Perimeter Fires

Happy Birthday, Grandpa.

Another adventure with the old red BONFAR truck

You say a lot when you ask questions.

This time of year - more than any other - and every year, I most often get to answer the question "do you have any advice?"

Last weekend was Burn. The day began with a basketball game. And no, not THAT basketball game.

What's to be motivated about a burn ban week, and a disappointing outcome on the football field? Everything.

Traffic is a tightly coupled system. So is Bonfire. One of them improves the right way.

Last weekend, I didn't do what I've been working hard to try and get good at. And I've never felt better at it.

The last time I saw Hans Betten '96

A little moment of honesty in the Woods at Family Cut

Concluding a train of thought kicked off over a month ago, that we went down a couple rabbit holes for the last two weeks.

Continuing a train of thought on communication started with an event a few weeks ago, another Tardy Tuesday Monday Moti edition from the woodshop dark and early this Tuesday morning.

Something happened a few weeks ago... and every time I talk about it, it leads down another rabbit hole. So let's do that.

Lots to talk about as the Cut season gets rolling. So of course, we're talking about volleyball.

Recorded at end of the Spring semester of '24, this is part one of a conversation and tour of campus with Aggie great and great Aggie Frank Cox, '65. Frank was Head Yell Leader, outfit First Sergeant, member of Cors Staff, and member of the Ross Volunteers. In the position of Head Yell Leader, he served as "Chief of Bonfire". Today, Frank is a retired Air Force veteran, devoted f...

At Chief Cut, a question from a student leader completely reframed my understanding of things.

A big week in music in Aggieland, with Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett teaching a valuable and motivating lesson.

We lost a great one, Aggies.

Over a foot of rain might be killing the tomatoes, but it may be worth it for the seasonal lesson that it brought this way.

The 2024 Hill County Muster Address answers questions about Bonfire, how it is built, what it means to Aggieland, what it means to the students who build it, what they learn, and their resolve to carry on this and every year.

A lot to be motivated about after Mustering with the gracious and outstanding Aggies of the Hill County A&M Club. But let's talk about something that happened before we got into town on April 21.

The 2021 Ft. Worth Muster was my first occasion to give a Muster Address. I have spoken at a Muster every year since. Every Muster Address is new, created to represent the students' outstanding work and share the unique lessons and challenges of their most recent season. I was originally set to speak at the 2020 Ft. Worth Muster. After COVID interrupted that Muster, the 2021 Muster Address rep...

In the wake of last week's news about a possible Bonfire on campus, I answered lots of tough questions and had lots of conversations. In one case, to an audience of some 5 million weekly visitors. Of all the interviews I've done over 25 years, this might have been the hardest. And I loved it.

Joel Taylor, Aggie Class of '98, is a motivated Aggie and father to a Bonfire Redpot. Our conversation - the first at an actual Perimeter Fire - outlasted the camera, so part two is audio only. We talk about being a father, continuous improvement, and the marvels of Bonfire's construction.

A trio of concerns and two home runs. Doing the right thing the right way can be hard. But always rewarding.