Alone at the Millenium

Subject: Alone at the Millenium
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 04:57 PM

I'm going to be alone when the clock ticks over and we start a new millenium.

I'm sure that I'm not the only mudcatter in this position.

Why don't us lonely 'catters try and sort out some on-line chat?

I'm in the UK (so we get there earlier) but I'll stay up

Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: MMario
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 05:00 PM

Ed - since you have over a year, why not find someone to be with?

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 05:13 PM

Ed, you spelled "millennium" wrong. And as another 'Catter said, the "millen" mean "one thousand" and "ium" without the other N is a word derived from "anus," so "millenium" means...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: kendall
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 06:27 PM

Looks like I'll be going to a drunken bluegrass house par party. again this year, (no date)

Lookie, I'm curious.. if I go to Florida this year, how many mudcatters will I pass on the way? my route would take me on rt 84 across to Wilkes-Barre Pa. down to Washington dc, then 95 to Florida.

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 06:52 PM

Ed, who cares about spelling and so what if the real thing is a year away. I'll be home on New Year's and I am sure there will be others. We could set something up on that new HEARME thing, there are a couple of threads on, and then we could sing Auld Lang Syne together. Hey, if you'll stay up, I'm willing!

Whoo-Hoo, Happy New Year!!!

kat

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: bbelle
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 08:24 PM

Ed ... I rarely spend New Year's Eve with anyone but I never feel "alone." I rather enjoy spending the time looking back and it's very peaceful. I'll be moving into my new abode, but will stay plugged in ... are you on icq? Can't remember my number, but you can find me with "moonchild."

Kendall ... harpgirl and I are 2 1/2 hours from 95 when you get to Jacksonville. You drive due west on I-10. Perhaps we can get together ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 08:48 PM

Every moment begins "a" new millennium. January 1, 2000 certainly begins "a" millenniumm; it also begins "the" millennium of the 2000s. It doesn't begin the 3rd Millennium A.D. which starts on January 1, 2001. There is no contradiction except when people try to identify the millennium of the 2000s with the 3rd millennium A.D. The two overlap in 999 years, but identifying the two exactly is mathematically impossible.

My work will require me be on call on New Years' eve. I hope there will be catters to chat with while I wait around.

T.

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 08:57 PM

I don't know whether I will be alone or not and don't really care but I am wondering with the chat idea, what the net traffic and phone traffic is going to be like.

Jon

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:07 PM

Mbo - I'm aware that I spelt millennium incorrectly. I'm glad that I won't be spending any time with you, ever....

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:19 PM

Ed, I'm so sorry if I came off as a total jerk--I didn't mean to insult you, I guess I got too carried away...folks that know me would know I was just being a goof...Do you want to talk about music? Anything? I don't want you to be alone...no one should be alone...Am I forgiven?

--Mbo (still kicking 'imself)BTW welcome to Mudcat...

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: kendall
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:28 PM

Hey Moonchild, and Harpgirl, mu ultimate destination is Live Oak Florida. The Spirit of the Suwannee RV resort. Where exactly are you? you didnt mention a town

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Marymac90
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:53 PM

Kendall,

Will you be going south from W-B on 81 or the PA tpke? I live pretty near the tpke, Norristown or King of Prussia exits. It's easy to connect from there to 95.

Mbo,

I was glad to see your apology. People who have trouble spelling are very self-conscious about it. Usually, as long as we can understand what someone is trying to say, why don't we just agree to ignore such errors? I'm sure we all have something we're less than perfect about.

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 09:56 PM

Mbo, there are many times I say somethings not realizing I have made someone feel hurt. It is an awful feeling to think I have done something wrong.
I try to remind myself that my intentions were not meant to harm. Then I usually bake that person a big batch of chocolate chip cookies and hope that they still love me.

