Heart Of Texas Today
January-February 2013
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Looking Forward to 2013
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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
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www.heartoftexastoday.com
6 Why Use A Real Estate Agent
“Mama don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys”
8 How Much Do Your Pets Matter?
Publisher Alice Sadler
11 Happy Camper? 13 Obedience 14 A Texas State of Mind... A Short Story From A Tall Texan End Of The World Has Been Postponed (Until Further Notice)
Graphics & Production Golden Monkey Productions
16 Recipes For The New Year 18 A Day with Jay 19 Mission For Women 20 Hill Country Profiles: Billy Wilkinson 21 Kerrville Events 23 Fredericksburg Events 25 A Lesson In Life
Contributing Writers David Blackburn Kelly Doolley Lainie Johnson David LeMeilleur Mary Gentry Ima Mystery Cover Photography William Kierce Kierce Photography
27 Mystery Shopper
To Advertise Call 830-370-9257 The opinions expressed in Heart of Texas Today are those of the writers and advertisers. And not necessarily those of the magazine.
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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
New developments, new technology, and new high speed connections. HCTC has plenty to celebrate and so do our members.
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The contents of this article are the opinion of Kelly Dooley, a professional real estate agent with Sherman & Co., RealtorsŽ. Other professional real estate brokers & agents may disagree or have other views. Comments and questions are welcome by email at Kelly@ShermanCo.com. Your comments and questions and/or Kelly’s response may be printed in an upcoming issue.
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Heart of Texas Today | January-February 2013
Kelly Dooley Realtor®
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Direct: (830)-459-0452 Kelly@ShermanCo.com SHERMAN & CO., REALTORS® 819 WATER STREET SUITE 170 • KERRVILLE, TX 78028 OFFICE: 830-257-7588 www.ShermanCo.com
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VIEW THE VALLEY from the front of this 4-bedroom (or 3 plus office), 2-1/2 bath estate home with a 3-car garage on a 1-1/2-acre lot. Covered front and back porches. Fenced backyard. Conveniently located just outside Kerrville city limits. Only $299,500 Available for showing January 7th.
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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
Heart Of Texas Today
Salutes Kerrvilles’ Native Son
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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
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Groundhog Day History Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow. If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole. If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground. The groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day and the days of early Christians in Europe, and for centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. Even then, it marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important. The Roman legions, during the conquest of the northern country, supposedly brought this tradition to the Teutons, or Germans, who picked it up and concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, an animal, the hedgehog, would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather, which they interpolated as the length of the “Second Winter.” Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers were Germans and they found groundhogs to in profusion in many parts of the state. They determined that the groundhog, resembling the European hedgehog, was a most intelligent and sensible animal and therefore decided that if the sun did appear on February 2nd, so wise an animal as the groundhog would see its shadow and hurry back into its underground home for another six weeks of winter.
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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
Happy
Camper? By David LeMeilleur
How does the old saying go, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” If you were going to take a trip in your car before you started out hopefully you would have done a pre-trip inspection, checking fluids, tires, air conditioner. air filter, etc. But when it comes to recreational vehicles this is just one aspect of getting the coach ready for the trip. Unfortunately, the lack of preventive maintenance or just routine scheduled maintenance will eventually result in emergency maintenance. So much for a fun trip when you are broken down on the side of the road with a problem that could have easily been prevented with a pre-trip inspection. So how do you become a “Happy Camper” when you are R’Ving? There are several preventive maintenance steps you need to take to help prevent potential problems before they exist. Let’s take a closer look at some common sense pre-trip maintenance to get you ready for the big adventure! Hopefully this will help to make your trip safe and pleasurable instead of a costly nightmare! Basic RV maintenance: lKnow when your manufacturer recommends schedule maintenance. lCheck all fluid levels: engine & generator oil, transmission, power steering, brake and windshield washer fluids. l Check your filters: Fuel, and/or Fuel-Water separator and your air filter. l Check for leaks: look underneath, around your axles, check your hoses. l Check your Serpentine/V-Belt: does it look frayed? nicks or chunks missing? Does it have too little tension?, another sign it is worn and needs to be replaced. l Check your cooling system: radiator, radiator coolant, hoses and clamps. l Check all lights, interior and exterior. l Check your wiper blades, replace them when they need it, sometimes large blades can be difficult to locate out on the road. l Batteries: check your chassis (engine) and your house batteries. In addition, check your inverter, and does your generator run? l Brakes, Wheel bearings, Axle seals all play an important role getting you down the road and stopping you once you get there! l Tires: check for the condition, look for uneven wear, cupping, tread depth and proper tire inflation. Check pressure when tires are cold. If in doubt replace or repair. In addition to the mechanical aspect of maintenance go thru your coach and check it out also. An RV requires more maintenance than your standard automobile. Most often a breakdown is caused because the RV owner failed to do preventative maintenance. And if the task seems daunting, find a service center or an RV technician you can trust to get your ride ready for the next trip. So Happy Trails to you with the peace of mind you have made a good trip even better by taking the extra precautionary steps needed before you venture into the wild blue yonder!
