by Phil Houseal | Jun 15, 2022 | All Articles, Education, Events, History, People of the Hill Country, Venue
June 15, 2022–When I first came to Texas, the day called “Juneteenth” bewildered me. Every time I asked what it signified, native Texans would mumble and turn away. I got the feeling it was a litmus test to screen “yankees,” in the same way no real Texan ever called...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 8, 2022 | All Articles, Education, History, People of the Hill Country
June 8 2022–While I was wandering the country as an itinerant musician, the first place I visited upon arrival in a new town was the local library. As an avid reader and news junkie B.C. (before computers), the library was my link to the larger world outside of Ford...
by Phil Houseal | Jun 1, 2022 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
June 1, 2022–As a kid, I expected to see a lot more anvils dropping on heads. Like every child of the black and white TV era, cartoons and comics informed my worldview. Inside the pages of those Sunday funnies and on the Saturday morning Looney Tunes, we learned the...
by Phil Houseal | May 25, 2022 | All Articles, History, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
May 25, 2022–Like the dog with its head hanging out the window of a car, we only notice other dogs. I’ve been crisscrossing the state the past several weeks, sharing seats with riders of various bents. What I have learned is that while many are in the same vehicle,...
by Phil Houseal | May 18, 2022 | All Articles, Food, History, Philosophy
May 18, 2022–We all like to count the ways we are “too busy.” “There are not enough hours in the day.” “I just don’t have time.” “I wish I could, but…” So I decided to actually time how long it took me to do each of my myriad regular daily tasks. The impetus...
by Phil Houseal | May 11, 2022 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
May 11, 2022–I don’t understand those who enjoy driving. While the romantic version is that of an intrepid traveler rolling over miles of ever-changing terrain, the reality is that you are sitting inside a 4-foot by 5-foot room, pressing your right foot on a pedal. If...
by Phil Houseal | May 4, 2022 | All Articles, Food, History, Philosophy
May 4, 2022–When I was a paperboy, every Christmas customers would give me a treat as I collected for their weekly delivery. This surprised me at first, because at age 11 I was unfamiliar with the concept of tipping for service. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. I...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 27, 2022 | All Articles, Events, Music, Philosophy, Venue
April 27, 2022–I remember the exact place and moment I decided to play drums. I was in the 5th grade, attending Homecoming Weekend as the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band passed by on Iowa Avenue in Iowa City, Iowa. Standing on the curb as the drum section...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 20, 2022 | All Articles, History, Philosophy
April 20, 2022–What was your first job, and what did learn from it? Growing up on a farm before OSHA, my first jobs would violate every federal labor law today. They usually involved unsupervised gangs of 14-year-old boys working 12-hour days operating dangerous...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 13, 2022 | All Articles, Events, Philosophy, PR Tips
April 13, 2022–I finally became that guy–the stranger telling a youngster how to run his business. It all started when I tried to buy a ticket to see a show. Even though I knew there was a matinee scheduled, when I went online to get a ticket the day of the event, it...
