Mighty Guns is a painting that I did for a good friend as a Christmas present. His wife asked me to paint it for one of her gifts to him. It is a 12 x 12 collage of old maps, train schedules, and book pages that all deal with Texas. I used an acrylic transfer method to get the Alamo image and lettering on the collage. I think I may explore a little more with some of the lettering and use of unique fonts in some future work. As of right now I have nothing on the table except for a few small crafty projects that my wife and I will be doing together.

"Come on boys, the Mexicans are upon us and we'll give em hell", said Col. William B. Travis 173 years ago today, March 6th, 1836 around 5 AM. It was all over before the sun rose on that crisp south Texas morning. The initial Mexican assault was pushed back by the heroic defenders, but then as the Mexican columns joined forces at the north wall for the final push the massacre began. The mass of humanity was overwhelming.....it would be over soon....and it was. By 6:30 AM the sun rose on the battlefield and the extent of the devastation was revealed. My favorite defender? Jim Bowie. He was laid up on a cot in the barracks. I like to think he maybe got a shot or two off as the enemy rushed the door....maybe used that Bowie knife on some folks. Who knows? Most of y'all know the story, if not, do some research or watch the movie "The Alamo". Many historians claim it is the most accurate account on the big screen yet. The John Wayne version is entertaining but has some major flaws....I've seen it 25+ times....being a Texas history teacher for 6 years back in the day, it was a staple of our curriculum. We'd watch it to pick out the mistakes. Go down to San Antonio and see the Alamo....it's a right of passage for all Texans.

Then go do some San Antonio stuff like:

1) eat Eggs Mexicana for breakfast at Taco Cabana (they are on every corner)

2) tour the Mission Trail (beautiful Spanish mission churches south of town)

3) go eat lunch at Alamo Cafe (best tortillas in the world!)

4) drink a Lone Star Beer or a Pearl (both originally brewed in SA up until a few years ago)

5) catch some live music ( I suggest John T. Floore's Country Store in Helotes)

6) dinner at Bill Miller's BBQ

I remember the Alamo, I don't recall who won

They had swords, they had horses, I hear we had mighty guns

Like the ones from Navarone last night on Channel 21

It's a long way back to El Paso.

It was early Monday morning in the Central Standard Zone

You were quiet like the TV, hung up like the telephone

You were sleeping next to me, I might as well have been alone

It's a long way back to El Paso.

This might be my favorite start to a song ever!