I think I might just gripe in this column. I’m going crazy right now, getting no sleep because I’m working on things all the time. It’s really bad when I don’t even watch TV! There’s my regular job, then MySaline.com and Arkansite.com, this lovely column of course, and being on the board of directors for two different non-profits, Saline County Arts Project and Within REACH, which just began this year.

I didn’t even mention family in there, did I? I told you last week that the kids are back in school. You already knew that, because of all the extra traffic in the mornings. Moms and school buses and teenage drivers, oh my! A highlight in my week was spotting somebody’s bumper sticker that read, “I love wood.” I don’t know why, but that just cracked me up. I mean was crying. Oh yeah, I need sleep, that’s why.

It’s not just traffic that comes with school, it’s also homework. My daughter got her first reading assignment for the first grade. She was supposed to simply read the book to a parent and have them sign the slip saying she read it. The actual reading part took about one minute. The drama preceding it took longer. Gracie was offended because the book had huge pictures and only one sentence per page. She rolled her eyes and moaned, “Mo-om, I can read this book with my eyes closed!” She finally read the thing, and then I signed the paper, but also wrote something to the effect of “Gracie is a very good reader and was indignant at having to read a book well below her level.” Maybe we’ll get some Tolstoy come home next week.

But enough about monkeys. Let’s get back to me. So yeah, we folks on the Within REACH board, are working our hineys off getting prepped for the big SalineOWeen festival and concert. It’s a lot of work, but I really think it’s going to be huge for Saline County. It’s the inaugural event, but we are doing our best to plan it right the first time.

The big thing, obviously, is that SalineOWeen is a benefit, and will help Within REACH to serve the homeless youth of Saline County. There are a few other aspects of it that fall under the “killer diller” category too. We’re happy to bring a great festival to Benton, but we’re ecstatic about presenting professional live music all day and night. I was updating the list of performers and DANG! This is going to be groundbreaking. We’re really happy to have the Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission as a sponsor, and I think Benton stands to benefit from this event as well.

Nevermind that we have ZOSO, the top Led Zeppelin tribute band coming as the headliner – no, mind them actually, since they are especially talented – but SalineOWeen also has performers from scads of other genres. There’s a Celtic traditional duo, a steel drummer, a seasoned Delta blues band, a Celtic punk band – I don’t even know what that means – a Christian rock band and more. Besides ZOSO, those are just some of the daytime performers. There will be comedians too, and a variety act. I’m so psyched, can you tell?

The evening entertainment is hard rock, southern rock, progressive rock, alternative rock, and it’s just going to rock. The lineup includes artists from right here in Saline County, but also regional bands. There’s Livid, starting off the evening show at 6:00 p.m., then SufferKate, Monoxide Project and Finding Jimmy Hoffa. Then did I mention that ZOSO, “The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience” is going to drop a bomb on the opposite end of your see-saw with the kickin’est show ever on the fairgrounds? Actually, come to think of it, they do have rodeos there, so there are likely performers who have kicked more on that arena dirt. Yes, well…

SalineOWeen is complete in its entertainment-nicity, by including games, contests and rides, and you can read all about that on www.SalineOWeen.com. You can also get info there about becoming a vendor, a volunteer, a sponsor, or a participant in either the costume contest or the Unofficial State Nut Queen Pageant (for those blessed with inner beauty).

Hey, I got off track and I’m not griping nearly enough! I’m thinking about what’s been making me so crazy this week. My son’s band, Ready For Battle, just had a big show at a church in Mabelvale on Friday night. They had five bands on the bill, they charged to get in and served concessions. There were something like sixty kids there. I think they made around $400 for the night. What?! The bass player, Dustin, planned the show. He’s only 18 years old. I was still avoiding work in pursuit of illegal activity when I was 18. I got some video of the show and slapped it on Facebook with my fancy pink cell phone. Ready For Battle was smokin’ hot. I’m not just being a stage mom either. Kids were jumping all around, pretending to know how to dance. It looked like frogs in boiling water. The next time you hear of a Ready For Battle show, you should check them out. I tell you what though, my ears were not happy when we left. Too loud means I’m too old I guess. There, I griped!