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Obedience When children are consistently disobedient, it is because the parents are not doing their job correctly. Discipline means “training” not “punishment”. We discipline our children to teach them how to grow into responsible adults who fit into society and are able to care for themselves and their families. Some parents discipline by repeatedly telling their children what they want them to do. Each time the parent repeats the command they say it a little louder, as if the child is hard of hearing. Eventually the child is still ignoring the parent, and the parent is now in a rage. Parents must first determine if what they are asking is reasonable for the child. To ask a two year old to tie his shoelaces is not reasonable. But to ask a seven year old the same thing is reasonable. If your request is reasonable, and you are sure that your child knows how to do what you are asking, then you should only make your request once. Do not explain why, do not give any reasons, do not raise your voice, and do not repeat yourself. These are all delaying tactics that teach your child that you do not expect him to obey the first time you ask. By the time your child is two years old, and often times even before that, he is old enough to learn that there are consequences to not being obedient. Some of those consequences might be – time out (remember one minute for each year of age), or taking away a favorite toy or activity or television show. The earlier in life that your child learns the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, the better life your child will have. If you stop and think about it for a minute, you will realize that you live with the consequences of your disobedience even as an adult. If you do not obey speed limits you will pay consequences, such as speeding fines, possible loss of driving privileges, possible increase in insurance premiums and many more possible consequences. These are consequences that get your attention well enough that you obey speed limits as much as possible. Your children need to feel the same way about what you require of them. Every child has something they like enough that they will not want to loose it by being disobedient. If you take away his favorite television program and he doesn’t seem to be impressed by loosing it, you either haven’t taken away the right program or you haven’t taken it away for a long enough period of time. After once or twice of loosing something important to him, he will learn to listen to you the first time you request him to.
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A Texas State of Mind..A Short Story From A Tall Texan End Of The World Has Been Postponed (Until Further Notice) By David Blackburn
Well, I suppose that if you are reading this then the concerts, and so on. Clint was also the luckiest guy I world did not end on December 21, 2012 as the Ma- had ever known; he always seemed to stumble into the yans predicted it would. What a relief, huh? best of things and I really enjoyed going along for the ride. I really don’t know what to do with all that canned chili and freeze dried food I have stashed in my “I’ve got it all figured out. We need to go to Guategarage, but I am sure I will eventually find a good mala and canoe a river that has never been canoed use for it....maybe a big dinner for the in-laws some- before. It’s called the Usumacinta and it runs from the time. In any case, I feel much better now that the highlands of Guatemala into Mexico. It flows right long awaited date has passed and the earth did not through the heart of the ancient Mayan Empire. It will burst into flames or the flying saucers did not return be great!” to turn us into an alien food source for the extraterrestrials. I asked what seemed like a logical ques tion: “Why has it never been canoed be The world of the Maya and their fore?” incredible history began to interest me when I was a college student at “Too dangerous, of course! There the University of Texas. One of my are not many maps of the river and best college friends was an none are very accurate, plus there is archeology major and concentrated a lot of white water and gosh knows his studies on the Mayan civilization. what else. What do you think? Let’s I got a vicarious thrill from his classes, do it!” papers, and his frequent trips to Mexico to tour the ruins of Mayan cities and sites. In order to understand Clint’s enthusiasm for I became captivated and intrigued by their attempting something risky and dangerous, you have astronomical observations, their obsession to understand that he was fundamentally different that with time and calendars, and their predictions most people. As I said, he was the luckiest guy who ever about the future. One day, just a few months lived—nothing bad ever happened to him. after I had graduated, my buddy came to me with a proposal that was impossible to ignore. Ordinary mortals, such as myself, might take a moment to pause and consider the negative conse“We need an adventure,” he said. “We have all quences of paddling a tiny canoe in a roaring whitegraduated and before you know it, we will all be water river over a thousand miles from home, with married and have jobs and responsibilities. We need little chance of rescue or immediate medical attention to do one last big wild thing while we still have the if an emergency arose. Not Clint, though. He had chance.” never sprained an ankle or caught a cold; everything he touched came up smelling like roses. So he naturally Such as what, I asked? I was always up for an adassumed, based on all his previous life experiences, that venture, and my pal Clint had a knack for creating this “adventure” would be just that—a ton of fun with the best scenarios for fun and excitement. We had no downside for anyone. His excitement was contagone on many canoe trips and camping trips, raced gious....and I suddenly found myself making plans to go motorcycles, traveled to many distant cities to attend to Central America. 14 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
Clint was actually the one orchestrating the trip. He rounded up and convinced several of our mutual buddies as well as our girlfriends to drop everything they were doing and commit to spending a minimum of six weeks traveling throughout Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. He selected two very roadworthy vehicles (a truck and a van), two fiberglass canoes, all sorts of camping gear, cameras, film, critical supplies such as food, water, first aid gear, and within two weeks we were ready to launch. Just before we left, Clint had one last card to play.
