It was a terrific evening: I arrived first, before Pam's chili had a chance to heat up, but even at room temperature it was great (Imagine me liking vegetarian chili!). I had a steaming bowl a half-hour later.

Dave, Tom, and Doug (OA&T) were in great voice and harmony; Pam is a wonderful singer and bodhran player (no wonder Rick invited her to join him in recording his new CD); the Windlasses, Donna and her daughters, are all fine singers, solo and ensemble, and Daniel, linked with one of the daughters, has a fine, strong voice; Chanteyranger's singing, fiddling, and storytelling and RiGGy's usual wonderful concertina playing and the surprisingly traditional sounds he evoked from his backpacker guitar--and of course his singing--matched their usual superb standards. One woman--A.J.?--whom I didn't really have a chance to meet--did some hysterical songs from her family tradition, and Tom's Rosie, after shyly passing most of her turns finally sang one beautifully.

Most of the singing was a capella with the exception of RiGGy's and most of mine (I did "Have Some Madiera, M'dear" a capella and a variety of other things with banjo accompaniment--one of these--requested by Pam--was a song posted to the 'cat forum by Blessings Barbara, "The Overflowing Catbox Blues" for which you have to imagine me as a talking female cat.... I guess I was singing reasonably well: Donna, who sat to my left, said repeatedly after my songs, "How can I follow that?"--which I suppose could be taken a number of ways.

Again, it was a terrific evening, starting early and ending late (the Windlasses and Daniel) started succumbing to jet-lag, but most of the rest of us were at it until after 11). Swong circles are always memorable and happily, they occur several times a year. Thanks, Dave and Pam.

--seed