The older you will get...

This Weekend is What I Call The First Wekend of Mardi Gras...

2012-02-10T20:17:00.000-06:00

That may not be the right thing to call it. It is the weekend before the weekend that leads up to Fat Tuesday and it always has seemed like the best weekend for Mardi Gras fun. Something about it makes it just right for slipping into town like a Rocket 88 on a fog slicked highway. Maybe it's because there are still restaurants serving up some eats as opposed to Fat Tuesday when service of drinks takes a priority and the alleys of the French Quarter are not yet so slippery with the urine of drunken college boys.

This photo, an old one shows Morgan and Mary taking part in a French Quarter Jackson Square magic show. Maybe made at Mardi Gras, looks like cold weather time for sure as Mary passes a hula hoop around Morgan while he floats in the air. Don't ask me how it's done.

Back to that first weekend, parades have been going on since January. I know this because you can look up anything on the internet. You can even look at the parade route and even though the beads have long been thrown from the floats I know they pass right through the Marginey and Bywater neighborhood I have come to favor when I stay in New Orleans. Maybe next year I'll try a visit on the real first weekend.

Just Trying to Keep Our Name in the News...

2012-02-07T07:18:00.001-06:00

Not much action on the Back Porch Band front lately so I'll put a couple of photos from a December gig.

Runt, pictured on the left has shoulder surgery scheduled today. He might be out of action a bit, depends on what the doc finds in there. It's his left shoulder, at least the cause has not been frantic cowpunk strumming.

In case you were wondering Mary is still in the band, not fired yet.
Next gig is the Lufkin VFW march 31st. Possible gig is the St Patrick's festival March 18th. I am entertainment coordinator and will fill out the bill with home grown parish folks before bringing in all these ringers.

At First I Thought it was a Flying Car...

2012-02-05T08:57:00.000-06:00

...but then I realized it was Cathy's Evolution Robotics Hard Floor Cleaner. I know it's a popular prediction of 1960 science writers that the then distant 21st century would have individual airborne transport used by all. They may have assumed that such progress would bypass the greed of those that insistence we use up all fossil fuels and associated resources regardless of the cost first. Any way we do have this thing, a great work saver and barring some kind of accidental Newt Gingrich presidential nomination will probably be able to keep it.

Just the title of this item falls off the tongue. Evolution, a word that can start an argument in certain contexts brings to mind a continual slow change adapting as required by the environment. Seems you do have to help with this environment adapting stuff by moving rugs, coffee table and straight back chairs. The big stuff is handled by an on board GPS type system. Works just like my big new Ford truck. I run over something I back up and see what it was.

Hard Floor Cleaner makes me assume one of two things. Either it cleans the floor hard or there is another Soft Floor Cleaner model I know nothing about. For a lot of reasons, the Hard Floor model is the one for us.

So I guess this is a good thing A labor saver and hopefully I am not straining the power grid. It does take two electrical battery charges to sweep the house. On the other hand it helps conserve the native crop of East Texas pine needles because I am not out spending all my time harvesting the materials for pine needle brooms.

The Eagle Has Landed...

2012-02-03T06:27:00.001-06:00

I think I have used that blog title before. May be I am just recycling myself on here same fishing trips over and over, but I made this photo of a bald eagle on Lake Nacodoches the other day. Mighty regal looking and then I got a pretty good shot when he flew.

If you check out the tub shot from Tuesdays trip you can see why that eagle is hanging around, plenty of good fish to catch in the lake.

Lake Nac Fishing with Pop and Geneva...

2012-01-31T19:59:00.000-06:00

Good trip today to Lakle Nac with Pop and Geneva. Eleven cats that totaled 40lbs. Biggest weight a little over 5. Here's a photo of one that Pop landed.

Cathy pulls one in. Look at the head on that thing.

Just in case you wish you were along for the trip, this one ended with a good old fashion butt wetting as we ran back across the lake in driving rain.

You know I have seen some Lake Nac photos on fishing forums where background land marks were blacked out. Do I need to do that?

My Favorite Saint...

2012-01-30T06:35:00.000-06:00

Our Lady of the Fruit Hat...

The Record Room...

2012-01-26T21:25:00.001-06:00

If you did not already know vinyl is hot. Records that is. Put your money in plastics young man. I know this and other things about where to put your money from reading the Internets discussion pages. Actually I have always known records were hot because this mine and Cathy's life time still growing collection that is pictured here.

This is our record room. I count seven hundred forty 33 and 1/3 rpm jobs, may be 50-100 45s and a few 78s. Added in to this count is the 9 used records bought this weekend in Houston at Black Dog records. Black Dog also had new records, yes they are still being released, they cool remember, but new cds and internet subscription services are way cheaper. Used records here seemed to run $6 and up. Hard to get a feel for pricing as me and Cathy had several finds such as an out of print Steve Fromolz, Shake Russell, and a Spirit for $6 each. What makes it hard to get a feel is the 1987 Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows that I saw priced at $20. I bought this new the year it was released, an album of funky Chicago horn band blues, I am listening to my copy now and in fact think I saw this band once at the old Rockefeller's in Houston. Good record but $20, I don't know.

My best estimate is that since we bought our first cd, it was sometime in the last 23 years, I don't think we had any before our marriage we have added 340 records to the collection. All are from garage sales, thrift stores flea markets and the seeming to spring up everywhere used record stores.

After a nice period to allow for vintage mojo to grow I'll count the cd rack you see on the left in the photo.

Saw Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks...

2012-01-25T06:55:00.001-06:00

Here's some more photos of Carl's big birthday weekend. The Saturday Night Surprise was a trip to the Dosey Doe in The Woodlands Tx to see Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks.

These guys play a nice blend of
cowboy/gypsy/western/jazz/swing all done acoustically with a great dry sense of humor. I guess I first heard Dan Hicks in a college dorm room played on a record player in the mid 1970s. He is still going strong.

The Dosey Doe is a great "listening room" as they term it, it's a 165 year old barn imported from Kentucky. Good acoustics and I guess there is something huge in the Texasness of the thought of the carbon footprint left from here to the Blue Ridge from dragging this thing down the highway.

This concert was something to cross off the bucket list, never really thought I would see the licks play live, probably have half a dozen of their recordings, so this was a real traet. I'll keep an eye on this venue's calendar. It's close enough for an evening trip to see special bands like this.

Happy Birthday Ali...

2012-01-24T06:22:00.000-06:00

Morgan leads the crowd in a rendition of the "Birthday March" and Ali is all smiles as she celebrates her day.

Here is to hoping you had as much fun as I did this past weekend on my birthday!

More Lake Nac Fishing...

