BS: Your best thing of the year....

Subject: Your best thing of the year....
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 07:22 PM

Last night we did this thing round the dinner table, where we had to say what had been the most memorable moment this year, preferably good.

Mine was getting back on a motorbike for the first time in 20 odd years.

What was yours?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 07:25 PM

With out a doubt, my visit to Canada last winter. An amazing and wonderful moment that lasted a month and a half. In some ways that experience has changed the whole focus and course of my life. (In very good ways.)

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: khandu
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 07:41 PM

Hmmm... after much thought, I must admit that 2001 was basically an uneventful year for me. Nothing outstandingly grand nor grievous occurred in my otherwise hum-drum life.

I had not considered this until I saw this thread and now I am depressed!

Ah! But 2002 awaits!

khandu

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 07:43 PM

khandu, don't be depressed. Sometimes uneventful is a blessing.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: khandu
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 07:49 PM

Carol C., you are always a sweet reminder!

khandu

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: GUEST,Susan Canada
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 07:53 PM

CarolC- where in Canada did you travel?

Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 08:01 PM

(thanks khandu)

Susan, I was visiting Mudcatter friends in Orillia, Ontario. And I spent some time in Toronto, Newmarket, Barrie and some other towns I can't remember the names of right now.

Now I have a dream to spend a lot of time traveling around the maritime provinces. I've been through parts of New Brunswick, but that's all so far. Are you in Canada?

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 08:04 PM

Hmmmm.....my youngest child starting school and learning to read! One particular afternoon at the Sidmouth festival was also a highlight, and the terrific pirate-theme surprise birthday party my husband gave me!

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: kendall
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 08:30 PM

The Getaway, and, my trip to England. Two real high spots

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 08:33 PM

Besides the personal stuff, the most memorable event for me was finding out that such a community as the Mudcat exists. I had never done anything on the net but pure research for engineering, construction products, history, music, whatever. It was after an unsuccessful search of the Digitrad that I decided to post to the forum. Wish I had had such bad luck in the Digitrad years earlier because I have had much fun in the forum, as well as learning a great deal about the tunes I like.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Midchuck
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 09:00 PM

1) My kids taking me to England (and Scotland, just barely). First time ever out of the country further than Montreal!

2) Acquiring Jack Lawrence's Collings D2H that spent years on stages around the country, next to Doc His Own Self.

3) Turning 60 and realizing I don't have to prove anything to anyone anymore.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 09:10 PM

Moving to Norfolk, enjoying the local folk scene, in particular the excellent Irish instrumental session.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From:
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 09:51 PM

moving to the ocean and getting a state job with very nice people. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: 53
Date: 01 Jan 02 - 10:00 PM

this year i wrote a song already and it came to me in about 10 minutes, words and music both, if that's an indication of what 2002 will be musically for me i can't wait. happy new year to all. BOB AND GLENDA

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 12:28 AM

Waking up and realizing I was still alive.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Spud Murphy
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 12:43 AM

'Spaw, you ain't old enough for that line. Those old worn-out ones are best left for old senile guys like me who can no longer think up anything smart and useful.

And by the way, which year was last year, anyway?

Spud

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 12:49 AM

Getting new carpet sounds really pathetic doesn't it? Perhaps half way making up with my sister is better, but that still is not finished. Don't know if it ever will be.

I honestly don't know. Everything for the last 3 years has seemed just flat lining. Holding my own, and like Spaw, I'm still alive.

Maybe I need to up the Zoloft?

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: GUEST,Susan Canada
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 06:03 AM

CarolC- yes indeed I'm from Canada (hence the name Susan Canada LOL) - I'm in Halifax, Nova Scotia but have spent previous times in my life living in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal before coming home here. I have also travelled extensively through the country from here to Vancouver and back again and have also had the pleasure of seeing most of the US as well. Just a gypsy at heart I guess :) You'll probably love a trip to the maritimes - what's not to love about it?

Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Micca
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 08:09 AM

Has to be Towersey, and the Getaway, and all the lovely people I met.. and winning a songwriting competition the first time I (very reluctantly) entered one... and standing on the stage at the Getaway( first time ever) and singing into a Mic( first time ever also) it balanced an otherwise rough year..

