August 2014 - Parrotheads of Port Aransas

August 2014
“Phood “for Thought by an ol’ Pheather Phluffer
Ponder this song refrain . . .“blew out my flip flop, stepped on a pop top” Okay, everyone, it’s only weeks away from our Wings over Port A: Phlip Phlop
Phling event. Thought you might enjoy a little history on your favorite foot wear.
It's one of the most basic items in your closet, but it has a long history.
History of the
lip
lop
The name "flip flop" comes specifically from the sound they make when they slap between the sole of your foot and the
floor. This modern term, dating from the 1960’s, describes what is probably the oldest form of footwear still being
worn. Actually the term “flip flap” has been used in various echoic senses since 1529. Flip flops have been around for
at least six thousand years. Primitive shoes of this design are shown in rock paintings dating from the late Paleolithic
(Stone Age) period some 15,000 years ago. There are depictions of flip flops in ancient Egyptian murals on tombs and
temples from about 4,000 B.C.
The oldest surviving examples of flip flops, made from papyrus leaves circa 1,500 B.C., are displayed in the British
Museum. Early flip flops were made from a multitude of materials. Ancient Egyptians used papyrus and palm leaves;
the Masai in Africa used rawhide; wood was used in India; rice straw in China and Japan; sisal leaves provided twine
for flip flops in South America; and indigenous populations of Mexico used yucca plant.
Styles were varied and differed based on placement of a toe strap. The Greeks, for example, used the big toe; the
Romans, the second toe; and the Mesopotamians, the third toe. Legend has it ancient Roman courtesans wore a type of
flip flop and arranged nails on the soles of these to spell out “follow me” in the dust of the street. Japanese history
recounts the wide use of the zori (a form of flip flop with a thong held between the toes) in Japan from at least the
Heian period (794-1185). Japanese children have traditionally worn them when learning to walk. Given their long
history, flip flops, up to now, have changed relatively little from ancient times.
In America, the first flip flops started to appear after World War II as soldiers brought Japanese zori back from the war
as souvenirs. The precursor to the modern flip flop really began to catch on, however, when soldiers returned from the
Korean War in the 1950's. Soldiers wore these predecessors to present-day flip-flops, which were cheap rubber editions
that frequently caused blisters and were so poorly made that they didn’t last long.
As this footwear entered into American popular culture in the 1950’s, it was redesigned and changed into the bright
colors. As “pop culture,” flip flops became defining examples of an informal lifestyle and came to represent the
California lifestyle in general and surf culture in particular. It seemed like all kids wore them to the beach or the pool.
Cheap rubber flip flops appeared in every dime store and beach shop. Over time, designs spread from rubber to wood to
leather to bamboo and stylized platforms, yet all of them remaining true to the original base design of the early rubber
History of the Flip Flop (con’t)
Flip flops have become part of the fashion landscape as much as athletic shoes, jeans and t-shirts. A large push of the
conversion of flip flops into everyday life came from Havaianas, the major Brazilian producer. For over three decades,
Havaianas were $3 Brazilian flip-flops of synthetic rubber that were the footwear of Sao Paulo peasants, housekeepers,
dockworkers and other poor people. Like blue jeans in the United States, at one time worn primarily as working class
clothing for miners and laborers, flip-flops transformed into both everyday wear and sometimes high fashion. Sales took
off after supermodels began wearing them. They then began showing up on the red carpet. Manufactured in bright
colors for $6 -$15 a pair or studded with Swarovski crystals for $150, they're showing up at the Cannes Film Festival
and on catwalk of the fashion world.
The growth in the popularity of flip flops has been part of a general change overall change in fashion during the past
twenty years, as it has become more casual overall for everyday events. Loosening of what is considered appropriate
office attire has made consumers more flexible about casual dressing. An example of this occurred in 2005 when there
was wide media attention in the US about whether flip-flops constituted appropriate attire to wear to meet the president.
A minor controversy erupted when some members of Northwestern University's national champion women's lacrosse
team visited the White House wearing flip-flops. The team responded to critics by auctioning off their flip-flops, raising
$1,653 for young cancer patient, befriended by the team.
The debate continues. Many youth feel that some flip-flops are dressier and can be worn in a variety of social contexts,
while older generations feel that wearing them at formal occasions signifies laziness and comfort over style. In 2011,
while vacationing in his native Hawaii, Barack Obama became the first President of the United States to be
photographed wearing a pair of flip-flops. The Dalai Lama is also a frequent wearer of flip-flops and has met with
several US presidents, including George W. Bush and Barack Obama, while wearing them.