2012-01-23T19:29:00.002-06:00

Here's some photos of an afternoon fishing trip to Lake Nacogdoches with my friend Gary. Actually Gary and I are real lucky guys because we took Cathy with us. Otherwise we would have caught two catfish. Cathy caught five of these seven fish which averaged 3lbs each with the biggest going 4lbs. Thanks for going with us, honey.

Gary kept these fish, took them home to clean. I may be posting this dispatch before he is finished with the skinning and filleting. I bet some of these fine fellows end up swimming in his belly, maybe this evening.

Here is a photo of a nice late winter afternoon overlooking the lake. As you can see the water levels, like all lakes in Texas are low. The handicap fishing pier on the lower left corner should have water up to the deck level.

Birthday Weekend...

2012-01-22T10:54:00.002-06:00

Had a great music weekend for my birthday with lots of surprises. Cathy started things out by packing me a bag and picking me up after work on Friday. I did not know where we were headed. We drove to Houston where she had a room booked at a fancy hotel, the Zsa Zsa. Some might remember it as the old Warwick. Margaret and Kevin had their wedding reception here. This is the Memorial Park Fountain located in the traffic circle outside.

The musical surprise for the evening was a visit to Fitzgerald's. A long time local music venue in the Heights, I think the last band I saw there quite some years ago was Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. This night we saw the Mountain Goats. If you don't know the Mountain Goats it's kind of sensitive self examining music about relationships and stuff but generally with a good beat. Long wordy songs written by the guy on the left, John, drew a very polite crowd, many whom I spoke to in the course of the evening called me "sir." The cd releases by these guys are generally kind of low fi in the sound department sounding almost made at home. The sound for the evening was very good and clear. In fact a quote or a fragment of a song lyric I picked up this evening resonated with me, something like, " I'll sing this song that has the same four cords I always use when I have something on my mind."

I'll post more birthday adventures later.

It's My Party...

2012-01-20T05:56:00.000-06:00

... and I'll play if I want to. My birthday party that is. Thanks to all those well wishes on my FaceBook wall.

You know back in the 1970s some time when things were larger and mostly dirtier the big gas guzzlers were muzzled by the idea that we could fix gas shortages and conserve resources by driving 55 mph. Somehow this idea fell out of favor that 55 is pretty high. Things are still about the same today. And we go way beyond 55.

Today is the day I go beyond 55 which is how old I am on this 20th of January. I'll keep trying to be a big mostly dirty guzzler.

Photo inset from a print I bought in the French market one time from the artist that drew it. My 55 year old brain can't recall his name...

What it Looks Like to be Me Looking Out...

2012-01-17T09:24:00.001-06:00

Everything kinda foggy, just imagine in my head, in my head...

Oysters...

2012-01-13T19:40:00.000-06:00

Brother in law Kevin, seen here in the foreground, is a man with a mission. Each Christmas he flies to Texas like some kind of culinary good taste Santa and on his way to the family gathering picks up a sack of oysters on the shell. In the back ground oyster elves Morgan, Cathy and Rose busy themselves at the shuck shop.

Right from the shell...That's Margaret, Santa Kevin's main helper and Cathy's sister in the background.

Close up of Cathy and Margaret at work.

These were Louisiana oysters, nice and fresh from Woodlands Seafood. Why aren't we driving down to buy these each weekend?

Texas oysters not doing so good right now with low water flows into the Gulf and fall red tides. The next day after this party we shucked what was left and broiled a nice Oysters Rockefeller in the oven.

The Late But Better Than Never Christmas Family Picture...

2012-01-10T22:18:00.000-06:00

Know how hard it is to get all these people in one place all at the same time?

Them you get them to stand still.

Then you get them to all look.

Then you get them to smile.

Then you take a picture.

Another Great Silly String Massacre...

2012-01-09T15:26:00.000-06:00

You faithful blog readers know how it goes. On Christmas, which finely happened for the clan this past weekend when all could be together, you open your stocking to cans of silly string and the massacre is on.

In this photo Katie is first on the draw.

Poor baby...

Are you really supposed to stop, drop and roll?

Likes getting messy.

Covered up.

Keep your mouth closed, silly string taste bad.

What are you waiting on get that stuff uncapped, defend yourself...

Chicago B.L.U.E.S...

2012-01-05T21:17:00.000-06:00

We did manage to see some blues music during the recent PK weekend in Chicago. This is a photo of blues player Cary Bell playing in a club that was a block down from where we stayed called Chicago B.L.U.E.S. We like the joint. It's a cross the street from another blues venue Kingston Mines. On Sunday nights one ticket gets you in both places.

I noted that on this night there was a line outside Kingston Mines to see Carl Wheathersby. I guess you might say he's a little bigger name. Like I always do I proceed to the less popular thing figuring if everybody's buying this thing it can't be for me and will probably cost too much. Anyway we had a great time, Cary was good and we got to watch young Asian tourists sleep sitting up with loud as heck music going on. They looked like nice boys so I did not make their picture and splash it all over for the whole internet to see. I reserve the right to do only my family that way.

Cary did give me the Jones for a semi hollow body Gibson ES 335 style guitar. I could probably make do with one of the cheaper Epiphones if I had to.

Winter Big Slough Photos...

2012-01-02T18:35:00.000-06:00

After so much good holiday eatings I decided I need some exercise so I grabbed a shot gun and headed over to Big Slough for an afternoon walk. Since I had a shot gun I could have passed myself as duck hunting what with the cammies and rubber boots but I only saw a few old squirrels, fat on the tremendous acorn crop we have had this year taking the same walk I was for the same reasons.

If you look down this part of the creek the little point of land to the right of the slanted tree is where I stood for some photos I made in October. Can't get there without waders now.

Water level seems to be the same on the banks but what with recent rains the accessory sloughs and branches have filled. In this photo this filled slough probably waist deep or less was a series of muddy hog wallers.

Contrast a fall photo with clear water and summer green still on the trees with the muddy water and winter brown at this link:
http://theolderyouwillget.blogspot.com/2011/10/big-slough-photo.html

Happy New Year...

2011-12-31T18:20:00.000-06:00

From the folks here at "the older you will get" and my sponsor:
http://www.nonalcoholicwinesonline.com/catalog/

That Guy Has My Tuba and Other Things You Encounter Out of Town...

2011-12-28T20:50:00.000-06:00

Never can resist a used record store and in the hip little neighborhood we recently stayed in in Chicago had one. It also had a Guitar Center Store which is kind of like the Wal-Mart of instrument shopping, nice stuff at all price points which if I had been buying, just like at Wal-Mart there would have been something there for me. In fact it was kind of frighteningly like the Guitar Center on 1960 in Houston which I recently visited and did not stock the item I wanted. At least in Chicago they were nice enough to let me browse around carrying two go boxes of Eduardo's pizza. The Guitar Center not the record store which is really what I started to write about. I did not get the guitars or the records greasy with pizza even though I have proved that a bucket of fried chicken eaten before each gig gives a maple Fender guitar neck a yellow shine that some mistakenly call "mojo." That same bucket of chicken also makes my belly shine out the untucked tails of my snap button western shirts making me understand more so the immortal words of Guitar Slim when it get in the the way of the "Things That I Used To Do."

