What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?

Subject: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Sandy Creek
Date: 27 May 03 - 03:56 PM

I am curious since I read the thread about where we live. Now I would like to know what we do for a living AND for fun.

I (along with my whole hippie family) produce hand crafted tie dyed clothing and stuff, some batiks and so forth (and have for 40 years). We are collectors and pack rats, mainly musical instruments and music related stuff. We farm some and dig roots and herbs (yarbs) and try our best to be kind to the land. Some of us have even worked at honest real jobs (but not many and not for long). How 'bout it, what do 'catters do...OR what would you like to do.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 May 03 - 03:58 PM

I play music for a living. For fun, I play music and drink beer.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: MarkS
Date: 27 May 03 - 04:23 PM

I'm a slot attendant at Harrahs Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. If you win a big jackpot, there is a chance I will be the guy who brings you the money!
Regards
Mark

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: GUEST,Songster Bob
Date: 27 May 03 - 04:25 PM

<< I'm a slot attendant at Harrahs Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. If you win a big jackpot, there is a chance I will be the guy who brings you the money!

Regards

Mark >>

I guess you don't meet many people in your job, then. Especially Mudcatters!

Bob Clayton
Bureaucrat / songster

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 27 May 03 - 04:26 PM

I'd love to play music for a living, even better drink beer. Shortly to be made redundant after 30 years in a factory, so don't know what I'll be doing this time next year.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 27 May 03 - 04:34 PM

i work in a curry ship.john

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: GUEST, GEST
Date: 27 May 03 - 04:35 PM

I retired from the USA and now own a packaged ice company on an island in Canada. It goes with good music. :-)

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Morticia
Date: 27 May 03 - 04:44 PM

You might find this thread of interest,Sandy

thread.cfm?threadid=49289

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 May 03 - 04:55 PM

Sandy Creek, do you have a catalogue or website? Would love to see your clothing.:-)

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Morticia
Date: 27 May 03 - 04:56 PM

and I just realised that I didn't post to it.....I am a social worker, well, that's what I qualified to do. These days I manage other social workers ( much like herding cats) and do some case work as well.I work with people with learning disability but have worked with the terminally ill, mentally ill, people with HIV and Aids and all sorts of groups.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Sandy Creek
Date: 27 May 03 - 05:18 PM

katlaughing, we do not have a website or catalog since our production is somewhat limited due to age (there are five of us and I am the baby boy at age 60). We do have two apprentices with twelve and fifteen years with us. Someday they just might get it right. Just joshin', they are gifted. We sell mainly at festivals and street fairs and to folks who drop by the farm. I can email you some photos if you care to PM me an address.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Burke
Date: 27 May 03 - 06:11 PM

I'm a librarian.

For fun I sing, listen to music (preferably live) and read.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 May 03 - 06:16 PM

I'm a librarian. A public librarian. Well, actually I've gone over to the dark side and run a public library in the second-largest city in Idaho.

For fun I get drunk and rip books to pieces. Seriously, I try to find time to play my trumpet, hike and do outdoorsy things, listen to music, read, fence (someday again!), read, travel, read....

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Sam Pirt
Date: 27 May 03 - 07:05 PM

I am a professional musician & Community Musician / arts worker.

I love the job, I love the music, I love life, I love the people, I'm lucky, and I know so!!

Cheers, from a very happy and busy, Sam

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Joe_F
Date: 27 May 03 - 07:10 PM

I'm a freelance copyeditor, specializing in technical MSs. I work at home.

I spend a lot of time on the Internet and reading magazines & books. I correspond with people. I sing. Sometimes I go to parties. I cook for myself.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 27 May 03 - 07:11 PM

To support my musical endeavors I teach first grade in the tiny community (population 579) of Ponder, Texas. For fun, I'm a street musician, playing banjo, mandolin, and autoharp. I've recently taken up saxophone, so that's what I spend my time practicing.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Ely
Date: 27 May 03 - 07:18 PM

Veterinary assistant (which is only about half a living, if you want to be realistic about it).

