The River

The river is incredibly low and we are able to cross in places that we normally can only fantasize about going to. We still have to go thru chest deep water to get there, but just getting there is worth the hike.... The trout were feeding on top of the water and it was so still you could see them swimming all around. The woodpeckers were pecking and other things moving about just out of sight......A perfect day!

Hillbilly Joe

Here, now I won't have to say "you should have seen the look on his face when we caught up with him"...... It sure is nice to have friends no matter where you are.....

The golden hour

We had fun didn't we?

Some things do, and some things don't.

Belong in the water.

Possible covers

for FLYBOY magazine.....

The Yeti

Today I confirmed the existence of the dreaded Yeti. I was terribly frightened at first and radioed in my sighting. I thought he left so I returned to fishing and later noticed the foul creature to be stalking me from the foliage. After a tense few moments, I realized that this creature could be tamed and I proceeded to do so. He is coming along nicely. I named him Theodore.

He waves to me....

when he sees me coming, he knows that I am near my destination and greets me each and every time. When I am homebound he waves goodbye as well knowing that I had a good day in the cold river, it is a shame I can't see him in the dark.... but I know, and he knows, as we have a special connection.

Send a lil' love out to DWT.....

She sniffed it.

I love Dee, she is so sweet, but the poor thing just really isn't very smart is she?

A few stories from our trip

First of all. We all went to Memphis with very little money and everyone in the clan brought along ice chests full of food so we could eat knowing that we were going to a tourist town and it was going to be expensive. We stayed in the Doubletree downtown which is very nice and it was pretty ironic to be staying in such a place and being so broke. This whole trip was a competition and not a paying gig, though they got lots of gigs out of the deal and some very serious lable interest. That being said, we make it to the hotel and discover that they no longer have microwaves anymore... UH OH. So, what do you do with all those potatoes we were planning on baking and such? So after a few meals on Beale Street with money dwindling we started first with the coffee pot. Coffee pots heat soup very well in case you ever have the need, but it wont cook a hot dog or anything else. So, I took a package of hot dogs to the TGI Fridays located in our hotel and asked them to cook them for us on a Saturday night while it was jammed full of people dressed in formal attire before attending the finals. The cook came out of the kitchen to ask if I wanted them grilled or just cooked in the microwave and I told him I don't care as long as they are hot. He laughed at me and said "I can't believe you don't have any money and your bringing me the most expensive hot dogs you can buy" ( Hebrew nationals) Well dude, let me tell you, it's possible. I tipped him 2 bux which didn't impress him, but that's all I could spare.
We still had to hold onto gas money and pay for the parking from the hotel at $10 bux a day which adds up fast......
The trip home, well, part of the time we had no idea where we were and the best part was we had 6 bux from the start. Gas cost $2.29 a gallon where we were and things weren't looking good. Add to that 2 trains that stopped us for close to an hour between the two of them. At first it was funny, but then it really wasn't anymore......We made it to Tulsa after we took all our clothes out of the bags at a truck stop in Ark. and got all change out of our pockets and under seats and things, that made another 8 bux....In Tulsa Dustin gave us the last 2 bux he had after the trip and I called Ty. GOD BLESS TY. I called him and said, "we are out of money and can't get home" the first thing he said was "I'm in my truck right now and on my way, where are you?" He met us in Skiatook, filled our truck up with gas, bought us a couple drinks and candy bars and Angie had some Tylenol for me because my back had started in on me. So we made it home in the middle of the night, safe and sound. One thing I have to say is I know in my heart if we were broke down in Tennessee, Ty would have come and saved us. He is a true friend. So between Ty and My precious Mother sending us cash Western Union we made it.
One last thing, some homeless dude came up to us in Tulsa saying how hungry he was and asking for cash, we gave him a sausage and bread out of the ice chest to eat... he said Thank you, Praise God and all that... When we drove away he walked up to a trash can and threw it away. As far as homeless people I think I will just stick to sending food & Windex to Tony, a dude in Tulsa who always finds DPB to wash our windows, no charge ever....

Lots to see in Memphis

Great things to see, all over town. You just have to go find them. The strangest thing I would have to say is the woman who has been protesting the National Civil Rights Museum for over 18 years. When I went to take a picture of her, she turned her back on me. I find that odd, to be so against something, but not want to show your face. Other odd notes about her. She is protesting something that glorifys Martin Luther King Jr. and if anyone deserves that and their message to be preserved, it is him. She also happened to be an older black woman who, while sitting there in protest, was listening to old Motown. It was just a surreal scene.
The Lorraine Motel ( Where MLK Jr. was assasinated) has been preserved down to the cars they were driving are sitting in the same spot as they were all those years ago. The new pavement for the parking lot has been paved around the cars. Just being there was very emotional for both of us. It is a very heavy place, like a black hole that sucks the life right out of you. So much was lost on that day. We didn't stay long.

Lets talk about Doug.

Look closely at him sitting at the bar. What is wrong with this picture? First of all the look on his face is obvious. He isn't happy. He felt like he was being cheated on by Donnie who was gettin' down with another drummer at this time.... But that isn't all. Look down, at his shoes and pants. Whats missing? SOCKS. Socks make the world go round in my opinion. Especially since I share hotel rooms with him all the time. Take those shoes off and you have to spray the room and wrap the shoes in a wal-mart bag and hide them in the closet. One night in Ark. Doug took off his shoes and stuck them under the dust ruffle on Donnie's side of the bed and he couldn't sleep all night trying to find the origin of the RANK SMELL wafting up at him. I think we should start a sock drive for ol' Doug so my life will be a little better.... Katies too.....

The Tribe

I did a bad thing. I shot more video than still pictures and didn't get many of everyone that came. Dustin and Ambers parents were with us as well as Ambers aunt. Jesse had family representation from a cousin who brought I don't know how many people to cheer to band on. Eddie Bagwell the VP of the Tulsa Blues Society is seen holding all the pedals he can before the guys went on... I missed Blue, who recently impregnated one of my favorite friends Leslie, who can be seen below showing off her big mouth! Those two are perfect for each other and will be married till death do they part.... We all had a great time together and really have formed a family in the time we have all been together and thru all our adventures on the road. But don't get me wrong, everything isn't perfect and SOME people (DOUG) like to try to annoy others and paybacks are hell. Trust me!

Beale Street

Beale Street. Music is everywhere and it permeates everything. Stand on the street and you hear more live bands than you can possibly count as they all blend together in and become something that has it's own life.
Stand on the street and you will become a target for the scammers as well who want to hand you something stupid like a plastic flower and try to get money for it too. They also straight out will ask for money, a light, cigarettes or anything else they can get and then they are furious when you don't give it to them. One guy who kept watch outside our hotel made me really mad with his "that's just sad" thing he would do as he followed us down the street trying to embarrass us into giving him something. Amber made the mistake of actually taking something from one of these guys and when Dustin wouldn't give him a dollar for it ripped it out of her hands.
Beale Street also stays open until 5 in the morning and you can walk down the street with a beer in your hand and if your hungry... No worries...as long as you have lots of money! Saturday night we all went to the Blues City Cafe and ate tamales and chili at 4 in the morning. Now that is living!
Warning... all food will cause you great gastronomical pain as they are proud of the vitamin G and make things so spicy you think your going to catch fire.
I almost did.