Anyway the record were at all price points from groove worn 99 cent trash to high dollar collectible to the (bet you did not vinyl is big) $20-$30 new releases. Me and Cathy found a couple in between, her a reading by Danny Kay of Hans Christian Anderson (you know you need it) to this Fletcher Henderson the cover of which is scanned in on my too small scanner here with a band what am a band from 1923-1937. I could not pass it up because it looks like the guy in your upper right has my tuba. Could be, mine's a 1936 model. This record is marked "not perfect condition" but I have not found a skip yet. It's a double record. I think a good buy. You know you need it.

What if I Ran for Office...

2011-12-27T07:01:00.000-06:00

I'd need a platform. The only thing I can think of right now is "Free Greens." No one else has thought of this yet. It's a slogan that could be rich in metaphor and allegory. Just the thing for great campaign speeches most effective delivered when standing where else but in the green patch.

Come get 'em folks!

It's Christmas, Goodwill to Men and Let me Help...

2011-12-25T09:52:00.000-06:00

Coraline says, "I think you need a little help opening that present GG."

Coraline says,"Excuses me Glenn, I think that was supposed to be for me."

Coraline says "Next please!"

Coraline says "I am surprised that Miguel has been good enough to get a present this year, but let's go ahead and get this sucker opened."

It's Christmas Eve Man...

2011-12-24T12:10:00.000-06:00

Tree is up.

I think I hear stick horse reindeer in the house...

It's Time for the Christmas Card Count...

2011-12-22T21:29:00.000-06:00

Set against the photos I made of Holy Name Cathedral where we attended Mass while in Chicago it's time for me to make the annual Secular vs. Religious Christmas card count. Looks like Secular wins again this year with the score 21 to 12. I suppose the race is not yet over with at least one mail day left before we can declare the polls closed. I suggest if you intend to try to throw this contest one way or the other it would be best to use the Huntington, Tx post office since they seem to be quite capable of delivering an over night letter to Texas cities within a three hour drive.

This count does include a secular type Christmas card from the President and family. It's a pretty neutral type card, no good you know with an election year coming to stir up trouble, it has his dog on the front. I did not consider that too unusual since I received at least four other cards with a collage layout of family members that also included their dogs. With election filing deadlines still approaching I don't know if this is some kind of
political wave I am witnessing the crest of with announcements of the offices sought soon expected.

So for the record and I did not have anything to do with the work involved. My wife did it. She sent out religious cards. I am glad she did.

China Doll House...

2011-12-22T06:22:00.000-06:00

Here are some photos of the place we stayed for the PK wedding in Chicago. It was one of those Home Away type rentals in a great little neighborhood with plenty of near by restaurants, a guitar store two doors down and a used record shop around the corner. Here, Cathy opens the door. Looks like this was once a stand alone garage or stable made out of some pretty old looking brick. I like old brick.

Living room. It was decorated in an Asian theme, get it, China Doll House.

Dining area. It was a three bedroom, two and a half bath, upstairs and downstairs.

"I think I broke something."

Pop sits in the living room.

Does this look Christmas Enough...

2011-12-20T11:24:00.000-06:00

Changed my hair, hope this makes all feel a little more like Christmas.

Back Porch Band Gig...

2011-12-19T06:39:00.002-06:00

These photos from a back Porch Band gig this weekend, the Kam Care Home Health Company Christmas party in Livingston, Tx.

Buck sat in on steel for us, great job, is was a sub gig for him he has played one gig with us before.

You know how those country music bass line go, sometimes I take a little nap during songs.

Working on the Seperation Anxiety Thing...

2011-12-15T21:13:00.002-06:00

Actually I think that term would have to be explained to Coraline seen here held by the mascot of the Chicago Wolves Hockey team. You might take that look for anxiety but I think it's more of a "things happening so fast I can't take it all in" thing.

How about a punch in the nose fellow? I think she looks just like Rose in this photo.

On yeah I was at a fight a a hockey game broke out. I think hockey is my new hobby. This team plays in the same league as the Houston Aeros.

Action moves fast, not much downtime and pretty easy to tell what's going on.

I Think the News is Out All Over Town...

2011-12-14T20:12:00.002-06:00

Mary and Miguel are officially engaged. They got a ring and everything. Families of both are very happy. Date is in 2013.

Lake Nacogdoces Fishing...

2011-12-13T20:32:00.003-06:00

Good day on Lake Nac. Started slow, I caught one fish in the first couple of hours of fishing, They suddenly turned on and we caught 9 fish in about 20 minutes. The count for the day was 10 fish that weighted 40 pounds. The two biggest were 5.5 and 5.11 pounds each.

This catch was a double. I lifted my fish in the boat and netted Cathy's.

Stacked like cord wood.

Cathy has big fish for the day. A couple of these big fillets are swimming in my belly.

PK Wedding Photos Posted...

2011-12-13T10:34:00.001-06:00

Visit my online albums for Photos of Katie and Peter's wedding.

http://www.pbase.com/wallace_6/pk_wedding

Thought I Would Get Some Decorations Up...

2011-12-12T14:11:00.001-06:00

Fixing up the old place trying to get in the Christmas spirit I hope I did not over do it.

But I like red...

Horns are the big thing this season...

The Hair, The Hair...

2011-12-08T20:55:00.001-06:00

Katie fixed her hair real nice for her wedding. I am sure there was some help from the wedding party of Mary and Ashley. these are some good photos that show it off, one by me, one by Mary.

She changed it the next day. Lucky for the new husband it was easy to notice.

Navy Pier...

2011-12-08T07:12:00.001-06:00

Got a lot of pictures to go through from the PK wedding weekend. Here is one of the kids, left to right Morgan, Miguel, Mary, Rose, Coraline in stroller and Juan during a visit to Chicago's Navy Pier. It's a self portrait made with Juan's camera on a timer.

Katie Did Ask for Marrige Advice...

2011-12-06T16:43:00.002-06:00

...And Cathy said:

"Do you know what your Dad just did..."

More Wedding Photos...

2011-12-05T09:26:00.001-06:00

Best man Will, keeps groom Peter in place as they wait for the bride to arrive.

You can see the speed and efficiency that the parents of the bide use to get the bride in place on a rainy Chicago Saturday.

