Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas,

 

            I’m here surrounded my High School Girlfriend, Rachel, Charlie and Little Dixon.  So much love.  I’ve have visits from Gary, Carol, and Dora Ann.  Little Dixon is almost too excited to go to sleep.

 

            Cancer,  I’m going to say it.  I’m about ready for the angels to take me.  It’s gotten impossible to eat.  Eat the little things and it take 5 hours for the pressure to go off my abdomen.  But, I’m sitting here thanking God for the 2 or 3 bearable hours.  And watching Little Dixon race through the house.  Ask anyone who sees us and they will tell you that a 22 month old Brazos Bottom Boy can show true love.

 

Thanks again to friends, family, and strangers who have been praying for and with me.

 

Watch the snowman.

 

craig

December 18, 2009

Staying the course.

 

          The wheel chair has arrived.  The energy it saves me, just going from the bedroom to the front room is surprising.  Also, I’m now taking 2 oxycontin every 8 hours and 15ml of Lortab Elixir in between when the pain starts popping up.  I also take half a tablet of Lorazepam before I go to bed, to help me sleep.

 

          Yes, I question when and how?

 

          Thanks for the friendship, love and support over all these many years.

 

          craig

December 16, 2009

            I hobble forward, reminded that it’s the process that is important.

 

            So winded, it takes me almost all morning what used to take 30 minutes.  Every little process takes a long rest.  Shave, rest.  Brush teeth, rest, eat a little breakfast, long rest, walk back to the bedroom, rest.  But, I’m still hobbling forward.  It took to 1 pm to get out today.  I ate a small bowl of chicken noodle soup and a hot milk chocolate with whip cream.  I’m going to talk with the hospice nurse about a wheel chair soon.  Man it’s getting hard to cough up phlegm in the morning, but you are damn if you do and damn if you don’t.  That phlegm is stickier than gorilla glue.

            The other morning, I did break down and ask God, why me?  Then, why was I chosen for such a wonderful life and why did God give me this wonder time to reconnect with friends, family and myself.

 

            Still Chasing the Texas sunsets,  even if it’s just to the mailbox.

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

Oxygen

www. TrueToTexas.com         

 

            Yes, it’s getting harder and harder.  But right up front, I want all my friends to know that I am happy with my decision.  And, damn happy with my friends and prayer warriors support on my decision.  It seems to help me that I’m controlling my destiny.  The lungs are really getting clogged up.  Mornings are hard.  Nebulizer, to try to get the flem out and then the coughing really takes its toll.  Whatever the cancer has done to my stomach, the smallest meal fills me up.  I mean, it’s like I ate a turkey dinner.  I’m getting out less and less, but still trying.  Another thing, I want someone near me as much as possible.  Not talking, just there.  High School Girlfriend is trying, and I’m trying to get babysitters where she can take some time off.  My sister Joan is filling in.  I asked old friend John Boy if he would take a turn. He did.  I told him he could add that to his long resume:  Babysitting Craig Dickson.

            High School Girlfriend…Who is she?  Well I’ve known her since she was 14 years old.  No, Lavern, this isn’t some kind of Jerry Lee Lewis thing--even though her maiden name is Cassie Dixon.  She ain’t my cousin.  But, I did marry her as soon as she graduated from Katy High School.  I wasn’t taking any chances.  Well, that was over 38 years ago.   Now, some of my friends want to know about Lavern.  Well, years ago when I started writing, maybe even before my road trips, Lavern came into the picture.  Lavern is an “idea” person.  Yes, great ideas on many things.  Marketing, road trips, marquee sayings, politics, advertising and more.  So, I wanted to make sure Lavern knew what I was doing.  But, Lavern was my code name for this idea person.  Lavern started out as  (and is mostly) my cousin, Mark Dickson.  Yes, Lavern is a guy.  The great thing is that Mark doesn’t even know!  But, Mark read many of the writings and the ideas flowed over these years.  Well the world knows now.

            Believe me, it isn’t always peach cobbler at the house, but I’m mostly happy. 

