a mighty wind

My weekend in Oklahoma was taken right out of the movie, "A Mighty Wind". If you've ever seen it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

Jack and Jamie are really into folk music. Now, folk music is different than bluegrass. Folk music is for and by hippies; bluegrass is for and by Republicans. Basically. (I think Jack and Jamie are the only Republican folk musicians). The first night we where there they summoned all the people they play with at festivals and played all through the night. It couldn't have been a better evening for it. The weather was beautiful. They all sat in a circle on the lower deck and played from 7:00-2:00 in the morning. There were two fiddle players, one upright bass, two mandolins, five guitars, one baritone ukulele, and one suspicious looking brown jug that was being passed amongst them all. Good times.

They have also started to ranch. While we were there they had 7 steers and a lama. I learned the difference between a steer, a bull, a heffer and a cow: a steer used to be a bull before his man-parts where removed. The testosterone that is produced by a bull makes the meat too tough, so steers are used for meat. A bull has all his parts in tact and is basically given the task of reproducing more cattle. A tough job, but someone's gotta do it. A heffer is a female cow who hasn't calfed yet while a cow is a cow that HAS calfed. (Calfed means birthed a baby bull or heffer) Learning this was like a scene from "City Slickers". I was just standing there with my faux-hawk and aviators like I belonged there. ;-)

We went a saw "The Devil Wears Prada". It was a good movie...a little long for that type of moive. Meril Streep was amazing. I'd see it again just for her. I hope she's recognized for it.

The rest of the weekend was restful. It was good to get away and see family. Colleen had a good time as well.