tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68789866964954150382024-03-05T22:19:24.343-08:00Texas StrangerThis blog will usually deal with Texas and Western themes at times I'll dabble in politics and religion.texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-11086994201402476782010-10-24T18:08:00.000-07:002010-10-24T19:13:26.928-07:00Red Steagalls cowboy gathering<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZ6oeI6DMZKvlv8c-uEloDd58IkGUVtkXcbWHVKXKPR8moNVJkyRShpkivy75RQp_y3moi7qvpRJ64PPcbreR4sBVX0OtRCoD_hLOAaGmhpDpYECIbm19QVd3Fc4UJwkKe8aOH4E8XWbf/s1600/Red_Steagall_360%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 256px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531799476478991586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZ6oeI6DMZKvlv8c-uEloDd58IkGUVtkXcbWHVKXKPR8moNVJkyRShpkivy75RQp_y3moi7qvpRJ64PPcbreR4sBVX0OtRCoD_hLOAaGmhpDpYECIbm19QVd3Fc4UJwkKe8aOH4E8XWbf/s320/Red_Steagall_360%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a> Well I haven't written in quite a while but I have a real good reason for a new post. For the last few years I have been wanting to attend the <a href="http://www.redsteagall.com/">Red Steagall</a> cowboy gathering and western swing festival. We finally made it this year even though it was a flying trip to cowtown and back. If you love the old west you really owe it to yourself to attend this cowboy paradise.<br /><div>Upon arriving at the stockyards I quickly realized that a trip to this historical part of Texas was worth it in it's own right but Red's festival made it so much more. The only thing that didn't cooperate was the weather, it rained, I mean rained! If you've ever wondered what the expression "cow peeing on a flat rock" means you should have been in Ft. Worth with us. In true cowboy spirit we didn't let the rain dampen our spirits, there was just too much cool, make that "cowboy cool", stuff to see and do. </div><br /><div>The hard rain didn't last but it did shower off and on all day but that's ok I'll take that over a 105 degree heat wave any day. We were able to get in everything we wanted to do in that one day. We did some tourist shopping, ate some great buffalo burgers and took in some fascinating cowboy museums. We also spent a big part of the day talking to the chuckwagon cooks. My mom and dad taught me how to cook in dutch ovens years ago and my dad and I have talked about getting the money together and getting our own wagon someday so we can participate in these little get togethers. </div><br /><div>The highlight of the day had to be the poetry and music. There was a full line up of great western musicians we couldn't possibly get it all in and see all the other sites too so we picked and chose who we wanted to see. We started off with <a href="http://www.jeanprescott.com/">Jean Prescott</a> she is a female western singer. I guess you could just call her a cowgirl singer. She was really cool, it makes you think about that really cool aunt that you enjoyed hanging around when you were a kid. I think my mom really became a fan because not only does she have a great sense of humor she also touches a chord with women who live the rural life out in the country. I also read that she lives south of Abilene so I guess we may almost be neighbors. Later in the afternoon we got to see the man himself, Mr. Red Steagall in the flesh. He and his bunkhouse boys performed in an auction arena with a packed house, well as many as you can pack into an old auction barn. </div><br /><div>Mr. Steagall is one of my all time favorites. I am such a huge fan because he has mastered the two styles of music I love most, cowboy and western swing. Saturday I learned that he is also a master storyteller that really knows how to work a crowd. He had everyone in the barn bustin' a gut at his stories and poems. He also mixed in a few great cowboy songs to go with the stories. </div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZSCEoZFHTheysRlAglZyOMvBtIwshB-ZcWouwH6yr_Ql4tgUx-grovwnHVs_vt9g1BOVDYz3chduSlnvxRoHuwXskMrmdLgEG4AsWh6i9U1FpUM3FEmyWlbA4yqp3HY-Xpayx0swtbXk/s1600/edwards%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 220px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531799967701380274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZSCEoZFHTheysRlAglZyOMvBtIwshB-ZcWouwH6yr_Ql4tgUx-grovwnHVs_vt9g1BOVDYz3chduSlnvxRoHuwXskMrmdLgEG4AsWh6i9U1FpUM3FEmyWlbA4yqp3HY-Xpayx0swtbXk/s320/edwards%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>As soon as Red was done we hurried across the street to catch the end of another one of my favorite cowboy singers Mr. <a href="http://www.donedwardsmusic.com/">Don Edwards</a>. Don is one of those guys who could sing the phone book and make it sound great! He could have been a star in any genre of music luckily for guys like me he likes to sing about punchers and cattle. I knew he had a great voice but you have to see him live. His voice is phenomenal! He had the crowd enthralled, they were eating out of his hand. This man is a true talent and American treasure. </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>After we finished Don's show we decided to do a little more shopping, Paw-Paw decided he needed a new vest. While we were doing that my daughter Mariana finally got up the nerve to go over to Red and ask for a picture. She had been nagging me all day to go over and talk to him but I know how busy these guys are and how many people must be bothering them so I have always hated to ask. She wasn't hearing that so she finally asked herself. Then Mr. Steagall, being the true cowboy gentleman he is graciously agreed to pose for a couple with Mariana and my other daughter Mia. He stopped and talked to all of us for a second. He reassured me his tv show on <a href="http://www.rfdtv.com/">RFD TV</a> has not been cancelled and told me the story of where the Coleman County Cowboy band came from. Come ask me about it some day and I'll pass the story on to you.</div><br /><div>So once again if you've never been to the stockyards for his festival you really owe it to yourself. It really makes you proud to be a Texan but it is much bigger than that it just re-enforces everything that we know and love about the west. From cowboys to plowboys, farmers, ranchers, hunters, fishermen, campers and anyone else who loves the great outdoors will truly have a great time hangin' round with Red and the boys.</div><br /><br /><div></div><div>God and Texas,</div><div>Jason Watson</div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-34378711397298627772009-10-14T15:22:00.000-07:002009-10-14T15:27:04.172-07:00Life LessonsI usually don't post emails I get but I liked this one. I have always liked listening to the seasoned citizens because wisdom can only come from experience.<br /><br /><em>Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The PlainDealer, Cleveland, Ohio "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45lessons life taught me.. It is the most-requested columnI've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August,so here is the column once more:</em> <br /><br /> 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. <br /><br /> 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. <br /><br />3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...<br /> <br />4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. <br /><br />5. Pay off your credit cards every month. <br /> <br />6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree todisagree. <br /><br />7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than cryingalone. <br /> <br />8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. <br /><br />9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. <br /><br /> 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. <br /><br /> 11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up thepresent. <br /><br />12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. <br /><br />13. Don't compare your life to others. You have noidea what their journey is all about. <br /> <br />14. If a relationship has to be a secret, youshouldn't be in it. <br /><br />15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. Butdon't worry; God never blinks. <br /> <br /> 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. <br /> <br />17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautifulor joyful. <br /><br />18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make youstronger. <br /> <br />19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. Butthe second one is up to you and no one else. <br /><br />20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. <br /> <br />21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear thefancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special. <br /><br />22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. <br /><br />23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wearpurple. <br /><br />24. The most important sex organ is the brain. <br /><br />25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. <br /> <br />26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:'In five years, will this matter?' <br /><br />27. Always choose life. <br /><br />28. Forgive everyone everything. <br /><br />29. What other people think of you is none of yourbusiness. <br /><br />30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. <br /> <br />31. However good or bad a situation is, it willchange. <br /><br />32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one elsedoes. <br /> <br />33. Believe in miracles. <br /><br />34. God loves you because of who God is, not becauseof anything you did or didn't do. <br /><br />35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of itnow. <br /><br />36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young. <br /><br />37. Your children get only one childhood. <br /> <br />38. All that truly matters in the end is that youloved. <br /><br />39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waitingeverywhere. <br /> <br />40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saweveryone else's, we'd grab ours back. <br /><br />41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all youneed. <br /> <br />42. The best is yet to come. <br /><br />43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and showup. <br /><br /> 44. Yield. <br /><br />45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still agift."<br /><br />God and Texas,<br />Jason Watsontexasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-36092549600175328842009-10-05T19:51:00.000-07:002009-10-05T19:52:50.240-07:00Coleman Christian Community FellowshipThank goodness you don't have to be a great athlete to be saved! That would be the consensus answer from the First Baptist "Chosen", the Sacred Heart "Repenters" and Concho Baptist "Saints" <br /><br />For those of you that haven't heard, local Coleman Christians have gotten together and formed the "Coleman Christian Community Fellowship". We recently began playing volleyball together in September. We will play again on October 11th and 25th. If your church is interested in joining all you need to do is discuss it with your pastor and congregation then put a team together and choose a name, that's it! If you are interested in playing but cant get an entire team together we still encourage you to come out and fellowship with us, Elm Street Church of Christ and Central Baptist church are in similar situations so dont let that stop you. We welcome all denominations in Coleman, if Christ is your savior you are qualified to come. If you don't know Christ, this is a good place to start.<br /><br />If you have questions about joining you can contact First Baptist Church at 325-625-3559 or via their website at <a href="http://www.fbccoleman.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.fbccoleman.com/</a> or you can email me at <a rel="nofollow">jasonwwatson1@gmail.com</a> . We meet every other Sunday from 3-5 pm at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center (the large red brick bldg. behind FBC). Each church takes turns being the "host" church. The host opens with prayer and maybe a short scripture reading and they also provide refreshments for everyone, usually chips, salsa, cookies and drinks. <br /><br />In order to put everyones mind at ease our one major ground rule was there will be no proselytizing or "sheep stealing"! This organization is not intended to tell anyone else they are wrong and it is not intended to replace your weekly worship service. Our divisions are man made, but we are united in Christ.<br /><br />Other than the proselytizing, the other basic rules are as follows; you must be a regular member of your church, if you know a person wants to play but they have not been attending church then by all means do what you can to bring them back into the body of Christ. All players need to be at least 14 years old, it is co-ed. The entire family is welcome to come there is a game room with ping pong and Foosball tables and cartoons for the younger kids. Even if you don't want to play you can always come out and have a big laugh at the expense of some frustrated athletes!<br /><br />After we finish volleyball this fall our plan is to have basketball games this winter and hopefully softball in the spring. Our prayer is that we can build an organization here in Coleman that collectively promotes the gospel and does our small part to expand the kingdom of God not only by playing sports but also beginning to have community projects and standing together on the issues that bind us all.<br /><br /><em>Ephesians 2: 19-22<br /><br />Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.</em><br /><br />God and Texas,<br />Jason Watsontexasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-66681778942435858362009-09-06T13:24:00.001-07:002009-09-06T14:16:15.697-07:00Cowboy in the White HouseIt is a slight understatement to say that I do not support Democrat policies but what we are seeing now days is beyond anything many of us could have ever imagined. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is a great thing that the country has gotten to a point that we are happily willing to elect a minority president. That is fine, I just wish it wasn't <em>this</em> minority.<br /><br />Barack Obama is beyond Democrat, way beyond, the things he is proposing to do, not to mention what he has already done goes way, way beyond being a liberal Democrat this is flat out hard core socialism. Just to make sure I was using the right word I looked it up in the dictionary and this is the definition I found <em>"Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy."</em> Does this not sound like our current president? This guy is so far out in left field that he makes John F. Kennedy and Harry S. Truman look like conservatives!!<br /><br />I know we shouldn't look back into the past, we should look forward to the next great conservative leader to emerge, but I have to admit, watching Obama makes me long for the good old days. <br /><br />The man I'm talking about was described by liberals as a clueless, idiot cowboy governor from out west. No, It is not George W. Bush. I liked most of Bush's policies but the man I'm referring to is Ronald Wilson Reagan.<br /><br />Reagan represented everything that was great about America and he swore to defend that way of life. It is no coincidence that "cowboy philosophy" and conservatism are so similar. I have included a copy of Gene Autry's Cowboy Code below and I am going to compare that simple code used to teach children to our conservative values.<br /><br /><br />1. <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>Conservatives are not imperialists, we defend our friends and our national interests.</em><br /><em>Conservatives believe in protecting life from conception to natural death.</em><br /><em>Conservatives have always been at the forefront of civil rights, we just don't get any credit for it. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, Dwight Eisenhower desegregated schools, and Republicans in congress passed the civil rights amendment through the house and Senate. LBJ even admitted it would have never passed without Republican support. Democrats like Robert Byrd (still serving) and Al Gore Sr. voted against it.