Spring Finals!!!!

Spring semester is over, and I'm so ready for it! The thought of spending another beautiful evening listening to professors droll on about their subject is torture to the restlessness of my soul. Thank God for the IPhone! :-) I know class time is a much needed requirement for the furthering of education, but whatever happened to having a "walk?" I believe it was Thomas Jefferson that said, "Never let going to school, interfere with your education." Some attribute that to Mark Twain, but I thought it was TJ in some letter to somebody. Anyways, I've always tried to live by that rule. I abide that days off to pursue something else are much needed. So, with that being said here is to finishing Spring semester with two finals tonight and getting back to my life for a short time. I'm up for mowing the yard (after I fix the lawnmower again), riding some neglected horses, catching up with a few dear friends, cold beers on the front porch, getting the boat out (I'm a little sad this hasn't happened yet!) , and much needed time in the back pasture! Thanks for the study break.

Hasta Luego
LB

Happy Mother's Day

A Toast For Mom

Mom, what can I say....It's been 31 years and I'm still here today?

From sacking quarterbacks to gold buckle dreams, you've been an inspiration to all my brass rings. My biggest fan, my toughest critic...and when I'm down on my life, you convince me not to quit it. I say, "I Love You", and those words are so dear. Because what would my world be, without you here. I'm proud of you, and all that you have done. From the amazing teacher you are, to raising two stubborn Aggie sons. I know I've challenged you...sometimes to your wits end, but I wouldn't trade you, my precious mother, for any amount of treasure that's up around the bend!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

I Love You

LB

Rylynn Turns 1!!!

Happy Birthday Rylynn!!!

I never need much of a reason to fiesta, but this past Saturday was a very special occasion!My family and I were honored to help Miss Rylynn celebrate her first birthday with her family and friends. Ry, is the daughter of my dear friends Gilly and Andrea Riojas of Lampasas, Tx. She is such a captivating little girl, that any time around her has "Uncle LB" grinning from ear to ear. Rylynn is living proof that God answers prayers and I am forever gracious for getting to enjoy her. What can I say....I'm a sucker for a pretty smile! Her pony was a huge hit (Thanks Mom) and I'm looking forward to hearing of her adventures with "Uno" the wonder horse.

Feliz Cumpleanos
LB

Aggie Muster

Roll Call For The Absent

"In many lands and climes this April day

Proud sons of Texas A&M unite.

Our loyalty to country, school, we pray,

and seal our pact with bond of common might.

We live again those happy days of yore

on campus, field, in classroom, dorm, at drill

Fond memory brings a sigh -- but nothing more;

Now we are men and life’s a greater thrill,

On Corregidor 68 years ago today

A band of gallant Aggies, led by Moore,

Held simple rites which led to us doth all to say:

The spirit shall prevail through cannon roar.

Before we part and go upon our way,

We pause to honor those we knew so well;

The old familiar faces we miss so much today

Left cherished recollections that time cannot dispel.

Softly call the Muster,

Let comrade answer, “Here!”

Their spirits hover ‘round us

As if to bring us cheer!

Mark them ‘present’ in our hearts.

We’ll meet some other day

There is no death, but life etern

For our old friends such as they!"

by Dr. John Ashton ‘06

Of all the traditions of my university this one means the most. Aggie Muster is a time of reflection, thoughts, and prayers for our fellow Ag's that have passed during the year. A way in which our unexplainable Aggie Spirit is bonded to those who came before us, and those who will be there after us. A brief moment to relieve our days in Aggieland, and enjoy the camaraderie of what being an Aggie really means.

So, Softly call the Muster, Let comrade answer "Here!"

Gig'Em

LB

"The Man in the Arena"

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. Shame on the man of cultivated taste who permits refinement to develop into fastidiousness that unfits him for doing the rough work of a workaday world. Among the free peoples who govern themselves there is but a small field of usefulness open for the men of cloistered life who shrink from contact with their fellows. Still less room is there for those who deride of slight what is done by those who actually bear the brunt of the day; nor yet for those others who always profess that they would like to take action, if only the conditions of life were not exactly what they actually are. The man who does nothing cuts the same sordid figure in the pages of history, whether he be a cynic, or fop, or voluptuary. There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder. Well for these men if they succeed; well also, though not so well, if they fail, given only that they have nobly ventured, and have put forth all their heart and strength. It is war-worn Hotspur, spent with hard fighting, he of the many errors and valiant end, over whose memory we love to linger, not over the memory of the young lord who "but for the vile guns would have been a valiant soldier.""

Taken from a speech by Teddy Roosevelt given at the Sorbonne in France.
April 23, 1910

The quote was part of a speech entailing the importance of citizenship in a Republic. I saw it today on a wall in a Bass Pro Shop. Points if you can name what store location it was. I pondered the meaning of that speech as I read the results of my 23rd District House race. My fellow Texas A&M classmate Will Hurd was narrowly defeated in a Republican runoff election. I am sorry he did not win. I don't know Will on a personal level, but I did meet him through being involved in some student government meetings. He was always straight forward and I appreciated that. Let's face it....being at a student gov. meeting that could last longer than needed was never one of my favorite places to be ( I mean...there was always the Chicken), but having clear cut goals and and agenda was never an issue with Will. I know he would have done well representing us, and I hope this small defeat does not persuade him from leaving politics. We need guys who get the big picture, are open to outside the box answers and strategies, and are fiscally responsible!

