Entry for August 30, 2006

Hunting season starts Saturday.  I am pleased to report I will be hunting with my father-in-law, who introduced me to dove hunting in Fall 1990.  He took the new son-in-law right in.  I can picture the camo coverall and fancy white Resistol hat I wore that day.  Suffice to say, I have learned a bit more over the years.

Last year was the best year ever with many limits taken for many hunts.  Hopefully this year will be as good, because it really couldn’t get much better.  I’ll be using the Remington 870 pump which is a most reliable and well performing gun.  I looked at new ones, but it was like looking at new cars – nice, but not so great you wanted to trade in, and very expensive also.

I told my friend Mike that I was looking forward to the hunt with Dad’s friends Ron and T.J.  Mike asked “Are his friends career military also?”  I said, “Now that you mention it, yes!”  Mike said “When those guys get together, there are always a  lots of stories.”  He added “it takes a special person to be career military (like his own father in the Air Force).  I would agree with that:  they have good characteristics such as tough, practical, likeable, not to mention brave and patriotic.

Cheers to those who make a difference.

Wrong!

I was wrong and I am not too proud to admit it.  John Mark Karr, released, due to a non-DNA match.  Talk about the “CSI Effect”, which is the term for higher police standards due to the criminology TV shows such as CSI, Law and Order, etc.  Juries expect DNA testing, fingerprints, ballistics, shoe print matches, and if they don’t have it, they vote for reasonable doubt.  How a person can basically confess and be let go is a new one for me.  He must be a lot kookier that I thought.

Cousin Jon weighed in on a favorite topic of college football today.  He said he like to follow the hometown University of Arizona:

“I’ve become a big fan of the U of A and I’m counting on Stoops having the team turned around here in this his third year of coaching Arizona.. The program was essentially destroyed by the most arrogant and worse coach ever to walk on a football field , Mackovic.. Sure you remember his days at Texas.. I doubt any other football coach could say he lost two jobs because the players revolted..The Chiefs players ran him out of Kansas City in the mid 80’s and likewise the Arizona Wildcats four years ago.”

Now, I do remember the shining star of the Mackovic era, with James Brown leading the Horns over Nebraska in a Big 12 Championship upset.  And the two blue chip QBs Brown and Shea Morenz battling it out (Morenz quit to play baseball).  Mack Brown took then to the top in 6 or 7 years but I would disagree that the program was in shambles.  It definitely got the kick start it needed.   But as I say about UT football, there is no reason not to be successful:  Plenty of money, history, talent, fan support, they lack for nothing.

Entry for August 25, 2006

 I am rereading a very influential book, the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.   Be proactive.  Begin with the end in mind.   First things first.  It is a great read and it really makes you think about how you are doing in life. 

Today was a quadrant II activity, important but no urgent.  After court in Brownsville, I went to South Padre Island and met the  plumber to get some work done on the tub/shower as well as the toilet handle.  Done!  Now there are a few less things for any renter to complain about.

I also stopped by the City of Alamo to get ready for court next Thursday.  Reviewed one case where 2 neighbors were arguing, one of them pointed at the other and the other slapped their hand away.  So naturally, the finger pointed filed charges for assault!  That’ll be one to give them a good talking to, but I don’t anticipate the trial of the century.

Speaking of trials, one verdict is likely to be certain:  John Mark Karr is a very weird dude.  Traveling worldwide, sex change operations, Bangkok, elementary school teaching (preferably little girls), etc.    It’ll be interesting to see the JonBenet connection, however it came about and whatever it was.

Another stunning victory

Yel  another very satisified client stopped by the office today to say what wonderful legal services the office of Bulldog Turley provided to the family of “MC”.   Other good work was done for “the Skipper”, ” Godfather” and “My Favorite Client”.

Other nicknames used have been less flattering:  “Crawfish” [didn’t pay rent], “Booby Grabber” [sexual assault], “Scumbag” [wife beating], “Dumbest Client Ever” [popped off to deputy sheriff IN THE COURTHOUSE].

On Labor Day will be the McAllen Fantasy Football League (MFFL) draft.  Cousin Jon said he has been reading this blog looking for information so I will include some.  Last year 6 of the 10 teams made the “playoffs”.  The Terminators led by your truly the Turlinator just missed the #6 slot and then lost the consolation Cereal Bowl.  This year the league is expanding to 12 teams to include the Wild Women as well as Gilligan and His Seamen.  Last year my best overall player was probably Tiki Barber, worst trade was Peyton Manning (slow start) and overachiever surprise was Shayne Graham, kicker for Cincinnati Bengals.

Also with football season coming up will be dove hunting season.  Last year was the best season ever in the past 15 years.  Dad Sales and I had much fun with TJ hunting and skipping work.  I’ll look forward to another good year.

