Nashville----The rest of the Group Arrives

The kids arrived via aeroplane today. More accurately, this evening.  Victor and I spent the day mostly at the hotel just hanging out, napping, and Victor doing his homework.  I wasn't as lazy as I made myself sound. For I too did some work. I called a few clients and did some advertising and networking work. After the kids arrived we met up with our good friends the Gonzales'. We had a fine meal at the Santa Fe Cattle Co. It's a meat and potatoes kind of place with animal mounts on the wall and peanut shells on the floor. The service was good and the company was even better.  We all had a lot of fun catching up and discussing the future.   

In the Parking lot we stopped to get a couple of pictures and let the dogs run around together. They have a male poodle the exact same size as Belle. His name is Chase. I think when they meet again this summer they will have great fun together.   

James showed our friends his newest stunt with Olivia, one we will do for the cameras tomorrow.  It ended up being a show stopper as passer-byes had to stop and take videos and pictures.  Our after meal time in the parking lot was cut short because it was down right freezing.    We also have to wake up early for the rehearsals so it is off to sleep shortly. 

 I forgot to mention that earlier today Victor and I decided to take Belle for a long walk along the main road while looking for a place to have lunch.   Our California blood wasn't ready for the chill so our walk lasted about a mile or two before we were frozen to our cores with red frozen ears and  runny noses.  We ended up just having fast food from the McDonald on the corner. 

Though the whole day was a nice blessed day. One really good thing about today....no Alphabet game and that's a good thing indeed.  In regards to the flight out. I was told everyone had a great time. It was Olivia's first trip on a plane so she was thrilled but the 3 hour lay over bored her to tears....well, she didn't cry but she didn't forget to let her boredom known. 

Nashville Road trip Day 4

Before I give the daily report  click on the new artwork picture below...it should get bigger so you can look at it closely and give me your opinion and fixes. ThanksWell. we are here in Nashville. Little Rock to Nashville in just about 6 hours.  

On the sports report....Victor won the Alphabet game making it making his lead 1-3!

Our hotel tonight (and for the next few days) is awesome. Last night's hotel turned out OK...thanks to be exhausted. And in spite of the room change (actually we were moved to a whole different building last night...as far from those roaches as possible. 

 Amelia (8) made me a little scarf, she weaved it on a homemade weaving board thingy. I didn't think I would really need it on the trip but a cold front hit Nashville just after we arrived and it got cold fast. So when I went for a walk to pick up a couple of things at a nearby store my neck was kept warm. I was very thankful for the scarf. Thank you Amy!

These are just a couple of churches that were right next to hwy 40. So cool looking I took a picture. 

They named a rest stop after Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams.  Is that a compliment? I mean think about it.....they have to share the honor. And the honor is basically having a roadside restroom named after you.  Hmmm. 

Arkansas and most of Tennessee seem to be hills and leafless trees. (Guess winter is the reason for the latter).  There are lots of lakes and swamps along hwy 40 in AR. I bet it is quite pretty in the spring.   

Well, the last sentence sounded like a what I did for winter essay so I will wind things up before I further prove I have no writing skills. 

Nashville Road Trip Day 3

First the good news: look at those gas prices our here! From New Mexico through Oklahoma gas has been $2.99 average. We paid $2.94 at one place!!!! No snow anywhere today and we had a great back wind so we had 20mph with the VAN! Can you believe that!  

Traveling with Victor is great. However he beat me at today's Alphabet game leaving me stranded on Q!

For a couple of years Victor has been trying to get me to try the KFC Double Down sandwich (lots of cheese and bacon between two deep fired chicken breasts for buns).  It was the bomb y'all!  

We've made it to the Little Rock, AR area. Our hotel had guests in the room when we arrived.  Victor saw one on the wall and smooshed it.  It resembled a smooshed bed bug so I took it to the front desk.  When I came back Victor had found another one but kept it alive.  Turns out to be a baby German Cockroach! Darn Kraut-bug! Enough to make us change rooms. Too tired to change hotel rooms or get angry. Just happy it wasn't a bed bug.  But I am down with this chain of hotels. 

