A friend of ours from out of town called this week to say he was coming in and that we all had to go to Famous Dave's with him to eat delicious barbecue and watch Hamilton Loomis play guitar.

P. F. used to be a basketball coach but he came to his senses and got a real job a few years back and now he is successful and by that I mean he can pay his bills.  He discovered the young musician from Houston TX a few years ago and turned Jay on to him.  I've only really heard his cds in Jay's car but I liked what I heard.

A gang of our friends joined us (and PF) at the b-b-q-joint.  As always, the food was great.  I've never had anything at Famous Dave's that I didn't like.  I know from experience that I can really only eat three bones and a corn muffin but I always cram in some cole slaw because it's good and some broccoli so I can pretend I eat healthy.

We got there about forty minutes before the show was supposed to start and PF was already at a table near the bar.  Jay went over to the adjoining table, which was full of youngsters about our older kids' ages.  This is not unusual behavior; Jay knows everybody and his students, both current and former, are everywhere.

But none of these kids were former students.  It was Hamilton Loomis and his band.  Jay recognized him from his cd covers.  This is not unusual, either.  If Jay saw the Pope enjoying a cup of coffee, he wouldn't hesitate before striking up a conversation. .A few minutes later, Mr. Loomis stopped by our table and we all chatted until his band told him he had work to do.

Boy, did they bring it.

They played two sets and by the time they said good night, I'll bet they'd spent two hours on that stage.  And they were really good. 

At one point, Ham (that's what I imagine his parent's friends call him) was playing while standing on our table, careful not to get barbecue sauce on his red, ostrich skin boots.

We ate, drank, sang and danced.

That's as good a way to beat the cold as there is.

Now the head cold that I fought off at the beginning of the month has been replaced by what feels like a sinus infection.  Fortunately, I have the sixth season of Lost and a fire in the fireplace.  That's a good way to beat the cold, too.