Man Steal Recyclables From City of Baytown Under Our Collective Nose

Trash and recycle container are easy pickings for passing aluminum scroungers.

There was a man on the street this morning who lives in my subdivision. He wears a straw hat and walks around with no shirt on. He had a big bag of cans on his shoulder that he filled from the recycle bins which we all put out. 

 I told him he was stealing from the city. He said he was recycling. I told him I realized that, but all of the people in the neighborhood are recycling to help the city and the money he is getting is going in HIS pocket, not the city's. He walked off and said he basically is going to continue. It really angered me that I am recycling to fill this guys pockets. I want him to explain to the police how he is justifying doing this and I called it in.

As a friend explained to me: "At the very least it should be a fine for stealing from the city."

If this guy (and he is the second one I've seen doing this in Chaparral Village) were to go down to the recycle center and load up a bag of cans and then sell them, folks would be outraged, but he is basically doing just that. My recycling efforts make me an unpayed employee of this guy. 

It can be argued that he is actually working and since he is recycling, what harm can it do?  

Well, first off, I could recycle my own aluminum and put the money in my pocket, but I choose to give it to the city that I am trying to help.  This guy is simply a bum who lets all of chumps do his work for him, in my opinion. 

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Old San Jacinto Hospital on Decker Drive

San Jacinto Memorial Hospital stands on a hill on Decker Drive and looks like a place the Munsters would inhabit.

 Here is the sad demise of a once beautiful building and hospital.  The old and abandoned San Jacinto (Methodist) Memorial Hospital on Decker Drive in Baytown, Texas.  It was built in 1947 by W. S. Bellows and donated to the city of Baytown by Humble Oil, now Exxon-Mobil.  It was to honor those who served in World War Two, but I guess that is gone with the building.

The once proud building now houses vagrants.

At the front door is barren planter.  Well, not completely barren, as it has empty whiskey and beer containers, and refuse.  The grass is over-grown, windows are busted out and mosquitoes swarmed me when I tried to get close enough for photographs.

San Jacinto Memorial Hospital was built to honor WW II Veterans.

Some of the comments made concerning the photos I took are these:

- MAN THAT LOOKS LIKE A WAR ZONE...
- That place certainly has major creepy vibes! When we got the geocache there, I couldn't wait to leave! 
- So sad to see it in such bad shape.
- Is someone living in there? Why they keep knocking out more windows? Sad nothing was done with this building.. wud hv been great loft apts even with the GHOSTS that call it home. That hosp had the only morgue in this area. Even when it was a hospice....the strange noises and sitings in the basement are legend. My daughter worked down in the pharmacy during hospice times....LOTS of stories...and people who refused to go back.. but to just let it crumble...with the weather thru broken windows...is a shame...  

At the entrance are empty whiskey bottles, trash, beer cans, and debris.

- Shame on San Jac and City....
- City council would rather the city fall down around us.
- Well it is unsafe....not/boarded up...no/telling what or/whom is going on in there...but it wud hv to be one brave person to be in there after dark.. COULDN'T PAY me to walk around in there.. I am telling u some weird stuff happens....maybe that cud be the attraction and people come for miles to get scared the crap out of u..
- Bet they don't hang around long after dark....NURSES use to refuse parts of that bldg. When it was hospice, there was a cat....and right before someone passed away...the cat would go lay with them. Even the Drs were noticing and paying attn to the cat... I still think loft apts wouldd be great... dang bldg withstood many a hurricane.

Mosquitoes swarmed me when I approached the building to take photographs and I waded through knee deep grass.

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WESTCOAST DONUTS honors Ken Pridgeon

I was chatting with my old Air Force buddy, Ken "the Dauber" Pridgeon this morning and he informed me that West Coast Donuts on Decker Drive was blessing him this morning with a donation from the sale of "Freedom" donuts they sell.  You may remember the story by Jane Lee from the Baytown Sun back in June of this year.

Ken "the Dauber" Pridgeon, Sophan and Sokunthea Som, and Scott Sheley

 I met Ken at the West Coast Donut shop and enjoyed a cruller or two and in walks city councilman Scott Sheley, who I enjoy very much.  He was there for the presentation of a two hundred and fifty dollar check to Ken by the owner of the shop.  He invited me to join their little group at the shop each Saturday morning at 9 am, where he claims "they figure things out", if I remember correctly.  He insinuated I could add to their mental stockpile of facts and interesting stories.