Sports Illustrated came today with the Longhorns on the cover, ranked #3 in the preseason.  Tough test will come against #1 ranked Ohio State, in Austin, Sept. 9.  There were six different covers nationwide.  Good thing they didn’t send a Notre Dame cover or I would have cancelled my subscription, and sent it back all cut up.

Entry for August 20, 2006

I watched a good movie on DVD this weekend:  Super Size Me.  You may remember this as the documentary of Morgan Spurlock eating 3 times a day at McDonald’s for 30 days straight.  If they asked him to supersize, he does.

As expected he gains 25 pounds and his cholesterol goes from 165 to 225.  Unexpectedly, his liver goes into “shock” basically, his girlfriend claims he is no longer as energetic in bed, and he basically feels down all the time, except when he eats and get a little high.  I thought it was well done, particularly with the doctors reviewing him throughout.  Even they were surprised at what the diet did to his liver.  ***1/2 stars.

Of course, you might hate these types of movies.  I particularly enjoy them, along with my secret pleasure of Michael Moore movies.  I own and recommend both Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenhite 9/11.  **** stars for both of them.   Yes I am one of the few conservatives who likes Michael Moore.  Where would the Longhorns be without the Aggies?  Or the Yankees without the Red Sox?  Red without Blue?

Entry for August 17, 2006

An arrest was made in the JonBenet Ramsey case today, one John Karr, living in Bangkok, Thailand.  Even though he was living in Atlanta, somehow he was acquainted with the child or the family or somehow knew about them.

It sounds like the book/movie “Red Dragon”, noted as the first appearance/origin of Hannibal Lecter.  He was in prison when the FBI agent came to see him to try and crack the Dollarhyde case.  Dollarhyde worked in the photo processing lab in St. Louis but developed film from Atlanta and Birmingham and from the pictures, determined his targets for killing.  By talking to Lecter, like in Silence of the Lambs, the FBI agent was able to crack the case, by getting into a killer’s head.

Strangely, the news today is that the confession was either coerced by Thai officials, made up by the killer to get his moment in the sun, or would be not enough if there was no DNA match.  To that, I say, who cares!  Actually, I say, all chickens come home to roost.  It is good to see that the police/DA has still been investigating and it looks like they have their man.  Glad to see that justice is being served, even if is 10 years later.   Hopefully, that 6 year old victim is smiling today.

Entry for August 16, 2006

Back to school and back to work this week.  It seems like a lot stacked up while I was working out of town, but I did get a lot done on my trip.   Several new matters have come in, so it was a good thing I am clearing out some older matters.

Read an interesting article recently about the problem when a business sees a customer as an adversary.  It sounds silly but it can creep in to your thinking.  You can think they are mad at you for some reason or you are afraid of what they might say or do.  Of course that is unfounded – you are there to assist them and they want you to help solve what ever problem they have – if your business is soap, your customers have laundry stain problems.  If you are a lawyer, your clieints have legal problems to solve.  

So I have taken the attitude to avoid such bad thinking.  It certainly causes you to be more proactive to serve the customer.  Hey, that is a habit of a highly effective person!  What a concept.

Entry for August 13, 2006

As expected I have not logged any entries this last week from my travels.  I drove over 1000 miles through Kingsville, Kemah, Houston and Beaumont & back.  The work was productive and I got everything done – two orders signed by two different judges.  It seemed smooth, but I know it would not have gone so well had I  not been there.

While there was good work done, I did continue my golf rounds.  Wednesday I played at Houston Country Club with Ed and Kate and that was enjoyable.  The course was very green and I had to get used to the trees again.  The old pro shop has been torn down and a new one is under construction in the same spot.  Other than that, not much changes out there.  Round scored:  90.

On Thursday, after court, Ed and I went to Tyrrell Park in Beaumont to play our “old course”, now called Henry Homburg Golf Course after the longtime pro and friend of Wilton and Ed’s in the 1940s and 1950s.  There was a new clubhouse there as well, and after paying, we headed to the first tee.  On the third hole, we realized what we thought was the first tee had changed in the last 20 years.  We were on the back side!

The course looked similar, but had lost a few trees so it was more wide open.  The tees had been reshaped and the course played longer so it was a good test.  We finished just as it began to rain.  Score:  88.

Saturday I played at Los Lagos in Edinburg with our new friends Jesse Naranjo and  his son Daniel Naranjo.  They are avid golfers having returned from a trip to Pebble Beach.  They are both excellent players.  The wind was really blowing, 20mph + and we played from the very back tees.  I was proud that I played as hard as I could:  I made 3  birdies and chipped in twice.  The heroics resulted in a respectable 88 under the conditions.  It felt like a 78.

