EDITOR’S NOTE. Joe Baxter is one of my favorite people. He loves music, the Round Barn, his wife Jean, a club sandwich from Farmstead Cafe, Route 66 and America (not in that order). A songwriter and musician, he has a way with words and can turn a phrase such that you want to listen, or in this case, read for a while. If you are one of his “face friends” on social media, you know he can get you thinking with his posts and musings. He’s letting us post them here on The Luther Register! We’re trying something new. Find Joe at the Arcadia Round Barn where he is the head conversation aficionado catching stories from Route 66 travelers from all over the world. Thanks Ramblin’ Joe! ENJOY! – dawn
by Joe Baxter
Happy Wednesday, FaceFriends!
And Happy December!
THANKS to all you cool cats & kitties who donated to my Red Dirt Relief Fund “Giving Tunesday” fundraiser, and to ALL the “Giving Tuesday” fundraisers and generous givers. I posted my livecast video from the Round Barn on the Joe Baxter Music and Arcadia Round Barn groups, where it remains available for viewing … for now. I managed to jangle through a few of my ol’ songs, make a few musical mistakes, and even climb up on my soapbox for a bit. Made some bucks for charity and had great fun doing it! Hope the Red Dirt Relief Fund did good … Y’all give till it hurts.
Jean and I are getting primed for the rest of the Holiday Season. She’s done a bit of decorating and put the lights on the Christmas Bass. I set up Jean’s Hallmark “Nostalgic Shops and Homes” ornament collection on a tabletop. There are thirty-something of those little stores and houses. Add some snow blanket and lights, and Presto! It’s a pre-Walmart Christmas in Baxtertonville … All it lacks is Jimmy Stewart, running down Main Street in the snow. Every time a bells rings, an angel gets his wings!
Speaking of Christmas, I plan on hosting our Round Barn Rendezvous Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 12. It’s our annual holiday get-together. Gonna keep it low-key this year, and mainly just have some wonderful music unless Someone Other Than Me wants to throw a real party. (OK, OK, I MIGHT bring some cookies.) All you musician types are welcome, but you’re gonna need to bring your best Christmas songs! I would appreciate an RSVP from musicians if you are certain you want to come out and play. We’ll probably go from 1PM to 4PM. Stay tuned to “Arcadia Round Barn” group on FB for a flyer and event notice.
Speaking of Christmas parties, I did a little highway driving last weekend, and it’s sure not getting any safer out there. Folks are driving too fast and too sloppy. The #1 Problem? We are looking at our *#$@$%& phones while not watching the road! I assume that there are drunk and (ahem) otherwise impaired drivers out there every day, not just during the holidays, and THEY are probably looking at their phones, as well! It’s dangerous, my friends. We know this. Driving is the single most dangerous thing that most of us do on a regular basis, so everyone should know- it only takes about two seconds to make a fatal mistake. All we can do is to drive defensively and be hyper-vigilant. PLEASE be careful. Keep it wired tight. Never trust the other guy. YOU pay attention Don’t let the stunt drivers get you. There are people who love you and we don’t want you to get hurt.
Speaking of Christmas Dogs, some positive news: Sir Charles goes to the groomer this morning. Bless his heart, that is the SMELLIEST little dog we’ve ever had, and we’ve had a couple of pretty smelly ones. He’s getting old, and he’s always had bad skin and itchy paws and achy hips, so he chews (gums) on himself all the time, then he’ll spend a few hours curled up in one of his array of dog beds, nice and warm and funky; percolating and marinating…. then (cue the dark, foreboding music) he eventually rises and commences waddling around here like a little Tactical Doggie Nuke Stench Bomb. “Rank” is the kindest but most accurate descriptor I can come up with. “Get a rescue!” they said, “It’ll be fun!” they said … But he’s our boy and we love him.
A nice surprise – I’ve been writing these daily salutations for over ten years now. Dawn Shelton over at the Luther Register apparently reads them, and has invited me to send her some diatribes and assume a “regular contributor” role of “Ramblin’ Joe.” Sounds good to me. I always have SOMETHING to say. Ya know, I am indeed a Route #66 Guy. I have always been a Rambler, (sometimes actually driving a Rambler!) and these are my stomping grounds. I seem to spend a lot of time running up and down the highways and county roads between Luther and Arcadia, and Jones. I keep my ear to the ground. That little stretch of #66 is booming. I’m proud to be involved at the Arcadia Round Barn. Oklahoma, Logan, and Lincoln County suburbs are moving to the rural routes and spreading out, fast. Things are hopping along the Route! I’ll hopefully be checking in with ya on some sort of semi-regular basis, and sharing opinions, music news, the latest from JoeWorld, and other items of interest. We’ll see what Ms. Dawn thinks about all this mess. No promises … LOL
Y’all have a great day! jb
RESIST: Blaming The Other Guy. Might be your own darn fault.
