Car Show in Denison for Daddy-O

       If you enjoy old cars as much as I do, then downtown Denison was the place to be on Saturday. It was all dedicated to the memory of Jamie Geesling, who died earlier this year. Jamie was a car and motorcycle freak and went out of his way to assist anyone else who needed a little help.

       The trophy going to the overall car show winner will be receiving a guitar shaped award that was designed after Jamie's personal instrument. 

        This is a 1941 Ford 'Woodie' Station Wagon... and it was as clean as a pin. The surfer crowd made these vehicles popular and you can see this one has a surf board on top. Original flathead V8 engine made this truly a super car.

      1936 Ford Pick-Up truck with a nice paint job. You know how much I love Harley-Davidson motorcycles, so it was a natural attraction for me. The truck has a flathead V8, but also Offenhauser finned heads and 2 two-barrel carburetors. Ford made this very engine from 1932 thru 1953.

      1933 Ford 3-window coupe... The paint job and flamed front end demands your attention and the Chevrolet V8 looks like it was installed with a shoe spoon as it was an extremely tight fit. 

          This is an extremely rare car... A 1937 Studebaker Coupe/Truck. From the driver's seat forward it is exactly like a car, while from the seat back it was a pick-up truck. This particular model preceded the Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino by twenty years and was a real trent setter. The interior is a work in progress, but I loved the exterior of the vehicle.

         1941 Buick Roadmaster...  Great paint job and colorful flames on the front. Those small port-holes in the front fender would be a Roadmaster feature for years to come. The interior is all custom made and a console between the bucket seats really sets it off.

         The sign says 1939 Ford Coupe,...but I would swear that is a 1937 front end on this car. The sign listed all the custom additions to the car BUT no mention of the front end. I remember the 1939 as looking more like a 1940, and the tear drop headlights were not on a 1939 model. Maybe it was such a major change that the owner decided he didn't need to mention it,...BUT it sure jumped out at me when looking at it. 

          1941 Oldsmobile Coupe...  Chevy, Olds, Buick, and Pontiac all shared this shape in the 1940's and I loved all of them. If you are going to paint a car black, you better have all imperfections corrected since black makes them stand out for all to see. This coupe was outstanding inside and out...and thanks for the bumper stick for Daddy-O. We all miss him.

1941 Buick Coupe... This outstanding model features a straight 8-cylinder engine. Before General Motors went to V8's the straight 8 was the power engine to have, but the long crankshaft in those engines created 'wobble' at high speeds and that led to its doom. This model is painted a 'root beer' color and looks great. The interior is almost complete but still lacks carpeting in the car.

       The 1932 Ford Coupe is always the iconic year for hot rodding, but I have always preferred the 1933. This 1933 3-window was really clean, inside and out. The dash is custom made and it also has air conditioning added.

       I saw this car from across the street and thought it was a 1928 Ford.. but when I got closer I was surprised to find out...

        it was a Erskine. I never even heard of that model car. It was clean as a pin inside and out..
        It was a great car show and we appreciate all of the owners bringing out their cars for the crowd to drool over. I am sure Jamie would have gotten as big a kick out of it as I did..

Spaghetti for Susan

      This past Monday I was one of many volunteers to assist in the 'Spaghetti for Susan' benefit in the Sherman/Denison area. For some background information, Susan Hooper is one of the friendly faces to greet you upon entering Reba's Ranch House. Located behind Texoma Medical Center Hospital in Denison, Reba's Ranch House caters to the plight of women who are in a bad relationship or the after effects of breast cancer. They have one room that is filled with various wigs, hair pieces, and make-up for women who have lost their hair to chemo treatments.

       My wife does a lot of volunteer work locally, but the efforts for the women of Reba's Ranch House is one close to her heart. She and I have both felt the heartache of losing a loved one from our families to cancer.
       Susan Hooper herself fought the successful battle with breast cancer some years ago, and she has been cancer free since. A couple of months ago she got the news that cancer had returned, this time to her neck and spine. She immediately underwent new chemo treatments to combat the disease. Her company insurance covered the treatments, but the co-pay totals were astronomical. Friends and colleagues came up with the money-making idea of making spaghetti dinners and allowing cars to drive-by the Ranch House for pick-up.