Although difficult to find accurate statistics on the size of the flip-flop market it is estimated the overall current market
for this footwear is $45 billion. While exact sales figures for flip-flops are difficult to obtain due to the large number of
stores and manufacturers involved, the Atlanta-based company Flip Flop Shops claims the shoes were responsible for a
$20 billion industry in 2009. The vast majority of the overall market is the basic flip flop priced below $50 per pair. The
market size for high end flip flops is estimated to be some 10% of the overall market or some 20 million pairs per year.
Furthermore, sales of flip-flops exceeded those of tennis shoes for the first time in 2006.
If these figures are accurate, it is remarkable considering the low cost of most flip-flops. To give perspective on the
overall size of the flip-flop market look at these figures.
The US population is currently 296 million.
If the bulk of flip-flop purchases are made by those between the ages of 5 and 50, this is roughly a consumer
population of 200 million.
Assuming this group averages buying one pair of flip-flops every year (some own none; others purchase multiple
pairs), this suggests a base annual US market of 200 million pairs.
Since the US flip-flop market is estimated at $2 billion, this provides an average retail price of some $10 per pair,
which seems reasonable and takes into account everything from $5 Wal-Mart specials to designer Gucci’s at
over $200.
SO…Whether you're wearing a pair of classic rubber flops or a leather pair with pretty detailing, we all know the
necessity of these sandals for every individual's wardrobe and as the designated footwear for our own…
Phlip Phlop Phling
Wings 2014 Host Hotels
Aransas Harbors Condominiums
230 Cut Off Road
800-687-6781
Please call to make reservations. Mention the PHOPA Wings event and dates
to receive
15% off the winter rate.
To view room/rate information, visit:
http://www.portaransas-texas.com/aransas-harbors.php
Best Western Ocean Villa
400 E. Avenue G
800-564-2525 or 361-749-3150
Please call to make reservations. Mention PHOPA Wings event and dates
to receive winter rates.
To view hotel information visit:
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/US/TX/Port-Aransas-hotels/BEST-WESTERN-Ocean-Villa
Island Hotel
2607 Highway 361
855-FUN-ISLAND
Please call to make reservations. Mention PHOPA Wings event and dates
to receive winter rates.
To view hotel information visit: http://www.islandhotelportaransas.com/
Sandcastle Condominiums
800 Sandcastle Dr.
800-727-6201
Please call to make reservations. Mention PHOPA Wings event and dates
to receive winter rates.
To view hotel information visit:
http://www.portaransas-texas.com/sandcastle.php
Friday night cruise will get underway at 5:00 p.m.
Meet at Woody's, with departure promptly at 5:30 p.m.
and return to shore at 7:00 p.m.
BYOB, with water, soda and snacks provided by the club.
Phlip Phlop Phling
5th Annual Wings Over Port A
Sept. 26-Sept. 27, 2014
$60.00 Per Person
Our two-day Party with a Purpose kicks off Friday @ 6 p.m. with
Cocktails & Dinner at Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf Club, followed @ 9 p.m.
with a BYOB Bonfire on the Beach.
From 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, join your friends for a Shopping Poker Party or a Pub Crawl at
some of the town’s most iconic and friendly places.
Saturday night is the Annual Dinner & Auction. BYOB cocktail hour begins at 6:30 p.m.
Dinner and dancing follows, with entertainment by The Bad Monkeys.
*Registration for the two-day includes a free t-shirt.*
A Friday Sunset Cruise on the Island Queen also is scheduled, but hurry! Only 100 seats are available!
Please print/complete one registra on form for each person. Mail your form(s) with check/money order to: Port Aransas Parrot Heads, P.O. Box 914, Port Aransas, TX 78373 First/Last Name: _______________________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: _________________________________________________________________________ Telephone: (______)___________________ Email: ___________________________________________ Circle Free T‐shirt Size: S M L XL XXL 2X 3X Op onal Extra t‐shirt ($15.00): S M L XL XXL 2X 3X $15.00 Friday Sunset Cruise: $15.00 Two‐Day Ticket (1): $60.00 Grand Total: $________________
PORT A PETE’S PHUNTASTIC PHEATURE
Lines n Lyrics — Can you name this Jimmy Buffet tune from one line
or lyric in the song ? A real challenge this time !
And the seabirds they do touch and gos
As the world just tangos by
I HEARD IT ON THE COCONUT TELEGRAPH
Heard the kayaking trips have been great phun ?
Did anyone take pictures ?
Looks like the annual Riddles In The Sand phlocking in Galveston was phun !
Check out the pics in the Phlock Shots. Have shot board, will travel !
Did you know we have at least one more author in our phlock ?