As it turned out, Otis had been scheduled to do a photo shoot of several Mayan archaeological sites along the Usumacinta River, but he had been planning to go overland to these sites.
“You know, we are going to take a LOT of great pictures on this trip. Let’s see if we can sell them to somebody like National Geographic. Maybe we can all have a good time and make some money, too.” So he picked up the phone, called directory assistance in Washington, D.C., and got the main number for the offices of National Geographic. He called and asked to speak to the assignments editor and was immediately connected (How likely is THAT to happen? Didn’t I tell you Clint was the luckiest guy I ever met?). He laid out our plan to canoe an uncharted wild river and asked if they would be interested in buying some of our photos. The editor said no, that they did not purchase photos from anyone; they relied on their staff of professional photographers to provide the content for their publication. Then he said he was interested in our trip and wondered if we would allow one of their photographers to accompany us. And, of course, National Geographic would be happy to fund our trip and pay for all expenses. Yes, that’s right. They were going to pick up the entire tab for our adventure. Clint’s lifelong lucky streak was red hot and within three weeks we were in Belize City for our rendezvous with one of the most amazing characters I have ever met--Otis Imbolden, staff photographer for National Geographic magazine. It was mid January, but still very hot and humid. Otis, who was in his mid-fifties and had traveled the world for years, met us at a small hotel and we spent the evening discussing our plans and getting to know each other. He told us stories of his travels and assignments, such as the time he was chosen by David Rockefeller to accompany him and his new bride on their round-the-world honeymoon trip. (“Most people take an Instamatic camera with them on their honeymoon. Mr. Rockefeller took took a National Geographic photographer on his...”).
Our call to National Geographic just happened to come in when he and his editors were talking about their project. Making the journey to these locations via the river would save him several weeks of slogging through the jungle. Our trip to the launching point of the expedition took us through Guatemala City and then to Tikal, the capital city of the Mayan world. In its’ day, Tikal was home to over two hundred thousand people, but now Temple it is a historical site under the protection of the government. We stayed in a hotel just outside the gates of the ancient city and were surprised to learn that everyone there knew Otis. He had been there many times before and was something of a celebrity. “Senor Otis!” The hotel manager shouted when we entered the lobby. “It is so good to see you again! We have your favorite room ready and for you and your friends we will turn on the hot water!” We toured the ruins the next day and were amazed what we saw. There were huge temples and buildings that stretched for miles and only a fraction of them had been excavated. Otis convinced the guards to allow us onto the grounds that evening so he could get some night shots. Continued on Page 28
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BEEF STROGONOFF 8 TBLS. butter
By Mary Gentry
3 lbs. Sliced tenderloin tips 8 chopped shallots 2 garlic cloves (minced) 2 medium onions (chopped) 12 mushrooms (any variety) 2 bay leaves 8 TBLS. sour cream 2 TBLS.
Worcestershire sauce
1 cup dry sherry Dash Tabasco sauce 5 TBLS. flour 4 cups beef consommé 6 oz. tomato sauce 2 tsps. salt 1/4 tsp. crushed black peppercorns 4 TBLS. chopped chives Cut meat into small strips. Season w/ salt & pepper then sauté in 4 TBLS. butter until brown. Add the flour & mix until well blended, then add consommé, tomato sauce & bay leaves. Simmer for 10 mins. Remove bay leaves. Combine meat, sauce, sour cream & chives. Serve atop wide egg noodles.
GRASSHOPPER PIE 1- ½ cups Oreo cookies finely crushed 6 TBLS. butter, melted 32 large marshmallows ½ cup milk 4 TBLS. green crème de menthe 2 TBLS. white crème de cocoa ½ pint whipping cream
Combine cookie crumbs w/ melted butter. Press into buttered 9-inch pie plate. Melt marshmallows in milk. Cool. Add the liqueurs to the cooled milk-marshmallow mixture. Whip cream until stiff & fold into mixture. Pour Into pie shell & chill thou roughly.
