Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

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The Texas Bucket List Earns Three Lone Star EMMY Nominations

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College Station – The Texas Bucket List is honored to announce that we have been nominated for three Lone Star EMMY Awards this year! The Lone EMMY Emmy Awards is under the Lone Star Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences which strives to further advance the arts and sciences of television. The Chapter is dedicated to encouraging and recognizing the high levels of professional achievement through the annual presentation of the regional Emmy Awards. The Texas Bucket List was nominated in three categories including the Human-Interest category for segment, “A Prayer On The Wings Of A Bluebird.” The segment, “The Storm Marches On,” was nominated in the Arts/Entertainment category, and host Shane McAuliffe, “The Host With A Hearty Laugh,” was nominated in the talent category.

Over the past nine years, The Texas Bucket List has been awarded four Lone Star Emmy Awards and has been nominated 21 times. Currently in our 19th season, TBL can be seen on all television affiliates in Texas, KSLA in Shreveport, WBKO in Bowling Green, WVLT in Knoxville, and nationally on RFD-TV.

 

The Texas Bucket List – Boot Hill Cemetery in Tilden

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Tilden – The landscape of McMullen County is what you’d expect in south Texas.  It’s a desolate land covered in mesquite, brush, and the occasional cactus. Tilden is the county seat of this sparce part of the state, and it happens to be in the 5th   least populated county in Texas.

“The population’s about 800.” The whole county? “The whole county.” Wow. “Yes, that’s correct.” You’re not kidding. There aren’t- “No, there’s not. And about 1,160 square miles, so it’s a big county with few people,” said McMullen County Judge James Edward Teal.

Teal is a 5th generation Texas who was raised in this rustic region.  James has served as the County Judge since 2010. “Every ounce of soil that’s in this county, I have a huge fondness for,” James said. That includes the old cemetery located right outside of his office in the center of town. Contrary to most historic cemeteries, this graveyard isn’t grandiose or even of great notoriety.

The Boot Hill Cemetery was established in 1858 and has become an odd sight given the town has grown around it. According to James, “McMullen County, and Tilden especially, were on a trade route from San Antonio to Laredo and a lot of shady characters came around. There were a lot of people that were killed under mysterious circumstances, or by murder.”

When asked why it’s called Boot Hill Cemetery, James said that the story he was always told is because men died with their boots on.  Assassinations, gun battles, cholera, and being thrown from a horse were the ways of the west back then. Not so peaceful endings!

“A lot of them were killed on the streets, and one of them killed because he was wearing a top hat and a guy thought that he could shoot a hole in the top hat, and he ended up shooting the guy in his tracks and killing him. He’d had a little too much to drink. So that’s the story that floated around here, anyway,” said Teal with a chuckle.

There are some more established grave sites that are obvious for a reason. “What I’ve been told over my lifetime is that these graves that are covered with concrete and rock were actually graves of people that had died of cholera,” James said. “The residents were definitely afraid of the spread of cholera, so they covered the graves in hopes that the cholera wouldn’t leach through the ground.”

We also saw a grave site that was the most pronounced grave in the site, and it was very different from the rest. With a massive solid slab gravestone surrounded by a rusted iron fence, it’s the most ornate grave on the grounds. “This young man died in a horseback accident. He’d fallen off a horse. And whenever news got back to his family, his family actually shipped this wrought iron fence and the granite covering,” Jim explained. “The young man’s name was Greer. I think he was 25 years old or so when he passed, so this is a permanent monument that his family set up for him. And it’s been right here, of course, since he was buried in 1874.”

Now in their eternal rest, these pioneers have put Tilden on the map in a unique way, by kicking the bucket with their boots on. James noted, “it’d be very, very interesting to know the real truth. What the real truth is, and how accurate our stories have been passed down. It would be great to know that.”

If you’re interested in old lore and tales of Texas, the Boot Hill Cemetery is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List!

The Texas Bucket List – The Menger Hotel in San Antonio

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San Antonio – The stories of old San Antonio go back centuries and on some of the most hallowed ground in the whole state, you’ll find the Menger Hotel. This hotel has been a popular place for nearly 200 years.

