Went to update the blog, but then I realized... I got nothing...

Oh look, a song!

-JD

Dang. I can't believe it's already April 13th. In less than two months, I'll be 31...

I've just been doing my usual routine - work, meetings, computer jobs, sleep... I'm now on book three of the A Song of Ice and Fire series - A Storm of Swords... it's bad-out, but I've got a First-World Problem...

Pretty happy with the way things are going. I'm thinking I want to get registered at TAMUCC and maybe take a single online course, just to bring my credits current and see what it would take to finish my bachelor's degree.

Well, I've got to go to bed... it's 2:04AM - I decided to build a 'Hackintosh', and it's kept me up later than I should be. I am supposed to help a friend move his trailers and such to Rockport tomorrow morning... he'll be pissed if I sleep through it... bleh

Here's what I've been listening to lately... good stuff.

Night ya'll!

-Jeremy

So, I'm not in school and I don't have any kids, but I took a much needed "Spring Break" anyway! It was awesome.

My little brother rented a cabin down in Concan, TX at Neals Lodges for the Rio Frio Fest. I'd never heard of it, but being a fan of Texas Country and of going out of town, I was eager to check it out.

I was not disappointed. My brother and my sis in law Briana, our friend Joel and myself all went to the show on Thursday night and got there in time to see The Trishas open for the Turnpike Troubadours.

Turnpike Troubadours

These guys were awesome, even if they are Okies! They got on stage looking like they had just plowed a field. I've been a fan of their music since I first heard 7&7, and it was great to see them live (I didn't even know they were going to be there)

So that was the first night. I crashed out early, and the next day I got up and drove to Uvalde for supplies (coffee and doughnuts). I passed by this place on the way into town:

After breakfast I think I slept in until nearly noon, at which time Chiko talked me into going kayaking... I'd never been before, but it sounded like fun. So we did a 4 mile run down the Frio River. It took about 4 hours, and the river was alive with scenery (and "scenery" too!). Through the mid point, we passed through a crowd of a couple hundred Spring Breakers - they were mostly peaceful and drunk and (for some reason) excited to see us! One kid asked if we needed to be "motorboated" and jumped on the back of each of our kayaks and pushed us through some of the low spots.

It was a great way to explore the river and I'm even considering doing a little kayaking here at home on the Nueces now. Maybe.

So that was an adventure. And I got sunburned like a bia-bia! As I explained on Facebook:

But it was a lot of fun. Glad I did it.

From there it was back to the cabin for more naps! And that night we went back to the 'Fest to see Shinyribs and Uncle Lucius open for Stoney LaRue

Shinyribs	Uncle Lucius
Kevin "Shinyribs" Russell - frontman for The Gourds who I know for the country-fried "Gin n Juice" cover. This guy was an amazing performer and I can remember sitting, thinking "have I been listening to a love song about sweet potatoes for ten minutes!? And enjoying it!!?" And his cover of T-Pain's "Buy you a Drank" had everybody rolling, especially with his "lovemaking ad-lib" - wtf!?	I don't know that I would consider Uncle Lucius "Texas Country" - they have their own kind of sound, unique only to them - I can't even think of anyone to compare them to. I was only familiar with one of their songs going in to the show, but I liked it. I thought they put on an amazing performance, but I got the vibe that many of the Spring Breakers weren't sure what to make of them - some of their songs are kind of dark and slow, especially following near-comedian Shinyribs and opening for "good-ol-boy" Stoney LaRue. But I thought they were bad-out. I'm always a fan of a fiddlestick on an electric guitar!

By the time Uncle Lucius was done with their set, my teeth had started chattering from the cool air blowing on my sunburned skin. I pulled up our "sittin' blanket" and mad a poncho out of it:

JoJo, Bri and me in my "poncho"

After all that excitement, we headed back to the cabin. These 3 cute girls pulled me aside as I was leaving and asked if one of them could use my blanket "for just a couple of minutes" because she was freezing. Of course, I obliged:

Kinda wished I would have spent more time talking to them looking back on it... but by that point, I was cold and hungry and sunburned and tired and ready to go home to the cabin.

When we got back, Chiko and JoJo and Bri made a big fire and sat around drinking until late, but I got in bed pretty quick.

And the next morning we packed up and headed out. I had a great time, but the sunburn was hurtin' and I was ready for my bed:

Anyhow, I had a wonderful time and I hope we can go back next year. It was sure nice to get away for just a couple of days. And the best part is, I took off Monday too, so I've still got a whole day to get my house and errands in order before returning for a 4-day work week!

Yes, life is good. Twas a good break, and it still is!

-JD