Texas Tidbits: A Texas Viking and War Hero

Go Vikings! 

Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas (Class of '75!) was named after one of the most celebrated Naval Officers in the history of the United States Navy. Born in Fredericksburg, Texas, February 24, 1885, Chester William Nimitz was the bouncing baby boy of Anna (Henke) Nimitz and Chester B. Nimitz, who died before his hero-to-be son was born. It was young Chester's grandfather, himself a retired sea captain, who instilled the virtues and character in Nimitz that would serve him, and our country, so well later in life. At the Offical US Navy website we learn that young Chester "had his sights set on an Army career and while a student at Tivy High School, Kerrville, Texas, he tried for an appointment to West Point. When none was available, he took a competitive examination for Annapolis and was selected and appointed from the Twelfth Congressional District of Texas in 1901. He left high school to enter the Naval Academy Class of 1905. It was many years later, after he had become a Fleet Admiral that he actually was awarded his high school diploma. At the Academy Nimitz was an excellent student, especially in mathematics and graduated with distinction -- seventh in a class of 114". Admiral Nimitz's rise through the ranks of the Navy ultimately led him aboard the USS Missouri, where on September 2, 1945, on behalf of the United States of America, he signed the document that was the unconditional surrender of the Japanese, ending World War II. There's so much more to this man's story that I'd love to tell, but time and space won't allow me to do so. I urge you to click on the links in the post and read more about this true American Hero who was The Greatest of the Greatest Generation.

Texas Tidbits: An Almost Clean Getaway!

Ted?

We've made it to another Humpday and that can mean only one thing! I have no idea what that "one thing" is, but Humpday always means "one thing". Or so I am told. You figure it out and let me know, will ya? I would like to dedicate this post to my friends in Tyler. It sounds just like something one of you would do, especially Ted. Ted is a madman. But he is our madman. I immediately thought of my buddy Ted when I saw this article about a guy practicing his God-given right to break into someone else's home while they are away. An alert neighbor called the heat when he witnessed a man, let's call him "Ted", kick in the front door to his neighbor's house. It couldn't have been the neighbor kicking in his own door while on his weekly tequila-a-thon, the neighbor was having his weekly tequila-a-thon somewhere else and wasn't at home. Besides, it was 3:30AM when this took place so the tequila-a-thon guy would have been passed out by now. Therefore, the alert neighbor knew something was rotten in Denmark. A few minutes later the fuzz arrived, cautiously entered the residence in question, Clint Eastwood cop guns at the ready and quickly spotted the intruder....in the bathtub! I now know that the bad guy isn't my friend Ted because Ted doesn't bathe. But I digress. Let's see, where was I...oh,yeah, the cops enter the house and find the burglar in the bath tub. I've heard of making a clean get away, but gee-moe-netti! The bad guy has to be from Oklahoma or something. Texas burglars are way too smart to get caught because they wanted to take a bath, passed out dead ass drunk maybe, but never to take a damn bath. Needless to say, the suspect was arrested and is now a guest of the Smith County Sheriff's Department, where he gets only one bath per week and is very careful to maintain a tight grip on the soap.

Texas Tidbits: The Birds! UPDATED w/ Video!

Mockingbird - State Bird of Texas

I wanted to do something a little different today on Texas Tidbits, something I'd like to do more of, and that is to put out there for all to see and discover the abundant wildlife found in Texas. From hunting and fishing to birding and observing wild animals in their natural habitat. Texas is one of the premier destinations in the world for all those activities, with its nearly 270,000 square miles of God's handiwork acting as home to thousands of species of all things wild.

