Dallas,TX

This is the time for Oktoberfest celebrations to begin. The Addison Oktoberfest begins Thursday at 5 p.m. The four-day celebration includes carnival rides, midway games, arts and crafts. A children’s tent will have live performances for the younger set. Obviously, there will be German food, German potato salad, beverages, and live polka music and yodeling. You can also stroll through the biergarten with its strolling musicians. Thurs. 5-11 p.m., Fri. 5 p.m.- midnight, Sat. noon to midnight and Sun. noon to 6 p.m.

Addison Oktoberfest, Addison Circle Park 4970 Addison Circle Drive.

Have a good morning and Peace be with you.

I apologize for not posting any earlier. The day began with a headache and church activities which stretched on through the day. There are many events this week including food festivals, museum events, music, and more. I will try to post as many as I can. There will also be local news and commentary.

As always, let me know what you may want to see here pertaining to the Dallas area.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Some of the more soulful songwriters are performing tonight in the Dallas area. Lucinda Williams has honed her skills over the years, gaining speed with each new release. Her new album, West, as well as her Live @ the Fillmore release, demonstrates the power of mind and voice joining in beautiful musical unison. Her songs have been recorded by many other performers for years.

Houston Marchman and Django Walker (son of Jerry Jeff Walker) are coming into their own. All three songwriters do not write songs so much as live them and see them and write them down. Their songs touch the heart, mind, and soul of everyone. Not to mention their appreciation for the humorous side of life.

Kind of makes you wish you could be in three places at the same time.

Lucinda Williams, Longhorn Ballroom, 216 Corinth, St., 214-428-5900. 9 p.m. Front Gate Tickets.

Houston Marchman, Love and War in Texas, Plano, 601 E. Plano Pkwy, 972-422-6201. 7:30 p.m.

Django Walker, Love and War in Texas, Grapevine, 2505 E. Grapevine Mills Circle, 972-724-5557. 9 p.m.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

For being the music of many cultures and having a longer history than any other type of music, folk music always gets the short end of the stick. Modern American folk music began about the time of Woody Guthrie. His legacy helped form the genre as it exists today. He would be proud of the many facets of folk music today. Guthrie was not the first, but he was the one to help propel the musical form into the musical melting pot it has become.

The 1960s are mostly remembered for the popularity of rock and roll which began in the 1950s. Folk music had its distinct role in the ‘60s, but took a backseat to rock and roll and psychedelic sounds. The 1970s brought a resurgence in folk and folk/rock music. In Texas, Dallas in particularly (before they moved to Austin) the early ‘70s folk/rock merged with country to begin the emergence of “Redneck rock,” country-rock, and the outlaw movement. On today’s radio folk and its related cousins can be found, as a general rule, on so-called Americana stations.

In the late 1980’s there was - as there had been in many successive decades - a resurgence of folk music with an updated train of thought. The Indigo Girls were part of that particular resurgence. Twenty years and ten studio albums later, Amy and Emily Saliers are still going strong as the Indigo Girls. The tour is supporting that tenth album, Despite Our Differences - their first since signing with Hollywood Records earlier this year. The Indigo Girls have always put on a dynamic performance and tonight’s show at the Majestic should be no different.

The Indigo Girls, tonight at 8 p.m., the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St., Downtown, 214-880-0137. Tickets at Ticketmaster or the theater box office.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Okay, so it is not a secret that President Bush and the First Lady are moving to Dallas when he leaves office. Which naturally raises some concerns for residents here. It is rumored that they will be moving to Highland Park. Which would be a good guess, considering the Bush Library is supposedly going to be at SMU. Although each time it is in the news there is still some question as to where it is going to be. And Laura Bush did attend SMU from what I understand.

The first thing the news crew did was to interview Realtors and speculate on which neighborhoods and which houses they would choose from. They showed a fifteen million dollar home being built on spec that had security out the wazoo. Two elevators and an underground parking garage that is just short of bomb proof. Who knows where they are actually looking and what houses they are considering. It is still over a year before the President leaves office. Not to mention that they would swear the Realtor to secrecy. The Realtor surely would not be on the news showing the world. However, when the family does move in, you can bet it will be on his/her new business card.