Garvin O’Neal is the general manager of the hotel that is located right next to the Alamo. He has worked in many prestigious properties across the Lone Star State, but the hospitality industry wasn’t his original plan. “I was in chemical engineering,” said Garvin. “I got a D in calculus my freshman year, so I said, maybe this ain’t for me.”  Garvin also does an amazing Robert De Niro impression and has even been confused for the famous actor!

After his long career, Garvin received a call from the Moody family who own the Menger Hotel to take over. Garvin answered, “I’m in… I love this hotel for years. Stayed in this hotel lots and got the Menger. Yeah, it’s a great hotel.” When asked what resonates the most with him about this hotel, he said the sense of history it has.

The Menger Hotel opened in 1859, just 23 years after the fall of the Alamo. It was built by William and Mary Menger who originally built it as a brewery with a boarding house. Ultimately, the Mengers used their profits from that to build one of the finest full-service hotels west of the Mississippi.

The hotel was redesigned around 1909, but the original 1859 lobby has the same bones. Soon after the hotel opening, the restaurant was added. The hotel then underwent more construction to add the east wing because of the large success of the place.

While walking through the hotel, you will still find some of the original furniture the Mengers had a hand in putting in. According to Garvin, “The Mengers went to Europe between the fifties and the seventies to buy great pieces of antique furniture like [the] Steinway. And as you look through the lobby, you see some pieces that are original to the Menger Hotel in the first phase and were purchased by William and Mary on their trips to Europe.”

Many people have stayed at the Menger over the years, including celebrities like Roy Rogers, Babe Ruth, and presidents Grant, Lee, McKinley, Eisenhower, and Clinton. Additionally, several Texas history authors, such as Sidney Lanier and O’Henry, have spent weeks at a time at the Menger.

The Colonial Room is one of the most famous areas where people have gathered over the years because of its reputation for serving a tasty treat. This restaurant has become known for its homemade mango ice cream, and let me tell you, it is fantastic!

There is another aspect to the Menger Hotel that is a popular topic – the spooky stories. “I think when it comes to paranormal, it’s the power of suggestions. So people come in thinking, ‘wow, this place is haunted.’ Then you walk the hallways over there and it is wooden floors and they creak, right? They creak and you’re like, ‘wow, that’s weird,” said O’Neal.

One of the most famous spots for hauntings is the King Ranch suite. In this very room and even exact bed, Richard King, the founder of King Ranch, passed away in 1885. Garvin said “it’s also the most requested room in the hotel because people want to go and have Richard King visit. He’s the most popular ghost, apparently, in the hotel.”

Garvin chalks up the creepy noises and creaks to the hotel’s old age. Although, he did mention he has had one creepy encounter of his own.  “I’ve had one fleeting moment of something very bizarre. I sensed somebody being next to me up there. But I haven’t let it get to my head.”

There is also the Menger Bar which deserves a story of its own! But this time, we only checked in on one of the most storied places to stay in our great state of Texas.

If you’re looking to see and experience Texas history, a stay at the Menger Hotel is a great spot on The Texas Bucket List. Like Garvin says, “If you want to get a sense of culture and go back in time to the late 1800s and get a feel of San Antonio from that perspective, then you probably need to stay at the Menger.”

The Texas Bucket List – Mitchell Spur Collection in Gatesville

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Gatesville – There’s not much more synonymous with our state than the spur.  Heck we’ve even got a professional basketball team named after them. But over in Gatesville they’ve got so many spurs that I’m told a horse won’t step one hoof into town.  After our visit, I can see why!

Coryell County is home to a great deal of Fort Hood. Just north of the massive military base is Gatesville, a small town with a love for spurs. “It means everything to us. It really does,” said Ervin Adams, the President of the Board of Coryell County Museum.

Established in 1985, the Coryell County Museum tells the story of the county that’s been around since 1854. Here you’ll find the county’s original jail that Sam Bass was jailed in in 1878 for disturbing the peace. You’ll see some of the most detailed and decorated doll houses I’ve ever seen. And they happen to have the largest spur collection in the world. “Pretty much the whole museum is centered around the spur collection,” stated Ervin.

The Mitchell Spur Collection is massive and it’s put Gatesville on the map. Local coaching legend Lloyd Mitchell amassed this collection of over 10,000 spurs in his lifetime. “Coach Mitchell was a special man, he did a lot of things in his life and then just did this collecting on the side,” explained Ervin.

