About Last Night! or Norwegian Wood!

This morning has been great, but it is still early. I overslept this morning, even though Tony kept trying to wake me up every fifteen minutes or so, like I asked him to.

Fortunately, I finally crawled out of bed, around 7:00 and was awake enough to call in and do Harley's Show.

I had a lot of fun talking to Harley Belew this morning. Right off the bat Harley asked me when was the last time that I had spoken to our mutual, good friend Sammy Allred and I told him that it had been way too long and that it was probably about two years ago. "Now Sammy is the one who nicknamed you Cousin Nancy. Is that right?"

"Yes, Sammy gave me that nickname, back in 1986."

So then Harley started talking about Sammy and Bob Cole, two of Austin's number one DJs. When he told me about being, at Bob Cole's Hill's Cafe, many years ago and that being the last time that he saw our dear old friends I reminded him about us being there too, because we were having a benefit that night for our rescue ranch. and then Harley remembered.

Well that jogged my mind, so I said, "That was such a fun night. And do you remember that Dwight Yoakam showed up, near the end of the show, as our mystery guest?" And Harley remembered that, too.

Then Harley changed the subject and started telling me that you shouldn't judge a dog or a person by their looks, because I had just told him that Rocky was his Pet of the Week. "Rocky is so sweet and he probably is about eleven-years-old. He sort of looks like a Chow, but...."

"He sounds like a great dog, Cousin Nancy," Harley remarked. "Do you know that I once had a friend who didn't like me, because my teeth were straight? Can you believe that?" 

After I had quit laughing, I said, "That's hilarious. Well, at least you had teeth..."

Before the end of our Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch segment I asked Harley if I could please put in a plug for a Hurricane Harvey relief benefit that we're going to with Carol and he told me yes. 

"Well, this coming Sunday, at 3:00, at the Western Edge Cellars, on Main Street, in Fredericksburg there is going to be a fabulous, fun benefit with a super, great line up of musicians. We're talking Walt Wilkins, John Arthur Martinez, Mike Blakely, Stephen K. Morris, Hollin McKay....and there is going to be auctions, too."

"Hollin McKay is great," Harley said. "I really like his music and did you know that...." 

"Yes and I love Hollin McKay's music, too. I love Stephen K. Morris and I also love Mike Blakely's music. Did you know that Mike is also a famous author and that his books are ranked right up there with Larry McMurtry and Elmer Kelton's?" And Harley didn't know that. And then he gave a plug for Randy's & Lisa's Save Inn Restaurant, because they have sponsored our Utopia segment for many, many years. Then Harley and I adios-ed each other.

I have some news about last night. When Tony and I got back home from working, over at our property, Tony hooked-up my Bowl Light for me and I totally love it. And our dogs are sort of freaked-out about it with the seven, changing colors and motion-activation features. 

In fact, yesterday evening when I was watching Heartland, my newest favorite binge-watching show, on Netflix, I realized that Henry wasn't sleeping in his chair like he usually does. So I paused Season 3: Episode 4 and went looking for him. And I found him, sitting in the bathroom, mesmerized and staring at our magical toilet. So, I left him there, staring at the toilet and went back to watching Heartland.

Before I finish writing this post, I've scheduled it to post it, at 5:00 this evening, because I am fixin' to go over, to the property, to hopefully finish up my latest, painting/building project, before our dear friends, Hans & Marita, from Norway, come over to visit with us.

And if you'll remember, over a year ago about this same time of the year, Tony and I met this lovely, music-loving couple. And they are the ones who we quickly discovered are also good friends with our good friends: Chet O'Keefe, Stephen K. Morris & Eva Robinett, Brian Molnar and Kinky. 

Anyway, I'm hoping to finish my latest, painting/building project, before they arrive today, because I want to name this almost-finished-colorful cabinet door, made with imported wood from Sweden—Norwegian Wood, so it will always remind me of them. And I guess that is about it for today.

Y'all have a great evening and keep on laughing!

I Love The Geezinslaw Brothers!

Today has been great! After walking five miles, I went to my office, to finish the feng shui. I spent over two hours boxing up more stuff and labeling it. The fun part was when I finally found some more of my stuff! We're talking more old photos, forgotten artwork and some old Geezinslaw Brother's satin jackets and sweatshirts—that my late husband, Jim and I, had designed for them!

The Geezinslaw Brothers are Sammy Allred and his partner Son Geezinslaw and their band. They are a very famous country comedy act, and one of Austin favorites! They were monthly regulars on CMT's Ralph Emery Show—Nashville Now. And, The Geezinslaw Brothers, with the help of KVET' s morning talk show host, Sammy Allred—who made our embroidery business so successful!

In the late eighties, when Jim and I started up our embroidery business, PDQ Monogramming Shop, in Westlake, Texas. We heard Sammy one morning on the radio, and he was whining about wishing they had tour jackets for The Geezinslaw Brothers. Business was slow for us, so Jim picked up the phone and called him live on the air, "Sammy, Nancy and I will be at the Broken Spoke this coming Saturday night, when y'all perform, with two Geezinslaw Brother's tour jackets for you and Son." Then Jim and I quickly went to work designing their tour jackets.