But the President and First Lady moving here does, as I said, raise some concerns. The neighbors the reporters interviewed living around the houses they were speculated upon were naturally skeptical. The one mother said that at first it would probably be interested having a President live nearby, but that after a while it might become bothersome what with traffic situations involving the motorcade and secret service agents always around.

Which I understand. But my main concern is that we are high enough on the terrorist attack list as it is. Having what would then be the former President - particularly the one who waged war on terrorism - living in the heart of the city would boost us right up close to numero uno. Washington, D.C. and New York City notwithstanding. I’m not paranoid mind you, but that is the reality of the situation. Life will go on, but there will be another thought that could ring alarms in the back of our minds - along with are our children safe and where they are supposed to be. We shall see what we shall see.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

The largest wine festival in the Southwest returns to Historic Downtown Grapevine Thursday through Sunday. Obviously there will be a wine tasting - or two or three. As well as an International Wine Garden. The GrapeStomp will test the contestants’ stomping agility and entertain the spectators.

For the family, there will be a Kid Zone area for younger children. The carnival and midway games will please kids of all ages. Then go by the arts and crafts booths for that unique gift for yourself or someone else. Take a ride on the Grapefest Express Railroad. There are many other things to see and do including the live music stages with continuous entertainment. Not to mention people-watching.

There will be free admission all day Thursday and up until 5 p.m. on Friday. Go to the Grapevine website for parking information and directions.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

I’m getting a late start this morning. A nagging headache has been annoying me since I woke up. Having to wake up and immediately get the boys going and off to school is taking its toll. I am a morning person only if I get about an hour to have my coffee and get my thoughts together. I also have a tooth that is giving me problems and really needs to be pulled. I am one of the many who do not put going to the dentist at the top of the to do list. A trip to the dentist is a far cry from what it was when I was growing up, but it is still not my idea of an ideal way to spend an afternoon.

With that being said, if you need to go to the dentist and do not have a regular dentist, check out Alpha Dental at 14800 Webb Chapel Rd., two blocks south of Beltline. The staff is cordial, professional, and understanding. The dentists are the best I have been to - and I have been to a few. They take the time to discuss your particular situation, letting you take part in the resulting decision. Upon your first visit, they will help you set up a plan of action with repeat visits to get your teeth to a healthy state with a bright smile. If it was not for that gauze you are biting down on and the prescription in your hand, you would think you had just visited a friend. Then again, you did.

Alpha Dental 14800 Webb Chapel Rd., 972-620-8280.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Well, everyone in the Dallas area is pretty much tired of the rain by now. It has not completely stopped raining since very early this morning. After lunch I went to the doctor’s office to make sure the oldest boy had received the booster shot we thought he had - the high school was highly interested in that information. Now not only does the school have it on their records, but we have a record for our files. We do not know why we had not gotten a copy when he received the shot.

When I returned to the house I could not get on the internet. With the rain, the local wifi was out. Apparently water was messing with the phone lines as well because dial-up was even a problem. And dial-up is a problem as it is. So I had no chance to get on and check anything out or post.

Very few people will want to get out and drive tonight. Schools are still having Meet the Teacher nights and other school activities. But anyone who does not have to get out probably will not. The rain is supposed to continue into the morning - possibly most of the day tomorrow. Trust me - the ground is saturated. Returning from picking Cyndy up from work, we had not seen the water levels as high as they are now. And we have seen them up high.

Ground that had always considered itself high ground discovered today what it feels like to be the bank. Of a stream, river, pond, lake, or other body of water. Other ground on the side of the road had never been a bank before, much less any other part of pond. Be that as it may, there is plenty of water sitting around with more rain on the way.

Hopefully in the morning the weather will not be as bad as this morning. Making it easier for everyone to get to work. Events and activities will pick up as the week rolls along and we will get started with those in the morning.

Have a good evening and Peace be with you.