            Again, thank you, thank you to the prayer warriors.  If I’m not proof positive that prayer works, then there ain’t any proof.  By the way, the prayers and cards completely uplifted Cassie.  I saw it happening before she even knew it.

            Check out the attached photo, “Oxygen”.

            And be sure to check out my Blog at www.TrueToTexsas.com.  I’m adding things there, from the house. Little extras.

 

            Chasing the Texas sunsets…even if it’s just to the mailbox.

 

 

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

"If I only had a brain"

            Getting my check over.  What is she really looking for?  “If I only had a brain”.

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

On the Brazos

            Morning has Broken.  First light hits the sycamore trees along the Brazos River.  A little frost and sleet left from Friday snow.

                craig

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

1000 Words

“A picture is worth a thousand words”.

 

Some say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Look at this photo.  Now, this is the story the way I heard it.  I wasn’t there.  Charlie had been driving and baby- sitting for me, all day, that Saturday.  That evening I suggested he take a little r & r.  So he headed down to the east bank of the Brazos River to do a little hunting.  I believe it was about 5:30 pm when he cell phoned the house and said that he had nailed a huge feral hog.  I asked him to load it in his pick-up and bring it up to the house for all to see.  Apparently that hog was a little heavier than he thought.  He couldn’t budge it off the ground.  So, next plan.  He tied a rope to the hog’s feet and drugged it to a low place, to try to pull it into the tailgate.  Hell, he couldn’t get that hog 6 inches off the ground.  About that time High School Girlfriend and Rachel roll into the house from their r & r, shopping.  I tell Rachel that Charlie is somewhere near the river trying to load a hog.  Rachel gets on her cell phone and says “I’m on my way”.

She makes a quick change from shopping cloths to field attire.  She can do that. Quick.  She’s gone.  By now, Charlie is at the barn getting a tractor with a hydraulic hay fork.  He has it under control.  By the way, it’s dark and about 30’F.  Rachel follows in the pickup.  Charlie ties a rope to the hog and then to the hay fork. “Rachel, when I lift the hog up, back the pickup up and I’ll drop it in.”  Didn’t work!  The rope just stretched when the full weight of the hog hit it.  “Let me get that rope tighter” Charlie says and let’s get this thing loaded.  Didn’t work.  Rachel says, “Let’s balance the hog on the hay fork and lift”.  Charlie adds, “That will never work.”  It’s cold.  Tempers are on edge.  Charlie, tries his way a 3^rd time.  Didn’t work.  Rachel says dammit lets try my way.  Charlie is adamant that her way is a waste of time.  Mars vs. Venus.  4 time, no go hog.  Now, I think there may have been some cussing in the bottoms.  “OK, just to show you it won’t work, to waste a bunch of time out here in the cold, Rachel, we will try it your way.  Once.  Then we got to go to my second plan.” Charlie says.  Well, the story goes.  Rachel tied a few ropes and the 300+ pound hog balanced like a tight rope walker.  Charlie, Charlie, I can’t hear you.  Charlie?  OK, it worked, you were right.  “Stop!”  Rachel said.  I want to add something to that statement.  Take my photo.  Where I will have it, next time, I’m dead wrong.  A photo is worth a thousand words.  Charlie took the photo.  Charlie, speaking of a thousand.  The same think has happened to me a thousand times with Rachel’s mother.  After awhile it doesn’t even bother you.

Chasing the Texas sunsets,

Bringing home the Bacon

High School Girlfriend Bringing home the Bacon !

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

46 acre funding

Well, we did it together.  Another one!  I love to get those commission checks.  I think Kelli at Stewart Title loves to give them to me.  Yes, like most closing there were last minute challenges, but we did it.  Let’s see, minerals, royalties, surface control.  Let’s see, we needed waiver of surface rights, non production affidavit, check out the grazing lease, deed corrected, etc, etc.  Did I mention that the 46 acres is really a nice piece of land?  OK, I also needed to kick in a little oxycontin, Lortab Elixir, Decadron, Lactulose and sometimes a little bump up from the hospice nurse.  But we got it done.  Kelli and these transaction are extending my life, tired as I am.  After that funding I want to do another one, and I have an honest buyer looking at the 36 acres on FM 362 just north of Pattison/Brookshire.  Kelli, promised that if I write it up, she, will come and pick the contract up, herself.  Hey, with this funding I can buy some tamales and dark chocolate candy.  Life is good.