      Over forty volunteers showed up at eight o'clock Monday, ready to face what we hoped would be a constant demand for spaghetti all day long. Some companies and schools called in orders early to be picked up closer to lunch time.

       Most of the ingredients for the salads, pasta, and meat sauce were all donated, so just the actual labor of preparing and delivering the final product was the volunteers goal. Here we were packing salads.. Romaine lettuce, mandarin oranges, raisins, croutons, and a couple of different salad dressings in each Styrofoam container. We also packed a couple of cookies in a plastic baggie as a dessert. I am the one in the Dallas Cowboy cap... and obviously, the one who did NOT get the word on black tee-shirts..

       Jim Hawthorne, Horace Groff, and Harry Lemming did most of the cooking of the 'secret sauce' while the rest of us did the serving.

        Former Grayson County Judge Horace Groff takes a break from the heat, along with Michelle, a member of the staff at Reba's Ranch House. Before I forget, Reba herself heard about the fund- raiser and sent a check for Susan despite not getting any spaghetti.

       Back inside,...The pasta arrived in the kitchen already buttered and seasoned. All we had to do was heat it up and apply the sauce, along with a piece of garlic bread donated by Panera's.

          The sauce arrived in three gallon buckets and we heated it in four large cookers like the one above.. When the cooker got low it was simply a matter of adding another bucket of sauce...NOT an easy chore as the delicious concoction was intent on spattering over the entire counter-top.  

     Susan was adamant on helping out somewhere...but we assigned her son Matthew the job of keeping her in this recliner where she could just oversee the job we were doing. My wife sprayed some pink hair paint on Susan,..she is not sunburned as much as it looks.

         The gang outside along the curb performed super. They took money and delivered the meals to each car as they stopped to pick up their orders. Some called in advance and some ordered right on the spot, but the volunteers made good on every car coming by.

        Chris and Nicole had the answer of how to transfer the completed meals from the kitchen to the curb. This allowed us to transit about 25 meals at a time and kept the flow going so we could avoid a bottleneck. 

        We got good publicity from the event as both KXII-TV and KTEN-TV came by to do video stories on the activity....and the newspaper also came by to cover the hubbub..

        And look who else came by to get some spaghetti...Denison Mayor Jared Johnson showed up during his lunch hour to make good on his promise to be there. Thanks your Honor!

       Speaking of lunch,...we did get to take a break between the lunch and dinner rushes.. Guess what was on the menu??  Spaghetti of course...and despite handling it all day, it was still delicious. This is Susan digging in to sample the product. The day was a big success, and while I am not at liberty to disclose any financial figures, you can see by the smile on Susan's face that we far exceeded any projected goals. All told we delivered just over one thousand meals. Thanks to all who participated;... May the Lord Bless You and your families.
  

Harley-Davidson Demo Rides

       Texoma Harley-Davidson had the national demo truck in town last Friday and Saturday, along with other activities like patch sewing, stunt riders, live entertainment, and bar-b-que sandwiches from Ringtail (always great) Bar-B-Que.
     The national truck travels from dealership to dealership to allow potential buyers the opportunity to 'try it before you buy it', or in my case, to ride as many new models as possible.

     The driver of this rig has a pretty nice gig...He sleeps in a motel each night, and the employees of each dealership handle all the physical labor chores. He straps and unstraps each of the different models and store employees roll the bikes into and out of the trailer. Needless to say, there is a long list of truck drivers wanting this position.

       The small orange stickers indicate what models were available for demonstration rides. I have owned over half-a-dozen Harleys over the years, but currently have a Honda Shadow in my garage. (Don't tell my doctor!) In 2009 I had a stroke and my doctor told me to give up riding. Easier said than done.

       To ride one of the demo bikes you had to show a motorcycle license and sign a waiver for insurance purposes. The route selected for riders was a combination of highway and small roads over a ten mile stretch to allow riders to get a good feel for the bike.

      I have owned a Nightrain and a Softail Custom in the past, so I requested a Softail model for my first ride of the day. This one is a 2015 Softail Slim, and the six-speed transmission combined with the 103 cubic inch engine really gives you an impressive ride. If it were my bike I would remove the floorboards as soon as I got home. I have small feet but had trouble getting to the shifting peg with my left foot because of the floorboards. Others complained about scratching the floorboards on corners, but I had no problem and I lean into corners pretty deep.