I feel like a damp dishrag. Or more to the point, a sponge that can no longer hold any more water. And all I did was take my wife to work and the boys to school. Unfortunately an inconsiderate driver hit a patch of water close to the curb too fast and I did not get my window back up in time. Then I was cold. Which in itself is not a bad thing this time of year if it had not had the wet attached to it. Seeing lightning the closest I have ever seen it before is only a thrill looking back on it. At the time it was just darned scary and disconcerting.

The rain let up a bit when I took the two younger boys to school at eight. It started up again just in time for me to be soaked by the time I got in the house. Great timing! The drop in temperature is the only good thing about it. I have been waiting to start wearing my long-sleeved denim shirts again. And do not get me wrong. We could use the rain - especially when it brings cooler weather. But a nice, long, soaking rain would do just fine. Dumping it all at once is just overkill. I think my errands can wait a while. Maneuvering around stalled cars and accidents, and through intersections where the light is out is not actually my idea of a good time.

Have a good morning and Peace be with you.

Charlie Robison is appearing at Love and War in Texas in Plano this afternoon at 4 p.m. Be part of the live broadcast on KHYI 95.3. Bobby Duncan is opening the show. Charlie Robison, as well as his brother Bruce, is a talented songwriter. Both have written songs from the hilariously absurd to gut-wrenching ballads. Charlie Robison puts on a great upbeat show which should include most of his most memorable tunes.

While you listen to the show, try some of the mouthwatering dishes served at Love and War in Texas. Food from all areas of the state, such as Roasted Wild Boar from the Hill Country or Caddo Lake Catfish from the East Texas Piney Woods. Or indulge in ribs with the Sunday all you can eat Big Beef Ribs. A relaxing Sunday afternoon on the patio listening to good music and munching on ribs. What could be better than that?

Love and War in Texas, 601 E. Plano Pkwy (just off Central) 972-422-6201 Charlie Robison with Bobby Duncan 4-6 p.m.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

Terry Fator may have talent as an impersonating singer and ventriloquist, but he is not the first, or the best, ventriloquist to come out of the Dallas area. Jeff Dunham, one of the best ventriloquists I have ever seen perform, is from Richardson and appears tonight at the Addison Improv on Beltline. When my wife and I witnessed his show, the tears flowed freely from laughing continuously.

Dunham has a new DVD titled “Spark of Insanity” being released the middle of this month. My family has watched his last video “Arguing With Myself” so many times that we know it by heart. Yet we will still watch it and laugh just as hard as we did the first time we saw it. Peanut, Walter (the grumpy old man), and Jose Jalapeno “on a stick,” his reliable sidekicks, are in both videos. It is hard to call them puppets when they take on a personality of their own in contrast to Jeff’s personality.

The new characters, taking the place of Sweet Daddy Dee and Bubba J of “Arguing with Myself,” are Melvin the Superhero and Achmed the Dead Terrorist. You really should see Jeff Dunham perform life. It is an experience you will not soon forget. If you cannot make it to the show tonight, be sure to catch Jeff on Comedy Central on Sept. 23 for the premiere of the new video, Spark of Insanity. He is performing two shows this evening, so you have two chances to see him.

Jeff Dunham tonight at Addison Improv, 4980 Beltline Rd. #250 (upstairs), 972-404-8501. 1st show 7 p.m., 2nd show 9 p.m.

Have a good day and Peace be with you.

For mainstream country music fans, the Alan Jackson - Brooks and Dunn tour is coming to Dallas Saturday night at the Smirnoff Music Centre in Fair Park. Brooks and Dunn are opening the show and Alan Jackson is headlining.

Brooks and Dunn are on tour in support of their two upcoming CDs. The Forever Brooks and Dunn CD will be released on September 18. The CD Cowboy Town will be on sale on October 2nd. The duo and their band have been a staple in country music for many years. Now they are opening tour dates rather than headlining. Beware of artists when they keep putting out greatest hits albums.

In years past, a greatest hits album was a sign that either a band’s popularity is slipping or they have run out of original material. With the majority of country hits not written by the artists that record them, a stash of original material is no longer necessary. Greatest hits albums are simply ways to make more money from a stagnant fan base.