John M. Evans has penned and published four books:
Wild Options, Mercenary Angels, Encounter In Las Vegas, Alien Crossroads
Visit his website to learn more…
johnevansbooks.com
Darlene from the Community Theater has invited us to see the Adult Play, "God
Spend". It will be at 8pm on the 8th of August and will include wine and meet the cast.
We need 20 pholks to attend...
National S’Mores Day and Moonfire together ? Hmm…
Trop Talk
With Cindy Bates Muir
GLIMPES OF THE 2014 FRISCO BUFFETT PARKING LOT We had to miss the Woodlands and Aus n concerts, but received fan redemp on when Jimmy Buffe announced his tour would include Frisco, Texas, known for one of the best parking lot par es in the na on. We set up in the Gold parking lot, home to all the South Region Parrot Head Clubs and ground zero for the a en on of special product promo ons and this year, Margaritaville TV! My home base was the San Antonio Parrot Head Club, and our neighbors across the concrete aisle were members of the Panhandle Prairie Sharks from Amarillo, Texas They've only been in existence for two years, but 30 members were there to start a great day of fun in the Gold parking lot. When I asked them about their preferred chari es, they named Junior Diabetes Relief Founda on, Cys c Founda on and the American Cancer Society as favorite chari es. Who should stroll by next, but the infamous Fin Men. I talked to the main Fin Man in charge, and will be discovering more about their mysterious society later when we have an interview! A visit to their staked area in the (known to be rowdy!) Red parking lot later in the day revealed the Fin Men hos ng some bawdy games for any ladies happening by. Back in the Gold lot, we found the mobile pirate ship stage set up by the Cedar Creek Parrot Head Club. Entertainment started before noon and ended just before me to go into the Toyota Field to see Jimmy. First up were Dave Thomas and Don Burke, local musicians in the Dallas area. We had to tear ourselves away just before concert me while we were listening and dancing to The Bad Monkeys. So much fun! A few short steps away found us in the epicenter of the Gold lot. Parking lot mastermind Terry Thompson is a member of the Lone Star Parrot Head Club and is the genius behind the Frisco "Sharking Lot Party." The LSPHC raises money each year by offering cheeseburgers for sale, along with "po y passes" for a clean and on‐site port‐a‐
po y truck. There was a charge for throwing balls at friends in a dunk tank and their most popular fundraiser is the Shot Luge. Randy Morgan helped his niece, Kacie Holton enjoy an icy shot of her favorite liba on. I met Denny Bowser and LSPHC membership chairman Dave Reid ready to answer ques ons about the club. Michelle Wa ers, aka "Bubbles," brought her hand‐painted bicycle to enjoy the parking lot on wheels. Trop Talk too...
New faces in the Gold parking lot belonged to Heikki and Lars, who traversed the concrete, filming and interviewing Parrot Heads for the innova ve Margaritaville TV. Anyone out there catch the concert via Margaritaville.tv? On the other side of the San Antonio group was the Central Oklahoma Parrot Head Associa on. They hosted popular Trop Rockers Jerry Diaz and Hannah's Reef in the a ernoon. I enjoyed visi ng with Rodney and Misty Mulkey, along with their daschund pups Rumble and Stormy. Rodney loaned his great voice on stage with Jerry a few mes before the a ernoon was over. The Toyota Field area has cracked down on motorized vehicles, but they have nothing against pedal power. I met George Morgan from Gordonville, Texas, who slowly maneuvered his self‐powered mini pirate ship around the parking lot. George said this was his second year to bring the ship and he was host to many photo opportuni es all day. Across the way, Anne and David Hazlewood represented the Pirates of the Plains Parrot Head Club from Lubbock. Their group was formed in 2007 and they raise money for the Alzheimers' Associa on, Meals on Wheels and Toys for Tots in Lubbock. Their club also sponsors the annual Hub City Beach Party, with the Landsharks band as entertainment. It would have been impossible to capture all the fun and imagina on evidenced throughout all the parking lots in Frisco. No one went hungry, with barbeque and snacks being doled out gra s. A local crawfish ou it cooked up pounds of Louisiana crawfish for a dona on, as SAPHC member Lori Parker enjoyed. Once again, the Frisco Parking Lot Party didn't disappoint. No wonder it's known as one of the top Buffe tailga ng par es in the United States. And we'll be back next year! Inspired by Naked Came the Sharks by Jed Donellie and Devorah Fox
A WHALE OF A TAIL
© Copyright 2014 by Orville Ballard and Devorah Fox
In previous episodes, Cheri Bradshaw, a student at the Intracoastal Marine Institute in Turtle
Point, has been helping with a team excavating the skeleton of a whale buried in the dunes
and has uncovered a human skull. The last thing she remembers is chilling at Lefty’s bar with
Corny, a fellow student, while waiting for the medical examiner to arrive in Turtle Point.
