Tuesday May 02, 2006

Aloha Pirates, Rennetta and I will be coming soon, this will be the last note from the road for a while. Last night we lost one of our engines and are now drifting home at 15 knots instead of 20. I don\'t know what that means, but we are getting home 24 hours later than we are supposed to. I will keep you updated if things change. Still as of now we start at Louie\'s Backyard on May 10th. I don\'t know if most of you know this, but fellow musician, guitarist and co-writer of the hit song \"My Angel Baby\" Danny McKenna, passed away Thursday, April 27. I am still in shock, the impact of it hasn\'t set in yet. With the exception of Michael, Rennetta, and my family, I don\'t have a lot of people that I hold that close. Danny and I met when I was just an aimless little kid. Together we shared a common goal to be the best musicians we could be. That goal held my life together then and it still does now. Everything I am musically I owe to that man. I will miss him more than I can imagine. I hadn\'t been in touch with him for many years, that fact will weigh me down forever and I only hope that his family will accept my deepest apology. I will never forget him. I am sorry if this letter is so morose but that is who I am right now. I will see you all soon. Balde -- admin

Wednesday April 19, 2006

Aloha Pirates, With a heavy heart I ask us all to drop the Jolly Rodger to half mast. We lost a great friend the other night. Billy Chandler past away quietly in his sleep Saturday morning the 15th of April 2006. We will miss him deeply. Billy was an entrepreneur of the highest degree, and yet he was still a true rebel. God must have needed an angel more than we did because all of us who loved him know what an angel he was to all of us. God Bless you, Billy. Rennetta, Michael, and I send our love to Maggie and the kids. Our hearts are with you. Billy you will live in our hearts forever. -- tobybeau

Thursday April 06, 2006

Aloha plank walkers, First of all, the picture attached is the King checking out the Champs!! I just found out something very disturbing about my self that I never knew. Some kind of behavior problem that I can \'t control and am reluctant to reveal to my friends for fear of ridicule. I cannot Hi-Five. I am incapable of being cool enough to slap hands at a sports event. I never see it coming. I go too high or to low, when they go up I go down, when they do one hand I do two. I often miss the hi-five and end up falling on my comrade in an awkward embrace where we both end up dusting off our embarrassment with macho talk about a sports team. Rennetta says there’s a height requirement to the Hi-Five that I don\'t meet. I think she is just picking on me because she and Michael can Hi-Five with the best of them. I envy that elite group that can bump fists with total strangers like they fought along side each other in battle. I have a hard time giving my brother a hug. I have nightmares about trying the shake that involves four or five moves. The shake, then the grasp, then the hammer, then whatever. Who gets these Memo\'s on what the protocol is. Someone send me the memo!! I AM SO HOMESICK I JUST WANT TO COME HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ooops Rennetta just told me to quit whining. On a more positive note, I just heard from the Island’s only made guy Joe Ricco that they are gearing up for a great summer. So to all pirates local, upper, mid, and lower valley, let’s make Sunday at “Louie’s Backyard” and I mean every Sunday until Labor Day a real event. Let’s be so loud and high spirited that the neighboring drinking establishments think we are plundering to a point of calling in sick on Monday. Rennetta and I are excited about coming home but I have to tell you, leaving Hawaii is going to be hard. Ask Dan and Kelly, their vacation is already booked for next year. We will be home in a couple of weeks. I will write one more time before then . Aloha, Balde p.s. Rennetta’s birthday is coming soon and I am throwing her a big party at Louie’s on sat June 10th. It’s a big one… so if you have any ideas please let me know. It’s going to be a Hawaiian luau. Is that original or what? I want everyone there no excuses. Pirates, get on the phone and wake up a hundred people. Balde’s Closet Video Pick: This week’s pick comes from Hand-Made Films. “Time Bandits” Monty Python hits home again with this mad-cap zany comedy. Directed by Terry Gilliam, this movies is about a very funny group of “Little People” who work for the Almighty and steal his map of the Universe and use the map to go back and forth thru time. Very funny and very English, most of the Monty Python cast is included. Footnote: This film was produced by late Beatle, George Harrison! -- admin

Saturday March 18, 2006

Due to excessive Spam and Pron, the user forums are offline for a short time while we upgrade to a version that will hopefully overcome this problem-- Vern Graner -- admin