Fiscally responsible.....As the release of the "Pig Book" makes it way into the news we should really look at where the estimated 6 BILLION of pork spending is being used. I don't personally agree with all of it's contents. In fact, I support the spending on beef research, coral reef protection, and some other obscure bills. However, we should still closely monitor anytime our government spends our hard earned greenbacks. There are too many tragic economic indicators in the news. Example, our nation is extremely close to receiving a lower rating of financial ability due to our deficit spending. Essentially this equates to a junk bond rating in terms of our repayment ability. Thus, meaning a raise in interest rates anytime we as a country borrow money. Another indicator of turmoil....OPEC is considering changing the value of oil to the "euro" instead of the always used "dollar." Then finally, this will be the first year social security pays out more than it will take in. How's that going to work in the long run as more baby boomers enter the system?

Washington, does need a wake up call. I believe the "Tea Party" has started to open some eyes. Let's keep up the good work! My top concerns... if anybody was to ask...and I doubt that will happen. I would stress the need to re balance the deficit plan, put in place tougher regulations on lobbyists, and at all circumstances limit the expansion of government growth. As an economist I understand that when government grows independence stifles. This stifling truncates growth and encourages unfavorable economic conditions....kinda like we are seeing now.

My question is this. When November rolls around who will you be? Will you be the pretentious critic standing on the outside demeaning the government (the guy who didn't vote but knows all the answers). Are you in the bleachers watching and complaining? Or are you in the booth....."the arena"....striving valiantly to make a difference ?

See ya at the polls.

LB

It's 3:45

Nope not quite time to leave yet...but damn close. It's beautiful outside and I'm killing time till I can run to Ol' Blue, fire up her almost 500 horses and head for that place of heaven on Earth I call..."The Back Pasture." Rebel's lameness is turned into more than just a week off...actually maybe a month to two before he's back in competition. So today when I'm free I'm saddling up my stallion Barracho and making my way away from modern civilization. It's too pretty a day not to enjoy some of it.

Besides that...I'm looking forward to being in Aggieland this weekend. The Chicken, Dry Bean, and some other old haunts and friends are beckoning for a visit, and I just have to oblige them!

Tomorrow will be 41 days left of teaching and I'm ready to be done. Whatever the future holds I'm ready for it with Wade Bowen in the background singing, "Let's burn all the bridges, ignore all the signs, put the hammer down, listen to her whine!"

Life is too short.
LB

PS, anybody catch how many times I used a form of amazing in the last post? :-) I do proof read!

Just Living My Life

Wow,

So as I'm writing this I'm doing the math and noticing it's been 26 days since my last post...and I have to say, "Where did the time fly?" Spring is here and life is going great for the most part. There's always the occasional slip ups like Rebel going lame before a big team penning this past weekend. Or being laid off...but that is life, and faith in God and my ability to rebound still keeps me signing up for another go round. That means my future will be changing but doesn't it all the time anyways...so here's to life, lemons, lemonade, and good times!

One thing for certain is that life goes on....My best friend Jeff and his amazing wife Karen are expecting the pitter patter of feet and I'm looking forward to spoiling their baby rotten. Another congratulations and welcome to the family will be my cousin Cody and his beautiful wife Roxanna's child. As for me...well I still like practice more than the actual work! :-) Maybe one day, besides it'll give my Aunt Tuggy a chance to wear what she calls..."the perfect dress for a nephews wedding" and my response was "will it still be in style in 10-15 years?" Only time will tell.

Looking forward to Gilly and Andreas baby girl Rylynn's 1st birthday coming up soon. And what an amazing beautiful girl she is. Lets just hope she gets more of Andrea's sweet disposition than Gilly's rhetoric. As always though looking forward to time spent with them.

My grandfather ,Paco Moore, turned 80 this month and we had a wonderful time celebrating with him. I'm always amazed at the family that him and my grandmother raised. Their experiences, kindness, and dedication to one another are something to be admired by all. I look forward to many more years with them and am proud to be one of their grand kids.

Andrew and I are burning up the road and it has been a blast. There is nothing more relaxing to me than loading up the horses and getting lost for the weekend. Steve Earle sang about loving to hear the sound of steel belts on the asphalt and I know exactly what he means. Chasing white lines, greasy food, truck stops, and great friends make the road a place to unwind and relax. I guess that makes me the "ramblin man" that the Hag sings about. If life is about the ride, then there is always more fun around the next curve....sure there are construction zones, highway patrol, local yocals, bandits and blowouts, and a million other dangerous things out there but the scenery, the family, and the friends make it worth every mile day in and day out.

It all can't be one big party though...grad school seems a little tougher this semester or maybe I just haven't dedicated to it like I should. But with 47 days left as a teacher I'm taking things easier than I ever have before. Heck I've even managed to pick up my guitar a few times and work on some thoughts like this one....maybe I'll finish it someday but for now here's the chorus.

"I might be crazy

Yeah, I'm wild, reckless, and free

But you get to love her and you'll find,

She's crazier than me"

The photo up top was taken in the back pasture about a week ago. It is amazing how nature bounces back after going through hell and inspiration is always to be found. Three years of drought and these wild flowers are the prettiest they have been in years. The blues are darker, the yellow and reds more vibrant than in years past. No, not the perfect grazing conditions for a cattle operation, but something inside me decided to let them live a little longer before opting for the weed control. Maybe it was my way of giving thanks to something so beautiful. Or my way of being thankful for still being able to slow down and enjoy the flowers. Anyway it plays out, I'm thankful to be me and wouldn't trade who I am or any of my experiences.

Y'all be good, have fun, tell the ones you love that you do, and just enjoy life.

LB