</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>Truthfully there is plenty of blame on both sides of the isle on this one but true conservatives like Reagan honored their word and pledged to make this country better for all citizens.</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">3.He must always tell the truth.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>Once again this is similar to the previous one but the fact is the same a real conservative believes in honesty and integrity. I have no use for Republicans that cheat and lie for their own power and personal pleasures.</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">4.He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>Conservatives believe in traditional families and family values, we oppose abortion and euthanasia. Most conservatives also happen to be farmers, ranchers, hunters, and fishermen. They are the real environmentalists not these nuts at PETA and the Earth Liberation Front.</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">5.He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>I mentioned Abe Lincoln before, the Republican party was founded as an opposition party to slavery. Our founding fathers founded this country on Christian ideas and principles but the beautiful thing about it is we welcome anyone in this country to worship how they please or not to worship at all. We just hate it when they try to take that same right away from us Christians.</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">6.He must help people in distress.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>This is who we are, we are people helping people, this is a basic tenement of Christianity, feed the poor, cloth the naked. We just don't believe in huge bureaucratic gaggles wasting money and keeping people perpetually poor.</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">7.He must be a good worker.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>This is similar to number six. We want people to work and contribute to society, then they can get ahead in life and have more than they ever dreamed of, certainly more than a welfare check would ever provide. Ben Franklin once said "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime."</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">8.He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>This is so basic to living a full happy life. I really can't expand on this one, this is basic conservatism. It is living this way that makes you and the world better.</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">9.He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>Liberals like to corner the market on women but women's lib went from a good idea to a bunch of man-hating nuts. As Christians and conservatives we are taught from a young age that women are to be put on pedestals. They are the caretakers of the family and the world. I heard someone say one time that it was really women who tamed the wild west. They are the ones who made homes, established churches, libraries and brought some class and culture. If it was left up to us men we would have just kept on getting drunk and shooting each other! Conservatives are also the voice of reason on law and order. We are a nation of laws and that is what protects the rights of all people.</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">10.The Cowboy is a patriot.</span></strong><br /><br /><em>Quick, name me a ultra-liberal war hero. Of course you don't have to be a war hero to love this country but when you think of names like George Washington, Alvin York, Audie Murphy, George Patton, Bob Hope, Francis Scott Key, Betsy Ross, Abraham Lincoln, Charlie Daniels, Irving Berlin, Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King, Jon Voight, Rudy Giuliani, Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne you don't really associate them with Moveon.org or the ACLU.</em><br /><br />Cowboys and conservatives go hand in hand and no one epitomised that better on a national political level than Ronald Reagan. He dreamed of a shining city on a hill, right now Obama is making us turn out those lights because of global warming and other crack-pot ideas.<br /><br />God and Texas,<br />Jason Watsontexasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-5716727891003726312009-08-30T12:04:00.000-07:002009-08-30T13:06:33.171-07:00Elmer Kelton<img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 122px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.elmerkelton.net/portrait_small_border.jpg" /><em>“I admired him as an author and citizen of the Concho Valley,” said Rep. Drew Darby. “He will be missed.” Fazlur Rahman said San Angelo has experienced a great loss. “He was a wise man, not only a great writer,” he said. “He had a great life, and brought honor and prestige to our community.” (from </em><a href="http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/aug/27/friends-mourn-elmer-kelton/?partner=RSS"><em>Friends Mourn Elmer Kelton, Brandi Ramirez, GoSanAngelo.com</em></a><em>)</em><br /><br /><p><em></em></p><br /><p></p><br /><br /><a href="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n30/n154265.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 294px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n30/n154265.jpg" /></a><br />That's not too bad for a country boy from West Texas who got his start as the farm and ranch editor of the San Angelo Standard Times and later the Sheep and Goat Raisers magazine and Livestock Weekly. Obviously he was much more than an editor of some small West Texas publications, in many people's eyes he was the greatest western author ever.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://www.benbridges.co.uk/covers/kelton%2024.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 317px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.benbridges.co.uk/covers/kelton%2024.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br />Elmer grew up around Crane, Texas and graduated from Crane High School. After high school he attended the University of Texas and then joined the U.S. Army as an infantryman and saw combat in Europe during WWII. His wife Ann is a native of Austria, they settled in San Angelo and raised a family while he edited papers and wrote novels on the side.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I know Louis L'Amour is the most famous western novelist of all time, and he is great, I am not disputing that. The difference is that Louis' westerns sound more like stories that are ready to be made into Hollywood movies. Elmer's westerns sound more like the stories you would hear about your neighbors while hanging around the feed store or meeting for lunch after church on Sunday. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>The characters are written to be real people with real problems and not sure about the solutions. In Elmer's novels there is no great hero riding in on a big stallion with a white hat and six guns blazing. Maybe that is the reason only one of his novels has been made into a movie. </div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.geocities.com/lonesomedovecall/TGOB/GoodOldBoys.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 313px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 505px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.geocities.com/lonesomedovecall/TGOB/GoodOldBoys.gif" /></a><br /><div>That movie just happens to be my second favorite western of all time. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-Old-Boys-VHS/dp/6303477143">The Good Old Boys</a> is absolutely fantastic. It comes across less like a movie and more like a documentary of people living in West Texas at the turn of last century. The jist of the story is Matt Damon's, Cotton Calloway, character is a farm boy looking to leave the country and help build the future in some big city, Tommy Lee Jones's character, Hewey Calloway, is an old cowboy living in 1906. The cattle drives are gone and barbed wire is strung up everywhere. Cattle are shipped on rail cars, electric power lines and automobiles are springing up everywhere and he knows he is losing the life he loves to progress. In the mean time they both have to figure out how to save Hewey's brother (Cotton's dad's) farm.</div><br /><br /><div>The Good Old Boys is just one of many fantastic tales about regular people in Texas. I have also read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Smiling-Country-Hewey-Calloway/dp/0765360594/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251661065&sr=1-1">The Smiling Country</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bowies-Buckalew-Family-Elmer-Kelton/dp/0765343037/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251661106&sr=1-2">Bowie's Mine</a>, and parts of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Never-Rained-Elmer-Kelton/dp/0765360586/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251661145&sr=1-1">The Time it Never Rained </a>and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Day-Cowboys-Quit-Elmer-Kelton/dp/0765360551/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251661170&sr=1-1">The Day the Cowboys Quit</a>. One of these days I'll get around to finishing all of them.</div><br /><br /><div>There was a line from The Good Old Boys that Tommy Lee Jones said at an old cowboy's funeral. After naming off all the things that he and men like him did in their lifetimes he said <em>"...Well here he is and we all better take a good look at him because they aint makin' no more like 'em!"</em> That goes for Elmer himself and I would add that goes for an entire generation of men and women who grew up in the depression, fought in WWII, raised families in the 1950's and '60's and later spoiled grand kids who are now about my age. If you are a native Texan or just a fan of the <em><strong>real </strong></em>west, you should pick up an Elmer Kelton novel. R.I.P.</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 524px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 501px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.benbridges.co.uk/covers/kelton%202.jpg" />God and Texas,<br /><br /><div>Jason Watson</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-65465586470501530832009-08-23T16:59:00.000-07:002009-08-23T17:21:55.854-07:00Shane<div><a href="http://www.geocities.com/woofboy_movie/pict/shane.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 337px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 255px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.geocities.com/woofboy_movie/pict/shane.jpg" /></a>Last week I posted my top 25 westerns and one movie that was noticeably absent was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046303/">Shane</a>. I have talked to people from time to time about that movie and told them what I really thought about it. I know it is one of the most legendary movies ever made but for me it just didn't cut the mustard. <div><div><br /></div><div>People may ask why, well the simple answer was, I never really liked it. I don’t mean to make anyone mad. I know many people love that western. For me, I don’t know, maybe it was just Alan Ladd himself. I just wasn’t sold on him being a westerner. Authenticity is probably the biggest factor in how well I rate a western. For starters, that hat he had on was right out of 1950’s central casting and those clothes looked like a Davy Crockett starter kit. </div><div><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2653695825_759204dfe6.jpg?v=0"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2653695825_759204dfe6.jpg?v=0" /></a><br /><a href="http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/8/814/8IQI000Z/james-stewart.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 180px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 105px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/8/814/8IQI000Z/james-stewart.jpg" /></a></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 147px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 122px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJGU4MUDY3je18FODgjOMcPTT7UsfxQTnscgG_x5NVryqQSK8_T3xCL4BzryeIl62sX0KczE-xxWVSvZxJOrQ2NwFQeFphWcvPQt2H_QGsJcNHBLSrcYhq23NTLfQF3m-hyusP361xpXP/s320/200px-Nonameonthebullet.jpg" /><br /><div>I think if <a href="http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=james+stewart&x=14&y=10">Jimmy Stewart</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001559/">Audie Murphy</a> or <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000011/">Gary Cooper</a> had played that part I would like it a lot better. Come to think of it 'Coop would have been great in that role! I will say this for it though, it had Ben Johnson in it which automatically makes any western better. Jack Palance and Edgar Buchanan were also nice western touches.</div><br /><div>The first hour of the movie just seemed to drag on and on and on. I know they were trying to build the story line but that thing could have put insomniacs to sleep. It didn’t really pick up until Jack Palance shot that old boy in the street. Gosh, I hate to think that someone had to get killed just to wake me up. Anyway from there the story did seem to pick up a little bit.</div><br /><div>The story does pick up from there. The settlers have decided they have had enough and decide to fight back against the cattle barons. Shane has tried to start a new life but he realizes he can run from who he is. It’s like Popeye used to say “I yam what I yam”. The movie does have a pretty climactic ending with the obligatory shootout and Shane rides off in the moonlight.</div><br /><div>If any of you have ever seen the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120768/">“The Negotiator</a>” with Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey they actually discuss this movie. They are arguing whether or not Shane died at the end. Sam Jackson said he lived. Spacey says no he died. After watching the movie; I think I have to agree with Sam I don’t think Shane was dead, just winged a little bit. </div><br /><div>Anyway, for what it is worth this is my explanation for Shane. I think it was a great story, it was an ok movie. I recommend <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045883/">Hondo</a> over Shane any day. They are not the same movie but there are a lot of similarities in both of them </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 421px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.veramarnavalproducts.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/west005_1954_hondo.gif" /><br /><div></div><br /><div>God and Texas,</div><br /><div>Jason Watson</div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-49401706135883433732009-08-16T13:13:00.000-07:002009-08-16T16:04:03.406-07:00Top 25 WesternsEverybody loves a top 25 list because it gives everyone something to argue about. This one should be no exception. If you love westerns the way I do this can keep you arguing for days. One thing I have learned in this cowboy endeavor is that I definitely need a top 50 list so I guess I'll have to post that one in the future. I hope you enjoy.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/lonesome%20dove.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 149px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/lonesome%20dove.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>1.Lonesome Dove</strong> </div><br /><div>This is the best, hands down, Robert Duval and Tommy Lee Jones look and sound exactly like old time Texans. The most authentic western ever made. If you could time travel and watch real old timers this is pretty much what it would look like. Except for Gus's hat, That "Tom Mix" style didn't come out for about another 20 years.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFme6aqF53MQ4cErA5dbWyt5QxzFN_wFz68J0bWcMIj0yXk67FEuagRp3hAnBBItls6q9RsnWhebXQndWD4cEtWVHWqzTOlsPvJqGD53s-hBBnR4cH2lSQJHj2FhVN8xLjeKjZeyc6JbOJ/s320/Good+Old+Boys.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 201px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFme6aqF53MQ4cErA5dbWyt5QxzFN_wFz68J0bWcMIj0yXk67FEuagRp3hAnBBItls6q9RsnWhebXQndWD4cEtWVHWqzTOlsPvJqGD53s-hBBnR4cH2lSQJHj2FhVN8xLjeKjZeyc6JbOJ/s320/Good+Old+Boys.