How did a small-town football coach get into that? “Well, I married the Mitchell’s youngest daughter,” stated Grayson Wetzel, the son-in-law of Lloyd Mitchell.

Grayson knows this collection well.  He married Charlotte Ann Tootie Mitchel and he first set his sights on the substantial spur collection when he met his future father-in-law in 1965. “They sent me outside with her daddy. Out in the back of their house there were two old wooden buildings. Both of those buildings were crammed full of spurs and other western memorabilia. I spent the afternoon out there in hog heaven,” explained Grayson.

After that first meeting, Grayson knew he was saddling up for a long ride with the family. “As we were finishing up the visit that afternoon he said, ‘Young man, you’re welcome to come back anytime. Just bring a spur.’ So I made it my goal to do that from that time on,” said Grayson.

Grayson took us on a tour of this massive collection, and it sure does live up to its reputation! The museum has around 6,000 of the spurs in the museum. “It’s hard to display all of them,” stated Grayson.

The main exhibit consists of the most unique and storied spurs, even spurs owned by Jackie Kennedy. There’s even a colossal spur in this sizable spur collection. Then there’s spurs that showcase some unique artistry. “One of the display cases shows Gal-Leg spurs. And as I’ve done programs through the years, I say Gal-Leg spur just like that. I find that many people have no clue what I’m talking about. On the shank of the spur, the heel bands got decoration on it. Looks like a lady’s leg. So in history books or other books, you’ll find them called Gal-Leg, or sometimes they’ll say Lady-leg spurs,” explained Grayson.

So just what was it that made a football coach from a small-town start collecting this particular piece of ranching equipment? “As a young man, he was headed out west, headed towards Yellowstone to work, but he was working on a ranch that’s on the way in New Mexico. Says he was riding through the pasture one day and he looked down and saw something shiny. Says he got off his horse, kicked the dirt around, and sure enough there was a spur. He said, ‘I picked it up and I’ve kept it.’ And then said, ‘I’ve been looking for the mate to it ever since.’,” explained Grayson.

Surprisingly the spur collection has spurned interest in a tool that some folks don’t even know what it’s for anymore. “Everybody knew about spurs back then, past my generation I’m not sure how many know about spurs,” stated Grayson.

“A lot of people don’t even know what a spur is and when they walk through the door they just want to know what a spur is and take them and show them what a spur is. What does it do? Why’d they use them? And we’d have to tell a story about what they’re used for. I’m serious. We’ve had people walk in the door and don’t know what a spur is or what it was used for or anything,” explained Ervin.

So if keeping the western heritage and history of Texas is something close to your heart or you’re just looking for a spur of the moment trip, a stop at the Coryell County Museum to see the Mitchell Spur Collection is a surprising stop on The Texas Bucket List.  “If you’re a true Texan, you’ve got to have a little bit of interest in ranching, cowboys, horses, it can just go on and on. You got to have a spur involved somewhere in it,” stated Grayson.

The Texas Bucket List Bite of The Season 18 – Curb Side Bistro in Odessa

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Another season of The Texas Bucket List has come to a close and it’s time to reveal our five favorite bites from Season 18!  Now this season of The Texas Bucket List was filled with the flavors from burgers, sausage sandwiches, seafood, and good ol’ homestyle cooking that were definitely deserving to be recognized and are all well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List!  But we did have a favorites and these are the Top 5 Bites from Season 18 of The Texas Bucket List!  (CLICK ON PICTURE TO WATCH THE STORY!)

#5 Nana’s Taqueria in Weslaco

Down in the valley, if you haven’t had a lonche, then you haven’t eaten in the valley! Here at Nana’s Taqueria, Roxanna Trevino and her husband have perfected the lonche and that has earned them a spot on this season’s Bite of The Season!

 

#4 Zeitman’s Grocery Store in Bryan

This is not your average grocery store, but this deli and bakery whips up unbelievable sandwiches that are quite big in size and flavor! Not only are the sandwiches all, but they have freshly in-house baked bagels that are the foundation to a delicious breakfast sandwich!