 

Chasing the Texas sunsets,

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

Santa Mike

Santa Mike with his little helpers!

 

 

 

2:47 am Dec 01

Well, the pain broke through the pain killers.  I take 2 pain killers at 8 pm to make it through to 4 am.  The last couple of days the pain has been sneaking back.  Came back with vengeance today.  At 2:15 am I woke with pain in my lower back and little in my left shoulder.  Tried to go back to sleep.  Couldn’t.  No way I can make it to 4 am.  But, I’m going to try to make it to 3 am.  First a little heating pad on the back.  Then ad this to the BLOG to try to get my mind off the pain.  Ya’ll all know that I have a low resistance to pain.

craig  2:55 am Dec. 1, 2009

Man's best friend.

Chester knows.

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

Chester

Chester and I meditating.  Another morning.

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

High School Girl Friend

BRAZOS BOTTOM QUEEN - - -   

 

Fourth generation property owner.

 

Visionary, strong, independent.  These words conjure images of an individual who pioneers, not new lands, but the same lands with new problems.

She is strong enough to bend.

And, independent enough not to break.

She has the vision to see beyond the present problems.

 

She’s a daughter.  She’s a wife.  She’s a mother.  She’s a grandmother.  She’s a sister.

 

She’s a success.   AND, she’s not finished.

 

She is Cassie Dixon Dickson.

Nov. 07, 2009

www TrueToTexas.com          

 

            Body Craig, on it’s on, is holding up the fight.  Thanks for the prayers.  Again, I have such limited energy I just can’t take visitors or phone calls.  It just drains me.  I’m still dead tired, but with the in house hospice I’ve been able to control the pain.

            Ya’ll know, at this point, I don’t want to go to the hospital.  I don’t want any kind of life support, whatever..  And, you would not believe,

 how at peace with that I am.

            Ha, ha, ha, ha the cancer better be ready.  Ha, ha, ha.  I’ve decided to be cremated.  That cancer is not going to win.  I’m going to burn it at the end.  Hank, what is that cremation temperature?  2,000 degrees.  Ha, ha, ha.

 

            Sometimes when I’m just laying there,  I feel so close to nature.  Really,  and there is a real peace to it.

 

            Sometimes, I panicked at night, thinking this is it.  I don’t want to close my eyes, alone.  I don’t want to talk, but I want someone in the room.  Some nights I get all emotional and call my oldest friends.  I tell them that I’m not having a funeral; I’m having a celebration of life.  You know, crying while I’m talking with them and asking them to be part of the celebration.  Well, then I wake up the next morning.  Have a spurt of energy.  Go out to sell some property.  Now, I call them back, like a groom would call his future in-laws and say, “I still love your daughter, but the dates have changed”.  Damn, your emotions can swing.

 

I believe in miracles.

I believe in love.

I believe in being prepared

 

            Prayers Warriors, with what I see happening to America, please pray for this land that has given us all, so much.

 

            “Let the birds sing, without deciphering the song.”   Emerson

 

Chasing the Texas sunsets,

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

My Ponds:

I have my river.

And, now I have my ponds.

Three ponds that I had dug.  3 different

Ponds that will be connected.

Three different personalities.

I haven’t named my ponds.   Yet.      

 

My ponds aren’t for fishing.

My ponds are for attracting.

My ponds aren’t for irrigation.

My ponds are for dreaming.

My ponds aren’t for drinking.

My ponds are for reflecting.

 

My ponds are works in progress.

My ponds aren’t finished.

I’m the sculptor.

My ponds will be finished when I die.

