by Phil Houseal | Aug 5, 2026 | All Articles, Events, Philosophy, Venue
August 5, 2026–As the kiddos head back to school, they will face that deep and timeless question asked for decades by every classroom teacher: What did you do this summer? For most of those kids, there is a high probability they went on a family vacation. I...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 29, 2026 | All Articles, Philosophy
July 29, 2026–Is someone missing from your life? Someone you know and love? What if this is the norm rather than the exception? Nearly every family I know has or has had one member that has chosen to go off and minimize contact. This behavior falls along a scale of...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 22, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
July 22, 2026– If only I could get out of this rat race and buy a small acreage If only I raised a garden so I could eat fresh chemical-free vegetables If only we kept chickens so I could have fresh eggs year round If only we had a large lawn If only I had a horse...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 15, 2026 | All Articles, Education, History, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
July 15, 2026–“Edna” taught all of us in the office how to walk. Step… step… breathe. Step… step… breathe. She demonstrated, walking across the lobby, pausing to inhale sharply every two steps. We had to wipe off our smiles when she reached the...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 8, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
July 8, 2026–If the early birds gets the worm, they can have it. I’ve noticed a pattern where people get punished for completing a task too soon, and suffer no consequences for finishing a thing too late, or not at all. This chaps me, because I love getting projects...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 1, 2026 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
July 1, 2026–I am a connoisseur of manure. As a farm boy, I was knee deep in it. I can discuss the merits and shortcomings of each variety. The globular tackiness of horse manure. The iconic patty shape of cow. The lumpy dustiness of chicken and turkey. The tiny...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 24, 2026 | All Articles, Food
June 24, 2026–What is real food? I think I have discovered a way to tell. I call it the “Hen Test.” Many of us have lived through decades of “expert” advice on what Americans should make part of a healthy diet. We all remember the original food pyramid that was...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 17, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Food, History, Philosophy
June 17, 2026–What substance found naturally on earth caused mankind to go to war, forge new trade routes, and walk past chocolate chip cookies in a bakery? I give you salt. This substance must once have seemed to hold magical properties. It could be used to enhance...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 10, 2026 | All Articles, Food, History, Philosophy
June 10, 2026–My online shopping strategy is to haphazardly drop individual items into my shopping cart over a matter of weeks until I have enough to qualify for free shipping from this huge site named after a South American river. I am never in a hurry to buy more...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 3, 2026 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
May 27, 2026–You live life on a continuum. Imagine a giant control panel with sliders. Each slider is a track, representing one facet of your life. For example, in the control room of your existence, there would be separate sliders for athleticism, musicality,...
