My "Good Life" by Joe

The good life is being able to retire at 40 and then coach your sons team to the little league world series and win it. Afterwards taking two months to drive around the country, visiting different state parks, national parks, amusement parks, going to sporting events and seeing the different stadiums.

It's showing my sons the country they live in and letting them see it with their own eyes instead of just reading about it. Creating lasting memories for the entire family.
~Joe from New York

~~~Joe and his family have now done all this stuff. Congratulations Joe and let that be an inspiration to us all.~~~

The Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee

Memorial Day 2009

I made this in honor of the people who have served their country at all levels. Thank you for your service and your sacrifices. May God continue to bless America and may the people of America never forget how we are able to be free. Freedom isn't free because someone paid the price for us to be free.

Take the time today to thank them and say a prayer for the ones who are still doing it.

~~~~~~~

Here is a video that I found that was made to honor those who serve as well.

Travel Advice: The American South from the Good Life Aficionado

Christy Landwehr at QuarterFest 2009

Christy Landwehr

Visit the Certified Horsemanship Association website at http://www.cha-ahse.org/ to learn more.

We'll Show You Around Nashville and the South

Johnny Cash - "Ridin the Rails"

Thomas Payne - We the People

Some of my photos and a Garrett Parris song

Ridin' on the "City of New Orleans"

DaVido, the Java Jitter, and his Starbucks Rejection Tour

DaVido used to sing at Mere Bulles in downtown Nashville but now has moved on to bigger things. He now sings the "Java Jitter" and is currently on the Starbucks Rejection Tour. This is funny and good stuff. I knew he had a unique way to get himself "out there."

Here is the video


NEW YORK, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVido, the outrageous crooner, has been thrown out of over 200 Starbucks and it's all captured on video on YouTube.com. Because of his courage and tenacity, DaVido's Starbucks Rejection Tour Video is rapidly getting worldwide attention.After Starbucks Corporation rejected his song "Java Jitter," DaVido decided to take matters into his own hands, and performed his song in as many stores as humanly possible hoping that corporate headquarters would take notice and embrace him and his quest.

Unfortunately, every time DaVido tried to sing "Java Jitter" in the stores, he was consistently kicked out. DaVido's relentless goal: have his CD on the Starbucks music racks next to superstars such as Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and Ray Charles.

Amtrak's best and worst on-time train routes

TOP FIVE ON-TIME ROUTES
**As of July 2008

Hiawatha
Milwaukee - Chicago
Year-To-Date (YTD): 87.7 percent July: 88.5 percent
Amtrak’s most on-time route is, probably unsurprisingly, also one of its shortest.

BOTTOM FIVE ON-TIME ROUTES:

Texas Eagle
Chicago - St. Louis - Dallas - San Antonio - Los Angeles
YTD: 14.3 percent, July performance: 0.0 percent

Visit the Webbspun Ideas website to see the rest of the list.

This list comes from Peter Greenberg. Visit his website for more great info about traveling.

American Heritage with Charles Kuralt

Unforgettable People

Seasons of America by a legendary traveler and journalist

Book to inspire you to get out and see our country

AMERICAN RUINS, a Merrell publication, is the first photography book to document historic ruins throughout the United States. It presents a stunning visual record of ruins ranging from ancient Native American dwellings in the Southwest to the remains of Gilded Age mansions on the East Coast and a king’s summer home in Hawaii.

Luminous infrared photographs expose crumbled walls, weathered facades, and overgrown flora, and are accompanied by brief essays detailing the historical, geographical and architectural significance of each site. This landmark publication raises awareness of and appreciation for overlooked ruins that remain unknown even to most Americans. It captures the visual poetry of each place and offers a new way of seeing the landscape, the past, and the collective identity of America.

Visit the website and order the book at American Ruins book.

I love this patriotic message

Okay call me corny or whatever but as I sit here this morning building 55 trophies for the upcoming 4th of July parade in our town a strong sense of pride comes from within. The column have the American Flag on it and are extremely patriotic so it has inspired me to ramble on a little bit.

Sure America is down pretty good right now, but as Americans this country will come back as we have many times in the past. I might not be able to bring it back but if alot of us, me, you and many others lift our heads up, pump our chests out, unite and take full pride in the quality of work we provide and do what we can to help stimulate the economy every little bit will help.

I was becoming very negative and going to retire, get out of the business and could care less who bought it but I am now energized and going to do my part 120% and more to bring America back up into its rightful place in this world. We have helped everyone in this world at one time or another and now our America is licking her wounds and we will help mend those wounds to make her the proud, beautiful country in the world envied by all!

This is my country, my ancestors fought long and hard working their fingers to the bones and spilling their blood to make her the great country she STILL is! We are a country of immigrants, Irish, Polish, Jewish, African, Mexican, and on and on from every country in the world, but we must join together as Americans and on 4th of July and every day there after be proud of who we are and make it known that being American and built in America still has the mighty meaning it always did.

Be proud to say as I am, God Bless America and God Bless each and everyone of my fellow Americans!

My closing comment, those that are kicking us in the face when we are down, beware, the Eagle will fly high and mighty very soon and we don't get mad, we get even.

Bob McGinnis
RWM Embroidery & More
Smyrna, DE USA

Big & Rich Concert Reviews From Around the Country

I love to hear the stories of our local boys while they are out on the road. Love to hear that they could entertain and blow away a crowd even if they aren't 100%.

Keep up the work Kenny and John....



Duo Big and Rich's brand of dynamic country music can rock any venue.

The band, part of Nashville's fraternal Musik Mafia, did just that last night when they brought their rebel-rousing exuberant show to Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Ind.

Big Kenny and John Rich, touring in support of their latest album "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace," performed a 90-minute show filled with their signature hard-driving country/rock tunes.

On the bill with Big and Rich were other Musik Mafia members rapping Cowboy Troy, James Otto and Two-Foot Fred who helped promote the fun-loving party atmosphere.

Audience members didn't stay in their seats for long at this concert. From the moment Cowboy Troy took the stage with his "Hick-Hop" sound to the opening strains of Big and Rich's guitars and the finale featuring all the musicians, fans remained up on their feet and dancing.

Read the entire review in the Daily Southtown.



Big & Rich are -- how shall I put this? -- the most unusual duo in the history of country music.
Their albums are a swirling, intoxicating blend of country, rock, gospel, pop and rap. Their concerts are like a collision between a circus and a freak show. But their career has been a roller coaster.

After playing to more than 14,000 at Xcel Energy Center in November 2005, Big & Rich returned Sunday to 2,100 fans at Mystic Showroom at Mystic Lake Casino. The duo didn't seem as wired, weird and wild as at Xcel. Early on, John Rich realized the odds were against him at a booze-free casino.

After Big & Rich's third number, "Wild West Show," Rich learned from fans that alcohol wasn't being served. "Are you kidding me?" he said. "Who needs a drink? I've got one. It's a Crown and 7. Ladies, pass that around the front row. We gotta rock extra hard if you aren't extra drunk!"

Visit the Star Tribune for the rest of the review.

Plane Ol' Graveyard

Wanna see some really cool photography of old planes, ghost towns and a host of other things abandoned in the American West? Visit Lost America and have a look around.

Jimmie Rodgers - Waiting for a Train