I think they say it's good luck if you have rain on your wedding day.

City Scenes...

2011-12-04T07:21:00.000-06:00

Nice view of Chicago skyline. Oh yeah, there's me and Cathy all dressed in our wedding clothes.

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Tulloch...

2011-12-03T14:58:00.001-06:00

Katherine Wallace wed Peter Tulloch Saturday December 3rd at 9am in Millennium Park, Chicago, Ill.

I Swear Officer...

2011-12-01T21:40:00.002-06:00

I'll turn it down.

Yes, right now.

No, I usually only dress like this on the weekends.

Wait Here for The Christmas...

2011-11-30T22:28:00.001-06:00

Cathy and Coraline wait curbside in down town Lufkin for the Christmas parade to pass.

Gimmie One of Them Big ol Turkey Legs...

2011-11-27T11:22:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving....

Happy Anniversary....

2011-11-22T10:10:00.003-06:00

Happy 8th wedding anniversary to Rose and Juan.

This picture with Coraline is from Pop's birthday party a few weeks

ago.

Check the link for photos of that day:

http://www.pbase.com/wallace_6/wallace_photos

Anybody Need This...

2011-11-21T06:59:00.003-06:00

I have one unused Cube Study Project I built. I no longer need it. Got a bigger and better one now.

If you need it, let me know. If no takers I will post it for sale on e-bay after Thanksgiving.

Carl and Cathy Take the Last Swim of the Year...

2011-11-18T06:45:00.001-06:00

With the weather cooling, it's a nippy 36F right now we decided to get in a last swim while we could.

Let's play horse...

Awe heck honey, I did not want to get my hair wet...

I can't breath, let me up, let me up, please I won't play the tuba so loud any more...

Standpipe Coffeehouse Open Mic...

2011-11-16T19:57:00.002-06:00

Last Friday was open mic at the local Standpipe Coffeehouse. It's a great venue. In fact anyplace that lets me play is just a wonderful venue in my book.

It was my third weekend to play, second weekend for Mary with Cathy and Morgan joining for the first time. In this photo Cathy does the last of the all night Texas troubadour thang.

Mary lays it on the line.

Morgan backs Mudbelly. Morgan was the true troubadour. He drove two hours to jam on three three minute songs.

We are not the only ones playing, several very nice young singer songwriters also get up with some great songs. Old guys get up for a few blues jam numbers between the serious songs.

All pictures courtesy of Standpipe. You can find them on facebook for more photos of the singers and players.

I'll play again this week, Mary, Cathy and Morgan won't make it.

Occupy the Houston Zoo...

2011-11-15T06:30:00.001-06:00

Mudbelly and Coraline take advantage of the drum circle in the African Village section of the Houston Zoo to drum up an Occupy the Zoo movement. We did not think there were enough animals.

It was also bring a monkey get in free day. Cathy and Rose took full advantage.

Let Me See if I Got This Straight...

2011-11-13T09:12:00.002-06:00

Let me see, Aunt Mary hold niece Coraline and their cousin Grayson on her lap with Coraline's mother Rose holds her cousin Addison, while sitting next to Addison's cousin Mary who is Rose's sister...

Help me out here guys...

Bayou Banjo Club...

2011-11-10T06:21:00.003-06:00

Old picture I took a photo of, the Houston Bayou Banjo Club. It looks to be late 60s-early 70s. That's Pop front row left of center with the black Irish hair.

Seems that from a web search this club is no longer in operation, but there is a banjo club in Austin. I think banjo clubs are cool, they let tuba players be a member.

Another New Blog Character...

2011-11-07T06:23:00.001-06:00

It's my cousin Jack and wife Ruth, from Victoria who stopped by for a visit last week as they passed through town. Jack is the son of my Mom's sister Lola and brother to faithful blog reader Mary Ann whose picture you may have seen here on our visit to her last summer.

In a small world note Jack is friends with the Stockbauer side of Cathy's family who also live in Victoria. Jack's a friendly guy. I would bet he is friends with a lot of people in Victoria. In his words not mine he says "I am the dancing Baptist preacher."

Well it was the First Day of Deer Season...

2011-11-05T20:38:00.001-06:00

I had to work. No loss, I made some pretty good photos the past week of the critters in the next door game fence. This fellow has been feasting on what looks to be a good acorn crop that drops from the oaks along the road into the pasture. He thinks I am the one in the fence. I made this photo from the car but right at dust this evening while taking a walk I stood closer to him than this photo as he ate supper.

A few days ago I surprised four wild does standing in the middle of the black top road like dogs try to figure out how to arrange a meeting with this gentleman.

Made this a few days ago of elk on a foggy morning as the sun came up.

Photo Album for Non FaceBook Friends...

2011-11-03T20:42:00.002-06:00

http://www.pbase.com/wallace_6/tubaaccordionbanjoguitar_fest

I made an album of Tuba/Accordion/Banjo/guitar fun from Pop's 80th birthday party and posted it on facebook. here it is for my non facebook friends to enjoy.

Another Birthday...

2011-11-01T05:25:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday to Bill, Cathy's dad. He celebrates his 80th. We had the party last weekend.

In this photo from the party, wife Geneva demonstrates just how true it is that behind every good man there is a good woman.

Happy Hallween Birthdays....

2011-10-31T07:51:00.001-06:00

Halloween is a big day around here. This past weekend at Pop's birthday party I had a chance to make current pictures of some of those we celebrate today.

My daughter Rose and her Uncle John, both born today.

It is also Rose's husband Juan's birthday. Pretty spooky.

Here is Rose, Juan, and Coraline with Mary and Miguel.

Halloween is also was Granny Wallace's birthday.

On a side note I also asked Cathy to marry me on Halloween. Cute and sensitive stuff, easy to remember.

Pop's 80th Birthday Party...

2011-10-30T14:25:00.001-06:00

Ok, so his Birthday is really not till Tuesday but we let Bill have his party on Saturday. Lots of people in attendance, lots of food, fun and music. Check out the dancing and singing by Coraline.

Full band shot here with Geneva's great grand daughter taking a solo on recorder.

Coraline Visits...

2011-10-28T06:51:00.001-05:00

Coraline and Slim Shady pose with Grandpa in the back yard.

We got some really great pictures fooling around one afternoon this past week but most show a smiling laughing pretty granddaughter with a very soiled dress front from some good eats at Grandma's house. This is one photo that makes it look like we did not get the baby so dirty.

Open Mike at the Standpipe Coffee House...

2011-10-24T06:28:00.001-05:00

Had fun this weekend playing open mike at the Standpipe Coffee House. My set was very well received by the crowd although no one laughed at my Rick Perry jokes. You can see that folks crowded right up to the front trying to steal my licks and make those googly eyes at me while I am playing.

