A Prayer for the Wonder Dog .....

Janie at Sounding Forth is asking us to Please Pray for Zack, the Wonder Dog. While you're at it, will you also lift up Zack's vet in your prayers, not to mention Janie and the rest of Zack's family?

Somehow, "Thanks!" Doesn't Seem Adequate .....

... but there it is, nonetheless ... "THANKS!" to everyone who did their part is making Blogging for Fair Havens such a success. As of this morning, the 24-hour event had raised $10,554 (and counting) for the local transitional housing facility, exceeding the goal that had been set while the blogathon was in its planning stages.

... so, for lack of a better word, "THANKS!" ...

Thanks to Jimmy of Sticky Doorknobs, who organized this year's event.

Thanks to the members of West Texas' blogging community who provided virtual and actual support for this year's event - Jimmy, J.P. of Bleu Chocolate, Wallace of Streams, George of Sleepless In Midland, Janie of Sounding Forth and Ospurt of Opus Musings and Jessica's Well.

Thanks to Eric at Fire Ant Gazette. It is Eric who provided the original inspiration and direction for this annual event, and is deserving of some of the credit for this year's success.

Thanks to all the media for their participation - television, radio, newspaper ... they were all represented at some point or another during the blogathon, and doing their part to raise awareness and funds.

Thanks to the Fair Havens staff and volunteers who supported our efforts and contributed so much of the sweat equity needed to build a successful fundraising effort.

And A VERY BIG THANKS to the people of West Texas - and beyond! - who dug down and contributed $10,554 (and counting) to this year's blogathon. "Thanks!" hardly seems adequate for acknowledging how the donors came through ... but there it is, nonetheless.

BfFH: Ospurt's Turn .....

Warming-up in the batter's circle to take his turn as a BfFH Guest Blogger is Ospurt of Opus Musings and Jessica's Well.

The 2008 edition of Blogging for Fair Havens is now under way, and we hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising. The actual/virtual event takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.
And remember, blogging throughout the event will be Jimmy of Sticky Doorknobs and J.P. at Bleu Chocolate. Be sure to check-in with them as well.

BfFH: Janie's Turn .....

Warming-up in the batter's circle to take her turn as a BfFH Guest Blogger is Janie of Sounding Forth.

The 2008 edition of Blogging for Fair Havens is now under way, and we hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising. The actual/virtual event takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.
And remember, blogging throughout the event will be Jimmy of Sticky Doorknobs and J.P. at Bleu Chocolate. Be sure to check-in with them as well.

BfFH: George's Turn .....

Warming-up in the batter's circle to take his turn as a BfFH Guest Blogger is George of Sleepless in Midland.

The 2008 edition of Blogging for Fair Havens is now under way, and we hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising. The actual/virtual event takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.
And remember, blogging throughout the event will be Jimmy of Sticky Doorknobs and J.P. at Bleu Chocolate. Be sure to check-in with them as well.

BfFH: Wallace's Turn .....

Warming-up in the batter's circle to take his turn as a BfFH Guest Blogger is Wallace of Streams.

The 2008 edition of Blogging for Fair Havens is now under way, and we hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising. The actual/virtual event takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.
And remember, blogging throughout the event will be Jimmy of Sticky Doorknobs and J.P. at Bleu Chocolate. Be sure to check-in with them as well.

BfFH: Handoff .....

The 2008 edition of Blogging for Fair Havens is now under way in the parking lot of the Midland H.E.B. We hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising ... but now it's time for a handoff.

Blogging for Fair Havens takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.

Me? I'm wrapping up my shift on on ArchaeoTexture and heading over to West Texas Missioner.

See you there.

BfFH: The Photo Man .....

The 2008 edition of Blogging for Fair Havens is now under way in the parking lot of the Midland H.E.B. We hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising, take a moment to "meet and greet the neighbors" around West Texas' corner of the blogosphere, and be a part of what's turning into a multi-media event.

One reason for that is the participation of J.P. Hearn of Bleu Chocolate. For the next 24 hours, he will be shooting photos of Blogging for Fair Havens, which takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.
J.P. will be here, shooting and blogging throughout the event. Me? I'm going to put in a short shift on Saturday. I'll be blogging on ArchaeoTexture from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Then I'll continue blogging on West Texas Missioner.