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>2. Good Old Boys</strong></div><br /><div><br />This is not one of the more popular westerns but it is really as good as it gets. Just like Lonesome Dove it is painstakingly authentic. Tommy Lee Jones delivers another truly authentic cowboy performance. It doesn't hurt using one of Elmer Kelton's novels either. If you're from around San Angelo and west Texas you can really relate to this one.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/barbarosa.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 198px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/barbarosa.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>3. Barbarosa</strong></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Willie Nelson's best performance. Very funny and poignant great storytelling. Represents everything Texas is known for, German immigrants, outlaws, Mexicans etc. etc. Also one of Gary Busey's early performances before he became a total psycho and born again Christian.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/rio%20bravo.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 191px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/rio%20bravo.jpg" /></a><strong>4. Rio Bravo</strong></div><div><br /></div><div>The Duke is the man! He is by far the most represented man on this list. This movie was made in response to High Noon because Duke felt like no self-respecting law man would go around town begging for help. Two more of my favorite people in here too. Dean Martin and Walter Brennan almost steal the movie from Duke.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/tombstone.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 188px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/tombstone.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>5. Tombstone</strong></div><div><br /></div><div>Great Story, again it looks authentic, which is the key with me to a great western. Kurt Russell has always been underrated. This is his best performance. Powers Boothe, Stephen Lang, Harey Carey Jr. and Buck Taylor are great in support.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/the%20cowboys.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 187px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/the%20cowboys.jpg" /></a><strong>6. The Cowboys</strong></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>If I didn't pick Rio Bravo, I would have put this one as the best Duke movie. Where do you even start with John Wayne? I love this guy, hell I was named after him, at least that's my dad's side of the story. I guess I picked this one just because I love stories about actual "Cowboys". Just because a story took place in the 1800's it doesn't mean they were cowboys<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/sam%20ellioitt.1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 185px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/sam%20ellioitt.1.jpg" /></a><strong>7. Conhager</strong></div><div>If anyone ever looked the part of the American cowboy; it is Sam Elliott. He does not disappoint at all in this adaption of Louis L'amour's novel. Barry Corbin and James Gammon give great performances. Excellent western!<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/shadow%20riders.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 192px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/shadow%20riders.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>8. The Shadow Riders</strong></div><div>Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott are a tough combination to beat. Throw in my favorite character actor; Ben Johnson and you have a winning combination. Louis L'amour really knew how to write a western but it takes guys like Selleck, Elliott, and Johnson to bring it to life.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/sacketts.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 193px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 179px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/sacketts.jpg" /></a></div><div><strong>9. The Sacketts</strong></div><div>Same cast, same author same result. One heck of a western. Tom, Sam and that other brother along with Ben Johnson again. This time it has great western actors like Glenn Ford, Slim Pickens and Jack Elam in it. Don't confuse it with the Shadow Riders they are two totally different movies.<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/sacketts.jpg"></a></div><div><strong><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/undefeated.jpg"></a></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div></div><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/undefeated.jpg"></a></div><div><strong><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/undefeated.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 197px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 155px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/undefeated.jpg" /></a></div></strong></div><div><strong>10. The Undefeated</strong></div><div></div><div>You really have to understand how hard it is for me to pick John Wayne movies. I guess this one is up there <div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/undefeated.jpg"></a></div>because its about cowboys and it also has Ben Johnson in it. Not to mention Harry Carey Jr. and Dub Taylor, all great western actors.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/monte%20walsh.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 196px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/monte%20walsh.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>11. Monte Walsh</strong></div><div>Usually I like originals over remakes but this one is an exception. Lee Marvin and Jack Palance are in the original, and it is good but Tom Selleck and David Carridene knocked this one out of the park!</div><div>The themes of this story are very similar to The Good Old Boys.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/liberty%20valance.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 195px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/liberty%20valance.jpg" /></a> <strong>12. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance</strong></div><div>I love, love, love Jimmy Stewart. Throw him in with John Wayne and you have a cant miss western. Great Story telling. Andy Devine, Lee Marvin and Denver Pyle help make a great cast. They just don't make movies this good anymore.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/how_the_west_was_won_lge.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 193px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/how_the_west_was_won_lge.jpg" /></a><strong>13 How the West Was Won</strong></div><div>This is another type of movie hardly made anymore. An epic about the great westward expansion. It was known as Manifest Destiny. This movie is loaded with stars. Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Henry Fonda and the list goes on and on.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://www.flixray.com/dvd_covers/200807/93161.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 195px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.flixray.com/dvd_covers/200807/93161.jpg" /></a><strong>14. Centennial</strong></div><div>This is very similar to the movie above it. Get ready though this movie is 27hrs long. It took me over two weeks to watch it all but the story is so good you never get bored. If you have ever seen "Into the West" you'll see where the inspiration came from. This movie starts with mountain men in the 1700's goes through settlers in the 1850's to cowboys in the 1870's to railroads and land grab schemes at the turn of the last century to the dust bowl of the 1930's and finally ends with Andy Griffith trying to solve a mystery in Centennial, Colorado in the 1970's. Great movie, great history lesson.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/mountain%20men.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 196px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/mountain%20men.jpg" /></a><strong>15. The Mountain Men</strong></div><div>This is not the most famous western in the world but everyone should watch it. It really does justice to the mountain man era of the 1820's and '30's. Charlton Heston and Brian Keith play wild crazy mountain men (are there any other kind). Funny movie about a rough way of life.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/dances_with_wolves.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/dances_with_wolves.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>16. Dances With Wolves</strong></div><div>This list is getting harder to do. Now I start arguing with myself about which movie should be ranked higher. Kevin Costner told one of the best stories of the west and it showed another, better side of the Indians. It showed that they were real people not just a backdrop. Other movies have done this too but this one really shed light on it all.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/big%20jake.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 202px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 163px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/big%20jake.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>17. Big Jake</strong></div><div>Big Surprise, another John Wayne movie, this is vintage JW, kicking hind quarters and taking names. A word of advice, don't ever kidnap the Duke's grandson.<br /></div><div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/josey%20wales.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 204px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/josey%20wales.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>18. The Outlaw Josey Wales</strong></div><div>I really like Clint Eastwood too,even though this is his only western in my top 25. I think he has a bunch of really good ones but I always thought this one was great. It is also a great history lesson about what happened after the civil war. The old Indian Chief Dan George steals this movie though!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/jesse%20james.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 203px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/jesse%20james.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>19. Last days of Frank and Jesse James</strong></div><div>There have been a ton of movies about Jesse James and his brother but I think this one is the best. If you love country music you'll love this one. Kris Kristofferson (looks just like J.J.) Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, June Carter Cash, Ed Bruce and David Allan Coe.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/el_dorado.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/el_dorado.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>20. El Dorado</strong></div><div>Howard Hawks (director) made a trilogy of movies that involved being held up in a jail. Rio Bravo was the first, Rio Lobo was the last. This was the middle one. The story is very similar to Rio Bravo but it stands alone as it's own movie. No Dean Martin this time but Robert Mitchum is no slouch himself.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/jeremiah%20johnson.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 201px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 186px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/jeremiah%20johnson.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>21. Jeremiah Johnson</strong></div><div>Most people know this movie more than "The Mountain Men" but I don't think it is quite as good. It is still an excellent western dealing with trapping and hunting in the Rockies during the 1840's. Most mountain men re-enactors consider this one a must own!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/alamo.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/alamo.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>22. The Alamo</strong></div><div>This one counts for John Wayne and Billy Bob Thornton's versions. John's glorifies it and Billy Bob's is meticulous but I'm sure Davy Crockett and Fess Parker would approve of both.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/texas.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 204px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/texas.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>23. Texas</strong></div><div>This is James Michener's second entry on my list (Centennial). This is not really historically accurate, because he builds his own fictional story around the Alamo and San Jacinto but it is very entertaining and well acted. Makes you very proud to be a Texan.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.1watchmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/red-river.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 205px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.1watchmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/red-river.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>24. Red River</strong></div><div>I guess this was the first great "cattle drive" movie. If you like Lonesome Dove you'll like this one. Be prepared though John Wayne is a total @#$ in this one. Walter Brennan is also in it. That is one guy that was made to be a sidekick in western movies.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/rooster%20cogburn.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 202px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/rooster%20cogburn.jpg" /></a><br /><strong>25. Rooster Cogburn</strong></div><div>Some people may look at this one and wonder how I could pick it over True Grit. Well the answer is simple I could not stand that girl in True Grit. I kept waiting for Duke to pull out that Colt and plug her just to shut her up. Then I'm supposed to believe that Glen Campbell is a Texas Ranger <em>and</em> the Duke is from Arkansas!<br />No, TG is a good movie but it is all out of whack for me. This sequel with Katharine Hepburn playing off the Duke was much, much better!<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Well like I said in the beginning. I definitely will have to make a 26-50 list because I am thinking of a lot of western flicks that I love that aren't here. So whenever I get that info together I'll post it and we can argue about those too.</div><div></div><div>God and Texas,</div><div>Jason Watson<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-22690692701145096162009-08-10T15:49:00.000-07:002009-08-10T16:15:03.077-07:00Who we are<em>I wrote this little essay the other night after I left a meeting at First Baptist Church here in Coleman. We are trying to organize a community fellowship by having a short devotional and then sports and snacks. We have invited every chuch in Coleman county. As of right now only First Baptist, Sacred Heart Catholic, Concho Baptist, Central Baptist and maybe Elm St. Church of Christ have shown any interest. Even with that my own priest has started to show some cold feet on the idea. Everyone is so afraid of celebrating what we agree on instead of what separates us. This can be a very good thing for Coleman if we can just get it off the ground. If your church is interested in knowing more about it get in contact with me.</em> <div><div><div><br /><br /><div>We organized this community fellowship to join believers in the presence of the one true living God. For far too long we have allowed ourselves to be separated by a common God. The amazing thing about the Bible is that we can all read the same scripture and, being inferior human beings, we come to different conclusions. </div><br /><div>We each tend to believe that we are on the straight and narrow path to God and that is good, he wants that type of devotion to him. I think from time to time we don’t realize that just because our brothers and sisters in another congregation don’t worship in the same manner, with the same rituals we use they must be missing something, perhaps we know something they don’t.<br />Most reasonable Christians will accept the fact that we are all on our way to the Father we are just taking different roads to get there. Each of us thinks we are on the interstate while our brothers and sisters are taking the back roads.