Right now we should be gathering up our camping equipment, loading 10 some-odd 30 packs of beer, about a carton of cigarettes, and a little bit of food.... but this year it is not to be. For the past six years I've been going to Larry Joe Taylor's Chili Cook-Off and Music Fest (now Music Fest and Chili Cook-0ff or "Meridian" as we like to call it). Since our wedding is right around the corner, we decided to save up for that. It kills me too. We've had some of the greatest memories going to this deal. It's where we all met Crazy Ray and he so graciously took us under his wing and showed us what its all about. 1999, our first year was the incarnation of "Lackluster Mooseknuckle" which Jason appropriately named.... a time before Texas even knew who the Stragglers were. Jason, Roger, and Red played at Ray's campsite while Ted and I were basically backup singers/dancers/roadies/PR people and won Ray "Best Showmanship". He gave the award to the Yellow House. Memories like that don't come around like that very often. I talked with Monty yesterday and he said Crazy Ray wasn't going this year either. His first time to miss since the Festival started I believe. Gonna miss Todd Snider this year too. Well, we'll be all back to normal by next year for the reunion.