They say lightning doesn't ever strike twice the same exact spot, but when it comes to my boat; well, I guess it's the exception. I mean, it was never bound to work from the start. The hull sat untouched for over a decade in some back yard, the motor was a total roll of the dice, and I'm surely no marine mechanic. We've been very lucky with the boat, BUT... it wasn't just luck.

I dedicated much of my Friday and Saturday to getting her back up and going again. It was the worst! Remounting the motor and everything that comes with that is a total pain, and I faced a bunch of hurdles. Most notably, the throttle just isn't working out. We need about four inches of travel to fully open up the carbs, and we maybe get half of that. Additionally, there's currently no such thing as reverse, ants are everywhere, and all the other issues we overlooked previously remain. 

For example, our horn is tooting great, but we have no lights. They ought to work; it's just a matter of figuring out the wiring again. Of course, I didn't label anything, and I totally forget how we had it. 

What else...

The transom is rotted out and barely holding on, the interior needs some major loving, the whole hull is in need of refinishing, and our electric start is electric stopped. In a lake full of fancy boats and clean white shorts, I'm out there in greasy blue jeans pull-startin' and puffin' two-stroke. That old Magnolia is a basket-case, but she's mine- if it's floating, I'm boating! 

So, that's exactly what I did! I hobbled it all together, got it running at the house, then immediately took it out to the lake. The one thing I should have checked before leaving was the weather. I got soaked! When the sky is darkening and everyone else is loading up their vessels as I'm unloading... well. 

All things considered, I love my boat. As much as it frustrates me, there's hardly anything better than a day out on the Portage Lakes, in my book. All I need is WQMX on the Bluetooth and a fishing pole in my hand! 

Thanks for reading this blog, and let me leave you off with this advice: don't buy a boat. Instead, make good friends with somebody who's got one! 

Drew Parker stopped by before his show Friday Night at Thirsty Cowboy!  Such a down to earth, genuine guy!  He talks about music new and old, his come up, Luke Combs and more...  Check it out.

Patty Loveless  - How Can I Help You Say Goodbye  - 1993

 This is one of the most loved songs of the 1990's or heck any decade.  Patty Loveless had a long line of very big hits for a number of years and I feel this overall is her most loved song.  The exceptionally poignant video too was a real factor in this song.  Also, sometimes the right song finds the right artist and the marriage is perfect.  When I hear this song, I'm not so sure this is as big of a song in the hands of another artist.  This song needed Patty Loveless.  This also has a very interesting story.  It was written by a great songwriter named Karen Taylor-Good and guy named Burton Banks Collins. The latter had never written a song, ever, but the signature line was something his grandmother said as she passed away.  The song struck a lot of people where the live, and in the end was a #3 hit and became synonymous with Loveless.  How this wasn't a #1 is beyond me.  It has been recorded by others, but Loveless' version is the staple. This is universally loved by most country fans, as it's a song that talks about the inevitable powerful moments we all have as we go through, and eventually end our life.  This song moves everyone that listens to it deeply. This is a work of country music art.

Last Week's Selection

My Full Profile On Patty Loveless

 Vince Gill is one of the most talented, respected and sought after musicians on the planet. He's done and continues to do it all in every avenue of the music business. This song is also on my 50 Favorites List from 2023, at #16. He is also featured in my Mega Star Series, my Guitarists Series and my Vocalists Supreme Series  (Links Below).  His country career got off to slow start, but once it took hold, he would dominate the format, and the overall landscape of country for years.  He released country singles starting in 1984, but success was slim.  The song When I Call Your Name in 1990 was a big hit at last and set Gill on this way with it peaking at #3, his first real hit.  BUT, this song in 1992 went #1, and once if did, it was on.  The next ten singles all went top 5 with many going #1.  What makes this song so important is that it set Gill on a 6 year run that made him the musical superstar he still is today.  This is a powerful, beautiful, wonderful ballad that would become the Gill staple.  This was the pathway for Vince Gill to be one of the faces of our format and award shows for years to come. Did this song change all of his fortunes?  No, I don't think so, When I Call Your Name did. But this song was the big hit he really needed that took Gill where he had never been before and made him the star we all know him to be - even today. This also is an incredible video!

Last Week #33

My Mega Star Profile On Vince Gill

The Guitarists (Part 2)

The Vocalists Supreme (Part 2)