"Fair Havens opened its doors as a transitional housing program in Midland a little over 10 years ago. In October of 1997, executive director DiAnn Koehl set up her office in a ranch style house on Andrews Highway. She began developing the program, furnishing that 4-bedroom house while continuing to raise funds needed to support the ministry."

"This faith-based organization gives women in a broken relationship a place to call home for a couple of years while they find their way again. It gives them and it gives their children a security they may have never had. And it gives the women who are taken in an opportunity to achieve a higher education so that when they do complete the program, they can go out on their own and be the success many of them know they can be."

A good cause, providing for a genuine need in our community ... and it shouldn't be any surprise that a wide variety of West Texas' blogging community wants to do their part to help. They will include Jimmy, J.P. Hearn of Bleu Chocolate, Wallace Craig of Streams, George Johns of Sleepless In Midland, Janie Snelson of Sounding Forth and Ospurt of Jessica's Well ...

You can go to the Blogging for Fair Havens link for a bloggers schedule, as well as a preview of everything else going on during this very-special 24 hours.

BfFH: The Sleepless Man .....

The 2008 edition of Blogging for Fair Havens is now under way in the parking lot of the Midland H.E.B. We hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising ... and take a moment to "meet and greet the neighbors" around West Texas' corner of the blogosphere.

One of our virtual/actual participants in this, the latest "actual gathering of virtual acquaintances," is George of Sleepless in Midland. The occasion is Blogging for Fair Havens, which takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.
Me? I'm going to put in a short shift on Saturday. I'll be blogging on ArchaeoTexture from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Then I'll continue blogging on West Texas Missioner. George takes his turn in a couple of shifts later this weekend.

"Fair Havens opened its doors as a transitional housing program in Midland a little over 10 years ago. In October of 1997, executive director DiAnn Koehl set up her office in a ranch style house on Andrews Highway. She began developing the program, furnishing that 4-bedroom house while continuing to raise funds needed to support the ministry."

"This faith-based organization gives women in a broken relationship a place to call home for a couple of years while they find their way again. It gives them and it gives their children a security they may have never had. And it gives the women who are taken in an opportunity to achieve a higher education so that when they do complete the program, they can go out on their own and be the success many of them know they can be."

A good cause, providing for a genuine need in our community ... and it shouldn't be any surprise that a wide variety of West Texas' blogging community wants to do their part to help. They will include Jimmy, J.P. Hearn of Bleu Chocolate, Wallace Craig of Streams, George Johns of Sleepless In Midland, Janie Snelson of Sounding Forth and Ospurt of Jessica's Well ...

... I'm definitely trading-up this weekend.

You can go to the Blogging for Fair Havens link for a bloggers schedule, as well as a preview of everything else going on during this very-special 24 hours.

BfFH: The Main Man .....

The 2008 edition of Blogging for Fair Havens is now under way in the parking lot of the Midland H.E.B. We hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising ... and take a moment to the thank "the main man" in this effort.

Our host for this, the latest "actual gathering of virtual acquaintances," is Jimmy of Sticky Doorknobs and the occasion is Blogging for Fair Havens, which takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.

Jimmy will be here, blogging, the entire time. Me? I'm going to put in a short shift on Saturday. I'll be blogging on ArchaeoTexture from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Then I'll continue blogging on West Texas Missioner.

"Fair Havens opened its doors as a transitional housing program in Midland a little over 10 years ago. In October of 1997, executive director DiAnn Koehl set up her office in a ranch style house on Andrews Highway. She began developing the program, furnishing that 4-bedroom house while continuing to raise funds needed to support the ministry."

"This faith-based organization gives women in a broken relationship a place to call home for a couple of years while they find their way again. It gives them and it gives their children a security they may have never had. And it gives the women who are taken in an opportunity to achieve a higher education so that when they do complete the program, they can go out on their own and be the success many of them know they can be."

A good cause, providing for a genuine need in our community ... and it shouldn't be any surprise that a wide variety of West Texas' blogging community wants to do their part to help. They will include Jimmy, J.P. Hearn of Bleu Chocolate, Wallace Craig of Streams, George Johns of Sleepless In Midland, Janie Snelson of Sounding Forth and Ospurt of Jessica's Well ...