     The safety riders were pretty adamant about bunching up or stretching out the line, and we didn't have a single accident either day.

       I also rode this dyna Low Rider and didn't care for it at all. Seemed like the wind blast was funneled right into my face and I had the mid-bike controls. It definitely needed forward controls to get riders feet out in front. I am five foot eight and I can't see a taller rider on this bike. When you are seated in the saddle it is extremely hard to get to the kickstand when it is in the 'up' position. Small problems though.. the bike ran like a scalded dog.

      I rode a Softail Deluxe and really liked the way it handled.. I could see myself taking a long trip on that bike without too much trouble. It had a windshield and saddlebags already installed and that may have influenced my impression of it.
     Thanks to Harley-Davidson for providing the demo bikes. They continue to field a quality product and if I were to be in the market for another bike it would have the HD brand on it.

       The weather cooperated with us for a change. The forecast was for a sixty per cent chance of rain, but it turned out to be just an overcast day with tolerable temperatures. We had a good crowd turn out for the live music, food, stunt riders, and other activities. Thanks to you also.

2014 Dallas Cowboys Pre-Season Prediction

     Okay,..the time has rolled around for my annual prediction (guess) on the upcoming season for the Dallas Cowboys. Two years ago I was spot on with an 8-8 prediction. Last year I thought I saw a slight (very little) improvement with the Boys and I forecast a 9-7 season, only to see them finish at 8 wins and 8 losses for the third year in a row. Now as we embark on a new season, with new hopes, I would take 8-8 in a heartbeat and be grateful... but alas, I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel for fans of the silver and blue.

     I have told you before, but maybe I need to inject it again for any new readers who have come upon my blog page. I have been a die-hard fan of the Dallas Cowboys since they were born in 1960. I had to battle my father at the dinner table since he favored the old Dallas Texans, who have since moved on to become the Kansas City Chiefs. Many times he would gig me by saying, 'the wrong team left town.'  I guess what I am trying to say is,.. I love 'em and they are my team. Having said that, it pains me to have to admit to the following.

     Any organization, company, team, platoon, or squad is judged by their leader... and Dallas is currently being led down the wrong path by owner and general manager Jerry Jones. The team on the field for the Cowboys in 2014 is just a re-hyped version of the 2013 team.
    All teams in the National Football League had to cut down their rosters to 53 players as we begin the regular season next Sunday (September 7th). After a winless pre-season (0-4), Dallas must be ready for the San Francisco 49'ers on that date. Here is what Cowboy fans must look forward to this season.

     Dallas will go into the season with three quarterbacks on the team. Veteran Tony Romo is the face of the franchise, but it is his back that most followers will be interested. Romo has twice (2) undergone back surgery in the last year, and it is uncertain he will be physically able to go for the entire year. He has played so little in the pre-season games he has not even broken a sweat. Brandon Weeden will be his immediate backup, and rookie Dustin Vaughn will carry the clip board on the sidelines while gaining some experience about the NFL.

      Five wide receivers made the team in Dallas.. Dez Bryant will be the go-to man, with Terrance Williams on the other side. Cole Beasley, Dwayne Harris, and Devin Street will all see action. LaRon Byrd and Jamar Newsome had some good moments in training camp, but were given their release on Saturday. Maybe they will be signed to the practice squad if no other team claims them.
     Three tight ends made the team this year, compared to the five that started the season one year ago. Jason Witten will be the primary tight end while newcomers Gavin Escobar and James Hanna provide back up.

  

Dallas has used their number one draft pick for an offensive

 lineman in the last three college drafts. It is time for the offensive line to start paying off for the Cowboys, and give Romo some time to develop plays. Nine offensive line players made the squad for 2014, they are: Tyron Smith, Ronald Leary, Travis Frederick, Doug Free, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Jeremy Parnell, Zack Martin, Darron Weems, and Donald Hawkins. The last one was acquired in a trade on Saturday. If the names look familiar it is because it is basically the same line-up as one year ago... Bad news for Cowboy fans.

