BS: A Mudcat Baby?????

Subject: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 10:55 PM

Someone, very special, mentioned at the Getaway that he and his lady were expecting. Only a few of us heard it. He wanted to keep it somewhat quiet but not totally. The baby should have made an appearance by now. And I can't stand it!!! Well????? Either announce or PM me. The suspense is painful. If you prefer to keep the news to yourself, I will suffer on but love you just the same.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 11:11 PM

Oh - I thought since we've had Mudcat Gatherings and Mudcat Song Books and Mudcat CDs - it was time have a Mudcat baby!

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 11:11 PM

hmmm?? I know several who I'm sure it isn't....well, I hope all is well and that news is both good and forthcomimg.

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Tinker
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 11:41 PM

Welcome gift is on the way...those archtypical godmothers insist on appearing no matter what you try...

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: MMario
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 08:48 AM

aww - c'mon - tell!

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Willie-O
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 09:35 AM

spill. cause it ain't me.

or we might be forced to start a guess list of, let's see, partnered up hetero males who were at the gathering without their SO. (I presume the last point.)

who are SPECIAL.

now what could that mean?

W-O

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:00 AM

W-O, I was thinking the same thing. I believe we would have noticed someone 7 months pregnant!

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Big Mick
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:04 AM

Awrright Jeri, who'd you spill the beans to? Damn........I thought our secret was safe.......damn.

No..........I am not serious. But that would be one fine looking kid.......and what a voice..........and he would have to play fiddle, guitar, Irish Bouzouki, whistles, pipes, bodhran..........and put up for Rick. How they hell would I explain that one to the Missus..............LOL.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Max
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:14 AM

It's me (well, not me exactly, but it's my doing). Just a couple of weeks away. There's more to tell, but I gotta run. I'll explain more this afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:21 AM

HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL! No wonder you're (visibly) around here even less than usual!

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Noreen
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:23 AM

Congrats, Max! Much joy, health love and peace to all three of you, and lots of hugs.

♥ Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:28 AM

Max!! is pregnant???

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: MMario
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:30 AM

hot D*mn! gotta get the baby present machine in high gear!

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Amos
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:36 AM

What do you mean by "my doing" exactly Max....what _have_ you been up to???

Congratulations, Daddio!!!


A

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 11:27 AM

Can't wait to see what he names him/her.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: GUEST, Goosed
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 11:33 AM

Gee Whiz, Amos. Didn't your father tell you about that?

Goosed

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 11:57 AM

nice one Max. Best of luck to you all.

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: mg
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 12:14 PM

congratulations...mg

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Amos
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 12:30 PM

I just was skeptical about his..um...placement skills, Goose, so I suppose he has been practicing in secret.

You guys realize what this means, don't you -- we need to promote the Mudcat CDs TWICE as hard so we can even get Max some dough as CEO of the Mudcat after he pays for the ISP, the fat new servers and a new establishment for the Mudcat Radio!! We need to get the news out about this Mudcat CD thing around the world! Ron Olesko of WFDU-FM in New York is thinking about doing a one-hour show on it, because he thinks it is "an important project". Well, it may not have been all that important, but it is now -- this hyar village has a chile to raise comin' up!! :>) FLOOD Dick. (Not you, Max!)

:>)


A

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Jeanie
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 12:39 PM

Great news !
- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 12:49 PM

Max is pregnant? I guess kicking his balls all those times had a bigger effect than I had previously surmised...........So Max, you plan on natural childbirth or are they going to need to do a C-section? How's the morning sickness? And listen, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could you film it???......I mean like I'd really like to see this!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Amos
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 12:54 PM

Spaw -- it'll probably about the same as one of your larger Brawwwmps -- you know, natural delivery, no drugs anyone wants to admit to, no surgical intervention needed, a lot of pain followed by a huge relief -- I agree the visuals might be interesting to some folks, but I must recuse myself from that group! :>)

A

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 12:56 PM

Listen Max......Now you know that other post is just a joke and all, but let me get serious for a minute here.

