by Phil Houseal | Sep 22, 2021 | All Articles, Events, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
Sept 22, 2021–The best works of art are ones that change the observer. Composer Ethan Wickman hopes that happens for each member of the audience when they hear Kerrville’s Symphony of the Hills present the World Premiere of his original work River of Stars at their...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 15, 2021 | All Articles, Education, People of the Hill Country
Sept 15, 2021–One of our forgotten pleasures is being read to. That was how we were all introduced to the world of words. This continued even after we learned to read silently to ourselves. I still remember my 6th grade teacher reading I, Juan de Pareja to our class...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 3, 2021 | All Articles, Food, History, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
9/8/2021–As I grow in wisdom, one thing I understand better is my Grandpa’s fascination with Archway Cookies. Archway Homestyle Cookies were a Midwest grocery store staple in the 1980s. These cookies stood out from the sleeves of hard, cookie-cutter type cookies then...
by Phil Houseal | Sep 1, 2021 | All Articles, Events, Food, Philosophy, Venue
Sept 1, 2021–One powerful and unexpected aspect of the world’s return to events, fairs, and festivals is the resurrection of the sense of smell. Corn dogs, cotton candy, grilled hunks of sausage on a stick, baked breads, and the most evocative olfactory profile of all...
by Phil Houseal | Aug 25, 2021 | All Articles, Philosophy
Aug 25, 2021–There is one lesson that battling a medical challenge teaches you. Sometimes the better part of valor is to do nothing. Forced inactivity is a foreign sensation for those of us who think productivity is life. If we aren’t canning tomatoes, balancing the...
by Phil Houseal | Aug 18, 2021 | All Articles, Philosophy
Aug 18, 2021–When Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes explained why his teams didn’t pass more, he said this: “Three things can happen on a pass play, and two of them are bad.” That is me in social situations. I have a tendency to say “the wrong thing.” At least,...
by Phil Houseal | Aug 11, 2021 | All Articles, Education, Philosophy
Aug 11, 2021–Are you a grammar grinch? I belong to the social media group A Way With Words. They air a fascinating podcast that explores language and writing. I always learn something. Even when I don’t want to. That’s because the group is a nest of grammar grinches....
by Phil Houseal | Aug 4, 2021 | All Articles, Events, History, Music, Venue
Aug 4, 2021–Like Neil Sedaka, Cher, and Lady Gaga, the Rockbox Theater keeps reinventing itself to keep the music playing and new fans entertained. KK and Kelly Welch are the latest empresarios to take a turn at the wheel of this iconic “Fredericksburg jewel.” The...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 28, 2021 | All Articles, Food, Philosophy
July 28, 2021–During a year of caution over shared meals, people became more comfortable toting homemade lunches to school, the office, and community get-togethers. Apparently hipsters have even rediscovered the bologna-American-cheese-on-white-bread sandwich....
by Phil Houseal | Jul 21, 2021 | All Articles, Events, Venue
July 21, 2021–When you go hear Gary Morris sing at The Rockbox Theater this Sunday, don’t forget to breathe. “I played the Grand Ole Opry one time and got a note from a woman that said, sometimes when I listen to you, I forget to breathe,” the country music...
