Today is the 26th of April. I’ve finally figured it out. Ireland doesn’t really get a lot of full sun. It’s usually overcast, not cold during the summer, but not warm. It’s not really wet, but not dry. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not humid either. I suppose it’s like being in Washington state around Seattle during the Spring. Just kind of blah. Well, Derry is now beginning their annual Jazz Festival. The festival lasts for a month and is the biggest thing around …

Experiment Hey, Well...tomorrow is going to prove interesting to say the least. I have been "persuaded" to climb out of my comfort zone and have some fun. Here in Derry, there is a large square in front of "Guildhall" where alot of folks walk through on their way here and there. On one side is a large section of the original wall from the 1600's. Opposite is Guildhall, and next to that are store fronts. During the day...the nice non rainy days...there are several musicians that stop …

Updates The last few days have been pretty nice here to say the least. It's nice to feel some warmth here. Today we are going out and about with Dameon...a friend of Keith's and he will be taking us out from the city to the rural areas to take in the local scenery. Tomorrow we meet with the band members and a possible female vocalist. Should be interesting. It will be nice to get the show on the road. On the 28th we have been invited to meet with the town mayor over at Guildhall. I have pics of the place …

What do these things have in common... Paycheck and Irish Pipes? James Paycheck is in Ireland putting together a new group of players. James Paycheck FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR Log (Press Release) – Apr 06, 2010 – The famous country music duet from Nashville, TN, "CASHnCHECKS", are over on the green isle, bringing their music to the many waiting fans of country music throughout Ireland and the UK. We caught up with James Paycheck after arriving in Belfast and then taking the one hour …

Updates Well, lets see... We have been busy here with playing, interviews, Etc. We have another radio interview tomorrow and a TV show to do in Belfast later this week. I must say, it's been rather dreary here with the rain and clouds. The locals say it's been an unusually wet season. I guess everyone is having a different year...even back home. Soon the weather will get brighter and warmer. We are working on the band and practicing at night to get tight. We have more shows coming up. Iv'e written a …

Pics?...ok. I have a couple only. This morning we went to the radio station to hook up with Keith. While there we both did some "Liners"..you know..."Hey, this is JT Reno and your listening to Drive 105.3 FM here in Derry" yada yada. Then we went next door to a taylor to get the snake skin made into a hat band, then to go get another apartment key made. We got to the apartment with Keith and it was cold It's Easter WEEK here. Everything shuts down...everything. By the way...we don't …

We found the towns main shopping mall yesterday...like being back home except elbow to elbow people...holy cow!!!like these people are hooked on stuff from abroad. There was a line around the corner, down the stairs, accross the street, past our place, over the river and through the woods to grandmas house of people waiting for McDonalds. Ridiculous. I got a cheesburger...no pickles dangit!. Tastes like Mcdonalds...oh ah woopie. Whatever. We are just hanging around the place today I think, working on the …

Well, Another cold wet day in town. Good news though...I took a shower. It's a pain taking one without a shower curtain. You have to aim the shower head toward the tile wall and press yourself over by it to keep the water from flooding the rest of the bathroom. More good news...we went back to the "Everything's a Pound store" and bought a shower curtain, some nylon rope and hooks so we can hang a curtain tonight. Ah, the little things. While in town, we went through the "Mall" here ( …

Heh, Heh, Heh, We had a good day today. We have the bus thing down now and went across the river to Foleyside where everything old is at. We stopped by the tourist info place and got some books, blah, blah, blah and took off. First stop was Guildhall where the city council do business. I took lots of pics here. They let James and I walk all over the place where others can't. It's all castle looking and stuff. Everything is imported from somewhere else. Then we went around the diamond square area where …

Right now we are walking everywhere...it's kinda nippy here but we probably walked 5 miles to the otherside of the river to the city. We finally got a ride at the airport. The big white bus in front of use was our ride and we didnt know. Neither did the driver until he asked us if we were with Paycheck. We stood there for about 45 minutes...in front of the bus. Oh well. It was a 2 hour very fst drive to the station, then a taxi ride to the house. We got to bed around midnight their time after we figured …

March 25th - L'Derry Well, Wev'e had a day to relax, get aquainted with the town a little. The day we arrived was pretty good. We arrived at the airport and waited for our driver to pick us up. little did we know, plans had changed. Without use of internet, we didn't know the change so we waited about a 1/2 hour outseide the airport next to a large white public bus. Soon, a man came over and asked if one of us was Paycheck or Reno. Yep, that's us. Well, that was our new ride. Man was he ticked off for …

International flights sure make for a looooong day. We left on Tuesday morning to drive to Phx, check in 2 hours in advance, fly to LA and had a 3 hours layover, took a flight to London then hopped a flught to Belfast and finally a limo ride to our location in Northern Ireland.   I am none the worse for the wear but the same can't be said of my Guitar!!!!!  Oh boy oh boy did United Airlines ever do a number on my Guitar...looks like it was dropped off a seven story building!  Now the trick …

Has anyone out there tried to get a hold of a real person at the major airlines lately?   I tried calling  this afternoon to two different airlines (both I am using on my flight tomorrow).   It should of been a simple process; I only wanted to ask one single  question & to reserve my seat in advance.  What ever happened to real people anymore????? They make those darn automated menus impossible to break out of and get a real operator.  Grrrr.... and after all that frustion I finally got a real person and they didnt have an answer to my question & suggested I just wait to get a seat assigned at the airport in the morning. So much for customer service being a priority anymore.
Up early tomorrow, a hearty breakfast, a long drive to Phoenix then I am off to the land o' Lephraucans!
Watch out Irish Cowboy....(you know who you are) buckle up.... this rodeo is about to begin; are ya ready?!?
Yeeehaaa

Sundzy No iits not a typo.  A lazy-Sunday combined; is sundzy, makes sense doesnt it? 
Sun is shining great day to step out for a little arizona adventure.  Snake hunting, 4wheeling and metal detecting. 
What a great way to unwind before heading out to Ireland.  A great homecooked meal and quiet evneing on the guitar
Now thats the way to spend a perfect Sundzy!!

I heard from a good friend this afternoon.....He called me wishing me well on my trip to Ireland.  He shared a bit of business advice to keep in mind on my tour and topped it all off with the best "Irish" joke I've heard so far!  Ya, I know your dying to hear it, but I am sure its not politically correct so I best not.  Well, If you insist..... Have you heard the one about the two irish guys leaving the bar????? Well, it COULD happen. Finished packing my suitcases this …

Passport; check - socks; check - extra guitar strings; check..........So many details to remember before we hit the road on Tuesday.  Most of my day is spent on practicing and tightening up those harmonies. Thank goodness Tanya is making sure I have an unending supply of Diet Coke and bottomless pot of coffee for Paycheck. I think I better take some time off this afternoon to spend with my honey, it's her birthday after all ! Do you think they sell Lucky Charms cereal in Ireland? …