... I'm definitely trading-up this weekend.

You can go to the Blogging for Fair Havens link for a bloggers schedule, as well as a preview of everything else going on during this very-special 24 hours.

BfFH: Kickoff .....

Annnnnd werrrrrre off! The 2008 edition of Blogging for Fair Havens is now under way in the parking lot of the Midland H.E.B. We hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising.

At the beginning of the latest - and what promises to be the longest - "actual gathering of virtual acquaintances," I am joining Jimmy of Sticky Doorknobs at Blogging for Fair Havens, which takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.

Jimmy will be here, blogging, the entire time. Me? I'm going to put in a short shift on Saturday. I'll be blogging on ArchaeoTexture from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Then I'll continue blogging on West Texas Missioner from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Blogging for Fair Havens This Weekend .....

Just a reminder that Blogging for Fair Havens kicks-off in less than 24 hours in the parking lot of the Midland H.E.B. We hope you'll be a part of the fun and the fundraising.

If one is truly judged by the company one keeps, then I should come out of this coming weekend looking pretty good ... probably better than I deserve.

In another actual gathering of virtual acquaintances, I will be joining Jimmy of Sticky Doorknobs at Blogging for Fair Havens, which takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.

Jimmy will be there, blogging, the entire time. Me? I'm going to put in a short shift on Saturday. I'll be blogging on ArchaeoTexture from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Then I'll continue blogging on West Texas Missioner from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

According to Jimmy, "Fair Havens opened its doors as a transitional housing program in Midland a little over 10 years ago. In October of 1997, executive director DiAnn Koehl set up her office in a ranch style house on Andrews Highway. She began developing the program, furnishing that 4-bedroom house while continuing to raise funds needed to support the ministry."

"This faith-based organization gives women in a broken relationship a place to call home for a couple of years while they find their way again. It gives them and it gives their children a security they may have never had. And it gives the women who are taken in an opportunity to achieve a higher education so that when they do complete the program, they can go out on their own and be the success many of them know they can be."

A good cause, providing for a genuine need in our community ... and it shouldn't be any surprise that a wide variety of West Texas' blogging community wants to do their part to help. They will include Jimmy, J.P. Hearn of Bleu Chocolate, Wallace Craig of Streams, George Johns of Sleepless In Midland, Janie Snelson of Sounding Forth and Ospurt of Jessica's Well ...

... I'm definitely trading-up this weekend.

You can go to the Blogging for Fair Havens link for a bloggers schedule, as well as a preview of everything else going on during this very-special 24 hours.

The Company We Keep .....

If one is truly judged by the company one keeps, then I should come out of this coming weekend looking pretty good ... probably better than I deserve.

In another actual gathering of virtual acquaintances, I will be joining Jimmy of Sticky Doorknobs at Blogging for Fair Havens, which takes place over 24 hours, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26th, thru 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 27th in the parking lot of Midland H.E.B. near the intersection of Wadley and N. Midkiff.

Jimmy will be there, blogging, the entire time. Me? I'm going to put in a short shift on Saturday. I'll be blogging on ArchaeoTexture from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Then I'll continue blogging on West Texas Missioner from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

According to Jimmy, "Fair Havens opened its doors as a transitional housing program in Midland a little over 10 years ago. In October of 1997, executive director DiAnn Koehl set up her office in a ranch style house on Andrews Highway. She began developing the program, furnishing that 4-bedroom house while continuing to raise funds needed to support the ministry."

"This faith-based organization gives women in a broken relationship a place to call home for a couple of years while they find their way again. It gives them and it gives their children a security they may have never had. And it gives the women who are taken in an opportunity to achieve a higher education so that when they do complete the program, they can go out on their own and be the success many of them know they can be."

A good cause, providing for a genuine need in our community ... and it shouldn't be any surprise that a wide variety of West Texas' blogging community wants to do their part to help. They will include Jimmy, J.P. Hearn of Bleu Chocolate, Wallace Craig of Streams, George Johns of Sleepless In Midland, Janie Snelson of Sounding Forth and Ospurt of Jessica's Well ...

