May 1, 2007 Bonus Blog
Several mail bag ditties to feature and answer:

"Trivia dept: Hugh O'Brian played Billy the Kid in a May 8th, 1955 episode of Stage 7. The show, titled 'Billy and the Bride' also featured Angela Lansbury and Dick Foran."
—Paul Hutton, curator of the upcoming Dreamscape Desperado show at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, opening the weekend of May 13

"Just out of curiosity, on BBB'S daily blog, why does he list the cost of his expenses? i.e. meals, etc. Is this a legal thing, due to being a corporate expense? I've always wondered this."
—Duke Wayne

I started a daytimer log of my expenses and activities in 1994 and have done it daily ever since. When I started my blog several years ago, I naturally utilized my daily log. At first I thought I would edit out the costs of meals, art supplies and gas, but then realized I always have enjoyed it in old diaries, like George Parsons' classic Tombstone journal, when the cost of items are listed. Also, I have given it my best to make the blog as honest as I can, and most Americans have an aversion to talking about money made and spent (if you don't believe me, ask the next person you meet how much money they make). So I decided I would go right into the teeth of that taboo. By the way, time spent away from working on The Top Secret Project to write this up (ten minutes, @ $75, minus fica).

True West Yodel Worthy Praise
Chinook, Montana, April 27, 2007—Montana has become the first State in the nation to have an official lullaby. Ken Overcast performed his song Montana Lullaby, the nation's first "Official Lullaby" on the floor of the Montana Senate at the opening of their session Wednesday. It's also perhaps the only official State song containing a yodel.

It's just a wonderful tune that typifies Montana. Written by Overcast and fellow Montanan, Wylie Gustafson, Montana Lullaby became "The Official Lullaby" of the State of Montana" when Governor Brian Schweitzer signed HB594 at a well attended ceremony in his office. The legislation was introduced by Republican Representative Wayne Stahl, and carried in the Montana Senate by Democratic Senator Ken Hansen.

"What an honor," remarked Overcast after receiving a standing ovation for his Senate floor performance. "To have one of my songs elevated to this level has got to be the highest form of compliment."

The original tune was merely a yodel containing no lyrics, and was written by Conrad, Montana native Wylie Gustafson in the 1990s. Overcast heard the haunting melody and collaborated with Gustafson to rework the melody and add the lyrics he had recently written. Montana Lullaby was born. Ken Overcast recorded and released it on Bear Valley Records in 2000 on his album entitled Montana Cowboy, which was awarded the "Best of the West Cowboy CD" by True West magazine.

For a free MP3 download, click here.

"A man can only do what he can do. But if he does that each day he can sleep at night and do it again the next day."
—Albert Schweitzer