Texas Peanuts Makes Peanut Butter Donation

I had an awesome opportunity fall in my lap a few weeks ago. I got a call from an investigative reporter from San Antonio's WOAI NBC affiliate who was looking to do something special. The San Antonio Food Bank, like most food banks, was seriously low on their most demanded item - peanut butter.

WOAI's show Trouble Shooters was looking to partner up with the Texas Peanut Producers Board, HEB grocery stores and Time-Warner to donate two pallets of peanut butter to the San Antonio Food Bank. (Two pallets = 6,000 pounds of peanut butter!)

So, we shipped the mascot outfit for Tex P. Nut down to San Antonio and I jumped on a plane (my 12th in seven days) and showed up to the San Antonio Food Bank just before we made the surprise to the food bank's director, Eric Cooper. (We hired the station's intern to wear the Tex P. Nut suit.)

Not only was this a great promotional opportunity for the peanut board, but it was also a great way to help out the needy of San Antonio. The episode aired last night on WOAI at 10, and can be found on the station's web site.

Watch the episode of Trouble Shooters here!


Be sure to donate a few jars of peanut butter to your local food bank this holiday season.

Tunes Worth Listening To

I'm certainly not a dignified music critic, but I do like good tunes.

My hubby has quite an ear for new and old, and likely unheard music, and he's really broadened my listening range.

Therefore, I thought I'd share a few artists and songs you should check out on iTunes. If you already listen to these people, good for you.

1. James McMurtry - This guy is totally cool. Not only is he the son of the acclaimed author, Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove), but he's also one interesting dude. He sings it like it is, and is a great story teller. A lot of his songs are covered by other artists now, but he's an original.

Check out: Lobo Town, Sixty Acres, Levelland, Out Here in the Middle, Ruby and Carlos and Choctaw Bingo.

2. Ryan Bingham - Here's a guy with quite a story. He used to ride bulls for Tarelton State University in Stephenville, Texas, lived out of a van for a while, and now packs 'em in the dancehalls with his raspy voice.

Check out: Dylan's Hard Rain, Day is Done, Sunrise, Country Roads and Tell My Mother I Miss Her So.

3.Slaid Cleaves - I don't really know much about this guy, other than I like his sound. Some terrible mainstream country artist just covered his song "Broke Down" and butchered it. Listen to Slaid's version.

Check out: Broke Down and Horseshoe Lounge

4. The Wood Brothers - These guys have some crazy lyrics, but a great sound.

Check out: Loaded and Twisted.

5. Hogg Maulies - I have to promote these guys. Not only are they friends, but they're a big reason I met Byron. Oh, and they're a great band. I spent a good amount of time listening to them and following them around Texas while at graduate school. (I'm still trying to get Byron to play harmonica with them like he used to back in the day). I know they've got some new songs they've yet to record, so keep an eye out for those one of these days. For now, buy these songs on iTunes. And, for all you folks in PG, they have a new t-shirt I think you'd enjoy.

Check out: On Your Own Tonight, Fall Back, Goodnight, Towerbells, Greenback Dollar and Truth Be Known.

6. Steve Earle - You've heard this guy over and over. Listen to Feel Alright and Telephone Road.

7. The Old 97s - These guys are fun. Listen to Barrier Reef