AUGUST BIRTHDAYS AT STRICKLY COUNTRY

Dang...only reason why I went was because they said James Hand was going to play...Only they thought he was going to do it for free, and he was forced to inform them this is his job and he plays for money...So no James "Slim" Hand...dang!...But because I can't go anywhere with out bringing food, I made an apple cobbler(and one for Babs) okra fritters and green chili hush-puppies...The cobbler and the okra fritters were a big hit but the hushpuppies were too salty...and the green chili flavor sort of faded in the cooking, so will have to rethink that recipe. But damn, the okra fritters..they rocked..I knew I should have made a double batch...they were gone in minutes..I stayed about 2 1/2 hours..one diet Dr pepper and one water...I actually ended up busing some tables and getting some beers for people to help the bartender out. She was really busy..Saw some people I haven't seen in ages...saw my kinda sorta cousin Ricky Maler...every time I see Ricky I remember all the drugs we did..I'm surprised we survived our misspent youth..ha!..Youth my ass...that was 25 years ago..I wasn't a

'ute' as Billy Pilgrim calls them..I was in my thirties..I took all the pictures up there and Pasty took the ones of her saying damn my ass is big and put them in her purse..Then she went and got her ass locked in the bathroom...I thought she was gone a long time, then Chief's new girlfriend told Merle that Patsy was locked in the bathroom and he had to go jimmy the door to get her out..Patsy said she was sending a carpenter down first thing in the morning to fix that fucking door..

I got a phone call from Vicki(junebugg)

http://wdwd.blogspot.com/.

saying barring tornadoes, floods, or the second coming of Jesus, she would be here Thursday afternoon...She's coming from M. Alabama for the Westfest..I haven't heard from Sooner, but the last I talked to him, he was coming too...I'm so excited...2 of my friends are making it for Westfest..Now hopefully by next year after I rave and go on about how much fun we had more of you will show up ...You can put in your vacation for next year now and have an entire year to save up and plan your trip..I'll promise to make lots of okra fritters, stuffed jalapenos and cobblers...might even throw in a pot of chili..

Well, have to go do laundry....argh...I have to..I can't get in my bedroom with out a gun bearer and a guide..It's not to late for you to make this years Westfest...grab a pillow and come on down...

This is Her Royal Highness, Queen Annie, Ruler of Every Fucking Thing. Perched on top of one of my $2 bookcases, by my unmade bed.


Jenny, Grandma and Jamie. Jamie, Jenny and Jenny's boyfriend Jason.

Jamie and Jenny
and Jenny with LULU.

My Buddha display in my bedroom. I've had that piece of drift wood for about 10 years. City Hall to the left with the Gazebo and all the flags flying on 4th of July. Annie checking out her domain.
This is a great shot of some Texas clouds by the West Community Complex where we have the Senior Center to the right and behind it is the 3-field Baseball Complex, with new stands, new bathrooms and concession stand.
My $5 fucking shoes. Inky after being told he can only have one beer a day showing off his new mug.


This is what Inky and I do when people tell us shit we don't really care about...Which means "does this look like a face that gives a shit." By the way, Inky isn't really that much of a slob, he just got off work from Wolf's and was dirty and sweaty...

Ok....the work situation...is good..no..it's great..I went in Friday and when he opened the door thought ...'well, here goes nothing.' and said my usual...'good morning'...and he said 'good morning'...so far so good..I noticed that one of the u-boats was already (those things we put stock on that needs to be put out).and said, oh the truck's been here already and he said yes. So I just started putting shit up...about 10 minutes later Michel comes in ready for work...So I'm thinking, here it comes, he's going to fire me and replace me with Michel, who I really like and is a good worker(even if she is a tad slow)...but noooo...it's because(and Tom rushed over to tell me to0, probably knowing what I was thinking) we have to get all the stuff off the truck done in one day instead of the weekend as we have to get all the Halloween and Christmas stuff out by September 8th. (arghghghgghh)...So we busted ass and got it all done by noon. I actually got done with mine and then started condensing the school supply stuff down and did such a good job that I was sweating like a longshoreman..I do not glow, or perspire...I sweat ...and sweat a lot. Tom came over and said go back behind the counter and stand in front of the fan, your face is as red as a tomato and you look like your going to have a stroke and your worrying me...(????...oh yeah?...since when?) So I went and looked in the bathroom mirror and jeez, I looked like shit..I had to dry my hair(soaked like I had stepped out of the shower) with the hand blower dryer..But I stayed till 1:45 and got every thing done..Tom was so nice, and not once did he say one word( I kept dropping the fucking glue sticks) when I would drop anything, which on a daily basis I do about 15 times a day. He actually was complimentary, made small talk, and was'fucking nice to me'....Which is scary in it's ownself..But it was such a difference..I felt like a valued employee, instead of Bozo in the middle ring. So things are good..so far..I'm still not sure he's not going to drop the other shoe and fire me, but so far..so good...Thanks so much for all the sweet and encouraging comments and offers to kick his ass..and a special thanks to Allan(camelsbackandforth) for calling me and checking on me to make sure everything was ok...You're a good man Allan and glad your my friend...Speaking of which, I have to go now, as I'm going to listen to Allan's radio show..He plays such terrific music on his show...go by and check him out and listen to the music...and you can dance and sing along if you'd like....he doesn't mind....have a great weekend..jac