Here is a picture of the live one.  He's naked so close your eyes if you don't like to see naked bugs.

Victor is calling me to play cards since we pulled into town earlier than usual so good night.

Oh, one more thing.  Miles hurt his foot and had x-rays today.  Hope all is good because the  producers of the show we are taping this week specifically wants the Bullwhip and bed of nails on the show. Prayers for him and his foot...please.

Nashville Road trip day 2

This is what most of our drive looked like today.  Day two took little Victor and I from Kingman, AZ to Amarillo, TX....and we once again lost one hour to the time zones....we are on Central time now.....only one more time zone to go!

Our hotel here in Amarillo is a bit smaller but much nicer than the one in Kingman. And no smells.  Why is it that even good hotels have smells.  I guess my nose is too much like a dog's.  Oh, we aren't staying in good hotels the previous statement was just a ponder.  After all I am of Scottish decent. 

I one the daily alphabet game so tomorrow will be a nail biter and if covered by ESPN it would be a top rated show. Watched more the the Tebow-Brady match up.

We decided to stop and check out the snow a little so we pulled into a McDonald's.  I got hit by a snow ball by a little brat named after me.  Belle got her feet dirty in the sludge and so there went my upholstery.  We then went inside and tried their new popcorn chicken like chicken thingies.  Really not so good. Many of the pieces were just deep fried dough. It was just a snack so no big loss. 

I got two surprise calls from Olivia and Amelia while driving.  Too sweet. 

On the road to Nashville (day 1)

It is a father son trip as Victor Jr and I hit the road in the AM on our trek to Nashville to tape the Shotgun Red Variety Show.   Victor beat me at the Alphabet game that took a good four hours because there wasn't a "z" to be found. We will spend the night here in Kingman, AZ then try to make eastern NM or Texas tomorrow.   We listened to some old time radio and tried to get the 49er game on the radio but could not find it.   We learned from the clerk at the donut shop (Frosty's) in Barstow, CA that the niners won.   He even gave us a couple of free donuts. We did catch the tail end of the Bronco spanking.  Too Bad. 

The rest of the fam will fly out to Nashville later this week where we will meet them and then tape the show. We hope to meet up with some of our friends in Nashville so it promises to be a fun week. 

Saw the sign to Lake Havisu and the London Bridge....might stop by and see that on the way back. 

Belle and Buttercup are traveling with us. And so far they are doing well.

I want to thank Anti Monkey Butt Powder (www.antimonkeybutt.com) for sponsoring our trip. If you are our fans we beg you to support them and get yourself one of their soothing cremes or powders for any chaffing or itching you might have. You can also thank them by liking them on Facebook.

Oitoke Pond...I translated this Japanese Ghost story 18 years ago.

Before I begin. Cynthia returned to Berea today and made it back safe and sound.
Victor Jr. and I will start our drive to take our equipment to Nashville this week for taping next week of the Shot Gun Red Variety Show.
(The rest of the gang will fly out.)
We also have a great gig up in Chico (Private) that will include the trapeze.
Now...here is what passes as a Ghost story 100 years ago in Japan.


Oitoke Pond

A long time ago, near a little village in Japan, there was a very large pond that was said to be abundant with fish. So the nearby villagers would often go there to fish. The strange thing was that nobody would fish there during the day. Only at night would fishermen go and happily fish away until their creels were full. Occasionally, after pulling up their creel, packing-up their gear and were just about to leave some fishermen would hear “Oitoke, Oitoke” which in Japanese means “drop it drop it” in a very commanding voice. The voice sounded like it came right out of the depths of the pond. Hearing this, the fishermen would drop everything and run away. Before long this was happening all the time so fishermen stopped coming and the pond became known as Oitoke Pond. Even today people rarely venture to go fishing there, night or day.

