Green Line to the State Fair

From 2009 10 State Fair

It was Fair Day for the Richardson ISD and that means a day off to enjoy the State Fair of Texas. Ellen and I took the newly opened DART Green Line. It was hassle free. No traffic jams. No long walks from remote parking. No risk of having our car towed if we chose the wrong private lot. At the Fair, Ellen was interested in trying the new treat fried butter, which somehow we never got around to trying. ;-) We did split a funnel cake. Other than that, it was just a leisurely stroll through the park, seeing the prize steer, sheep, goat and pig, seeing all the prize arts and crafts, seeing but not riding or playing the Midway rides and games, a quick walk through the automobile building futilely looking for a Chevy with a joystick instead of a steering wheel ("That's not in the GM lineup") then, at the end, serendipitously following the US Marine Corps Band to the parade grounds for their concert. Then, it was back to the DART Green Line for a ride to the West End and dinner, then a ride on the DART Red Line back to Richardson. Another successful Fair Day!

To see all of our photos, look here.

Michael Crabtree's Unemployment Check

ESPN GameDay sign

OK, this one will take a bit of explanation. Bear with me. First, who is Michael Crabtree? According to Wikipedia (which, at the risk of making myself the target of derision, I still say is the single best source of information on the Internet), "Michael Crabtree is an American football wide receiver who was selected by the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was drafted by the 49ers with the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, but currently remains unsigned by the team." OK, that explains why Michael Crabtree might be receiving an unemployment check from the Governator. After the jump, let's bring the story a little closer to home.

Cottonwood Art Festival: Rain 1, Art 0

From 2009 Family

Saturday morning was sunny and pleasant, a perfect day for Ellen and me to go to the Cottonwood Art Festival with Walt and Ruth. By 2:30 PM, the time we got around to going, the clouds had moved in. By 3:00 PM, minutes after we arrived at the park and were strolling among the booths, the rain sprinkles began. No umbrella. One wheelchair. A walk of several blocks back to the car. Luckily it was a sprinkle, not a downpour, making the whole outing an adventure, not a disaster. All in all, a good time was had by all.

After the jump, a few photos I managed to snap off before the rains came, and then a final word about parking

Homecoming: Berkner 32, Creekview 0

From 2009 Football

It was a perfect night for homecoming football. Clear skies. Comfortable temperatures. Berkner favored to win. The team struggled a bit on offense with penalties and an inability to get the triple-option play working, but with the defense shutting down Creekview all it took was a few big plays for Berkner to win this one. The team's #10 ranking in the DFW area is secure for another week. Next week's game against Lake Highlands will test this team.

The Mighty Ram Band performed most of their competition program at halftime. It looks like it's shaping up to be a winner. Wish the band luck at next Saturday's BOA competition at UT-Arlington. Go Berkner!

Check out our photo albums for a look at all the action, and not just in the game. After all, without the band, it's just a game!

Chicago 2016. No, Rio!

From 200905 Chicago

"Hog Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler; Stormy, husky, brawling, City of the Big Shoulders"

Dallas Skyline 42, Lake Highlands 27

From 2009 Football

By the time you finish reading this article, a question is likely to occur to you. So let's get it out of the way up front. What are Ellen and I doing still attending high school football games years after Scott and John graduated from high school? Well, you might as well ask why 105,000 people attended the Dallas Cowboys' game, when no more than a few ever knew anyone who worked in the NFL. High school football is great entertainment, with the game, the bands and color guards, the drill team and cheerleaders, all for just $6 per ticket. Compare with the $160 average ticket price of a Cowboys' game and the choice is clear. Friday night lights for me.

The next question that might occur to you is why are Ellen and I going to a game that doesn't involve the Berkner Rams? Well, the Rams played Thursday night away. This Friday night, the game to see involved Lake Highlands and Dallas Skyline.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Pres..., err, Walt and Ruth

Appletree Court celebrates Family Night once a month with dinner and live entertainment. September's theme was a '50s Party with hamburgers and Cokes and Marilyn Monroe. Ruth and Walt have birthdays Friday and Sunday, so Marilyn serenaded both with a sultry "Happy Birthday, Mr. President." Judging by that big red smacker on Walt's forehead, I'd say a good time was had by all.

Myers and Briggs Have Been Spying On Me

There's an old joke in which a man is asked if he believes in astrology and he answers, "No way. We Scorpios are very skeptical." Well, I take the same attitude to psychological profiling. Myers-Briggs, for example. Rod Dreher recommended it in The Dallas Morning News. So, naturally, I just had to debunk it.

Fresh Shoots in Telecom Corridor

Ten years ago, Richardson's economy was thriving thanks to a booming tech economy and the concentration of telecom and networking giants in Richardson. With Nortel, Alcatel, MCI, AT&T, Cisco and others having a significant presence in Richardson, the Chamber of Commerce even coined the term Telecom Corridor to promote Richardson. That was then. Then the bubble burst. News out of Richardson for the last decade has been more likely to be announcement of layoffs or bankruptcy than good news. In an effort to diversify, Richardson attracted Countrywide Financial to fill office space in the decimated Telecom Corridor. Yes, Countrywide, the nation's No. 1 mortgage lender came to Richardson just in time for the housing bubble collapse. The city couldn't catch a break.

Still Fighting the Civil War

Somewhere in my formal education I learned, or thought I did, that the question of whether states can secede from the Union had been settled once and for all by the Civil War. Now living in Texas, I realize that many Texans don't think it's as settled a question as I once thought. Even Texas Governor Rick Perry hinted that secession is not out of the question. At an Austin "Tea Party" in April, Perry said:

"When we came in the Union in 1845, one of the issues was that we would be able to leave if we decided to do that. My hope is that America and Washington in particular pays attention. We’ve got a great union. There’s absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we’re a pretty independent lot to boot."