BB

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:11 PM

How convenient, Bonnie, I just baked a batch. Ed, would you accept a cyber-cookie? As for my little idiocy above, I actually ripped the whole thing off from another 'Catter, that how the millennium is such a big deal with everyone, and if you remove one letter (intentionally or no) it becomes something slightly amusing...there was no intention of insulting anyones spelling in any way...I'm sorry if it sounded like a personal stab...If you'll be on Mudcat on New Year's Eve, I'll be here, if you can bear to forgive me...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: bbelle
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:25 PM

Kendall ... we're in Tallahassee, about 90 minutes from Live Oak ... moonchild

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Escamillo
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:39 PM

If someone wants to greet my son Mariano (25), who will be alone in Caracas, Venezuela, his address is [e-mail]
Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:41 PM

I dunno BB........In Meebo's case, I think he's half baked already. And at his age, if he keeps up at his current rate of progress, he will be completely baked very soon. This is a real advantage to those of us who are somewhat weird as it totally stops the maturation process and we can then get on with the serious work of regressing to age 6 and live happily there. This is why I find words like "dump" to be hilarious and can now refer to my tool as "Joe Smackers" without the slightest snicker, assured in the knowledge that he's Y2K compliant.

As far as New Year's goes, Karen will undoubtedly sleep through it and I'll go wake her with a kiss and say HNY and she'll give me a nice hug and I'll return to Mudcat and wait as we cross the US as I'm expecting a few hugs and kisses from Kat and some of the west coast bunch. I will then continue to type in enormous run-on sentences and assume they are representative of the shallowness of my mind while having visions of Squeak's chest hair, dragonflies buzzing about Jeri's hooters, and a heron dressed as Waylon Jennings tootling up Cleigh's ass while running after a naked female banjo picker through a jello pit where a large Irish guy in a thong is trying to extract a potato from his ass after being thrashed by Koko and an Aussie lagerphone player in drag who loaned his fishnet tights to a fart lighting, rocketing, high diving, firefighter who is sitting in his helmet listening to an old coot in black blow harp for a miserable bitch editor from Wyoming who's writing a story about a schizoid private eye/briarhopper who opened a Radio Shack that's 472 miles from the nearest customer, a guy who has acquired 2471 guitars and had 839 stolen including a Guild 12 now possessed by a big guy in Baltimore who ain't really in Baltimore but operating a table saw for a silversmith in NY who books travel time for another possum's ass toodler in the same state so he can keep company with a skiffler that is the admitting officer at the Neil Young Center for the Terminally Screwed.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Hagbardr
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:49 PM

Kendall, you'll be passing just a couple miles to the east of where I live.

MaryMac, I live just a few miles from you, just outside of Lansdale.

Hagbard

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:50 PM

Whoo-eeeee! Spaw is back in RARE form!! YeeHaw!

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: bbelle
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 10:54 PM

'spaw ... don't take anymore time off ... you jest get all pent up ... moon

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: harpgirl
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:10 PM

...hey Kendall, I've had a lot of great nights at that park playing music all night...across 129 and a few hundred yards south is a spring that feeds the Suwannee and an old stone spring house...one of the Springhoppers favorite swimming holes...I like to be in the woods on a river if it's warm enough on New Year's Eve....
...Moonchild, I think we should camp at the Spirit of the Suwannee or go to the Stephen Foster Park or Ginnie Springs to camp....I' much rather be outdoors, wouldn't you?
Ed, Why are you going to be alone? There are alot of people in the UK...Do you have leprosy? harpgirl

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: bbelle
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:14 PM

harpgirl ... you should be in bed! If I can get myself moved in, let's do it!!!!! moonchild

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: harpgirl
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:18 PM

...yah Moon...snakes hibernate in the winter you know!

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: thosp
Date: 20 Dec 99 - 11:51 PM

Hey Ed
i'm going to figure out the time difference (i'm in New York- Da Bronx)to be online to say Happy New Years -- in recent years i prefer to spend a quiet evening at home --

peace (Y) thosp

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Marymac90
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 12:00 AM

Hagbard-I'm in Blue Bell. Maybe if Kendall comes this way we could all meet. Have you ever been to the Open Circle at the Mermaid, in Mount Airy? It runs first and third Thursdays, starting at 9:30 pm. It is just the BEST! Do you make it to the Folksong Society concerts in Fort Washington? I'm often at those. Feel free to email me at [e-mail] Mbo-you've apologized enough. I pronounce you worthy of forgiveness! If Ed won't forgive you, then just send that batch of cookies to me, and you'll be COMPLETELY forgiven, absolved, and washed in the blood, or some such thing! So now STOP apologizing already!!!

Ed-why not ask 'catters in the UK if there are any good gigs to take in in your area? Is there a pub around that encourages singing? Cyber-connections are great, but they're not the only kind. Don't feel you have to stay home cause you don't have a "date". The best lovers were once just friends.