Saturday March 18, 2006

I read once that the reason for the years rolling by in greater speed when you get older is that as you get older, you tend to sleep more, making your days seem shorter. I actually just wrote it down a minute ago then read it to myself. Regardless, oops! I just plagiarized Jimmy Payne. Anyway, I woke myself up from a nap to say hello again. I miss you all! I’ ve been a little homesick lately. I felt better after I talked to my little brother, Leo today. He’s become babysitter to Rennetta’s hot pink Italian scooter-thanks for the gift from our great friends Mayor Bob Pinkerton and his beautiful wife, Maria. Love you guys. He’s been enjoying tooling around his neighborhood in it. Poor thing. I want to take time to thank my sister-in-law for taking care of our house in Austin. She and Sean painted and cleaned their butts off. So, she actually ordered me to thank her and mention her name in my letters so here goes… Thanks Sandy. The weather here in Hawaii has been somewhat gloomy because winter is the rainy season, but I love it. When it rains, it rains buckets. The whales love it, too. They have been really active lately. Breaching and slapping their fins on the water. Thank you, Sandy. Rennetta wants to know if Stacey can send us more pictures of Joey and Samantha. Thank you, Sandy. Oh by the way, on my last letter, I missed my Balde’s Video Pick. My pick this time is “Guarding Tess.” Shirley McClaine, not always a favorite of mine, nails this role as the feisty, fussy First Lady, Tess Carlyle and Nicholas Cage, a favorite of mine since coming out as Francis Ford Copola’s nephew, Nicholas Copola. Cage plays secret service agent, Doug Chesnick, assigned to protect her. Very funny and good family fun. Thank you, Sandy. As this correspondence reaches your eyes, Spring Break will be upon you all. To our friends in S.P.I. I hope your patience and even-handedness toward our impetuous youth and the future of this great nation, rewards you with lots of cold hard cash! God Bless you all! Until next time, sincerely thank you Sandy and Sean for all of your hard work and Happy Birthday, Sandy. We love you! Love to all, Balde -- admin

Wednesday February 15, 2006

Aloha Buccaneers! These last few weeks have seen some amazing developments in my travels abroad. Man! I’m starting to believe my own crap! There’s whales everywhere, huge humpbacks spraying and breaching out of the water. Just beautiful!!! It’s there summer migration from Alaska similar to the old Wisconsin people fleeing to their refuge at “Outdoor Resorts.” Rennetta and I had to leave Hawaii last week to attend an entertainment showcase in Miami on February 12th, put on by my booking agent. When I mentioned to all my friends that we would spend a week in Miami, there were so excited about us going to Miami Beach and doing the night life on South Beach… We went to Disney World! Jeez, get me a walker and a diaper-I’m getting old. The showcase went great. Rennetta and I did our show at the North Miami Municipal Theater along with many other great acts. We met Robert Shields of “ Shields and Yarnell” fame. I want to thank my big brother, Tom Drake, “The Best Damn Comic, Period!” for putting up with me for the last 3 years. Tom is responsible for writing and producing my show for theater. I don’t know how I will ever be able to thank you Tom, except to say that the Bob Seger joke doesn’t work… FIX IT! I love you, Tom. Flying back to Hawaii we were on the same plane from Washington DC to LA with Newt Gingridge, and they upgrade us to 1st. What a treat that was!! The upgrade part. All and all it has been a good month, but I miss my family and my friends at the beach. So Joe and Dan, hope Spring Break goes over big at Louie’s Backyard, Sammy and Christy hope you make a lot of money at Palmetto, Jake, I hope Sammy and Christy spend a lot of money at Jake’s, Sandy Feet and Vern, keep stoking those web page fires in SPI and Austin, Margie and Mo say hello to all the barflies for us Sue and Rob, “YO HO, YO HO a pirates life for me.” Happy Valentines Day! Balde Silva/Toby Beau -- admin

