Author: Dick

It has been almost three months since I have moved back to Beaumont. One of my daily rituals around here is an hour-long walk that I take on the neighborhood streets. My route changes from time-to-time, but basically it is the same set of streets. I also try to go about the same time each morning with hopes that it will not be so danged hot. Usually it ends up being hot and humid as is the climate here in the summer.

I see a lot of the same faces on my morning walks as well as a lot of the same dogs. As I walk down North Street, I see this Mexican man waiting on his porch to go to work. I finally said: “Buenos dias” to him this morning and he returned the greeting.

As I turn up Sixth Street I usually pass this woman who walks with her arms moving above her waist. It’s like she is trying to dance “The Twist” but doesn’t swivel her hips and just keeps walking. That just doesn’t seem natural. She always has a serious look on her face as if she is about to unleash an atomic-tipped rocket on Houston.

Moving a little farther up Sixth I see the two Rottweilers that are behind a fence and are tied up with the kind of chain you would see in a mechanic’s shop. Sometimes they stand up with their paws on top of the fence and bark at me, and sometimes not. I’m not keen on keeping dogs chained up all the time, but frankly, I’m glad these are. I would hate like hell for these dogs to leap over that fence and turn me into puppy chow.

I also run into a black shaggy dog from time-to-time that runs loose in the vicinity of Sixth Street. It is a moody mutt. Some days it’ll bark at me but I think that is only if I look at it. I can stomp my foot at the dog and it will cower and whimper. Big sissy.

On the numbered streets on the other side of Seventh Street, I usually see this tall, thin blonde walking what appears to be a black Labrador retriever. She must be giving the dog obedience training because she makes it sit before they cross the street. This woman, also rather severe in temperament, carries this big metal pooper scooper. I mean that sucker is huge. It looks like something the train station janitors use to sweep up the trash. Maybe that’s why the blond lady isn’t very friendly — she is being weighted down by that pooper scooper. Set it free missy! Set that pooper scooper free and be a happy person! Find some other way to pick up the dog crap that doesn’t make your arm fall off.

Then there is this guy who jogs all around the area in which I walk. He looks to be my age or a bit older, has gray hair and always runs with his shirt off. I guess he’s proud of his body which I suppose is something to be proud of, although I have never had one of those type bodies. At least this guy will exhale: “Hi.” Except it comes out “Huhhhh.” I sure hope he stays healthy because I don’t really relish giving anyone CPR at 7:30 in the morning.

That is just some of the dogs and people I have seen. They make my life infinitely interesting for a few minutes at least.

PS: The dog in the photo isn’t from the neighborhood. Morten from Norway took the photo. I guess it is his dog. I got the picture off of MorgueFile.com.

One of my guesses as to the source of the fire that caused all the smoke around Beaumont yesterday was correct. It was from a marsh fire. The Beaumont Enterprise reported that the smoke was from a lightning-ignited blaze at the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, which is about 40 miles southwest of here. The fire in the picture is at the refuge, only the photo isn’t of this fire but rather one in August 2003.

The smoke isn’t as bad today as it was yesterday. It really wasn’t so much of a factor later in the day yesterday as we had some pretty heavy-duty rains in the afternoon. But I just had to gloat over correctly guessing the source of all that smoke. I just knew it was from a marsh fire, or from Mexico, or from a KISS Concert or from somewhere.

Absolutely do not be afraid to comment by e-mail. I have this whole other blog waiting to post your comments if you are just the least bit civil. If you’re an a**hole then take your arse somewhere else.

Look at the grasshopper. Or whatever the hell that thing is.

Okay, I know that where there is smoke there is fire. I learned that one long ago. The trouble is when there is smoke and you don’t know where the fire is located.

Smoke has enveloped my portion of the Upper Texas Coast this morning. It looks as if God had exhaled a Lucky Strike factory. It’s got an organic smell to it, so at least one of the chemical plants is not on fire.

I could probably make some calls to find out where this smoke is coming from but it would not serve much of a purpose other than to satisfy my own curiosity. And, of course, it would arm me with knowledge when I walk down the street and somebody says: “It sure is smoky.” Then I could say: “Yeah, _ _ _ _ is on fire.”

Now I have my theories about where this smoke has originated and I have narrowed it down to several sources. a)The coastal marshes south of here are on fire. b)The coastal marshes in Louisiana to the southeast are on fire. c)Smoke is wafting up from Central America. d)The smoke is coming from Mexico. e)The smoke is coming from a KISS concert.

I just know that it is smoky out. But even though the state environmental agency says the air is unhealthy because of high PM2.5 levels, it wasn’t too bad walking in it this morning. The heat and humidity at 7 a.m. was probably pushing the heat index up close to 90, and that’s not too spiffy. But at least I wasn’t choking from the smoke. So maybe it’s going to be a good day after all.

A friend and I went to the opening reception this afternoon for the exhibit “Robert Rauschenberg, Artist-Citizen: Posters for a Better World” at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur, Texas. The collection of posters created by the artist is on loan from the Smithsonian for a 10-week exhibition in the museum, which is located in Bob Rauschenberg’s hometown.

Mary Lynn Kotz, Rauschenberg’s biographer, gave a very detailed (kind of long-winded) talk and slide presentation on the life and works of the painter, sculptor and graphic artist, now 80 years old. It was a rather interesting discussion nonetheless about someone who has been able for many years to take the most common of objects and turn them into compelling art.

The posters included a number that he made for various events and causes ranging from the first Earth Day to posters for NASA.

I guess what has always attracted me to Rauschenberg’s work is the sense of whimsy in so many of his collages, or combines as he calls them. I did notice early on that he used a lot of chickens in his work. What I did not know until listening to Kotz was that chickens were part of his childhood in Port Arthur and he often uses objects of significance in his life as a recurring theme in his work.

It also is interesting to think about such a heavy-hitter in the art world as Rauschenberg, as well as the legendary blues-rock goddess Janis Joplin, both hailing from Port Arthur. I may be wrong but I feel Rauschenberg, while he got the hell out of Dodge while the getting was good, does not seem bitter about his youth spent in Port Arthur as Janis Joplin did. Then again, Janis had some various issues. We all do. I still loved her and will never forget her returning as a big star to Port Arthur for her high school reunion. I remember seeing her on the local TV news in her finest Pearl duds. Man, did she shake some cobwebs loose in that part of the area when she returned home. Janis’ psychedelic convertable is also at the musuem.

Looking at the work of a legendary artist and thinking about the work of another (Janis) is not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.