Question of the Day: What holiday do you get most excited about?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

Advocate reporter Jennifer Preyss will have a story in Friday's Advocate about a local couple who go all out with decorations for Halloween. There is so many other holidays to choose from, so what is your favorite? Personally, I love ...

Question of the Day: What are your Halloween plans?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

I was out today talking to people about their Halloween plans. Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's my Christmas, usually. Here is what some people are planning. "I have a 10-year-old daughter and we will be going to her fall ...

BootFest mania.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

I was walking through downtown Victoria, en route to get the police reports and it's evident that all preparations are being made for Victoria's first ever BootFest. I even asked my Question of the Day on the event during lunch. ...

Question of the Day: Do you plan to go to BootFest?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

"We like going to the kids stuff more than stuff for adults." Janie Ayala, Victoria, secretary "We need more things for kids the more people will go, not only grown up." Greg Ayala, Victoria, retired "We love it. I like ...

Question of the Day: What do you think about the change in weather?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

“It’s about time.” Lorenzo Ramos, Victoria, Suddenlink sales representative “It’s been took hot for the kids to be outside too long.” April Ramos, Victoria, nurse “It’s good. It’s been pretty hot.” Brandon Cooper, Victoria, district manager in oil field “I ...

Question of Day: What would you like to see added at the Texas Zoo?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

"The kids get bored. I understand the Texas Zoo needs more money." Angela Martinez, Victoria, housewife "More events for the kids." Brandee hill, Victoria, administrative assistant "I haven't been there in so long, but any change is good." Pat Espindola, ...

The Power Behind the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

It goes without mentioning, that whoever launched the pink breast cancer awareness campaign years ago has done a fantastic job. You can hardly go anywhere without seeing pink items everywhere. Just the other day, I went to buy yogurt and ...

Question of the Day: What is your favorite part about Livestock shows?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

I was out talking to people this morning at TNT enjoying their mighty good tacos. It's so hard to resist all the deliciousness, but I have to! After all, I ask Question of the Day there twice a week. Today, ...

Wrapping up my autism series for November.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

I believe I've blogged about this before, but I'll give it one more entry just because I feel it's that important. For the past three months, I've been working on a four-part autism series chronicling the lives of four families, ...

Question of the Day: Has the decrease in gas prices been encouraging for you?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

Anytime I can save money on gas, I'll do it. Of course, does a few cents less help any? I can still remember seeing signs like this as a kid. Boy, if I only I had been old enough to ...

The Power of Thank You.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DUNCAN / VICTORIA ADVOCATE Whenever a Victoria Advocate reader stops by to personally thank you for a story, it warms your heart. It really does. This afternoon, Vicky Zarate stopped by to thank me for a story ...

Question of the Day: Do you get your flu shot? Why or why not?

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

One of these days I will man up to getting my flu shot. No, it's not the needle; I'm relatively OK with needles. But in all my years I have yet to get my flu shot and I've always turned ...

Even being in the face of death can be a beautiful thing.

By JROrtega in The Daily Dose

I've heard about this type of photography before. I have to say, I think what photographer Terri Shaver is doing is a great thing. I have interviewed several cancer survivors, particularly breast cancer survivors, and often the hardest part of ...