Take two of these and call me in the morning...

So if you’re reading this, you’re most likely aware by now of the craziness we experienced on Wednesday and how we did not make it to Houston to play at the rodeo. Let me now fill you in on how yesterday’s events played out…

Casey looks on while Dad gives a lesson in "Band Life 101"...

We were booked to play The Auslander in Fredericksburg – one of our favorite places in the world to play. The way it worked out, we all drove separately with plans to meet at 7:00 for load-in. Kevin called me at 7:15 to let me know he was at a service station feeding more water to our Charlie Brown van and it dawned on me then that even with a full night and half a day’s rest, water pump gaskets don’t regenerate with rest like human tissue does - who knew? Kevin pulled up almost all the way to the restaurant, but was stopped short of making it all the way up the drive until more water could be put into the radiator. Once mouth-to-mouth was administered again, Charlie Brown was able to pull the rest of the way up the drive and we were able to unload.

Red hot radiator + Fresh water = Homemade volcano

We had a blast (as we always do) performing for our hill country fans and dining on incredibly tasty fare with bier mugs the size of Rhoades’s fat head. Everybody there really knows how to take care of us and all the fans that show up are always so friendly and warm and glad we’re there – really makes this all worth it. Other than feeling like I had just eaten Thanksgiving dinner before getting on the bandstand, the show went off without a hitch and we had a great time visiting with everybody afterwards. And then it was time to go home (except Charlie Brown wasn’t feeling so well.)

Mmmmmmmm... Bier!

Once we were all packed up, Dennis did his part to be sure that Kev had enough water to get back on the road and I was designated to follow him to be sure he made it from Fredericksburg back to I-10 in Comfort at least. He was low on gas (and unbeknownst to us, water as well) and was concerned that he might not even make it back to Comfort to get gas. Roughly a mile from Comfort I began to hear what sounded like a jet plane landing on the top of my Durango. Yup. You guessed it – BLOW OUT! The rear passenger side tire blew out and I was left to change a tire in the dark at 1:00 am. Party. If there was any consolation in stopping at this hour, it was that the stars in that part of the Hill Country are absolutely stunning on a clear night and I took time to stare into the heavens before coming back to down to my reality. Kevin made it to the gas station and came back to check on me. Once the tire was changed, we were back on the road but not for long before Kevin once again had to pull over and feed the van more water. I didn’t realize he had even pulled over and I kept on my way and made it the rest of the way home without any more excitement.

Mom says I've always been a "Glass is 3/4 full" kind of guy...

Dennis and I met at Brett’s house for a nightcap and another round of darts when I got the call from Kevin that he had NOT made it home, was on the side of the road, and that the van wouldn’t take water. After a few phone calls and texts back and forth, Triple A was on their way to assist in towing the van from where it was pooped on the road back to his house. I was also called upon to go pick up the trailer because they could not retrieve the van with the trailer still attached. Brett and I set out to get the trailer and assist with taking Kevin’s family the rest of the way home and was happy to finally drop the trailer off at his house and I was back home safely at roughly 5:00 am.

Home again, home again, jiggity-jig...

It was just as I got into bed that I got a call from Kevin telling me that upon dropping the van from the tow-truck and attempting to get the van to start and drive it up his steep driveway they learned that the battery was dead. So much for a lucky St. Patrick’s Day. I was recently asked by a pal, “Do you ever sleep?” Not so much. Seems I don’t sleep so much anymore. It also seems that Charlie Brown is no longer a Two Tons fan either. Hopefully with a full night’s rest though, his wounds will heal and he’ll be ready to travel with us again. Here’s hoping. Be safe out there everybody and we’ll talk again soon.

- SuperDodds