 

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

"The Scenic Route"

www TrueToTexas.com          

 

                        “Now cowgirls, don’t get the wrong idea, as long as I can ride, I will work.”   I just listed 36 acres on FM 362 just north of Brookshire.  Over 2,000 feet of frontage on FM 362, asking - $15,000.00 per acre.  Jimmy Ramone, I believe it is worth that.

            Most of ya’ll know about my fight with cancer.  After the last checks and scans my doctors and I decided that it was time to get off chemo and on pain management.  Well, now it is body craig taking on the cancer and I have very limited energy after a day of fighting with cancer.  I appreciate all of ya’ll, but I just don’t have the energy for many guest, but thanks.  King Dixon comes first and foremost, when we take a break and he goes home to Knippa, then there is immediate family and then, very important, to me, is doing a little work.  I usually sleep for hours and hours.

            Ya’ll know that I’m on narcotic pain relievers.  Dr. Ho loaded me down with as much as I want.  I could get hooked on these narcotics!  Hell, I’m already hooked on the Hallmark Queen.  She can’t stop now.  After 5 or 6 days I’ve noticed that I start sweating when I head out to the mail box.  “Will it be there”?

I don’t know why, who, but I need my card.  The Hallmark Queen forwards me cutting edge cards.  She may be a card designer of Hallmark, but the cards are like none that you have ever seen.  Keep them coming, please.  Whoever you are.

            I’m getting tired already, but I’m going to try to give you a little update.  Body Craig is taking on the cancer, and I’m damn proud of body craig.  There are certain times of the day that the fight really gets heated.  And, I mean heated.  My temperature will sky rocket up to 103 degrees +.  Cool rag, aspirin and showers and I can bring it closer to normal. Oh, if you don’t know, when the doctor said the chemo wasn’t working, I had cancer on my back bone, in some of my other bones, on my liver, on my pancreas, and at least eight places on my lungs.  Body Craig is like a lone Texas Ranger,  fighting 50 banditos in a small west Texas Town.  You know, today, I believe body craig is kicking some butt.

            Also, I don’t want to be hauled to the hospital, I’ve told High School Girl Friend that I don’t want any type of life support hooked to me. PERIOD.  I want to die here on the Brazos, where I lived so well.

            No, Lavern I don’t need in house hospice care yet, but I’m going to have one come by the house this week.  Check them out and let them know that I don’t want any emergency personal, PERIOD.

I believe in miracles.

I believe in love.

I believe in being prepared.

 

Like most road trips, this one began a long time ago.

“The Scenic Route”

It’s not the destination.

It’s not the travel plan.

It’s a frame of mind.

 

Still Chasing the Texas sunsets,

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

FW: Real Estate and Cancer

www TrueToTexas.com

 

            Well, finally.  The best buy in West Houston has sold, closed and funded.  Yes, the 64 acres with all utilities for $15,000.00 per acre has sold.  Man, I know Richard and Ken are happy and 3 or 4 years from now the buyer (a European investor) is going to be real happy.  For SALE 628 acres with 9,113 feet of road frontage.  4,580 feet of that is on FM 529.  The owner is asking $12,500.00 per acre.  That 46 acres I have for sale on Clapp road just north of Pattison, Texas.  The buyers are getting close, but it is still for sale.  Check out the Texas Landscape and Marquee saying at www.TrueToTexas.com

 

            Cancer update -  Everyday is a gift.  I’ve had ups and downs, but a huge majority of my life has been a song.  Back around February,  2003 I went to M.D. Anderson Hospital at my family doctor’s suggestion.  I was having a hard time swallowing.  My family doctor had done some test and had forward them to M.D. Anderson.  Well, the surgeon looked at my test, looked at me and said that we needed to operate.  That I had a cancerous tumor on my esophagus.  He said that it was a very hard and risky operation,  a 10 hour operation, minimum (if everything goes OK) 6 month recovery and just a 50% chance to survive 5 years.  He said they just don’t predict longer than 5 years.  The surgeon said that he was scheduling the procedure for the next morning.  WAIT !  I had to think about this.

