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Thursday, September 29, 2005
Louisiana Animals Confused by Hurricane Rita
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Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Ghost of a Chance Reviewed by Kirkus
Kirkus Discoveries recently reviewed Ghost of a Chance. The review is on their website at http://www.kirkusreviews.com/kirkusreviews/discoveries/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001217794 Please check it out.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Vivian Museum
Today I visited the Vivian Museum located in the old train depot on the west end of main street. It brought back memories because my cousin Ken and I rode the train from Shreveport to Vivian when we were little (ten or so). Amazingly, our parents let us take the trip by ourselves. I don't remember much about it except the train was noisy and the station in Vivian seemed large. It seemed small when I visited this morning. There was only one person there, Ms. Agnes Sullivan. She showed me around and I was impressed. Here are a few pics from my trip. Eric http://www.ericwilder.com http://ericwilder.blogspot.com http://justeastofeden.myblogspot.com http://energyissues.modblog.com
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Eric Wilder to Appear on Clearchannel KAKC, Tulsa
Eric Wilder will appear on Clearchannel KAKC, Tulsa, on Monday, October 10th at 9:20 AM. Host Jeff Brucculeri and Wilder will discuss Ghost of a Chance and energy topics. http://ericwilder.blogspot.com http://www.ericwilder.com http://justeastofeden.myblogsite.com http://energyissues.modblog.com
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Worried Sick in Northwest Louisiana
Today is the last day of summer and I'm spending it in Vivian, Louisiana. I arrived her a week ago today in response to my Mother's medical crisis. We checked her in to the hospital last Thursday for tests and she returned home to Vivian yesterday. She apparently has large cell lymphoma and likely needs her spleen removed. If successful, the surgery would be followed by chemotherapy.
Anyway, I had a few moments away from the hospital and took this photo of a dead possum in the road. Macabre, I know, but that's how I'm presently feeling. My Mother's condition frightens me, along with Hurricane Rita in the Gulf that is bearing down on relatives and friends, square in its path. These are troubled days. Eric Wilder
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Vivian Confidential - Part Five
The Texas state line was only a short distance from the Tastee-Freez - no more than a few miles. Ray and I were still in the back seat when we reached the gas station there. The station's owner was a some-time actor and had appeared in several John Wayne movies. He was working the cash register that night, reading a newspaper and oblivious to the four Vivian teens buying gas at his station.
"Why don't you let me drive from here," I suggested. "I know the way and Ray can sit in back with S.I waited for G to protest.
Instead, she said, "You can ride in front with me but I'll drive."The turn-off to Stratford Lake lay a mile down the road. There were no street lights, only brilliant, golden, full moon illumination marking the way. When G slowed the Fairlane to turn on the dirt road to Stratford Lake, I experienced a moment of apprehension, and perhaps a slight twinge of guilt.Soon, even moonlight ebbed as we entered the dense, East Texas pine forest. G slowed to a near stop after bottoming the Fairlane in a Texas-sized pothole.
Long before we reached the lake, S spoke up from the back seat."This beer is going right through me. Can we stop for a minute?"
G slowed the car, then pulled it to a stop by the side of the road. We didn't have to worry about anyone hitting us. There wasn't another car within fifteen miles of our location. By now, Ray was holding S's hand.
"Want me to go with you?" he asked.
S didn't answer. She just made a face.
G laughed and said, "Get real."S climbed out of the back seat. When the door closed, the dome light went out. We sat there in total darkness, temperature in the car quickly warming, my glasses fogging in the humidity. Ten minutes passed.
"Maybe we better check on S," Ray said.
http://www.ericwilder.com http://justeastofeden.blogspot.com http://ericwilder.blogspot.com http://energyissues.modblog.com
"Why don't you let me drive from here," I suggested. "I know the way and Ray can sit in back with S.I waited for G to protest.