For fun I [drum roll, please] play music, quilt, read, draw, paint things, and indulge in free-form research on various subjects (Regency and early Victorian clothing, old cars, history, folklore, ghosts, railroads, you name it). I also square dance every chance I get, although informally (not the poofy skirt kind of square-dancing).

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: kendall
Date: 27 May 03 - 08:41 PM

I a retired federal conservation officer. Before I lost my voice to cigarettes, I was also a singer/humorist. I am once more able to tell stories, but, can't handle the singing yet. Soon I will be getting voice lessons from Gordon Bok's voice coach.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Padre
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:32 PM

I am the Archdeacon of my diocese, and a parish priest. In a former life, I was a logistician for DoN (Department of the Navy) and a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman for 20+ years. Even earlier, I was a deckhand on a towboat on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, and a park ranger & naturalist for the state of West Virginia. Amongst all that I sang with the Boarding Party and Rock Creek. What a strange road it has been.

Padre

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:43 PM

I rent my body out to gorgeous women for $600/hour.

So far I've been able to buy a postage stamp and an orange with the proceeds from this most excellent profession. Well, actually, I had to get the orange on credit...

For fun...well, that's altogether different! Now yer talkin'!!! For fun I write and perform songs about all kinds of interesting subjects, play really good guitars (which I adore), collect (and sometimes even build) model kits of historical airplanes and ships and such, read comics (like Liberty Meadows, Groo the Wanderer, and Donald Duck), study spiritual disciplines (and try to practice them), and type endless bizarre stuff as well as some serious social commentary on Mudcat Cafe.

- LH

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: artbrooks
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:47 PM

I am a retired Federal bureaucrat. Otherwise, I live off of the earnings of my wife the OT.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: John Hardly
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:01 PM

I make pots and buy lottery tickets. The two endeavors are running neck and neck in assuring my ultimate financial security.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Bobert
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:08 PM

Ahhhh, after 30 years being self employed owning an auto repair shop, a used car lot and most recently an independent car rental company, I have recently leased out my property and am now semi-retired. I just haven't figured out what I'm gonna do next.

Probably do carpentry and painting but may just sell drugs to school kids...

Awww, jus' funnin'.

Carpenrty and paintin'...

Bobert

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:16 PM

Thank you, Sandy Creek! I love the sounds of your place and family and will get back to you! Some day I hope to get to WVa to research some of my long ago kin.:-)

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: khandu
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:32 PM

Carpentry, painting, remodeling...basically, home improvement. And anything else I can think of to make a buck.

For fun, I torment fellow Catters, play my guitar and with my dog, and enjoy life with my lucky wife!

k

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Bill D
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:35 PM

I do woodworking crafts and try to sell them at craft shows...(mostly turned on a lathe..but some other things) like this and this and this and this and this

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Janie
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:58 PM

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I work as a psychotherapist to adults through a public mental health program and have a small private practice. I also grow and sell organically grown cut flowers on a small scale. For fun I garden, sing, play with my 9 y.o. son, and occasionally get together with good friends and family.

Sandy Creek,

I wonder if we know each other. My husband Will & I are from WV, and for years Will (and later, I) did the mid-Atlantic craft circuit, selling wildcrafted medicinal herbs, iced sassasfras tea, and potpourris. May I PM you?

Janie I

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: GUEST,Sorcha
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:00 PM

Been a Full Time Wife/Mom for almost 30/25 yrs. Had some odd jobs now and then when short of the ready, but my only career has been Mom. For fun, I fiddle around, sew and garden.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Neighmond
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:24 PM

I am a horologist.