High School Girlfriend and I were building a new home, no permanent loan yet.  Rachel was getting married in July.  I needed to think about all this.  The timing was just wrong.  Please God, can’t we do this some other time?  I procrastinated.  AND, I didn’t tell a sole.  High School Girlfriend says that I can’t keep a secret.  I can.  The tumor subsided, swallowing was easy and the best 5 years of my life followed.  I walked little Rachel down the isle, construction was completed on our new home,  can you believe, we got a 4% home loan.  My real estate business boomed.  AND the icing on the cake, God allowed me the time to be there on February 13, 2008 to see little Dixon Charles Kellner’s arrival.  Around June 2008 the tumor came back.  I was at peace with myself and at peace with God.  I made an appointment with the same surgeon at M.D. Anderson.  I told the surgeon I had been here before and already had a hospital I.D. number.  He pulled it up.  And said, “you were supposed to have come back the next day?”  I told him that I had already outlived all of his predictions and that it had been the best 5 years of my life.  My life was in the hands of God.

            OK, I’m ready, last August 2008 the surgeon suggested they radiate and chemo me for a month to reduce the size of the cancerous tumor before they operate.  Then, I was to build my body and immune system up for 30 days.  Well on September 30, 2008 they wanted to check me over completely.  You know, x-rays, CAT scan, PET scans, biopsies and more.  They wanted to really pin point the tumor, before they operated.  Well, I’m ready, I’m there at MD Anderson when I see these two High Dollar Doctors talking, about me, I’m sure.  I asked, what’s the conversation?  Well, your tumor has shrunk, and we can’t find a cancerous cell in you or on you anyplace.  But, we think we ought to operate anyway.  I bypassed that and went into a check and see mode.  February clean, May clean,  life is but a song.  August, cancer pops up on my lungs and back bone.  More chemo.  Last week they did all the test, again.  The chemo isn’t working.  The cancer has spread to many parts of my body.  I thank God for “the best 5 years of my life”.  Dr. Ho and I decided that the best thing we can do, is go into a pain management mode.  Dr. Ho, not in these words, said that I need to be prepared for my last “road trip”.

            Now cowgirls, don’t get the wrong idea, as long as I can ride I will work.

 

Chasing the Texas sunsets,

always

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

It's my story.
Real estate, #101.

Politics, it's my story and I'm sticking with it!

Cancer and Chemo.

It's my story! September 25, 2009

Shouldn't

Here it is 1:00 in the morning in Nigeria, and you got me thinking of Roy Head.  I don’t know if you have a bunch of music on your computer like I do, so I thought I’d go ahead and send these songs to you in case you don’t.  Funny how we can go back over 40 years in the click of a mouse.  I envy you for going to that club.  The only bad thing about it was missing Archie Bell.  We were talking about him at a party a week ago, and I ran home to make a CD, and I took it back to play “Tighten Up” on the CD player for some of the younger guys who had never heard of him.  We’ve been in perpetual lock-down here for quite a while, and no wives are allowed here any longer due to problems with delta militant kidnappings, and we look for any entertainment we can get in the Man Camp.

 

 

Dennis

---

 

www TrueToTexas.com          

 

            Shouldn’t.  Have you ever done something, you shouldn’t?  Last week I’m communicating with some of my high school friends.  You know, friends you knew in the 1960’s.  One of our Katy High graduating classmates is rolling in from Africa and we are setting up an impromptu reunion.  Impromptu – that’s usually the best kind.  Last Saturday and the cancer and chemo have me pretty damn tired.  I’m reading the local paper and see a small ad advertising a dive in downtown Houston,  the Continental Club.  Shouldn’t.  Flashbacks.  Reminds me of the Katy VFW Hall, Riverside Hall in East Bernard and other rural dance halls that we made on a regular basis.  I shouldn’t.  You see, the headliner tonight, 40+ years later is Roy Head and Barbara Lynn.  Reminds me of something common, back then.  BATTLE OF THE BANDS!  Roy Head was the star back then, but he would let unknowns like B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs, from Rosenberg, have stage time.  We saw them together multiple times.  Texas boy Roy Head had just cut a huge hit in 1965 that went all the way to number 2 nationally, “Treat Her Right” (only behind one of the Beatles great hits).  Shouldn’t.  You know, I think you regret more what you didn’t do, than what you did.  I called my friend Steve and we are off to the Continental Club.  Roy Head can still gyrate.  At 11:30 pm I’m played out, Steve wants to rock on.  Roy just left the stage and Barbara Lynn grabs her guitar.  I agree to hang in for a few more songs.  Her third song and she breaks out with the hit she wrote and recorded, “You’ll loose a Good Thing”.  Steve, the party is over for me.  We leave.  We missed the next act, Archie Bell.  The good news is that it was a smoke free environment.  The bad news was that it was standing room only.  I shouldn’t.   Right or Wrong, I did it.

