Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?

Subject: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 12:06 AM

I was thinking about a couple of dear friends around this joint who I happen to know are working on some cool projects. I realized I had not written lately to encourage them... and then I thought of us all, caught up in our daily grinds, momentary upsets, and major life commitments... working at some pace or other on real important projects (mostly in music). And never enough encouragement, somehow, I bet.

So whatchoo doin'? How's it going? What do you hope will be the result? What needs to happen next for it to come to fruition?

Me, I have a Gospel Tape Library to pack up and send to the wonderful soul who agreed to handle distribution, and then it's back to recording our Saturday Night Service music now that I can burn tracks onto a CD to repay all my Mudpals who have sent me tapes in the last 18 months. Not sure you should encourage me on that one, but whatever! Then there are the tunes to do for xxxxx and xxxx, a couple of overdue verses for xxxx, and harvesting the tunes for the book of spirituals I just got...

~Susan

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Jim Krause
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 05:37 PM

Oh, ~Susan,you are busy. Mostly I've been fiddling two afternoons a week at Farmer's Market in the #@%&*#+! hot sun and spending time helping to put the updated promo kit for the band together. The business end of the music biz is not my strongest suit. So it is rather like scheduling an appointment for a root canal to get me to work on that end of things.

I've been writing some. Got a couple of new songs in the active repertoire now. I am also learning to play the fife. Being mostly--actually near completely, a string player, learning a woodwind instrument is a bit of a challenge. The fingering seems to be tripping me up, not the embouchure [sp?]. Oh, yeah, and I have to put together a 45 minute set for a gig at the 45^th St. Coffee House on August 3. (an unabashed and shameless plug.)
Jim

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Wesley S
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 05:54 PM

Music - Working on teaching songs to our new stand up bass player. That's easy - he's fantastic. Plus refreshing our arrangements for a bunch for shows at 2 new venues. Yay.

On the home front - teaching our son to roll from his back to his front. He's got the other direction down cold. But being on his tummy usually means it's time for sleep and he resists that. And he STILL has trouble with a barr F chord.

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Amos
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 06:53 PM

Just finishing the framing of a pad to pour for our new patio, have to fine-sand and oil the beautiful Western Cedar posts and beams and get the thing done. Book still glowering from the back burner, not to mention the SW Requirements Spec for the new CSCI being developed by the Shlaer Mellor development crew at work. Oi, no rest for the wicked, and three weeks 'til Barkette comes home from a fabulous summer at a classy music camp, full of new vigor and bright-eyed. Gasp, pant, sigh....

A

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 06:59 PM

Learning to use a Badger spray paint system. The carving leather that I've been getting lately (Spanish) simply can't hold leather dye properly. The ENGLISH carving leather that I've been using for years is no longer available (thanks Mad Cows) and I've got three pretty elaborate straps and one mandolin case on order. Once I get the hang of the spray gun, it'll save a lot of time as well with the background dyeing.

Other than that.....have discovered "The Sopranos"....and am hooked.

Rick

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Gareth
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 07:51 PM

From my to do list :-

New kitchen shelves for Mother,

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Chip2447
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 11:28 PM

The novel has been set aside to the back burner again, writers block is a bitch. I know where it needs to go, I just cant seem to get there. Trying to get good enough with the music to audition for ren fests next season. Generally speaking, too much to do, nary enough time or money...

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Haruo
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 12:35 AM

Last few days I was putting some things on my website (most recently "Jesus Loves Me" in Chinese and Esperanto, "God loves you/God is love" in Egyptian hieroglyphics an original Esperanto hymn set to Deirdre, a third version of Silent Night, a list of Esperanto-movement songs in La Lilandejo... Trying to get back into the Moby-Dick translating (want to get a sizable chunk done in this sesquicentennial year).

Liland

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Amergin
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 01:02 AM

right now I am working on other folks' internet connections....other than that I am working on getting everything ready for my trip up norht next week...got a bmw for 400 hundred and got that in order now just need to get ahold of my cousin so he'll be ready to go when I pick him up from our uncle's place...and then I got a mudcat gathering to go to in Sumner, Washington....