T.J.'S 4TH OF JULY BIRTHDAY PARTY

The pictures are of the bar and the big ole fat Texas clouds..I love clouds..and the couple on top is Vincent the best mechanic in West, Texas and his girlfriend. I have no clue who the couple below Vincent is, they were with Bimbo and wanted their picture taken..so I did..

The guy in the white tshirt is Dennis Porter, who looks exactly like he did 20 years ago, except his hair is gray. He's funnier than shit and takes no shit off of me. One of the reason's I like him...while we were sitting at the table his wife Cheryl dropped something and bent over to pick it up and she was right by him, he looked down and said "I know you can't get enough of me Cheryl, but damn do you have to do that now."...She still giggles at him..
the picture on the left is a painting by Bobby a local artist. The sign above the bar says Strickly Country.

The 3 cowboys and the lady are Josie and the boys, the band that played. Don't let the fact that Josie and 2 of the boys are over 70 fool you, they are really a good little band..Do a lot of Waylon Jennings and can't there's nothing wrong with that.. The other picture is the dance floor and where the band plays. Don't know if you can tell but it's pretty good size. Plus they have a beer garden in the back, but like T.J. says, 'It's just too fucking hot to sit out side.'

The 2 old broads are Patsy and me hugging..Then me and Merle and T.J. and Patsy again, plus Patsy giving me the finger.

The guy on the left is the notorious Bimbo Hand. The girl is his girlfriend Jamie. That's Merle and Bimbo on the left with a table full of drunks. Then Merle and his maraca's...after I left he played with his maraca's...when they told me that I asked if that was a nick name for something besides a musical instrument..

The only 2 gay bar owners in town. The sweetest 2 people I know and so glad they are my friends. Merle and T.J. who turned 65 on the 4th of July.

Merle giving a big wet one to Bimbo.



Cheryl and her daughter in law.


The guy in the white hat is Chainsaw, the old fart that can't see past the brim of his hat and feels my tits and says'Yeah, that's Jackie.'

The picture up above is the bar and the guy in the red shirt and white hat is James Favors, or as I still call him...Chief. He used to be the Chief of Police here for over 20 years, and was Chief of the Police and owned the original Strickly Country which is now Jack and Dianes. His wife died about a year ago and he's dating a new widder lady and his 3 daughters are about to have a stroke. They can't stand her and want me to help get her out of the picture...Not sure what I'm supposed to do, but they are sure I can think of something. I have more pictures but will post them later..some of Inky and me and the granddaughters, my bookcases and Annie ...will also post about the latest results of the saga of Jackie and Tom...will do it tomorrow..I'm whipped, had to go to House of Satan and that always kicks my ass...so..see ya tomorrow...

33RD ANNUAL WESTFEST AUGUST 29-31

Yes, folks..it's that time of year again. When the population of West, by Goddess, Texas goes from 2,600 to 35,000. It's Westfest time again. 33 of them suckers. They have already started putting up the tents and we're all hoping the weather continues like it is..It's been raining off and on the past 3 days and supposed to rain through the week-end too. Which has brought the temperature down to high 80's and low 90's. so if it keeps up the weather will be nice for Westfest, or so we hope.

The event will begin with the Westfest Preview Party on Aug. 29 under the East Pavilion on the festival grounds with the Miss Westfest Pageant. The gates open at 5:30 p. m. and the Pageant is set for 7 p.m.