I sang my most soul baring sensitive emo material. The subject matter was a kind of a song cycle that dealt with the self discoveries that boy genius made one morning when he woke up and looked in the mirror and noted that he was not all that smart. He also noted that he was not really a boy anymore.

Big Slough Photo...

2011-10-20T06:23:00.001-05:00

This photo, taken on our hunting trip last weekend looks up the Big Slough. I was surprised that there was a decent amount of water slowly flowing but not enough to fill the little branch of intermittent puddles and hog wallows I crossed to make this picture.

This is a pretty good spot to shoot some ducks. It is a hard spot to retrieve those that you have killed, usually the water is high, and as I sat and studied the lay of the land it would still take some care on a cold winter morning even if the drought is not relieved. I did not test the water depth, but sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas I'll let you know.

Otober is Cat Fest Month...

2011-10-18T06:55:00.001-05:00

Me and GW, along with Cathy put 61 cats in the boat yesterday. No huge size, but all solid keepers and many undersized fish thrown back.

With the fishing hot and I am expecting the size of the fish to pick up with the cooling of the season one

ramp at Hank's Creek is closed due to low water. Hopefully the other one stays open, be a shame for all these fish to be out there dying of old age if we can't get a boat launched.

Some One Shot an Arrow in the Air...

2011-10-17T08:56:00.001-05:00

My roof. Some one else's arrow. I am kind of feeling like Custer this morning, without the long blond hair of course.

Cathy noticed this on Saturday. An arrow embedded in our roof. Fortunately penetration was limited by the metal roof, the old layer of singles underneath and thick rich lighter pine boards that put the capital "R" in roof.

Don't really have any good clues where this came from. There are neighbor kids down the road, possible suspects, but all pretty skinny and one currently has a broken arm, kind of hard to imagine one of them having the power for a shot traveling this distance with the appropriate elevation to end up at this angle of impact.

Of course I am old and the last bow and arrow I had my hands on was one I made from the switch cane in my parent's neighbors yard when I was a kid so like most modern devices there may be developments in bow and arrow technology that multiplies power with miniaturization that makes this possible at a price point all can enjoy.

Hunting/Fishing Weekend...

2011-10-16T10:22:00.002-05:00

Morgan was in for a visit this weekend so we made a trip over to Big Slough for some squirrel hunting. No luck, saw quite a few and since deer season is not open I just chased a few of them around. I am right behind this one, almost snuck up close enough to jump on it's back and ride before it took off like a bolt of lightening.

Here is Cathy

and Morgan with some fast catfish action catching a double. Total for the day is 18 cats. We fried them up with my Mom, brother and Mary coming to eat.

Here's Cathy with big fish of the day.

Tried This to Make it Rain...

2011-10-13T20:25:00.001-05:00

Seems what little wetness has fallen from the sky around here has just dampened the roof. I don't know how to rain dance or any other dance for that matter so I tried to make it rain by leaving my little transistor radio outdoors on accident for several days.

Usually that kind of thing does it. You get out of good habits for what ever reason, such as putting your stuff up and it bites you in the butt. Not so this case. I left it out on a Friday evening while sitting in the dark, in the hot tube catching up on high school football scores. I laid it down and forgot it. Several days past before I was on the deck in the daylight and noticed my mistake. We need the rain but I was glad my radio was not ruined.

This has been a great little radio. It's not the fable silver plastic nine volt heart sung about by Dave Alvin and the Iguanas on their respective recordings but just a black Radio Shack three battery double A job. I keep track of the sports with it even though the cable networks are making it harder and harder for the little guy without the big cable package to listen to his or her favorite games. I use this radio while beach front fishing. Nothing says fun like sitting on a sandy Texas beach with your big surf rod out listening to the dirty white boy rock station and just to show I can change with the times I sometimes listen to the Spanish electronic tuba station.

I don't know what the replacement for this radio would be. If I judge from the apparatuses on a new Ford F-150 truck a radio these days probably gets (for a fee of course) satellite stations, plays MP3s, makes phone calls, does your taxes all while making you a sandwich. To get a radio like the one pictured I suspect you might have to go to Mexico and I am not talking right across the border, I am thinking may be some where deep down in the interior where the lights are not so bright, where the static is a bit more troublesome and there are not so many choices.

New Truck Day...

2011-10-12T07:05:00.001-05:00

Cathy poses in the garage last night after a truck buying trip to Houston. It's a Ford F-150. Really a pretty plain truck but has a lot of nice features. I usually joke that my cars are air conditioners and stereos on wheels, I think this one is actually a phone on wheels.

Traded in the old Mazda, goodbye to a truck we have drove 10 years, hope this one lasts that long also.

Good Picture of Us...

2011-10-10T06:41:00.001-05:00

Good picture of us with interesting case study in the background. Little girl, large beer.

Things will get interesting when she stands up to go pee.

Guess Where Grandpa Took Me...

2011-10-07T20:13:00.001-05:00

Can't tell you how much I enjoy doing stuff with the Grandchild...

Scattered Weekend Thoughts...

2011-10-03T11:21:00.001-05:00

Been reading a book of short essays on living in New Orleans. Guess that's what brings these things on.

It started Saturday. I'm at the Monastery Bazaar. I do go to other things as well as parties where all take of their shirts off and as I sign up to have a copy of the Nun's newsletter, The Monastery Bells, mailed to my home. I note that the name above mine on the list is Suzi's, who with coincidentally I have some New Orleans connection. Spelled the same, first and last. Just has a Lufkin address. When did she move?

Later on Saturday night I am listening to WWOZ, the New Orleans Public Radio Guardians of the Groove streaming over the internet waves and the announcer says "Waiting to take your calls and pledges are John and Matt." That's, Cathy's brothers. What are they doing in New Orleans, take me with you guys.

I guess it's Biblical, Time for a road trip.

So I was in a used record store...

2011-09-29T20:15:00.002-05:00

...and they had new ones and used cds also. We were in Nashville, Evansville, Austin, New Orleans, Lufkin I forget in one of the kind of places where you dig around in stuff that other people no longer want. And there were other people digging right along with me. All had on their digging clothes, the uniform of the professional hip. Slacker special pants, tats, piercings heck I felt like I was at work. We have to dress a certain way there also.

As I glanced through the records and there were quite a few new ones I noticed the cover of a Various Artist Compilation I had download from emusic. Titled "Palenque Palenque: Champeta Criolla and Afro Roots in Columbia 1975-1991" it was the kind of music you hear playing at a party just before everyone takes off their shirts. I thought it was so cool I gave the copy I burned to Miguel. In the store this record on vinyl was priced $30. I did not ask if this was negotiable. I did congratulate myself on being able to pick music others thought was valuable, or even good even if the only criteria I use is whether it makes people want to take off their shirts.