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: hesperis
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 01:34 AM

Coolness, Sooz! When do I get to hear ya? (Again.)

Wow. such a lot of busy people. And such a lot of people with writing glowering at them! I'm one more, I'm afraid. *sigh*

Right now, I'm trying to compose and record enough so that my next CD can be out by October. Organizing the music team page (over 80 pieces of music) for a volunteer-made computer game because the Admin isn't around much and the second-in-command left to form his own project... I would like to play a computer game that I haven't played in what seems like years, and I'd like to teach a workshop on play and creativity... and I'd like to know what the &*%^%& is going to happen next in my story.

I'm also trying to set up a way to teach dance again, because I *have* to dance!!! Literally. I went to dance camp, (which was a miracle) and since I got back, every day that I don't dance, I wake up the next morning with cramps in my legs.

And I have to send CDs to a couple of people. Which is a very good thing. I just have to do it!

And then there's laundry. *very big sigh*

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Amergin
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 01:44 AM

so what kind of dancing? he asks hopefully.....

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 04:23 AM

Weather permitting a new home made picket fence to paint and fix, our kitchen to disinfect and tidy and (yet again) decide on which guitar style to practice, practice and practice. I also have to keep going to work to deal with what Memphis Slim called the Rent Situation etc. Anything is better than boredom !! all the best fB

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Paul Mitchell
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 07:04 AM

I'm trying to get some new songs together, but have reached a block on a couple of them. It's a bit frustrating for me that I write nothing for ages, then suddenly three songs come along at once! I'm burning and pasting C.D.'s for sale, and I intend to start learning how to uni-cycle. I know how to fall off the damn thing, I've picked that bit up really easily.

Paul

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 10:22 AM

I guess I'm not too busy to READ all of these every few hours, just too busy to POST each time I do. *G*

These little glimpses into the real lives of Catters are priceless... the creativity jostling for room with everything else.

Paul, my husband unicycles. E-mail me and I'll forward it along to him.

Anyone stuck in a creativity block is welcome to e-mail me too. I have been known to be able to help with unstuckification.

~Susan

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 10:49 AM

Nosy, Aint yuh?

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: MMario
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 09:30 AM

Wesley - according to Aine - a few weeks of pick and shovel work should have your son capable of the Bar F chord *grin* Always good to hear from you.

*I* got to meet my psuedo-foster-step-family-by-choice great niece Sunday - in the flesh! She is of course one of the most beautiful and delightful babies ever brought forth on this earth; and her parents had the good sense and taste to bring her to ME before they even showed her to the Queen. (Of course - I have a lot more weapons then the Queen does....*grin*)

Looks like I have a couple of acting/singing jobs during the fall.

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 09:34 AM

Susan, I thought your husband was an Episcopalian, noa Unicyclitarian!
RtS

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: pavane
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 09:36 AM

Organising a live test of credit card systems. Project went live yesterday, so winding down and looking for the next contract.

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 10:03 AM

RtS, good thing this is a pre-coffee MudVisit, or I'd have just wrecked the new puder! I'll pass that one along!

~S~

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 01:21 PM

Unicyclitarians belive there is only one road to heaven - and it's only 4 inches wide.

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Amos
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 02:57 PM

Isn't that the cult that goes around chanting:

"Rurn Barance! Rurn Barance!" --

I think that karate teacher in the Karate Kid series must a been a Unicyclitarian!! LOL!!

A

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: chordstrangler
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 08:34 PM

Doing a bit of building at the moment. In fact, the new project is something of a monument to recycling.

They were taking down an old terminal building at Shannon Airport. The building was steel framed and clad in absolutely marvellous teak windows measuring six feet by three and a half feet. They were actually throwing these things into a skip to dump them.

To make a long story as short as reasonable I managed to get my hands on a truckload of them. I told the wife that I was building her a conservatory but - in reality - it will be a home studio - size, 28 feet by 20 feet.