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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
By Mary Gentry Baked Cheese Grits
1 Cup Quick Grits 1 Teaspoon salt 4 cups boiling water 3/4 stick butter 2 eggs, beaten 1 roll nippy or bacon cheese, cubed Parmesan cheese Paprika for garnish Boil grits for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add butter, eggs, and cheese. Pour into greased casserole. Bake 45 minutes at 300 degrees. Remove from oven; sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese and paprika. Return to oven and brown (15 minutes). Serves 6
Biloxi Crab Cakes Ingredients: lots & lots of fresh lump crab meat 2 cups chopped celery 2 eggs 1 yellow onion (diced) chopped green onions (about ¾ cup) parsley 1 diced red pepper Dijon mustard (to taste---2-4 tablespoons) mayonnaise (to taste―1 cup should do it) Louisiana Hot Sauce (as much or as little as you prefer) Creole Seasoning (garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper) Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce (to taste) 1 ¾ cup fresh bread crumbs (more or less) Mix all ingredients and form on a baking coated with virgin olive oil Bake at 350-375 degrees until golden brown about 10-12 minutes. Serve with lemon butter sauce (melted butter, juice of one lemon, heavy cream). And dust with Creole Seasoning.
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A Day With Jay
Jay Armstrong Confined to a wheelchair since birth, Jay Armstrong has never let his cerebral palsy slow him down. While severe dyslexia may have limited his reading skills, nothing stopped the native Texan from writing his first children’s book, “A Day with Jay”. “It was important to me to let kids know that their classmates in wheelchairs or with physical challenges were no different than them,” says the 26-year-old from his home in Southlake. “They just need to help them find ways to do the same things that they do. They’ll make a great new friend and, who knows, they may even be friends for life!” A 2007 University of Texas graduate, Armstrong wrote the original “A Day with Jay” when he was only nine years old. Never one to be held back, he mastered higher learning via strong auditory skills, taking exams orally and earned a B.S. in Sport Management. Upon graduating, he decided it was time to get the book published. “Jay’s been a constant inspiration to me,” insists Todd Dodge, four-time state champion football coach. “He’s truly passionate about everything in his life.” While in college, the author was active in The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he cultivated friendships with athletic greats, many of whom have gone on to play professional sports. A passionate sports fan since he was a child, Armstrong was the sports writer for his high school newspaper and was “on the bench” with each of his high school teams. He received a 5A State Baseball Championship ring and medal in 2002 when the coach and the entire team insisted that he be included on the roster at the beginning of the season. Currently, Jay spends his days speaking at elementary schools, social clubs and business organizations to spread the word that those with physical challenges are no different than the rest of us. “Jay is an amazing young man,” says Dr. Daniel Presley, Former Principal, and Southlake Carroll High School. “His positive outlook on life is contagious.” “A Day with Jay” is professionally illustrated and features a compelling insight into the feelings of excitement and fear that he experienced during his first days of elementary school. In the book, author Jay Armstrong reveals how as a six-year-old he had to deal with knowing that he was different and the innocent, honest questions asked of him by the other children. Copies of “A Day with Jay” can be purchased through his website, www.adaywithjay.com. 18
Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
Mission for Women By Jane Miller
Jane Miller, Julie Appel And Dina Aguilar (in back)
I didn’t know exactly what Mission for Women was suppose to be about a year and a half ago when I opened its doors. I only knew that God wanted me to open a place for women to come for coffee, fellowship, and to grow in their walk with God. I knew for certain that if I obeyed Him, He would show me the rest. God wants, more than anything, to have a personal relationship with each of us. Think of it! The God who created the universe wants to have fellowship with you. He thinks about us constantly. And whether we admit it or not, we all need to feel God’s love and presence each day in our life. Mission for Women is where ladies come and go, or sometimes stay for the morning. They get a cup of coffee, a muffin, or whatever snacks we have for the day, and visit with others. Women need friends. We share the fellowship and the joys we have with God and with Jesus Christ, His Son. We listen to each other and we care about one another. God has blessed us in so many ways this past year. We have had opportunities to help meet the needs of others. A local Church Bible Study brought a car full of food which provided help
