It's Getting Hot Around Here

I know Vegas has had a record breaking summer heatwave, so I'm in no hurry to get there. In north Texas, we've been unseasonably mild and very wet. Rain, thunderstorms, flooding have made our Texas summer at least tolerable.

I sold this last week some of the things I don't want to take with me when I move west. It's been helpful to wean myself from the junk I had collected over the past few years. It is amazing that we pay storage for things that have very little value. I have learned that there is nothing that can't be replaced. So why keep a unit of shelves that cost me $49 when I bought them five years ago? Off to the dumpster they go.

I continue to build a network of investors here in Texas and in the Vegas area. My idea is to work both markets. Technology allows us to be "global." For me, global is Nevada and Texas.

My next and final step is to finance my move. Want to make a contribution?

A Tale of Two Wolfe's

I've been reading a collection of short stories by Thomas Wolfe. This is the Wolfe born in Ashville, North Carolina in 1900 and published his first novel, Look Homeward, Angel, in 1929. He died a young man in 1938 leaving a trail of manuscripts and stories that have become literary masterpieces.

He is not to be confused with the current writer Tom Wolfe. This Wolfe was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1931. This Wolfe began his career as a journalist writing for the Washington Post and the New York Herald Tribune. He called his mixture of literary techniques and journalism a "new journalism" that experimented with various ways to tell a fact-based story. He may be best known for his novel Bonfire of the Vanities.

Thomas Wolfe attended Harvard, while Tom attended Yale. Thomas taught for time at New York University and later spent time traveling through Europe. Tom, however, spent ten years as a newspaper journalist, mostly as a general assignment reporter.

I'm now reading The Complete Short Stories of Thomas Wolfe (Francis E. Skipp, Ed., 1987). The compilation contains all of his published short story material. The stories are arranged by date, in the order in which they were published.

Having just finished a book on the friendship between U.S. Grant and William T. Sherman, I suppose the idea of reading two authors with the same name was intriguing to me. They certainly weren't friends, nor even knew each other. Tom Wolfe was only eight years old when the elder Thomas Wolfe died at the age of 38. But a pairing is a pairing, even if only by name. I also just purchased a book published in 2003 on the friendship between Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt.

For whatever reason, I'm interested in juxtaposing two historical figures, or in the case of the Wolfes two authors, and discovering what I can about their relationships. I'm not sure I'll learn anything by placing Thomas and Tom side-by-side as I read their works, but I have a sneaking suspicion that something will emerge through their writings that will be simpatico.

My Darkroom Collection: Politics and Misc.

I began sifting through some old prints from my days as a student and freelance photojournalist. The dates and locations are unknown with some of them. I didn't do a very good job of writing on the back of the prints any information. I'm relying on my memory, which is never a good thing.

This photo was taken on Commerce Street in dowtown Dallas during a parade. Date and reason for the parade are lost in my memory. I love the expression on the child's face. I remember having to dodge and burn in the darkroom to highlight her face. In the "old days" prior to digital photography and fancy software, we had to do enhance our work by antiquated techniques like dodging and burning.

I remember taking this shot inside the Old Time String Shop in Nacogdoches, Texas. The old woman was a wonderful subject. But I didn't want her to know I was photographing her, so I remember dropping my camera on my lap and trying to shoot without her knowing it. I found this print in a box, and it was damaged somewhat. I still have the negative, however, somewhere.

This photo of former Governor Ann Richards and presidential candidate Bill Clinton was taken on the eve of the election in 1992. Clinton and his entourage were on a multi-state tour on the day before he was elected president, and he stopped by Meachem Airport in Fort Worth for a brief visit.


ABC Nightline broadcaster Ted Koppell was with Clinton on the trip. As you can see by this photo, Ted was having a good time (or he was drunk). I met him and Clinton along with the other local press who were covering the event.

Since we're talking politics, I thought I would include this photo of Governor Mark White. I was assigned to cover a prayer breakfast he was attending, so I thought it would appropriate to get a picture of the Governor praying. The date of this photo must have been the Spring of 1983. Governor White served one four-year term beginning in January of 1983. He lost to Bill Clements in 1986. I guess he should have prayed more.

July 2007 Slide Show

I've compiled many of the photos posted here as a slide show at Photobucket. Click below to view the show.

July 2007 Photographium Album .

The sun has finally come out this morning. The rains have subsided for the time being. Starbucks is quiet, with a few onlookers at the food counter wondering what salad or overpriced sandwich they'll eat for lunch. I'm still trying to figure out the Starbucks appeal. It's a branding iron. The cattle must have their Guatemala Antigua blend.

I have an uneaten banana staring at me as if to say, "What are you waiting for? I'm here." My routine the past few weeks has been to visit the local grocery store for a banana and yogurt. Then I settle down at Starbucks for a few hours of reading, writing, and googling online. My banana knows I'll eventually get to her, but she's impatient. The yogurt has already served its purpose. Life does have its small pleasures.

I've been on CraigsList looking for writing jobs in the Las Vegas area. I found only one descent lead. Most of the posts are junk ads for web sites seeking content. For the most part I think it's waste of time. However, in the real estate area I have made contact with a few Las Vegas agents and local investors.