Saturday night, Jim and I went to the Broken Spoke, Austin's favorite honky tonk—to deliver their tour jackets. "Here's the jackets that we promised you," Jim said to Sammy and Son. They loved them and were beside themselves! Sammy asked Jim about us and our embroidery shop. They visited for a few minutes, then Jim handed him one of our business cards, and then we left, because we needed to get home.

Monday morning, while Jim and I were busy sewing at our shop, while listening to Sammy entertain us on KVET—we had the biggest surprise! Sammy said something like this, "Folks, Cousin Nancy and Cousin Jimmy, over at PDQ Monogramming Shop, in Westlake, made Son and me two of the finest Geezinslaw Brother's tour jackets! They are absolutely beautiful! Those two know their embroidery, and if you need any embroidery—they are the best in Austin!" Jim and I were totally speechless! We never expected Sammy to plug us.

Yes, it was Sammy who gave me my moniker, Cousin Nancy—over twenty-one years ago. Sammy also made our shop famous in Austin, by giving us free plugs three to four times a week—for free. Soon we had more customers than we knew what to do with, and he was the man who first introduced us to Kinky!

After a couple of years, Sammy, who had become a dear friend of ours, would often drop by our shop to visit. He had told us about Kinky writing some great books—three to be exact, and he recommended that we read them. A few months later, Sammy showed up at our shop with Kinky! Kinky was wearing his cowboy hat and smoking a cigar.

After introductions, we visited and laughed a lot. Before leaving the shop, Kinky said to me, "I want to order two of your Shiny Nineties Geezinslaw Brother's jackets for my sister and me. How much will they cost me, Cousin Nancy?"

Being somewhat star struck, at the time, I said, "We'll make you two jackets for three signed, first editions of your books. How does that sound?"

Kinky smiled, "That sounds good to me." We shook hands on it. Then Kink gave me his address at the ranch. A few days later, we mailed off the two black satin—Shiny Nineties jackets, which were sewn with neon thread—that lit up like a neon sign when near a black light. One week later, we received his three first edition books—inscribed to Cousin Nancy and Cousin Jimmy! And the rest is history! Thank you, Sammy—I love you!

Jim and I created over a dozen different t-shirts for the Geezinslaw Brothers, and here are a few pictures of some of them that I found today. Y'all have a great evening! And please check out the Geezinslaw Brothers at: www.geezinslawbrothers.com

White Out!

First off, I want to thank everyone for giving me the best birthday I have ever had—even though I know that I peaked long ago, at the ripe old age of thirty nine years!

On my fortieth birthday, back in 1991, my whole world changed drastically for me overnight. I remember it well, unfortunately. The first thing I did that morning, after falling out of the bed, I went to the bathroom and stared into the mirror and didn’t recognize the person staring back at me! It was like I had seen a ghost—Casper the Friendly Ghost—to be exact!

My long brown hair was now white, my eyebrows were a lighter shade of pale, and my chest had taken on a new direction—straight down!

After whining about it to my husband, he quickly reminded me to count my blessings. I counted all eight of them, and then started crying as he drove me to the Texas Department of Transportation to renew my driver’s license. Now that, was fun.

The officer asked me a few questions and then she said, “Happy Birthday Ms. Parker. Do you want me to remove the motorcycle classification to drive one or do you want to keep that license, too?”

“Yes,” I answered. “I’ve had that motorcycle license since I was eighteen. I want to keep it. Who knows maybe I will get a Harley for my birthday.”

She sorta smirked and then asked me to step up and take the eye test. I did as I was told and I flunked it. I couldn’t see the last line that she was asking me to repeat back to her!

“You flunked,” She said. “Next.”

“Wait,” I said. I opened my purse and pulled out my dreaded, drugstore glasses and put them on. “I want another try, please.”

She let me take it and I passed that time—it cheered me up until she informs me that their would be a new restriction added to my license—I had to always wear glasses when driving. Ah, more good news.

Then it was time for my photo-shoot. That officer shot me all right, and after paying her for shooting me, I left the building feeling even more depressed.

Then to top it all off, as we were driving to work, I hear our good friend, Sammy Allred, who had and still has the most popular, morning talk show, in Austin, announce to the world, on KVET 98.1, “Today is Cousin Nancy’s fortieth birthday and I want to wish her a happy birthday! Happy Birthday, Cousin Nancy!”

After hearing that and knowing that the whole world knew, I cried so hard that my tears nearly drowned me.

Five weeks later, my new driver’s license finally arrived in the mail. And yes, after viewing my picture, I realized—Steve Martin and I could definitely pass as being identical twins.

That was sixteen candles ago, and I have changed. I now look like a white column and am a pillar somewhere. Anyway, I just want everyone to know that y’all made my birthday the most special birthday that I have ever had! Thank you!