... I'm definitely trading-up this weekend.

You can go to the Blogging for Fair Havens link for a bloggers schedule, as well as a preview of everything else going on during this very-special 24 hours.

On the Road Again .....

Midland's mobile, missionioning blog, "Postcards from the Edge," is on the road again, this time enroute to ... well, it's a mystery.

Postcards' Todd Wyrick, Minister of Youth at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, will be keeping us posted on developments as he, 65 junior high students and 10 adult leaders embark on the 2008 edition of Mystery Ramble, the latest chapter in his online journal of FPC's 2008 summer program, especially journeys by our youth as they travel Texas and the United States in service and ministry, in fellowship and fun.

Reaching Out to Midland's Liberal Base .....

Inspired by a similar move taken a few weeks back by Wallace at Streams, I am tossing my virtual hat into the political ring. In the words of Cowtown Pattie at Texas Trifles, another of my esteemed opponents in the upcoming election, "Why the Hell Not?"

Good Night and Good Luck, Pt. 3 .....

It's another day ... and another departure for a friend of mine in West Texas television news. It's time to say good night and good luck, goodbye and God bless to Mike Barker.

I know, I know ... not exactly 'breaking news.' But sometimes the actual world will seriously disrupt our virtual routines ... and maybe it's provided me some time to find the appropriate words.

Mike anchored his final segment of the CBS7 Five O'clock News a few weeks back, and began the month of July in a new job, just across town from the KOSA studios, as General Manager of ECISDTV10, a small teaching and broadcasting television station owned by the Ector County Independent School District.

That's good news for the kids of Odessa's school system.

My acquaintance with Mike began 20+ years ago, when he was a news anchor and I was a writer and production assistant at KMID-TV, Big 2. It was the mid-80s, and KMID had just knocked-off the long-reigning champion - KOSA - for the top spot in the west Texas/southeast New Mexico television market. It was a heady time for the broadcast industry, and KMID led the way in every respect ... in technology, in initiative and creativity, and - most of all - in people ... people like Mike.

Mike was already a seasoned journalist by the time he sat down behind the anchor desk at KMID. He had years of experience in radio and television, in Midland/Odessa, in El Paso ... and even southeast Asia, sharpening his editorial skills during a tour of duty with the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War. That experience provided a valuable resource for the high ratio of youngsters in the newsroom - a fact-of-life in a small 'teaching' market such as ours.

In the course of his continuing career, Mike has covered some incredibly large stories, and some incredibly small ones, and plenty of stories of all shapes and sizes in between. His weekly "Around the Oil Patch" segment on Big 2 News remains local television's only serious foray into regular coverage of all facets of the oil-and-gas industry. "Conversations with Mike Barker," a weekly 30-minute news/public affairs program, brought thoughtful discussion of a wide variety of issues to local television sets. And there were the telethons, the broadcasts from the Permian Basin Fair, the inauguration of the 'summer tour' concept where a television news program would take its show on the road in live broadcasts from towns around the region, interviews with state and national leaders, and about 20-kajillion live appearances at events of every kind around the Permian Basin.

At the height of the Jessica McClure rescue in Midland, I was told, a local agency polled viewers and determined that 90%-or-more of them were watching live coverage of the rescue on Big 2 News, as reported by Mike Barker and Becky Neighbors (and Gayle Hill, Mike Monseur, Rodney Wunsch and just about everyone else at Big 2). I don't know if any other local news team has ever again reached such a large share of such a large audience.

And yet, there was a time when Mike stepped away from it all, and took a 'day job' at the University of Texas at the Permian Basin. It wasn't all that long after he and Shelley had their first baby, and he once told me that was a big part of it. Even those of you who 'know all about television news' may not realize that the top spots - the 6 and 10 anchor desks - come with hours that can take you out of a chunk of your kids' lives. I respected his decision then ... and I respected it even more when I left my own, lesser position with a television station, many years later.