Instead, she said, "You can ride in front with me but I'll drive."The turn-off to Stratford Lake lay a mile down the road. There were no street lights, only brilliant, golden, full moon illumination marking the way. When G slowed the Fairlane to turn on the dirt road to Stratford Lake, I experienced a moment of apprehension, and perhaps a slight twinge of guilt.Soon, even moonlight ebbed as we entered the dense, East Texas pine forest. G slowed to a near stop after bottoming the Fairlane in a Texas-sized pothole.
Long before we reached the lake, S spoke up from the back seat."This beer is going right through me. Can we stop for a minute?"
G slowed the car, then pulled it to a stop by the side of the road. We didn't have to worry about anyone hitting us. There wasn't another car within fifteen miles of our location. By now, Ray was holding S's hand.
"Want me to go with you?" he asked.
S didn't answer. She just made a face.
G laughed and said, "Get real."S climbed out of the back seat. When the door closed, the dome light went out. We sat there in total darkness, temperature in the car quickly warming, my glasses fogging in the humidity. Ten minutes passed.
"Maybe we better check on S," Ray said.
http://www.ericwilder.com http://justeastofeden.blogspot.com http://ericwilder.blogspot.com http://energyissues.modblog.com
Monday, September 12, 2005
Old Oil Well Picture
This is a picture of an old oil well located near Trees City, Louisiana. It is also very near Caddo Lake.
http://www.ericwilder.com http://ericwilder.blogspot.com http://justeastofeden.myblogsite.com http://energyissues.modblog.com
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Trees City, Louisiana
Here is an old photo of Trees City, Louisiana. After the discovery of oil near Caddo Lake, the place quickly grew from a tent city to a boom town with 25,000 residents. Little more than the town streets, faded memories and a few ghosts now remain.
http://www.ericwilder.com http://ericwilder.blogspot.com http://justeastofeden.myblogsite.com http://energyissues.modblog.com
Friday, September 09, 2005
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Vivian Confidential - Part Four
Ray and I climbed into the back of G's tan Fairlane, G and S all smiles in the front seat. Yes, they apparently were as bored as we were.
"Let's drive down to the Bossier Strip," I suggested. "Go dancing at the Whisk-A-Go-go."
When Ray kicked my leg, I quickly remembered why that would be a bad idea. The main reason we had hitch-hiked to Vivian, anyway, was because we were both short on cash. I held my breath while waiting for the girls' answer, desperately trying to concoct a reason for backing out of the offer -- if they were to accept it. I needn't have worried.
"Sounds fun," G said, "But we have to drive over to the Stateline Road and get some gas."
Both girls were from nearby Hosston, a tiny town on the other side of Black Bayou. It was about 7 miles away via a winding road.
"Let us tag along and I'll show you the grave of the hanged abolishionist, out by Lake Stratford," I said.
"Tonight's a full moon and we might see the ghost."
"Ghost."Both girls giggled when they exclaimed the word in unison.
"You bet," I said. The hanged man had a giant German Sheppard. They say the dog lay under the tree for a week. Until someone finally cut down the body. After that, he disappeared and no one ever saw him again. At least alive.
"By this time, I had everyone's attention. Even Ray's. I was even scaring myself a little.
"Alive?" S said. "What do you mean?"
"Just that on the night of a full moon, the dog's been seen guarding the abolishionist's grave. You want me to show you?"
"There's no ghost," G said. "You're just trying to scare us."
"He scared me," S said.
Everyone laughed when Ray said, "Me too."
The laughter was all it took to bond us into a unified ghost hunting group and I took a deep, anticipatory breath as G cranked the car and spun her Fairlane's wheels in the gravel of the Tastee-Freez parking lot.
http://ericwilder.blogspot.com http://justeastofeden.myblogsite.com http://www.ericwilder.com http://energyissues.modblog.com
"Let's drive down to the Bossier Strip," I suggested. "Go dancing at the Whisk-A-Go-go."
When Ray kicked my leg, I quickly remembered why that would be a bad idea. The main reason we had hitch-hiked to Vivian, anyway, was because we were both short on cash. I held my breath while waiting for the girls' answer, desperately trying to concoct a reason for backing out of the offer -- if they were to accept it. I needn't have worried.
"Sounds fun," G said, "But we have to drive over to the Stateline Road and get some gas."