Looks Like Ode to a Blue Chair...

2011-09-26T06:49:00.006-05:00

Tilt Billings and the Student Prince by Leo Kottke:

"Tilt Billings saw a guitar in a pawn shop window

Not much to look at but he knew that he'd found

That old Student Prince that they made years ago

So easy to play - what unbeatable sound!

Paid twenty bucks and grabbed his guitar

Still be a steal at ten times the dough

It was amazing how a mere beginner

Could play just a few notes and sound like a pro

He'd play his heart out when he was at parties

Guys would get jealous - but girls were impressed

They'd ask how he did it he'd say

"Nothin' to it, with this kind of guitar it brings out my best."

One night when he had the room captivated

He took five and set down his prince

When a drunk stumbled by and sat down where he laid it

And he's never sounded quite the same since

So Tilt's still upset but he's givin' up crying

Just can't lift his eyes from the sad, sad ground

Time marches on with its fingers still trying"

Got to Try Something Pretty Cool This Past Weekend...

2011-09-22T20:49:00.001-05:00

Valve trombone!

Gonzalo and Edwin of AMG, who played at the church festival this past weekend each had a valve trombone. Gonzalo gave me the ok to try out Edwin's. I really liked it. Wanted to marry it. It fingers the same as my tuba. Don't have to marry it because Cathy gave me an ok to get one for my birthday.

Birthdays a few months off. Time enough to find out if it's really love or just a passing crush.

Back Porch Band at Fiestas Patrias...

2011-09-20T06:38:00.001-05:00

Lot of fun this weekend at St. Patrick Catholic Church Fiestas Patrias/Our Lady of LaSelette Festival. Hard work by a lot of folks paid off with plenty of food and music for a pleasant afternoon with a bit of cooling rain. Here you see the guys and girl of the Back Porch band making their St. Patrick debut.

Sorry about

the hat, just a dumb white guy, hope I did not offend anyone's culture because I sure have fun being dumb. Probably a good thing tequila was not served at this event.

The master of disaster gets tangled in Runt's Telecaster for a few tunes. This is a very nice guitar. I have asked Runt if I could marry it, you know do the whole in sickness and in health thing. He says no.

Back on the

skins.

For a complete slide show of the fest check the St. Pat's web site photo gallery:

http://stpatrickslufkin.com/photo-gallery/

We Are God Parents...

2011-09-17T17:24:00.001-05:00

Busy day at the Church today. Here we are at the Baptism of our Godchild, Ian.

He did not look at the camera but me, Cathy his

Mom, Isabelle and Deacon Ray did.

Also spent the day setting up for tomorrow's Fiestas Patrias. Plenty of good food to be sold, profits benefit the church. There will be entertainment. Me and Mary appear with the Back Porch band 10am-12pm, St Patrick's school kids, dancers and AMG performing around 2pm.

Few Photos from the Beach...

2011-09-15T05:31:00.001-05:00

Got a bunch of photos from the three times I have been to the beach this summer. here are a couple of the more random ones.

This is a beach house we rented on surfside one time. It's a casualty of Hurricane Ike. Not sure why it is still standing as most all of the wrecked houses are gone. During a recent drive on the west end of Galveston we decided that many of the front row beach houses we rented when the kids were little are all gone. Lots of new construction out there, big old piles of houses, ugly modern style with nothing to do with the Texas Gulf coast that sleep 20-30 people. All waiting down on the low west end for the next big blow they make the future look good for insurance payments and the preventive maintenance business.

I remember the mosquitoes were bad at this house. In fact my ankles are itching a little as I type this.

Somebody's dog at the beach. Not mine. He looked like he was having a good time despite the fact that he was discriminated against by the the business that only allowed entrance of his owner causing him to be forced to sit in the back of a shaded truck. My wife says I am going to get in trouble stopping to make pictures like this. I think most people would like

it since a person owned animal has it better than the three fourths of world without shaded pickup truck beds and that includes a good health care program with long term care provisions. The people that own animals are proud of these facts.

Saw Santana This Past Weekend...

2011-09-12T17:02:00.001-05:00

Saw Santana this past weekend at the Woodlands Pavilion with Cathy, Mary and Miguel. He played all the hits.

I go see a good bit of live music, usually small clubs and venues, outdoor fests. This is the first big traveling rock show in a while. Good lights, tight band, great singers.

We went with lawn seats, a blanket thrown on a grassy knoll, really pretty relaxing as I went down after work, drove home and went to work Sunday.

That's Santana's wife Cindy on the blue drum set. He's not the only one married to some one in the band. I am talking about Cathy, not Runt.

Opening act was Michael Franti and spear head. Nice logo wish I had bougth the t-shirt.

I remember...

2011-09-09T20:54:00.001-05:00

So one day in the future, hopefully a long time from now, but it will happen, I'll be dead. I'll lay in noble repose up at Gipson's Funeral home, like so many hard headed Wallaces of old, at rest, at peace, my long journey done.

They will gather, family and friends, sorry and sad for sure, but I am ok, ready to lay in Mother Earth, my work done. As they gather around, the casket is on that lazy Susan thing that Gipson's has, where the family takes their last viewing, the lid is closed and they spin you around to the main sanctuary for the service to begin. Contrary to popular belief this is not a special maneuver required to get a Wallace into heaven, merely a convenience to move the proceedings along.

Before all this happens there will be the remembrances. Coraline, the granddaughter in this picture will take her turn telling a story about the time with Grandpa on the beach. The time he ran up and down the beach so fast I had to hold on to his hat to keep it from flying off into the Gulf of Mexico and to keep myself from falling in the water.

The rest of the kids possibly other grandkids will hear this story and stare open mouthed in disbelief. The will all say,"Grandpa ran fast, nu-uh!"

If it Seems I am not Managing my Online Image...

2011-09-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

Here is what I have been up to:

http://stpatrickslufkin.com/

Built by RealGraphics in Lufkin Texas I am web master. Most photos are mine and I am building the slide shows. Also have the capability for video and music. Please share this site with your interested friends.

Los Lonely Boys...

2011-09-06T19:40:00.001-05:00

Saw Los Lonely Boys, a home grown Grammy Award winning band of brothers from San Anglo Texas play at the Crockett Texas Civic Center as part of the Pineywoods Fine Arts Series last Friday night. A nice warm professional performance from some guys that really show that they love what the do.

Left to right, Henry, Ringo and Jo-Jo.

Followers here on these pages might remember pictures posted from the past, this is the third time I have seen them including a front row at

a SXSW concert for the recording of their live DVD. That's me you almost see in the DVD with the large woman jumping on my back screaming Jo-Jo's name.

