by Phil Houseal | Jul 11, 2025 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
July 9, 2025–What if Texas was a country (some say it is) and each of the other 49 states represented a foreign culture (some say they do)? How would you describe new arrivals in the frame of all the other “hyphen-Americans?” Here’s how that might sound from my...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 2, 2025 | All Articles, Philosophy
July 2, 2025–Here’s a stock tip: Invest in tubs. We are currently in the process of taming a tsunami of “stuff.” This is not the dreaded “purging” that happens in every family as kids leave home and parents downsize. This is “sorting,” as grandkids take over the kids’...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 25, 2025 | All Articles, Events, Music, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
June 25, 2025–You know you’re not in Kansas anymore when you look into a box full of bags labeled “Fiona’s Noses.” You would be in Shrek’s Swamp. And yes, I know I mixed metaphors, but the magic of Fredericksburg Theater Company’s production of Shrek rivals the Land...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 18, 2025 | All Articles, Education, Music, Philosophy
June 18, 2025 Ovid: If the art is concealed, it succeeds. I’ve been contemplating where this statement manifests in our world. For me, it is music. My go-to example of “less is more” is drums. Whenever I listen to a group I’ve not heard before, I notice if I notice...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 11, 2025 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, Philosophy
June 11, 2025–Maybe the solution to all our so-called modern problems is this: Live like your great grandparents lived. Not literally, but metaphorically. Recently our power went off and it got me to thinking again about how our ancestors coped. Let’s just go back 150...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 4, 2025 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
June 4, 2025–I’ll probably get teased for saying this, but manly men love our leather bags. My addiction began in 7th grade when I received a briefcase for Christmas. It was a black plastic briefcase that snapped open to reveal pockets under the lid for pens, slide...