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 08:18 AM

Well Spud, it ain't always age. I've had two previous heart operations including a quad by-pass in '97. In '99 I developed an unrepairable aortic aneurysm making any surgery difficult and very risky. Unfortunately, this year I had to have the mitral valve replaced and I was fortunate to have it done robotically in a minimally invasive procedure, still a 4 hour operation. It was a complete crapshoot as to whether or not I'd make it through the surgery as the retro flow of a heart/lung machine plumbed in at the groin puts extra pressure on the aorta. So when I woke up and felt a bit of pain.....well, I knew I was alive!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: GUEST,skarpi Iceland
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 08:22 AM

Halló all, I fell In love with my wife again.... Thats a great feeling . All the best skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Spud Murphy
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 10:33 AM

Yeah, Spaw, you qualify. That will do it every time. You have my permission to feel good any damn time you want to. I have issued you card number #782 in the Lucky To Be Alive club, which is being forwarded by dog sled, depending on weather conditions. Please show your card anytime you are cited for being overjoyed.

Spud

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Morticia
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 10:34 AM

Has to be Kendall's visit...now if only we could persuade him to move here....*BG*, and all the lovely, supportive and all-round fab people I've met on the 'cat.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: MMario
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 10:46 AM

I have to choose? I can narrow it down to my texas trip (meeting Aine, Jed, Guinesschik and cohorts); the Getaway (micca, carolc, billD, max, bruceO, Pene, etc, etc, etc); getting to sing backup for a *real* CD (THANX Jill!) and getting cast for a part at a ren-faire.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Gypsy
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 11:04 AM

Taking a weeks worth of groceries to a single mom....twice

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: kendall
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 01:14 PM

I think Morticia should be Queen of England.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Ferrara
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 02:58 PM

Figuring out (with very little help from my doctors) why it has taken 6 years to recover from my heart transplant. Gradually moving toward real recovery now that I have the supplements I needed all along.

Hearing that Spaw had made it! And that Barry Finn had gotten his liver transplant. YAYYYY! twice....

The FSGW Getaway. Micca's pub sing, having Joe Offer and Barry Finn stay with us, meeting Kendall, seeing Sandy and Caroline, Mick and everyone, being so happy all weekend and staying immersed in the music, hour after hour.

Writing articles for a small magazine on pyrography (woodburning). Taking a pyrography class from a woman named Cheryl Dow, and seeing my work improve dramatically as a result. Selling my work this fall at craft shows. Watching people drool over Bill's incredible new wood turnings. Bill and I had our best show ever this Thanksgiving.

In my life the good parts of 2001 were really, really good.

Rita

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Ferrara
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 03:00 PM

Figuring out (with very little help from my doctors) why it has taken 6 years to recover from my heart transplant. Gradually moving toward real recovery now that I have the supplements I needed all along.

Hearing that Spaw had made it! And that Barry Finn had gotten his liver transplant. YAYYYY! twice....

The FSGW Getaway. Micca's pub sing, having Joe Offer and Barry Finn stay with us, meeting Kendall, seeing Sandy and Caroline, Mick and everyone, being so happy all weekend and staying immersed in the music, hour after hour.

Writing articles for a small magazine on pyrography (woodburning). Taking a pyrography class from a woman named Cheryl Dow, and seeing my work improve dramatically as a result. Selling my work this fall at craft shows. Watching people drool over Bill's incredible new wood turnings. Bill and I had our best show ever this Thanksgiving.

In my life the good parts of 2001 were really, really good.

Rita

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Bobert
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 04:00 PM

1. Getting married to the P-Vine in February.

2. Discovering while on our honeymoon in Charleston, S.C. that there was just by chance a weekend blues bash going on. She swears I planned it that way, but it was just luck. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

(*Note: Being a cranky old codger, like Spawz, the ol' bobert retains his right to change the order of these two blessed events...)

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 08:52 PM

like Ferrara says...*smile*...she IS feeling so much better. And what she didn't mention is that her singing has gone from very good to wonderful! (what...me prejudiced?)

And yes, we both reached some new plateaus in our crafts...it gives us a really good feeling about the future, after several years of walking some very fine lines.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 02 Jan 02 - 09:43 PM

Well there are alot of great moments with 4 kids and a wife in love with her own music.. We battle for time in the music room.. But the #1 moment was getting to Nellies Pub with Bill Sables and hearing and sharing so much wonderful music.. I discribed the Yorkshire pudding and the Gas lighting and coal fires and Real beer and the music to an Editor of Gormaiy (SP?) Magazine who is going for a praposal to go have a photo shoot of the place.. Ah more American tourisum .. Sorry. It was am amazing moment . Thanks for letting me come Yorkshire.. And Bill and Lorna mostly.. Guy
#############################

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: alanww
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 04:39 AM

My second best thing of the year was learning to sing quietly, in harmony and as a duet. (It certainly beats winning a shanty singing competition, which I did by singing loudly and alone!)