#3 Green Chile Willy’s in Amarillo

It isn’t a true Texas dish if it doesn’t have that little kick of spice! That is exactly what they do here at Green Chile Willy’s with their plate of chicken fried steak that is smothered in a mouth watering green chile gravy that has earned them a spot on the Bite of The Season!

#2 Palermo Pasta House in Round Rock

Benvenuti! In the heart of Round Rock, there is a pasta house with Argentinian and Italian fusion that has earned themselves one of the top spots on this season’s Bite of The Season! From homemade pasta and raviolis, to over 30 options of freshly made sauces, there is no doubt that you will indulge in flavors at this pasta house!

#1 Curb Side Bistro in Odessa

Taking the #1 spot on this season’s Bite of The Season are the sensational sliders and fries at Curb Side Bistro in Odessa! The flavorful sauces and spices that Chef Alejandro Barrientos has created in these sizable sliders has earned him great success as well as our pick of Bite of the Season!

 

 

The Texas Bucket List – Swimming with Sharks at Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi

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Corpus Christi – We’ve done some pretty amazing things on the Texas Bucket List over the years but there’s an adventure in Corpus Christi that ranks right up near the top. You see the Texas State Aquarium is already a great place to visit on our list but now you can do something that had my Mom and my kids all concerned, swimming with sharks!

“Probably the most successful programs we’ve launched,” said Jesse Gilbert, the president and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium. Before I was forced to swim with the fishes, I had to know how all of this came to be. Since 2003 Jesse has been part of this place and that includes the introduction of their swim with the sharks experience.

Now the Texas State Aquarium didn’t build its reputation on this unique experience but rather the years of fun and educational programs that they’ve had since the aquarium opened in 1990.  Back then the entire exhibit was dedicated to the Gulf of Mexico but today there’s a boatload more thanks to the recent Caribbean Ocean addition. “We doubled the size of the aquarium in 2017 when it opened, and from there, we went to the wildlife rescue center. So that pattern has just continued to go,” explained Jesse.

Seeing these sizable exhibits is quite exhilarating but then you realize, someone has to take care of all these fish. “There’s about 70 individuals alone that make sure that the animals are safe, the water’s good to go, the bay is in good shape. We use natural seawater from Corpus Christi Bay, and so we have to make sure that the Bay’s doing well. So there’s a lot of data that’s collected and a lot of operations that go on around the clock,” explained Jesse.

“My whole life. I have wanted to work with Marine animals, specifically sharks,” stated Jordan Campbell, an instructor here at the aquarium. Jordan took me on a behind the scenes tour of the Texas State Aquarium and that’s when you really get a scope of how big this ocean operation is.

“It’s like a small city. We have to generate our own power. When we have hurricanes and freezes, we have to make our own water, we have our own hospital for the animals, we have our own commissaries and kitchens. And so it’s really kind of a neat way to take people behind the scenes and they can see all the different facets of what it takes to operate an organization with us,” said Jesse.

Jordan then took me to the Islands of Steel exhibit, their largest exhibit that mimics just what we would see in the Gulf of Mexico. “So we’ve got some larger shark species. We have two nurse sharks.Their names are Luna and Soul. We’ve got a few larger game fish in here as well, we’ve got some crevalle jacks, we have a sheepshead, a northern red snapper, we have some tarpon. We have one barracuda kind of right there in the middle. And then of course we have Tiki who’s our loggerhead sea turtle,” explained Jordan while showing us the exhibit.Here you get to feed the fish, and they sure do go crazy for it!

Now if I can prevent myself from becoming food, we’ll be okay, so Shannon Hunt got me prepared. Shannon took me to the Caribbean Sea exhibit where I will be snorkeling with the sharks! “Yeah. There’s sharks, eels, stingrays, all kinds of really cool marine life that we’re going to get a nice close look at,” said Shannon Hunt, a staff member of the aquarium.

Fortunately, I spotted the cage I will be in. “Yes, we will be in that shark cage in just a few minutes. And when we’re in there, we’re going to be able to see our animals up really, really closely. All of the animals, the sandbar sharks, our stingrays, even our eels, aren’t shy about swimming right past the cage for an awesome view,” explained Shannon.