Sophan Som and Scott (the handsome one) Sheley talk about the future of Texas Avenue and the gallery of Heroes.

 The owners of this shop, husband and wife Sophan and Sokunthea Som have been very supportive of the projects on Texas Avenue, the restoration of the Brunson Theater and now, the Gallery of Heroes according to councilman Sheley(who asked to be referred to as "the handsome one" by the way and it was a pleasant experience altogether.
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Portrait of a Warrior (Texas Country Reporter)

Mean Gene Kelton R.I.P.

Mean Gene Kelton's beautiful head stone designed by his wife, Joni Kelton

I was honored to receive an invitation to the dedication of the gravestone and final resting place of Sidney Eugene Kelton, better known in the Blues world as Mean Gene Kelton.  His wife Joni is a friend of mine, as was Gene, and I had to make it a priority to be there.

An intimate group of family and friends dared the threat of lightning and thunder for a small service

 My friend Elke Meyer informed me Joni designed the graphics and text for the grave stone and I must say, I’ve never seen anything so wonderful.  I was part of an intimate group of maybe fifty other people and we gathered under the rain-laden clouds, as the gods of lightning and thunder hailed a final goodbye to Mean Gene.

Mean Gene Kelton at Roseland Park for the Save Our Bayou Rally

 It was a fitting tribute to the man some knew as “too white to play the blues” and others, the hot-lick blues guitarist from Baytown, Texas.  I have his CD’s and listen to them often and it’s a shame, but honestly, I didn’t realize the man was as good as he was until after his untimely death on the 28^th of December, 2010.  It was evident to me how wounded this group of people are over his passing.

Joni Kelton and family at dedication service

 KPFT (90.1) Public radio regularly plays his music and often, I’ve never heard the song, but no one has to tell me who I am listening to.  Along with his band, the Die Hards, they have a very distinctive powerful guitar and lyrics ranging from emotional to earthy.  If you grew up in Baytown back in the heydays of Goose Creek, you remember “Cruisin’ Texas Avenue", a Mean Gene staple.

A very diverse group of fans, friends, and family attended and exchanged stories.

 Self-described as a performing "black leather blues and redneck rock 'n roll” no doubt Gene Kelton will become the legend in death he deserved in life.  In his honor, I created a geocache close to his grave so people can use their GPSr units to find his grave site, as it is way out in the East Texas woods in Pine Valley Cemetery, near Pumpkin, Texas.  I also created a geocaching “Challenge”, which people who play this hi-tech game of hide and seek can complete if they take their own photo with Mean Gene’s headstone in the background.

Emotions ran high as the grave stone was dedicated in the old cemetery

 Last, I built a page on the web site Find a Grave, so those interested in genealogy can find his marker.  Thank you my friend Joni Kelton for allowing me into your inner circle and may God bless Mean Gene, his band - the Die Hards, fans, friends, and family.

Rabbit Scares Woman in Jenkins Park!

Little harmless rabbit scares woman and fat baby in Jenkins Park, Baytown, Texas

My bride and I were walking our doggies at Jenkins Park the other day and we saw a young woman pushing a stroller coming toward us. A rabbit ran across the trail in front of her. She didn't see it and I asked her if she "saw that rabbit"? She said, "What?" and turned and at a trot, ran off pushing the stroller. I wonder what she would have done if a chupacabra had ran across in front of her...

 As she was running off, I yelled, "ITS RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!" I laughed for 5 minutes.

  The back two wheels broke off the stroller and she snatched that kid out of there, like Craig Biggio on a hot grounder and little rocks were flying up behind her as she ran out of sight screaming. Craziest thing I've ever seen.

Baytown Bert was only trying to helpthe fat baby and scared woman.

 I snatched up the wheels and took after her, catching her with her 62 lb toddler quite easily, but she thought I was the rabbit and kicked it into overdrive, spraying me with painful pebbles. One of them lodged in my right nostril and I finally dug it out 5 minutes ago.

 She was running so fast, she ran right out of her shoes and as I ran past, I reached down real low like and scooped them up at a full gallop, hardly missing a step and that's when that durned rabbit passed me and headed up the trail toward that screaming woman and that fat baby.

 My dear departed Dad once taught his four sons how to catch a running rabbit and I did everything I could to get close enough to make the maneuver. It zigged to the right, I did too. It darted left, I was right on it. The fat baby saw us coming, as the woman was all in and had slowed considerably. The gordo baby began to bellar like a little torito and this somehow gave the woman what she needed and in a shot that would make Otis Thorp proud, she hurled that fat baby through the window of her Cadillac Escalade and jumping in behind the wheel...

