Post by acrossthepond on May 28, 2008 16:30:33 GMT
The first thing you will notice that I am in the Republic of Texas -- that's what some of native born Texans called it before what you knew as the colonies annexed us. Secondly, believe it was the British writer (correct me if I'm wrong) Sir Bernard Shaw who said "we are a common people separated by language." Unfortunately, the Americans do not speak in proper English, don't spell words as do you Brits, and us Texans, well we tend to corrupt the English language with a considerable colloquialisms, slangs, and southern draws ... such as "y'all" referencing the collective "all of you". Pardon those insertions or find amusement with them -- either is fine.
Now, its time for a little house cleaning to clarify possible misconceptions about Native Texans and transplants, namely two leaders from the Shrub family. The current shrub, and 43d U.S. President (George W. Bush) calls Texas is home state, and he in fact does have a home here, outside Waco (or as some of us call it "Wacko") but he's not a true Texan, since he was born in the State of Connecticut. The other shrub, 41st President (George H.W. Bush) lives in Texas too, part of the time. He also isn't a native Texan, since he was born in the State of Maine (where he spends his summers to escape the brutal heat and humidity of TX).
Discounting the Shrub Family, we have enuff other native Texicans to give us a bad name, including another former Prez (and well known crooked politican around these parts) Lyndon B. Johnson, but have great personalities who by birthright are Texans too, such as Admiral Chester Nimitz (from Fredericksburg, TX) and former Prez Dwight D. Eisenhower (born in Dennison, TX).
With that taken care of a bit about myself. I've been on a number of social forums before but this is the first internat'l forum I've participated in, inspite of having traveled the globe while a member of the U.S.Army (30 years, til retired), having served in both war and peace, first as an airmobile infantryman during 3 volunteer tours in the Vietnam war; second as an officer in military construction, stretching thru the 91 Persian Gulf War and structural defenses in Kuwait to retirement in 1997.
After retirement, I served the State of Texas as a const-maint supervisor, maintaining custody and control of convicted felon prisoners for the Texas prison system during the final years of its massive prison building and upgrading projects, until the massive layoff in 2003.
Beyond former professions, my interests include outdoor sports, fishing and hunting, and other activities that frighten the dickens out of most ppl -- skydiving, and handling (as in collecting) poisonous snakes, which when younger once milked to obtain the venom for sale so laboratories could make anti-venom. In a way, I'm a risk taker, have been since my days as a combat soldier during the war in SeAsia -- prehaps its being shot at the first and many times thereafter which prompted by fearlessness; that or since those days I've been addicted to moments of sheer terror when the adrenaline kicks in.
I'm rigidly independent, pursue alternative energy technologies, like to tinker in the workshop, recycle products to do other functions, self-reliant, putter around in the veggie garden, have considerable education in ecology and environment -- but not to point falling in jackbooted lockstep of current global warming (conspiracy) theatrics. And since I'm the middle child with 2 younger and 2 older sisters, and grew up on a family homestead, dating back to before the revolt which defeated Gen. Santa Ana at the Battle of Jacinto (the Texas version of the British battle of Waterloo), I also enjoy cooking, veggie canning, smoking meats, making jerky.
Did I mention, I'm married and have 4 kids (2 from a previous marriage), and my current wife is Vietnamese. Oh yes, and I have a CHL - Concealed Handgun License.
The previous ought to give y'all some insight about me, and my interests. I look forward to some interesting discussions with the other members in The Gathering, learning more about you and sharing interests, ideas, and thots with my new friends across the pond.
Now, its time for a little house cleaning to clarify possible misconceptions about Native Texans and transplants, namely two leaders from the Shrub family. The current shrub, and 43d U.S. President (George W. Bush) calls Texas is home state, and he in fact does have a home here, outside Waco (or as some of us call it "Wacko") but he's not a true Texan, since he was born in the State of Connecticut. The other shrub, 41st President (George H.W. Bush) lives in Texas too, part of the time. He also isn't a native Texan, since he was born in the State of Maine (where he spends his summers to escape the brutal heat and humidity of TX).
Discounting the Shrub Family, we have enuff other native Texicans to give us a bad name, including another former Prez (and well known crooked politican around these parts) Lyndon B. Johnson, but have great personalities who by birthright are Texans too, such as Admiral Chester Nimitz (from Fredericksburg, TX) and former Prez Dwight D. Eisenhower (born in Dennison, TX).
With that taken care of a bit about myself. I've been on a number of social forums before but this is the first internat'l forum I've participated in, inspite of having traveled the globe while a member of the U.S.Army (30 years, til retired), having served in both war and peace, first as an airmobile infantryman during 3 volunteer tours in the Vietnam war; second as an officer in military construction, stretching thru the 91 Persian Gulf War and structural defenses in Kuwait to retirement in 1997.
After retirement, I served the State of Texas as a const-maint supervisor, maintaining custody and control of convicted felon prisoners for the Texas prison system during the final years of its massive prison building and upgrading projects, until the massive layoff in 2003.
Beyond former professions, my interests include outdoor sports, fishing and hunting, and other activities that frighten the dickens out of most ppl -- skydiving, and handling (as in collecting) poisonous snakes, which when younger once milked to obtain the venom for sale so laboratories could make anti-venom. In a way, I'm a risk taker, have been since my days as a combat soldier during the war in SeAsia -- prehaps its being shot at the first and many times thereafter which prompted by fearlessness; that or since those days I've been addicted to moments of sheer terror when the adrenaline kicks in.
I'm rigidly independent, pursue alternative energy technologies, like to tinker in the workshop, recycle products to do other functions, self-reliant, putter around in the veggie garden, have considerable education in ecology and environment -- but not to point falling in jackbooted lockstep of current global warming (conspiracy) theatrics. And since I'm the middle child with 2 younger and 2 older sisters, and grew up on a family homestead, dating back to before the revolt which defeated Gen. Santa Ana at the Battle of Jacinto (the Texas version of the British battle of Waterloo), I also enjoy cooking, veggie canning, smoking meats, making jerky.
Did I mention, I'm married and have 4 kids (2 from a previous marriage), and my current wife is Vietnamese. Oh yes, and I have a CHL - Concealed Handgun License.
The previous ought to give y'all some insight about me, and my interests. I look forward to some interesting discussions with the other members in The Gathering, learning more about you and sharing interests, ideas, and thots with my new friends across the pond.
