THE LITTLE GRILL

Sonic Wood played The Little Grill last night, a hopping Manhattan restaurant/bar that serves Jamaican jerk grilled food. They have music almost nightly, so it's considered "the place to be seen/heard". We were on the patio, which was nice, but as it got dark, the bugs were attracted to the lights and we were bombarded! Trying to stay focused while a skeeter is biting you, and a June bug has landed on your head, took an awful lot of concentration. Finally, during a break, we discoved a can of OFF and hosed down with it. Much better. We got a standing ovation for "Fire on the Mountain" and an encore. It was a really good night, we made some new fans (affectionately called "knot-heads"). The little dude singing is Dale's grandson Griffin, a future honky tonker and current "splinter" (little fan, not quite a knot-head yet). The kid has guts and can sing too.

Gene is officially retired now and loving the fact that he doesn't really have to do anything...except his chores and "honey-dos", but that doesn't count. Now he's thinking he needs to ride the Continental Divide, on horseback. There's a trip I may not be taking...you know that goes from Mexico to Canada?!

Love to you all and hope you have a leisurely holiday weekend.

Joan

Our Sorrow

Gene's mother, Arlone Nelson Cockburn, passed away this morning. She got to see or speak to all her children and grandchildren. There were even 2 jokes she told Carole early this morning! Gene and his sister have been with her since she fell ill yesterday morning. Arlone would have been 90 years old, next month. She was a good and faithful woman and will be dearly missed.

Joan

Another One

Last night, Sonic Wood played at a very rural Catholic church. They had an Italian dinner, complete with wine (my Catholic friend Sue, says wherever you find 4 Catholics, you'll find a fifth) to raise money for an elevator for the church. We were the entertainment, even had 2 opening acts! Notice the ladies in the foreground with their red hats, they were a crack-up! Dale said he would have worn his, but he just had his bangs done! (see Dale's bald noggin....) One couple danced to many of our old country songs, and when we finished (we just did 90 minutes), practically the whole place came up to the stage to shake hands and tell us how much they enjoyed our music. It looks like we may get 2 jobs out of this freebie. What goes around, comes around... In the left corner is Bongo Bob, that's Steve's brother from Overland Park, KS and he was visiting for the weekend. He plays in a garage band also. We thought it was fun that instead of neon beer signs in the background, this time we had "The Last Supper". Life just cracks me up! I think I'm probably just about the luckiest girl in Kansas right now! If not the happiest!

Gene and I are hoping to go to an auction this afternoon, if severe weather doesn't mess up our plans. Much love to all, and I'm looking forward to seeing the California family very soon.

Hugs and kisses, Joan

It's Me Again

Good morning from beautiful Kansas. It's a lovely spring morning, trees are blooming and flowers are coming up everywhere. This is a great time of year. I just cut some lilacs to bring in.

The photo is the band playing in Manhattan, this past Saturday night. It was our first show in "the big city"; different kind of crowd, very late night, but successful.

The news from our house, is that Gene has decided to leave Ft. Riley and medicine. He will work until the end of May. It's just time. I'm happy for him and I can see the relief in him already, like he's gotten lighter of spirit.

Since the weather is so nice, I think I'll take the dogs for a walk in the canyon instead of me getting on the treadmill. I never did get the dogs comfortable walking on the treadmill, it kinda freaked them out. It was worth a try...

Love to all, Joan

The Guys

Andy and Brody came to spend the weekend at Camp Nelson. Pop Gene (Brody's name for grandpa) couldn't wait to take the little dude on tractor rides and the 4 wheeler. They spent time making things with Playdough and digging up earthworms in my raised vegetable bed. And he was very interested in the horses, to the extent that we almost needed a leash on him to prevent Brody from running between their legs! Not long after their arrival, Brody was looking very closely at some of my lovely, fragile things, on the shelves by the dining room table. I told him that they were only to look at, and that he was not to touch them. He gave us this look, over his shoulder, that said "well if you didn't want me to touch them, why did you put them here?" It just cracked us up! His vocabulary is improving rapidly and we can understand most things he says. What a funny little boy.

It's going to be 80 degrees today, great weather for March! I'm going to get outside and do some garden clean-up; I'm starting to see shoots coming up and trees budding. This is such a great time of year.

Love to all, Joan

Sonic Wood

The band played Saturday night at a restaurant/bar called Nelson's Landing (no relation). We had a good crowd and hope to get invited back. The Nelson's son Jordy, was a football star at KSU and now plays for Green Bay and their daughter is a basketball star at KSU, so it's a very popular place with KState folks and locals. I recently purchased my own microphone, so I'm officially acquiring "gear". Our next gig is March 28 and it's a 4 hour show, so in the next couple of weeks we've got to add another whole set, which is approximately 10-12 songs. Yikes!

Gene's birthday is later this week, so Andy and Brody (the little dude) are coming out for a guy's weekend. I'm not sure what they have planned, but I know that Gene is looking forward to taking Brody for rides on tractors and the 4 wheeler. I wouldn't be surprised if he sets up his blind again so they can sit inside and watch wildlife.

Hope everyone is well and I should get some pictures this coming weekend to post.

Love, Joan

Greetings!

Just a couple of recent photos...just came back from my annual Chick's Weekend with Maureen and Cheryl. This year, we were on the beach at Santa Monica. The photo was taken on the Promenade (shopping district), where we did our best to stimulate the local economy. And then, there's Gene. "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" is what comes to mind...(for you non-country western listeners, that's the title of a song) And Jim, Gene says you CAN'T drive the big tractor up a tree, but it will knock a tree down! Anyway, all is well here, except for a minor set-back on my leg. Now I'm sporting a Unna boot, which is like a soft cast, from my toes to my knee. Talk about cramping my style! This too shall pass...

Much love to all, Joan