The woman pushing the fat baby gave it everything she had...

 She laid a strip of rubber so thick, she was on the rims before she hit Raccoon drive. The resulting sparks ignited the rubber and that danged rabbit burst into flames before my very eyes. It took one incredible leap, ricocheted off the sewer lift station and disappeared below the surface of Cary Bayou. I pulled up short of the tennis courts and shook my head. If I would have only brought my camera!  When I got back to my Jeep, my bride asked me how it turned out and all I could say was...

  "Would you like a pair of neon red running shoes,  size 14?"

Baytown Bert's a Crying Cache Adventure

Baytown Bert's a Crying cache

Nebulus703, Geohiker, & BryanWilpitz

  5Ersker wrote: Baytown Bert arranged a group effort to make this find. He called our group "Team Flirting with Disaster" I believe there were about 8 of us. This is my second effort to be at the GZ (at least I think I was at the GZ, not sure because this is the one where my GPS/Smartphone died) Log was signed, as a Team. So glad to get this one off my DNF list. Few pic's to post later.

Team Flirting with disaster walking back after 3 hours of brush busting

Baytown Bert wrote: We mashed up as a team of x-perts today, calling ourselves Team Flirting With disaster and made a valiant attack on ground zero with only about 300 scratches and possibly 200 chiggers (Yest to see results). Only one speckled King snake was stepped on. I must confess, I cried the whole time I was looking for the cache. CO met us afterward to gloat. Curse you Jason Gipson and your heinous cache!

MSeivers09 shows off his battle scars

Nebulus703 wrote: The hike to this cache from A Cache To Cry Over was actually not too bad. We made find pretty easily too. However, the whole journey of getting these two caches was pretty intense. Thanks for the fun!

Speckled King Snake was actually stepped on, but slithered off unharmed

Bryanwilpitz wrote: Had a great time finding this one with local geocachers. This one is getting a fav.
Geohiker wrote: Thanks to thacatfish for putting out this fun cache.  Met up with Baytown Bert and gang for a team effort to find the two caches in these woods.  Looking forward to the next adventure.

Nebulus703 climbs 15 feet up in a tree to get cache: GC3BK37

Aaron Barbee wrote: Continuing on from (GC3BK37) A Cache to Cry Over we made our way out to this cache; the reason we came out to this god-forsaken place.

The trek wasn't so bad really.  We found a nice channel down the woods where we could walk upright.  After about another 30 minutes we were at the new GZ and quickly signing the log.  This one didn't involve any human ladders, corpses (not for lack of trying from what I see from the previous logs), or booby-traps.  hehehehehe  I said booby.  [;)]

We made our way towards the pipeline for a nice stroll in the scorching sun.  And, after about 20 minutes we were at the house we started from with a smiling CO to greet us and make sure there were no (or maybe hoping there WERE) casualties.

Thanks for a good one!  Definitely gets a favorite point!

Bryan Wilpitz, Cache owner Jason Gipson (thacatfish), and Aaron Barbee

 Ersky wrote: Of course with our group "Flirting with Disaster" we were assured to find this cache, but it was a large task. TFTC!
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GC3B8ZZ Geocache: Baytown Bert's A Crying

GC3B8ZZ Geocache Hell?  You decide.

A group of us intrepid geocachers are going after these two caches next Saturday: Read what one fellow experienced just the other day: 

Blindzman wrote: Well I guess I should write a log for y'all to laugh at. My wife, son, daughter and me met up with CacheControl at about 9:00am on the trail and were separated at about 9:15am (mistake number 1) The first cache we went to was "A cache to cry over", it is in the same woods as this one. When y'all do it you will understand how much extra is involved in that cache. When we left there we were only .51miles from "BB's a crying". We thought it wasn't going to be that big of a deal. 

Well it took us at least 1.5 hours to get between them. The real problems was on the way out, it was only about .73 miles from the cache to parking so we started off & that hike took us almost 2.5 hours. Well between the two caches I knew I was not in that bad of shape but I also knew I was not in the best of shape either, we almost turned around but figured we did not want to give up. About half way out I realized how bad of shape I really was in and how dehydrated I really was with about .25 left on the way out. 

