Brushy Creek

Brushy Creek

by the Josh Abbott Band

I was not really sure what to write about this week, so I was sitting here listening to iTunes and cruising Facebook and Pinterest when “Brushy Creek” by the Josh Abbott Band came on. There is not much deep meaning to this song, but it is fun, and since it’s almost summer I felt it was appropriate. Brushy Creek is off their sophomore album, She’s Like Texas, which I think is arguably their best album. The Hill Country is hands down my favorite part of Texas, especially during the summer. The Frio River or Guadalupe River is always a party on a hot summer day, and everything is so gorgeous for perfect summer trips. To me, time slows down on the river, whichever river you prefer. It’s all about the relaxation, the fun of family and friends, and the beautiful scenery. Ever since I bought the album last year, when I’m headed down towards San Marcos I get so excited because I cross Brushy Creek and know exactly what Josh Abbott sings about. You could consider this song cute because it’s a guy singing to a girl about going down to Brushy Creek to sing and start their lives together down there. Josh Abbott continually repeats about “…the Hill Country singing in the background.” It’s a really upbeat song that reminds me perfectly of the Hill Country. The reason it reminds me of the Hill Country so much is because of all the music that comes with it. Whether you’re floating down the river listening to all the different crazy cooler stereo systems, hitting up one of the many live music venues around the area, or acting up in your resident campground’s karaoke night, there is always music playing. Although there is a full arrangement of genres, the main genre I’ve heard while on the river is Texas Country, which brings us right back to the Josh Abbott Band. With this enthusiastic song about the Hill Country, there isn’t any other thing that makes me wish I was there right now!

Seabiscuit

Last night I was working on scholarships & decided to put a movie in instead of listening to my usually iTunes library. Since racing season has started and the anticipation of visiting Kentucky in several weeks is mounting, I decided to put in Seabiscuit. This is a completely true story that happened during the Depression about a horse, Seabiscuit, who came from great bloodlines, but he was more of a dud. He was a very small horse that walked with a slight limp and would much rather lay in the sun all day than exercise. An automobile entrepreneur decides to buy him & finds a trainer & jockey that will train him. Red Pollard, the jockey, is unusual just like Seabiscuit in the way that he is heavier than the ideal jockey, and weight plays big roles in the racing industry. Their first year together they won several small handicaps, and Red fought through several injuries and learning experiences on the racetrack. In fact, in his second year on the circuit he won 11 of 15 races, and won the most money out of any horse in the United States. He fell short to War Admiral, the Triple Crown winner, in the American Horse of the Year Award. The next year, Red suffered more injuries and had to let a new jockey take over while he healed. Seabiscuit's success on the track was ever increasing and when matched up in a race against War Admiral, came out victorious. Because such a successful year, Seabiscuit was named the 1938 American Horse of the Year. Over the next year & a half Seabiscuit continued to be successful before his retirement in April 1940. He went down as the all-time leading money winner in the horse industry. This is a really good movie, with a decent plot. I like it because you learn through Seabiscuit and Red that if you work hard enough and are determined at your dreams, you can go anywhere. Where a lot of people disregarded Seabiscuit because of his size & limp, and Red for his size & list of injuries, they prevailed and proved lots of people wrong. I also enjoy this movie because it's historical and shows every side of horse racing, not just the glitz & glamour. The movie is close to my heart because I am from Kentucky, and even though we might have moved while I was young, I still have horse racing in my blood, because I was raised that way.