The reigning Miss Westfest 2007 is Hannah Hutyra and she will crown the new Miss Westfest. The contestants are Sara Horton, Kyndall Holecek, Katelynn Kaska, Ashley Firasek, Andi Katelyn Otto, Kayla Urbanovsky, Kalyn Rae Pavlas, Courtney Gilmore, Charley Jean Allison and Brooke Keel. (notice all the Katelyn's, Kelyn, Kyndals?....must have been the year for K's.) Following the pageant, the Wayward Sons will perform from 8-9p.m. followed by Branded Heart from 9:15-10:15 p. m. with Donna Beckham and her band to be the featured performers and they'll play from 10:30 p.m. till midnight.

In addition to the pageant and the bands, children will be treated to a special price offering in the Midway carnival ride area during the Preview Party. Children attending the festival Friday night will be able to ride all mechanical carnival rides(6p.m.-10p.m.) for $20. This doesn't include the price of admission. The Midway Carnival will be much larger this year than the years before as we have a new vendor and he is bringing 20-25 rides. Admission price for the Preview Party has decreased from $12 to $10 for adults. In addition, all children age 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

On Saturday, the parade will begin on the Reagan Street side of West City Hall at 10 a.m. The parade will go through the city's downtown area with Ron and Betty Holzmann serving as Parade Marshals. Westfest then kicks off starting at 11a.m. and will continue till 12:30 a.m.

There is a free shuttle bus from the Reagan side of the City Hall to the festival grounds(about 1/2 mile), for those who want to leave their cars/trucks etc. in town or at their house. It runs both Saturday and Sunday. Parking on the grounds is $3 a vehicle with the remote parking area ($2) located across from the West Community Center(and the Library). The price of the Westfest for Saturday and Sunday is $7 for adults and $4 for children 6-12. Children under 6-years of age are admitted free when accompanied by an adult(like they would just drop them off at the gates). A senior citizen discount of $4 per person is offered for those 65 or older. (next year I'll get the discount). The seniors have to ask for the discount. (Don't want to piss some 64 year old Czech lady by calling her a senior..she'll kick the kolaches out of you.) Military personnel with their Id's will only have to pay $4 also. Westfest is also offering a price break on their tickets by ordering them in advance. For $20 you can go all 3 nights. You can get it online at westfest.com or at Muska Insurance.

On the festival grounds there will be numerous food booths with hours of entertainment under the Cultural Amphitheater, over 70 arts and craft exhibitors, music and dancing under both the East and West tents on the festival grounds.(generally called the beer tents)

The Taroky Tournament is scheduled for Saturday in the West Community Center near the festival grounds.(over by where I live on the other side of the Center and the Library).In addition to being open during the Preview Party, the children's area will have various rides available on both Saturday and Sunday. There will also be a Kid's Game Park area on the ground which will feature games and several free items for the children. There will be a three-story inflatable slide, a petting zoo, various games including the electronic games Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Dance, Dance Revolution.

the Washer pitching will be at the rodeo arena on Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. Horseshoe pitching is on both Saturday and Sunday in the arena beginning at 6 p. m. (the Dulock's (kinfolk to my granddaughters Haley and Nicole)usually win...my cousins and son played one year thinking they were pretty good. I tried to explain these Czech's don't play, this is serious business for them...they were like..yeah, yeah, we'll win. They got their asses handed to them on a plate, first round. Laughed my ass off.)

The Texas Antique Tractor Pullers Association is hosting an antique tractor pull on the rodeo grounds at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

In addition to the ethnic entertainment in the Cultural Amphitheater both Westfest Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 8 p.m. they will have Karaoke. (whoopeee)..I have been so drunk I actually didn't know if I was coming or going, but never been drunk enough to Karoake.

The Kolache 5000 Fun Run is set for 8 a.m. on Sunday at the festival grounds with an estimated 250 plus runners expected to participate in the race. Westfest officials said the gates will be opened at 6 a.m. for those wishing to get to the races early.(yeah...right)

The Rev. Michael Lyons, pastor at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Ganado, is to celebrate the Polka Mass set for 10:15 a. m. Sunday in the Cultural Amphitheater.

The annual Kolache Baking Contest is set for Sunday at the West Community Center. There is a professional and non-professional division for bakers wishing to enter their kolaches or buchtas.