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: bbelle
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 12:43 AM

harpgirl ... bears hibernate in the winter! It ain't cold here in north florida for anything to hibernate! moonchild

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: MudGuard
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 02:20 AM

MBO, you are almost correct. It is "mille" (meaning "thousand") in Latin for thousand, and "annium" is Genitive Plural of "annus" (meaning "year").

T in Oklahoma, it is not the 3rd millennium AD, but the 3rd millennium of the Gregorian calendar. Historians are pretty sure that Jesus Christ's birth took place either 3 BC or 7 AD, but not in 1 AD, based on astronomical effects which would explain the star of Bethlehem.

Ed, are you just alone on New Year's Eve or will you be lonesome? (As far as my knowledge of English goes, "alone" means the physical state of "no other person being around" while "lonesome" means the "feeling of having no person to talk, ...", so you can be lonesome in a crowd of people, but not alone. Tell me if I am wrong here.)

I will be alone on this year's last night, but I think I will have no time to be lonesome, as I have to take care of a few computers...(Happy Y2K ;-) )

MudGuard

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 02:40 AM

Ed, won't be alone, but will be forcibly sober (someone has to remember the burglar alarm code) so will be thinking of you. Hopefully I will be in a quiet corner with my bottle of coke and sleeping child. Knowing my luck, I'll be at the centre of a pile of screaming drunken "adults", with a hyperactive child climbing the walls, and I think I'd rather swap with you - are you anywhere near London??!

Yours, LTS, slightly desperate and not looking forward to this at all.....

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 09:57 AM

Here at the Neil Young Center we'll be clearing the decks for an expected upturn in admissions, but we hope to find time to celebrate the minnellium...the millivanilli...the aluminium, oh, hell, we'll wait till Feb and celebrate St Valentine's day instead! Glad 'Spaw's up and about again, the nurses on his private ward here were at the end of their tether (you know what a tether is, don't you, kinda like a thong without potatoes). RtS

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Bert
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 10:05 AM

Hi Ed, We'll be out getting drunk but we'll raise one to you, so you won't be REALLY alone, and another to Mudcatters everywhere.

I'm fairly good at spelling but in a great many of my postings a typo slips past. It's the nature of the medium. I maybe don't hit a key hard enough or my left hand gets ahead of my right hand or I hit two keys at once. So I just don't worry about it. Fortunately my postings don't have to be compiled.

'Spaw-aw! Your CRS is acting up, guess who you forgo-ot!

Marymac90 & Hagbard - Get yer butts over to West Chester tomorrow night and join us on the Mudcat Radio. I often get to the concerts in Fort Washington. Do you guys go to the Bucks County Folk Song Society??

Kendal, Max is going to Florida, maybe you and Moonbaby and Harpgirl can meet up with him down there.

Woo-Hoo to yoo Kat.

Jon Freeman, cheer up 'cos we care. We'll be thinking of you. Happy thoughts.

MudGuard, don't go getting them 'pewters drunk now ya hear!

Hi Squeaks, be brave, get out there in that pile of screaming drunks.

MMario, you don't get to party 'till NEXT YEAR.

Mbo, ... In the street of a thousand lamp posts... as Frakie Howerd used to say.

Thosp, what does the (y) mean?

T in Ok. Don't try to rationalize an excuse to party.

Escamillo, we'll send Number One Son a message.

Banjo Bonnie Baby Bake Bert a Big Batch of Brownies.

Merry X and a Happy Noo to the whole bloody ;lot of ya.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 10:34 AM

Why not? a bit of sophistry might help one discover more occasions to party than otherwise.

For example, did you know that 2000 December 31, though it ends the second millenium A.D. does not complete 2000 Gregorian years from 1 January 1 ? Two thousand Gregorian years contain 730485 days. Counting 1 January 1 as day 1, the 730485th day is 2000 December 29. The difference is because the Gregorian Calendar doesn't use Gregorian years (365.2425 days) until 1589 (or 1753). It uses Julian years (365.25 days) up to 1587 (or 1751) makes a special adjustment in 1588 (or 1752) and uses Gregorian years only thereafter.

So one can party on 2000 December 29th for the culmination of 2000 Gregorian years from 1 January 1, and on December 31st for the end of the second millennium A.D. Then one can have an "Old calendarist" party on 2001 January 13 to celebrate the culmination of 2000 Julian years from 1 January 1.