</div><br /><div>As far as the Roman Catholic church is concerned the leadership gathered in 1964 in what is known as Vatican II. Basically the church decided it was time to bridge the gaps with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The following quote is from the opening introduction on this subject “The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council.” For us Catholics this means we have a duty now to reconcile with our fellow believers. This is why we at Sacred Heart are so eager to participate in fellowship with our brothers and sisters. </div><div></div><div>I believe we must focus on what we all believe, we must concentrate on what joins us together. Too often when we want to know about our fellow Christians of another denomination we tend to ask people from our own church instead of actually getting in contact with the leadership of that denomination or with people who are very active in that denomination. It is very easy to come to the conclusion that the other guy is a clueless idiot if you only conferring with people who worship as you do.</div><div></div><div>I think we can all agree that there is ONE true living God. He sent his only son Jesus here to Earth to die for all of our sins and we are saved through his grace. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of those sins. After Jesus died he was buried and rose again after three days. He ascended into Heaven and he is not seated at the right hand of God. The Bible is the absolute word of God. It is infallible and it is not up for compromise. Make no mistake these are the positions of the Catholic church.</div><br /><br /><div>We must all keep in mind that just because we may not understand why our brothers and sisters do things in a different way we must accept that we can all back it up with scripture which brings me back to the topic that we can all read the same Bible and come to different conclusions.</div><br /><div>God is perfect, we are not, Catholics and Protestants both over the generations have had leaders who have abused children, had extra-marital affairs, embezzled money, admitted to homosexual relationships and many other sins. This is where we have fallen short of the glory of God.<br />Some people may think that this fellowship of different Christians will not work because of our own personal prejudices. I believe all things are possible through Christ our Lord!<br /><br /> <br /> <br /><strong>1 Corinthians 1:10-17</strong><br />10 Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.<br />11 For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.<br />12 Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.<br />13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?<br />14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius;<br />15 lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name.<br />16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.<br />17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.<br /> <br />God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV)<br /> <br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Here is a couple of thoughts from Billy Graham and Pat Robertson on the Catholic Church:</span></strong></div><br /><a href="http://proudatheists.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/billy-graham.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 265px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://proudatheists.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/billy-graham.jpg" /></a>(from Larry King Live)<br /><br /><div>"Dr. Billy Graham said that that Pope John Paul II was the most influential voice for morality and peace in the world in the last 100 years.<br />Dr. Graham told Larry King he had the privilege of seeing the Pope on several occasions at the Vatican.<br />"And tonight, I have a very strange feeling of loss. I almost feel as though one of my family members has gone. I loved him very much and had the opportunity of discussing so many things with him. And we wrote each other several times during the years," Dr. Graham said.<br />Larry King asked Dr. Graham: "Did he actually say to you once, "We are brothers' "? <a href="http://vultus.stblogs.org/Pope%20John%20Paul%20II%20In%20Prayer.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 184px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://vultus.stblogs.org/Pope%20John%20Paul%20II%20In%20Prayer.jpg" /></a><br />GRAHAM: That's correct. He certainly did. He held my hand the first time that I met him about 1981 -- he'd just been Pope for two years when I saw him first. Because when he was elevated to the papacy, I was preaching in his cathedral in Krakow that very day. And we had thousands of people in the streets. And watching the television today of Krakow has brought back many memories.<br />KING: You said that he was an Evangelist.<br />GRAHAM: He was, indeed. He traveled throughout the world to bring his Christian message to the world. And we see tonight the outpouring from the world that he touched. And I think he touched almost everybody in the whole world."</div><br /><a href="http://gospelspectrum.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/patrobertson.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 262px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://gospelspectrum.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/patrobertson.jpg" /></a>"I am deeply grieved as a great man passes from this world to his much deserved eternal reward. John Paul II has been the most beloved religious leader of our age – far surpassing in popular admiration the leader of any faith.<br />He has been a man of great warmth, profound understanding, deep spirituality, and indefatigable vigor. It was my great honor to meet with him at the residence of my good friend, Cardinal O’Connor, in New York, and to sit in the Consistory during the mass he conducted in Central Park. I told him at the time how much the American people loved him, and he merely smiled. That love was shared not only in America but by millions all over the globe.<br />He has been a steady bridge in the transition of Eastern Europe from communism to freedom. His personal magnetism brought together all Christians in new bonds of understanding.<br />I pray for the Cardinals of the Catholic Church that they might have God-given wisdom in selecting the successor to this great man. Their task will not be easy, but with God all things are possible."<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Here a couple of statements from the Catholic Church on reconciling with Protestants:</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/pope_benedict_xvi.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 272px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 193px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/pope_benedict_xvi.jpg" /></a>1. VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The importance Pope Benedict XVI places on the search for Christian unity was evident in his decision to focus on ecumenism during a Nov. 23 meeting with members of the College of Cardinals, said two U.S. cardinals. Cardinal William H. Keeler, the retired archbishop of Baltimore who has been involved in ecumenical and interfaith activities for years, said the fact that the pope chose ecumenism as the theme for the meeting shows "that this is a very vital thing for the church worldwide." Cardinal Keeler, who was one of 33 cardinals to speak during the meeting, told Catholic News Service the discussion demonstrated that there are different experiences and levels of ecumenical dialogue. "Different ecumenical forms have evolved in different parts of the world, and the progress in each region is different," he said. "For the pope, ecumenism is not a subject for discussion, but a mandate," German Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the main speaker chosen by the pope to address the meeting, told journalists afterward.<br /><br />2. This movement toward unity is called "ecumenical." Those belong to it who invoke the Triune God and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, doing this not merely as individuals but also as corporate bodies. (from vatican II)<br /><br />3. Even in the beginnings of this one and only Church of God there arose certain rifts,(19) which the Apostle strongly condemned.(20) But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions made their appearance and quite large communities came to be separated from full communion with the Catholic Church-for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame. The children who are born into these Communities and who grow up believing in Christ cannot be accused of the sin involved in the separation, and the Catholic Church embraces upon them as brothers, with respect and affection. For men who believe in Christ and have been truly baptized are in communion with the Catholic Church even though this communion is imperfect. (vatican II)<br /><br /><div>God and Texas,</div><div>Jason Watson</div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-73173289194999188732009-08-03T12:32:00.000-07:002009-08-03T14:01:47.128-07:00Weekend at Christ's<div><a href="http://www.thelostogle.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/jesus-christ-head.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 382px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.thelostogle.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/jesus-christ-head.jpg" /></a>Well I just returned from a weekend spent with God and Jesus. The <a href="http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=495">Catholic church</a> sponsors a retreat known as <a href="http://www.natl-cursillo.org/">Cursillo</a>. It was one of the most powerful things I've ever done in my life. My friend and mentor Carlos Barrios has encouraged me to go for over a year now and I finally see what all the fuss was all about.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div>I spent the weekend in <a href="http://http//www.sanangelodiocese.org/">San Angelo</a>, Texas at the <a href="http://www.sanangelodiocese.org/pages/ministries.php">Christ the King Retreat Center</a>. It is a beautiful little out of the way place on the Concho River just on the outskirts of town. I know not everyone who reads this is Catholic and may question it, but I plan to address all that in some future posts, but for right now take off your denominational hat and put your Christian hat on and stick with me.</div><br /><a href="http://www.cursillo-losangeles.org/index_stored/Cursillo_Cross.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 167px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cursillo-losangeles.org/index_stored/Cursillo_Cross.jpg" /></a>The Cursillo was started in the 1940's in Spain by a man named <a href="http://www.natl-cursillo.org/eduardo/eduardo.pdf">Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló</a>, after they suffered through their great <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_War">civil war</a> and the church was looking for ways to bring people back into the fold. From Spain it spread all over the world and has taken it's current form. It is offered for men and another for women. In this area they are offered in Spanish and English and many other languages around the world.<br /><br /><br /><div>The Cursillo focuses on being in God's presence, reconciling with him, focusing on our strengths, improving our weaknesses and learning how to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WRfpQKnzns">take the Gospel</a> to all the people of the world. It also focuses on support groups to make sure we don't succumb to our old demons and not to get frustrated when we try to share the Gospel with a world that sometimes doesn't care. </div><br /><a href="http://www.geocities.com/rapturechrist/christfeet.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 256px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.geocities.com/rapturechrist/christfeet.jpg" /></a>Two topics really struck me over the weekend. One, to be a great leader you must first be a great servant. The sponsors of this event showed that by treating us like royalty all weekend. Everything from taking our bags at check-in to serving us food to taking away our dishes. They reminded us how Christ <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2013:4-10;&version=9;">washed the feet of his own disciples</a>. Second, they discussed what they called the tripod. Piety, study and action were the three essential things in being a<a href="http://www.marypages.com/VincentdePaul.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 195px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.marypages.com/VincentdePaul.jpg" /></a> Christian and showing it to others. Piety- we must live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God and not doing it just for show, but living that way because we want to. Study- we have to learn God's word. We have to know the Bible and be ready to defend our faith and have answers for the hard questions that will come. Action-we can't just talk a good game, we have to put it into action. We were given a quote from <a href="http://www.vatican.va/spirit/documents/spirit_20010821_vincenzo-paoli_en.html">St. Vincent De Paul</a> "It is not enough to love God if my neighbour does not love Him." Those two things really stuck with me this weekend.<br /><br /><div>For those of you that know me I don't want you to think that I've become some kind of Holy Roller that has lost his mind. I am still me. I was trying to live a good Christian life before I went to the Cursillo. Now I have come back with a better set of tools to work with to be a better father, husband, neighbor, co-worker, friend and patriot. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwzItqYmII">I can only imagine </a>where this will take me from here. If you want to know more about the Cursillo or just getting to know the Lord a little better I would be happy to help out any way I can. I'll talk to you all next week and I'll leave you with the official greeting of the Cursillistas, DE COLORES!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 403px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.cathdal.org/img/Cursillo.htm_txt_Rainbow2.gif" /><br /><div></div><br /></div>P.S. If you haven't ever clicked on my "Live Forever" video by Billy Joe Shaver you should really check it out. It's powerful!<br /><br /><br /><div>God and Texas,</div><div>Jason Watson</div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-18235124400198504262009-07-26T12:51:00.000-07:002009-07-26T13:32:43.186-07:00Where did the west go?This is a re-post of a previous article (March 27, 2006) <div><div><div><div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/the%20cowboys.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 331px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 475px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/the%20cowboys.jpg" /></a>I’ve been looking around, metaphorically speaking that is, for the old west. Has anyone seen it? I sure haven’t; not in the last few years anyway. I’ll give you fair warning right now, don’t tell me Brokeback Mountain, because that’s a sure fire way to get sideways with me! A movie about a couple of rope smokin’ sheep herders is NOT the old west. That is a propaganda film.<br /><br /><br /><div>That reminds me of a joke I heard a while back. St. Peter was walking around in heaven one day when he noticed <a href="http://www.jwayne.com/costars/costars-index.shtml">John Wayne </a>laying on the ground, passed smooth out. “John, John are you all right?” He asked him as he was slapping his face and shaking him. John finally came to and said “Yeah, yeah, Pete, I’m ok.” “Well what happened?” St. Peter asked. John told him “I just saw Brokeback Mountain!!”</div><br /><br /><div>Yeah, that was kind of my reaction too. But I don’t want to spend this whole article on what’s wrong with Hollywood. I want to focus on what used to be right with Hollywood, as well as the real west.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/dad.1.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/dad.1.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/dad.1.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/dad.1.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/dad.1.