Chaz

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Tinker
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:32 PM

I've been doing the Full time Wife and Mom thing for about 17 years now. Previously I worked with Severe Special Needs kids ( great and appropriate background for a Corporate Wife). Between four kids, big dog and a 100 year old house I spend some time General Contracting repairs and a whole lot of time chaffeuring...For fun, I keep trying to play guitar, garden, dream about how I'd like to fix the house, play with the kids, play with the husband, and hang out at the 'Cat.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 May 03 - 01:00 AM

Retired -

Investments - primarily defence and health care industries.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Doug_Remley
Date: 28 May 03 - 01:33 AM

Retired, and "busier" than ever in old "real life."

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 28 May 03 - 03:29 AM

...not a damn thing.

RtS

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Gervase
Date: 28 May 03 - 04:09 AM

Anything that will get me some money - in the past year or so that's included bricklaying & plastering, baking bread, gardening, beating on local shoots and taking groups of urban teenagers up mountains to show them what it's like and what they can achieve.
All of which is grand, considering I'm supposed to be making a living as a blacksmith! That's still in in infancy, though, as I'm still garnering the tools, and half the stuff is in store until I get the proper forge going when we move to Wales later in the year.
It does, mean, nevertheless, that money these past two years has been tighter than I've ever known it. My SO and myself have both made abrupt career changes and have paid our way through college (Grants? You must be joking!), surviving on £10K a year. It can be done, but it does rule out fesitvals, though.
Funnily, It wasn't until I was poor that I realised that, for all its liberal , bohemian inclusiveness, the folk world is quite a pricy one to break into, especially with beer costing what it does these days and if you don't live anywhere near decent public transport!
These days I brew my own and sing to myself in the workshop. I do miss the camaraderie of clubs and festivals, though. One day...

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Fay
Date: 28 May 03 - 04:53 AM

Doing a degree in Traditional and Folk Music so getting heavily in debt with student loans. Singing with the Witches brings in some money and I help run a co-operative agency which, when we have any money, pays me something - not quite the rock and roll lifestyle yet but not complaining!

For fun I visit my true lover (lives 5 hours drive away) or play out in my garden. Of course I also drink shed loads of beer.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 28 May 03 - 05:13 AM

I'm a graphic Deisgner

For fun I play music in a band, teach music to kids and adults, walk, garden, diy, draw and lots more...

What I'd like to do for a living is garden and grow seedlings, which since I've been ill I've found I'm very good at

Ella

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 May 03 - 05:23 AM

I work for the Inland Revenue (IRS). Most people hear that and dont' hang around to see what I do for fun, which involves cat strangling, sitting on puppies and pulling the legs off flies.

Seriously, I sew, sing, paint glass, embroider, knit, decorate, sell waistcoats and ties occasionally, sit on cats, read, part time mother, full time slob and I like driving.

LTS

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: MARINER
Date: 28 May 03 - 05:36 AM

I'm a retired merchant seaman and partowner/operator of a maritime museum which is housed on the oldest intact Lightvessel in the British Isles.It's a handy "part time" job as we only open to the public for the three "Summer" months!

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: GUEST,Lidy
Date: 28 May 03 - 07:08 AM

I make posh frocks (handmade, not sweatshop!!) for my living.
Working from home cunningly allows me to indulge my "for fun", which involves seeing as much live music as is humanly possible. I travel to do that, so the clothes frequently get buttons sewn on on trains, or cut out on my friends' floors when i've arrived early.
My ideal job would be as a wedding dress maker. I would run the business from a small and homely cottage (not too far from London though, as my customers will not want to travel too far), and the brides-to-be would come for weekend-fittings, when they would be treated to the finest hospitality and home-baking, and also be able to not only admire my adorable and intelligent children and well-trained, affectionate dogs; but also envy me for having such a very caring (and attractive) husband, and my own flourishing business.
I am a full time fantasist.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: GUEST,Bagpuss
Date: 28 May 03 - 07:21 AM

I'm a researcher - currently working on projects evaluating aspects of child and adolescent mental health services.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: gnomad
Date: 28 May 03 - 07:51 AM

Penpusher in financial services industry, I'm unsure whether that amounts to a living, or a living death.

Do you suppose Little Hawk needs an apprentice in the rental business?