“Our sharks all have a nice balanced diet. It does not include any of our snorkelers or any nice, tasty snacks that you might have brought along with you today,” joked Shannon.

“So by getting up close and personal, we can remove the stigma around sharks and give people a better appreciation for the ocean. As the aquarium here, we are trying to get people to care about these animals and the quality of our ocean. And by seeing all the incredible stuff nice up and close, then you care a little bit more,” explained Shannon.

Now what I am worried about is the water being ice cold. “However, this water is right around 72 degrees Fahrenheit and that’s the optimal temperature for all of the different species in this exhibit,” said Shannon. “We’re going to get you in the water with some sharks today,” stated Cassie Gunter, a three-year employee at The Texas State Aquarium.

Cassie got me ready for the dive.  Fortunately, I love snorkeling so passing the quick swimming test wasn’t a problem, the 72-degree water on the other hand was a bit chilly. The salinity of the water was surprisingly strong, keeping me more afloat than I am used to but keeping my legs up in the water was a good thing, especially when you see sharks swimming right in front of you. “The sharks here are pretty friendly, so we get in there every day with them, so they’re really used to human interaction, but we don’t touch them unless we absolutely have to, this is their home so we make sure to respect that,” explained Cassie.

Once you settle in, watching these huge animals glide gracefully in the water is exhilarating while knowing there’s a cage around you is comforting. “A lot of people are pretty surprised, I know that sharks get a bad rep in the media sometimes. Everyone’s seen Jaws and all the scary sharks, but the whole purpose of this snorkel here is so people can get up close with sharks and say, ‘Hey, that shark wasn’t so scary, maybe they’re pretty awesome and an important part of the ecosystem.’,” explained Shannon.

“There’s that wow factor of being with sharks. Sharks aren’t dangerous, we want to make sure that people understand that. And so we were trying to come up with a way that people could get in there. It was safe, but it also kind of kept this mystique about sharks,” said Jesse.

Swimming with the sharks comes highly recommended but if just visiting the aquarium is enough to float your boat, we’ll that’s well worth a stop as well. “The Texas State Aquarium has something special, the people here have something special. Everyone, as soon as you walk in the doors, they want to share what we know about the animals, about the environment, and it’s really something you have to see and experience firsthand,” expressed Jordan.

“That’s what’s so special about Texas is that Texans love the outdoors and they love their wildlife. And so it makes telling that story easier and impactful. We’re just not saying it, Texans really understand it and go out there and do it,” said Jesse.

The Texas Bucket List – The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Gardens in Kerrville

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Kerrville – Max Greiner is an accomplished artist. “I always dreamed to be an artist, and that’s what God made me,” expressed Max. He’s also an unapologetic Baptist. “Boy, God put a passion in me after I got that and I couldn’t let go of it then,” said Max.

Since 1978, Max has been creating all sorts of art here in the Lone Star State but one piece has given him a divine purpose throughout his life. It’s also been the inspiration to complete The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden in Kerrville. “The Divine Servant,” sculpture is the one that, kind of, started this whole venture for Max.

Max’s story starts in the 1970’s, after marrying his wife Sherry in 1975, he started his fine art business and had major success. But when the market crashed in 1986, his world came tumbling down. “We didn’t have any money. We were losing the land, losing the mobile home, losing the business, and that’s when I cried out and said, ‘God, help. I need help, please.’ And He spoke and said, ‘I want you to do a sculpture of Jesus washing Peter’s feet.’ and I heard it. I said, ‘Okay.’,” explained Max. “Many consider it my masterpiece, hopefully each one of them has that character to them, but that’s how it began. God was teaching me about humility. That’s what this is about. You can see Jesus washing the feet of the disciple, Peter, right before he went to the cross the next day. That’s what God wants us to do. He wants to help keep us clean and walk through this life, and if we get dirty, he’ll forgive us and wash our feet again,” explained Max. “That took off, and then God… I waited. I learned He could give me ideas, so I just waited on Him. Then He gave me other ideas. I wouldn’t just work a month like an artist or an architect and say, ‘What’ll I do today?’ I’d just say, ‘God, tell me what you want.’,” said Max.