Friday January 20, 2006

Aloha Pirates, As many times as I have been pulled over in my life, I\'ve always wondered to myself, do I stop and sit tight with my hands at 10 & 2 on the steering wheel or do I casually step out of the vehicle and risk a Rodney King. Well, I\'m going to step out of the car and tell you why I haven\'t written in so long. Ready... here it is. I\'ve had \"Red Ryder\'s Block.\" I had you going for a minute. The truth is I\'ve had nothing to say, I still don\'t. Nothing happens here. No blows to the head, no typhoons, this place is so beautiful and laid back that in Hawaii \"The Amazing Walter\" would be a maniac. Rennetta says I\'m lazy, she calls me flo-ho, which means drag ass. Not to be confused with chicken ho which is one of Gilbert Vela\'s fishing charters. I think he saw a chicken ho on Jerry Springer. Okay I\'m going to take the wax out of my pen and my ears and take this time to thank South Padre Island for a wonderful Holiday. Rennetta, Michael and myself had a great time! Special thanks to Bill Donahue, Sue Britton, Daniel and all the Rudy\'s over at the Rad. They almost fainted when we said Rennetta wasn\'t going to have a White Elephant Party this year, but that\'s okay, we\'ll make them sorry they let us next year. My best Christmas present was becoming an uncle again at Louie\'s Backyard. Little brother Joe and Stacey Ricco gave us a beautiful little wise girl named Samantha-I love you guys. I got another Christmas present, too. A Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Texas Longhorn special edition guitar (beautiful)! I can\'t wait to show Taylor Stanton, being she is such a big Longhorn fan. Ha! The Aggies will get em next year, Taylor. Hang in there. I\'m running out of chit chat and bordering on babble, so I will sign. I miss all of you. Hang Loose. Balde Silva/Toby Beau p.s. Balde\'s video pick of the week-Broadway Danny Rose by Woody Allen. If you can find it, rent it, it is hilarious! -- tobybeau

Friday September 09, 2005

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we are so thankful for all the e-mail we have been receiving. Balde is still writing \"Notes From the Road\" but just has a hard time getting them from paper to computer when we are on cruise ships. Right now we are in South Padre Island at Louie\'s Backyard and would love to see you at one of our gigs. Our days are thurs-mon from 6:30pm-10:00pm. Along with singing with Balde, I am still selling real estate with Steve Gomez and Associates and I am proud to announce that I am the President of The Walk for Women-a local organization dedicated to helping local residents who have breast cancer and who are in need of financial help. We are now working with Vern to update our web-site and would love suggestions. Also we are working on a new cd-we will let you know!! All our best, Rennetta and Balde/ Toby Beau -- admin

Monday March 15, 2004

Ahoy Pirates, I\'m sorrry I haven\'t written in a while. I\'ve never been to Barbados or Granada and my mind has been preoccupied by soaking in the sites and large amounts of rum. My need to share it with you is over whelming besides Rennetta says if I don\'t she\'ll withhold sex from me. First things first, S.P.I. residents RE-ELECT BOB PINKERTON FOR MAYOR! Not only because he is our friend, but in my 20 or so years at the beach, I have never met a man more committed to family, friends, and civic duty than Bob. Rennetta, Michael and I are there for you, Bob. We will be back on the 29th of April if you need anything. Today we are in Granada, that is the Antilles, which means nothing to me except that it is in the water somewhere in the southeast.. The water here is too shallow to port so we anchor off-shore a quarter of a mile and tender in \"which means take a raft to shore.\" The crew is comprised mostly of kids in their late twenties, mostly Canadians fleeing from their parents grasp or americans hiding from the IRS. But the one thing in common is their love for 80\'s rock which is mine too. Today Brian Adams \"Summer of 69\" is blasting away on the raft and I am reminded of a great time in my life. No it is not sexual gutter brains, I am taken back to the Hilton in McAllen, Texas. Coronas, 40-minute breaks, dice games till dawn, ask my cousin, Javier Silva about it , he lies about that time period very well. I made alot of friends back then, played a lot of racquet ball over at Billy and Pam\'s, got my ass kicked by then Jacob Gautreau, got suspended over a 4 story balcony by Joey de la Fuente of \"Pepe\'s Fame. I still don\'t think that happened, but reports are sketchy at best. My memory is a perpetual selective fog bank. But tonight all our wits are with us and we are forming an 80\'s rock group, comprised of musicians, waiters, photographers, gift shop workers, and me, grandpa. Our first concert is in the crew bar, March 17th (Happy Birthday, Sandy)I will keep you posted. It\'s time for this e-mail\'s movie pick: Balde\'s Pick is \"Uncommon Valor\":80\'s, Gene Hackman, Patrick Swayze A well written, well directed, action, rescue stroy. Unitl next time be well. Balde/Toby Beau -- admin

