Critters

They’re everywhere.  But some places are worse than others.  Now, take Texas for instance (and that’s only 'cause I’m here and so are they).  BIG, small, pretty, ugly, deadly and not so much.  Critters, that’s what I’m talkin’ about.

I’m talkin’ 'bout spiders (all kinds, including th’ Black Widow), tarantulas, scorpions, snakes (all kinds), wasps, bugs (once again, all kinds), fire ants,  jackrabbits, coyotes, Javelinas, Mexican ground squirrels and Roadrunners.  And at nighttime, you see most all of ‘em.  Now, critters in Texas are a whole ‘nother breed of, well, critter.  They’re bigger and badder in most cases.

Black Widow

SW Texas has between 8 and 14 different species of tarantulas (and I still don’t like any of ‘em),  but, they serve a purpose.  They eat bugs and scorpions!  

Tarantula

Of course, tarantulas have enemies also, roadrunners and the fiercesome tarantula hawk (wasp).

Tarantula Hawk

Th' Tarantula Hawk is actually a large wasp which has th' second most painful insect sting in th' world (second only to th' bullet ant).  Th' wasp is usually about 2 inches long with a blue-black body and has rust colored wings.  Th' stinger on this raschal can be as long as 1/3 of an inch (ouch).

Roadrunner

Th’ roadrunner eats  scorpions and bugs as well and also will feast on snakes.  In our area, we have seen th’ Blue Indigo snake and th’ Western Diamondback (Can I get three cheers for th’ roadrunner).  Th’ roadrunners are pretty tame to us humans and will actually eat from your hand. 

Lots and lots of Mexican ground squirrels go scampering across th’ road with their little tails stuck straight up in th’ air.  Funny little critters.

Mexican Ground Squirrel

Th’ Blue Indigo snake and th’ Western Diamondback 

Western Diamondback

Blue Indigo

Blue Indigo feasting on Western Diamondback

Th’ Blue Indigo snake also feasts on th' Western Diamondback.

Javelina

And then there’s th’ coyotes and th’ Javelina’s.  I have seen several coyotes wandering by th’ RV and actually saw a small herd (???) of Javelinas th' other mornin'.  Our company service guy says he has seen a lot of them near our location though.  

Coyote

At night, not only do you have to put up with th’ nocturnal critters   At just about all of the oil field security gates, there'll be several of th’ halogen security lights that will attract hundreds of bugs.  

Weird Grasshopper

Amongst them, are some kind of grasshopper (I guess that’s what it’s called).  Weird looking things, but tarantulas like ‘em.  And they have some sort of stinger tail, don't know if it will actually sting ya or not and really don't want to find out either.

Whitetail Deer

Once in a while we will also see a small herd (up to 6) of Whitetail Deer go wandering by th' RV.  Downright pretty they are.

Did I mention mice and rats?  Yep, got them too, and lots of ‘em.  ‘Course, maybe th’ roadrunners like them too.  That’d be real nice.

So, if you’re gonna gate guard in th’ great state of Texas, prepare to deal with all kinds of critters, and be happy, happy, happy, especially if they stay outside th’ RV.

Later   .   .   .

What's In A Name?

Why is a name so important?  

Names are important to distinguish one person from another. As we can do this by face, it would be hard to address someone or speak of them, without a name.  

It's already confusing enough to have so many Charlies, Janes, Bobs or, even Jims.  When I went to work for Silver Dollar City and was checking out my company costumes etc, the costume folks asked me my name (for my name tag) and I told them Jim. "No, you can't use that name, someone in your department already has that name."  OK, "Wayne" (my middle name),  "No, that one's taken also."  "How about Jimmie?", "Nope." "How about my last name, Wilks"?  "Nope, gotta use first names."  "Alright then, how about James?"  "Sorry, taken."  Fastly becoming frustrated, I asked "Can I use my initials, JW?"  "Sure", so that's how I became know as JW.  Too many people, not enough names.

And so it is with a business.  If all businesses were named (for instance, ABC xxxx) we wouldn't be able to tell them apart.  Name brand recognition is a mainstay of business.  The name is very important.  If you can try to get the name to sound something like what your company offers (e.g. FaceBook, SKYPE, Apple) then you just hit the jackpot.

A company name defines your business and some company names are so recognizable that you immediately know what they are, even before seeing their logo which, by the way also defines them even further.  When you look at these two logos, you immediately know who they are and even what business they are in.