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/dad.1.jpg"></a></div><br /><div>I really feel I was born about 150 years too late. I’ve had people tell me that I’m crazy. They wonder how you could do without things like TV, computers, cell phones, etc. Yeah, I use those things too, but I would give them up for the chance to saddle a horse and just ride into some wide open land I’d never seen before. You know as far as I’m concerned, the best thing about TVs, radios, and the internet is that those are the things that we modern day wanna be’s use to pretend and recreate the old west. So, why not just live in the real thing instead of trying to recreate it?</div><br /><br /><div>When I say pretend, you have to understand the context that I’m using. There are still plenty of Sho’ Nuff cowboys out there. It’s just that most of these men and women would also tell you they feel like they were born too late.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/dad.2.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/roy%20rogers.jpg"></a></div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/roy%20rogers.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 97px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/roy%20rogers.jpg" /></a>I don’t really know what has happened to Hollywood, other than their ultra-liberal agenda, but maybe that is the problem. Hollywood was built on westerns, ever since “The Great Train Robbery” in 1903. Throughout the 1930’s and 40’s Gene Autry and Roy Rogers were box office kings. Those two were the heavyweights but there were plenty of others like Tom Mix and William Hart and the rest of the singing cowboys like Tex Ritter, Rex Allen and others. Also after becoming a star with Stagecoach in 1939 there was a new gunslinger in town. John Wayne was riding tall in the saddle (literally and figuratively).<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 357px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/Great_train_robbery_still.jpg" /><br /><div>He is my personal favorite. I’m his namesake (Wayne is my middle name, thanks Dad!) The Duke had about a 50 year career mostly in westerns. He became the epitome of what a man should be. As far as I’m concerned that man can do no wrong.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/sam%20ellioitt.0.jpg"></a></div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/sam%20ellioitt.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 139px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 110px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/sam%20ellioitt.jpg" /></a>After the Duke died in 1979, the genre damn near died with him. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Selleck">Tom Selleck</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Elliott">Sam Elliott </a>have done their best to keep it going, but most of their movies, which are excellent, are either made for TV or strait to video. Even the two westerns I personally consider to be the best ever, Lonesome Dove and The Good Old Boys, were both made for TV. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/monte%20walsh.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 104px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 141px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/monte%20walsh.jpg" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/monte%20walsh.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Off the top of my head I can’t think of a western made since Open Range in 2003. We are going on three years without a good old fashioned cowboy movie. What the hell is wrong with that picture?</div><br /><div>Enough about Hollywood, lets look at the real modern west for a minute. I live here in the Austin area and this place is growing like a weed. People are being shoe-horned in here. I know that is a sign of a strong economy and that is a good thing but I hate to see all this good country getting developed into strip malls and gated communities.</div><br /><div>These old farmers and ranchers who have had their land for generations are starting to sell it off in sub-divided tracts for huge payoffs. I can’t say I blame them for taking the money. I just hate to see all this beautiful hill country land disappear.</div><br /><br /><div>Where I live here in Lockhart is a little different. It is still a rural area for the most part but so many people are moving out of Austin that they are littering the countryside. You just can’t get away from your neighbor. I like to have good neighbors as much as the next guy; I just don’t want to have to look at them all the time. When I am out in the country I want to feel like I am in the middle of nowhere.</div><br /><div>That brings me finally to those who are keeping it alive. I do a lot of research on people and organizations that are dedicated to keeping the old west alive. You know for years I have had this fantasy of building my very own old west town, just like a movie set, except actually functional. The only thing that has stopped me from doing it is a glaring lack of funds. So if any of you old west aficionados out there have some money you would like to invest give me a call and we will make this thing a reality! Ok, I’m getting sidetracked, dammit, back to the people keeping it alive.</div><br /><div>Once again I have to thank my dad for stoking my interest in the west. When we were growing up he was a buckskinner. That is a person who does <a href="http://www.crazycrow.com/events_rendezvous/">Mountain Man reenactments</a>. It was a lot of fun for a boy to be involved with. It was like being in a movie, except you weren’t paid! From there I got into Civil War history and, finally, cowboys. Over the last several years this has led me to become huge fans of people like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUOUn-MKP4g">Red Steagall</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPLXOf_fMtg">Don Edwards</a>, <a href="http://www.rwhampton.com/">R.W. Hampton</a> and <a href="http://www.jeffgore.org/">Jeff Gore </a>who also happens to be a friend of my parents. </div><br /><div>It seems like they are fighting overwhelming odds, but these men are doing all they can through music, poetry and stories to keep the cowboy alive. I have become a regular listener to <a href="http://www.cowboycorner.com/">Red Steagall’s Cowboy Corner </a>on Sunday mornings as I’m driving home from work. If you want to hear stories from real westerners, not just cowboys per say, but anything dealing with the west, I highly recommend it. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/red.0.jpg"></a></div><br /><div>Speaking of 'not just cowboys', I would like to emphasize that the “Old West” was not just about cowboys. That is just a generic term that gets thrown around for anything that happened in the 1800’s. The west was actually full of all kinds of sub-genre’s from Mississippi river boat gamblers to mountain men, pioneers, chuck wagon cooks, prospectors, civil war soldiers, the western Calvary soldiers, Indian dancers, Buffalo Soldiers, gunfighters, and yes, the cowboy, whose heyday was from 1866 to 1886 roughly.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 641px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/200/walter%20brennan%20stumpy.jpg" /><br /><div>You know if I ever did get to build my old west town, I would like to have a yearly festival out there. I’d call it Jason Watson’s Old West Fest. Anything that happened from 1800 to 1900 would be welcome. Whatever your particular reenactment or craft is you could set up out there and show it off to the public. Once again if anyone reading this has lots of money please get in contact with me.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/Jeff_Gore.0.jpg"></a>In closing I want leave you with a line of one of the most popular cowboy songs ever written that pretty much sums it up for all of us who missed out on the good old days.<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGI-XVgsI24">Round up in the spring</a>:</div><br /><div><em>In the lobby of a big hotel in New York town one day, sat a bunch of fellers tellin yarns to pass the time away. They told of places where they had been and the different things they’d seen. Some preferred Chicago town, while others New Orleans. In a corner in an old armchair sat a man whose hair was gray. He listened to them eagerly to what they had to say. They asked him where he'd like to be, his clear old voice did ring, I'd like to be in Texas for the round-up in the spring.</em> </div><br /><div>So until next time, happy trails, keep yer back to the wind, keep yer powder dry, and all those other great western goodbyes.</div><br /><br /><div>God and Texas,</div><div>Jason Watson</div></div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-22203694533447831132009-07-19T12:26:00.000-07:002009-07-19T13:16:22.700-07:00Frontier Texas<a href="http://www.frontiertexas.com/images/index_r4_c1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 421px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.frontiertexas.com/images/index_r4_c1.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><div><div><div>I've always been a history buff and a fan of museums. I like to visit places that have to do with all kinds of history. One museum in particular really stands out for me though and that in <a href="http://www.frontiertexas.com/index.html">Frontier Texas</a> in <a href="http://abilene.com/">Abilene</a>. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>The reason I'm such a fan of this one is because it tells about the history in my backyard. Sometimes it is hard to relate to a subject if you've never spent any time in that area. Frontier Texas basically covers east of Brownwood to San Angelo, up through Abilene and all the way up to Ft. Richardson in Jacksboro. In the mid to late 1800's that was the end of civilization, if you went west of San Angelo or Abilene you were pretty much on your own. You might as well leave your scalps at the door. <a href="http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/forts/mckavett/images/concho.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 246px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 96px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/forts/mckavett/images/concho.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div>You could almost draw a line on a map from Del Rio to Wichita Falls. Some of the main ones were <a href="http://www.eaglepasstx.us/museum/home.htm">Ft. Duncan</a>, <a href="http://www.fortclark.com/history.html">Ft. Clark</a>, <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/parkguide/rgn_hc_016.phtml">Ft. McKavett</a>, <a href="http://www.fortconcho.com/">Ft. Concho</a>, <a href="http://www.fortchadbourne.org/">Ft. Chadbourne</a>, <a href="http://www.fortphantom.org/">Ft. Phantom Hill</a>, <a href="http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/forts/griffin/prairie.html">Ft. Griffin</a> and <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/fort_richardson/">Ft. Richardson</a>. The farther east you went from here, the better off you were. But with us being Americans and that whole Manifest Destiny thing we just had to keep pushing west and that caused lots of heartache but it did establish the land we have today.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 567px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://z.about.com/d/phoenix/1/0/x/6/2/festofwestBuckTaylor.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/forts/griffin/images/cynthia-lg.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 194px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/forts/griffin/images/cynthia-lg.jpg" /></a>The Frontier Texas museum guides you through this area of Texas during that time and it introduces you to real people who lived and helped settle this area. The actor <a href="http://www.bucktaylor.com/">Buck Taylor</a> is the virtual guide through the museum and it focuses on people like <a href="http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/PP/fpa18.html">Cynthia Ann Parker</a> who was captured and raised by Indians and <a href="http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/JJ/fjo7.html">Britt Johnson</a> who was a former slave who was a muleskinner in the area who had to rescue his family from Comanches.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you haven't been you should really go. Take you kids, they will love it. They will also learn that there was some pretty cool stuff happening before Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers ever came along! It is high tech and very interactive. It has virtual tours, holograms and all kinds of special effects and of course it has plenty of authentic artifacts from that time. Spend the money, spend an afternoon in Abilene and you will not be disappointed.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 644px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://pauljohnsonrealtors.com/images/interface/frontier-texas-abilene.jpg" /><br /><br /><div>God and Texas,</div><br /><div>Jason Watson</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-23421327873864419932009-07-12T16:44:00.000-07:002009-07-12T17:12:06.516-07:00From Vaqueros and Charros to Cowboys and 'PunchersThis is a re-post of a previous article<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 515px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/sfddd.jpg" /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/CharroOnWhiteHorse_fp.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 202px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/CharroOnWhiteHorse_fp.jpg" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/charro.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 108px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/charro.jpg" /></a>Everybody thinks the cowboy is a uniquely American creation. Well that is not<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/CharroOnWhiteHorse_fp.jpg"></a> entirely true. Yes, it has evolved into something totally American but like just about everything else in this country it has its roots from another land. <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br />As you all know, Mexico had Texas long before we Americans did. Before that, Spain was in control of this land. The men that <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/charro%201.jpg"></a>had first settled this land are the ones who brought the art of working cattle and taming horses. Americans did not start to settle here until 1821. Mexico had started to allow some Americans to come in and become citizens of Mexico. </div><div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/charro%201.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 154px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/charro%201.jpg" /></a><br />Moses Austin was supposed to bring the first settlers but he became sick and later died so his son Stephen F. Austin began bringing the settlers and settling in central and east Texas. From 1821 until after the Civil War (1861-1865) there really was no American Cowboy. The people here in Texas at that particular time were just your typical pioneers and homesteaders just like you see in the old TV westerns.</div><div><br />The people who settled in Texas after 1866, for the most part, were poor farmers from the South. Most of these people had their homes and farms blown to bits from the Civil War. The main thing these people did with cows was milk them. As far as horses (and mules) go, they would either ride them for transportation or hitch them to a plow or buggy.</div><div><br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 419px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/lingodsl.jpg" /></div><div></div><div>Once these people settled out west, especially in Texas, they saw all these wild longhorn cows running loose. They knew there was a new business to be tapped in to, but they didn’t yet know how to 'Cowboy.'<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/charro%202.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 121px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 135px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/charro%202.