If all goes well, Junebugg is coming down from Alabama for Westfest...Think she's coming early so we can hang out, bullshit and I can show her the town. So far Sooner is coming, but he's closing on his house and unless something happens, he'll be here too. That Sunday I've been invited to the benefit out in Crawford for the friend of Carrie Jo who is the sweety pie that gave me the free book cases..I mailed the $400 Martin Guitar Book to her for the silent auction. Then she is having a bbq at her house with bands, etc. I thought that Junebugg and Sooner would enjoy that. Just hope the Secret Service don't arrest me and ruin my day. If I can get in touch with James Hand I'll ask him if he wants to go and maybe sit in with the bands..I will take plenty of pictures...and will post them with the post telling how much food we sold, and how many people showed up. This will be the first Westfest I have gone to in years. (Generally I just stock up on groceries and don't leave the house till Monday morning.)The last time I went I had my 4 granddaughters, 2 step-grandsons, some of their friends and had them for 3 days and 2 nights in my little house. Poor Nate, the pitty bull dog..he was freaking out..trying to protect all the kids, guard the doors, and make sure I was ok too. He almost had a doggie breakdown. So did I ...I called the kids that morning early and said ..'come and get them....now..'...They said but Mom, we're hung over...said, don't give a shit, come and get them. I was plum tuckered out. This was right after my second of 4 back surgeries...so wasn't in the best of shape.)

Well, that's the Westfest news update...want to see what it looks like?...go to westfest.com .see the town, and some great Westfest pictures..

Going to work tomorrow and see if Tom and I can co-exist in the store. If not, I'll have lots of free time to post and read all the books I have checked out of the library. y'all come back and see us y'hea?

I WAS SENT HOME FROM WORK EARLY TODAY

Because I told my boss 'fuck you'...Lately Massa Thom has been using me as the butt of each and every joke. He makes fun of my ability to drop things. I have had and continue to have trouble gripping things, from lack of circulation. So I drop shit, and I do it often. This seems to be a great sense of joy for Tom as it gives him something to make fun of . Then it's my hearing loss, that's a enormous boon for him..he and Inky seem to think this is an opportunity to really ride me...They talk in muted tones, cover their mouth when they talk and then laugh their (in Tom's case) little ass off when I'm forced to say 'what?' I also think it disappoints Tom when I actually hear the phone ring because then he doesn't get to say, 'well you could answer the phone.'..If he says something to me and I even hesitate one second in replying, he'll stutter like I'm having to fumble for an answer.I told him to not do that again, in a tone, that should have let him know that fucking joke was old. Today he was making fun of the way I did the shelves, stocked the shelves, put new tags on, just every fucking thing..and it's all a big joke to him, but then when you're 5' tall everything is big to you...Finally I heard a 'snap'...and I just handed the tags I was replacing and said you do it. He said, why, when your my source of amusement. I said then buy a fucking video game, grabbed the keys to the bathroom, and as I was walking off, I said over my shoulder to him:"fuck you."...and he laughed and said "what?"...like what did I do....I had a good cry in the bathroom, made up my mind if he said one fucking word to me I was going to tell him to take this piddly ass job and shove it up his tiny asshole. I came back and waited on about 2 customers and then he walked up behind me and said:"you can go home early today."...I had joked earlier that I was going to have the flu between 10-11am, on Thursday as the finals in the womens Beach Volleyball was going to be on, and he said why don't you just take the day off, so I would work Sat. instead. Said good idea. So maybe he's thinking I'll have enough time to cool off and calm down. But I decided I don't want to work Saturday, I'll just take tomorrow off, and if things are the same as they have been I'm going to give my notice. I have always worked at jobs where I was respected and treated well, because I'm a hard worker, and do a great job. I have always held a management position in all my jobs, had more responsibilities in one day than I do here in a week. No one ever questioned my ability or my work ethics or treated me like I wasn't a very valued and well thought of employee. But then I have never worked for a gnome before either. What is it with little men and their big fucking ego's that make them think they have to make everyone else feel little to make them feel big?..I started there in Feb. so it's almost 7 months, and there are mornings when I get up and think oh fuck, I hope I work with Inky and not Tom. When I first started he wasn't like that...and he has actually gotten worse every since I made the crack about the 'little cop nazi of West' being mad at everyone all the time, as it wasn't my fault his mother fucked a gnome. So wonder since he is about the same size as the cop if he took it that I meant him too...Fuck if I had meant him, I would have mentioned him by name. I don't think he ever reads this blog but I wouldn't put it past him to read it today knowing I would probably mention it...