Thursday February 19, 2004

Greetings from Barbados! Ahoy deck scrubbers, landlubbers, and money grubbers! Money Grubbers? O:K, I know that I haven\'t corresponded in over a year, but I hoped over time, that you would allow me some extra latutude to maneuver with... \"Cut me some slack, O:K?\" I am writing to you aboard the beautiful M.S. Constellation of Celebrity Cruise Lines. Great Ship-no diarrhea. Alice, tell Ken that we won\'t need the Imodium! So much has happened in the past few months, I will try to recap it for you. Michael skied down a whole mountainside-gravity did most of the work. Ask him about the whole adventure. We lost our dog. The sweetest, most lovable, and undoubtedly the dumbest dog we ever loved. We will miss you Samantha. We also lost our best friend, self-proclaimed psychic, dyslexic philosopher, the best Mexican food chef I ever knew, our biggest fan and mother. Grandma Licha. May you rest in peace, keep the oven on , we will all be home for dinner together some day. All of this happen after bike week! That\'s why I love South Padre, all summer long, the only thing that happens is my toilet overflows, but the minute we leave Louie\'s Backyard, the whole world comes tumbling down. For now I will wrap up, but I will be back in touch. Vern, kiss Kym and the kids for us, then please post this on \"Notes From the Road,\" thanks. Sandy Feet keep a buzz gong for us back home. We would like to thank all that attended the Jimmy Buffet cruise out of New Orleans-you know who you are. We expect all of you to join us next year. Rennetta says that there is a \"Wheel of Fortune\" waiting for the girls again. Oh I forgot, this season I am starting a new addition to our mailbag: BALDE\'S MOVIE PICKS That\'s right Mondo, the sleeping movie critic has awoken. Today\'s pick is \" Stealing Home\" 1988, Jodie Foster, Mark Harmon, Jonathan Silverman-great story, great music, great chick flick. You will score... Ahoy to all my mates, Balde/Toby Beau -- admin

Tuesday November 04, 2003

Ok Ok I have been very bad about updating! I have been very busy as many know with my mother who is very ill. I would be thankful for any prayers you all have. We are still in South Padre but our last night for the season was November 1st. Right now we are getting into our private party season until December 14th when we will start at the Radisson Resort in South Padre for 2 weeks. New Year\'s Eve will be once again we our friends in Waco, Texas who represent the Barkin\' Ball. For more info you may contact us directly at tobybeau@aol.com I will try to update more often. We are also excited about the great response from our friends and fans who are going with us on the Carnival Cruise in January. Until next time...tobybeau -- tobybeau

Monday September 15, 2003

We want to thank everyone for a great summer. Even though we are still performing at Louie\'s Backyard, we still needed to take a moment to tell everyone how much we appreciate your support. We just took a short business trip/vacation to Orlando, Florida to play at a great friend of ours-Tom Drake\'s 50th birthday party. We want to thank Dottie and Tom for making us feel so welcome and giving us a great time! Also, I want to announce to everyone that I am helping to promote a benefit for a great friend of ours, Jayanna Enholm, who is battling breast cancer. The benefit is going to be on October 5th and will include a walk on South Padre Island starting at 1:00pm at the Convention Center and ending at Jake\'s Restaurant where there will be food, drinks and a silent auction. Balde and I will also be performing as well many other local musicians to be announced! We hope you\'ll join us!!!! -- tobybeau

Monday August 18, 2003

Hello to everyone again! We would like all of our friends to know that we are still performing in South Padre Island at Louie\'s Backyard and the big \"Hurricane\" turned out to be just a small rain shower. We will be here a while except for the first week after Labor Day weekend, when we will be in Orlando. We will return mid September thru October so come and see us sometime! Until next time... -- tobybeau