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div><div>Enter the Charro; he is also known more commonly as a vaquero. A vaca is Spanish for cow, so<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/charro%202.jpg"></a> vaquero literally translates into a “worker of cows”. Charro was sort of a nickname sort of the same way we call American cowboys 'punchers or <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/charro%203.jpg"></a>waddies. The term 'buckaroo' is also a slang term for cowboys that has its origins in us white folk's inability to properly pronounce “va- ker-ooh”.</div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/charro%203.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 157px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/charro%203.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>The Charro originates from Jalisco (which is where the Mariachi can also be traced back to in the mid 1800's) and Michoacan (where my in-laws happen to hail from), Mexico. This particular area of Mexico developed the traditional “cowboying techniques” that were eventually passed on to the Americans.</div><br /><div>The charro participates in Las Charreadas, which is basically a Mexican rodeo. It is actually the national sport of Mexico. Most people, like me, would have guessed it was soccer or baseball. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/charreada.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/chareeadaads.jpg"></a>Anyway, the Charros are world renowned for their horsemanship.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 375px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/charreada.jpg" /><br /><div>Charros are also known for their colorful dress, known as trajes (trah hes). These costumes are what later e<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/chareeadaads.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 310px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/chareeadaads.jpg" /></a>volved into the traditional Mariachi costumes. Anyone that knows Mexicans as well as I do, know that most of them have a flair for the dramatic, as you can see this tradition dates back many, many years.</div><br /><br /><div>Personally I believe a lot of racism and hatred that some people hold against each other could be overcome just by learning about our history. The Texicans and the Mexicans have much more in common than not. They developed the Charro and gave us the Cowboy. Their Charros also<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/jalisoc.jpg"></a> developed into their version of the “singing cowboys” more specifically Mariachis. Our cowboys developed into colorful singers as well, which I described in last weeks article. They have had the Charreada and we developed the rodeo i<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/jalisoc.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 116px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 147px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/jalisoc.jpg" /></a>n the 1880’s.</div><br /><br /><div>Another little known fact about the Mexican cowboys is Los Kinenos. In the 1850’s, Richard King began buying up a lot of land in South Texas and turned it into the world famous King Ranch, which is one of the largest ranches in the world. It has over 825,000 acres, which makes it larger than the state of Rhode Island. In 1854, he traveled to a village in Mexico that had been pretty much wiped out by a drought and he hired the entire town to come to Texas and work for him on the ranch. They later became known as Los Kinenos or the king’s men. To this day the descendants of the original Kinenos are still working, living and thriving on one of the greatest ranches ever known.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 479px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/photo_kinenos.jpg" /><br /><div>So the next time your watching Lonesome Dove, or at a rodeo, or just working on your own ranch, give a tip of the old sombrero to our partners from south of the border.</div><div></div><div>God and Texas,</div><div>Jason Watson</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-76910310041064655072009-07-05T12:53:00.000-07:002009-07-05T14:22:09.038-07:00My Cold Dead Hands<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 475px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 157px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bDvPFlFKMtkARk2jzbkF/SIG=12tb90el7/EXP=1246914639/**http%3A//www.allstates-flag.com/images/historical/misc/come_and_take_it.gif" /><br /><div><div><div>For years now, actually as long as I can remember, liberals in this country have been looking for a way to outlaw guns but that damn Constitution kept getting in the way of their best laid plans. They may have finally come up with a plan though. Although I hate what they are doing I have to admit it was a pretty foxy move.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 571px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/links/constitution.jpg" /><br /><div>Since the <a href="http://www.usconstitution.net/">Constitution</a> says "<em>A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed</em>." Some have tried to argue that what the amendment really means is that only state militias like your local national guard can keep weapons. Anyone with half a brain could see through that scheme though and the courts have upheld that individuals can keep their own personal weapons. For those of you who don't understand what the national guard is, I will try and explain. The guard is a reserve unit where people usually drill one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. When they are needed, they can be called to active duty by the governor of each state for emergencies, the kicker is that they not only belong to the state but they also fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force which makes them federal organizations. We can't fight against federal oppression if we are also employees of that same federal government. I hope that makes sense, it doesn't sound like it came out right.</div><br /><div>The entire purpose of the second amendment was to keep the feds from becoming too powerful and oppressive. If we didn't own guns the people in Washington would have no reason to fear us. They would have total control over us. Even Adolf Hitler understood this concept when he said "<em>The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing</em>." The point is it is all part of the checks and balances idea that our government was formed on.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 511px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.greenwichworkshop.com/media/images/FoundingFathers.jpg" /><br /><div>Our founding fathers were no fools either. You have to remember they just left European countries where they were oppressed and they wanted no part of that in the brand new good old U.S.A. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mason">George Mason</a> once said "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials." <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_madison">James Madison </a>was quoted as saying <em>"[The Constitution preserves] the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...(where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms</em>." And finally <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_jefferson">Thomas Jefferson</a> said <em>"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms."</em></div><br /><div>The point is that these men <em>got</em> it. They understood why people should be able to keep arms as long as they are peaceful law abiding citizens. Now we are the exact people who are being targeted. What <a href="http://www.gunbanobama.com/">President Obama</a>, <a href="http://www.ontheissues.org/ca/Nancy_Pelosi_Gun_Control.htm">Nancy Pelosi </a>and <a href="http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=53320&type=category&category=37">Harry Reid</a> have finally figured out is that it is OK to let them keep the guns but they have no constitutional right to own ammunition. So hey, lets go after the ammo. Anyone who has been to <a href="http://www.walmart.com/browse/Hunting-Ammunition-Boxes-Gun-Racks-Cases/_/N-4q7t?catNavId=4155&catNavId=4155&fromPageCatId=136316&ic=24_0&path=0%3A4125&ref=125872.220601">Wal-Mart</a>, <a href="http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/hunting/ammunition/target_shooting">Academy</a>, <a href="http://www.cabelas.com/home.jsp;jsessionid=4X0PULWXT4ARRLAQBBISCONMCAEFEIWE?_requestid=60152">Cabela's</a> or any other sporting goods store lately have noticed two things. The ammunition shelves are nearly empty and whats left is priced through the roof. It is a back door gun control policy and it is wrong! </div><br /><div>Your federal government is looking for another way to cheat you out of one of your basic rights. This is not what our government was created for. We don't need a nanny state. The basic job of the federal government is to defend us against all enemies foreign and domestic and to make treaties and trade agreements with other countries and that is about it. Anything that is not specifically spelled out in the Constitution is left up to the state's discretion. </div><br /><div>This is just one component of the <a href="http://www.teapartyday.com/">Tea Parties</a> that have sprung up all over the country on April 15th and July 4th. The people (of both parties) feel like they are not being represented properly. The taxes and spending is the main issue but the assault on the bill of rights is also a big concern of everyone too. </div><br /><a href="http://www.wegc.org/avatars%20and%20images/nra_logo.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 169px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 137px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.wegc.org/avatars%20and%20images/nra_logo.jpg" /></a>I don't have a quick fix answer to this problem. The best advice I can give is to research your congressmen and senators and vote in people who share your values. If they go to D.C. and forget all about you then vote them out every two or six years. The next Congressional election is 2010. Get involved learn about the issues and candidates and you can make a difference, you can give your kids and grand kids the same country we enjoyed years ago. Also I would advise you to join organizations like the <a href="http://home.nra.org/#/home">N.R.A.</a> and the <a href="http://www.heritage.org/">Heritage Foundation</a>. These are organizations dedicated to defending the traditional American<a href="http://ltpalculict.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/the-heritage-foundation.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 304px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 182px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://ltpalculict.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/the-heritage-foundation.jpg" /></a> rule of law. I am begging all of you who read this, change the leadership in Washington. Fall is coming up soon and I want to go hunting!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>God and Texas,</div><div>Jason Watson</div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-44626295596430895402009-06-29T15:06:00.000-07:002009-06-29T16:30:30.715-07:00Do you still recognize your country?<a href="http://logo.cafepress.com/7/356074.1558667.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://logo.cafepress.com/7/356074.1558667.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://www.americanmystique.com/firstnavyjacketfg.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 329px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.americanmystique.com/firstnavyjacketfg.jpg" /></a>With the Fourth of July coming up I started feeling patriotic, proud and depressed all at the same time. When I used to write my old blog I used to talk a lot about politics and current events. I wanted to focus this new blog more on western themes but I said I would dabble in politics from time to time and the week of the Fourth of July is as good a time as any.<br /><br /><div><div><div><br /><div>This current president has done more to damage this country than anyone else I can think of. That includes Jimmy Carter and Franklin Roosevelt. I don't doubt that he is sincere in what he is doing but we are not socialists and he doesn't seem to be able to grasp this concept. He seems like a nice guy, a good father and would probably be a nice neighbor to have but that is not qualifications for leader of the free world.</div><br /><div><br /><a href="http://oldfordroad.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/jcwatts.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 237px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://oldfordroad.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/jcwatts.jpg" /></a>I sincerely believe that the nation got caught up in the notion of electing our first black president (well half black anyway). Yes it was a milestone for us as a country I am glad that as a society we have moved passed those kind of racial divisions and deep seeded hatred for our brothers and sisters. But this goes back to prove my point that I've always made about quotas and affirmative action. Dont give someone a position based on the color of their skin. Martin Luther King died protesting this kind of thing. We need the most qualified and best suited candidates to fill positions, whether it is president, general, teacher, doctor or quarterback. I am not opposed to a black president but give me J.C. Watts, or Michael Steele or Condoleeza Rice. Any of them would do a better job than the current commander in chief.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 376px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://bymyart.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/martin-luther-king-jr.jpg" /><br /><div>It is not just the president though. There are two houses of Congress that act like crackheads who just won the lottery. There are a few good ones there like John Cornyn, Tom Coburn and even Joe Lieberman who I almost always disagree with but I believe he is a dedicated principled man. Over in the house you have people like Mike Conoway, Duncan Hunter and a few others. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 505px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/way/9301/imageJNU.JPG" />Then there is the supreme court which is barely in our favor right now. When I say our favor I really mean in the country's favor when they defend individual rights, property rights and religous freedoms. That could change in the next few years.<br /><br /><div>Sometimes people feel so overwhelemed that they dont know what to do and they feel like giving up. Don't, you really do have a voice. You have to write, call or email you represenatives in congress. Any of you who listen to talk radio know this is effective. If you burn up the lines to D.C. they start to get scared and worry about their next election. They will tend to do what is right if you scare them enough. It has worked on drilling and illegal immigration, of course we have a new administration now so that went out the window, but before the elections there was real progress being made on that.</div><br /><br /><div>People remember you do not work for the government. Your hard earned money does not belong to them. Your property does not belong to them. Your rights as human beings, men and women, are bestowed to you by God almighty! Barak Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid can not bestow inalienable rights to you only our creator can and as much as Obama thinks he is God, he isn't and he is up for another job interview in 2012.</div><br /><br /><div>People are always saying "God bless America" that is much more than a song and a bumper sticker. Folks God has blessed America, over and over and over again. I read a book once called <a href="http://www.cbn.com/premiums/GreatestVirtue-Winter2008/">The Greatest Virtue</a> by Reverend <a href="http://www.cbn.com/">Pat Robertson</a>. The theme of the book was that we have to be humble in our lives in order to be blessable by God. We have lost that, we have become very secular and very arrogant and that is why we don't always recieve the blessings we want when we do come running back to God asking him to bail us out of our latest problem. Here are a couple of quotes to make my point.