Alan Jackson is still touring on the heels of his highly acclaimed Like Red On A Rose released last year. As well as his album of classic hymns from last year, Precious Memories. Not a very original title, but the songs are well done. Jackson released Live at Texas Stadium in April, a recording of a show with Jackson, George Strait, and Jimmy Buffet. Denise Jackson has also come out with a book about their trials, love, and faith entitled “It’s All About Him.” Alan wrote the foreword for his wife’s book, written with Ellen Vaughn.

Brooks and Dunn/Alan Jackson, Sept. 8, Smirnoff Music Centre, 1818 First Ave., Fair Park. 214-421-1111 or Ticketmaster for tickets. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show starts at 7:30.

Have a good afternoon and Peace be with you.

Good morning! In a way, starting with a holiday made the week seem even longer than a regular work week. I certainly feel just as tired. Holidays with teenagers just do not seem all that restful. Fortunately, church activities start on Sunday and the boys will be at church most of the day. Fall and school year activities begin at most churches this weekend. Schools are getting the information on the new students and updates on returning students in the computer. Every one is getting used to their new schedules. The school year is going full force.

With Fall beginning officially in a couple of weeks, the weather seems to be getting ready to turn. Temperatures are dropping gradually, occasionally rising again. Hopefully we will get some rain this weekend and not just more breath stifling humidity. We could use the rain.

In the meantime, check back soon for activities and events for this weekend. There are some really good performers hitting town in the next couple of days. See you in a few.

Have a good morning and Peace be with you.

Thieves looking for copper ripped the wires out of the lights at Grimes Park Little League fields in DeSoto. This is the second time in 6 weeks they have stolen the copper wires. The copper is worth about $3 a pound. But the cost to keep replacing the wiring may threaten the possibility of night games at the park. As of September 1st, stealing copper is a state felony. It does not, however, seem to have deterred the thieves. Scott Friedman reported the story on Channel 5.

Is nothing sacred? Little League fields for crying out loud. Taking a chance at being electrocuted for three dollars a pound. One has to wonder what it is coming to - stealing padding out of baby strollers? Stealing silverware from the homeless shelter? We have enough crime in the Dallas area. Granted thieves are usually not the sharpest tools in the shed, but that seems like a tremendous expenditure of risk and work - all the while trying not to get caught or electrocuted - for a mere $3 a pound.

On the other hand, it is sad to think that someone is so hard up that the small pittance was worth the risk to them. Or perhaps it was some smart-aleck kids who want to be destructive, but prefer to get something for their efforts beside the satisfaction of the act itself. The police may never find them so we may never know the reasoning behind the act. Yet you always have to wonder why when something stupid and senseless like that happens. Just be thankful that no one was around to possibly be injured. But you have to wonder about the next time these thieves get the urge to strike.

Have a good afternoon and Peace be with you.

For a relaxing change of pace, take your girlfriend/boyfriend, spouse, or family to the Oak Point Amphitheater in Plano. Coolers, picnics, blankets and lawn chairs are welcome. Sit back and eat your picnic supper as the sun goes down, listening to Billy Jonas and Trout Fishing in America. This is a wonderful pairing of musical acts and should make for a thoroughly enjoyable show, alternating between joyous humor and musical artistry.

Both are eclectic acts that enthrall children and entertain adults. Billy Jonas, in addition to traditional instruments, plays “industrial re-percussion” instruments made from found objects. His performance is energetic and the audience becomes part of the songs and their own entertainment. Among other awards, he has a received a Parent’s Choice Gold award.

The duo of Trout Fishing in America has been performing for three decades. Although they perform for children, they have songs that will drive straight to the heart and mind of adults as well. They play a mix of folk/pop and family music with laces of reggae, latin, blues, jazz and classical music running throughout the mix. They have garnered three Grammy nominations and numerous other awards including National Indie Awards (recording on their own label), Parent’s Choice Gold, and American Library Awards.

Drive on out and join in the fun and be part of the show and the audience at the same time. Oak Point Amphitheater in Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano. 972-941-5600. www.planostages.com.

Have a good morning and Peace be with you.