http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/

Now this is interesting. I do believe some of you will want to visit this website. I could be wrong. I had reason to go the TX parks & wildlife website for a boat registration. Started exploring. Found an area called Alligator. Looked.

==========

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_1011.pdf

=============

This is a brochure. At the top are regulations for hunting - both individually and commercial. Other things like what you can do in certain counties - weapons - etc.

==========

Way down the page is more and more. I didn't think the page would ever end. I was about ready to move on - I bore easily - when I hit an area showing and explaining how to skin an Alligator. It was a few pages long. In the process it is explained how to catch them - pull to shore or to boat - and hit them in the head with a club or axe. I was thinking - machine gun. But, no, there are rules against machine guns.

=======

Then came names of hunting guides, tanning companies, etc. Provided to you for your edification

========

Next I came upon recipes for Alligator

GATOR SAUCE PIQUANT

PAPAWS GATOR MEATBALLS

ALLIGATOR STEW

ALLIGATOR CREOLE PIQUANT

ALLIGATOR BALLS

FRIED ALLIGATOR NUGGETS

=============

next came pages of alligator facts.

=============

finally a list of "dont's" like any of us need to have a list:

BE GATOR SAFE!
DON’T feed alligators.
DON’T get too close to them.
DON’T swim or wade where they are.
DON’T let your pets near them.
DON’T agitate or tease them.
DON’T try to catch one.
DON’T approach an alligator’s nest.
DO observe from a safe distance.
DO discourage others from feeding them.
DO treat them with respect as an important element of nature.
DO get additional information about alligators from your local Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department office, or contact the Alligator Program directly at
10 Parks and Wildlife Dr., Port Arthur, Texas 77640, or txgator.info@tpwd.state.tx.us

Vampire Suit

from the Corsicana Daily Sun......an article titled:  Texas inmate loses civil rights 'vampire' suit.   I hope it is legal for me to copy this article here.   It is an  AP story out of Houston.


A federal appeals court has rejected as frivolous a civil rights lawsuit from a Texas prisoner who argued he was being barred from practicing religious beliefs related to vampires.


Inmate Courtney Royal two years ago sued about a dozen Texas prison administrators and officials at the Hughes Unit where he's serving a life sentence for numerous offenses, including aggravated assault, robbery and escape.


Royal's nine-page single-space typewritten lawsuit, rejected Thursday by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said he wanted to practice "West African spiritualism and 18th Century Catholicism" marked by prayer to Africanas reincarnated by blood.  He argued it was no different from "unproven" Christian beliefs.


In the filing, Royal described himself as "Vampsh Black Sheep League of Doom."
=================================================================


Now, aren't you glad you had your own parents?
mtz

tomato & peaches

Today - Sunday - daughter Laura and hubby Tom came through on their way home from visiting his father in Michigan.  It is the first they have returned to Michigan since Tom lost his mother.  I think it is great for them to be able to make that 17+ hour drive north.   They left this morning to go back to Round Rock.


The twins (as I affectionately call them behind their backs) are moving this week to Cisco where Laura begins her new life as the pastor for the Cisco First United Methodist Church.  She (they) are so excited about this new adventure.  She gives her first sermon on Father's Day.  Good Luck to them.


So after they left, we decided that we needed to do something this afternoon other than read the paper and stare at TV - while both of those items are quite worthy of my Sunday afternoon.  Lunch first - then, off in the Marauder to drive around the lake.  We do this once in a while to look at houses on the lake, their boat docks, dogs, For Sale signs (and how much things are costing now) and generally just to be nosy about our neighboring housing developments.


We drove down I-45 and took the road through Streetman towards the lake - frankly, we took a couple other roads first till we figured it all out.   FM  146.   As always we saw some massive houses and some smaller.  One development (forget the name) was just flat trashy with trailer houses, little shacks, no lawns mowed, junk piled everywhere....then on the water, a half dozen really nice houses. Those unkempt places must surely affect prices.


We stop and pick up the for sale signs if we can do it quietly.  One place had been reduced to $499,000  from 600K.   A shack of course.   I told the wife we could sell our place and use the money as a little down payment.   We both agreed to stay where we are.   Another gorgeous joint had a fenced 6 acre lot in the back.  Their advertisement said it was like new:  no shoes, pets, etc.   The wife figures they have white carpet too.


There was a ranch on the south side that went for several miles called:  The Holy Ground Ranch.  It had for sale signs.   Must be history behind that name.


As we neared our place, there is a farm about 2 miles down the road.  They have peaches, black berries, peppers, and other veggies.  We stop once in a while.  I think they are a little more expensive than H.E.B. though.   They have a cute name for the place and so much grub (think it is  "Happy Ours" ).   An older couple own the place with helpers.  I don't think they are organized.  


Today the old man was alone in the little area full of stuff.  He looked like he had been working and sweating for the entire day, really grubby, unshaven, the works.  You have to like a guy like that.  He is friendly to everyone.   But today he was unhappy.  He was not suppose to be working - his relatives had not bothered to show up to help him.  Let me explain.


