Went with the family up to the Country Griffiths' this weekend for a little down home fun. Those country folk really know how to party. We met up with them in Sacramento to ride the train on Saturday evening. Before we got on the Iron Horse for the one hour five mile out and back journey along I5, the kids got to get up with the band and jam. Jackson practically came out of his skin when the guitarist asked for a volunteer from the crowd. With a quick introductory lesson on the finer points of the gut bass, Jackson was ready to go. After the opening song, the rest of the crew scrambled forward and each were rewarded with a unique yet important instrument. Steve Ouzounian's kid, Cole, got weighted down with a real banjo that I thought for sure would take him tumbling to the ground. Phoebe Griffiths got the tambourine and Sam Ouzounian was outfitted with shaker type instrument while Spencer Griffiths was awarded some authentic Louisiana washboard type thing. With a quick one, two, three from Jackson, the group was off and running. The band is now called Big Cowboy and the Kiddiewinks and they are available for parties, bar mitzvahs, weddings, graduations, quincerra's, etc. Video attached for your reference.



The rest of the weekend was filled with a hodgepodge of smile inducing moments. Friday night saw the family at the local tree farm picking out the prettiest fire hazard available. Jackson helped me truck it into the house and then we decorated it. At first the wifeage was a little uptight as the kiddiewinks rambunctiously went at the ornaments. Some are fragile and she immediately feared that one might break. I started singing the song from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas were the people of Whoville stand around the tree in the center of town holding hands. I got the kids to join in and she buckled realizing that if an ornament gets smashed, we have another 10 ready to take its place. After that, everyone had a great time. Did the House of Pain Worlds on Saturday and it was hard. The wind was a bitch, which was good practice for those spring races, I guess. At one point going up Collier, Tony Homes mentioned that it would be a real bugger when we turned into the wind near the top. I looked down at our speed and my heart rate and I couldn't help but think, "it already is a real bugger." Went out for a couple of hours with Mr. Griffiths on our mountain bikes for the Sunday Morning Mountain Bike in Granite Bay Worlds. Of course this was after his wife went for a run. Upon her return, she announced that she had found a goat. Only in the country. Anyway, hope you had a wonderful weekend as well.

Johnny GoFast