for many families. We started a garden so we could share the veggies. We bring things like fresh yard eggs or things which we no longer use, like clothes or anything that might be used, to bless others. We are also there to just support each other through the many challenges women go through. Our house has a living area, bath, two other rooms and a kitchen downstairs. Someone might come and say, “Let’s fix breakfast tacos this morning.” We like to cook a pot of stew or soup to enjoy on cold mornings. Upstairs we have another unique room and a bath. Our house is made up of things that our ladies have contributed. One sweet lady brings fresh flowers for our coffee table. Others bring special coffees, teas or sweets. It’s our home away from home. Our ladies arrange in age. Some drop their children off at school and stop by for the morning but most of our ladies are over 50 with some of us being way over. God said, “Listen to me, I have created you and cared for you since you were born. I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you.” We are all different. Some are well educated, some are not. Some of us have walked with God for a long time; some are just learning how. We are a family of women who are learning to stay in happy fellowship with the Lord. We will start a Bible Study on 1st John on Tuesdays at 10:00 beginning September 4th. We would love for you to join us or just drop by for a cup of coffee. We’re open every weekday morning from 7:30 to 11:30 except for Thursdays when we open at 9:00. Coffee and snacks are donated by the ladies that come, so there is no charge. We want not only to share our faith with you but to be encouraged by yours: Each of us will be a blessing to the other. Mission for Women 312 D Street, Kerrville, TX 78028 Jane Miller (830) 459-5451
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Hill Country Profiles: Billy Wilkinson Billy Wilkinson, born and raised in Abilene, graduated from Schreiner University in 1996. He currently resides in Austin and is President of Telecommunications for Invenio Marketing Solutions, a multinational firm with offices in Texas, Virginia, Washington State, and Canada. He has served on Schreiner’s Board of Trustees for nine years. HOTT: With so many educational institutions to choose from, what attracted you to Schreiner University? WILKINSON: Actually, Schreiner was not my first choice. I enrolled at Baylor and spent one semester there. I had played a lot of tennis in high school and had joined the Baylor tennis team. I needed to pay my own way through school and was teaching part time at the tennis center. One day the Schreiner tennis team came to Baylor, I met their coach, and he offered me a full scholarship to attend Schreiner and play tennis for them. HOTT: And the rest is history? WILKINSON: Not exactly. I was interested, but I had never been to Kerrville and didn’t know much about Schreiner, so I agreed to visit the campus and take a look around. I drove from Waco to Kerrville in the late fall when the leaves were turning; the countryside and the city of Kerrville were incredibly beautiful. The total college population was the same as the size of my graduating class in Abilene and the atmosphere was very friendly. When I coupled that with the scholarship offer, it was pretty much of a no-brainer. HOTT: What was your best experience at Schreiner? WILKINSON: I had many great experiences there. I came to play tennis, but before long I excelled academically due to the small size of the classes and the quality of the teaching. I managed to get a liberal arts education while majoring in business; I was able to develop some excellent communication skills and critical thinking skills that have benefited me ever since. By my junior year, I had transitioned from a tennis scholarship to an academic scholarship. Schreiner was very good to me with regard to financial aid. HOTT: You have had a great deal of success since graduation. How did that happen and how did Schreiner prepare you for that success? WILKINSON: If I had to put it in a nutshell, I would say that Schreiner prepared me to be a leader. Since the school was smaller than Baylor or UT, I was able to stand out a little more. I was president of the student body when I was a senior and that prepared me to get involved with a variety of issues. I also began to meet people at the executive level and learned how to interact with them. That background has been an asset in everything I have ever done. HOTT: Are you still involved with the college and the community? WILKINSON: Oh, yes. I have been a member of the Board of Trustees for nine years. I have seen the student population grow to over 1200; we now have better buildings and physical facilities, but we still maintain a very low student/teacher ratio that offers much more individual attention for the students. A lot of very successful people have been Schreiner graduates, and I think the quality of education is why they have done so well. HOTT: How would you describe your career since graduation? WILKINSON: I worked in banking for several years and I also attended Sam Houston State to get my MBA degree. I love working with smaller companies that are poised for growth and that is what I am doing now. As the president of the telecommunications division for Invenio, I have seen some phenomenal growth in our industry and I love being a part of that. I guess you could call me an “execu-preneur” in the sense that I like to apply my managerial skills to help build fledgling companies into successful enterprises. That is very exciting for me. HOTT: How often do you get back to Kerrville? WILKINSON: At least three times a year, especially when the leaves are turning. I love having a cup of coffee at Starbucks and looking out on the river. Moments like that are what life is all about.
