texaztaste: October 2014

I have always loved going to concerts. But it was one thing that slipped through the cracks when our kids were little...we were just too tired. The thought of staying up till midnight just exhausted me thinking about it. Now the kids are growing older and want to go to concerts so it is more on our radar. We have been to Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande is definitely in our future. But it has been a coon's age since I have attended a country western concert. In the 80's and 90's I saw countless acts, like King George (of course), Reba, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, Conway Twitty, Vince Gill...you get the picture. I am loving the new Country artists I hear on the radio, like Florida Georgia Line, Zac Brown and Darius Rucker. So when I heard Luke Bryan was coming to town, I sought out the few country fans I know here in AZ and begged to go to the concert. Please please please, let's do this. And, wow, did I get an indoctrination into the new Country culture, namely of Fireball Whiskey and the proliferation of Daisy Dukes (do the kids these days even know who the original Daisy Duke was???...Catherine Bach, thank you very much...or the Dukes of Hazzard for that matter, and yes, of course I saw Waylon Jennings live). And can we talk about Fireball Whiskey? Has no one ever tried Hot Damn before? Tastes exactly the same, but some guy is making a mint off that brand.

So on to Luke Bryan: Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year for 2013, Georgia boy, singer, songwriter, performer, Country cutie. "Rain Is A Good Thing" has been one of the most popular songs on my iPod for a few years. "Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey, whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky." Clever, catchy, how can you not love it? And speaking of loving it, let's move on to the topic of these jeans he wears. Definitely not your run of the mill jeans. Good bye Wranglers, hello shrink-wrapped jeans, apparently his signature. Seriously, how does he get these on? Or off, for that matter?

I start with a rear shot, and I am almost nervous about sharing what the front looks like...

...the boys were even blushing...

...but I have to admit I found him darling

The girls, and the crowd, loved it, especially during "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)". There were so many great songs, it was hard to pinpoint a highlight..."We Rode In Trucks", "Crash My Party", "Drunk On You", "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye", and one fabulous duet with Lee Brice, who opened for him, of Eil Young Band's "Crazy Girl". At one point, he was drinking water out of a red solo cup claiming that the dry air was kicking his ass. I think he was confused...his jeans may have been cutting off his circulation.

In his life he has known some tragedy, losing both his older siblings, one in a car crash, and the other in unknown circumstances, according to Wiki. So he dedicated his beautiful ballad "Drink A Beer" to all those for have lost someone. One of the things I love about country music is the stories the songs tell, and how I can relate to many (not the mama got drunk in jail songs and run over by a train in the rain), but many others, and "Drink A Beer" is one I cannot listen to without shedding a tear. So I feel I need to share the lyrics with you and hope you all raise a glass to a loved one lost.

When I got the news today
I didn't know what to say.
So I just hung up the phone.
I took a walk to clear my head,
This is where the walking led
Can't believe you're really gone
Don't feel like going home
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
Watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
Funny how the good ones go
Too soon, but the good Lord knows
The reasons why, I guess
Sometimes the greater plan
Is kinda hard to understand
Right now it don't make sense
I can't make it all make sense
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
Watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
So long my friend
Until we meet again
I'll remember you
And all the times that we used to...
... sit right here on the edge of this pier
And watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer

Lyrics by Christopher Stapleton and Jim Beavers

'xo M

Our friends are well aware of how crazy we are about our dogs. And when I say crazy, I mean off-the-wall mad. There are times when Hubby even feels that he ranks below the dogs on the totem pole (what he doesn't know, and hopefully you will remain mum, is that he is even below the goldfish). We love to snuggle, cuddle and dote on our dogs. We take them everywhere with us as long as they can fit in the car (Pixie, the young female, has surpassed the weight restriction on commercial airlines). So I have wanted to write a post, a little ode to our dogs, Gigi, Pixie Mae and Charlie, our dear Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Our first Cavalier was sweet Gigi, who was a gift for my 30th birthday. She was loyal, loving, and very, very spoiled.

Gigi Pie

When we brought home our 1st child, Gigi would not leave her side for any reason...well, maybe to eat

When it comes to Cavaliers, one is not enough. So after the birth of our 3rd child, we adopted Sir Charles III, or Charlie, lovingly know as le chasseur des lapins (chaser of bunny rabbits).

Hubby with Gigi (left) and Charlie (right)

We had 10 wonderful years with Gigi, who left us for doggie heaven in May of 2010. She died just 5 days before Hubby's birthday, and all he wanted was another Cavalier. Along came our (then) little Pixie Mae.

Charlie didn't know what to make of Pixie at first, but he warmed up pretty quickly.

At first, he wasn't wild about sharing his bed ("Mom, please get this interloper out")

We have made a mission out of converting people to Cavaliers. When my brother and his wife became empty-nesters, we gifted them with a Cavalier to fill the void (my hermano was not thrilled to start off, but he soon came around...).

Hubby, Charlie, a fabulous niece of mine, with the newly arrived Clover

How did he come around, you ask? You just have to experience the wonderful qualities of Cavaliers. They are the most easy going dogs. They enjoy the daily walk, but don't obsess over them. They are just as happy hanging out in bed with you when you are sick.