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HDNet has put together an eight-part series presenting the journey of cancer survivor and former Dallas Maverick Ray Johnston and his band as they travel across the country trying to make it in the music business. Ray’s my cousin, so help me send the vibes out. Be sure and check out his website here.

Folks, be sure and check out this great article on my cousin Ray Johnston, who has had a marathon bout with leukemia over the past two years. He’s managed to overcome the five relapses with grit, grace, and groove.

Go Ray Go! Cousin Ray Johnston has recently been featured on CNN Heroes for his amazing battle with and recovery from leukemia, and his hard work and indomitable spirit ever since. It ain’t over for Ray, as he still has recurring bouts of illness, but he is living his life fully and in the groove.

Announcing the arrival Helen Margaret Johnston, weighing in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and measuring 19 and 3/4 inches. She looks great–mainly because she narrowly escaped getting Brice’s ears.

I can’t wait for my son to start asking me “why” questions. I’m probably going to give him a few answers like Calvin’s dad did.

Congratulations to my cousins Frank and Daphne, who gave birth to their first child on Thursday! His name is Bo Johnston. At 7lbs, 6oz, he’s doing just fine.

Emma and Faith Gage share the love. That kid’s gonna be a heartbreaker.

Once again the Crook family has decided to head out for whereabouts unknown for Christmas. Except that this time, the whereabouts happen to be Jamaica. We will be in Montego Bay and the surrounding locale until the 25th, so if we miss you (or your cool party, Zack!) we will see you hopefully before the new year. If we don’t see you before the new year, hopefully we will see you on the new year’s eve at Crossroads Cafe in Huntsville, AL where Donna the Buffalo will be rocking the house. If we don’t see you there, I can’t make any promises when we’ll see you. But we will. Soon. Because we love you.

Well the Johnstons gave it their best shot this past weekend on the Family Feud, but Brice summed it up best: “You know, we’re just not very good at this game.” Sadly, no. We got beat in the first round–didn’t even make it to Fast Money.

Although it is just a silly game show, it is very competitive and intense once you get on stage. The level of intensity is a lot higher that I realized. You’re trying to pay close attention while clapping and cheering at everything that moves, all the while thinking about your answer and the other answers that someone already said and all of a sudden you just can’t think of a word that rhymes with “butter.” Aaagh! Wait, I had a better answer! But the game is already into the next round. It goes by so quickly. But no excuses–we bombed and had a great time doing it.

The upshot of the weekend was getting to see Hollywood and the Sunset Strip and hanging out with my goofy cousins. Despite (or because of) the stress level at the studio, we laughed all day long. It was a surreal, silly day and I’m glad I got to do it. The Price is Right, anyone?

fyi: the episode won’t air until May of 2008. (Maybe everyone will have forgotten about it by then and won’t watch my amazingly terrible answer to the first question.)

The pics:

I have no idea what I was saying in this photo, but whatever it was it must have been really funny. Or really cheesy. Considering that I’m double-fisting in a tie, it is likely that I’m spouting some boisterous nonsense, neither funny nor relevant. Forgive me, Joe.

Well this weekend was a blast. MP and I headed up to Indiana for her cousin Ann’s wedding, which went down in the Basilica on Notre Dame’s campus. A beautiful place, though I noticed it seemed rather religious. The church, that is. We had a great time seeing the O’Connors and the Vargas and Hastings and everyone else, and we managed to get quite silly. See picture above.

Ann and Mike are a great couple and will shine brightly. It was a treat to watch them dive in just like MP and I did a year ago. Although I raised many a glass this weekend, I raise another to Ann and Mike and wish them the best in the years to come. Chicago is blessed to have them around, as are we.

Congratulations to Kin and Jamie Johnston on the birth of their daughter, Carol Hartwell Johnston!

My cousin and name-doppelganger McDowell has made Eagle Scout. Attaboy!

McDowell Pinckard, seventeen year old son of Les and Caroline Pinckard Dothan AL, has recently been awarded The Eagle Scout Award. This is the highest advancement ranking given within The Boy Scouts of America. Approximately 2% of all Boy Scouts achieve this award. McDowell is a member of Troop 38 sponsored by First United Methodist Church of Dothan.

Over a seven year period, McDowell has completed twenty two merit badges and advanced through seven different scouting ranks. Merit badges include topics on citizenship, first aid, camping, personal management, personal fitness, environmental science, family life and communications.

Additionally, McDowell has been a camp counselor at the local Camp Alaflo for three consecutive summers. Responsibilities included kitchen management, camp activity organization and merit badge instruction.

McDowell has also become a member of The Order Of The Arrow. This is Scouting’s national honor society. He was chosen by members of his troop to partcipate in this distinguished group. In 2006, he was awarded The Founders Award as the top scout within his Order Of The Arrow.

To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, McDowell has performed an Eagle Scout Project which he had to design,organize and manage. With the assistance of approximately 25 scouters and leaders from his troop, brush was cleared from the northeast parking lot of First United Methodist Church and fifteen much needed parking spaces were reclaimed.

In the interest of cultural advancement, I offer Jim Crook’s statement on modern art:

This isn’t either me or my father, but this picture says a lot. Here’s to you, dad.