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Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
January 2013 Jan 3rd Personal Expressions- Camerata Thursday 7:30pm First Presbyterian Church www.cameratasa.org Jan 10th-30th KACC Collectables Show Tues-Sat 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center www.kacckerrville.com Jan 10th – Feb 3rd KACC Exhibits Tues-Sat 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center www.kacckerrville.com Jan 11th Hill Country Cowboy Breakfast Fri. 6am-8am Courthouse Square Jan 12th Collin Country Presents Sat 9am-4pm The Gallery at the Point www.hcaf.com Jan 12th Symphony of the Hills Pops Concert Sat. 7:30pm Cailloux Theater Jan 14th -19th Hill Country District Junior Livestock Show Mon-Sat Kerr County Hill country Youth Event Center February 2013 Feb 1st-3rd KACC Exhibits Fri-Sat 10am -4pm Sun 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center www.kacckerrville.com Feb 1st- 23rd American Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit Tues-Sun 10am-4pm Sun 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center. Feb 3rd Russian Folk Festival Sun 3pm Cailloux Theater Feb 6th Texas Coffeehouse Series Wed 7pm-9pm Schreiner University, Lion’s Den www.texasheritagemusic.org Feb 7th-Mar 3rd KACC Exhibits Tues-Sat 10am-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center Feb 10th Chocolate Fantasy Sun 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center www.kacckerrville. com Feb 12th Mardi Gras on Main Tues Evening 8th Annual Mardi Gras on Main www.kerrvilletx.gov Feb 14th-Mar 1st Love, Loss and What I Wore” Thurs-Sat 7:30pm Opening Week Sun 2pm The Point Indoor Theater, Hill Country Arts Foundation www.hcaf.com Feb 15th Ramona Quimby Cailloux Theater, 910 Main St., 830-896-9393 Feb 15th -Mar 3rd Warren Taylor Watercolors Thurs-Sat 9am-4pm The Gallery at the Point, Feb 28th–Mar 31st Perspectives of Italy Tues-sat 10am-4pm Sun 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture For a more complete and detailed list of events. Go to: Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau 2108 Sidney Baker Kerrville, Texas 78028 Phone (830) 792-3535 www.KerrvilleTexasCVB.com Email: events@KerrvilleTexasCVB.com Changes & Cancellations do occur. Please contact the event coordinators or check websites for updates. If you wish to receive the Calendar of events electronically, please send your request to events@kerrvilletexascvb.com
Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
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January, 2013 1 7th Annual Black Eyed Pea and Cornbread Cook-off 1-31 Sparkling Activities at Messina Hof Hill Country 4 First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg 4 Celebrating A New Year of Art at Artisans 4-26 “Small Masterpieces” Art Show at Whistle Pik Galleries 4-27 “Who Knew” Art Show at Fredericksburg Art Guild 4-31 “Figuratively Speaking” Art Show at RS Hanna Gallery 4-31 “Artist of the Year” Show at Good Art Company 10-12 Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show 12 Fredericksburg Chorale “Dialogues and Dances” 12-13 Fredericksburg Theater Company presents Mango Moon in Concert 18-20 Fredericksburg Trade Days 19 Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 “Port ‘n Pairings” 19 Jazz in January at Chisholm Trail Winery 19-20 Hill Country Gem & Mineral Show 20 Fredericksburg Music Club presents Ava Pine, Vocalist 26 Hill Country Indian Artifact Show 26 Luckenbach Blues Festival 26 Night Out at the Tin Star Ranch 27 American Legion BBQ Benefit 28 Stonewall Chamber Banquet 31 Conspirare “The Sacred Spirit of Russia” Concert 31-2/24 “Sweet Treats” Art Show at Fredericksburg Art Guild February, 2013 1 First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg 1-2 “Heritage School Student Art” – Artisans at Rocky Hill 1-16 “Student Art Exhibition” at Whistle Pik Galleries 1-22 “Between the Sea & Sky” Art Show at RS Hanna Gallery 1-28 “Everlasting Flowers” – Fredericksburg Art Gallery 1-28 “All You Need is Love . . . and Art!” at Whistle Pik Galleries 1-28 “Wildlife in Color” Art Show at The Good Art Company 2 Fasching Week 2013: Fest Nacht 2 Fredericksburg Chorale Mid-Winter Concert 2 Fredericksburg Dance Club “Almost Patsy Cline” 3 Fredericksburg Band Boosters Turkey Dinner 8-17 Texas Hill Country Wineries “Wine Lovers Trail” 9 Valentine’s Dance at Pat’s Hall 9 Historic Schools Open House (Cave Creek and Rheingold) 9 Fredericksburg Chorale “Dialogues and Dances” 9 Red & White Valentine Luncheon at Becker Vineyards 9 Fasching Week 2013: Fasching Ball “Kabarett – A Dance Between the Flames” 9-10 Merlot & Chocolate Tasting at Becker Vineyards 12 Fasching Week 2013: Fat Tuesday Party 15-17 Fredericksburg Trade Days 15-17 Luckenbach Hug In and Valentine Ball 16 Valentine Vines at Texas Vineyards & Beyond 16 Jazz on the Lawn at Pedernales Cellars 16 Valentine’s Dinner at Messina Hof Hill Country 16-17 Texas Gun and Knife Show 17 Fredericksburg Music Club presents San Antonio Brass, Inc. 22-3/10 Fredericksburg Theater Company “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” 23 Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 “Ragin’ Cajun” 24 Admiral Nimitz Birthday Celebration 28-3/31 “Mindscapes” Art Show at Fredericksburg Art Guild
Heart of Texas Today | January - February
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to look at yourself and life as it really is so you can then behave accordingly.
