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Louisiana...Texas...Back Home

BILL BLOG

Monday April 24, 2023


Back home in Nashville after a road trip that took me to Louisiana and then up in the Panhandle of Texas. Here’s how it went in Texas after a great show Thursday night last week in Morgan City, Louisiana where we had a great show and it also gave our “Hits & Grins” trio a chance to have some authentic Cajun food!


 

 

FRIDAY

It was back to New Orleans, turn in the rental car, catch the shuttle, then catch a flight to Dallas and another one to Amarillo then a rental car to Pampa, Texas for our Saturday night show. And…I had quite the adventure getting there. When our plane landed in Dallas I realized my ticket did not take me to Amarillo. Apparently, and I’m still trying to figure it out, I must have put Dallas in as my final destination instead of Amarillo. That led to a near heart attack and having to book another one-way flight (one was available on the same plane with my trio buddies thank goodness) but it also meant they took my guitar off the plane causing me to go to baggage and with help search and find the danged thing. Then I had to go through security again, my TSA number would not print, and I went through a VERY long line hoping to get through in time to catch my plane. It did…I was fortunate. And several hours later on that Friday evening I had some Tex-Mex with "Hits & Grins" partners Steve Dean and Victoria Venier in Pampa washed down with a cold Mexican beer and FINALLY my blood pressure felt normal once again.

 

Lesson to self. Check your FINAL destination on your airline tickets.

 

SATURDAY

Another great show Saturday night that took place at the beautiful MK Brown Auditorium in the town of about 12,000 that is Pampa, Texas. Texas is a big ole state. We realized that when the folks who booked our show shared with us that there are 4 other state capitols that are closer to Pampa than their own state capitol in Austin.  That’s big.


 

 

The show was so much fun. And they treated us to a backstage Italian dinner that was prepared by an Italian eatery in Texas by a lady who moved from Italy to Pampa somehow. Real Italian. Real good. Thank you!

 The show was very fun, nice folks in a town that survives largely from the oil industry. Hard working folks…lots  of pickup trucks. 


 

 

Steve Dean in our trio had an old High School classmate of his from Little Rock show up for the show as he was going to Amarillo on business when another classmate told him on the phone on his drive that our trio was in Pampa which is less than an hour away from Amarillo. He cancelled his hotel reservation in Amarillo and booked a room where we were at the Hampton, and then surprised Steve at the show. Pretty cool…and it’s one of those fun things that just happens sometimes when you’re on the road. 


 

 

Thanks to everyone for coming to the show and thank you to Jimmy and Ricky and the great staff there for making us feel so welcome. Oh, and one other funny story. Jimmy ran lights for our show and when I sang “Face For Radio” he told me that he wanted to run my spotlight off during that song but his wife would not let him. Should have done it!  Next time when we come back we’ll do that!


 

 

SUNDAY

Back to Amarillo and got on a Southwest plane that took us to Dallas…then Houston and finally home to Nashville touching down in Music City around 7:30 pm. Good to go…good to get back home!

 NEW SONG

My buddy Eric Erdman posted this little video of him singing a song the two of us wrote a few weeks ago when he was in town "Time Will". Eric is the "Trop Rock Songwriter of the Year" currently and will routinely post videos of him sitting on his couch singing new songs he's written. Just a very cool and uber-talented guy. Click the link and enjoy him and our song.  



 

 HEALTH NOTES

A study in the UK suggests that if we increase our intake of Magnesium by 41% it could help keep dementia at bay.

 

During the pandemic while everyone was trying to stay well, gun sales increased. 60 million firearms were bought during the pandemic.

 

A massive new study involving tens of thousands of military members concludes that there is negligible risk of developing blood clots from the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

GREAT OBSERVATION…AND FUNNY

Ron Jones who writes funny stuff for the Mullet Wrapper, a newspaper out of Gulf Shores, Alabama posted this observation that is so true.

 

“We leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage”.

 

4 B’s

There are 3 “B’s in “Bed Bath & Beyond”. They just added a 4th “B” as they declared bankruptcy. I have no idea how successful stores like this one just go out of business. It’s safe to say that it’s bed bath and beyond me.

 

NEVER GET OLD

Check out 109-year-old pianist Collette-Maze. She is now the oldest woman ever to release a NEW piano album. At 109! She was born in 1914 and is still tickling the ivories. Wonder if this is an “Oldie’s Album”?!


 

 

ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD

Some scientists think they’ve discovered a method that will stop one from getting gray hair. Great. Now if I can get a scientist to find a way to stop “no hair” I’d be excited even more.

 

PARENT TWEET

“I ordered new coats for my kids and for convenience I had them shipped to their school’s lost and found department.”

 

HEADLINE OF THE DAY

“Man Pulls Out Gun And Demands Meat Market Sell Him Steaks”. Doubt he’ll be getting steak in jail too.

 

TODAY

Middle 60’s here in Nashville as the weather has cooled. After the road trip this past week I’ve left today open to try and catch up on stuff that needs catching up on. Have a great Monday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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