The rumor going around the back channels of the 'Cat is that if it's a boy you're naming him "Blind Muthah Fockin Pennsylvania Lemon-Lime Spiegel." If this is true, we need to talk because although I know you love the blues, you need to leave out the "blind" part.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 01:20 PM

WooHooooo!!!!!!!

Congratulations you two!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Willie-O
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 01:29 PM

Congrats Max & ?. Really, I don't know that you have a lot to explain...it's all perfectly normal! but if you do, please go ahaid and tell us!

W-O

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 03:03 PM

Congratulations Max

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 04:21 PM

an upgrade? To Max 0.9?...when is the downloading?

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Amos
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 05:07 PM

I think this is version 2.0, Bill!! Did you think we were still in beta?? LOL!!


A

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 05:16 PM

Thank you, Max. I was beginning to worry that I had "misremembered" (it's happening a lot lately). This is so exciting.

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Mudlark
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 05:34 PM

Congratulations, Max, and best wishes to you, mother and child...

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Max
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 05:44 PM

It's been a hell of a year folks. I might as well tell you about it now, since the kicker is already out of the bag.

Yep, got a Mini-Mudcatter on the way, and as you would expect, we do have some appropriate names picked out. We chose not to learn the sex, so we don't know what's gonna pop out, but the doctor did say it's not a puppy (darn). If she's a girl, we picked out Lilly Ani. If he's a boy… are you ready for this?… Taj Lightning. No shit. The due date is January 20th, but all indications say its-a-coming early. The baby has already turned and dropped, and Emily (Yes, Emily is the love of my life who was kind enough to gestate my baby) is an active person who is pulling double shifts as a waitress because of our financial challenges. My bet is 2 weeks from now. And no, I'm not quite ready.

More good news, after a 2 year legal battle (which in addition to the contested divorce helped create my financial challenges), I have finally gained custody of my other offspring Alexis Hope. She'll be 13 years old in March, and will come live with me shortly afterward. Instant Family. Best money I've ever spent. It looks as if the divorce will go through in a couple of weeks now too.

So the landlord came up the other day to let some painters in to paint the windows, and notices a crib that we had recently purchased. The next day we get a letter saying to get out or pay and extra 30% rent starting December 1. Why? The lease was for 2 people. Apparently my unborn child makes it 2 ½ and soon 3. We tried to get out, but ended up paying the extra 30% for December. We're still trying to get out, but Emily can't carry things on account of her giant belly and many of my friends are too busy or are out of town due to the holidays to help us move, and now we need a 3 bedroom dwelling in a good school district because Alexis is coming too. My credit is shot because of the divorce, Emily's too because of her divorce last year. We've looked at a lot of places, but our price range limits us. Nothing suitable yet.

Onstage is dead. We've been successfully sued by a creditor, so I had to completely stop doing business. You may have been noticing the Web site, email and links slowly going away. I need to distance myself and everything from any association with Onstage. What really sucks is that I'm locked into paying for the Yellow Page ads still in print but can't accept any of the business that may come from them. Oh, well.

So I've changed careers. I am now a licensed Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania and soon Delaware. My technological knowledge is already paying dividends. I consult for a couple of Brokers and Agents and Mortgage Brokers as well as sell houses and commercial properties. Not a lot of income now, but next year looks very promising. I've got a couple of sales already logged, but I won't get paid for them till March.

In addition to some health problems (now completely resolved) it's been a challenging year. But I feel so good about 2003 I'm bursting. I managed to line up everything I could want in my life: a promising career without a boss, a wonderful loving relationship, my daughter, and new baby… a family… a real life. Patience and perseverance has paid off.