</div><br /><br /><div>"By meditating on Christ's humility, we shall see how far we are from being humble."- Saint Teresa of Avila</div><br /><br /><div>"Unless humility precede, accompany, and follow up all the good we accomplish, unless we keep our eyes fixed on it, pride will snatch everything right out of our hands"- Saint Augustine</div><br /><br /><a href="http://ventpipe.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/libertyandtyranny.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 324px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://ventpipe.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/libertyandtyranny.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>If you want another book that really explains what it means to be a conservative and what the role of America's government is all about you should really read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Tyranny-Conservative-Mark-Levin/dp/1416562850">"Libert</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Tyranny-Conservative-Mark-Levin/dp/1416562850">y and Tyranny"</a> by <a href="http://www.marklevinshow.com/home.asp">Mark Levin</a>. It is the perfect guide to remind us what America was, how we lost it and more importantly how we get it back!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Here are a few more quotes about our liberty and our faith to remind you why there is no place else like the good old U.S.A.</div><br /><div>"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take it away"- Thomas Jefferson</div><br /><div></div><div>"They who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety"- Benjamin Franklin</div><br /><div></div><div>"The constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness, you have to catch it yourself"- Benjamin Franklin</div><br /><div></div><div>"That government is best, that governs least"- Thomas Paine</div><br /><div></div><div>"If the freedom of speech is taken away then the dumb and silent may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." - George Washington</div><br /><div></div><div>"All men having power should be distrusted to a certain degree." -James Madison</div><br /><div></div><div>"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed, unlike citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."- James Madison</div><br /><div></div><div>"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here."- Patrick Henry</div><br /><div></div><div>"It is necessary for the welfare of the nation that men's lives be based on the principles of the Bible. No man, educated or uneducated, can afford to be ignorant of the Bible."- Theodore Roosevelt</div><br /><div></div><div>"I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning...."<br />"A Bible and a newspaper in every house, a good school in every district; all studied and appreciated as they merit; are the principal support of virtue, morality, and civil liberty."- Ben Franklin</div><br /><div></div><div>"It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness..."<br />"I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man."- Abraham Lincoln</div><br /><div></div><div>"Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him, who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust, in the best way, all our present difficulty." – Abraham Lincoln</div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>"The laws of nature are the laws of God, whose authority can be superseded by no power on earth."- George Mason</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 471px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 334px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.christiananswers.net/catalog/america-dvd-front-large.jpg" /><br /><div>God and Texas,</div><br /><div>Jason Watson<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-43418884092734752522009-06-21T12:00:00.000-07:002009-06-21T13:03:43.232-07:00Coleman PRCA Rodeo<a href="http://www.colemannews.com/images/2009/culwell1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 489px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 307px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.colemannews.com/images/2009/culwell1.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://www.cityofcolemantx.us/">Coleman Texas</a> has about 5,500 residents, give or take. Like most other small towns there is not much to do around here. This town fits all the usual stereotypes. We roll up the sidewalks at sundown and the little old ladies just drive their cars to church on Sunday. </div><a href="http://www.colemanrodeo.com/gallery/002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 291px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.colemanrodeo.com/gallery/002.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>With that being said there is one thing that Coleman is known for and that we do really well. I'm talking rodeo. Not just any rodeo mind you, a real live <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">PRCA</span> rodeo just like the kind you see on RFD-TV and ESPN 8 (the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ocho</span>!) Since it is a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">PRCA</span> event some of the top cowboys in the country come out of their way to find little old Coleman Texas. No it's not Houston and it's not Cheyenne or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Las</span> Vegas but "the cowboys are the toughest and the stock's the best there is" to borrow a line from <a href="http://www.redsteagall.com/">Red <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Steagall</span></a>. </div><br /><a href="http://www.colemanrodeo.com/gallery/007.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.colemanrodeo.com/gallery/007.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The <a href="http://www.colemanrodeo.com/index.html">Coleman rodeo</a> started in 1936 during the Texas Centennial. Some local citizens were looking for a fun way to commemorate Texas 100<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> birthday and what better way for a small town in West Central Texas to do that than to do what they know best? They came out and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">cowboyed</span>!</div><br /><a href="http://www.colemanrodeo.com/gallery/017.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 197px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.colemanrodeo.com/gallery/017.jpg" /></a><br />The rodeo came from humble beginnings; using the local football field for an arena. It steadily grew and gained popularity throughout the region and it began to grow. They bought some land south of town and built an arena, grandstands and other things such as show barns, breeder-feeder buildings and a dance pavilion.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>It seems like the rodeo kind of went through a lull for a few years where it just wasn't as good a show as it used to be. I don't have anything to base that on it is just one fans perception. Whatever the problem may have been they have come back with a vengeance the last few years. I know the prize money has been upped and the <a href="http://www.ssrodeo.com/">Stace Smith Contractors</a> have provided excellent stock to show the cowboys off. The dances have also been much improved, I know over the last few years big Texas acts such as <a href="http://www.kevinfowler.com/">Kevin Fowler</a>, <a href="http://www.paulinereese.com/">Pauline Reese</a> and one of my personal favorites <a href="http://www.rickycalmbach.com/">Ricky <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Calmbach</span></a> have all come through Coleman to play. Also in the last few years they have added the <a href="http://www.colemantexas.org/billfranklyn.html">Bill Franklin Center </a>and a new Expo center both of which have been huge improvements not just for the rodeo but for all the local events our town hosts. </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.colemanrodeo.com/gallery/019.jpg" /><br /><br /><div>What would a rodeo be without a parade? As usual the folks of Coleman did not disappoint. The parade was full of everything you would expect in a Norman Rockwell style town. We had homemade floats, local cheerleaders, various civic organizations, fire trucks, police cars and lots and lots of horses and cowboys to ride them. Of course you cant have a rodeo without your rodeo queen. My buddy Doug Burks and his band <a href="http://www.myspace.com/barbwireband09">Barbwire</a> also provided music and entertainment after the parade was over.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 326px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://colemannews.com/images/2009/casselberry,audrey-2009rodeo-coleman-news.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>One other thing that the Coleman rodeo has that almost no one else does is an equestrian drill team. This team is made up of local cowgirls, they have no sponsors or endorsements, they do this all on their own. They are a really talented bunch of cowgirls, if you ever get the chance to attend a rodeo in Coleman they are worth the price of admission themselves. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 479px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 179px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://colemannews.com/images/2009/2009-cowgirls.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><br /><div>Well that about does it for this year. I attended the Friday night show. We had a great time, my oldest daughter wants to be a barrel racer (among other things). My youngest daughter thought seeing all those cows and horses was about the coolest thing around. </div><div> </div><div>God and Texas,</div><div>Jason Watson</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-410468498128519032009-06-07T14:49:00.000-07:002009-06-07T15:56:46.173-07:00The Texas Rangers<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/rangers.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 258px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 148px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/rangers.jpg" /></a><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 156px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/ranger%20badge.jpg" /></p><p><em>This is a re-post of a previous article<br /></em></p>Well, this week I kind of wanted to write about something historical, but I also wanted to write about Texas; so I settled on writing about the Texas Rangers, and that would kill the proverbial two birds with one stone. Just to give a quick rundown on the Rangers, they were started in 1823 by Stephen F. Austin. They were unincorporated and loosely banded. In 1835, they were officially recognized as a “Ranging company”. In 1935, they were folded into what became the Texas Department of Public Safety. Nowadays, they aren’t the nomadic, ranging, bount<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/badge.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/badge.jpg" /></a>y hunter types that were portrayed in the movies; they act as the state's intelligence agency. Basically, they are Texas’ version of the FBI.The following is a list, with a short profile, of some of the agency's more legendary lawmen. These men had a large part in Texas developing the reputation we have worldwide as rugged, independent individualists who feared nothing or no one. I feel that we are losing that identity as a state due to political correctness and a huge influx of out-of-staters who want us to be more like them, instead of them assimilating into our way of life. Here is my warning to all parents: Teach your kids about our history. You can’t really rely on the school systems anymore. Let your kids know what it is to be a Texan!<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Frank Hame<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/Hamer_Frank2.0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 166px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/Hamer_Frank2.0.jpg" /></a>r 1884-1955</span></strong></div><div>The name Frank Hamer is a synonym for “Bad#ss.” Frank was a typical lawman, in that he hated outsiders interfering in law enforcement business. He would never make it today in law enforcement. Between the ACLU and citizen review boards he would be run out of town on a rail. But back in the day (1920’s and 30’s), he brought law and order to a state that was still pretty wild and wooly. In 1932, he is said to have retired, but the truth was that he was ticked off at local politicians, so he quit. Sure enough, two years later, they needed him again, so they talked him into coming back. This time they needed him to find none other than Bonnie and Clyde. Frank tracked them down and got permission to cross into Louisiana. On May 23, 1934 they set up an ambush and pumped over 130 rounds into the car they were driving. The moral of the story kids…….don’t piss Frank Hamer off</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Manuel Trazazas "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas 1891-1977</span></strong></div><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/lone%20wolf.0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 229px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 331px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/lone%20wolf.0.jpg" /></a>'Lone Wolf' Gonzaullas is pretty cool guy for a couple of reasons. First, he is the first Ranger of Spanish decent. He was born in Cadiz, Spain. Secondly, he is the namesake, at least his nickname is, of my favorite movie: Chuck Norris’ “Lone Wolf McQuade,” about a modern day Texas Ranger in El Paso. Lone Wolf’s biggest case was the notorious murders in Texarkana, Texas in 1946 just after World War II. If you can find it, there is an old movie called “The Town That Dreaded Sundown.” It dealt with those murders. After retiring from the Rangers he moved out to Hollywood to be a technical advisor for TV movies and radio. His most notable project was called “Tales of the Texas Rangers”. Like any good Texan, Manuel came back to Dallas so he could die in Texas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Leander Harvey McNelly 1844-1877</span></strong><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/McNelly1.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/McNelly1.0.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/McNelly1.0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/McNelly1.0.jpg" /></a>McNelly was one of the first to really develop the rough and tough Ranger image. In the 1870’s, he was sent down to South Texas along the Nueces River. Mexico and Texas had argued for years on where the southern border was. Mexico said the Nueces River, and of course Texas said it was the Rio Grande, a little further south. That area of Texas was notorious for cattle thievery and lots of rough Mexican banditos. A special branch of Rangers, called “Special Force,” was commissioned and they specialized in carrying really big cans of whoop ass. Leander was rough as hell, but he did bring law and order to that area. He died of tuberculosis in 1877; God finally did what no man on Earth could. In 2001, they made a movie called "Texas Rangers" about McNelly. The movie starred Dylan McDermott. I don’t know why they chose him. Hell, they might as well have chosen Angelina Jolie. (in case you cant tell I’m not much of a Dylan McDermott fan!)<br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Samuel Hamilton Walker 1815-1847</span></strong><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/SamWalker1.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/1600/SamWalker1.0.jpg"></a></div><div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/SamWalker1.0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 204px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/SamWalker1.0.jpg" /></a>There are not a whole lot of individual stories to tell about Sam. He served in the Mexican-American war in the 1840’s. In 1844, he was serving with Jack Hays' Ranger Company. They were 15 Rangers who took on 80 Comanche Indians near the Pedernales River. They had the the newest Colt Pistols available. Apparently, they made a hell of an impression on Sam. A couple of years, later he was in Washington D. C. and met Sam Colt. He would later help him develop what became the Walker .44. That became a legendary pistol in the old west. That gun killed more men than Cecil B. Demille.