Any how...I have a lot of deciding to do between now and Friday. Babs said since I do like the idea of working and not as happy as I was at the beginning, I should look around..The manager at the other Dollar Store is my biggest fan, maybe because I bake her cookies all the time. Ha.. Or I could just go back to sitting on my ass, I was fond of that job.

Speaking of Babs, she is on her second trip to Austin to hook up with her old boyfriend..She went a couple of weeks ago and had a great time and I got to cat sit, and she left today and will be back Sat. (has to be back before NASCAR starts). Peaches has figured out that when I come over she gets canned food, so she's pissed at Babs, but she thinks I'm a can opener.

Well, I'm off to watch the Olympics...enjoying my extra 2 hours off and extra day tomorrow..

By the way Annie's coat is so much whiter and shinnier since her bath. She struts now....

MY NEW FAVORITE YOUTUBE

http://

1,350th POST

One thousand three hundred and fifty posts..Sonofabitch! Who would have thought I had so much to say?...ha!
I went to work this morning feeling like I didn't have 2 days off..I did a buncha cleaning. I moved 2 book cases, I dusted and lemon oiled all the book cases, put new drawer pulls on my desk, cleaned the kitchen, rearranged all the cupboards so now my spices are where the dishes were. I decided it would work better as I don't need all that space for dishes when it's just me, but I have tons of spices, and baking stuff. I dusted and lemon oiled all the furniture, cleaned the bathroom and all the drawers, which were stuffed with piles of crap..I am becoming a hoarder...I hate throwing away anything. Oh I'll throw away newspapers, magazines, etc. but will hang on to empty pill and vitamin containers as they're just the right size, and I'm sure I could use them for something some day..uh, no I won't. I swept, mopped, and vacuumed the entire house and hauled a nightstand out to the porch to give away. Put together the 2 new bird feeders and fed and watered the birds.Went to the library, a garage sale and watched the Olympics. Plus I read a really great book...Called Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver. Holy shit!...This is a yafta folks..it is about data miners. Company that gathers information from the Internet, credit cards, job applications, DMV, voter register, any information gathering company, like yahoo, my space, etc. Then they find out your tethers, people that are connected to you..wife, kids, mother, aunts, cousins, friends, mailman, librarian, boss, husband, etc. It was way scarier than any Stephen King or Dean Koontz book. Plus they were working with the government...The government couldn't run the program because it's against the law...but a private company can...I'm telling you...yafta read it..Now I'm reading a book called Judas Strain by James Rollins...so far..so good.
Babs and I went to have lunch today, we have 5 restaurants here in West and 3 of them were closed..We had tried Czech American so we decide to try Sulak's...Which is more upscale(for West), and we had sausage sandwich's..which were the size of a salad plate. Great bread(I only ate one slice), sausage, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles. Huge sucker..It was great sausage but it was pretty pricey for a sausage sandwich. I think they are more of a dinner restaurant, as the menu was steak dinners etc. It's a pretty little place with a really great little bar but I still like Pizza House the best. We still have to try Leo's, but I'm afraid the stinky people will still be there. It started raining right when Babs and I left Family Dollar to g0 have lunch at 1Pm and it rained up until 8pm or so..lovely..just fucking lovely.
Monday is my favorite TV night...First the Closer and then Saving Grace. Well, there's Sunday night too with Mad Men.
I can't wait till 24, ER, Boston Legal, and Lost comes on. I am really enjoying the Olympics, but jeez, water polo, oars, and archery?....I don't think so...Michael Phelps is fantastic, the girls softball team rocks, the girls basketball and beach volley ball are just out of this world.I'm really proud of all of them, no matter if they win, place or show.
Well, I have to go get my body armor on, I have decided to try and give Annie a bath tonight...cross your fingers, I think this is going to hurt...

INNER PEACE

By following the simple advice I read in an article, I have finally found inner peace

The article read:"The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you've started."

So I looked around the house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished
and before coming to work this morning I have finished off a 6-pack of Dublin Dr Pepper, a bag of pork rinds, a small box of chocolates, 3 peaches, a can of cheeze wiz, and a kolache.
You have no idea how good I feel.

You may pass this on to those you feel are also in need of Inner
peace.