The concert series in Crockett is worth checking out, last year the had the Neville Brothers and I missed it.

Happy Late Birthday...

2011-09-06T06:24:00.001-05:00

I was out of town this weekend and missed a post wishing my brother Glenn a happy birthday on Sept 3rd.

He whoops for joy, celebrating the aging process.

Most Valuable Things You have Learned...

2011-09-01T20:24:00.002-05:00

Learning is valuable in of itself. A visit to the 92 year old Guido's Restaurant in Galveston, Tx where you see Cathy and Coraline being welcomed by the big crab on the roof, reminds me of something a waiter at this storied dining establishment taught me years ago as I looked over the menu to make my dinner selection. That nugget of wisdom is when the water is hot (in the summer) order the crab, when cold (winter) order the oysters. I have held to this code, this commandment, this screed ever since. It has served me well and again on this visit as I had the blackened fish, shrimp and scallops topped with crab and a fried soft shell on the side.

Another angle with Guido's companion restaurant, Casey's, and it's big shrimp in the background with just a small sliver of the Gulf at dusk visible upper right of the frame.

Guido's and Casey's share a kitchen, what's the difference besides 100 bucks added to your bill? You can go in Casey's in a tank top and shorts up to your butt. Guido's is a little dressy, the kind of place where your country band would feel right at home after gig, all dressed up in glitter suits.

Few More vacation shots...

2011-08-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

John wade fishes the surf with green water all around. Possible facebook profile?

Rose and Coraline.

John wades ashore in another possible facebook profile photo.

Guess if I was thinking I could have got one of those multi generation photos.

Happy Birthday Miguel...

2011-08-26T07:22:00.000-05:00

Playing Guitars...

2011-08-24T06:46:00.001-05:00

Mary spanks the old plank head down shoe gazing lost in the groove while Selena grins.

Peter waits a round robin turn on the singers circle while Katie looks

on.

Wait a minute, do ya'll even know any of the same songs.

Hey dude, no money above the 5th fret! Morgan plays lead with Ali looking on.

Back Home...

2011-08-23T09:22:00.002-05:00

Coraline says "Rose, Katie, Morgan and Mary just jumped over the porch rail, why can't I?"

Grandparents say, "Because we watch the little grandchild better than we do those other crumb hustlers."

Here's the house. It's the

third time we have stayed here. It really suits our needs plus the fishing has been great, just walk out the door and start casting.

Sun swept view of our sun canopy, site of last weeks camp speckle trout.

P & K Wedding Shower...

2011-08-21T17:05:00.001-05:00

We held Peter and Katie's wedding shower yesterday at the beach house.

Many family and friends in attendance with decorations from Ashely, cake and goodies cooked by Mary and Rose.

Close up of the cake. No one in the area was able to fix the cake requested, Mary and Rose could!

Old friends, Cathy, Suzi, Annie with Mary in the back ground, all ladies wore colorful summer dresses.

Big Trout of the Trip and Other Photos...

2011-08-20T08:54:00.000-05:00

So far Mary has big trout honors of the Wallace gang with a 20 incher taken on a sure rod with live finger mullet.

Peter and Miguel swim in the green Gulf water.

Selena and Ali build castles made of sand.

Friday Morning Surf Fishing Report...

2011-08-19T14:08:00.000-05:00

Not quite as agressive of a morning, but the specks were a little bigger. We finished with a mixed bag of trout and whiting. No throw back trout, no sharks, one jack, two of the biggest ladyfish, a member of the tarpon family, of the trip. Fishing party was Pop, me Morgan, Mary and Miguel.

Here is last nights supper. There were no left overs.

Ashely, Miguel's sister and Coraline say "more fish."

The Gulf is flowing with geen tides. I think it's the best water I have ever seen this trip.
Here is a photo of my feet, encased in my wade fishing booties, don't want to step on crabs, sting rays and so on, knee deep in the water. Water on the second sand bar were we stand to fish is a wonderful clear green.

This Mornings Surf...

2011-08-18T09:08:00.001-05:00

Left to right me, Pop, Morgan, Katie and Peter show off a nice catch of specs and whiting. Photo a little hazy due to condensation.

Bite was 6:30 to 8:30. We used up 2 quarts of live shrimp under popping corks. Many throw backs of undersized specks. I caught 3 sharks from 2' and less, two were black tips, one a bonnet head. Pop caught one shark and a jack crevelle, which is a bull of a fighter.

Today at the Beach...

2011-08-17T21:33:00.001-05:00

Sting ray.

Cathy catches a cero Mack.

Beachfront Fun...

2011-08-16T21:31:00.001-05:00

Brother in law John shows off a real nice catch of speckled trout and sand trout caught by me, him and brother Matt this morning on live shrimp under popping corks in the surf. In addition to these keepers there were many throw backs of under size specks.

Pop and Matt

wade to the surf, ships pass and birds work the bait. Lot of fish in the green water up close. I don't think surf conditions for fishingcould be much better.

My big

catch of the day a sea turtle, not swimming in my belly, he was safety cpred, caught, photoed and released.

John and daughter Megan with a little black tip shark.

Coraline Wants You...

2011-08-13T21:42:00.001-05:00

...to come to the beach...

...and dance in the sand...

...drink up...

...go on a fun run...

... and hit the water...

Rather be in Some Dark Hollar...

2011-08-11T20:56:00.001-05:00

Pretty easy to make this old song lyric come true in East Texas. Really hard for me to imagine some place where you couldn't just run out for a swim really quick to cool off on these 100 degree days. In this photo you look down Boykin Springs Creek toward the turn of the century logging ghost town of Old Aldredge. It's maybe a 4 mile hike down a pleasant trail that runs along this creek past a late summer crop of 2 million seed ticks. Only thing is I here the town is off limits due to the years of vandalism that have left the old concrete walls of the buildings an eye sore. May be they will fix it up so it's a good hike again.

Looking back towards the lake, me and my Dad caught 60 put and take hatchery trout on canned corn from this little deep creek hole in the late 1970s.

Yeah that song, I always like to change the words a bit:

"rather be in some dark hollar, where the sun refuses to shine.

Than to be in Nacodoches, in a small room with a girl on my mind..."

Another Thing People Ask Me all the Time...

2011-08-09T10:25:00.001-05:00

Don't you get tired of fishing?

Summer Fishing Fun...

2011-08-07T11:11:00.002-05:00

On a nice breezy summer day of fishing we take the time to introduce a new blog character, my old buddy Gary. We were so glad he was able he was able to accompany us, made us feel extra special since in Texas this weekend you could choose fishing, the Redneck games held in Alto or Rick Perry's day of prayer in Houston. This might be the first picture made of me and Gary together in over 20 years. Total catch for the day was 28.