"As I rose up at break of day, all from beside my true love ..."
Alan

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 10:22 AM

Having Mick Tems make me a cup of tea last week.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: SharonA
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 11:39 AM

My best "thing": Attending a songwriting workshop that was led by Bob Franke last spring. That was the stimulus for a lot of my songwriting over the spring and summer. My writing has "fallen off" over the autumn without my thinking much about it; thanks for this thread, which has reminded me of the lessons I'd learned and can put into practice again!

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 04:04 PM

Taking an early retirement from many, many, many years of corporate life, and then having the time to plan and produce a first recording by our bluegrass band ShoreGrass.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 04:06 PM

An epiphany brought on by my boss's temper tantrum when I took a day off to deliver Alice's kittens. A click in my brain and an inner voice screaming "I don't need any of this crap". I quit the job; sold the house; informed my drug free son that it is his responsibility to stay drug free; and am headed into 2002 debt free in a new home and looking for work I can enjoy, idiot free. Now if I could just get up the courage to pick up that guitar...

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Amergin
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 04:18 PM

Well...my beautiful goddaughter, Brittany, being born...

The first Pacific NW Mudcat Gathering....and getting to meet Mrrzy and the Wild Bunch, Mousethief, JE, Chantymatt, Benjamin, and several others....

Falling in love with a wonderful woman....

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: GUEST,shonaghlou
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 05:40 PM

most definately getting into a traditional music school in scotland. the audition was scary, i didnt think i had made it then i got the phone call. amazing. its an amazing place, we play amazing music and the tutors are amazing! (blair douglas on accordian, mary ann kennedy for gaelic song, christine kydd for scots song, iain macfadyen for pipes, dougie pincock for whistles, andy thorburn for piano and iain macfarlane for fiddle.) im having a great time. i just wish i could stay there for more than 2 years!!

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 05:52 PM

One daughter finally getting over her depression and the other getting so involved in her new college. It's like seeing them grow up all over again!!!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Deda
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 06:04 PM

Blowing bubbles with my 3-year-old grandson, when he was still two. Hearing him say "I love you Jamma" and "No go bye bye all day!"

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 03 Jan 02 - 08:33 PM

Really starting to learn the guitar fingerboard, it's really coming to me. So much to do yet, so many types of scales and modes, years of work, but it's like some kind of door has opened.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 31 Dec 02 - 06:21 PM

deciding to learn an instrument, [mandolin).

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Dec 02 - 06:37 PM

Best of 2002 for me was our son having his felony probation and deferred prosecution finished. He is not a convicted felon, thanks to deferred prosecution. Thank you, Gods and Goddesses!

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Amos
Date: 31 Dec 02 - 10:14 PM

•That Runamuck weekend is right up there;

• watching my daughter and mom play duets together for the first time int heir lives and watching them just melt into a glow of happiness over doing it with each other;

• shipping the CD Masters to Dick Greenhaus, and everytime someone gets some joy from 'em and says so.

•   Mastering two songs first heard at Runamuck and recording them;

• the day I "bumped into" the company President and took the opportunity to pitch him a proposal which he asked to see more on;

and, I guess, top of the list was watching my daughter grow into a full-blown enthusiastic and graceful young woman, succeeding at college and living a life of her own.

All told one hell of an interesting year!

A

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Dec 02 - 10:26 PM

Well I'm stunned I started the year so optimistically...

The best thing this year has been just succeeding in still being here for this, despite everything that has been thrown at me.

Anybody want to buy a motorbike?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 31 Dec 02 - 10:53 PM

No thanks Liz, I still have the scars across my belly from when a stupid taxi driver knocked me off mine!

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 01 Jan 03 - 09:41 AM

Best thing of 2002?

Possibly in Italy, sitting on the crossbar of a bike, trying not to fall off from laughing so hard, full of great food and good beer, speeding past the Leaning Tower of Pisa at 4am on a warm night in June (with the cycling ably steered by a cute guy with a great arse).
A definite high point in a rather miserable year.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: kendall
Date: 01 Jan 03 - 09:42 AM

By far the best thing for me was getting my voice back.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: Allan C.
Date: 01 Jan 03 - 09:57 AM

...Kendall's getting his voice back

talking on the phone with my daughters (one of whom has been estranged for quite some time)

the Getaway - which gets more special every year, I swear it!

playing the gig at Dani's restaurant

visiting Sorcha in Wyoming and Alice in Montana

the trip to and from Montana with David C.

meeting Morticia

regaining a friendship I thought I had lost

There were so very many wonderful things that happened last year. It is impossible to choose just one.

Subject: RE: BS: Your best thing of the year....
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 01 Jan 03 - 10:33 AM

just singing really.........