I honestly did not think I was going to make my way out the last .15, both my legs were cramped straight and I looked like double peg leg walking, it was on nothing but pure drive and will power. We finally came out of the woods at 2:30 directly in front of the parking and I fell down under the water spigot at the house and laid there for about 10 mins with ants covering me and really did not care because I was cooling off. 

Well from there it just got worst. 

The home owner finally found me and had me come into a breeze way to get out of the sun. While there I had them cut my pants off from the knees down. While out of the trail I had taken my outer shirt off and was in my undershirt, well that ripped off and I put my main shirt back on. CacheControl showed up and suggested we call 911 so I listened and when they showed up they started me on an I.V. 

CacheControl and Blindzman at San Jacinto Methodist Hospital in Baytown, texas

By the time we got to the hospital I felt so much better and refused to be admitted and went outside to wait on my family to show up. After about 10 mins the ambulance driver offered me her phone and my wife did not pick up so he suggested she may be in the ER waiting room so I walk in there with my cut off shorts no shoes and no shirt with my ripped under shirt hanging from my waist and the nurse were looking at me like they were fixing to call 911 on me again but for a completely different reason and my family thankfully was in there and off we went. 

Well thacatfish, and Geogeex showed up to check on me and after about 10 mins of sitting in the parking lot we headed home. I guess I have to say TFTC but don't know if we will ever reattempt this one again and we at least got the smiley. For all of y'all thinking of going after this one make sure you DOUBLE the amount of water you think you should bring.

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Jim McDonnel Represents Baytown Texas

Presenting pictures at the WTB Command at Fort Hood.

 Local pencil artist Jim McDonnel recently left his home in Baytown Texas and traveled to Fort Hood, near Killeen Texas to present the commanding general of the post with an original pencil drawing of a US combat soldier in full battle dress.  Jim is a staunch advocate for Wheelers for the Wounded also.  You may read more about this fine Baytown artist here.

This is Jim and Mike Thornton. He is a Navy Seal and Medal of Honor recipient.
He was a member of Seal Team One and a founder of Seal Team six.

WFTW banner at Fort Hood.

Jim McDonnel with Command soldiers of Fort Hood

Art League of Baytown - Face Off

I was back up at the Art League of Baytown today working on their computer print capabilities and adjusting a few file protocols and I took time to admire the many masks that Art league members and local students submitted for their first ever "Face Off" competition.  I photographed a few of them to show everyone how amazing they are.  Some are even for sale, but you must hurry to see or buy one, as the exhibit will be coming down very soon.

Susan Urban showed me her 3rd place winning entry "Chakra"

These two were made using the Raku Process

 

This one is my personal favorite. 2nd place Billie Brinkley "Tree Spirit: Seasons Change

I loved this one too!  Billie Brinkley "See Spot Run"

 

This is one of many made from a gourd.  Darla Hines "Relic Dancer"

Totally loved this one by Liz Caldwell!  "Its Coming"

The first place winner by "SAINT MARK" and "HOGGO" by Marsha Landers

 

Art League of Baytown is at 110 West Texas Avenue close to Roosters.

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Art League of Baytown - New PC!

A week or so ago, I got a phone call from the Art League of Baytown (I'm a member in dubious standing) to give them 911 emergency service on their dead PC.  I threw down my plate of bacon-wrapped jumbo shrimp and pork & beans, kicked over a 6-pack of tepid Bear Whiz Beer, and hopped like a rabbit out to my awesome Jeep Wrangler Cosmic Blue 4-door rig, aptly named "tha Choppa"

I remember flooring it, as I am also a technical adviser for the club and Susan Urban sounded near tears.

Nefarious Art League member Baytown Bert and the esteemed Artist Susan Urban

"BB, we just gots to have this thing up and running or we can't cipher our Quickens (or something, I can't remember my own emergencies, let alone someone elses)," she blurted in my ear as I drove over.

"Ma'am...ma'am... MA'AM!  SUSAN!  Settle down.  I will either fix it, or I will bluff my way through."  I distinctly remember vowing and I sounded pretty danged confidant too, even to myself.

Arriving on the scene, I can still remember looking at the machine.  It was a Tandy TRS-80, if I recall.  It was covered in little paint-covered fingerprints and I could tell the artists had been all over it.

Holding back a loud guffaw, I proclaimed they needed a new machine, seeing how this one was originally purchased something like 40 years ago.  It was Ben Franklin's last contribution.

"Well..."  Susan said, obviously impressed.  "If you say so."

