Nowhere Tribune

The bright side to all the craziness in the world is that we have more free time than normal. For years, my son and I have gone camping every fall, and usually also every spring, but we have been so busy that it has been over a year since we’ve gone. Until this past weekend. … Continue reading →

By John Bird Eastland, Texas is best known for its most famous citizen of the past—a horned toad named Old Rip. Eastland County was amid a boom in the last years of the 19th century, and a larger courthouse was built in 1897. During the dedication, dignitaries placed various things in the courthouse cornerstone as … Continue reading →

In 1918, Eastland County, Texas was in an oil boom. From 1910 to 1920, the population of the county more than doubled, and what had been a farming area became the tenth most populated county in Texas for a time. The growth meant new businesses, including the three-story building one block from the courthouse that … Continue reading →

The Santa Claus Bank Robbery happened in Cisco, Texas on December 23, 1927 and resulted in the last public mob lynching in the state. The details are well-known in Cisco and Eastland, and the story is notorious in Texas, as it was one of the last true examples of the wild west. Readers can find … Continue reading →

A year’s worth of changes happened within the last two months. My family moved. My wife and I started a new business. My mother died on Thanksgiving Day. An old friend died a week later. I now live in an old, historic building full of wonders from the past—a museum of sorts. The concrete underneath … Continue reading →

Years ago, my dad called to tell me how many Mondays each of us had left to work in our careers. My number was large enough to cause despair. Since he’d started a new career in mid-life, his was smaller, but was still way too many. I always had young parents. They dated at fifteen … Continue reading →

I co-wrote the following with the endlessly talented Shayne of Musings by Shayne. As I said the last time we worked together, she contributed the good parts, and I contributed the rest.  While I admit I’m no blogging expert, I’ve noticed a few things during my blogging adventures that I don’t recommend. I’ve committed all … Continue reading →

After writing The Summer of My Discontent, I decided it was time for more adventure. First on my list was to hike to the top of Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas (8751 feet), in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The first question was whether I’d go alone or find a hiking buddy. My eleven-year-old … Continue reading →

Beavers Bend State Park is just outside of Hochatown, about ten miles north of Broken Bow, in the Southeastern corner of Oklahoma near the Arkansas state line. The Mountain Fork River runs through the state park and is stocked with trout year-round. With the river and Broken Bow Lake, the park is fantastic for fishing. … Continue reading →

My wife and I took a weekend trip to Colorado Bend State Park in the Texas hill country last weekend. Our plan was to get a full day of hiking in, rain or shine. The temperature was in the low 50’s when we arrived; very cool for May. It was also drizzling, and the forecast … Continue reading →

Let’s face it, men. To 90% of all women other than your wife *, sister, mother, great-aunt, and (maybe) daughter, you are creepy. This is especially true of men, like myself, who are at or near forty and slightly balding. Think about it. What do all the creepers in 80’s stalker movies look like? Sorry. … Continue reading →

My old pickup didn’t have an air conditioner. The windows were open as we drove down 917 East to Mansfield. A homemade tape of Chris Ledoux was playing: “Well, there ain’t no easy going on the rodeo trail; for every man that’s made it, a hundred men have failed…” “I guess two hundred men are … Continue reading →

My young wife cried when we moved to Motley County, Texas in 2004. It was a seventy-mile drive through canyons, ranch land, and farmland from our home in Clarendon to our new home in Matador. Even in Texas, people ask, “Where’s Matador?” I like to answer with, “North of Spur, east of Floydada, south of … Continue reading →

Blogs, millions of blogs. Some have ten-thousand readers, and some have none. Why? One reason is that some are well-written, and some are not. If Sally’s writing is crisp and clear, and Mike’s is cluttered and pretentious, littered with words like “pretentious,” people will choose Sally. Jericho is inspired and creative. Words magically flow from … Continue reading →

BAIRD, TX—A local group of cattle is on strike until they receive the same rights as the horses, says a representative of the herd. According to the black Angus herd bull, Chester, the cattle are tired of being treated like second class citizens of the farm. “The horses sleep in private stalls each night, while … Continue reading →

Who am I to give you tips? No one, from nowhere. I have, though, been blogging for over ten years. And during that time, I’ve been a reader of blogs. I’ve looked at hundreds, and I know what I like and what I don’t. Following are things that I notice—things that determine whether I come … Continue reading →

Other than my family and job, my main interest is training. Running and weight training occupy my free time and much of my thoughts. My routine changes, but right now I do a full-body weight training session every other day with running on the off days. I don’t program a rest day, as they tend … Continue reading →

Ranger, Texas: Rufus P. Hadley stares across the prison yard where he’s spent the last twelve of his fifteen years with  both regret and acceptance showing in his large, brown eyes. “I wasn’t more than a pup when I came here,” he said, his gravelly voice betraying long, hard years. “I just got to running with … Continue reading →

You’ve showed up at the rodeo, paid your fees, and signed the waiver. Now what? First, you’ll need to know what bull you’ve drawn. Your “draw” is the bull you are going to climb on and try to ride. Before you get to the rodeo, it will be helpful to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary … Continue reading →

The following is from my book, “Used to Want to Be a Cowboy.” Kowbell Rodeo was the only year-round, indoor rodeo in the state. Whether Christmas, Easter, or Super Bowl Sunday, the rodeo went on. By the time I was a senior in high school, I headed over from Joshua to ride bulls every time I … Continue reading →