Thursday August 14, 2003

Hello to all our friends! We have just booked a great cruise to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Cancun, and Grand Cayman on the 18th of January for 7 nights on the Carnival Conquest sailing out of New Orleans. The travel agency booked us to play and have cabins saved for our friends and family who are interested. The following is a copy of the travel agency\'s flyer. They would like to get this booked before the end of August. We invite all our friends to come and join us!!! PARDIS GRAS CRUISE JANUARY 18, 2004 ABOARD THE CARNIVAL CONQUEST JOIN ST. MINNESOMEPLACE FOR 8 DAYS AND 7 NIGHTS OF TROPICAL CARIBBEAN FESTIVITIES. TRAVEL ABOARD THE CONQUEST AS IT TAKES YOU TO THE MARGARITAVILLE PORTS OF MONTEGO BAY AND CANCUN WITH A STOP ALONG THE WAY AT THE WORLD RENOWNED 7 MILE BEACH IN GRAND CAYMAN. **With Guest Entertainer Toby Beau (Click the name above to check out Toby Beau\'s website.) Special Stars Will Be Announced Shortly.... (Does \"Coral Reefers\" Ring A Bell?) CRUISE RATES ONLY: CAT. 4 INSIDE CABIN $499 CAT. 6 OCEANVIEW $649. CAT. 8 BALCONY $799. 3RD / 4TH: INSIDE $299. OCEANVIEW $349. *WE CAN QUOTE BEST AVAILABLE AIR PRICES FROM YOUR GATEWAY * PORT TAXES ADDITIONAL @ $172. PP *PRE-NIGHT HOTEL ARRANGMENTS WILL BE ADDITIONAL *CABINS HOLD MAXIMUM OF 4 PASSENGERS *ABOVE RATES INCLUDE TRANSFER TO MARGARITAVILLE - CANCUN ****FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CRUISE AND HOTEL PACKAGES CONTACT: CANDIE STEINMAN AT HOBBIT TRAVEL 612/338-8880 EXT. 3020 OR 1/800/633-2111 EXT. 3020 EMAIL:candiesteinman@hobbittravel.com Prices are approximate and not guaranteed until booked. Prices quoted are per person and are based on double occupancy. THE 2004 PARDIS GRAS CELEBRATION (NEW ORLEANS) TAKES PLACE FROM JAN. 15- 18. THIS ANNUAL EVENT INCLUDES 4 DAYS OF PARROT-HEDONISM IN THE FRENCH QUARTER. ADD THIS TO YOUR 7 NIGHT PARDIS GRAS CRUISE....BY LAND OR BY SEA, IT\'S A HUGE PARDIS! FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PARDIS GRAS GO TO:www.jerrydiaz.com/spec-promo.htm DOUBLETREE NEW ORLEANS 1 NIGHT PRE CRUISE RATE OF $99* 2 NIGHTS $169* 3 NIGHTS $239* *Rates are per person, based on a double occupancy, and include lodging, room tax and transfers from the airport to the hotel and the cruise ship.* For more information about the St. Minnesomeplace Club website, go to www.st-minnesomeplace -- tobybeau

Tuesday August 05, 2003

Balde & Renetta got a new comnputer! Yay! -- admin

Friday April 18, 2003

Ahoy! :) We arrived in Barcelona, Spain. The ship docked at 8:00a.m. and we were off the gangway by 9:00a.m.. This place is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I toured the city and saw the most beautiful architecture in the world. Miro, Gaudi, -people that I have only read about, I saw their buildings today. I wish I could share the impact of what I am feeling right now with all of you. I hope my photos will convey. Rennetta\'s visiting the Picasso museum at this moment, I can\'t wait to hear all about it. Tomorrow Cannes, France. Coffee and croissants here I come. 24 hours later we\'re driving up the Frence Riviera past Cannes, Nice, and then Monaco. I don\'t have the vocabulary skills to describe this king of beauty. Crystal clear waters, mountains, cliffs, pristine beaches, maserattis, lamberginies, casinos. Rennetta triples her money. I love Europe. I will be in touch, balde -- admin

