The Broken Spoke Newsletter

August 2009

I can't believe it has been this long since I wrote a newsletter. I have several excuses one of them being I had started working on my book about the Broken Spoke. Another excuse is that I'm having to much fun playing with my new grandson, James Lamar White Peacock. He just had his 2nd birthday party where else but at the Broken Spoke. One of the reasons his Mother decided it had to be inside somewhere since we've had 27 out of 30 days of over 100 degrees. It's so hot you just can't seem to think straight. Back to the big Birthday party. We brought down his battery operated Escalade, John Deere Tractor and a little 4-wheeler, and the birthday guests (kids) had a ball going around on the dance floor in the cool air conditioning.

Getting back to the HOT weather in Austin and surrounding towns. We have set so many heat records that we didn't want to set. There is the Zero rain in our rain gauge. Probably the worst heat since Lincoln , that's Abe Lincoln, was running for President in 1860. The Highland Lakes are drying up, the Pedernales River looks like a creek instead of a river. No one is singing "Rain Rain go away or Baby it's Cold Outside". They might put you in the nut house for those songs today. How about singing " The Heat is High and the lake is Dry Deep in the Heart of Texas".

Someone asked me about the economy, and I told them they might not be buying cars, but they are still dancing and buying beer. Because we have the coldest beer, and the best Looking girls to dance with right here at the Broken Spoke. Of course, we are the home of the "Best Chicken Fried Steak in Town". We were voted the Best Honky Tonk in Texas and that means the World to us. Our daughter, Terri, is giving dance lessons Wednesday thru Saturday from 8 pm till 9 pm. We have a band upfront on Tuesdays with no cover. Every Wednesday from 6pm to 8 pm we have Tony Harrison with no cover, and Dale Watson plays right after the dance lessons in the dancehall. Starting on August 4th on Thursdays from 6-8 pm Billy Garza and Weldon Henson will be alternating. These early bands play for tips, so come on by for supper and get out of the heat and enjoy the music and good food. We are keeping it Country on the South Side of Austin, TX.

Thanks to Dr. Markus, my surgeon, I had a successful Hernia operation. I have a Colonopsy procedure coming up that I'm not real crazy about. After I get over all this maybe I can get back to my book.

I just got a call that my waterline at White's Ranch is broken, it's never a dull moment. Here I am thinking about writing the newsletter and something always pops up to get in the way. Over the years, out of self defense, I have become a pretty good plumber. No I do not let the crack in my rear end show. I found out from my brother in law, Gene Wells, that to be a Master Plumber you need to know two things. Number one is " Shit runs down hill, and Number two is payday is on Friday.

Be sure and look up www.Bob Wills. Com on the internet and give it a listen. I was on all last week, and Alvin Crow is on this week. Look at My Space. James Hand. Com and you'll see him singing at the Spoke. Google up Broken Spoke Films to see various bands who perform regularly at Broken Spoke.

I had a Great 70th birthday at the Broken Spoke on Friday and Saturday, and at the White's Ranch on Sunday. It couldn't have been better. I got my 70 MPH speed limit signs plus a whole lot more. My big gift was a 44-40 rifle is just like my Texas Ranger Grandfather John Dudley White, Sr. Now, I'm just hanging in there for my 75th which will make the Broken Spoke 50 years old. In the near future I will be displaying a replica of Wille's guitar and a replica of Waylon Jennings guitar which he really played. A new found friend by the name of Johnny Waco made this possible. I think everyone will enjoy seeing these guitars up close. I have a new picture of me leaning against my 1954 Cadillac. This was in a book called "Shall we Dance" which is very nicely published. We were in another filming of "Friday Night Lights", and we are in the process of another TV filming of local nightclubs in Austin.

I've been able to squeeze in some time for a few Texas Hold Em Poker Tournaments. I love to beat the "young guns" of poker. I might not beat them all the time but I take it slow and easy. I'll quote the Texas Rangers "A man in the right just Keeps on Coming". I'm like the old bull telling the young bull "Let's walk down and do the herd". I did really good last year in Vegas by coming in the money in the Senior's Hold Em Tournament, but this year I never got what I call a good hand but "I'll be Back". I'm just about to go for a tune up at Tunica Mississippi for a few days.

I better go for now and find my PVC Cement and pipe cutters and fix that water leak my daughter wants a shower before work. I might even take a few head of cattle to Lockhart Auction today. It's only supposed to be about 102 degrees to 105 degrees when I load cattle in the heat of the day about 4 pm. I better get my roping rope and cattle prod located and get my rear end in gear time waits for no one. I'm a man of many hats Dance Hall Operator, plumber, part time carpenter, full time BSer and rancher.

Happy Trails

Back in the Saddle
James M. White