Now, on the edge of this village there lived a man named Sanzaemon. He was a man of boundless courage and nothing easily scared him. “Why is everyone so afraid a voice? A voice can’t do anything to you!” he would exclaim. “I will go and no matter how many times a voice says to drop it I will surely return with my fish.” He announced one day.

That evening he set out for Oitoke Pond; after all it’s more fun to fish at a haunted pond at night, isn’t it?

He fished frantically trying to catch as many fish as he could as the night grew darker. Once full he pulled up his creel and packed up his gear. Just then he heard the voice. “Oitoke, Oitoke”, it said.

He grinned ever so slightly and looked around the pond. He couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from. But the voice was ominous; he could only guess that it compared to what a voice from hell might sound like. “Just like the rumors said”, he mumbled to himself.

“Who should I drop it for?” Sanzaemon called out in response to the commands to drop it. There was no response so he gripped his gear and the creel a little tighter and he began to walk away.

As he walked on he heard the clapping of geta (Japanese wooden clogs) approaching him from behind. He turned and looked to see a beautiful young lady. Coming to his side she smiled beautifully and asked, “Can I buy those fish from you?”

“Are you crazy!?” Sanzaemon snapped. “These fish are gifts.”

“Please don’t say that. Let me buy them.” She pleaded.

But Sanzaemon couldn’t be persuaded. “No! Just stop it! They aren’t for sale”, he bellowed at her.

She continued to beg bowing lower each time until finally Sanzaemon barked at her again and turned to walk off.

At that very  moment, before his eyes, the young woman’s face transformed into that of an awful she-devil (Onibaba) and she asked, “Even though I asked you kindly you won’t drop them?” perhaps hoping to scare him.

“That’s right. And who should I drop them for?”, the un-fazed Sanzaemon asked her without turning back to look at her again. He then  walked home, briskly.

Once in his house he breathed a sigh of relief, for he was more scared than he let on. He told his landlady, “Today I met a dreadfully frightening woman. I was scared but I brought the fish back. Just like I said I would.”

He told her the whole story, including the beautiful girl and her transformation into an onibaba.

Turning away from him his landlady asked, “This girl, what kind of face did you say she had?”

“It was exactly like an Onibaba’s face but being so dark I can’t exactly be sure.  I tried to ignore her.”

Quickly turning to face him the landlady asked, “Is this what she looked like?” Her face had changed to look exactly like the Onibaba of earlier.

With a scream, “Aghhhhhhhhh!” , Sanzaemon passed out.

 After coming to he realized he wasn't home at all but in a deserted mountain house somewhere in the forest near the pond. Of course his gear, the creel, and the fish were gone.

Or so the story goes.

-End.

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Grandma's Birthday and A Family Group Pix

Holidays

The Holidays. Well, we exited the new year with a BANG. I took my dad and Victor Jr to the Clay Pits for some shootin'. My pop had never fired a cap and ball gun and I happen to have one. We had fun but My Colt Dragoon didn't fire a couple of times. I think my powder was to coarse. So I bought some finer powder and it shoots better now.
Victor got his first chance to shoot a gun as well. He is using his mom's 410. He hit a few targets. The folks next to us let us their clay pigeon launcher but Victor ran out of bird shot before he could hit any. Maybe next time.

We also shot my 308 and wow was that an accurate gun. It was hard not to hit the targets.
Miles wanted a 2000 piece puzzle fro Christmas. It took 5 days and he no longer ever wants to see a 2000 piece puzzle again.
Christmas Day...all the presents are opneed and the girls are wearing their Christmas jamies.
The grand parents and the kids on Christmas day.
A tradition I started back when it was just Mam, me, and James was that I would make fruit salad on Christmas Eve. It was my gift to Mami because she loves fruit. It was expensive to do in Japan. But cheaper here in California. Still it takes a ton of fruit to make a good fruit salad to get the taste just right. And besides there are nine of us here.
I passed the tradition to the boys. Miles has been loyal to the tradition (James has taken a powder the last two years running off somewhere on Christmas Eve). We allowed another change to the tradition too. We let girls in on it. Amelia, Cynthia and Olivia helped too. Amelia hung it out until the end.