I finished the book Grant and Sherman by Charles Bracelen Flood. I was emotionally moved by the description of the two-day parade that celebrated the end of the war, the armies of the east and west, the coming together of Grant and Sherman at the reviewing stand. What a scene it must have been. Five weeks after Lincoln was assassinated, the parade was a celebration with 80,000 soldiers marching before a crowd that cheered, roared and cried for a group of men who saved the nation. I wish I had been there.

I love reading about the Civil War, the stories of men and their relationships with each other. I read earlier this month, for example, about Grant moving on Fort Donelson. The fort was deserted by most of the generals and many of the soldiers, leaving in command an old acquaintance of Grant, a fellow named Simon Bolivar Buckner. Buckner loaned Grant some money years before when Grant was penniless, getting off a boat in Manhattan. Now Buckner finds himself surrendering to "Unconditional Surrender" Grant at the fort after a couple of days of fighting in the rain and swamps of the Tennessee River. Grant walked with Buckner down to the dock to see him off, as Buckner was being sent back to Cairo as a prisoner of war. Grant pulled him aside and said, "…you are seperated from your people…perhaps you need some funds...my purse is at your disposal."

I also read the story of Voltaire P. Twombley, a soldier involved in the fight to capture the fort. Three flag bearers had fallen to musket rounds, and Twombley was not afraid to become the fourth. He hoisted the flag and ran along the side of his commander, Brigadier General Charles F. Smith, to take the slopes of the fort. A musket ball hit Twombley hard enough to knock him down, but being that it was shot from a far distance, it did no critical damage. Twombley won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his role in the battle. That name is a strange one, though.

TPT Archive: Exploring The Life of a Poker Dealer

Exploring The Life of a Poker Dealer
(previously posted at Texas Poker Trails in April, 2007)

A few weeks ago I observed a dealer audition in the poker room, and I must admit it was entertaining. A group of dealer-wannabes were gathered at Table 2 to demonstrate their skill at running a poker table. Two casino employees and a group of applicants were at the table with chips. The applicants took turns dealing the hands, attempting to shuffle, pitch, count chips, and run a game while the bosses took notes. A nice crowd of onlookers gathered around to make the would-be dealers as nervous as possible.

The applicants included a man in his 40s, a college kid, a couple of 20-somethings, and at least one middle-aged woman. They all looked nervous and eager to please. Dealing cards can't be that hard, can it? And based on the tips I've thrown their way, they probably make pretty good money. So I can understand the allure of dealing cards for money.

The life of a dealer is fascinating to me as a writer. It's another part of the game I want to explore. While watching the live broadcast of the EPT this month, one of the players spoke of the dealer and said, "She's one of the best dealers in the world. I've seen her at most of the major tournaments."

That sounds like a nice gig if you can get it--travel the world dealing cards. And of course this years winner of the EPT, Gavin Griffin, is a former dealer. In fact, many young professional players have "Card Dealer" on their resume. I met a fellow player a few weeks ago, a high school football coach, and he said his wife was a poker dealer for private high stakes games in the Dallas area. "She makes great tips," he said.

TPT Archive: Winstar's New Poker Room Worth the Wait

Winstar's New Poker Room Worth the Wait
(previously posted at Texas Poker Trails on Friday, April 12, 2007)

I was sitting at home last night and channel-surfing through the air looking for something to watch on TV, and there was absolutely nothing on...all these channels and the best I could come up with was a "Stargate SG-1" marathon on the Sci-Fi channel. Give me a break.

So after a minute or two of considering my options, I decided to make the 10 minute drive to the Winstar and check out the new poker room. I'm glad I did.

The new poker room is located in the building to the right of the main casino entrance, next to the humungous bingo hall. There is no direct entrance into the room itself, you must walk through the main casino and turn right until you hit the tunnel that leads you to the new digs. Last night being my first visit, I walked through the bingo hall instead...it was a little closer that way. But when the bingo hall closes for the night, that's not an option. So if you come, park near the southern entrance to the casino, and once inside turn right and look for the hallway leading to the poker room.

My first impression was, "Wow...this is cool." Of course, compared to the old room, my brother's garage would be an improvement. But this new room looks terrific. The wood paneling, flat screen TVs, and huge open space with numerous tables is going to make the room an attraction for the whole region. One of the nicest additions is the Player's Lounge, a nice sized room with comfortable leather chairs and sofas. It provides a relaxing place for players to wait until they get a table slot. The new room also has it's own grill for hot and cold food.

At the table, the first thing I noticed was the space...the poker tables are no longer butted inches apart like in the old room. The room provides plenty of area to stretch out in. I also immediately noticed the relative peace and quiet, as compared to the noise-fest in the old room. There are no slot machines whirring in the background, no screaming echoes from the main casino, no reverberating "all-in" yells from a table across the room. "A player can actually hear himself talk in here," I was thinking.

I was talking to another player in the Lounge, and he said, "Man, this sure beats the old place."

"Yea. Our baby has grown up." I said. "It looks like the Winstar has hit the big time." I was also thinking it was about time the Winstar put our rake money to good use.