T.

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Marymac90
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 10:35 AM

Bert-I'm free Tues. night. When and where does this thing happen? You can email me at [e-mail]

Hagbard-Are you free? Do you want to meet up first, and go in one car, thereby saving fossil fuels, etc. Let me know if I should clean out my car!!! You can email me too!

Love to all,

Mary

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: MMario
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 10:47 AM

That's okay Bert, I've already celebrated Christmas 13 times this year and have at least two more Christmas celebrations to go. I can skip NY's until next year....

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Bert
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 10:53 AM

Mary, Er, it's Wednesday night. I've send you email re. how to get there.

Good point T, Why not. Let's party.

Bert.

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: MTed
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 11:53 AM

Bert, MerryMac, Hagbard, all of you not that far from my house on Allentown Rd. in Teleford--unfortunately, I don't live there anymore(anyone want to buy it? It is really nice, with hardwood floors and lots of room on a nice hill!!) and reading about your plans makes me miss it there all the more!!!

If we hadn't moved this year, we'd be having a New Years Party and of course you'd all be invited, and we could have gotten the ukuleles out and had wonderful time--but that's the way it goes sometimes--

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Marymac90
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 12:27 PM

Dear (Oh, dear, now I've forgotten your name-that always happens to me at parties!!! Is it...) MTed? or something like that?

Gee, I wish you were still around here to party with! I'll miss those ukeleles. I'm sure there's likely to be a shortage of them wherever I wind up. Sorry, I doubt that I could afford to buy your house-wish I could, though-it sounds very nice! We'll just have to find somewhere else to party!!!!! Hope you've got someplace nice, and some friendly people to celebrate with, wherever you are, MTed(?)

Mary

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: paddymac
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 12:52 PM

Gee, Ed, I can understand how you might have taken Mbo's msg the way you did, but I'm also sure that he was just joking. Sometimes brainfarts have lumps too. I mean, it might have been 'Spaw, and then you might not have ever come back. Relax and enjoy the banter. It's usually well intended, but on rare occasion somebody creeps in with malicious intent. Not this time, though. When it does happen, the whole fam damily usually climbs on them. When ever I find myself alone or lonesome on a significant occasion, I usually have a wee chat with trusted friends, like 'Ole Art Guiness, John Jamesons or Johnny Powers. Usually perks me right up. Hope you enjoy the changing of the calendar, regardless of whom you do or don't spend it with.

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 01:02 PM

I dunno paddy.......He doesn't seem to be coming back anyway. Perhaps it is as you say, an msg allergy resulting in edema which makes typing difficult.....although I admit that I missed anything about msg in Meebo's post. Maybe its in the cookies or brownies or something.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Magpie
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 03:00 PM

Gee y'all. Leave the guy alone will you! He apologised, and that should be the end of that.

As for me I don't give a hoot whether it's the beginning or end to whatever millenium.- It's new year's eve, and that's all I care about.

To all of you who's going to spend the night alone- by choice or otherwise- I wish you a happy new year, and I'll send you some happy thoughts. (Guess I'll have to send thoughts all during the day, on account of the time differences!)

Love you all! Magpie

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: kendall
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 03:09 PM

piss me off someone...I love brownies!!

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: kendall
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 03:19 PM

I've been to the Spirit of the Suwannee 3 years, and, I've been the only folk singer there. It would be great to meet up with some 'catters there. Those folks are really nice, and they appreciate folk music too. Marymac90 I usually head down 81 from W-B so I can spend some time with Ed Trickett in MD. then to Norfolk to visit Bob Zentz. I could come down 95 as long as I can avoid NYC..By the way, I also have a dog.. a labrador retriever, totally house broken, and, minds pretty good. He would need a place to sleep..NEVER ON MY BED!!)

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Marymac90
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 03:22 PM

Kendall, If you stop around here on your trip, I think some brownies could be arranged. I'm not sure I would want to piss the captain off, though. I don't want to find out what keelhauling is first-hand!

Magpie, I think I'll be spending the evening with friends, but I expect I'll be spending the night alone, or with a cat for a bedmate. However, if anybody is interested in helping me charge that arrangement........

