2004 was the year of the “Redneck Woman” era!  Gretchen Wilson dominated the country radio market.  With her dip in her wrangler back pocket and redneck barbie attitude!  Nashville shoved her raw Tanya Tucker wanna be attitude down our throats.  I’m not saying that I didn’t enjoy the fresh air!  I actually did!  However, her quick rising stardom also came crashing down just as fast.  The expectations of hitting a home run everytime you step up to the plate is an understatement in the Country Genre market.  Nashville country music labels…love em’ and hate em’ all at the same time.

Gretchen Wilson has opened her own label “Redneck Records” and her new album out today is “I Got Your Country Right Here”

I have heard a few songs from the album and I must say that Gretchen Wilson is BACK!  The Redneck Cosmo Trailer Trash Barbie has rocked my ears to wanting to listen to her album over and over again!  This is a highly recommended album for any true country music fan.

I had a friend ask me the difference of lift kits…so this blog is for him, however, I hope a few more enjoy!  BTW…the one of the best sites for pricing is www.jackit.com

Suspension Lift = Increases the center of gravity more than body lift (keep in mind the engine/frame is lifted too)  Suspension/handling performance will change, for the better or worse depends on too many factors to list.  Avoid blocks, they are dangerous and increase spring wrap.

You may have have problems with the following:

• - shocks (you usually need longer ones)
• - driveshaft(s) (may not be long enough)
• - transmission/transfer case (may need shims)
• - front-end alignment (may need larger shims)
• - may need *dropped* pitman arm

Body Lift = The kit is cheap, however, there are a few modifications which raise the cost…

• - lowering the radiator (especially if you have a shroud)
• - lowering clutch linkage (for manuals, don’t know about automatics)
• - gas filler neck 
• - steering column may not extend enough (the gear box is on the frame)
• - brake lines (from the master cylinder to the frame)

For all you “Junior Nation” fan’s…he finished 27th…..ouch!

It was nice to see a few contenders up at the front throughout the race that you wouldn’t normally see….and what about this new car!!  Drivers would slam against the wall and still come back to be on the lead lap!  This car is just too cool…but only if you can DRIVE!  I guess more Nascar drivers need to start getting more SEAT time and less TALK time….ha’

However, most of the “Crossroads” are like Chips and Dip!  C’mon, why do I want to listen to two of the same mixin’ it up on stage??  What I really want to hear is “CROSSROADS” like:  Metallica and Kenny Chesney or Slipknot and Carrie Underwood!  Now that’s Crossroads!  Ha!

I can see it now…Eminem and Alison Krauss with Union Station!

This will tell you how “C-O-U-N-T-R-Y” I am.  I was searching for a good recipe for Butter Beans.  Yes, Butter Beans……they are so good if done right.

Anyways, I did a google search for country butter beans and I found a website called “Hillbilly Housewife” Low Cost Home Cooking from Scratch!

The subtitle is a little scary, because when I say that I made something from scratch…I always say, “I scratched myself the whole time I was making it.”

I Luv'm my butta' beans!

So, if you are feeling like taking yourself back to great, great grandma’s cookin’, check out this website.  It’s actually got some good cookins’ on there!  Enjoy!

This place is really cool!  The setting is old school Florida country.  It has a restaurant, two bars and gator exhibits all in the same vicinity.  So after you eat, you can walk around with your drinks and check out Gators, birds and walk out on the pier to watch local fishermen.

This place also has fishing excursions and airboat tour rides.  In the restaurant they have a solo act and in one of the other 2 bars near the water is a live band every weekend.

The service moved in two speeds = turtle and tortoise.  The food was pretty good since almost everything is caught and/or made there.  However, I won’t be having the Frog Legs again, too fishy and no they didn’t taste like CHICKEN!  Although everything tastes better with KETCHUP.

The price for food was about medium.  We split a dinner sampler, an appetizer, which was THE best key west conch fritters (outside of Key West obviously), key lime pie and had a couple alcoholic drinks.  The total with tip was about $50 bucks.

GOOD NEWS!  My buddies in the bayou of Louisiana have shared the new country mix drink…lucky Casey!  One ingrediant is Firefly!  It’s almost like Comicazi…but a touch of backwoods bayou!  I’ll let ya’ll know!  Plus I’m gonna make him listen to some Colt Ford!  LMAO!

Then one magical day she went from pop to country!  WTF???  Then six months later she’s given the “Cowboy Boot” from Sony Music Nashville and sent her WRANGLER ass back to Epic Records!  Yes, I’m talking about Jessica Simpson.

To me it proves that it’s not just talent, it’s about the money behind the talent, or lack of.  I’m not saying her country songs were GOOD or BAD.  What I’m saying is this:  If you are signed to a label and they sit on their hands and don’t spend any money on promotion to sell your product, then, what good is the deal?  Since her Cd got poor or, “so so” reviews, it makes it even harder and more expensive to cram down our ears/throats.

Don’t worry Jessica FANS….she was on “loan” from Epic.  Epic has gracefully accepted her back with open arms…Lucky US!  (lmao)  I’m gonna dedicate this song below from everyone in Nashville, TN to Jessica Simpson.  Click and enjoy…maybe Jessica will strut off the stage to this???

After I tossed my salad on their music I put on Rascal Flatts new Cd “UNSTOPPABLE” and kept it on repeat!  Gary LeVox’s voice keeps me listening…and the production is old school “in your face” music.  There are at LEAST 6 hit songs, but what do you expect from a multi-platinum – Grammy winning band?  If your NOT a country fan…you’ve heard of them and I promise you will be hearing a few of these tunes on ALL genre radio stations.  My personal fav tune on this album is “Thing’s That Matter” and “Here Comes Goodbye” which was co-written by Chris Sligh, Season 6 of American Idol.

Seriously?

John Rich says that Jared Ashley crashed his “private party” and had to be escorted out!  Then John goes on to say in his lawsuit report that Jared has “defamed him” by falsely stating during a radio interview that John had hit him that night.

OK….let me say this!  If you have ever watched John Rich on his MANY REALITY shows…such as “Gone Country” you can “FEEL THE ATTITUDE”!  The man has to wear a cowboy hat to confine his EGO!  I’m not saying it’s cool to bust in on a private club party, but c’mon…I don’t even remember Jared Ashley or hear him on the radio, let alone his credibility to defame John’s “self proclaimed” throne.

Dear John Rich = The best songs written are from life experiences…So why not write about this and let it GO!  Hey, I bet Jared Ashley would love to co-write it with you!!!  LMAO