Trent Willmon and the Knock-Kneed Cowboy

I stumbled out of the door today for a long, slow run and noticed that Fedex had left a package by the door for Billie. For the next hour and a half, I didn't think much about it as I enjoyed the sunshine and the fact that I was running again. I have had an upper respiratory infection that just didn't want to quit, and when I tried to run earlier this week I found that I got so out of breath that even walking was tough!

Right now, I'm getting back to my half training schedule for the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville in April. From others who have run it, I hear that it's a lot of fun. So, at the end of April Billie and I will spend a few days in Nashville and get to visit Trent (her son the Nashville recording artist).

When I got back from my run, Billie was really excited. Her new book "The Knock-Kneed Cowboy" came out in time for Christmas and she had the idea of creating an audio version. The only problem was finding someone to read it.

Then she had the brilliant idea of getting Trent Willmon to record it. He would record the books, they would both market it and share the proceeds! And the Fedex package contained the recording.

She was listening to it when I got back, so I stopped for a while to listen, too. Trent was reading the part where Casey meets Gus, the fairy godfrog. It was amazing to hear what a great job he did with the voices of Casey, Gus and Honey -- this record is destined to be a collector's item!

Billie already has a lot of orders -- you can get the book, the CD or a combination from her website http://empoweringforchange.com. Go look now, while you're thinking about it!

We're Back!

We made it back safely to Huntsville after an exciting two weeks in Phoenix, San Diego and Ventura. Billie got some great photos (I think) but they're all still in her camera. The first weekend of Samurai Camp 14 with Klemmer was amazing. I came back with three goals (including a team goal) -- all to be accomplished by April 18:

1. I have developed a website and newsletter service for beginning runners, and have 100 or more members who are receiving my regular newsletters by Friday 9:00am PST April 18th , 2008.
2. I have run 10 consecutive miles or more by Friday 9:00am PST April 18th , 2008.
3. Team Laser has selflessly committed 16 hours or more of community service per person, for a total of 96 hours or more by Friday April 18th, 2008 at 9:00am PST.

The current status for Goal 1 is that the web site is now up and running properly, so if you know anyone who might be interested, please encourage them to look at the site and (hopefully) enroll. I am making it free for the first fifty. If you or anyone you know, would be available to test it for me (by enrolling), that too would be helpful.

For the second goal, I ran 8 miles today, so am well on my way. I'm still v.e.r.y slow, but am working on my speed because I'm running the Capitol 10K in Austin on March 30.

I have not yet started on the third goal.

The following week with Klemmer, staffing Heart of the Samurai 24 was also amazing, but slightly marred by the fact that Billie and I both got allergies. We think it was caused by mold in the room: the weather was pretty damp most of the time. If/when we staff again, we'll probably stay off site.

We saw Paul, Alisa, Kai and Judy for a brief visit last Monday and Tuesday and flew back to Houston Tuesday.

On Thursday we went to the World Championship Barbecue Cook Off at the Houston Rodeo to see Trent perform a great show. Billie stayed on in Houston at Rusty's house to work on her Samurai Camp goals, while I'm working on mine in Huntsville. I'll see her again Monday, when Trent's label has a Houston Rodeo Kick-Off and CD Release Party. Then, in the evening Trent will be performing at the Hideout (formerly known as the Astrodome).

After that, maybe things will quiet down for a while so we can continue to work on our goals!

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

We're off to the Rodeo!

The tickets went on sale today for Tim McGraw at the Rodeo on Monday, March 3. We've bought four -- Rick is bringing a friend (not the one in the photo!). The main attraction for us is that Trent will be performing at the Hideout after Tim McGraw has been on the main stage.

Before then, we also intend to see Trent play at the World Championship Barbecue Cookoff at the rodeo on February 28. Might even get to taste some of that good Texas barbecue ...

In other news, we intend to visit the set of Palo Pinto Gold next week, but have not yet fixed the day.

In case it looks like we're getting bored, we are also in Samurai Camp with Klemmer and Associates. This is keeping us pretty busy already with homework assignments in advance of the first Sam Camp weekend February 15 in Phoenix. From Phoenix, we leave for San Diego where we will be staffing at Klemmer's Heart of the Samurai, which Trent will be attending. From San Diego, we'll drive up to Ventura to visit Paul and Alisa and then return on February 26 from LAX. We then have about eight weeks of Sam Camp at home before the second weekend in Phoenix in April.

We don't believe in letting the grass grow under our rocking chairs yet.

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