Before I moved, Tackaberry decided to move Mike as salesman to Houston, so a month after my move there, we found an apartment and started a whole new scene there in H town…

My office was in Greenway Plaza off 59 and Mike’s was in Sugarland off 59, but further South.   I hated the traffic, so ended up hanging out at Rudyard’s while Mike had his own little society there,in SW Houston...  But, the romance with Joann crescendo’d then with his proposal, so I moved out and Joann moved down to Houston finding a job with Weekly and Penny’s ad agency. 

We had a pretty good bachelor’s party this wedding.   Mike, Lowell, and Richard Cooper, meeting in San Antonio and driving off to Nuevo Laredo, bus to boys town, excellent evening for all of us.  

Mike’s early Houston friends were Liz (last name?) Dick Gil,  Robert Espinoza, Alan Bull, and his NFL six club of football fantasy….My Rudyard’s escapades included friendship with Mike Holliday who later opened the Richmond Arms (had been Daddy Boots) at Richmond and Fountainview.   Later he opened the Ale House on Alabama.

I moved from our apartments to a rent house on Mid Lane off Richmond and Mike and Joann actually found a house with the same landlord at 7 Bash Place…Later moving over to a duplex on Winsome off Fountainview.  Living inside the loop in Houston is for millionaires now, and folks who don’t mind renting an efficiency for 2000 a month.

There was quite a big downturn in the oilfield in the 80’s which set up Mike to come to work with me at AA USA Insurance Agency as Mr. Fred Jones (hysterical mystery name for answering phone calls.)  Friendships also were made with many by Mike as door man working the Ale House on Fridays and some Saturdays in the Houston Music scene. 

I played a lot of darts and traveled quite a bit to tournaments….but eventually, Mike and I were on an HDA darts team together out of the Ale House about the time he started covering the door.  We befriended Steve Knapp (who was our bartender extraordinaire) and another group of friends involving both of us and Joann began.  Betty and her boyfriend David (rip) along with Angela and Marion.  Mindy.  Plus there was quite a mix of darters, late night Houston musicians, Montrose area drinkers and urban animals, and some rather funky inner loop Houstonians who loved the Ale House scene.

Everyone who came to work for my and my dad’s agency learned a specialty way of handling “deals” for customers on auto insurance with our no one refused attitude.  From very good to very bad risks and customers.   Eventually employees all became over valued and too expensive for us to keep.   It’s hard letting good folks go, but we couldn’t afford Mike in Houston so we moved him up to Dallas to work with my dad Lloyd, Joan (my sister,) and motorcycle mama…

I can’t remember when Mike moved to Dallas from Houston.   Must have been after I got married to Susie, 1987…so about 1989 or so, before Ryan (my son,) was born.

Office work required my visits to my parents’ and Dad’s office was almost monthly and many times we invited Mike to the house and or I visited him.   He later moved off and became a specialist in a sense for State Farm agencies who were either overcome with too many customers or were owned by an undermanaged owner who needed a do it all type Fred Jones customer service rep.  

Mike stayed close with all his old friends…Steve Hull, Larry Dobbins (Benson) Rusty Shields, and more that I don’t know about.

I want to tell more stories that are specific instead of chronological….they may not be in order of this above thought process.

My brother, Mike, Steve Knapp and I all planned and went on a canoe trip down the Neches River sometime around 1989 or 1990 or so.   The plan was to rent a canoe and bring my brother’s canoe with us and head up to Dam B park on the Neches River.   We got there all find and dandy, but the park campgrounds were packed for the Friday afternoon.  We made the mistake of running off on the trip to the East Texas woods on the eve of Deer Season.  There was random gunfire all night long.  I big storm hit that night and a huge tree branch fell down 1 foot from my brother’s tent.   Lawrence (my brother) and I were determined to go on the canoe run, but it was wet and the river was running very high.  Steve and Mike stayed behind due to overdoing it the night before and they, I am sure, like the river,  were also very high.  Brother and I made it the two day trip into one day as the river was very rapid and dangerous.  The banks of the river were all mud and I was terrified the whole trip a deer hunter was gonna poke up over the bank looking into the river and Deliverance us all over the place…

Mike, Dick Gil, Alan Bull, Robert Espinosa and two others began an NFL 6 fantasy football club.  This was before what we now know as fantasy football.   Each week the winners of all the games would be picked and there was a weekly winner and a seasonal total.  Alan Bull maintained records as he was a nerd beyond what you could qualify nerdiness.  I was later admitted as were Steve Knapp and Mark Weiner.  There were two meetings a year I believe.  Each member was required to bring a six pack of their own.  However, one rule could not be broken.  No Light beer of any brand.

About 1975 or 1976 our agency in Dallas was awarded a production contest with Clark & Co (an MGA in Arlington who marketed auto insurance) and it was a four or five day trip to Acapulco, and I invited Mike.   We checked into the massive high rise hotel and then, hungry, headed out to find food.   We were apprehensive about water/food issues, so we had the cab driver scour for us until we found a diner-kips like stainless steel clean ass looking restaurant and we headed in.   I think I had blt and fries and Mike had something similar.  That was it for us.  I don’t think I went to the crapper for 10 days…Mike was in some kinda funk and kept it and his digestive problems to himself…We did many a funny visit to La Huerta, enough said.

The females who may read this meme will know about this different than i.  Mike was the most flirty guy who walked the earth.   He had a way of talking to women which was beyond any communicating method I have ever been sensitive enough to use.   My shyness to women and his electric  female engaging methods could be better attested by them than me.   Welcome comments accepted girls.