I want to focus today on birding. Texas is one of the must-be places for birders from around the globe eager to spot one of over 500 species of our fine feathered friends waiting to be seen and photographed. As I type out these posts for you each day, I love to look out the back windows of the living room and watch for the next species of bird to land on the bird feeder I have hanging outside. This time of year in Maine, we are limited to chickadees (the State Bird), blue jays, dove and sparrows, but the spring and summer bring dozens of bird types to us. Back when I lived on the outskirts of Tyler, I had several bird feeders set up plus I had a very wide driveway, where each morning I would toss out handfuls of bird seed and watch the parade of feathers come and go. There were literally hundreds of birds that visited me daily, not including the birds migrating through. One morning, I counted 88 dove and 67 cardinals on my feeders and in my driveway - all at the same time! It was amazing! A veritable carpet of gray and red. My knowledge of bird identification is severely limited, so I kept a notebook and jotted down descriptions of any new birds that stopped by. I think I stopped at around 40. Not too bad, considering all that bird activity took place in my driveway and front yard.

Now as far as finding a great place to do some birding in your area of Texas, look no further than the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. The page is loaded with links to all kinds of information about where and when to get some optimal bird watching in. The World Birding Center is a network of nine locations in South Texas where you can experience an outstanding trip into the world of laying your peepers on the peepers.

The Great Texas Birding Classic is an annual event that brings together birders from all over the world to compete in a week long team birding event all along the Gulf Coast during the unbelieveable spring migration in that area, in which the teams identify as many species of birds as possible during the event. The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory is another outstanding resource to assist you in your birding endeavors. If you prefer a more local/hometown approach to birding, my main man Bob at Texas Tweeties has a list of over 200 indentified bird species and photographs of many of those birds in the archives of his blog.

I know that I have left you with many options in your pursuit of the legendary and elusive yellow belly sap sucker (thanks, Miss Jane!), so take your time and soak up all the information that you want. The birds will be there. And they'll be waiting for you.

UPDATE w/ Video: I found a cool birding video on the Texas Monthly website that many of our bird watching readers will enjoy.

Texas Tidbits: The Texas Crab Festival

Krabby Patty In Waiting

It's the time of year for festivals! One event that caught my attention takes place this weekend in Crystal Beach - the 26th Annual Texas Crab Festival! This shindig is loaded with all kinds of stuff to do for every member of your family, including a special gift for the first 300 Moms on Mothers Day, May 8th.

The Crab Festival kicks things off on Friday, May 6 with Opening Ceremonies at 6:00 pm to be followed by one of the greatest competitions in sports today - The Texas Crab Festival Weiner Dog Nationals! There is nothing, and I mean nothing like weenie dogs squaring off in a "Dash for the Cash"- type race. it's frakkin' hilarious. This is worth the price of admission all by itself. After witnessing the Weiner Dog Nationals, everyone should be in a real good mood for some live music to wind up opening night of the Texas Crab Festival.

Saturday the 7th brings the following schedule of events:

10:00 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Festival Opens

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Seaweed

12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Jobe Wilson Band

1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. . . . . . . ………  Three Way Switch

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Stage B) . . . . . Crab Legs Contest

3:00 p.m. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Announcement of Cook-Off Award Winners

3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. . . . . . . ……….. Walt Wilkins

5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Blue Broussard Band

7:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . .  . John Evans

9:45 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . .  Hayes Carll

 FREE Children’s Entertainment all day near Stage B

 

Everything at the 26th Annual Texas Crab Festival comes to a rousing close on Mothers Day with Cajun Music Day!

The full schedule of all the activities at the Crab Festival can be found at the event's website. You still have time to make plans to attend, so get after it and have a safe and fun time in Crystal Beach at the 26th Annual Texas Crab Festival!

 

 

 

 

A Triple Play of Sunday Fun with Apples, Kids and Church Bells

The Apple of My Eye

It's beautiful Sunday morning in New England, the beginning of a brand new month and great time to take another trip across the Fruited Plain. One can't go wrong when taking in the bounty of this awe-inspiring country, so get ready to be aw-inspired.

Maine - I like stories about kids doing something unique and then getting a most unexpected result. This is one of those stories. The children at Adams School in Castine, Maine got quite a surprise when they put a message in a bottle and tossed it into the Atlantic Ocean.