Then today I played in a tournament for the Palmer Drug Abuse Program, one of my favorite charities.  PDAP is a drug/alcohol treatment program for teenagers and young people.  It provides counseling plus a safe place to be after school and during free time.  No score to report since it was a scramble tournament.  I contributed to the the team though.   There were a lot of people there so I think it was a success and good money was raised for a good cause.

Sarah starts school tomorrow so my schedule will be changing from 8:30 to 5:00 to 7:30 to 4:00.  Those summer hours for sleeping later will be coming to an end – too bad!  She is looking forward to the 7th grade.   I anticipate another successful year.

I am not sure I will keep up this golf frenzy but I hope to keep the edge a little bit.  For all the time I have put in over the years, it seems like a good idea to stay sharp.  It does take time though.

Entry for August 06, 2006

An enjoyable weekend to be home, but they sure go by fast.  Today, Sunday, I “supervised” the Adames working in the yard – they trimmed some of the fast-growing landscaping covering our back fence as well as the weekly yard mowing.  Then I went to church, where our assistant priest Father Chris was “soloing” for his first time.  He spoke about “mountaintop” experiences in life and how those help us get through the valleys that invariably are ahead until we reach another mountaintop.

I have been trying to keep up my golf since I have played a lot this week.  After the mountaintop experience in Coronado, the 9 holes this afternoon were very hot.  But I did enjoy playing and felt better after getting off the course, changing and dinner and a nice cold virgin strawberry daquiri.   We watched a show called “Three Moons Over Milford” on ABC Family – kind of a teen version of Desperate Housewives.   Any show we all watch together is good.

Also saw the movie “Barnyard” this afternoon.  It was about the secret lives of animals on a farm who act human when no one is watching.  It was pretty good, with voices from Kevin James and Courtenay Cox and Danny Glover.   Kind of a Lion King plot.  Three stars.

This week should be busy as I am going to Houston for Tues-Wed-Thursday.  Since it is short notice I am driving.  It should be enjoyable all in all.  Sarah will be in Kingsville for her last summer vacation before school starts Aug. 14 and then we must all change schedules.  But that means football season will be starting soon!  I am planning to see the Cowboys v . Colts on November 18 so I have already made the travel plans.

Entry for August 05, 2006

Another scorcing day in McAllen, Texas today makes me miss San Diego, CA from where we returned after 5 days of vacation this week.  What a great place!  To say the weather is perfect doesn’t do it justice.  It was July 31- Aug 2 and the temperature was about 70, every day, all day and all night.  Never really hot (except in the direct sunshine) and never cold, even when it rained a little. 

We stayed on Coronado Island which was a spectacular place.  As a friend said, they don’t put permanent military bases in bad spots.  The North Island NAS is there and the planes and helicopters go right over the bay.  Also the Naval Amphibious Base (home of the SEALS) is on the south side.  I saw a training group of Seals running along the beach.  They were running in shorts and combat boots.  There was a group of them together and then a line of the slower runners single file.  Following were two support vehicles (pleased to see there is awareness of injury).  After they stopped running they jumped in the water in their clothes and got wet enough to cool down, then ran back.  They were all about mid-20s and in good shape (predominately shirtless, 10% tattooed, a bit older and bigger than I would have guessed).

I played 18 holes of golf at Torrey Pines (North Course) which I would say is the best course I have ever played, top to bottom.  It costs $75 to play and that was a bargain.  I had to arrive at 6:15 a.m. to play and that was OK.  It rained a few holes but that didn’t stop me.  Great ocean views and a spectacular piece of land. 

I also played at the Coronado golf course which was quite the deal for $13.  It is right on the bay under the bridge.  Beautiful views and the course was very challenging as well.  Longer than it looked.

We went to Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park (breeding grounds for the zoo.).  The Zoo was terrific, with panda bears, lions and tigers (no ligers!), hippos, rhinos, all sorts of birds and pigs, etc.  We really enjoyed it.  Lots of room for the animals and surprisingly not overly commercialized.  The Wild Animal Park reminded me of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (more commercialized, more touristy) but still OK.  Sea World was its usual good self and they also had a Cirque du Soleil-type act that was worth the price of admission.  Of course the Shamu show was excellent.

We rented a Dodge Charger R/T Hemi and that was a very large and powerful car to cruise around in.   It was like a less expensive version of Dr. G’s Mercedes S 65 AMG in terms of room and power, so when you can compare a $30K car to a $170K car, that is good company.  Susan and Sarah liked it also, so… who knows?

If you go, be sure to try Moo Time Ice Cream in Coronado.  There was a line out the door every night and for good reason.  Very tasty!

Pictures to follow.