Ace reporter Ken Fountain, a personal friend and colleague, has moved to Beaumont to continue his craft of raising hell and taking names, or - at least - taking names and dodging storms.
I first met Ken in college, when we both were sharpening our skills at The Daily Cougar. He was the ace reporter who always got it right and I was the columnist who never knew what time it was. Since then, he had a stint at many a small paper around Houston and we last worked together at the Houston Chronicle’s Neighborhood News department.
We all got together to bid him farewell recently, and I snapped a few shots of the journalistic legend. But, I was shooting into the glare of a large window behind him, so I have altered the following photos to highlight his good features.
Keep in touch, buddy.
Ken Fountain and one margarita
If you haven’t gone to the beach this summer, you should. Your chances of doing so are quickly eroding.
Summer is nearing its end, and I know this because 1.) Hurricane season is here and 2.) School starts back up everywhere next week.
Corina went to the beach this summer, her last summer before starting regular school: She’ll be entering kindergarten next week.
Good weather back on July 31 when we made our annual pilgrimage to the beach. (photo by Kim Kovar)
So mischievous ... she's clutching a water gun in this shot. (photo by Kim Kovar)
Kim was at the beach, too - and I'm really glad about that. (photo by Corina Moeller)
... Because when those photos were taken, I was limping back over to them after having my toe mauled by a shark. (Photo by Kim Kovar)
… or something.
Here's my toe all wrapped up later that day. Now, more than two weeks later, I can say I'm getting back to normal ... which means it looks like I'll be mowing the lawn this weekend. Hoo-rah. (Photo by Kim Kovar)
I busted my toe and I have learned that I must always wear shoes at the beach.
Some lessons hurt more than others. Especially those involving the sudden loss of half a toe nail.
They didn’t have to amputate it, but man - what if they would have? I certainly wouldn’t be having to wear sandals to work, man.
Ow ow ow ow ow
Kim said the photo I’m adding to this post may not be suitable for all viewers, especially those who may be missing a toe. I don’t think I know anyone missing a toe, but I do know a guy who goes by Toes because on one foot, he has six.
See.
Speaking of Kim, she was part of this lovely exchange on Facebook about the toe.
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
I just paid a speeding ticket I got on the way back from my summer vacation in Colorado County (where? - exactly … somewhere on I-10 where it’s OK to pull over the guy who’s just trying to get out of the way of some tailgating redneck in a pickup truck). Clocked at 84 miles per hour. Speed limit: 70. I must have been in a hurry to get back to town to pick up my car, which was in the shop, just waiting me to pay a lot of money for its return.
Yeah, I was driving Kim’s car. She said, “I never drive it over 80.”
There were two of them, hiding on the blind side of the hill. It didn’t take longer than 10 minutes before I was on my way. I am thankful there were no stupid human tricks involved in the ticket issuing process. And I’m just paying the ticket - like a man - this time, for the first time ever. No wrestling with an online defensive driving course or twiddling my thumbs somewhere during class. No. Screw it.
For my next trick, I will devour a bowl of ice cream.
Here's a bunch of dead red sun sunflowers I deadheaded last week. Deadheaded about as many this past weekend, too. Sigh.
