Tonight we're in Springfield, MO - the home of Bass Pro Shops. Still having lots of good times. One hitch; my sisters Expedition is having break problems and has to spend tonight at the Ford dealership. It’ll be ready tomorrow about noon. Not too big of a deal except that it will cost them about $250 they hadn’t planned to spend.

Today we went to this place in Branson called Dogwood Canyon. It is owned by Bass Pro Shops and is over 11,000 acres. It is an unbelievable place. Think of a nature preserve on steroids. The wildlife is amazing and just in your face really. They have a tram ride that takes you through the property (not all of it) that lasts about an hour and a half. We saw caves that Oklahoma Indians used for burial grounds, waterfalls, buffalo, trophy Elk, snakes, Texas Longhorns and some other cool animals. They found the remains of an Indian that was over 400 years old. If you ever go to Branson this is a must. THE KIDS LOVED IT! Check it out at http://www.dogwoodcanyon.com/. Oh yeah, James bought a coon skin cap like Daniel Boone.

Tomorrow we’re going to hit the HUGE Bass Pro Shop here in MO. BTW, this is the home of Bass Pro Shops. It is four floors. That's like "man heaven." Then we’re off to Memphis where we’ll hang out with Elvis for a day or so. I wish my aunts Merle and Reba were here with us for the Graceland Tour. They would really dig the Elvis stuff…! In 1977 it was my aunt Reba who told my cousins and me that Elvis had died. We were playing baseball at my uncle Larry’s across the street from my Grandpa Simpson’s house down in Union County, NC. Reba came out of the back door of Grandpa’s and said, “Elvis is dead!” I was only 9 years old but I could hardly believe it. For my mom and her sisters it was like a member of the family had died.

Anyway, while I’m blogging the family is downstairs at the pool. I’m going to sign off now and go down and join them. Good night…