Long story short, there was just no way to keep from slopping that colorful wall paint all up in the corners of an otherwise white ceiling.  After totally wrecking half the room, I decided to call for help.  Fortunately Ken Swanson “The Owner Builder” was kind enough to stop by and get me back on the paths of painting righteousness. Sometimes you just need proper counsel to avoid home owner self destruction. Ken is a real pro!

He told me exactly what to buy at Lowe’s.  He showed me how to properly use the tools. And he taught me how to cut in a white ceiling without it looking like Fido’s rear end!  I am telling you, if you are doing any kind of home improvement and are not quite sure how to go about things, call Ken! Read his blog at: http://talkradiobuilder.com  You will save time and money too!

Bryan did a commendable performance last night as he miraculously appeared in his little girl’s dreams, and came home for the holidays.  It was a touching scene.  It was good to once again hear his fine vocals as well.  I recalled a time last year when we sang together during the north state performance of the play M.A.S.H.  Thanks for the memories Bryan! Thanks also to the entire cast and crew who worked so hard to stage such a great show.

I have a few other friends (singers) who always come to mind during this time of year.  We have enjoyed more than a few jam sessions together around the campfire.  They are The Fox Family, aka: 3 Fox Drive from New York.  Kim Fox is one of the best songwriters I have ever had the pleasure of pickin’ with.  A few years ago, they recorded a song titled “Watching Over The Soldiers At Christmas”.  Here is the video.  I hope you will be as blessed as I was listening to the song. Turn up your speakers and just try not to bawl.

I needed a little lead time for testing the performance of this lash up, to make sure it would not just flop over on its side when you run it around the yard.  I did find out some interesting (though not too surprising) things yesterday during ATV Tom’s maiden voyage.  If you go too fast downhill with the thing, and crank the steering too tight, it will crash and burn.  Nothing is destroyed though.  Everything is made of plastic and rubber.

I had planned to buzz around the back lawn with it, but had to modify the field of play due to the inexpensive ATV toy.  I would guess if you spent $69 on the bigger rock climbing version it would easily get through tall grass.  This one just kind of spins the wheels unless it is on a flat surface.  I’ll just run it on the driveway and use the garage door for a backstop to catch the Nerf “ammo”.  I decided not to use a marshmallow gun because I don’t want to clean all that stuff up.  Besides, I just know someone will track it right into Grandma’s kitchen, and then I will be in a peck of trouble!

I’ll get their dad to operate the remote control while I shoot the video of the boys blasting away at the moving target.  I guess you can find a video game that does all this, but I think it will be more fun to get outside and shoot at something. Especially an ATV riding turkey!  I expect as years pass, we will carry on this tradition with bigger and better versions of this game.  I can envision us down by the creek with a more rugged ATV and using paint ball shooters.  Then one day we’ll break out the real shot guns and go on a true big boy’s turkey hunt.  For now, this will have to do.  Just comment on this post and let me know what you are planning this year.  Here is a video I shot of our back yard a few seasons ago.

I’ll post the new turkey shoot video on Youtube after Thanksgiving day.

We have gathered many times over the years to celebrate our mutual love of music.  I remember jamming with my pals at Mikki’s rice farm in Willows when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years ago and that experience lifted my spirits higher than you can imagine.  I fought and won my battle with cancer, and am now proud to be called a “Survivor”.

This year our very best fiddle player and girl singer Mikki was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She is currently enduring all the chemo therapy in preparation for her surgery.  In this photo we were singing about our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ!  The lyrics were poignant.  “With three rusty nails and and old dog wood tree, the sacrifice was made for you and me”…  You can hear Mikki’s fine fiddle playing and singing on this demo cut of “Sunsets In Virginia“.

Our time on this earth is quick as a wink!  Be encouraged to make every day count.  Take the time to sit beside a loyal and true friend in times of trouble.  Be bold and lift them up in fervent prayer today.  So won’t you  join me in mentioning Mikki’s name to God right now.  She is a great woman and we so want to be blessed with her talent and presence for decades to come!

Water Off The Back Of A Duck – Van Atwell/George Ireton

Bill Ireton was always quick on the joke trigger.  He had so much fun with people, and I suppose that legacy lives in me today.  He enjoyed going down by the river and gigging frogs, then told my 4 year old kid those fried legs were just “River Chicken”.  If someone asked him to do something stupid, he always said… “Why don’t you just stand on your head and poop in your hat?”  Ha ha.  Good one Bill!  He was a great musician who taught me how to play the guitar and sing.  I truly believe those valuable lessons kept me alive during Viet Nam because my army entertainment job ended up with me holding a guitar instead of an M16.