Cherie awoke to the thumping sounds of the bass instruments in a band. Wait,
those sounds weren’t coming from some musical instruments. It was a pounding
in her head. And where was she? Stretched out on a bed. She didn’t recognize
the bed, a single covered in a thin quilt that had been through
so many washes it was a murky shade of brown.
She didn’t recognize the room. The white pine bed, dresser, night stand, desk,
and chair were all old enough that the varnish was chipped off in spots. A white
vinyl pull-down shade covered the one window. Typical Marine Institute student
housing furnishings but it wasn’t her room. Her room had a cheery
bright coastal décor.
What the hell? Where had she been? How did she get here? Last thing she remembered was being at Lefty’s place drinking fortified leftover wine out of a plastic cup. Wine had never had this effect on her before. Vaguely though she had
some shadow of a memory of someone saying there was tequila in the wine.
Wine she could handle but tequila had always caused her problems.
She heard footsteps outside the bedroom door. She felt too bad to really care.
Whatever was going to happen was going to happen. Slowly the door opened and
Corny stepped into the room. Was she in Corny’s bed? How had
she gotten here? If only she could remember!
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Where am I and how did I get here? What happened to Lefty’s?”
“You started getting just a little too loose at Lefty’s. I was afraid someone might try
to take advantage of you and I had to leave to get back to the boat for my night
seining trip. Since I had been buying you drinks I didn’t want to leave you there
alone so I brought you back here to sleep it off.”
“Did we …?” Cherie felt the red flush running up her neck and glanced down at
herself. She was barefoot but still wore the shorts and bikini top she had put on
this morning to work on the beach dig. “I mean, did I ... did you?
Oh you know what I mean.”
“Certainly not. If I do that with a woman I want her in a condition to remember,”
Corny answered with a grin. He pulled out the desk chair and sat. Hands between
his knees, he spun and worried what looked like a piece of black braided jewelry
from finger to finger. “Some who hang out at Lefty’s might take advantage of a
pretty thing like you who is obviously under the influence. You were really getting
friendly with everyone. When it looked like you might be getting to the point of
needing protection I tried to call Officer Ortiz to send a car to pick you up. It was
his fault that you had to leave the dig site but he was not answering his phone. I
tried to call the Institute director but his office said he was way down the Island
and out of range. I decided my best option was to bring you
here to my place to sleep it off.”
“And you didn’t try anything with me?”
“Nope, though it was tempting, and I probably could have but I told you,
I am not that kinda man.”
Cheri felt a little less embarrassed. “Well, I really appreciate that. Boys that I knew
in high school would have taken their chance. I guess I better be more selective of
what I drink at Lefty’s. Stick to name-brand beer.”
“Yeah, you would think that would be safe but I have heard that Lefty has a
special brew of his own formula that gets people to do his bidding. So make sure
that you see the top popped on any beer you drink there,” Corny responded.
coffee? Breakfast wouldn’t hurt either. Then I’d better get back to the dig.”
“Breakfast and coffee are easy but getting back to the dig may be a bit of a
problem. Seems that late yesterday afternoon city maintenance workers cleared
and restacked the area of the dig in preparation for the holiday weekend.
No telling where everything was scattered.”
“I can’t believe it. The whale skeleton must be ruined. Where was the Director?
Why would he let that happen?”
“Seems the Director received a call about a stranded dolphin. You know that
reporter, Tool? He says that he followed along. I guess he was hoping for a story
but when they got to the mile marker where the dolphin was reported to be, there
was no such marker. In fact markers for over a mile in either direction had been
knocked over by tractors doing beach cleaning. The Director’s furious about the
wild goose chase. He is really in a rage this morning. Tool says you can see
smoke streaming from that white beard. Says we will never be able to find the
whale skeleton.”
Cheri rubbed her throbbing temples. “But that officer? And the medical examiner?
Where were they? What about the skull that I dug up?”
“Officer Bait Breath is fussing and fuming about the disturbance of his crime
scene. The medical examiner finally made it across the ferry but no one was
around to show him where the body was so he headed back to Aransas Pass.”
Corny wrapped the black braid around his wrist. “Hell, I think it was just as well.
Don’t know why anyone thought it was a crime scene anyway. Bodies and
remains of bodies wash ashore pretty often. Usually illegal immigrants who drown
trying to swim across one of the passes between here and Mexico, get swept out
into the Gulf, and caught up in the strong south to north currents.”