STOP STUMBLING AND GO OUT AND PLAY

this one's for you Billy Pilgrim

WORDS OF ADVICE FROM AN OLD BROAD

If you own 7 bookcases full of books, think twice before rearranging the furniture..and this piece of information comes to you free of charge.

The only good news is I can now dust the floor with my ass.

WHAT'S GOING ON

Things are really getting weird here in West. First of all Inky and Anessa are up to their asses in alligators with the kids..Devin is a great kid and no problem, not the same for the other two, which are becoming punks...can't think of a better word...The oldest is 16 and had his 'girl...friend' (24)buy him a bottle of rum for him and his brother who is 14 and his 'girlfriend'(19, and works at the store)...So the oldest decided to guzzle the bottle of rum and when Anessa came home from registering Devin for school she found the girls outside looking freaked and the oldest kid unconscious and puking at the same time. So Anessa(?) calls Inky at work to find out what she should do....duh, call 911...So she does and they get there and no one will tell them what happened, till finally the guy in the ambulance says, someone tell me something before the kid dies. So they say, oh well, he drank a bunch of the rum....So they take him to the hospital, he's fine now and home..and the punishment..????? Anessa says, oh that's what boys do....and they all went to the movies the next night...Fuckme sideways...No charging the girl who bought the rum for 3 minors, no grounding, no punishment, no nothing..and Inky who only has insurance on himself, is stuck with about a $20,ooo bill. I love my friends but I just don't understand they're thinking at all..Inky is the step dad and they show him zero respect. Well, not Devin but the older two, they show no respect to Anessa either...they are ...........punks...short and simple..Both are on probation for various crimes. I know that if they were my two, well...my two pulled some stunts but they were never like these two. Plus my two were more afraid of me than the police so they stayed out of any major trouble because they knew I'd kick they're asses all over Texas. So that's going on...Then today the crazy lady of West decided to drop in and make my day a little interesting...She's almost normal when she's taking her medication..but today she not only wasn't taking her medication, she was high on something..I was patient, and never let her get to me, even when she started screaming and yelling about Jesus, and having to go to Bible School and I was a rude bitch..I was calm and said, you're going to have to go outside, she said I'm going to call the President, I said go outside you'll get better reception. I had 4-5 customers at the register I'm trying to wait on and I'm saying 'I'm sorry, really, there's nothing I can do, she's nuts.'...They were all so sweet and complimented me on the fact that I never lost my cool and was very professional..I said I was afraid to lose it for fear I'd reach across the counter and snap her neck...Tom went out side and told her again for the 37th time that she was not to ever come into the store, that she was barred from ever coming in there again. She said "go fuck yourself"...Now THAT was funny...So it's weird in West..

To top it off, Annie has become a catnip crack head..I gave her some catnip, she rolled around on the floor for about 15 minutes, jumped on the dining room table, knocked all the stuff onto the floor, jumped down and laid right on top of it and then fell asleep..

I am in the process of making chicken livers..which I am making in memory of Inky's mom Agnes..He brought his photo album up to the store and got to see some pictures of Agness and Inky when he was a kid...The reason for the chicken livers is because Agness made the best damn chicken livers ever..well, she made lots of good stuff, but I was crazy about her chicken livers. I don't know how she did it, but they were the tastiest and chrispies chicken livers ever..I'm including some pictures of her and Inky when he was a punk his own-self..The bottom picture is one I took of him in front of the Capital, and the top one is what he looked like when I first met him...

I just had the chicken livers and while they were good and I enjoyed them..they just weren't Aggies..Dang!..

Well, I have to go, Olympics are going to start soon and Annie wants me to bake her some brownies, she has the munchies.

oh..oh...oh...before I go..I got the nicest e-mail last night from a lady who's in-laws used to live here and she really likes my blog and says I make her laugh, but that she really enjoys the West posts the best as I mention names that are familiar to her and she gets her updates about West from my blog, plus she said the next time the train blocks the traffic in town it could be her sonm as he was the engineer and said I could cuss him and bip him if I wanted too...Now isn't that sweet?...So 2 people now know about my blog and no one has threatened to call the Secret Service on me or stormed the store and insisted I shut my blog down...Kind of disappointing..

So we should be getting a Westfest update in the paper soon, and when it comes out I'll tell you the haps in West...y'all come back and see us y'hea?...