Both girls were from nearby Hosston, a tiny town on the other side of Black Bayou. It was about 7 miles away via a winding road.
"Let us tag along and I'll show you the grave of the hanged abolishionist, out by Lake Stratford," I said.
"Tonight's a full moon and we might see the ghost."
"Ghost."Both girls giggled when they exclaimed the word in unison.
"You bet," I said. The hanged man had a giant German Sheppard. They say the dog lay under the tree for a week. Until someone finally cut down the body. After that, he disappeared and no one ever saw him again. At least alive.
"By this time, I had everyone's attention. Even Ray's. I was even scaring myself a little.
"Alive?" S said. "What do you mean?"
"Just that on the night of a full moon, the dog's been seen guarding the abolishionist's grave. You want me to show you?"
"There's no ghost," G said. "You're just trying to scare us."
"He scared me," S said.
Everyone laughed when Ray said, "Me too."
The laughter was all it took to bond us into a unified ghost hunting group and I took a deep, anticipatory breath as G cranked the car and spun her Fairlane's wheels in the gravel of the Tastee-Freez parking lot.
http://ericwilder.blogspot.com http://justeastofeden.myblogsite.com http://www.ericwilder.com http://energyissues.modblog.com
Monday, September 05, 2005
Eric's Backyard
Here are a few pics I took today from my backyard. The dog is Velvet. Tonight, I counted 91 moonflowers.
http://www.ericwilder.com
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Vivian Confidential - Part Three
It's August, and hot. Just as it was one night many years ago. I was home for the weekend from college and I'd brought my roommate, Ray, with me. Like college students today, we didn't have a lot of money. We did have enough to buy two quart bottles of Schlitz and a five-pack of Swisher Sweets. After about two circuits of town, we were feeling pretty good, even if the streets were mostly deserted. I had a blue and white '59 Chevy station wagon. No very fast and not very flashy. At least we had a set of wheels.
A couple of hours had passed, our beer warm and we were bored. A large cherry coke at the Tastee-Freez sounded pretty good. Pulling slowly into the lot, we expected nothing more than a quick soda before heading home with our tails tucked between our legs. To our surprise, we found G-- and S-- in the parking lot, sitting in their Fairlane. It was easy to see that they were both also bored. G-- and S-- were also home from college for the weekend.
"I know these girls," I told Ray.
"Oh yeah? They're kinda cute. I like the brunette."
"You'll have to settle for the blonde," I said. "G's-- mine."
From their animation, I could tell they were happy to see us when we pulled in beside them . Hell! They would have been happy to see anyone if they were half as bored as Ray and I. G-- and S-- grinned wickedly when Ray flashed them a glimpse of his half-finished bottle of Schlitz.
I wasn't so sure.
Months before, I had broken up with G--. Not in a suave, sophisticated way, but like a mostly 18 year old feeling his oats and hormones. Even though G-- was smiling, my heart raced as Ray and I opened the car door and sauntered up to G's-- window - still rolled up.
A couple of hours had passed, our beer warm and we were bored. A large cherry coke at the Tastee-Freez sounded pretty good. Pulling slowly into the lot, we expected nothing more than a quick soda before heading home with our tails tucked between our legs. To our surprise, we found G-- and S-- in the parking lot, sitting in their Fairlane. It was easy to see that they were both also bored. G-- and S-- were also home from college for the weekend.
"I know these girls," I told Ray.
"Oh yeah? They're kinda cute. I like the brunette."
"You'll have to settle for the blonde," I said. "G's-- mine."
From their animation, I could tell they were happy to see us when we pulled in beside them . Hell! They would have been happy to see anyone if they were half as bored as Ray and I. G-- and S-- grinned wickedly when Ray flashed them a glimpse of his half-finished bottle of Schlitz.
I wasn't so sure.
Months before, I had broken up with G--. Not in a suave, sophisticated way, but like a mostly 18 year old feeling his oats and hormones. Even though G-- was smiling, my heart raced as Ray and I opened the car door and sauntered up to G's-- window - still rolled up.
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