The final product a whole bunch of fruit salad.
Melons!
Jugs.

Rack!

Here no fruit. See no fruit. Speak no fruit.
BLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
I found a picture of our old apartment in Nara, Japan. This pix is from 2009 and it looks exactly as it did 16 years ago. The highlighted area is our old apartment.

update on sponsor info and other stuff

This weekend Jim is in Des Moines, IA at the fair convention there. He has already gotten us a two year contract at the Plymouth fair. That's the one we did last year. He says it is cold out there but no snow storms....yet.

Antimonkey butt powder now has shampoo and body wash in a gift set.....they sponsor Our show so do me a favor and get a set for someone you love this Christmas.

I will be going to the KY and TN conventions when we go out that way to tape the Shotgun Red Variety Show in January. I love that section of the country and you can't beat the folks out their for hospitality and politeness.

Colusa Hometown Days

No pictures to post because it was insane tonight. Last year we were on the community stage but we had such a big draw that we were moved to the big stage this year. That meant tighter parking. It also meant less flexibility with staging. We pulled off a great show with the largest audience draw off all the acts. I know that sounds like bragging but it is really just reporting. James' girlfriend and her family showed up and Miles' interest and her family showed up. We have a strong traditional Christian value that prohibits girlfriends until the kids are 18 or more. But the young lady who likes Miles and he her is are fantastic people and I love her family and when time dictates I hope it works out for them....in God's hands.

I will let you all in a secret. For the last two weeks I have been suffering the worst back spasms of my life. The doctors are aware that the spasms happening so I was prepared for pain and muscle relaxing control but wow has it been a tough week. I have kept it quiet as not to worry anyone but since I am on the mend I thought I would share it. Still the pain is quite significant.

Tonight's show started off with a slight breeze and a fairly comfortable temperature. But by the time we were mid way through the show a north wind kicked in and we were freezing. In spite of the wind and the tilt in the stage (affecting the tight rope) everyone did well. Especially Jim with his balancing and Victor on the tight rope. Vic couldn't do his spin around but with such a tilt on the stage. I would've been surprised if he could. We plan on adding a tilt to the rig for practice in case we run into this situation again.

The most interesting thing of the night was when I was in the porta potty. While doing the chore I heard a loud bang on the side of the building. Then again and again from various sides. When I came out I found a 7 year old boy and his brother throwing water bottles at the porta potties. I scolded them to stop but got a laugh and another toss at the buildings in response. Since the music was loud I came a little closer and told them to stop. I then turned and walked away. As I did a blond woman walked passed me and asked what was going on. (Up to now she was ignoring what I later found out was her kids.) I told her they were throwing stuff at the bath rooms. Well, I walked on and before I could make it to the stage a man reeking of beer came face to face with me...I mean real close and asked me why I called his kid a brat. As I explained I only told the kid to stop; another man came up behind me like a prison yard block in preparation for a shanking. I was a bit worried because the man was angry. He called me a F###### liar when I said his kid misheard and I was just telling him to stop throwing the bottle. (imagine being in one of those things and hearing several bangs against the the wall). He used a few more colorful metaphors to describe how he desired to hurt me so I moved a bit away and offered them the opportunity to have a nearby cop mediate. They cursed me and the cop and vanished into the crowd. Later that night I got an email from the mother and she reposted the same email on the facebook page for the event and the newspaper that advertised the event that I was a bad man. I may have no choice but to file a complaint with the local police since I was threatened by the kid's father. The guy did not realize he was loud an there were many witnesses. I researched them and found out he is a mortgage man in Yuba City so I am sure his boss won't like the bad publicity. It saddens me that there are parents like this out there. They ignore their kids' bad behavior and act like jerks when confronted with the fact that their kids aren't angels. In my day a kid acting like that would've gotten me in trouble. Today they are defended by their parents, some drunk, like the father tonight. And we wonder why society is so screwed up.

