BILL BLOG
Monday July 7, 2025
Monday morning and I’m on the way home from Missouri to Nashville.
THE WEEKEND
I made the 6-hour trip home to Missouri from Nashville Friday, and I stayed with a longtime friend, Dodge Raymer, who went with me to the two shows I had here in the Show Me State. Dodge has been part of my family for many years, and his wife, Dean, who passed a few years ago, was my manager when I was young, and a second Mom to me. We surely do miss her.
SATURDAY
Dodge and I drove about an hour to reach the town of Louisiana, Missouri, which sits on the rolling Mississippi River and was the home of the first-ever Liberty Fest 4th of July event in that town.
It was 4th of July HOT for sure. Made me wish I had purchased one of these new solar-powered fan hats.
The city was honoring the memory of “Mo Mo” the Missouri Monster, the subject of my first recording in Nashville about that monster supposedly spotted on Star Hill in Louisiana.
The event featured a great car show that ran up and down the street that I was looking at while I performed on Saturday.
There was a Mo Mo race, a Mo Mo costume contest, and more. Heck, I even got a hug from Mo Mo.
It was a hot July 4, and the crowd was a bit small for this first Liberty Fest, but I got to hang with my extended family, “The Raymers,” whom I love. Dodge and his daughters, Stacey and Marsha, and their husbands, Dave and Jack.
I also sat in for an interview with the hosts of the “Straight Out Of Pike” (as in Pike County) podcast. It was their first ever podcast, so I wish the two hosts (pictured here alongside me, my friend Dodge Raymer, and that hairy Sasquatch) much success with their new venture.
It was great being back home. Thank you to my new friend Chase, who booked me for the event. Turns out Chase graduated from Central Missouri State University as I did, so we are both proud Mules! What a fun Saturday back home.
SUNDAY
I drove about an hour and 45 minutes north to the little town of Florida, Missouri, and saw miles and miles of tall corn along the way. It looks pretty much like it did when I grew up in the Show Me State.
The Florida Winery and Resort is tucked up against Mark Twain State Park and the huge lake that’s been there seemingly forever. And yes, Mark Twain was around, as he apparently was in the Confederate Army for a VERY short while, as he claimed he was only good at retreating.
The winery and resort is really cool. I played out on the patio to a crowd full of wine lovers, friends I had not seen forever (and did not know their names). My dear friends Becky and Will Denton help manage the place, and I got the two of them to get up and perform a couple of songs that we’ve written over the years. One of them being “Two Bags, One Beach,” which was a #1 hit for Becky on one of the Trop Rock Charts.
I could not have had a better time. I played for 2 hours, told stories, laughed, and sang my original songs. And folks were just so nice to sit, listen, and applaud.
That part of my home state is really gorgeous…and I’m pretty sure I’ll be returning to play there. And I look very forward to that.
SONG OF THE DAY
This one is from Chicago Native Jacky Dustin, who gets to sing the National Anthem now and then at Wrigley Field in Chicago, which is pretty cool.
The song is “The Devil Don't Honk His Horn,” which I wrote with Jacky and my buddy Brady Seals. Jacky recorded this rollicking, jump out of your church pew seat, hallelujah kind of song on her last album, and it’s really infectious, as you’ll hear.
At the end of the song, you’ll hear me and Brady jumping in with me singing the bass part in the song.
LINE DANCING
Over the weekend, my friend Katrina Burgoyne posted this great dancing video to the song we wrote together that was released last week, “The American Dream”. I’m always amazed when folks create dances for songs that I have helped write. Check out this VIDEO.
HEALTH NOTES
A dietitian claims that the leading herb to help lower blood pressure is Oregano.
The FDA has approved a ready-to-use stem cell therapy for pets.
Troubling. Measle cases have surged to a record high in US since the disease was declared eliminated.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Lots of folks on the highway going back to work after this holiday weekend, so that sign seems appropriate for today.
LOTTA HOT DOGS
Joey Chestnutt won the hot dog eating championship again over the weekend. The guy at 70.5 hot dogs! Man. I like hot dogs, but how does one eat 70 of those bad boys?
EXPENSIVE
GoBankingRates says the most expensive cities to visit in the U.S. does not include New York City.
The most expensive is Aspen, Colorado, followed by Santa Barbara, Anchorage, Bar Harbor, Maine, and Fairbanks.
I took a bike trip many years ago that ran through Aspen and overnighted. That was a long time ago, and it was expensive then as well. Beautiful, but expensive.
AI AI O
97% of the Gen Z generation say they use AI to write college essays and answer homework questions. Man, what I would have given to have AI or the internet help me with math and algebra questions when I was in High School. And now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever used anything they were trying to teach me in Algebra or Trigonometry.
To my way of thinking, there’s no excuse for anyone being “dumb” anymore when the answers are so easy to find online.
Of course, AI comes with a cost. Get this. The CEO of Ford believes that AI will replace HALF of all white-collar jobs. Half.
AI giveth, and AI taketh away.
OLD AGE ADVICE
114-year-old Bonita Gibson, from Michigan, claims the key to living long is to do what she’s done. Smile, eat healthy, no smoking or drinking, and…to eat potatoes. It’s that simple folks. Order a bag of Idaho Russets.
TODAY’S HEADLINE
Guy Tries To Buy Toy Poodles, Gets Fluffy, Steroid-Pumped Giant Ferrets Instead. (I’m sure they’re just as lovable as the puppy would have been.)
TODAY
It’s back home to Nashville today. Have a great Monday!
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