By David Blackburn
When I was in my early twenties I knew an old karate teacher who taught me a great lesson. He was a Korean and as hard as nails. I was working out in his class and caught a real nasty kick to the ribcage while sparring a student who was better than I was. I dropped to the floor in greater pain that I had ever felt before and could not get my breath. The old man walked over to me with a disgusted look on his face (after all, how could I have allowed myself to get kicked like that--) and asked if I could continue the match. I was gasping for air and could barely speak; I finally managed to say no, I was hurt and could not go on. His eyes turned into narrow slits and he almost spat at me as he said, "So---you think you are hurt? Tell me, what is life but PAIN??" Good lord, I thought. I was still writhing in agony, but I was sure there was a heck of a lot more to life than just pain. There were things like joy, love, beauty, and wisdom; to name a few. I thought the old guy was crazy, or at least the most bitter and disillusioned person that I had ever encountered.
When I was a young man I became intrigued and fascinated by the martial arts. I began to study and train in the regimented discipline of Korean karate, known as Tae Kwon Do, when I was barely nineteen. My first class was terrifying, but as time went by I became more comfortable with the environment and found that I was actually pretty good at it. I continued to train and eventually soon became a tournament competitor and instructor. I eventually taught karate to kids, men, women, and law enforcement officers for several years. I always tried to get as much experience as humanly possible, so I often traveled far and wide to learn from different teachers with varied backgrounds. I studied mostly Korean karate, but also the Japanese and Okinawan styles, as well as a moderate amount of Chinese kung fu. I worked out with some amazing instructors from Texas to Colorado to California to Florida; the resulting amalgamation of training and knowledge made me into a better student, a better competitor, a better instructor, and a better person. I discovered that there was a lot more to martial arts than just kicking, fighting, and breaking boards. A true martial artist also learns a great deal about life and philosophy. Karate is really about understanding your strengths and limitations without the veil of self deception. In other words, it is really a method
Then he knelt down and came close to my face and said, ever so softly, "And what is PAIN but a reminder that you still live and still have opportunity before you? You are not dead; so therefore you are not yet beaten.....Now rise to your feet--and continue!" I have carried that bit of wisdom with me for my entire life; it has always sustained me in times of adversity and challenge. Whenever I have thoughts that life or events might be too difficult or overwhelming, I remember the words that I heard that night long ago: if I still live, then I am not yet beaten. If my heart still beats, then I can continue--and endure--and perhaps achieve the goal I am seeking. Sage advice from a man who knew what he was talking about.
● NEW! Family Classes ● Martial Art Classes Ages 3½ to Adults ● Special Introductory Program ● Two Free Kickboxing Lessons www.kerrvillekarate.com lleach@impact-martial-arts.net
Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
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The wait is over! Kerrville finally has a Christian book store to call its own. Miles and Marcelle Scanland have worked hard to make their vision of Opening The Word / Fellowship Cafe, Christian book store and specialty coffee shop a reality, and the mission has been accomplished. The store not only sells Christian books, gifts, DVDs, and CDs, but has a coffee and fellowship area, a Bible Study room that accommodates twelve people, and a prayer room. Miles says this isn’t just a business, but rather a "ministry to serve the community. Everybody is welcome and we are here to pray with, or for Anybody who asks!" The Word / Fellowship Cafe 1208 Bandera Highway, Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Bible study room is available to Christian groups with a reservation, for no charge. (830) 315-WORD (9673) Brighten your day. Stop in to browse, have an espresso and fellowship with a friend.
Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
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End Of The World Has Been Postponed (Until Further Notice) By David Blackburn Continued from Page 15 I must say that being amongst those ruins in the moonlight and hearing the howls of the jaguars and lord knows what other types of wildlife was more than a little spooky. I could only imagine what it must have been like fifteen hundred years ago when the city was thriving. It was on this occasion that I first became aware of the Mayan predictions concerning 2012. As we were checking out of the hotel, I purchased a t-shirt that depicted some lovely Mayan hieroglyphics. I asked the clerk what they said and he told me that it was the Mayan prophecy about the end of the world.