Speaking of girls, one feature of the West household was Becky West’s (Mike’s mom) collection of dolls.  Apparently, having three sons and a husband did not satisfy.  She hit the thrift stores, the garage sales, and toy shops acquiring a collection of dolls (and clothes) which filled their 3500 sq foot house.   Some of the collection was so valuable, she was able to raise multiple thousands for her and her husband to head of on their European vacation.   Of course Mike’s “special” girl friends were treated to the collection over time, I am sure.

Here in Houston in the 80’s, while Mike was with us at AA USA, he also covered the door for a music venue, The Ale House.   Most of my nightly stuff was darts till 10 to 11 or so, then a curious ride home.  Since Mike covered the Ale House door, he was a latenight person and knew a huge population of music lovers who frequented the scene off Kirby and Alabama.   Mike Holliday owned the place and Steve Knapp worked the bar for a couple of years…Angel and Marion were right there in the scene as Angela managed.   I wish I had their funny stories here… The Natives were a band who played.

I spoke with Rusty Shields last night (1 27 2021,) and Mike has been unconscious for 4 days or so.   It will not be long.  I am guessing he won’t get to read this.   Always too late on these types of things.

Rusty commented on how Mike and he appreciated me bugging them to death to get over to our 50^th high school reunion.  Mike had just had skin cancer surgery on face, neck, and ears and felt quite unsightly, but he did get to re connect with a lot of RHS’ers.   One story of note I remember is there was a fullsize yellow poster of the Texas International Pop festival on display in the lobby.   Mike stopped and viewed it in respectful wonder.   It was brought by Susan Melton (Harper) and she and Mike had a conversation.   As the evening ended, she insisted Mike take the poster home.   To both myself and Mike it was quite a touching moment at the end of a pretty good reunion.   A small gesture, but in retrospect now, quite moving.

Marty Fulton

.... Before you get all excited about electric vehicles, watch the first 3 minutes of this video.

It's good 'ole Scotty Kilmer reminding you how the gov't operates.....

I’m Going to Speak My Mind About Joe Biden Even if I Get Banned - YouTube

Wayne Gary

Here's Johnny Mathis rendition.  He sings the words.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Lance,

Your posts above are lovely!

I'm hoping to visit Paris and other wonderful cities in 2022, when Charles and I will be celebrating our 50th, even though our 50th will actually come in February 2023.  We hope to go in the late spring; possibly mid-May.

The architecture of Europe is just amazing, and the history is fascinating.  I've been wanting to "travel the continent," for the longest time.  I'm hoping the pandemic mess will be pretty much gone, with God's healing grace to help us all once again.
 

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Have been listening to one of my favorite radio programs once again this early afternoon, and have gotten a punch in the stomach, once again, just like I did when I realized on November 4th and 5th that our future in this country was basically over. 

Today it is confimed, as I had been convinced that it would be in time, that our country really is now a one party system, that Washington DC will become a state, and that our Supreme Court will soon be packed.  The reality that the Progressive Fascists have achieved their ultimate goal is so sad for me.  Actually, I am more than sad.  I don't think I have the words to express my sorrow, as I see all the pictures around my house of happy days, happy memories.

I continue to pray to my Father for guidance and strength for whatever is about to come, knowing that our country will not be as I had hoped it would be, and as our Founding Fathers had hoped and had designed.  Those brilliant men never envisioned how evilness would overtake us, as they assumed that we would not turn away from God.  They thought we would be stronger and smarter.

How frail we are!

David Cordell

Lowell, Mike is lucky to have you as a friend. I sent him an email a few days ago after you mentined him, but he probably never saw it. Makes me sad. Yes, it was a thoughtful gesture on the part of Susan Melton Harden. She is a very nice person, and looked great at the Reunion.

Janalu, seems to me that liberal politicians used to be just wrong. Now they are power-crazed, mean-spirited, and wrong. I refuse to use the term progressive. Progress means moving forward, not moving leftward. 

Marty, I watched part of the video you posted. One thing that I never thought about -- electric car owners don't pay the gas tax that is used to build and maintain roads. Freeloaders!

Lance, I always liked Johnny Mathis. Greatest HIts album was excellent. Twelfth of Never, Chances Are, Wonderful Wonderful, It's Not for Me to Say. Great 8th-grade-dance-and-make-out-party album. Saw him in concert at the Myerson several years ago when he had just turned 80. Sounded very good, but blew the lyrics in two songs. Side note - he was born in Gilmer, Texas, as was The Eagles' Don Henley. 

About Begin the Beguine, my wife has on many occasions commented on the quality of Porter's lyrics and the fact that he wrote the words and the music. I've seen two movies on his life: De-Lovely with Kevin Kline and Night and Day with Cary Grant.

David Cordell

About the so-called green new deal, I found this site to be very interesting. The US (# 87) is listed as surpassing WHO goals for air quality and is considerably better than the vast majority of the the industrialized world. So, let's up-end the economy, put people out of jobs, and scrap energy independence! Good plan!!!

https://www.iqair.com/us/world-most-polluted-countries

Oh, and the same site shows the most polluted cities. Take a look and see if you notice a geographical theme. Can you say, "Asia"? Must be the fault of the Keystone Pipeline. (NOT!)

https://www.iqair.com/us/world-most-polluted-cities

What happened to "follow the science"? Seems to me that the US is doing pretty damn well.

Here's a particularly interesting tidbit from the site. Houston - energy and refinery capital of the universe - has better air quality than Switzerland. Look it up.