Something Tougher Than My Children

Uno Lampino

El Hubbo started the conversation with "Now, promise you won't kill him." That immediately got my attention. "He broke one of your lamps when he came in the house with the weed eater. Like beyond repair." I asked, "Why was he bringing the weed eater through the house?" "Well, he cleaned it up and he feels bad," El Hubbo said. "I thought I should call and give you warning. We've spent so much time and money getting him to this point....." "Ugh." I hung up. Upon my arrival home, I saw the lampshade on the counter. Then I saw the boy child. I grabbed him in a big hug. "Your daddy called and told me you wanted to take me lamp shopping. That is so sweet of you!" He looked a bit bewildered but relieved that I had not immediately gone for the jugular. "Uh, yeah, ok." "I'm so excited that I'm getting new lamps for the living room!" "Wait? Lamps? Don't you mean 'l...

A Simple Virtual Christmas Letter 2020

I used to send out a Christmas card with usually funny pictures of my offspring and a Christmas letter. A couple years ago, I noticed I received only a couple Christmas cards and I noticed how expensive my little project was, and I noticed how expensive Number One Son's braces were going to be, and I decided that the card and letter tradition had probably gone the way of others. and it was time to stop. My holiday spirit died a little that day. And, then, a miracle. It's 2020 and I have received a record number of Christmas cards! Actual, in the mailbox, Christmas cards! And, several virtual cards (which I still give points for as it takes time and planning.) My holiday spirit enjoyed that little boost. So, as it is too late to assemble the actual card and letter, here's the resurrected virtual annual report of the Martinez Clan: Number One Son has grown to the point he looks his mama in the eye. He sidles up to her often to se...

Grammy Hiatus

I've taken a 10-year hiatus from the Grammy's. But, a snowstorm that has left us sequestered with a fire burning in the fireplace and the kids early to bed has left me with a rare opportunity to sit and watch a show I used to love to watch all the time. I find my self tripping down memory lane. My pre-married life was spent on the edges of the music industry. I worked for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which afforded me the opportunity to see a minimum of 20 high-profile music acts each year. I got to be in close proximity to many of those acts, and it was always fun to watch the music award shows. When one of the acts I may have met would win an award, somehow, it kind of felt like a distant cousin had done well. One thing disturbed me greatly about this show. I was quite excited about the fact that some of my favorites would be playing - however, I do not like it when the intros include statements such as, "a living legend" and inste...

West Texas Mama

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