Colorado - One of the most beautiful sounds to my ear is the ringing of the Church bells on a Sunday morning much like today. However, in 1860's Breckenridge, Colorado, it wasn't such a divine sound to local miners - especially after a night of fun, froth and frivolity.

Family Time From Last Fall - This post was written last October when Heather, the girls and I took a drive much on a Sunday like today. A good time was had by all, especially Bailey.

These three posts make for some mighty good Sunday reading and perhaps will inspire you to put a message in a bottle, sing a song of Praise along with nearby Church bells or spend time with your kids or grandkids doing something that will create a memory to be shared, perhaps even repeated, with their children or grandkids in the decades ahead.

Three Places That Make Americans Special

Howdy, y'all! Today we are going to take a trip through the Three States Plus One archives and pick out some posts about some extraordinary places in this wonderful country. The locations I picked are so full of history that it would be easy to write a set of encyclopedias on each one. Please take time to read each post because it will remind you of what you already know or teach you something new about how these States were so instrumental in the formation of the United States.

Virginia - The Old Dominion holds a special place in American History. Read the post and you'll be astounded at what this one State has contributed to the United States.

Tennessee - It's called the Volunteer State for a reason. I love Tennessee. Enough said.

Colorado - Colorado entered the Union in 1876, thus its nickname "The Centennial State". Located within its borders are some of the most amazing sites that are memorials to a Great People from over 3000 years ago. This post is a tribute to The Ancient Ones.

The three posts above are three of my favorites from the over 500 stories I have written for this blog, and that's saying a lot. Each and every post I write is like a child to me, it's hard to like one more than the other, but in this case, I am comfortable in picking those listed above as special to me. They represent the best of America and have allowed me to re-understand what a blessed place these United States are. i think you'll agree. Enjoy.

Texas Tidbits: One Ranger - An Incomparable Man

Badass Man

Texas history is full of larger-than-life characters, good and bad - Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, Bonnie and Clyde, LBJ, etc. One of the least-known of those Texas Legends is a man man named Joaquin Jackson.

I had heard of Joaquin Jackson before, but a couple of days ago I was reminded of him by my good friend, Bob Zeller. Bob also referred me to a book that Jackson wrote and he (Bob) highly recommended it. By now, no doubt you are asking yourself, "Who the hell is Joaquin Jackson?"

Joaquin Jackson is one of the most legendary Texas Rangers in the storied history of that law enforcement agency. Wikipedia tells us, "Joaquin Jackson was the Ranger who responded when riots threatened, violence erupted, and criminals needed to be brought to justice across a wide swath of the Texas-Mexico border from 1966 to 1993." The article continues, "He followed legendary Ranger Captain Alfred Y. Allee Sr. into a shootout at the Carrizo Springs jail that ended a prison revolt—and left him with nightmares. He captured "The See More Kid," an elusive horse thief and burglar who left clean dishes and swept floors in the houses he robbed. He investigated the 1988 shootings in Big Bend's Colorado Canyon and tried to understand the motives of the Mexican teenagers who terrorized three river rafters and killed one. He even helped train Afghan mujahedin warriors to fight the Soviet Union." These accomplishments alone would be defining moments in almost any lawman's career, but we are not talking about any lawman here. We are talking about a Texas Ranger Legend, so you know there are more fascinating adventures to learn about. That's where Joaquin Jackson's books come in.

Ranger Jackson's book that Bob Zeller told me about is called One Ranger followed up by One Ranger Returns. According to the reviews I seen, these two works are riveting not just because of superior writing, but because the stories are something straight out of Hollywood...but they are true. I have got to order these books!

I wish I had more space to dedicate to this extraordinary man, but I will leave you with more about his remarkable journey with an interview from the July, 2002 issue of Texas Monthly. It's amazing reading, so give it a look. You can thank me later. :)

Now you know who Joaquin Jackson is.