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">John Salmon “R.I.P.” Ford 1815-1897</span></strong></div><div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 181px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/rip%20ford.0.jpg" />“R.I.P.” is another nickname that Hollywood borrowed for a fictional Texas Ranger. Kris Kristofferson played Texas Ranger Cecil “R.I.P.” Metcalf in a couple of made for TV movies called “A Pair of Aces” and “Another Pair of Aces." The real RIP was mostly known for creating the Ford and Neighbors Trail between San Antonio and El Paso. He was later made a Ranger Captain in that area where he was an Indian fighter in the early 1850’s. That might not sound like much but you have to understand that the area of Texas between San Antonio and El Paso was some of the roughest, toughest country in the entire United States. To tell you the truth; even today, once you get past San Angelo it still not the most welcoming country in the world!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Ramiro “Ray” Martinez</span></strong></div><div><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 267px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/ray%20martinez.0.jpg" />I wrote about Ray several months ago after reading his book “They call me Ranger Ray.” It was fascinating. It really makes you proud to be a Texan. I could personally relate to the book because of the places he talked about. He grew up in the Rotan and Sweetwater area. He later lived in Austin. He is most famous for what he did before he became a Ranger. Ray is the man who killed Charles Whitman; the sniper on the UT observation tower. He later joined the Rangers and served down in South Texas fighting political corruption. You can check him out at <a href="http://www.rangerray.net/">http://www.rangerray.net/</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">William Alexander Anderson (Bigfoot) Wallace 1817-1899</span></strong><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/bigfoot.0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 212px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 206px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/bigfoot.0.jpg" /></a>Bigfoot Wallace wasn’t famous so much for a single event. He is more famous for what he encompassed. He is the stuff that Hollywood likes to make movies out of. He was a larger than life character. It is said that he is a descendant of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. He moved to Texas from Virginia after hearing that some of his family had been murdered in the Goliad massacre. So like his purported Braveheart ancestors he went to Texas to kill those that were responsible. Another legend of Bigfoot was the following passage from the Texas Handbook Online: He drove a mail hack from San Antonio to El Paso and on one occasion, after losing his mules to Indians, walked to El Paso and ate twenty-seven eggs at the first Mexican house he came to-before going on to town for a full meal.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Ben McCullough 1811-1862</span></strong><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/McCullochBenjamin.0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 208px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/McCullochBenjamin.0.jpg" /></a>Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. McCullough had decided to follow Davy Crockett to San Antonio and fight at the Alamo. Ben came down with the measles though and was bedridden in Nacogdoches. By the time he was healed up, it was too late. Everyone at the Alamo was dead. Instead he joined up with Sam Houston and fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. He later became a Ranger and like most of your typical, individualist Texans, he liked to fight with his own weapons; shotguns and Bowie knives instead of the standard issue saber and carbine rifle.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">John B. Jones 1834-1881</span></strong><br /><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/Johnjones.0.jpg" />He was involved in one of the most legendary old west shootouts. He was a Major in the Texas Rangers and he set up an ambush for the notorious outlaw Sam Bass in Round Rock, Texas in 1878. I am personally interested in this one because I believe one of the Rangers involved was named William Ware. I am related to a William Ware who also lived in the 1800’s but I have not been able to connect the dots on this one yet.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Joaquin Ja<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/jackson.0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 215px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7774/892/320/jackson.0.jpg" /></a>ckson</span></strong><br />Joaquin is where Hollywood meets reality. He was a real Texas Ranger who retired in 1993 and got into movies. His biggest role was Sheriff Wes Wheeler in the Tommy Lee Jones western “The Good Old Boys”. He is also the man who discovered country singer Johnny Rodriguez singing while he was in jail. He is also on the board of directors of the NRA. Jackson is an expert with firearms, so in the words of Willie Nelson, “Don’t boss him; don’t cross him, just wait till tomorrow, maybe he’ll ride on again.”</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br />Well as you can see they are some colorful characters. They have developed a few nicknames and mottos over the years. They have been called “Los Diablos Tejanos” the Texas Devils, “Los Pinche Rinches” the f#cking Rangers. They have also developed the motto “One Riot, One Ranger”. That phrase was coined in 1896 when Ranger Captain Bill McDonald was sent to Dallas to stop an illegal heavyweight boxing fight. When he got to town the local sheriff asked him where his help was and McDonald replied: <em>Hell! Ain't I enough? There's only one prize-fight! </em></div><div></div><em></em><div>God and Texas,</div><div>Jason Watson</div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-15378286526302507552009-05-31T18:37:00.000-07:002009-06-02T14:31:51.275-07:00Go West Young Man<a href="http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bDmhmSVKiggAxYmjzbkF/SIG=12e75cgtj/EXP=1244064545/**http%3A//www.sdtradingco.com/booksandpatterns/4156002061.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 295px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 359px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_bDmhmSVKiggAxYmjzbkF/SIG=12e75cgtj/EXP=1244064545/**http%3A//www.sdtradingco.com/booksandpatterns/4156002061.jpg" /></a><br /><div>When we think about the old west the first person that usually comes to mind is the cowboy but there was another rough tough loner that hated towns as much as the puncher did. You might say that the <a href="http://www.mountainsofstone.com/">mountain man </a>was the grandfather of the cowboy, generationally speaking that is. In the 1820’s ‘30’s and early ‘40’s the mountain man roamed the west.<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>Most of them would jump off from around Missouri and start heading west. Once they hit the Rockies it was straight up from there. Some men went there to help map out and open trails to California, Oregon and the west coast. Others came to trap beaver to sell so fancy dudes back east could wear their top hats. Some of them just went because they answered to no man and they just wanted to see what was on the other side.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/52449a405f9449ac"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 120px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 145px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/52449a405f9449ac" /></a> The mountain man was a rare breed indeed. They had to be every bit as brave as Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan and Marco Polo. They had no idea what to expect once they got past the flat lands of Kansas and western Colorado. From the southwestern Rockies of New Mexico and Arizona all the way to Canada’s Kodiak and Yukon country they had to deal with Indians, blizzards, possible starvation, animal attack not to mention just falling off your horse or off a mountain side. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>Once they got to the mountains they began to do their work, be it mapping, trapping, or just living the free life. Once every year or so they would have what was called a rendezvous, which is exactly what the word means, a gathering. The men would come in from the mountains to sell their beaver pelts, swap with traders and local Indians and get drunker than Cooder Brown! The rendezvous was also a place to catch up on all the latest news especially the falling price of beaver!</div><br /><br /><div>The cowboy has his rodeo to show off his skill and compete against his fellow waddies. The mountain men had their own competitions too. When they came to rendezvous they would have tomahawk competitions, knife throwing contests and rifle and pistol competitions. These were just a few of the events, they would also have different games and races from horseback. Just like the cowboys years later, the mountain men just had to show off who was the best.</div><br /><a href="http://www.dvdrama.com/imagescrit2/j/e/r/jeremiah_johnson_tmp.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 135px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.dvdrama.com/imagescrit2/j/e/r/jeremiah_johnson_tmp.jpg" /></a> The mountain man may never have reached the iconic status that the cowboy did but they have never died out. Even today there are organizations such as the <a href="http://buckskinning.org/tab_jan_2009.htm">Texas Association of Buckskinners</a> which are dedicated to keeping the mountain man alive. They gather on weekends and dress up in period clothes and stay in teepees, Baker tents, lean-two’s or just sleep under the stars. They still have the traditional competitions with rifle, knife and tomahawk.<br /><br /><br /><div>Although they are family oriented events they have been know to get a little wild after the sun went down. Once the kids are asleep in the lodges and they pull a cork on a jug; the good times really start to fly. </div><br /><br /><br /><div>This is one event that I can talk about with some knowledge. My dad was a “buckskinner” as they are known. We went to many rendezvous when my brothers and I were young. We went all over Texas and even made it to the Southwestern National in Colorado back in 1984. For a kid it was a heck of an experience. It was almost like a time machine. I was getting to live among Indians and mountain men, even if it was just for 48 hours. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 181px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 182px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/JimBridgerDetail.jpg/180px-JimBridgerDetail.jpg" />These “buckskinners” took pride in making many of their own clothes and equipment. For example my dad made a full set of buckskin clothes that Davy Crockett would have been proud of. He also made his own knives, tomahawks and fire iron sets (racks to cook over campfires). I cant stress enough how influential these times were when I was a boy. Those days sparked my interest in history and the old west.<br /><br /><br /><div>I want to leave you all with this quote from my friend, mentor and fellow bucksinner Mr. <a href="http://www.mountainmanballads.com/music/index.htm">Bill Ramsel</a>. </div><br /><div><br /><em>“This is a song for the mountain man, free trappers for beaver hide. They lived the freest a man can live in the Rocky Mountain skies…………From plains and mountains to trade their furs, and shine at the rendezvous.”-</em> Bill Ramsel “Song for the Mountain Man”<br />God and Texas,<br />Jason Watson<br /> <br /> </div></div></div></div></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6878986696495415038.post-19085671823804351792009-05-18T17:59:00.000-07:002009-05-18T18:30:30.424-07:00Happy Trails Rick<a href="http://www.ricksikes.com/old4.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 316px" alt="" src="http://www.ricksikes.com/old4.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">I recently lost a man I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">truly</span> admired and respected. </span></strong><a href="http://www.ricksikes.com/"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rick <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sikes</span></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"> was a local musician here in Coleman and if you want to know the definition of a true "outlaw'' you don't have to look any further than Rick. Back in the 1960's Rick was an up and coming country musician who was cut out of the same honky <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tonk</span> and western swing cloth as Ernest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tubb</span>, Lefty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Frizzell</span> and Bob Wills. Rick even had the opportunity to play with, and open, for some of these guys. </span></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rick and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Rhythm</span> Rebels were starting to make regional name for themselves when a case of stupid jumped up and bit them. They decided to rob a bank. When they were caught and tried Rick took his punishment like a man and did fifteen years in Leavenworth prison. He continued to make music while locked up and even <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">received</span> permission to put together a recording studio there. It is my understanding that this is still the only recording studio in a federal prison.</span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">After being released he came back to Coleman and raised a family and owned a couple of small businesses. Several years back he was talked into getting back to music. He opened a small music shop and taught guitar. After I moved back to Coleman a few years ago I got to know Rick better and spend some time in his shop. The man was a treasure chest when it came to old "war stories" about the music business. From West Texas roadhouses to Nashville's music row he had pretty much seen it all and lived to tell it. </span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rick was kind enough to listen to the songs I had written and not fall out of his chair laughing at me. He gave me good advice, he once told me "Jason, I never got rich or famous playing music and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">don't</span> care if anyone else likes my music....because I like it!" I took those words to heart. I may never get anyone to record my songs. I may never get to perform my cowboy poetry but that is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ok</span>. I like my music and end the end that is all that really matters.</span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rick did have one star pupil though, a young man named Denny Fulbright. Denny is still in high school but he is already starting to make a name for himself. He got the opportunity to play with Aaron Watson this past summer. Denny and his dad D.L. would be the first to tell you what a legendary man Rick <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Sikes</span> was. Well Rick, we will all miss you down here. Your stories and music will live on through those who knew you. Happy Trails, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Vaya</span> Con <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Dios</span>!<br /></span></strong><a href="http://www.livingmemorials.com/Uploads/Obituaries/Photos/sikesrick.jpg"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 325px" alt="" src="http://www.livingmemorials.com/Uploads/Obituaries/Photos/sikesrick.jpg" border="0" /></span></strong></a></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">God and Texas,</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;">Jason Watson</span></strong></div>texasstrangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17520248063385092325noreply@blogger.com1