Several religious sculptures followed and one day Max thought he had completed his divine duty. “When I finished “The Coming King” I said, ‘Well, God, I guess we’re done. That’s the end of the book, Revelation. I guess I can quit now.’ I thought I was through, but then He gave me this vision to do a sculpture prayer garden,” said Max.

That’s when get got a call he wasn’t expecting. “A stranger out of Beaumont, Texas, named Marlon Quibodeaux, called up, and he said, ‘I’m Marlon Quibodeaux. I’m a businessman and an evangelist in Beaumont. And God says you’re supposed to build a 77′ 7″ cross on Interstate 10.’ I said, “What?,” explained Max.

Max prayed about and felt called to do it. Now he just needed a place to put it. He was drawn to this hilltop in Kerrville and contacted the owner. “Hey, this is Max Greiner, in Kerrville, Texas. I’m an artist and evangelist and I believe God wants to use your property to build a sculpture garden to honor Jesus Christ. Would you give me your land? If not, what would you sell it for? He didn’t answer my… He didn’t return my call,” joked Max.

But with prayer and incredible generosity, somehow this massive project miraculously came together. “God brought in other people and contractors and lots of volunteers. It was a work of the Body of Christ. It’s not just the Baptists, the Methodists, the Presbyterians, the Pentecostals; it’s the Catholics, it’s the whole Body of Christ. Everybody that claimed Jesus as Lord and Savior, they wanted to do this,” expressed Max.

“For me, it was like it resembled how big God is,” said visitor Jen Case. Jen felt called to come here from Nashville. “I literally felt just peace and everything that I had been carrying just fell off me,” expressed Jen.

“See, most people don’t know, God still works miracles,” expressed Max.

“The peace and the serenity here is amazing,” stated Jen.

“If you love God, it will be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. If you don’t like God, it could be one of the most amazing experiences of your life,” said Max.

The cross and sculptures are inspiring, but even more uplifting are their prayers placed on rocks around the scripture garden, thousands of them. “It’s one of the favorite aspects of the garden for a lot of the visitors. They’re thanking God for answering their prayers and they’re also asking God to answer their prayers,” explained Max.

Prayers for the sick, for family, for service members, and for healing.  Walking along this path, you can’t help but to say a prayer for those who need it most. “That’s what this kind of illustrates is the effect and power of prayers. That’s why people have canceled suicide here. They’ve been healed of drug addiction, abuse, and all kinds of stuff. Sometimes people leave their problems right here at the cross. They dump them off at the cross, let Jesus worry about them and they go away free,” expressed Max.

“I just felt super led to write my name and his name on this rock. I just put, “beautifully broken.” Then I wanted to do another rock. I thought, well, I don’t know if I was going to put my kids names, or whatever, but all of a sudden, God just put it on my heart. “All for your glory” came to my mind,” said Jen.

“God is a mystery, I don’t understand it, but we know you got to come to God and to get your prayers answered,” expressed Max.

So if experiencing a little spirituality is something that your soul seeks, a stop at The Cross in Kerrville is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List. “Bring all the people that are your friends and family to the garden, and also bring all the people you don’t like and just drop them off at the entrance and pick them up in a couple of hours and they’ll be a lot better,” said Max.

“This is so beautifully overwhelming, everybody needs to see this,” said Jen.

“This is God showing off on this mountain,” stated Max.

The Texas Bucket List – Belt Sander Races at The Gaff in Port Aransas

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Port Aransas – Traveling to Port A is the perfect stop on The Texas Bucket List. You’ve got sun, beautiful beaches, great food, fine folks, and furry friends. But if your competitive juices start to flow and you’re looking for a great showdown between competitors, just head to The Gaff. There you’ll find a unique tournament of champions, the Belt Sander Races.

“This is the greatest thing in the world,” said patron Terry Gillespie. “Where else have you ever seen belt sander races,” asked patron Joe Jensen. “We are the birthplace of Texas Belt Sander Racing,” said owner Kip Shannon. Kip started this backyard competition that takes place on a really long board back in 2005. “It’s a little competition, it’s a little bit fun and everybody gets together, it’s a community thing,” said Kip.

Popular with winter Texans but busy throughout the year, the semi-monthly matchup brings in the best belt sanders from across the country.  But racing isn’t the only thing going on here. “It’s a get together, we have a party,” stated Kip. “I saw crusty old men turn into 10-year-old kids at the drop of a hat and I’m like, ‘I’m onto something.’,” explained Kip.