Head Phlocker — Doug Rogillio
Interim Veepoda Phlock — Deno Fabrie
Chief Squawker — Carolyn Davis
Keeper of the Phunds — Linda Daves
Da Sarge — Randy Hansen
Public Squawker—Diana Fabrie
Phounder o’da Phlock—Lu Ann Ferguson
9 YEAR ANNIVERSARY MOONFIRE
RIDDLES IN THE SAND 2014
Pool Party
Hat Contest
Dennis Davis
wows the Pool
Party
Dino Fabrie and Martha Norris
prepare for the Hat Contest
Things are moving along, Stoney has a group of pholks that are biking now;
Group of us are kayaking together and showing more interest all the time.
Some are wanting to go bowling and this is what a social club is all about.
Have an idea, through it out there and see what happens.
Maybe even a road trip to shops, sporting events, etc, etc.
ISLAND POOP PHEATURES
Have an idea for a pheature, phun
phact, lyric, photo, etc. phor the Island
Poop ?
It’s your newsletter so please pheel
phree to share any and all ideas to:
[email protected]
We would love to hear phrom all of our
Parrot Head Phriends !
SQUAWKS FROM THE PHLOCKS
Amarillo
Panhandle Prairie Sharks
http://www.panhandleprairiesharks.com/
Austin
Central Texas Parrot Head Club
http://www.ctxphc.com/
Belton
Party Pirates Parrot Head Club
http://www.partypiratesphc.com/
Commerce
Republic of Texas Parrot Head Club
http://www.rotphc.com/index.html
Dallas
Lone Star Parrot Head Club
http://www.lsphc.com/
Galveston
Galveston Bay Parrot Head Club
http://www.gbphc.com/
Houston
Houston Parrot Head Club
http://www.houstonparrotheadclub.com/
Lubbock
Pirates of the Plains
http://www.piratesoftheplainsphc.com/
Mabank
Cedar Creek Lake Parrot Head Club
http://www.cclphc.net/
San Antonio
San Antonio Parrot Head Club
http://saphc.com/
Seguin
Seguin Parrot Head Club
http://www.seguinphc.com/
Tyler
Rose City Parrot Head Club
http://www.rosecityparrotheadclub.com/
Willis
Five O'Clock Phlock
http://www.5oclockphlock.com/
THE BACK PAGE
A Salty Piece Of Land
I was listening for answers
That I could not really hear
When the words of a wise old Indian
Put a conch shell to my ear
And I took off for the ocean
I was searching for the coast
Painting pictures of my vision
With the words from grandma ghost
Hiding from the dragons
Riding for the sea
Singing ballads from my childhood
"A pirate's life for me"
Survivors seem to function best
When peril is at hand
With a song of the ocean
Meets a salty piece of land
I was force-fed my religion
But I somehow saved my smile
Tapped into my instincts
As I headed to'ards exile
Cleopatra did not own a barge
But a schooner was her home
She has centuries of stories
And there's wisdom in her bones
She was on a sacred mission
And she told me of a place
Where a man can hide forever
But never loose his face
So I saddled up my seahorse
With a fly-rod in my hand
I was not looking for salvation
Just a salty piece of land
Somedays Cayo Loco SHIMMERS
Like the stars up in the sky
And the seabirds they do touch and gos
As the world just tangos by
But there are times when she is hidden
Beneath the wild and crashing waves
And the patron saint of lightening
Keeps the sailors from their graves
Some say it is a blinding sword
Pointing out into the sea
While others say her guiding light
Leads to'ards eternity
Still I sit in contemplation
And I just don't understand
This mysterious attraction
Of this salty piece of land
Still I search the constellations
And the tiny grains of sand
Where the song of the ocean
Meets the salty piece of land
August 2014 Trips Around The Sun
Sue Bernsen
Don Gall
Heather Maynard
Bonnie Isaac
Ian Ridout
8/3
8/14
8/24
8/25
8/29
Lines n Lyrics
A Salty Piece Of Land
from his book
‘A Salty Piece of Land’ A Novel
2004
August 2014
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
7
8
9
14
15
16
22
23
Seguin PHC Annual Phling The Sun of a Beach
Aug 2 730p Dirty’s Bar & Q
CTPHC 10th Annual Pirates Ball Aug 8–10
Wyndham Garden Hotel Austin, TX
3
10
4
5
6
US Coast
Wiggle Your
Guard Day
Toes Day
11
12
13
National
Meeting
S’Mores Day
630pm
Moonfire
17
Island Hotel
18
19
20
21
Ride The
Aviation Day
Wind Day
24
31
25
26
27
28
Kiss & Make
Happy Hour
Up Day
6pm
29
30
Toasted
Marshmallow
Day