    I thought I would toss in a pretty picture before I get around to the defensive side of the ball. Dallas had the worst defense in the NFL in 2013 and I don't see it getting any better this year, possibly even worse, if that is possible. The Cowboys kept eleven defensive linemen on the roster and maybe if they all played at the same time we might be able to stop some teams. Gone are DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher, lost to free agency since 2013. Making the team this year are Henry Melton, Jeremy Mincey, George Selvie, Tyrone Crawford, Anthony Spencer, DeMarcus Lawrence, Nick Hayden, Terrell McClain, Davon Coleman, and Ken Bishop. Lawrence is injured and probably will go on the injury list later this week, but had to count toward the final 53 players. On Saturday Dallas sent a 2015 draft pick to the Tennessee Titans for Lavar Edwards and he should be in Dallas after Labor Day.

    

      Before Dallas can start celebrating again they must be able to stop the run. Six linebackers made the team.. Justin Durant, Bruce Carter, Rolando McClain, Kyle Wilber, Anthony Hitchins, and Cameron Lawrence.. The last one mainly off his performance on special teams. Sean Lee, the outstanding middle linebacker for Dallas, was hurt in training camp and his knee surgery will not allow him back until deep into the schedule. Look for McClain to take over the middle spot for Dallas this season. 

   The defensive secondary in 2013 was enough to turn your stomach on Sundays. Dallas could not exert enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the secondary paid the price. Orlando Scandrick and Jakar Hamilton will start the season with four game suspensions...so Dallas begins 2014 with Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne on the corners. Sterling Moore, Tyler Patmon, Barry Church, J.J. Wilcox, Jeff Heath, Ahmad Dixon, Jemea Thomas. Thomas was claimed off the waiver wire of New England.

    As for the special team players.. Dan Bailey and Chris Jones will again do the kicking and L.P. Ladoucer will be the long snapper.

    2014 will NOT be good for the Dallas Cowboys...and Head Coach Jason Garrett. I know the pre-season games are to judge new talent and see how some individuals react to game situations..but Dallas scored only 60 points in their four pre-season losses. I think that, and the decline of the defense, will spell doom for the team once known for its Doomsday Defense. By mid-season Jerry Jones will make a change in the coaching staff and Jason Garrett will be gone. The only chance Dallas has is in the play of Tony Romo and his 'iffy' back is a gamble that not even Las Vegas is not willing to take on. Five and eleven !!  That is my prediction and I go to bed each night praying that I will be wrong... Forgive me Tom Landry.

Update: The Cowboys continue to streamline their roster and made some late changes since the above story...Probably the most startling news was the release of former Baylor All-American safety Ahmad Dixon.

  

                            2014 Pre-Season Exhibition Games

August 7         Dallas 7       San Diego 27

August 16       Dallas 30     Baltimore 37

August 23       Dallas 20     Miami 25

August 28       Dallas 3       Denver 27

                                  2014 Regular Season

Sept 7             Dallas 17          San Francisco 28  (0-1)

Sept 14           Dallas 26          Tennessee   10  (1-1)

Sept 21           Dallas 34          St Louis 31      (2-1)

Sept 28           Dallas 38          New Orleans 17 (3-1)

Oct 5              Dallas 20          Houston 17 in OT (4-1) 

Oct 12            Dallas 30          Seattle 23   (5-1)

Oct 19            Dallas 31          NY Giants 21 (6-1)

Oct 27            Dallas 17          Washington 20 in OT (6-2)

Nov 2             Dallas 17          Arizona 28  (6-3)

Nov 9             Dallas 31          Jacksonville 17 (7-3)

Nov 16             Open Date/No Game

Nov 23           Dallas 31          New York Giants 28  (8-3)

Nov 27           Dallas 10          Philadelphia 33  (8-4)

Dec 4             Dallas  41         Chicago 28  (9-4)

Dec 14           Dallas 38          Philadelphia 27  (10-4)

Dec 21           Dallas 42          Indianapolis 7  (11-4)

Dec 28           Dallas  44        Washington 17 (12-4)

                          N F L   Playoffs

Jan 4              Dallas 24        Detroit 20     (13-4)

Jan 11            Dallas  21       Green Bay 26  (13-5)

End of season