His wife, equally elderly, has been in intensive care for 4 months.  Think about that and the cost associated.  It is mind boggling.   He didn't care if the crops sold or rotted.  He was worried about his wife.  I wish I knew his name.  Let's call him Leroy.  Leroy waved his hand over the stuff and said he didn't care, this would all grow again next year - while his wife might not.   I think the guy is depressed.


The fruit stand had stacks and shelves full of containers of tomatoes - more than you would care to count.  He said there were several times more just hanging on the plants out there.  He had baskets of peaches,  containers of peppers and bell peppers.  The tomatoes were cherry or biggie ones.   It is obvious to me that somebody needs to take over and find a way to sell his crops.  He is not able to do it.   As we talked, I told him about my pomegranate bushes and how easy they are to grow.  


He had some extra blackberry bushes.  I asked if he'd sell me one.  Instead he took me over behind a tractor and gave me some bushes that were ugly looking.  He said water and plant.  They'll come back.  So I took 3 plants and will put them out tomorrow.  I love blackberries.  You have to admit that he was nice to do that.


We parted friends - he with my $10 bill;  I with 2 sacks of peaches, 1 sack of banana peppers, 1 sack of cherry tomatoes, and 1 sack of big ole honkin' bright red maters.  Maybe tomorrow will be a better day for him.   That's it.  Y'all take care, and don't forget, live today as if tomorrow .... well you make up your own ending.
luv ya,
Mike Mtz

Thurs morn storm

A storm rolled through last night as I lay meself down to sleep - it came through at 2 a.m.;  I was asleep prior to that.  But nevertheless, my dog Liesl has a problem with thunder and lightening.  Rolling out of bed for certain necessary reasons at the time of night, I shuffled into the living room where I comforted both Liesl and, who knows why, little Greta who had suddenly become needy.


As we were comforting each other, there was a flash and all lights were erased.  Luckily I had a flashlight at hand and my trusty cell phone.  Our first wave of storms lasted a bit over a half hour.  I threw myself back into bed - with Liesl and Greta following suit.  Wait, that implies they were in my bed.  Our dogs sleep on cushions on the floor.  I know they would druther be on the bed;  we don't vote.


At 5 something I woke long enough to call Oncor Delivery and report our power loss.  Felt good about that.   Then, let's say bout 6,  dogs were all restless needing a morning trip to the dog pit for expulsion  (they need to tinkle).  We opened that back door to the pit and water was just streaming down hard.  It was a battle.  Over time 4 out of 5 added moisture to the backyard pit.  Only Liesl stood her ground.


I went back to bed.  Since it was raining still all morning with thunder and flashing lights, my wife did not turn them loose after their breakfast.  For a change, no dog was outside my bedroom window barking as the neighbors left for work.   It was so nice.  I woke up about 9:30 - made myself get out of bed.   Stepped into the water closet and WHAM the lights were back on.


All morning lights came on - went off - came on - went off - came on - you get the picture.  It was past noon before they remained on.  Meanwhile, we opened all the windows for a breeze, I crushed some aluminum cans, did a Soduko, ate breakfast, ate lunch, let dogs in and out of the back door, threw the ball for Oscar, made Liesl go to the grass, read a bit of a newspaper and generally did little.


Storms are gone.  Skies are clear.   Breeze is out of the north into the house.  Liesl has settled down.  Took a short nap.  Drove to M.E.N. Water Dept. and paid the water bill.   Balanced the check book. Tonight should be a Netflix night.  And so we go on.
mtz

storage auction

This morning the spouser and I went to town primarily to attend HEB and refill our grocery closet after having the kids and g'girls here last weekend.  We were getting a bit low.


I took advantage of this outing to go to a storage shed auction.  I am a fan of the "SS"  auctions on TV.   So, when they have an auction in Corsicana, I wanna go watch.  I do not take money.  Today's sale was at a nice storage shed over on the northwest side of town.  


Of course we arrived late cause we didn't plan ahead.  The first two sales were over by our arrival.  Shed #3 was nothing but junk and went for $35.   I could have bought that one.  Then, I would have had a pile of junk and been down $35.  All in all we watched about 10 sales.   Two had enough stuff to be interesting.  One went for $700 and the other for $1050.  Now a young kid (everyone looks like a young kid to me) paid $295 for one shed that had a kids bike, a small pile of clothes, and 4 massive four-wheel drive truck tires.   He was so pleased.


I believe these TV shows have caused prices to increase.   I believe this would be a good business if you had a store front to unload the stuff.   If you could sell used furniture from a store, it would be a possibility.  One shed had a small household worth of used furniture - blond furniture - bed, dresser, table, etc.


I got my name on their email list.  www.auctionzip.com    John Ashley auctioneers


fun.   later.   mtz  

Last blug of today

Thanks to son Roger for fixing my blog bit so I can bore the world.  He is such a good boy.