Dad had a soft heart when it came to his kids, but I still remember being that Army brat, when we lived on post, were Dad was a Staff Sergeant.  He was a veteran of WWII and Korea.  He served his country well, and taught me to do the same.  In the time when other 18 year old boys ran to Canada to evade the draft, my dad said “We are not the runnin’ kind.  You’ll be fine, just get in, keep your head down, and get out”.  Turns out he was right as usual.  Thanks Dad.

Happy Father’s Day Dad!  Say hi to Doc!

Every summer there are many opportunities to meet up with friends you may not have seen in months, or even years.  One such event would be the California Bluegrass Association’s Bluegrass Festival at Grass Valley, CA.  The Nevada County Fairgrounds is a beautiful place this time of year.  I always enjoy the tall pines there in the campground.   I think that campground pickin’ may be my favorite way to share the music because you can walk around and visit all day (or night)  and re-kindle relationships with so many great musicians.  Thousands of people come out every year, and have done so for decades.

It is always great to get into a jam session with a group of people who just happen to know many of the same songs as you do.  It is kind of funny though.  Many times you pick with folks and never even learn their name.  Sometimes there is just not an opportunity for introductions because the music is already happening when you walk up and join in.  You don’t just stop the music and start yakking. This situation can repeat itself year after year.  I think because there are only so many hours in the weekend, people tend to center on playing as much music as possible, with little or no regard for names or occupations.

You can’t really tell much by looking at people either.  I am frequently surprised to learn “the story” about someone after playing with them year after year.  It is totally possible to share the love with a virtuoso fiddle player who just hooked a ride to the festival directly from a homeless shelter.  Tent camping in the pines is a step up for him.  I have also sat down in front of a high-dollar motor home and taught a few chords to a beginning guitar player who turned out to be a brain surgeon!  My point is, none of that matters much.

What does matter is that you get that dusty old instrument out of the case once in a while and get out there and pick!  If you see me weavin’ through the pines, just snag me aside and let’s play a tune!  Oh, and if you must, wear a name tag that shows your occupation, not that anyone cares!

One issue I have is that the local dogs seem to really like it too.  They frequently come by for a “visit” and sort of roll around under the shade tree and bask in the greenery.  Unfortunately, they also leave “deposits”.  These are land mines that I usually find with the lawn mower a few days later.  When the particular “land mines” are encountered, it makes for a somewhat less than pleasant experience, as the material is… well you know… smushed! I am at a loss for exactly what to do.  I don’t want to be mean to the dogs.  Truth be told, I kinda like them.  I just wish they would play in their own yard.

I was not aware until today that there is even an online game called “Get Off My Lawn”.  Here is the link if you wanna’ play.  Anyway, I guess I will just keep on mowing and scooping unless and until the dogs move away.  I guess it is really not the worst thing that can happen in a neighborhood.  At least we don’t have the constant police helicopter activity overhead like they do in East LA.

Happy summer and peace to all y’all!

There is also a great lady in town who knows much of the history of rodeos.  To go along with it, she is a playwright.  Lisa Murphy Collins has written and produced a radio play titled: “Tohidu”.  Along with her husband Bill Collins and the rest of her production team, Lisa has presented a fantastic story centered upon the Redding Rodeo.  You can listen to a pre-recorded podcast here:  New Radio Theater.

As if that were not enough,  Lisa and Bill wrote an original song titled: “The Old Man Is My Hero”.  She has a video production company called Generation DVDs and has laid the song across that format.  It is masterfully sung by Michael Vasquez, the same talented guy who played the part of Lee Montana in the radio play.   Just click on the video below to enjoy the song, then check out The New Radio Theater for a special Father’s Day Project!

On Lake Shasta there are three species of bass.   Spotted Bass are also known as Kentucky Bass.  They are plentiful on this lake.  I was fishing not far from the boat ramp at Bailey Cove on the lower McCloud River Arm.  I have found Large Mouth Bass up the Pit Arm and Small Mouth up the Shasta Arm.  I think it is so much fun to catch Small Mouth because they seem to have a particular “attitude” when caught.  Maybe it has to do with the fact that they have red eyes and just look mad, but they just fight like all hell!

Fishing in the North State is one of the reasons I moved up here over 20 years ago.  After spending too many years in the Mojave Desert working on the Santa Fe Railroad, I guess I just needed to see water and trees!  I have never been sorry for my rather impulsive decision to take the golden handshake and move to Redding.  The quality of life here has been well worth the trade of the perceived financial benefit of being transferred to yet another dirty railroad town in the boonies or worse, a place like Detroit or Chicago!  I am happy with my chosen business, Shasta Consulting & Web Design, Inc.

So I say… soak it in folks!  This is a beautiful part of the country.  We are truly blessed with so many fantastic quality of life benefits here.  There are unparalleled recreational opportunities, as well as a vibrant theater scene, along with world class musical performances.  And, if all else fails, just go fishin!