The next morning, Otis took his National Geographic American Express card and chartered an airplane. He flew the entire span of the river and photographed every foot of it. That evening he developed his film and created a composite map of the river that revealed many details we were not aware of.
“See that,” he said. “That looks like a series of rapids to me. And so does that and so does that. And that looks like a waterfall. This is going to be a little trickier than just paddling the boat, don’t “These letters depict the Mayan calendar,” he said. “That you think?” calendar is called the bactun, and the glyphs say that when the bactun ends, then the world ends.” We all agreed. Otis had probably saved our lives The last day of the calendar, he went on to say, was De- by providing this critical information, and when we cember 21, 2012. That seemed pretty far into the future shoved off the next morning, we were much better at the time. The more we traveled, the more I prepared for the challenges and obstacles that lay Lake before us. We said goodbye to our support crew, heard of this prediction. It was looked upon as a reality who we planned to reconnect with several hundred amongst the locals, who had lived with this information miles downriver, and let the fast waters of the Usufor countless generations. I knew that many cultures had macita take us into the heart of the jungle and the predicted the end of the world throughout history, but world of the Maya. We were going to be the first this seemed different somehow. It felt to me as if it were people to canoe this river since the Maya themsomehow based in fact and scientific observation rather selves and were going to publicized in the national than just religious fervor. The date of the end in 2012 Geographic, assuming we survived the trip. was over thirty six years into the future so it did not concern me very much at the moment. My immediate focus An interesting incident occurred just a few hours was on the canoe trip and the perils of the fast moving after we left. Our support crew and vehicles were Usumacinta. preparing to leave when several other trucks carrying canoes appeared. The occupants were a group The evening just before we were set to embark on the riv- of graduate students from Harvard University who er we gathered in the small dining room of the tiny hotel were also there to canoe the Usumacinta. They and scrutinized the only map of the Usumacinta that we had been planning their trip for over two years and had, a copy of one we found in the public library in San were astonished to discover that they had missed Cristobal, Mexico, that had been drawn over a hundred their opportunity to be the first explorers of the years ago. Otis looked at it with a wary eye and was not region by a mere four hours. Talk about being impressed or confident. bummed out--“Boys,” he said, “this map is not worth a damn. I am a little hesitant to risk my butt without a better idea of The trip downriver was filled with excitement and where we are going and what we are in for. Let’s postunexpected events far too numerous to detail in pone the trip for one day while I do something.” this short space. Those descriptions of wonder and 28
Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
fear will have to be enumerated in a future article; let me merely say that it was the trip of a lifetime for all concerned, even the worldly Mr. Imboden. When we arrived at the end of the river trip ten days later, we found the support crew (our girlfriends and a couple of our buddies who drove the vehicles) waiting. We were filthy and exhausted. Otis, of course, knew an innkeeper in the small village and secured us some comfortable rooms and once more an ample supply of hot water for bathing. After getting cleaned up, we sat down for dinner in a small restaurant and the waiter offered an unusual soup of some kind. I took a spoonful and decided it was pretty tasty, but I could not recognize the ingredients. When I asked Otis what was in it and he smiled and said, “You’re hungry, aren’t you? Best not to ask...” We all ate ravenously and began to relax for the first time in weeks. After dinner, Clint and I ventured out to see if we could find some beer or alcohol to bring back to the hotel. We came across a small Mexican liquor store that appeared to be stocked with nothing but tequila. However, down on a bottom shelf, covered with dust, was single bottle of Seagram’s V-O. I grabbed it and three bottles of tequila and we headed back to the hotel. When we arrived with our booty, Otis did not seem very interested. He did not care much for tequila, it seemed. When I took him to the side and showed him the Seagram’s, his eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas. Then we partied like madmen until the wee hours of the morning and a good time was had by all. We parted ways with Otis in Vera Cruz. He flew back to Washington and we drove through Mexico and crossed the border at Laredo. The first thing we did was stop at the closest Denny’s and order hamburgers and milkshakes; nothing has ever tasted so good before or since.
While the Mayan prophecies of the end of the world did not come to pass, Clint’s prediction did come true. Soon we were all settled into our varied career paths and long term relationships; the opportunities for additional adventures became much less frequent and far more difficult to pursue. Such is life for most of us...all except for Otis Imbolden, who continued his travels to faraway lands and exotic places for many years to come.
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A few months later we told by Clint’s new found contacts with the Geographic that Otis’ photos would not merely be an article in the magazine. They had decided to publish a hardback book with all of his amazing images under the title, “The Mysterious Maya”. It is a fabulous book and still available today. Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013
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