Category Archives: Travel

Duck Commander

So as many of you know, we attended a wedding in Fort Walton Beach, Florida this past weekend. This meant a 10-12 hour drive, one way, depending on how many times we stopped. Driving thru five states with good people is pretty fun but more on all that goodness later. I’m about to tell you about greatness.
Now, Sy and I have become hooked on this show called Duck Dynasty. It is greatness. It’s based on these hillbillies in Louisiana that became millionaires by inventing duck calls. Regardless, they are funny, wise and completely personable and I can’t get enough. If you haven’t seen the show, take a moment to stop reading this post and go ahead and set your DVR to record every upcoming episode. Go ahead. Every episode. Yes I’m serious. Good? Alright!
So our trip began bright and early Thursday morning. I was first to drive out of the metroplex (YAY! Out of the metroplex we go!) and headed east! A couple pee breaks (thanks Ray!) and we finally hit our first gas fill up, randomly taking an exit in Monroe, LA. Here I was, at this little ole gas station (not even realizing what town I was in) and looking across the street seeing this sign that says “Bayou Pawn”. Wonder what they had in there is really all that was going thru my head. I got booted from driving and as soon as we got back onto the road, I grabbed Sy’s cool phone with the Internet and started Diana’s rambling.
“I wonder where Duck Commander is.”
“On the way back we have to stop at Duck Commander!”
“It’s a weekday, I wonder if Uncle Si is at Duck Commander.”
“Ah hell, we should’ve tried to find it on our way thru Monroe!”
“We ARE stopping on the way back!” Period.
Sunday rolls around. I have been driving from Fort Walton Beach and we’re rolling into Monroe. Florence, the navigation on Sy’s phone, tells me to exit. I exit. Take a left. I take a left. I go over the highway overpass and stop at the light. What do I see in front of me… Bayou Pawn. !&%@(!
I’m not even kidding you, I took the first right past Bayou Pawn and Duck Commander is sitting right there on the left. Thursday, I was across the street from this place and I didn’t even know it and with my luck Uncle Si and the rest of the gang was in Duck Commander and I was with my city folk across the street. How does this happen?! Next time, I’m going to be prepared! We’re planning ahead!
 My Sy standing next to Uncle Si and the crew! “Hey” “Hey”
Phil!
City boy. Country girl. Duck Commander love!
We just spent the last three days on a white sandy beach on the Florida coast, at a wedding at that and this is the only picture we got together all weekend. Ah well! It’s Duck Commander!
The ducks are still on the roof but it looks like Willie got a new door to his office!
To the folks at Duck Commander, you are fantastic! I’ve even convinced a guy at work to grow out his beard (or maybe he’s convinced me he will do it). We’re coming back thru in September… how about you just happen to be around one Saturday morning? Please?!Now the real question – let’s be realistic here, we weren’t the only ones that stopped to take a picture so I’m figuring there’s some traffic to check out the building. Are any of the guys actually there during the week?

The Lumineers, 2012-06-01 – Dallas

A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine had put a link to a video on his Facebook and basically said how he couldn’t stop listening to this song / band. Of course I was interested and soon enough I had video’s lined up, on repeat and went out and bought their CD (and yes, I still love buying actual CD’s). The band is The Lumineers and I’m still hooked. As luck would have it, they were playing in Dallas on June 1st. I had to go. I HAD to go!
If you don’t know the name, I’m sure you know the song. It’s on a Bing commercial (unless you fast forward thru them all)…
I LOVE coming across a band that is still going out and just loving every second of what they’re doing. They haven’t sold out, they’re writing their own music and just killing it on stage. Sometimes it’s hard to find as a lot of musicians conform but with the Lumineers they’re doing they’re thing and the crowd is catching on. The show sold out in this small venue. I believe they said it was their first sold out show, their first “forced” encore (no one was leaving without some more tunes) and I guarantee it won’t be their last. I also guarantee that I will probably never see them live again in such a small venue (unless I make friends with someone who can have them play a private show).
Sy and I had the pleasure of checking them out at the Prophet Bar in Dallas. This is a small venue in Deep Ellum which was quickly packed. Lucky for us, ok – luck for me, we were 2-3 rows in from the stage. I’m short, Sy made sure to remind me how great his view was at 6’3″.
During the encore, The Lumineers when into the middle of the venue, stood on a bar (I think) and just played acoustic. Such a way to connect with your audience!
The Lumineers are raw. I say this is a good way, a really great way! If you have a chance to check them out, definitely don’t let it pass you by. They are phenomenal live! They’re actually playing in my home state of Vermont in August at the Waterfront in Burlington with Old Crow Medicine Show. If only I could make it up there! For all those who can – go and let me know how awesome the show is! Such a beautiful place to see some great live music! And to The Lumineers – you are going to love Vermont and keep on doing what you’re doing! We love every second!
Check out more video’s on my YouTube site – here.

Sunflower Fields

There is something about traveling that I love and that’s the unexpected.
Obviously, you are aiming at some kind of destination when you are driving somewhere but there is no telling what you will run into along the way. Sometimes, you are pleasantly surprised and other times, well, we just don’t need to discuss those. On our way to Ennis, we drove by a huge sunflower field. Well, two of them actually. On our way back home, we took an alternate route and as luck would have it, we drove by even more. So beautiful!