And the beat goes on. Back from Austin, billed as the Live Music Capitol of the World. I suppose this is a little different from the Music Show Captitol of the world, AKA Branson. Didn't get to see a lick of music whilst there. I deeply regret that I will miss what has become a favorite of mine in the past few years, that being the performance by a member hereof at the Ozarks Celebration Festival. I will be doing a short gig at the George Washington Carver National Monument over by Diamond at that time. I note in the schedule for the OCF, that an evening concert featuring family acts is on tap. I also note that one of those families is the Harrall's from Neosho. This should be some good stuff. This is one of the "sub-families" of the Johnson's here in good ole Neosho. Mr. Bernie Johnson began the Spring Valley Music shows in a converted school house many years ago with his offspring as the general talent pool, along with various local groups as guests on stage. As the years passed, those younguns came to have families of their own and, in turn, developed the musical talents of their children. To my knowledge, there are now no less than three family bands headed by Bernie's kids, not to mention a couple of other kids that perform in other groups. Not a cull in bunch either.

Speaking of the Music Show Capitol of the World, I am going to break down and do something I almost never do. I am going to load up the crew and go to Silver Dollar City on Labor Day. That's right, a certified federal holiday, and I am going to go be a mullet. I have some "other" reasons for making this trip, but I don't very often have the luxury of being able to be with the family on a holiday like this, so by golly, we'er gonna do it. That'll be me, my lovely bride, our lone remaining home child, and his sweet girlfriend, who just happens to be a granddaughter to Mr. Bernie Johnson.

Seems to me like the tosses and turns of late summer are starting to mellow. School is back in session, serious vacationing is over, relocations are just about finalized and we should be getting our schedules in order. All that to say this: If you have just a couple of minutes, and access to the WWW, why not speak your mind. Heck, if you can't think of anything else, just criticize my ramblings.

Say a prayer for the folks in harms way in Florida, and those that are defending our freedom.

Be happy and careful