            Redhorse, do you think the geese have left the Arctic Circle?  You know, migrating south.  Well, I’ve got a listing I want to mention.  I think it would be a great place for goose, duck, dove and quail hunting as well as an investment.  It’s one of those places that is so close to Houston, yet so far away.  It’s a 362 acre rice field located one mile north of FM 529.  Yet so far away.  To get there turn north off FM 529 on Katy Hockley road and go one mile to Longenbaugh Road, turn left (west) and go about 2 miles to the end of the road.  The road ends.  Then about 1,500 feet down an easement to the property.  And, a rice field full of migratory birds.  Rice field!  Lavern, don’t turn your nose up at rice field.  Not too long ago Copperfield (at Hwy.6) was a rice field where I have witness 10’s of thousand of geese.  Yep, Bear Creek on Hwy. 6 was a rice field,  Lavern you want more, how about the Estate homes at Cinco Ranch, rice field.  Katy Mills Mall, itself was a rice field when I was in high school.  You can leave your money with the likes of Allen Stanford and Bernie Madoff or you can buy your heirs an investment they can walk on.   Oh, yes, it is listed for $5,000.00 per acre.

 

Chasing the Texas sunsets,

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

FW: Chasing the Texas sunsets

www TrueToTexas.com          

 

TUE  09/01/2009                     Blood / Specimen Collection                 Diagnostic Center Main Building 2^nd Floor

    8:00 AM     

 

TUE  09/01/2009                     IRINOTECAN /CARBOBLATIN                   ATC Chair Unit  Sundial Lobby  2^nd Floor.

 

            Hey ya’ll, another dose of chemo down the hatch.  Yes, I’ll repeat, I’m a whiner, moaner and complainer when I have pain.  But man, I take advantage of the good days.  Emily; my game plan, work when I feel average, play when I feel good and whine and moan when I feel bad.

            A good day.  Thursday a week ago I was feeling pretty good. So, I invited little Dixon for his first visit to Galveston and salt water.  What a day!  Yes, we let his mother, little Rachel and Grandmother, Cassie ride along for the fun.  The ferry, the Bolivar Ferry ride.  Dixon loved it.  We got out of my F-150 and walked to the front of the ferry.  Dixon was loving the sites, especially the birds, sea gulls and grackles.  Yes, his mother is a Dickson.  She started feeding the gulls when right in front of her father and son the captain of the ferry, on a very loud speaker, called her down, “No feeding the birds in the front of the ferry.”  She is a Dickson.  Her grandmother, Katherine, didn’t believe in the word NO.  So, Dixon’s mother just holds her hand up where the birds think she is feeding them.  Well, the Captain sends a deck hand down and, right in front of her father and son, tells her the Captain wants her to stop attracting the birds and would she please go to the back of the ferry to feed the birds.  Her grandmother, Katherine E. Tyra, always said that it was just easier, for her, to apologize than to ask permission.  We went to the back of the boat and had a blast feeding the birds.  Next stop the Strand.  Dixon and I went straight to the Candy Factory where we both ate a large scoop of ice cream.  Then to the beach where Dixon had a blast.  He attempted to catch sea gulls for over 2 hours and in between jumped into the surf.  He loved it.  Check out the Galveston photos below.

