The weekend is coming to a close and somehow, some way we managed to survive yet another weekend full of craziness. (And probably way to much booze.) Friday night was a good night.  We headed to the Grill in Victoria, TX to go check out the show with Toxic Fuse, The Loveletter, and Viet Ruse.  There really is something about us (The Loveletter) playing with Toxic. The energy in the room is nuts when we share a stage together. After a few beers, the night only got better when Viet Ruse hit the stage.  A perfect ending to a wonderful night.  Their sound is reminiscent of the Clash mixed with some bluesy/indie undertones.  Very refreshing to hear something different in a world where nu-metal and rap have become the norm.  Viet Ruse? I salute you.  Keep doing what your doing.  Whatever it is? Your doing it right.

Viet Ruse @ Downtown Bar and Grill — July 1, 2011 — Recorded by Timothy Danger

Saturday I woke up after a few hours of sleep, loaded up the car, and jetted to Shiner.  My hometown. A place I love to hate.  I made it just in time to see the annual Half Moon Holidays parade. (I might have almost hit a float and possibly a high school band member in my mad dash to make it in time, but I made it none-the-less.)  Half Moon Holidays is always a weird thing for me. As I stated, I grew up in Shiner so I have many memories in the town and at the Half Moon Holidays Festival.  The parade, as uneventful as it is, is nice to go to simply to remember.  The entire town of Shiner lines up on Mainstreet from Boehm Tractor all the way past the light.  Whole families come out to celebrate and cheer on the people in the parade.  The floats throw out candy for the children and they run into the streets for the goodies.  I don’t know one person who grew up in Shiner who can say they don’t remember this parade. The actual event, that usually takes place at Green Dickson Park, a park less than a mile out of Shiner is full of other, equally awesome memories.  My dad used to be in the BBQ cook-off… I remember sleeping in our old van because mom and dad BOTH drank to much and had to be up at 5 to get the pit fired up for the brisket and chicken.  I remember the ‘Shiner Blondes’.. A bunch of old men who dressed up with blonde wigs and bikinis for the dunking booth.  I remember going in the helicopter rides.  I remember when there used to be a carnival that showed up with a ferris wheel and other cool rides.  I remember looking at all the vendor booths and buying rocks and jewelry and fake cigarettes so I could be just like my pa.  The support and the heritage in Shiner really is something else.  The town really is a country in itself.  As much as I hate this town, for my own reasons mind you, it is the place that made me who I am today.. For that Shiner, TX little town of 2000, I owe you a lot. As for this Half Moon Holiday event? Well I’m much older now.  So I don’t really go for the vendors anymore.  The Car Show isn’t really as cool.  My dad can’t do the BBQ cook off any longer.  The carnival and the helicopter rides? The dunking booth? None of it comes much anymore.  In some ways, it seems like a ghost of what it once was.  But regardless, I still had a good time.  My mom, Allynn, and I all worked the beer booth for some good 2 and half hours.  We got to meet tons of really awesome people and got to drink some really really good beer, brewed in Shiner, TX itself.  Honestly? A place, an event, anything in life really is what you make it.  Despite my issues with this town, I had an excellent time on Saturday. After Half Moon, we decided that a Shiner trip could not be complete without a few beers at Howards.  So, to Howards we went.  We primed ourself for the podcast and got our talking juices flowing. We ended the night at the The Dungeon, the birthplace of the podcast.  We got to see the fireworks, the closing to of Half Moon Holidays, and recorded the podcast you are hearing today. This weekend? Though full of way too much beer, was excellent! Over-and-out.. -Bitter Girl