Cheers and Jeers

Cheers: To Texas Christian University Coach Gary Patterson for giving us exciting football while building men of character and integrity. You truly are our hero, Coach. To Trevone Boykin: Listen and learn. Our greatest accomplishments fade quickly in the bright light of time, but our mistakes remain forever in the memory of others.

Cheers: To Coach Patterson and the TCU football team for an awesome win at the Alamo Bowl! We were on the edge of our seats and almost lost our voices from cheering so loudly! Thanks for never giving up!

Cheers: To Coach Gary Patterson for his handling of the Trevone Boykin issue. Hope this will help Boykin make better choices in life and realize how the choices he makes affect other people.

Jeers: To Trevone Boykin for his behavior in San Antonio and to other teammates who broke curfew before an important bowl game.

Cheers: To TCU Coach Gary Patterson for inspiring the team at halftime in the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2 with the message that the team should not allow circumstances to define the outcome of the game, but that the team should define its circumstances. Yes, boys, a rally to remember — and a lesson for life.

Cheers: To Coach Patterson for putting integrity ahead of winning at any cost. As a just reward, the TCU team was victorious! I was not much of a TCU fan until now!

Jeers: To Trevone Boykin for letting us down.

Jeers: To this year’s Texas ChristKindl Market planners. In previous years, parking was well marked. This year there was only one small sign saying “parking” with an arrow to a lot. After that, you were on your own, left to circle endlessly. Still don’t know if I parked legally.

Jeers: To the city of Arlington, the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys for blocking off parking on game days for the Texas Christkindl Market! I refused to park across Interstate 30 and walk or ride back to the ballpark that day when lots next to the event were empty! This is a stupid way to run an event!

Cheers: To Pam and Janice at Envision Imaging of Hulen on Oak Park Circle. Your kindness and thoughtfulness during our recent visit are much appreciated. You went over and above anything in your job description. You were a blessing to us.

Cheers: To Birchman Baptist Church for the superb production of This is Christmas!. The dancers were delightful, the music beautiful, the sound, lighting and special effects so amazing! Talented actors, live animals, especially Mary riding on a donkey, added much drama to the celebration of the true Christmas story, the birth of the baby Jesus!

Cheers: To the Saginaw water and street departments. They recently spent hours doing repair work in my neighborhood and did so happily and efficiently. Their sense of civic pride is exceptional. You all deserve happy holidays — all year long!

Cheers: To the kind gentleman in Bodacious Bar-B-Que who gave my husband and me an early Christmas gift. We will play it forward.

Cheers: To the anonymous giver who on Dec. 18 at the Cotton Patch Cafe gave $5 to each of a group of senior ladies having dinner. Just after we were all seated, the manager came over and gave each of us a Christmas envelope containing $5. The giver wanted to remain unknown. Thank you. Will play it forward.

Jeers: To a store in Hurst for telling me that a gift item I had purchased and paid for was ready for pickup. When I arrived at the store, with my receipt, they would not release the item because the “shipping notice” was in “the back.” When I returned later in the day, they had canceled the special order!

Cheers: To Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and the Fort Worth school district for presenting monogrammed sweatshirts to about 700 high school juniors for achieving academic excellence at their respective schools.

Cheers: To the nice gentleman who paid for lunch for me and my wife at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on Loop 820 in Benbrook on Dec. 11. You made our day special. God bless.

Cheers: To the family of four who paid for our meal on Dec. 19 at Al’s Hamburgers in Arlington. We appreciate your thoughtfulness, kindness and generosity. You made two seniors very happy. Thank you.

Cheers: To Drs. Elliot and Senevey at Cook Children’s Pediatrics for accommodating sick children’s appointments on weekends and holidays. This prevents possible hours spent at an ER or a visit with a clinic not familiar with children’s illnesses. Thank you for blessing our community with such excellent care!

Cheers: To the Southwest High School Wind Symphonic Band and the North Side High School Mariachi Band for the successful performances at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago. You make us incredibly proud of your efforts and accomplishments. Jeers for the lack of attention.

Cheers: To the sweet lady who paid for our family’s breakfast at the Dixie House Cafe on South Hulen Street. It really put us into the Christmas spirit and we couldn’t wait to pay it forward.

Cheers: To Texas Christian University women’s volleyball and Coach Jill Pape Kramer for her team’s success this year with a 19-10 overall season record. Making the NCAA tournament for the second time in program history and defeating No. 2 Texas in three straight sets were remarkable accomplishments. Ashley Smith received the AVCA Honorable Mention All American. Thank you for all you do for TCU.

Cheers: To the person who paid for my brunch on Dec. 7 at the IHOP on Airport Freeway at Westpark Way.

Cheers: To the lady who courageously stopped us to tell us that our trunk hatch was open and that stuff was falling out before we entered Loop 820 from Sam’s Club on Bryant Irvin Road! Thanks to the person(s) who placed it at a light post for us! Great Christmas spirit!

Cheers: To Affordable Tree Services and Landscaping and Jose Pedro’s team for helping me at the Mosier Valley dump when I was unloading horse manure in the compost section. They were very kind.

Cheers: To the Brass Ensemble of the Fort Worth Symphony for a carefully programmed and beautifully played Christmas program on Dec. 13 at La Gran Plaza to an underserved group of attentive listeners. Best wishes with contract negotiations.

Cheers: To Theatre Arlington for the recent production of White Christmas. The cast was outstanding. Kudos to all involved! Even though this congratulation is a little late, Hello, Dolly! was also superb. We are so fortunate to have such an excellent community theater in Arlington. Keep up the great work!

The following item from Cheers and Jeers of Nov. 7 is being reprinted because it ran as a cheer rather than a jeer.

Jeers: To an apartment complex in southwest Fort Worth for residents who are elderly and/or have disabilities. The complex has been trying to enforce a leash rule for cats. A leash rule for cats is ridiculous, cruel, absurd and unnatural. Cats don’t belong on leashes, and if you think otherwise, you might as well put squirrels and ducks on leashes too.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Cheers and Jeers."