We ate at Gaido’s.  Dixon loves mashed potatoes and he loves cheese.  We order him a $3.00 order of Gaido’s famous Au Gratin potatoes.  Rachel, Cassie and I all got some sort of shrimp plate.  18 month old Dixon looked at our plates and looked at his potatoes.  He wouldn’t have it.  Dixon ended up eating $17.00 worth of fried shrimp.  We got the au gratin potatoes, to go.

            I just got a new listing.  The signs are ordered.  Yes, I felt average yesterday.  My new listing:  988 acres at the northeast corner of FM 529 and FM 2855, $9,700,000.00. and some change.

            The cancer in my lower back has really got me down.  Some sort of pain 24/7 and add the side effects of chemo and you start wondering on some days.  Then pop the prayer warriors and God deliver a great day.  When I have a good day, they are so good.

 

Chasing the Texas sunsets,

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

Galveston !

Killin' Time

www TrueToTexas.com

 

            Cancer - - Chemotherapy - - Alligators !

 

            Last Sunday I was killin’ time.  Tired, but trying to keep active.  At about 1 pm I decided to make run down to the Brazos River to where I have one of those game cameras set up.  That game camera, to me, is more fun than hunting.  I love to see all the different kinds a wildlife that cross the area.  I had 24 pictures, but I left it set, deciding to take the little digital card out later when there were more pictures.  I baited the path with some molasses and deer corn.  On the way back, as always, I observed what kind of shore birds were hanging out at the swamp.  Wood Storks, Night Herons, Great Blue Herons, Pink Spoonbills (see photo on the TrueToTexas website), and many more.  Now, I’ve told ya’ll about the alligators that showed up 8 or 10 years ago.  I guess they climbed out of the Brazos River and decided to set up headquarters in this 20 acre swamp.  See attached photo of one of the alligators.  I took the photo 2 or 3 years ago.  Well, over the years I’ve seen a big nest out on the island.  Wondering why we never saw any baby alligators?  You know, I’ve heard that other alligators, maybe ever the father, will eat the babies.  And I figured in this enclosed area they just always hunted down the babies and ate them.  Well, it’s about 1:30 pm and I look at the alligator nest out there on the island.  Something is real white at the top.  I wonder if that is part of an alligator egg?  I want to explore, but c’on, PIC line hooked to my arm, full of chemo, and getting dead tired.  I head to the house.  Hell, its nap time.

            4:30 pm Sunday, I can’t sleep.  Tom, I may be fighting cancer, but I am a bayou boy.  The call of the wild.  I’ve got to investigate that alligator nest.  Should I tell my next of kin?  Where to look for my body if I don’t return by dark.  I tell High School Girlfriend.  I have a choice, either Leslie’s canoe or a 10 foot jon boat.  I choose the jon boat and loaded in the back of my pick-up.  I back the pick-up up to the bank of the swamp right across from the alligator’s nest.  I need to conserve energy.  This way I can just paddle right across to the nest.  I see the alligator 30 feet north.  Just her eyes.  She is just laying there submerged.  I drop the jon boat off into the water.  Get the paddle and a shovel in case I want to dig out the nest.  ACROSS the short span to the island and the nest.  When I approach the island bank I see about 20 baby 5 inch alligators right off the bank in a canal used by the alligators to get to the nest.  I reach down and grab two baby alligators at once.  They all start making some little chirping noise.  ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE !  They say they are fast, believe them.  I thought that mama alligator was flying.  She hit that jon boat with an impact that knocks my camera off my neck and into the bottom of the boat.  I wasn’t thinking about that camera or taking photos, I was thinking about my appendages.  Next move, mama alligator hits the boat with her tail, I bust the paddle over her back.  Great, now I don’t have a paddle.  Well, across the swamp by shovel power.  Mama alligator seems to be waiting for an opportunity.  Well, I only hit the ground once between the jon boat and the bed of my pick-up.

            Don’t mess with a mama alligator.

            Sunday night I realize that I was lucky I was in that flat bottom jon boat and that it was sitting in mud.  If I would have been in deeper water I’m sure the boat would have capsized.  AND, that my effort may save saved a few babies this year.  Those big Wood Storks and Blue Herons were eating the babies as fast as they could.  Maybe with all the excitement the babies got spread out and a few will survive.