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Morticia
Date: 28 May 03 - 09:11 AM

We miss you too, Gervase......hope you are in funds again soon

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Mantid
Date: 28 May 03 - 09:24 AM

I've been an Entomologist with the Smithsonian Institution for close to 20 years and can't think of a better career. For fun I collect insects and dance contras and squares.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Beccy
Date: 28 May 03 - 09:46 AM

I'm a homeschooling Mom and wife. It's fun. I always wanted to read for a living, and this is the closest thing I can find to it.
Prior to my current career and life's calling, I worked in advertising (ick) and as a professional chef (ah- grand obsession). I'm much happier doing what I'm doing now. I have the most appreciative audience in the world for my culinary creations- and if they try to send it back to the kitchen, I can send THEM to bed early!!!!!

As for fun? Well, my job as Mom and Wife is great, but for more fun I also read voraciously, play piano, sing, regularly attempt and give up at gardening, cook, sell Avon, quilt, and read some more. Oh- and I play with my stinky, ugly, toothless, fat, deaf old dog that I love dearly. Oh- my husband and I recently built a trebuchet and had a great deal of fun launching rocks into the field across the road from our homestead. So I guess medieval siege weaponry could be added to my list of hobbies :-)

Beccy

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: GUEST,madwaff at work
Date: 28 May 03 - 10:04 AM

spend half my time with kids investigating sand-dunes, messing about in ponds and rivers, looking for bugs and beasties in the undergrowth, and the rest trying to raise funds to keep doing it - I'm an 'environmental educator' (posh title, means big kid) working for a charity.... occasionally a freelance illustrator!
for fun - trying to sing and learn guitar, drinking decent real ale wherever it can be found, and reading until it gets light again!
it's hell, but someone has to do it...
madwaff

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 28 May 03 - 10:04 AM

Surprised nobody picked up on John from Hull's unusual occupation (unless they did and I missed it). I now have an image of an enormous tanker steaming up the Humber with a great mass of spicy sauce in the hold - I'm sure there's a song there somewhere ("My bhoona lies over the ocean...?").

wr

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 May 03 - 10:12 AM

Public Servant of 33 years standing (sitting?) - very minor. I refuse to go for promotions cos the next level up are supervisors & that's not me - Boss maybe, cos I'm good at being bossy!! but not supervising. I have just moved from the Info area (now a Call Centre, yuk) back to the Library I left 10 years ago & I love it.

In my spare time I run a folk club, help run another, serve on 2 folk committees, make teddy bears, listen to lots of CDs or the radio (I don't have a TV), go to a few festivals, go to lots of singing sessions, & of course spend time on Mudcat each night

sandra

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Kim C
Date: 28 May 03 - 10:44 AM

For a living I shuffle the papers and juggle the last-minute crises of clueless managers and people who don't give a shit. But I get four weeks vacation, and it supports my fiddling habit. And my reading habit, and my knitting habit, and my DVD collection, and my bead addiction... among other things.

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 May 03 - 11:01 AM

Lidy -- maybe we should go into business together - I've made a few wedding and formal dresses myself!

We could make the whole package.... bride and maids dresses with complementing waistcoats and ties for the groom's party. I've done a bit of floristry too, so we could include that..... I know a fantastic photographer, so we could offer the whole package! It's got to be more fun than what I do now!!

I know the ideal property but it will cost £500,000 and is in Hastings. Mind you, the workshop room is huge, there is space for 3 or 4 B&B rooms and 2 buildings that could be chalets.

LTS

Subject: RE: What Do Mudcatters Do For A Living?
From: 2feathers
Date: 28 May 03 - 11:46 AM

I watch my pension come in.
I worry a lot. (That's my birthright, and I do it well and often.)
And then I watch my pension come in.

For fun....
Singing. All the time. In restaurants. Waiting in line for a movie. Shopping for socks. Not well, but loud.

A joshing answer. Who would be interested in my nefarious career?