The Daily Brief: Military Musings and Thoughts Less Filtered » And Now to Plan B

Sgt. Mom has received news that her Texas books are just not in the kitchen of the publisherati. Which, sadly, isn’t too surprising, given the paucity of what I guess is still called ‘the Western’ in the book biz. Based on my own personal tastes, combined with the bits and pieces that I’ve read from Julia, it’s a crying shame. However, as noted, there is a Plan B. I’d like to ask that you take her up on her generous offer, because if you’re reading this blog, you’re very likely to enjoy the end product when it actually becomes real…which it will, thanks to Plan B.

On a digressive note, I read three books this week — one was a pulp murder thingy that wasn’t worth the $9 I paid for it, and the other two were Patrick O’Brien Jack Aubrey historicals. Those books are 20 years old. Could O’Brien find a publisher today? Do you think his publisher regrets signing him? Tell you what…I’d surely appreciate a 10- or 20-book serial about Texas.

My Way News - Flooded-Out Texans Urged to Leave Again

About 100 people near Marble Falls in central Texas remained stranded for a fourth day. Flood and water damage made roads impassable, said Christa Bromley, a Burnet County Emergency Management spokeswoman. The residents had been notified of the evacuation but chose to stay in their homes near Hamilton Creek.

That’s the reason, honey, right there, that I like keeping a couple of shrink-wrapped cases of water in the garage. As well as the rest of that survival crap that’s a big joke to everyone.

The big news is in North Texas, though, where the Brazos is going berserk upstream from the old ranch. I never thought I’d see the day when Texas had enough rain, but I think this is pretty close to it.

I finished 90% of my deck today, and I did it working in the mud. I just couldn’t take it any more. The remaining 10% is some shingling on the house roof that I want to re-do, and of course, I need four or five days of dry & sun to make sure it cures. If I don’t get it, I’m just gonna nail a 2×4 across the roofline and caulk the heck out of it.

Now, for the smoker. I’ve been saving my pennies for a while now, and I’m pretty sure I’m going for this one from Oklahoma Joe:

Yeah, it’s kind of lame not to build my own, but I don’t have a plasma cutter, a welder, a few ounces of engineering sense, or any oilfield pipe. I personally find it humorous to be considering a Super-Longhorn model from a company called Oklahoma Joe’s. Frankly, I find it proof that anyone can get along if they put their mind to it.