Now I would say that usually drinking and power tools are a bad idea. “It is when you’re racing. We try to keep everything down to a low roar. Sometimes it will mess up and you’re out because of your drinking,” said Kip.

Donna Orozco is one of the many competitors that gets a grip and lets it rip. “When we first heard about this, we came down here and we’re like, ‘What the heck?’ And we’re like, ‘Oh my God, we got to do this.’,” said competitor Donna Orozco. “I tell people like, ‘We race belt sanders.’ And they’re like, ‘You do what?’,” joked Donna. Her Lady Liberty is a true testament to the American spirit, and sure makes Donna proud when racing down the track!

All these power tools have a personality all to their own.  From Ol’ Blue, the Cheesehead, to the Money Pit, you never know what you’ll find riding or potentially dying. “The decor on them is pretty interesting,” said spectator Haley Jamison. And it’s not just what’s on the outside that counts. These folks get serious when it comes to sanders. The winner of 2010 Las Vegas hit this track, he’s got the record at 2.5 seconds. And he’s an electrical engineer and he has a little something in there that no one knows what it is but whatever it is, it makes him a fast sander,” said Kip.

Some of the entrants are so fast that standing close to the track can be a bit precarious. “We have tested to see if it does jump the track how far it goes and this usually is a pretty good buffer zone for safety wise. And then it did go to the neighbor’s yard one time but that was rare,” said Kip.

With dozens on hand, cheering on their favorite challenger, the tension is palpable. “I always do like a little bit of deep breathing before I get up there to settle my heart rate down and just focus on that light,” explained Donna. Because this is a race of inches. “It’s the luck of the draw. You don’t know which lane you’re going to get, one lane’s kind of faster than the other so it’s a lucky thing,” explained Kip. “We’re all really good friends that we all cheer each other on. And it was amazing. It’s good to be here with all your friends, for sure,” expressed Donna.

In the end, Donna pushed it to the limit and took the title of champion on this day of the belt sander races. “This is our fifth season we’ve been racing and this is my first time to ever get number one,” stated Donna. “I make a lot of people happy on these certain little days, twice a month. It takes a lot of energy out of you but it’s impressive to see how much fun and joy these guys kind of… I bring purpose to people’s lives, I like it. I really like it,” expressed Kip.

“We love it,” said spectator Richard Childress.

“It’s one of those kooky little things that you’ve just got to see,” said Kip.

“Oh man, this is a genuine Texas experience, and where else can you go to a pirate bar? This is like the best place in the world to me. I love The Gaff. I do,” said Donna.

The Texas Bucket List – Stonehenge Replica in Odessa

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Odessa – In the heart of the Permian Basin, you’ll find all sorts of unique geographical oddities.  The sands of Monahans, the Wink Sink and the second largest meteor crater in the U.S. are a few of these places we’ve perused.  But over in Odessa, there’s a rock formation that’s not as natural as the rest.

“A lot of people have not heard of Odessa, and it’s kind of put us on the map,” said one who helped erect the replica, Dick Gillham. Gillham may be in his 90’s but the art installation he helped erect is dedicated to something much older than him. Stonehenge. “Well, because that’s what we had,” stated Dick.

“They ask the same question, ‘Why?’, and then sometimes my answer is just, ‘Well, why not?’,” said Professor Christopher Stanley.Stanley is a Professor of Art at the University of Texas Permian Basin and he’s worked with Dick on all sorts of art projects around the Permian Basin.  But nothing is as immense as the tribute to Stonehenge that you’ll find on the UTPB Campus. “This was one of our first big adventures,” said Christopher. “Odessa doesn’t have a whole lot of attractions, and art is one way that I think he can bring it to the public,” said Dick.

It all started in the early 2000’s when Dick’s colleague, who happened to have a quarry, bequeathed boulders for a bold project.  The only momentous task at hand was to figure out what to do with the endowed endowment.     “Anything we could do to attract people to come and look at UTPB, that’s what we wanted to do,” said Dick.