Don't worry about us missing the day of prayer. We fried these fellows up golden brown, said a nice blessing and proceeded to make them swim in our bellies.

Somehow This Hot Weather Brings to Mind...

2011-08-04T20:41:00.002-05:00

...a long forgotten end of summer party. Maybe it's some kind of urge for the hot weather to break, for rain, for easing the burdens of others because like at that party so long ago the weather has been fine for me.

I remember this party was sometime in the 1980s. It was hot with belly dancers thumping drums in the front yard, in back some one shot a hog to barbecue and a rock band played on a flat bed trailer. In front of the band dancers shuffled in the sandy dirt. Old hippies, new hippies and shade tree punks ground mother Earth with their old dry feet into a damp sweaty organic powder of a smoke that rose above their heads and hung in the air like a fog in a holler. Off to the side a crowd gathered at old round brick work of a well staring down into the depths.

In the well hung a TV, facing upward and it was not a big screen. In these ancient times no one ever thought TVs would be bigger than the door to their house so it was no trouble to find one that could simply hang in a small round country well. Constantly playing on the TV in the well for the amusement of your downcast gaze was the band on the flat bed trailers new video and song "Gomer Pyle is God." See the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqnYQKjHfHY

All in all quite an evening. Sweaty, dirty and with unusual stuff to see. When the hot weather brought all this to mind I mentioned these events to my wife. She said she remembered the TV in the well and was also there, but we were not married and I don't think we knew each other. Now we are married and know each other pretty well. We still like summer, hot sweaty, dirty and occasionally unusual.

I am the Monkey's Man...

2011-08-02T07:50:00.001-05:00

Miguel clowns with a big monkey we found. Well, not a real found monkey like one you could take home with you but a set up photo in a touristy gift shop of the realest monkey in the neighborhood at that moment. In fact this pictures brings to mind that old Austin punk band the El BJS who had a song in the 1980s that was called to the best of my memory "I am The Monkey Man." It was about the pre politics President film career of the President of those years who basically violated the first rule of show business which is never let an animal act open for you.

Always a Party...

2011-07-30T20:40:00.001-05:00

Ok, even if the tickler is tickling someone else you still got to laugh.

Speaking of taking no prisoners great grandma or "GG" as she calls herself picks up a big old baby.

Some do any and all for the elusive perfect face book profile picture

"I know it's your birthday, but can I drive?"

Two Things Going on Here...

2011-07-29T20:09:00.001-05:00

First thing is Juan's brand new patrol car. The last of the Crown Vics. Next time he gets a new car it won't be a Ford, they don't make these anymore. This one had < 1 mile on it when he drove it home. Great horse power and jet off take, when sitting in the front seat it has the technology to run a check on your name and when the officer walks up to your window he can make remarks like, "Mr. Wallace, at your age did you know it will be much more uncomfortable to sit with your hands cuffed behind your back than it was on the night of November 26, 1976?"

The other thing going on is my Mom with a machine gun. She is 87 years old and takes no prisoners.

Iconic Instruments...

2011-07-28T21:21:00.001-05:00

I made some photos, unfortunately through display glass at the Country Music Hall of Fame earlier this summer on our visit to Nashville.

Here's the pedal steel Sneaky Pete played on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, the first album he released as a non Beetle. Funny thing was we listen to that recording in the car on the way to Nashville. After being an icon of early alt/country music Pete made sound effects for movies like The Empire Strikes Back and the Terminator movies.

Chet Atkins's guitars and amps. When asked to the define the Nashville sound Chet reportedly would stick his fist in his pants pocket and shake the coins there making the jingling sound of money hitting the cash register. You have heard these instruments on may popular recordings.

Not a good photo, but it's Bill Monroe's mandolin. This instrument was once smashed to 180 pieces in the 1980s by an intruder with a fire place poker. The intruder's name has never been

reveiled but widely thought to be a woman as conventional wisdom holds that a man would have swung it by the neck to smash. What ever, the Gibson Guitar Company repaired this 1920s instrument and he played it the rest of his life.

Something speaks to me about these old instruments being behind glass never to be heard again and I really don't know what it is. I guess the men who made the sounds are gone, maybe they won't sound the same played by others. Looking at these brought to mind a recent experience at a dance we played. A guy comes up after the show (no I don't think he was flirting with me) asks how low the action was on my bass. I had cased it, but I took it out and let him examine it. It was a funny feeling showing that guy my ax. As I handed it over to him I seemed to feel all the dents and dings, how really fine the play-ability and action really are on a guitar I have been playing for 26 years. The guy looked at it and acknowledged that the action was quite a bit lower than his guitar. I had never really though much about it, I just fool with stuff till it feels right.

I don't know where I am going with this. Old instruments, magic, or just stuff?

Coraline Drives the Boat...

2011-07-25T21:56:00.001-05:00

A little fishing trip today with Rose, Coraline, and Mary as guided guests included a driving lesson for Coraline.

Ever wonder what fishing looks like over Cathy's shoulder? Here is your chance. First you have the bent pole.

Then, the flying catfish appears.

Another Back Porch Band Gig...

2011-07-24T13:31:00.001-05:00

The Back Porch Band had a road trip gig last night, hired to play a birthday gig in the great city of to the great city of Barnum, Tx. That's a few miles out of Corrigan if you don't have your GPS handy. In this photo lefy to roght, Buck, Earl, Neil,

Neil steps up to the mike. He's usually on steel, but with another member Lanny on vacation in Nashville he steped to 6 string with Buck subbing on steel.

Buck and lead guitar Earl trade licks.

Nice set up, covered pavilion to play with a few mounted fans to break the 100 degree heat.

"Got My Name Painted on my Shirt..."

2011-07-21T21:05:00.002-05:00

"...I aint no ordinary dude I don't have to work." That's what Waylon said. I have a gig this weekend with the Back Porch Band. What should I wear, let me check the wardrobe.

How about this little number, anyone else wearing red?

Or this, wait that's a guitar and I'm the bass player, might hurt the six stringer's feelings to show up in this.

What about the stage lighting, plain white or is there going to be a nice soft rose glow to soften thngs a bit?

Then there is the Graham Parsons model. Anyone know if clothing is optional or if it's a non smoking venue?

Just as I Suspected...

2011-07-18T19:31:00.001-05:00

I may have a little trouble on this big screen give-away. It's shattered, empty inside. Is this another allegory of life? What's it signify? That with all content pushed out it's really empty, box, programming and all? What if I fell down and busted my head, would it look empty also. There does not see to be really much inside, is it watching me?

Anyway, if you want it, call, email, you know the drill how to win these ever popular give aways. If you are not interested, pass on, keep moving, nothing to see here.