So, way back in 1995, when we were deciding what to call our business and have it incorporated, we came up with some pretty cool names (including, Muddy Creek, 10-1 Enterprise,  & SBRCO), and as a last resort included the name "The Branch."  We applied for our LLC only to be told that all the "cool" names we had thought of were taken, but we could certainly have "The Branch."  so the name stuck.  As a side note, just how did we come up with the name, The Branch??  One of our favorite scriptures is John 15:5,  I am the vine, you are the branches.  The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.  Good words to live by.

Now, fast forward to 2014 (19 years later) and we finally get around to having a logo designed.  I knew what I wanted but trying to convey that idea to the graphics designer was a long process with many many text messages back and forth.  But, he came through with exactly what I wanted.

My second cousin, Ross Redburn of Arnold, Missouri was my goto Graphics guru.  He is a very good graphics guy and can do a logo for whatever you want.  Here's a link to his website:  http://maddrooster.wix.com/maddroosterproductions

Thanks Ross, ya done good my man.

Later  .  .  .

"I Don't Like Spiders and Snakes . . ."

Well I haven't seen any live snakes, yet.  But I'm keepin' my eye out for 'em, especially at night.

As I was checkin' in a truck last night, I saw this tarantula beside our RV. Suffice it to say, it's no longer amongst th' living. 'Bout didn't get th' second picture as he was runnin' off into th' darkness right before he met his demise.   

Live Tarantula

Dead Tarantula

I don't like spiders, little ones or big ones and especially big ones like these.  He was almost as big as my hand.  Course, we're in Texas, so "everything's" bigger, they say.


Rest easy folks, the world can sleep better now, or at least I can.

* * * UPDATE  6/21/14 * * *

I captured another tarantula this mornin', but it got away.  Then my missus saw one later this morning and got a picture of it (probably th same one).  I posted this on FaceBook and was informed by Janis, "Tarantulas eat Scorpions", and Larry said, "They are good with honey, just spit out the bristles." HA, Larry, that ain't never gonna happen.  Well, th' scorpion thing kinda puts another spin on this.  I still don't like spiders, but I also don't like scorpions.  Soo, I guess th tarantulas will win out, this time.  BUT, if one happens to jump out and scare me, he's toast.

Later   .   .   .

Here It Is June Already . . .

Th' temperature has been in th' triple digits for about 3 weeks now and for about a week or so it was 102, everyday.  Summer starts Saturday June 21 at 6:51 A.M. EDT, HA, I can hardly wait.  Had just a little rain th' other day and about 5 drops yesterday.  BUT, I guess that's how it's supposed to be down here in SW Texas.  Th' cactus and th' Mesquite seem to be flourishing pretty good.   I put out a big pan of water (across th' road from us) and th' roadrunners and rabbits seem to really enjoy that.

102 Everyday for 'Bout a Week

El Coyote

Th' Roadrunners, rabbits and all th' birds are still puttin' on a show for us daily.  Now we're even seein' a couple of eagles.  And, th' other day, I saw this critter walk by, rather nonchalantly, right in front of our RV.  I've seen them now about 3 times but th' other 2 times it was at night.  Hope they're not scouting us out and planning an attack or something.  I do th' night shift here and it's pretty dark (especially when ya get away from th' security lights).  Th' pad flare puts off a little light, but it's 'bout a 1/4 mi. from us so it don't help a whole lot. I tend to do some wandering' around out there at night so probably need to keep a watchful eye out for 'em.

Our traffic has dropped off drastically since they cut th' pipeline in.  I suppose in a 24 hr period we have probably 'bout 4 or 5 pickups and maybe 8 or so water and oil trucks.  Some nights, they stop coming in round 10:30 or so (and that makes for a looong night).  Once in a while, I'll have trucks in up until 'bout 2 and everything is out by 3:30.  Early trucks start 'bout 7 to 7:45AM.

25 more days and we're off for a Colorado 4-Wheelin' Family Reunion up around Poncha Springs.  Our boy, Jeff (who lives in Wiley, Co), does this trip every year, but this is th' first year we've been able to go.  Can hardly wait.  Already have our side by side Ranger ATV reserved.  We'll be gone from th' oil fields for about a month but will still be posting on here and FaceBook.  Gate Guard tells us that we'll be able to come right back to th' same gate.  That's good, th' traffic is pretty light and we like that.

Later   .   .   .