Sailing in Laredo

It's well behind time to get out the Sunfish sail boat, circa 1982, put on a new sail and head to Lake Casa Blanca. Yes, Laredo has a a fair size lake, spring fed at that. I forget the exact size--1300 acres sounds about right, with two prominent islands used mainly by our migratory bird population. My oldest grandkids, know the islands as "Bird Island" and "Weed Island". The island names may not be too original, but in the spring, over 350 bird species can count on them for landing space.

The 16 foot Sunfish class boat holds 2-3 persons, depending on size, and is a classic vessel. Sunfishes are often used as a first boat to learn to sail, but are also an official racing class. Sailing is no way as popular today, as say 20 years ago. Water skiing, ski boats, and wind surfing seem to hold more popular interest. Still, sitting behind a sail propelling you at an exhilarating speed, with no noise, is a wonderful way to spend your time.

Spring is perfect for sailing in Laredo, especially since you will have most of the lake to yourself.

Washington's Birthday and Welcome Spring!

The month of February was filled with the events of the 112th Washington's Birthday Celebration--Laredo's best excuse to have a party and then some. The bash starts with a Stock man's Ball (country and western dance), and ends with a week with two huge parades and the Mr. South Texas Luncheon. This year, the luncheon attracted the attendance of both our U.S. Senators, Kaye Baily Hutchison, and John Cornyn, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst (the real power in Texas), U.S. Senatorial candidate John Sharp, and many other important politicos. After the 4 hour final parade, the luncheon, fireworks signaled the end of WBCA for 2009.

The end of February brings the county fair and rodeo--with the unlikely initials of "LIFE" for Laredo International Fair and Exhibition. Lots of fun, especially the 6 to 8 year old boys and girls practicing their rodeo skills with the "mutton busting" event.

March brings over 200 college students from all over the U.S. for their spring break--working for our local Habitat for Humanity of Laredo/Webb County chapter. The weather in Laredo is always perfect if you are from Mass., Michigan, or anywhere North of Dallas! The students will be having a great time building simple and decent housing for working families, while enjoying local customs and fiestas. Welcome to them, and here comes Spring.

Hockey in Laredo, Texas

Coach Terry Ruskowski arrived in Laredo well ahead of the first ever hockey game in town. It was October, 2002, when the Laredo Bucks played the Corpus Christi team in the new Laredo Entertainment Center. Other than a few Yankee immigrants, no one in the LEC that night completely understood what was going on. The Canadian players, skated from one end of the arena to the other, with an occasional referee whistle, causing a stop in the action, for some esoteric rule violation. But it was great fun cheering for our home team--like having only one high school in town to root for. There was even an officially condoned fight during the game, with the Buck player throwing the most punches at the Corpus player! (I remember thinking,at the time, that this was not a real fight, only a "staged presentation" so the locals would understand that, yes, fighting during a professional hockey game was cool, if later the cause of penalty minutes in the "box").

That first season, 2002-2003, the Bucks won an unexpected 41 games, and the size and hockey knowledge of the fan audience grew and grew.

With the start of the next season, Laredo fans were ready for their team to go all the way. The Bucks, in 2003-2004, not only won the most games in the entire Central Hockey League, but won the post season championship on a cold rainy night with a capacity 8002 fans, and another 2000 standing outside watching on video screens! The team players were treated like rock stars wherever they ventured in town--seldom having to pay for their meals, etc..
The "3 Amigos" forward line of Captain Chris Grenville, Brent Cullaton, and Jeff Bess were the super stars, and they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying Laredo admiration.

It's 2009, and attendance at the games is down, the players seem less well known, and team success has diminished. Still, every now and then, the capacity crowd returns for another joyous return to the excitement of the early seasons. "Go Bucks Go".

Hunting Season in South Texas

Saturday, November 1, 2008 started this year's deer hunting season in South Texas. While hunting as a sport may be declining in the United States as a whole, it's part of the rhythm of normal life in Laredo. Boys, of course, but many girls also, are taught, before their teenage years, the skills of shooting and the joys of the sport. The best seasons of the year (fall and winter) reward those spending time out of doors, and enjoying the rituals of the hunting life.

First you have to learn the language of guns, ammo, trophy measurements. Next, the firearm skills, the proper setting of blinds, and the necessity of having the proper ranch vehicle--usually old and properly camouflaged. Enjoying campfires, the beautiful star filled night skies, and the listening to coyote howls come easily from earlier fishing expeditions.

Some are squeamish about feeding your deer prey for weeks before with carefully dropped corn. But at least we don't shoot them from helicopters as they apparently do in Alaska!

After the hunting season, Laredoans would gather for an annual "Fiesta Caseria" --a wild game dinner and dance. This event would raise money for the Santander Museum, and later the Children's Museum. Our overly protective "nanny" City Health Department decided, in the 1980's to shut the Fiesta down--for some esoteric health reasons. So now we can take our changes eating our own wild game and to heck with---. Well, real Texans still eat venison, quail, and some rattlesnake.

So, aim well, enjoy the South Texas Brush Country, and eat well afterwards.

Back To School

My favorite time of the year has always been the fall, especially September. Not for the change of leaves (not yet in Laredo), but because it is the season for change in daily life. A new "grade" or "school year" for students, a change in routine for parents, and a fresh start for many. I know it's mostly psychological, whatever that means for you, but this time of year has always represented to me a new start at something. It's another chance at a winning season for your football or hockey team, a chance to make your personal "dean's list", or to start a college class no matter what your age. So regardless of terrible hurricanes, personal disappointments, and the falling economy--it's September and that's good.

Vacation

Yes I did miss an entire month without posting a blog! As a good Laredoan I did "head out of Dodge" when the opportunity for visiting a colder clime arose. We, that's me and part of my family and some good friends, spent several weeks in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. People live in Laredo (when they could move elsewhere) for its' "small town" feel, and that great weather from September to May. It's difficult to go to a restaurant in Laredo without seeing someone you know enough to exchange more than "hello". Friends, relatives, acquaintances are always popping up in Laredo public venues. That said, it's great to be able to escape for a while to Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and other downright "cool" summer destinations.

While I've been gone we have had two election winning sheriffs--which one was the winner at any specific moment depended on their most recent election recount or court decision. Also, some four lane streets where turned into two lane chicanes(that's a road racing term for the part of the race a driver turns right then left then right again to avoid barriers). While some two lane avenues are widened to four lanes just in time to squeeze back to two? But then again this the Laredo summer season of avoiding heat exhaustion and other debilitating disorders.

It's good to be back, however, and hope to be in contact with you, or anyone out there, more often.

Summer is Here!

There are only three really dreadfully hot months in Laredo--June, July, and August. Even so, if you are going from your air conditioned house to your air conditioned pickup to your air conditioned place of work--well? You might also be fortunate enough to have a pool to enjoy; it's amazing how cool 90 degree water can be in 105 degree air temperature. Of course, there is also the constant daylight sun to keep your spirits up--no cloud induced "cabin fever" here.

Going to the beautiful South Texas gulf beach is, of course, out of the question. Too hot, leave that for May, September, and especially October before the hurricanes.

Why am I talking weather again? That's what the natives do here all summer; did I mention the drought?

On the other hand, the flowers somehow seem to endure the hot months, and except for maybe two weeks in December, flowers are always blooming.

School is out, the traffic is much less as a result, and as Porgy and Bess said: "summer time and the living is easy".