"Dang tootin'"  I said.  I call em like I see em."  Then she told me Gary Erwin had tried to fix it and I just rolled my eyes.  "Oh geeze... Gary wasn't even born when this computer was introduced."

I scribbled the name of a new Dell model out that folks are having success with and tossed it smugly on the desk.  "Just give me a call Missy when the new machine comes in and I'll saunter over and fix it right, with the "Quickens and all", and I walked out feeling smarmy.

Bobby Sutphin teaching a water painting class today.

 Well, the call came in today, just as I was shoveling a thick slab of jalapeno boudain between the cheek and gums and I - being a connoisseur of French cuisine (and very hungry), swallowed it without chewing.  Gulping down a scalding hot very black cup of chicory-laced French Market coffee and donning a minimum of clothing (as you can see above, Jane Lee is there and she's always impressed by my tactless attempts of covering myself), I darted out the door.

Baytown Sun Reporter and artist Jane Lee

The beautiful Bobby Sutphin was teaching a class and I'll be darned if I didn't receive a standing ovation when I came in.  Even the veteran Baytown Sun normally unflappable reporter Jane Lee gave up a couple hoorays, as she was moved to a flood of tears.  I was seriously humbled and probably to top Jane and impress me,  Susan Urban literally ran around clapping her hands.

I was danged impressed, but tried not to show it, so I announced I had to "do my wizardry computer crap and all," and I shut the door behind me, threatening immolation (them, not me) if I was disturbed. 

Well, isn't that what all IT professionals do?  To be honest, I'm not an IT professional.  I am a computer savant.  That's what I had printed on my business card.

Anyway, I took about an hour nap, letting the boudain settle, then with 3 shakes of a mouse cord, I did the magic we PC gurus do.  Stepping out of the room, I feigned total exhaustion and Susan and Bobbie helped me out to my Jeep.  I heard Jane tell the others "He puts his heart into his work, like us artists, but with more feeling." As soon as I went around the corner in my Jeep, I got a very smug look on my face and cackled loudly and went to find a geocache, hidden over by Lee College (GC3F1K5).  Oh the life!
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High Noon Gun Range Crosby Texas

High Noon Gun Range Crosby Texas

My bride and I made a visit to the High Noon Gun Range in Crosby Texas last week for the first time and bow howdy, the place is first class. Baytown does not have a public range since Mr. Turner shut down Turner's gun range behind Mobay, now Bayer and it is danged difficult to find a place close by to pop a few caps.  My previous experience with a local gun range in Pasadena has left much to be desired.  High Noon is expanding the range to 12 lanes and it is $12 per hour per person to shoot - no limit on the number of firearms.  At the current cost of ammunition, I don't know how anyone can afford to shoot for more than an hour anyway.  My .44 costs me a dollar every time I pull the trigger.

My bride and I were shooting to two firearms.  Her Kahr E9 - 9 mm and my Charter Arms Bulldog Pug in .44 Special.  this is basically the same revolver David Berkowitz, more commonly known as the Son of Sam killer used.  The Charter Arms Bulldog Pug has a short barrel and at one time was referred to as a Saturday Night Special, but at 30 feet, I could easily put four out of five shots in the head of the target.  This revolver incidentally only holds five cartridges.

My Bride shooting the Kahr E9 9mm and I shoot the Charter Arms .44 Special.  

My five foot three inch Bride easily handled the large caliber .44 Special.  Both of us wore ear plugs and ear muffs to dampen the massive noise, which can ruin a person's hearing.  Before we fired, we reviewed proper muzzle control and she loaded the magazines herself.  We met our friend Aaron Burton also, but I failed to get a photo of him.

I returned a day later with Daniel Blackford to complete the shooting requirement portion of my Concealed Handgun License renewal.  He can be reached by email for classes at dblackford001 AT gmail.com or by his Facebook account.

Daniel Blackford and I pose for a photo at my Concealed Handgun License test.

Both days of shooting we observed conventional gun range safety, which is paramount for everyone on the range.  In this photo, I am wearing the Center for Disease Control's official Zombie Task Force shirt.

Daniel Blackford is an Ex-Secret Service agent under President Bill Clinton and a certified Concealed Handgun Permit Instructor.  He is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the law and concealed carry.

 My favorite gun shop in Baytown is Magnum Firearms in Baytown on the corner of North main Street and Park Street.  They will be getting a web page soon, but for now, here is their Facebook page.  I believe in supporting local Mom and Pop businesses as much as possible.
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