I hope to have it finished in a week or so in good time for the Fleadh Ceol here in Listowel. Wouldn't it be a great idea if some Catters could contact me and we could arrange a Builder's Ball session to get it up and running.

Love to all.....M

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: JohnB
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 08:56 PM

Just spent the first day of my 4 week holiday searching the "TOOL WARP" for lost tools to enable the fitting of the new back door. If any one has seen my 1" dia Spade Bit anyhwere please let me know where it is. Tomorrow is varnishing the door. JohnB

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 09:07 PM

I wish tomorrow would do some of MY work!

*G*

~S~

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Oversoul
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 12:40 AM

I'm gearing up for a camping adventure near Spoon River in West Central Illinois. Who could doubt the beauty of a river named after it's bivalves? Afterall, I have read Edgar Lee Masters' wonderful and telling Anthology countless times. Sandridge, now that sounds like a good place to numb-out. Does it not?

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 12:53 AM

Hey Stoshiu. Will you be in Chi-Town any time in the first three weeks of August?

~S~

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 10:08 AM

Rick Fielding: Bummer about the English leather. Makes me happy that I'm no longer in the saddle and harness making business. Horse folks are SO picky about their leather! American leather just doesn't measure up.

I'm busy working on our church library. We just got some space and books donated. We'll have a nifty little library when it's finished.

Also working on sight reading for singing. I enjoy it even though it is repetative. That plus researching a subject for a folk song. Subject name is Ann Bailey who was a courier, Indian fighter, spy, and horseback merchant before, during and after the American Revolutionary War in Western Virginia ( now West Virginia ).

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: GUEST,Mikey joe
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 10:32 AM

Molecular Biology and packing my bags to go home to ireland tomorrow for my holidays.

Mj

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 10:41 AM

Working on the voice. Can do some good stuff in excercises but its taking a while to filter into songs. P*ssing the neighbours off something chronic!
Working on getting beyond 'crap' on guitar - have got trapped in one or two simple rhythms & need to spend time learning and practicing - this is quieter and so less annoying to the neighbours.
Working on learning a huge pile of songs I long to sing.
Working on writing a new slightly steamy song. Will post to Aine's songbook when finished. (unless it turns out to be crap).

That lot should keep me out of mischief for a while.

Kris

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Jacob B
Date: 25 Jul 01 - 10:53 AM

Sometime last year, my son asked me to write poems about King Arthur, Gawain, and Lancelot when they were children. I'm finally getting within sight of finishing the third one.

Jacob

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: SharonA
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 11:01 AM

*blush* Reading Brian Jacques's Redwall series (hey, they weren't around when THIS girl was growing up!). Who knows, I might get some kids'-song ideas; in the meantime, they're relaxing bedtime books. The journals of Lewis & Clark are "on deck" waiting to be read next. Wanna buy the new biography of John Adams.

Organizing and filing scraps of song ideas, finishing them as inspiration strikes me. Trying to tear myself away from SONG CHALLENGE!s long enough to write more of my own stuff from scratch. :^)

Recently attended a couple of songwriting workshops, and seeking more (BTW, I recommend Bob Franke's workshop HIGHLY).

Doing a few local gigs, nothin' fancy. A house concert with 3 other songwriters is coming up in September.

Gearing up for a MAJOR apartment-organizing effort this fall (when the weather cools a bit!). Among other things, I need to make room for the soon-to-arrive hand-me-down electric piano!

SharonA

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 11:26 AM

I've been filling my head full of foolish notions, waiting for the sun to shine...It's all I can do until that 4 inch road to heaven opens; my Unitariancycle is all pumped up and ready to roll.

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: SharonA
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 11:51 AM

So do Unicyclitarian Universalists believe that ALL 4-inch roads lead to heaven?

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jul 01 - 12:20 PM

LOL!

Subject: RE: Hey-- Whatcha Workin' On?
From: Melani
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 01:10 AM

Just got a new whistle and am getting to know it(radriano, please take note--you have a lot to answer for!). The off to my first music camp for a week.