The year of Mudcat was interesting. We lost most of our servers this year. (Shorty, Jah and Pene's computer are added to the list in the last few weeks). All that is left now is Taj (web), Bertha (help) and Charlie (database). But we still managed to get the upgrade done. I have a few more behind the scenes things to do, which will cause some downtime, but I'll warn you as far in advance as I can. Oh, and if I have to move suddenly, which is a possibility, that might mean a few unpredictable months of the Mudcat. I probably won't have time to get the new apartment wired in time to make it a smooth transition. I'm in talks with 2 outside services to take over hosting for these few months of uncertainty. My housing issues can only possible last until June, so at least it's finite.

I apologize for not being more present and responsive this year, and I promise to be more attentive from now on. Just know that I was not blowing anyone off, I was just preoccupied with life for a bit. But I'm back now.

Which leads me to a Mudcat Radio Revival. A few folks have mentioned how much they missed it, and I realized how much I miss it too. I'm in talks with a coffee shop down the street from us that will likely allow us to use their upstairs section on off nights to do just about anything we want. So, if we can solve the technical challenges, it looks like we'll get something going. Not sure what format, or how often, but its in the works. It may not be affordable to do at all or with any regularity. We had to take the archives down, because we let our ASCAP license ($250 at last check) lapse. So maybe if we do it, we'll broadcast it live and leave the archive up for only a week. Not sure, but it is at least in my head.

Thank you all for your support this year. I can say with certainty that without it, the Mudcat would not have made it through the year. Me either. Thanks for all the CD sales, I hope you enjoy that. And thanks especially for the people who picked up the balls that I dropped. Amos and dick and susan, Pene Azul, Joe Offer, etc. Thank you.

But now that I'm back…

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 05:57 PM

Bloody Hell Max.... and we thought you were just in a funny mood!

Hope all goes well, good luck.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 05:58 PM

WOW-O-WOW!! What a year!! Good news and it looks like most of the bad is behind you. Yea!!! Thanks for catching us up, Max and congratulations. You want us to mix up some mojo and go to work on your landlord, or just use it to conjure up a better place for you all? Really, really glad to hear that you are getting your daughter back. Wow!! And, a baby! And a love!! And, radio!!!! Yippee!!!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: CarolC
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 06:03 PM

Blessings to you and Emily, Max, and to Alexis and Lilly/Taj.

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: nutty
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 06:10 PM

All the best for 2003 Max ....it looks like being a hell of a year.

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 06:11 PM

Keeericed boy, you still need a kick in the balls and the first chance I get I'm gonna' give you one........Taj Lightning my ass.........dear gawd, let this guy have a girl, even with the "Ani" part........

Okay....so you're workin' it out and to be absolutely truthful, I've always figured you would. Life ain't worth livin' if you're just sitting on the peaks. Too long in the valleys can be a killer but the views that you get from both are what makes things clearer. In the end we are responsible for what we've done and when it's all tallied up, if we've done our best by each other, the trip was worth every fall and every climb.

There's a highway risin from my dreams
Deep in the heart I know it gleams
For I have seen it stretching wide
Clear across to the other side
Beyond the river and the flood
And the valley where for so long I've stood
With the rock of ages in my bones
Someday I know it will lead me home
.........from "Prayer in Open D" by Emmylou Harris

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: treewind
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 06:14 PM

Well, Max, all I can say is...

Happy new year!
It's got to be better that the old one!

Joy, health, love and peace.

Anahata

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Llanfair
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 06:15 PM

Congratulations, Max and Emily. You've had such a tough time, and yet the Mudcat goes on.
Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Willie-O
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 06:18 PM

I was wrong, there WAS a lot to tell. Thanks for clueing us in Max.

I am stunned that a landlord can get away with that kind of piracy. JEEZUZ!!!!

Great to hear the radio show will get new legs. Best of holidays to you and Emily. And I know something about headstrong hardworkin women, but try to get her off the doubles pretty soon!

Best
Bill

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Gareth
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 06:47 PM

Max, when yer down the only way out is up.