 

Another Texas sunset,

 

 

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com

 

Dixon and his dog, Chester.

Texas Flamingos

Chasing the Texas sunsets

www TrueToTexas.com

 

            Can we talk a little real estate?  Like CLUNKER for down payment.  That’s right !  Hey, if Congress can do it, damn it, I can too.  I just can’t use your money to do it.  I have a beautiful corner lot in Hempstead, Texas.  That lot is just waiting for your home.  The lot is on the market for $9,500.00.   One CLUNKER for the down payment.  The preferred CLUNKER is a nine seater station wagon in good condition.  The balance to be financed over 10 years at 7% interest, not the CLUNKER, the lot.  I don’t give a damn if I sell that lot or not, but I need that nine seater station wagon.  You know, it will be my “Ranch Limousine”   New Listing, 46 acres, Pattison area, right across Clapp road from the famous Sam Wilson Ranch.  The owner may divide.  The taxes are less than $200.00 per year.  This tract of land has lots of potential.  Oh, it is unrestricted.  $9,500.00 per acre.  How about 25 acres behind Brookwood on Bains road?  $15,000.00 per acre.  Owner is motivated.  Let’s write an offer.  If you are looking for a steal,  maybe in Michigan or probably California, but if you are looking for an investment, I’m licensed to sell real estate, in TEXAS.

            Look, if you believe in Houston and you got $800,000.00 to $1,000,000.00 call me, I’ve got a tract of land that I believe will beat your cd rate or Dow Jones investment, unless the Mayans are right and the world is coming to a crashing end December 21, 2012.  Wait, let’s buy it anyway and flip it before the world comes to an end.

            Getting’ Out !  Hey, when you have good days, you got to take advantage.  High School Girlfriend and I made Sengelmann Hall in Schulenburg again.  Marcia Ball Saturday a week ago and “Asleep at the Wheel” last Saturday.  Short story.  They had sold out and it was standing room only.  I’m not going to pay $25.00 a person and stand up, that was 25 years ago.  So, I conned a bartender to go down stairs and bring up two chairs.  When I got those chairs it caused a mini-riot with all those sitting on the floor or standing.  Two BIG bouncers came over to me and said, “Sir we made a mistake and we have to take your chairs back down stairs”.  Either one could have whipped my ass with one hand tied behind them, but I told them to get this chair, from me, there will be a fight.  They looked at each other, they looked at me, and they looked at High School Girlfriend.  I don’t know if it was the idea of having to whip an old man’s ass in front of 300 people, more my age than theirs, or the thought of High School Girlfriend on their back, but they said that they needed to talk with management.  5 minutes later they came back and said enjoy your seat and sorry about the mis-understanding.  We had a ball.  Go to my BLOG at www.TrueToTexas.com and see photos.

            CANCER…  I’m not happy.  The good news is the Chemo hasn’t killed me and the cancer is about the same.  The bad news is, the chemo is working hard on all my body parts and the cancer is about the same.  I wanted to take a 60 days rest from the chemo to build up my immune system again and have a little fun.  Doctor ChemoStein wanted me to start more chemo right away.  His thoughts are that it must be doing some good if it hadn’t grown or spread.  So, so I got depressed, I cried.  Damn it, all you positive thinkers I can’t be on cloud 9 all the time.  Sometimes the thought of what’s ahead of you, just gets to me.  Well, I stalled and I’m starting back on chemo Tuesday August 18^th.  ChemoStein has changed the formula.  Talk about depressing.  Irinotecan and Carboplatin will be pumped into my body every second Tuesday.  Six pages of side effects.  And, the final side effect paragragh is  Sterility!  Great.  And there is a whole section on controlling Diarrhea.  Why  did I read this handout?  I usually wait until a couple days before.

            Below are two photos of Dr. ChemoStein.

            Prayer Warriors, give me strength.

 

Chasing the Texas sunsets,

 

Craig Dickson

craig dickson realty

www.TrueToTexas.com