Newsletter - November 06'

Hey friends, it’s been a really nice few weeks here in South Louisiana, where we typically count on about 11 really nice days every year! The only drawback is mosquitos, where I am. Definitely not too nice to sit on your patio in the evening, without being eaten alive - you can’t stand still too long in the yard, either... hehe. But, the temps have been nice.

Oktoberfest at Lamar Dixon review: as always, a blast overall - better beer this year, but slower bartenders - food was not as good, and sauerkraut was hiding somewhere - not enough chicken dancing, doggonit .... hehe. Hey, this is not like refusing to play Brown-Eyed Girl. The event is based on that song! At least, since I’ve been going to it in Ponchatoula.

Oh, and this year, Bill, Joel, and I went to the Oktoberfest at Deutches Haus in New Orleans, and that was something new and fun. That is every weekend in October and was packed with New Orleanians who seem to look for any excuse to enjoy a weekend away from the hard work of rebuilding.

Speaking of NO, I made my first visit to The Parish, the venue owned by the House of Blues. It is a very cool place to see stars on the rise, as well as other great music. Very intimate and cool vibe. I will go back. And, I saw the most incredible sounding soul singer/songwriter/guitarist from the UK, named James Hunter. He was recommended by OffBeat Magazine, and once I heard his authentic R&B sound, I had to check him out. He blew me away, live, and the CD is so true to that 60's soul sound. His CD, People Gonna Talk, is a nice listen. As is John Mayer’s Continuum.

It is soon enough for me to say: I’m so happy to have been wrong about DEM SAINTS! They have me riveted to the TV on Sundays, and there is no better football talk. Right now, you can have LSU - it just hasn’t held my interest like the Saints. I am now, certainly, a spoiled LSU fan, or college football fan. Once you get more than 1 loss, it’s hard to stay interested, knowing you’ll be up watching the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day... hehe. WHO DAT!!!!

My first gig at Hooter’s went well and I’ll be there this month, along with returning to The Pastime for the first time in a while. Private parties are filling up the schedule nicely for the end of this year. I’ll try to keep the schedule updated - always click Refresh on your browser, once on my schedule page, just to make sure you have the latest dates. It doesn’t look like I’ll be back in Covington this year, but I’ll try to work on that soon. Still at Serrano’s, La Caretta, Half Shell, and Southpaws, all before the year is out. Spanky’s on Sundays has been slow to start, but decent late at night. Good musicians showing up late has helped make it entertaining for me to step out and listen. Thanks so much to the guys from Another Big Machine for coming out lately. Dustin, Dane, and Justin have all sounded incredible. I can’t say enough about their talent on acoustic and vocals. And drummer, Josh, has been there, too, and I need to get him in on percussion one night. Also, Dustin from Sweet Root rocked the mic, nicely. Spanky’s regulars/bartenders, Laurie and Courtney, always add a nice ingredient of singing.

Voting this month: This is what we should be thankful for. We live in a place where we can truly express what we believe and be counted. I know politics is dirty and that great leaders in whom we can believe and have faith in are scarce, but it is a system that will continue to work, and I think our nation’s ideals will continue to thrive, if we make it happen. I am conservative, as you probably know, because I believe it is a party that wants us all to do more, be better, make more money, and depend less on government. I believe, from what I hear from Democrats, they believe too much in telling you what you can’t do, shouldn’t have to do, and what the government can do better for you. But, either party wants power and control, so maybe neither is better. However, competition always brings out the best. So go vote for your winner!

Political gripe: I watched Wolf Blitzer interview an American GI, showing him a video tape of US Soldiers being hit and killed by sniper fire (God rest their souls). The GI told him that we are doing the same, with great success. It was, of course, a way to demoralize us and dissolve belief in any war effort in Iraq (not the issue herein). My problem - where did CNN get this tape? Was this a journalist, like those who were on the front lines in Vietnam in the 60's, reporting on a sniper attack he witnessed. No, it was a tape supplied by those who taped it - Islamic Fundamentalist terrorist insurgents. How does CNN get this? Who are they in touch with and who are they helping, just to keep their bureau intact there in Baghdad? What are they standing for - journalistic integrity, or being spooned by the Democratic party? With this type of thing, terrorists are being allowed to "vote," in my opinion, in our elections.

OK, that’s it, besides telling you, my friends, I wish you and your families the most blessed Thanksgiving season. Is there anything better than the love you can share with family and friends, around a table jammed with food, and a plate covered so you can’t see the bottom, and your peas are falling off the side with eat plunge of your fork? Families and food and love, and love of food - Thanksgiving in Louisiana! I think I’m cookin’ this year!

All the best to you,

Kirk