Thursday February 27, 2003

Ahoy mates! Hope all is well on land. This is our 5th time around Cape Horn and what was once a wide-eyed, bewildering, innocence one feels while witnessing such an immence landscape has become a dying ember of \"So-What\". ::Ouch!!:: (Rennetta just slapped the back of my head!) I\'m homesick!!! Someone please e-mail me and tll me what a Whataburger tastes like! Good news on the horizon, Rennetta and I just completed a show for the main showroom. This show is completely scripted and blocked for the main stage. We will debut on Feb. 27th. I haven´t done a show like this since the old touring days. We will be heading for England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Norway. We will return May 10th. We can\'t wait to see Europe. I celebrated my 48th birthday, Monday the 24th, Rennetta gave me a great party. I wish all of you could have been there. O.K., let me lay all your supsicions to rest about the G.I. Virus (a.k.a. Code Brown, Chocalate Shivers, or the toilet two step). The ship is infected and most of the crew has been infected in one way or another. It only lasts 48 hours, but I wouldnt wish that kind of weight loss program on anyone. Rennetta and I so far free from illness-thanks to God. Well stay well, I will be in touch again. ciao, Balde -- admin

Tuesday January 21, 2003

Hello everyone! Today we find ourselves heading towards Santiago, Chile, via the Straits of Magellan. We were awakened this morning be the thunderous crashing of a 19 inch television flying off its pedestal and skating over Rennetta\'s laptop. The poor tv landing on the floor, turning itself on and even improving the reception! Always buy Sony... Oh did I forget to mention that this was due to the 60 foot swells crashing over the bow? Our huge liner was being tossed forward then aft then starboard then port. Oh hell you figure it out. Our poor passengers, they are all elderly and fussy, with an emphasis on the latter. They must be getting really seasick. I\'m starting to feel a little pink inside myself. A slice of pizza that I ate at Joe and Stacey\'s this summer is about to come up. Where is Dr. Adwan when you need him? Don\'t worry I will keep my nausea at bay at least until I finish this letter. The Captain just came on the horn and said in a monotone voice that we were in a bit of a squall! Squall my ass, it\'s the \"Perfect Storm\" out there!!! He just doesn\'t\' want to alarm anyone. All restaurants have been closed because the china won\'t stay on the tables and being outside is prohibited. I\'m sure we are fine, Rennetta\'s here with me and I noticed she hasn\'t taken another zanex in the last five minutes so we must be o:k! I miss my family, friends and Michael very much. Please forgive me for being so sappy, but getting tossed around in the middle of the ocean during a typhoon has made me a bit humble. Hark, the captain is on the air again!! It is a revised weather update-I will let him finish while I keep on writing... Our next port is Puerto Montt, Chile. We will dock and travel to the Mt.Osorno Volcano. O:K back to the weather, the captain just said in a calm and Nordic fashion \"we are experiencing an atmospheric disturbance of a cyclonic nature.\" Some squall huh... The winds battering our ship are over 80 knots that is almost 100 miles an hour (64 make a hurricane)! Only God can cough that big! Well, until next time Chow-I miss you all. Balde Silva/a.k.a.Toby Beau -- admin

Tuesday January 14, 2003

Greetings from Gaucholand! As you already know Rennetta is usually the one in charge of correspondence and P.R. although I always hover over her shoulder at the monitor, like someone kibitzing a chess game that he knows he can play better. It\'s my typing skills that kill it for me. In this case I wanted to tell all that it is really beautiful here in South America. It is over a week in o the cruise and as we sail farther south towards the Antarctic, the days are getting longer. Last nite the sun set at 10:30P.M. It was surrreal to be so far away from home watching the sun go down in the middle of the ocean that late in the day. I felt old and small, but only for about 3 minutes. After I hit the crew bar I was myself again-old and small! We went around Cape Horn, walked around the Faulkland Islands, towards Chile, volcanoes, glaciers and penguins-all in our forecast. I will return on your screen again soon-I just have to shove Rennetta off the computer chair. I miss you all and hope to see you at Louie\'s around Easter. Joe Rico, if you give our job away to someone else I\'ll send a squad of gauchos hit men after you :) Also a word to notable web spinners-Sandy Feet (thanks for the mention in your great Christmas poetry), Doug (thanks for returning our speakers and your usual great support), Vern(congrats on your new daughter)-please keep all our other friends informed of our trip for us. Thanks again. Miss you all! Love, Balde/a.k.a.Toby Beau -- admin