Arkansas Travel

Just got back from a couple of days in Eureka Springs. It was great weather for a drive through the Ozarks. I believe it is one of the most soothing places in the nation. We met a great couple from Honolulu that just bought one of the "Victorian Ladys" on Spring Street. This one was said to be haunted, but they've not encountered anything of the sort. Think of this. You live on the side of a mountain at Diamondhead, but vacation in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. What does that tell you?

I'm putting together a jam session/performance on July 3rd at a bed and breakfast. If it comes together, it'll be great!!

Holiday Happenings

My youngest graduated high school last evening with the largest scholarships in the class. It's kind of funny how ready she is to get out of school. It was a great ceremony with lots of cheers for the kids and the most volume directed at my girl. We had a nice family get together with some good food and laughs afterwards. Being who she is, she committed long ago to going to state competition this weekend with the band as her ensemble has made it all the way to Austin. She is first chair and didn't see that the group could do much without her being there. So off she went early this morning only to fly back in to Love Field tonight. We can't wait for her to get home.

The Coleman Bluegrass Festival starts this week at the Sundowner Sports Arena in Coleman, Oklahoma. I've helped to promote the event so I plan to be there at least on Saturday. I'm having to turn down an invitation to set in with a put together band this weekend in order to do so, but with the energy and marketing we've put in to this festival, I'm anxious to see first hand as to whether the hard work pays off towards attendance.

Off to Eureka Springs tomorrow as Ms. and I need some time in the hills, we's gettin' hillbilly fever. Following our chill we're back to Fort Smith on Tuesday to visit some stations and get a little work done.

Big Change

After seventeen and a half years, I've taken a new job and boy am I feeling different. I was a station operations manager at a television affiliate, overseeing a little bit of all 50 to 60 people who worked there, in every department. I'll tell you that with the way that business is changing, I too was in the need of a different view. It will be interesting to watch television broadcast and cable in general over the next 5 years. IPTV, multicasting, viewer content contribution, HD, I could go on and on. Let me say that if you are not in the business (which of course few people are), you have no idea of how it may affect your personal viewing, I say this because there are many IN the biz that have no idea what they will be dealing with.

I'm now working with a company that consults and markets high end finishing and special effect video editing systems and software. So far I'm enjoying the fresh air and all of the interesting facilities and people I've been dealing with. I've kind of felt like I've been in a dark room for the last 10 years. Things are just better now.

I know I have a few readers, and I'll be starting to post more these next couple of weeks. The last several days have left very little time at home just to chill, let alone working on my blogs. After a couple of days on the road and traveling locally from place to place, I just don't want to compute in the evening. But with that said, there's more to come. Promise.

Whew!

Wow! Running and going and making appointments, that's my new life. No time home, so no updates. I'll slow down this next week and look to bring some new images with a new camera! Check back, I'm still here, just exhausted!

Blue Moon Music, Vintage and More!

It's now time for one of our sponsors:

There are lot's of music stores out there. Most of them offering beginner instruments with a few mid level guitars hanging in the rafters. If you are a picker and looking for something you've not seen in a while, let me give you a phone number. 479-521-8163. This call puts you in touch with Blue Moon Music in Fayetteville, Arkansas, owned by Les Haynie. Les is a top, formally trained luthier, so he knows stringed instruments. Not just guitars, but violins, cellos, electrics, mandolins and most everything that uses strings. If you are a Texan, don't let the miles between Dallas and Fayetteville scare you. Call Les or send him an email. If he's got what you are interested in, less than a 4 hour drive (partially through the beautiful hills of the Ozarks via 4 lane freeway) puts you in the shop. Paul Reed Smith, Martin, Collings, Breedlove and many others along with a rotating stock of fine vintage.

Their slogan: "Rare to Well-Done Instruments" blumnmus@aol.com or 479-521-8163.

Now back to our program...

Austin Lounge Lizards

The Austin Lounge Lizards perform at the Open Door Coffee House in the Trinity Hall at the United Methodist Church (breath now) in Arlington on Saturday night. Reach the site at the open door or call 'em for more at 817-429-2196.

Westminster

We saw the clouds brewing to the northwest. I phoned my meteorologist friend Alan on my drive to McKinney and he said told me that respective to an earlier conversation we had had that "the cap had broken." What Al was referring to was a meteorological condition where the atmosphere was ripe for severe weather, but because of a lack of any disturbance in the far reaches of the atmosphere the thunderheads were not able to climb and develop. The surface heat from the ground yesterday caused that instability. The cap broke.

On our way back north from McKinney just after sunset Ms. and I saw an incredible light show. By the time we were only 3 miles from the house we had to pull under Hwy. 75 along with about a dozen other cars in order to get out of the hail. It was a severe storm and from that storm the Westminster tornado was formed. We had some very high winds at our place that were probably in the 50 to 60 mph range. They were strong but short lived. The Westminster tornado evidently affected Van Alstyne and Anna but no touchdown was confirmed.

We are in tornado alley. They can pop up quickly without much warning. Pray for those folks in Westminster that were affected by last nights storm.

Bluegrass Music on the Air

I came across information on bluegrass music on the fm dial. Here are the listings:

KTCU 88.7 Fort Worth Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 3-4 p.m.
KETR 88.9 Commerce Sundays 7-9 p.m.
KEOS 89.1 College Station Tuesdays 7-9 p.m.
KNON 89.3 Dallas Monday through Fridays 4-6 p.m.
KMAU 90.9 College Staton Saturdays 7-8 p.m.
KRSC 91.3 Claremore, Oklahoma Sunday 8-10 p.m.
KOOP 91.7 Austin Sundays 9-10:30 p.m.
KVOO 98.5 Tulsa, Oklahoma Sundays 7-9 p.m.
KNES 99.1 Fairfield Sundays 12:30-5 p.m.
KSHN 99.9 Liberty Saturday 9:30-10:30 a.m.
KKUS 104.1 Tyler Saturday 9-11 a.m.

If you live in the coverage area of one of these stations, tune them in. And if you like the fare, give them a call! I've been on the recieving end of the radio game and it feels good to know that people are enjoying the time and planning effort as well as what talent you have to offer them. I'm a listener of the College Station program now and then and only wish they'd let me fill in once and a while! If you live in or near the Tulsa market, KVOO offers up a good show as well.

The Latest

After a long while of searching and networking, I have accepted a new job. I'll be working with AutoDesk and Discreet Logic editing and finishing systems. The office is based in downtown Dallas so no relocation will be required. I've been at my current job almost 2/3 of my broadcast career, so obviously a big change is occuring not only at the station for me as well :-)

I've not really began to dig in to clearing out my things, as I'm producing a two day live telecast of a golf tournament through Saturday (such a trooper I am).

My Cross Promotion

I've got some updates coming, but until then help me out. Don't forget (www.dfwacoustics.com). It's my other endeavor, I try to keep it interesting to those in to acoustic music in general. Check it out. Thanks.