I start the year with David Jackson of West Coast Festivals robbing us and end the year with this kind of crap. I wonder why I put up with it. Maybe I should become an accountant.

As I type this Tater-tot is snuggling up next to me in bed and makes the world a little better place.

Pictures of tater Tot for those of my family and friends who do not use Facebook

Tater Tot

I am proud to introduce you to Tater Tater-tot, five-month old poodle. He is the newest member of the family and the show. I picked him up yesterday in Socal. I would reprot more but I am sleepy from the drive. More to follow..... by the way Belle is excited.

AFA Convention Last Night

Well, the Banquet is over, the awards have been given, cheese cake eaten and dance done danced. We made some new friends like Vannesa Joy and Marvin (pictured here) singer an pianist who are fabulous. We also saw many old friends. We attended workshops, and meetings, took a nap in the afternoon and "partied" in the evening. And yes I did indeed danced with Mami.
I wore my 2012 costume to the Banquet as I did last year with my 2010 costume.....It fit better with the theme than the 2011 costume did...last year. We had some laughs and talked some business. Ironically I booked fairs in Indiana, Virginia, and Tennessee via email and calls while here and only talked about possibilities with the AZ fairs folks. I am happy that the fair manager from and her staff from the fair we did here in AZ last year was very happy with our services.
Enjoying a moment after the meal.

Steve Rosen has only been a balloon twister for a short time and he made a Monkey.....luckily this little fellow doesn't suffer from Monkey Butt ...but if he did we gave every attendee a sample of Anti Monkey Butt Powder so he would be fine.

We had lunch with Marvin and Vanessa (Joy) . It was a hoot. Marvin is a joke-aholic and quiet frankly might be insane. We all laughed so hard our stomach's hurt. The company made up for the really bad catfish I had at the cafe. It was like they pour a bottle of salt on it. Impossible to eat. But, like I said, the company was great.

Arizona Fairs Convention 2011

The theme of the convention is a Flashback to the 50s. Born in the mid 60s and raised in the 70s-80s we had to get advise from my folks and Happy Days. I already owned the wig and Mami made her poodle skirt from scratch. I nearly one in the men's costume contest...I was in the final three but lost out to a Babaloo character. Audience applause determined the outcome. A very well down over the top car hop won the women's portion. Oh, I should mention that the run off of the men's top three was a hula hoop contest......wich Amelia was here to act as my proxy for that....I would've won.
I took this picture because My Dodge and Mr Ford were both represented tonight at the tradeshow. I thought it was funny. Checy wasn't represented.

Our hotel in in the background...the 22nd floor. What a view...of the desert. We aren't gambling folks so we spend our spare time people watching and being with each other, strolling, and shopping.
Tuesday light was bowling night. In spite of my back I went for it after making sure I took my muscle relaxer and pain pill. About the third frame in they had to be supplemented very quickly by a shot of bourbon as I had a minor spasm...I couldn't tell you where the ball went on that frame. That's life with a tumor in your spinal cord. But we had a really good time and I won the two game set for our lane. Over all I was probably 15th. Mami was only a few pins behind me. We had a cute game where if either one of us got a strike or a spare we got a kiss from each other.

This is the fair board of the Cochise County fair.....their bowling gear. I am not sure how they finished the night but they definitely took best dressed.
The Koi outside the Colorado Belle. The minute a human looks down at them they all swim toward them Here they come.
I took this picture because many years ago we had the honor of working with the Kid and Nic show. A great great group. We have their CD and it is awesome. They will perform at the hotel we are at this weekend. But sadly we won't be here.

Sleep has been hard to come by since each day the convention has had early activities and late night activities. We left the presidents's cocktail party early since I could not keep my eyes open. I took a nap and Mami called home to give Miles here pie recipe (best pies in the word) for his foods class.

Our sponsor, Anti Monkey Butt Powder gave us some samples to put in the gift bags all participants get. I have been told by a few people it was the best thing in the bag. One person introduced me to her friends as the Anti-Monkey Butt guy....what a title.