Through the years, Mike and I have kept in touch, and chance encounters always seem to lead to extended discussion of the good ol' days, current events, our families, and the latest gossip. He has remained My Favorite Landman's favorite newsman, and the favorite of many in the Permian Basin whose viewing habits go back ten, fifteen, twenty years or more. Mike has always been a gentleman, a man of good manners and good work ethic - a journalist who writes what he reads, and knows what he writes, and treats every story and every subject with the respect it deserves ... really, not a bad choice to run the school district's TV station, training the next generation of media professionals.

A good man and a good friend ..... good night and good luck, Mike.

Tonight On the Telly .....

... is the new season premiere of a favorite show of mine, Top Gear, Monday at 7:00 pm on BBC America (channel 343 on Suddenlink Cable).

According to BBC-A, Top Gear "takes extraordinary and ordinary cars to the limit and beyond to find out if they're as good as their manufacturers claim. Full of extreme stunts, challenges, and weekly features, Top Gear is exciting and has no boring stats and impenetrable conversations about camshafts and tire pressures. But it is the sharp wit of hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May that makes it more than just a motor show"

They ain't lying. It's grand fun to sit back and watch ... and one doesn't have to be a genuine gear-headed motor maniac to enjoy the ride. I may never sit behind the wheel of many of the cars they present (though I do see them more and more around some parts of Midland), but that doesn't make it any harder for me to connect ... and dream, maybe?

By the way, as has happened so many times in the past, success in Britain has spawned interest in producing a version for viewers on this side of the pond, to air on NBC during the 2008/2009 season. The American trio of presenters has been announced ... a lineup that left me a little underwhelmed. But there is also this word that NBC will not censor the show's content, even if that content is less than complimentary to the cars being presented ... a prospect that has me ready to take the Yank program out for a test spin.

A New Addition to West Texas' Blogroll .....

... comes from Todd Wyrick, Minister of Youth at First Presbyterian Church of Midland. "Postcards from the Edge" will provide an online journal of FPC's 2008 summer program, especially journeys by our youth as they travel Texas and the United States in service and ministry, in fellowship and fun.


The first of these journeys is the 2008 Son Servants Mission that is taking thirty junior high students and five adult leaders to New Orleans for the purpose of participating in the Katrina relief effort, as part of Youth Conference Ministries.

"We ask for your prayers over the course of this journey," Todd writes in the blog's initial post. "We’re looking forward to a great time getting to invest lots of time in our students outside the comfort zone of their daily lives. Pray that God will give us wisdom to respond to his Spirit moving in the lives of all of our students. Pray that we will be able to minister to all of our students with love and grace and that they will continue to grow in their knowledge of Jesus Christ and his love for them. Pray that our students would continue to see more and more about how the church cares about them simply because they are breathing!"

"Welcome to the journey," he concludes. "Glad to have you along for the ride!!!"

For myself, I would like to ask ... won't you please consider adding Postcards to your blogroll? And won't you please add a visit to Postcards to your daily (sorta-daily, weekly, whatever) blog routine to keep up-to-date on Todd and the kids, and post comments? ..... Thanks!

Corrective Surgery for the 'Texon Scar' .....

From the Austin American Statesman comes this report about continuing efforts, decades after oil production began, to address saltwater contamination that continues to poison West Texas land.

It's a remnant of the early years of oil production in West Texas, not far from the site of the legendary Santa Rita #1 that sparked the our first 'boom' back in 1923. Things were done differently back then ... and that included 'what to do' with the by-products of oil production. For decades, salt water was diverted to evaporation ponds. But there were leaks - sometimes, serious leaks. According to the American-Statesman article by Ralph K.M. Haurwitz, it contaminated 11 square miles (more than 7,000 acres) west of Big Lake, near the town site of Texon, killing virtually all vegetation and leaving the land vulnerable to wind and water erosion. Hundreds of mesquite stumps with three feet of exposed roots testify to the dramatic loss of topsoil. Since the 1960s, state regulators have required operators to inject salt water deep into the ground. But the article goes on to note that a "quirk in local geology" has contributed to the persistence of the Texon Scar.

To the right is a photo by the American-Statesman's Larry Kolvoord, with a scene familiar to any of us who have traveled U.S. 67, between Fort Stockton and Big Lake. CLICK HERE for a gallery of photos by Kolvoord. You can also enjoy and audio/video version of Haurwitz' report (the link is on the article web page).