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: Magpie
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 03:27 PM

Marymac-

Sorry about the "spending the night" thing. I'm Norwegian, and here we tend to call the whole evening "night". I did mean evening.

Magpie

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: MTed
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 04:06 PM

Marymac,

We'll be heading for SF--have to be there on 2KMonday, and 12/31 was the only day we could get cheap tickets--will probably have a good time and make a party with whoever we can find--I recently decided that there was no longer any point in not having a good time, where ever we are, and whoever we are with, even if it is no one--

Enclosed is a famous poem that has been a sort of inspiration for me on the many New Year's Eves that I have spent alone--

Mr. Flood's Party

OLD Eben Flood, climbing alone one night Over the hill between the town below And the forsaken upland hermitage That held as much as he should ever know On earth again of home, paused warily. The road was his with not a native near; And Eben, having leisure, said aloud, For no man else in Tilbury Town to hear:

"Well, Mr. Flood, we have the harvest moon Again, and we may not have many more; The bird is on the wing, the poet says, And you and I have said it here before. Drink to the bird." He raised up to the light The jug that he had gone so far to fill, And answered huskily: "Well, Mr. Flood, Since you propose it, I believe I will."

Alone, as if enduring to the end A valiant armor of scarred hopes outworn. He stood there in the middle of the road Like Roland's ghost winding a silent horn. Below him, in the town among the trees, Where friends of other days had honored him, A phantom salutation of the dead Rang thinly till old Eben's eyes were dim.

Then, as a mother lays her sleeping child Down tenderly, fearing it may awake, He sat the jug down slowly at his feet With trembling care, knowing that most things break; And only when assured that on firm earth It stood, as the uncertain lives of men Assuredly did not, he paced away, And with his hand extended paused again:

"Well, Mr. Flood, we have not met like this In a long time; and many a change has come To both of us, I fear, since last it was We had a drop together. Welcome home!" Convivially returning with himself, Again he raised the jug up to the light; And with an acquiescent quaver said: "Well, Mr. Flood, if you insist, I might.

"Only a very little, Mr. Flood-- For auld lang syne. No more, sir; that will do." So, for the time, apparently it did And Eben apparently thouht so too; For soon among the silver loneliness Of night he lifted up his voice and sang, Secure, with only two moons listening, Until the whole harmonious landscape rang--

"For auld lang syne." The weary throat gave out, The last word wavered, and the song was done. He raised again the jug regretfully And shook his head, and was again alone. There was not much that was ahead of him, And there was nothing in the town below-- Where strangers would have shut the many doors That many friends had opened long ago.

Edwin Arlington Robinson

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: MTed
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 04:08 PM

Sorry, the lines broke up wrong, but all the text is there--

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: kendall
Date: 21 Dec 99 - 06:37 PM

believe me lass, keel hauling is not a pretty sight, them that dies are the lucky ones. if anyone really wants to know...I'll explain

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: harpgirl
Date: 22 Dec 99 - 12:23 PM

...kendall...I sent you an E-Mail but here is a public invitation to get together and play some music and tell lies, I mean stories!...I'm an hour and a half from SOSMP and am often roaming about the rivers of those parts. You could become an honorary Springhopper!...harpgirl

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: kendall
Date: 22 Dec 99 - 01:05 PM

My worst enemy (second worst after me) is inertia. But, your invitation would be almost impossible to decline. I sent you a personal message. If I had someone to talk to on the trip, I would leave tomorrow!! I do have friends to stop over with on the way, but, no one between Norfolk VA. and Live Oak FL.

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: harpgirl
Date: 22 Dec 99 - 04:42 PM

...kendall...so it's settled. See you when you get here in February...Heck I thought you were leaving right away! Going anywhere else in Florida? And is this for the winter or just a respite from those fierce Maine winters? harpgirl

Subject: RE: Alone at the Millenium
From: kendall
Date: 22 Dec 99 - 04:51 PM

well, I've been thinking.. Why should I stay here just for a free gig in february?? It's mostly bluegrass, and I'm sure they wont miss me so..I cant make reservations at the Spirit until after the 1st of January, (computer snag I guess) and, as soon as that is passed, I believe I will just pack my guitar and dog and head south. I figure to take close to a week getting there, and I'm looking forward to jamming with you or yawl. If you want to know what I do, maybe Max will play a cut from my tape tonight?Does he have any of your stuff? or Moonchilds?