So in 2004, the rocks were raised. “I was in the crane business, and it fascinates me that back 2,000 years ago, they put these stones up on top of these other stones, and just moved the stones. Sometimes, we have a hard time moving some of this stuff, and to think they did it 2,000 years ago is phenomenal,” explained Dick.

“We both have this incredible history of working with our hands. The act of making the original Stonehenge all was done by hand, so we kind of took an easy way out, because we had something called “modern technology,” explained Christopher.

While these limestone pillars are quite large, they’re not quite as big as the boulders at Stonehenge.  But they are aligned exactly the same allowing that astronomical experience during the solstice that you’d normally only get in Great Britain. “Not everybody can afford to go to England and see it, so we give them the next best thing,” stated Dick.

Seeing the summer solstice isn’t the only reason to see this site, the rocks themselves are unique to this part of our state. “This is the Permian Basin, but this is the Permian Basin that was underwater,” stated Christopher.

Christopher then explained all of the things about the stone, from a geological point they could tell what animals lived on the stone, the conditions at the time, and even more!

This is all thanks to a retired professional and a professor bringing together an idea that has captured the imagination of college students and normal sightseers all curious about the cosmos. “Makes a good place for people to theorize what they think this was built for,” expressed Dick. “There were a lot of questions about why it was built, how it was built, and maybe it’s not important why and how. What’s important is to bring students out here and have them think about it. Then you hone those critical thinking skills that maybe they didn’t learn earlier, and it’s like, ‘Well, come up with your own idea why they did it.’ And there might not be one right answer,” said Christopher.

The Texas Bucket List – The Pumpkin Patch at the Dallas Arboretum in Dallas

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Dallas – When the calendar rolls around to October and the chill of the first cold front hits our state, it doesn’t take long for Texans to take things outside to enjoy the crisp air from up north. But if you live in a big city like Big D, finding the perfect stop to enjoy the refreshing revision in the weather could be a bit of a conundrum and fortunately, we found a good place to start.  The Dallas Arboretum.

Rick Williams, a volunteer at the Dallas Arboretum gave us a tour of the oasis and he was excited to showcase this slice of serene scenery in the middle of the city.  “Well I’ve always had an interest in horticulture,” said Rick.

Rick enjoys volunteering out here so much, he took time to earn a degree in horticulture during his retirement. “Now all I do is play golf, play with the grandkids, and volunteer at the arboretum so life is good,” expressed Rick.

We took a tour of the spacious greenery and saw White Rock Lake with the fantastic Dallas building skyline in the background. “It’s an area that has lots of asphalt and buildings and stuff so it’s definitely a place to get away, breathe fresh air and enjoy the outdoors,” explained Rick.

Situated on 66 acres, the Dallas Arboretum is a haven from the heavy traffic around the metroplex, and here the hue is heightened. “Unlike a lot of arboretums, which are pretty much just trees, shrubs, and a few flowerbeds, we specialize in color,” said Rick.

But when it comes to the festive orange splendor that we look forward to during the fall, the Arboretum goes above and beyond. Known as the Pumpkin Village, this annual tradition has been going since 2005. It takes 90,000 pumpkins to create this fairytale land faithful to fall, and it’s an eye full. “We have three different pumpkin houses with a whole variety pack of pumpkins, we have some squashes and gourds. I always thought pumpkins were orange but fool that I was, turns out we have white ones, and ones with stripes so you get a whole variety pack around here,” explained Rick.

Seeing such a diverse and colorful pumpkin patch brings out a bunch of people and they usually have one thing on their mind, pictures. “Well it’s a great place for family pictures you’ll see tons of folks out here taking pictures. They come down here by the ton so this is a family oriented place if it were one,” said Rick.

While we snapped some colorful photos for our social media feed, Rick doesn’t really get into that too much. “No, I try to keep my life simple, golf, the grandkids, then the arboretum. I don’t want to worry about that,” said Rick.

Of course, it doesn’t take posting your pictures to get a positive experience out at the Dallas Arboretum. In fact, leaving your phone in the car and just seeing the sights of a seriously silly amount of pumpkins might be the best way to fully experience this haven in the middle of the city. “It’s a great place for families and it does your heart good to see people enjoying themselves down here. This is certainly a wonderful spot to cross off your bucket list,” said Rick.