Please acept my best wishes to you, your good lady Emily, and your familly.

The only thing I would request is that if there are any pressurers on you and the Mudcat, that you tell all us Catters well in advance so that where finacial support is needed matters can be dealt with in an organised and orderly fashion.

Again please take my best wishes, and I am confident that I speak for all Welsh and European followers of the Mudcat.

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 07:23 PM

Max! Emily the News Lady! I thoughtyou two had personalities that went well together. I'm glad your life is looking so much better. Now, since Emily's familiar with the web radio stuff, what about the comeback broadcast being from the delivery room?

Max, any way to get all the midis and the supersearch index off poor deceased Shorty and onto somebody else?

Anyhow, congratulations and BE HAPPY!

Love,
Me

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 07:24 PM

Taj Lightnin'???? Well, at least it's not Cletus. Screw the landlord! Shed 2002 and start anew. Congratulations Max and Emily and Alexis!

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 08:07 PM

Waiting with bated breat to be able to send best wishes to Mini-Max!
Quack!
Geoff the Duck!

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Tinker
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 08:08 PM

When I sent a welcome package and said #1 daughter got first pick I couldn't have guessed she'd be coming home too. Great news !

Now Max, just a question did ya pick that name before or after you named the server???? Taj Lightning?? Boy better like the blues...

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Amos
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 08:21 PM

Max, man, what a year!!

All is forgiven.

Ya know we're on your side and we are gonna keep on rolling to make the revenue stream exceed the Mudcat Nut -- starting with promtioing the Mudcat CDs to every corner of the world we can get a word out to. Starting with New York and Portland.

And if ya wanna know why, it's cuz you've done something for us, in case ya never noticed that -- you furball!!

Well done on building a family. A year from now, with a decent sales record behind you and some money in the bank, you'll be fat and sassy and feeling like a king. Just remember to keep on communicating, especially among all these wonderul people who are moving in to share your life.

We love ya, ya know!


A

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 08:53 PM

Wow! I can't say it any better than it has been said. Keep well, Max, and if we get radio, that will be wonderful too. If we don't we can live with it......Hi Emily! Have a girl, OK?

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: mg
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 08:57 PM

About the housing..is there a vacant house on the market that won't sell for some reason taht you could live in free and show? hard with a new baby and a teen but it might get you over the hump. mg

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Dani
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 09:31 PM

It IS hard to believe a landlord can do that, Max, but the same thing happened to my husband and I. We lived in an apartment complex that had been fairly well wrecked by Hurricane Hugo, and the management didn't like to get around to fixing holes in roofs, etc. I was one of the complainers when MANY months later repairs had not been made. When they found out I was pregnant, with a one-bedroom apartment, they did, in fact, kick us out. Moved everything in that state, and went into labor shortly after. Without the $$ to pay a lawyer, there's not much to do about it.

There were many, many hard times after that. Sounds like yours came before ; ) But things DO, in fact, get better.

I hope hard times move behind you and you can enjoy your family. I wish you all the best.

Read a wonderful book recently recently by/about a man named George Dawson who learned to read in his '90's. Wow. What a life. And talk about some hard times. But the main theme of the book (from whence the title) is "Life is so good. And I do believe it's getting better!"

May it be so...

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Big Mick
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 02:45 AM

Love ya, Mister. I wish we could go have a beer. I will have to take a ramble so's I can change a diaper and spoil a kid. You left out of the Getaway without a goodbye hug and I will deliver a kick in the gonads for that one, but it will be delivered with love and followed by a Big Mick hug.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: A Mudcat Baby?????
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 03:49 AM

Glad things are looking up on the personal front, Max, hope the career changes also bear fruit and the various Mudcat fundraisers help to take the pressures off.
Best wishes to the mother of the Mudkitten(why not Fred [or Frederica] McDowell Spiegel- it has a ring to it!).
RtS