BS: What's New & Good Today?

Subject: What's New & Good Today?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 03:34 PM

I have ENERGY! I learned a new song too.

What's new & good for you today? Especially (but not limited to) musically?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: GUEST,andi
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 09:55 PM

New and Good,musically?

Well, for the new part,I just got my first fiddle! Now to learn to play it :) and for the Good part, it has to be the comfort these past few months that I have gathered from Bob Hallett's playing, which is what inspired me to try and learn to play fiddle. thanks andi

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From:
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 11:10 PM

I'm starting to pack to go to Rainycamp tomorrow. Will see lots of friends, hear some great music. Should have a beautiful ride up there tomorrow..will be taking some local buses to Olympia and will meet someone there. Got to play with real mud in the lab today.The rain was downright warm instead of icy as it has been. I've stuck faithfully to my diet for 2 weeks (and seem to have gained about 3 pounds, although that is another story.)

mg

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 11:52 PM

well, on two succesive weekends, I have heard Norman Kennedy and Bryan Bowers....and Saturday we (FSGW) have an all-day mini-festival....music everywhere!..

then next week I get my 2nd cataract operation, and will FINALLY be able to focus my eyes correctly again...

Hows that for compact goodness?

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 01:34 AM

I'm excited about receiving the Weavers Songbook from Lanfranc today. Tomorrow night at music, I get to give it to my friend, who loves the Weavers. I'm sure we'll be hearing lots of 'new' songs from him.

And yesterday I got the sheet music from kat that she could spare from her new stash, and I will be giving that to a friend who plays piano and sings beautifully for weddings and such.

In case I'm giving the impression that the only thing that turns me on is giving, be assured that I get excited plenty about taking, too!

Ebbie

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: gnu
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 05:32 AM

I just found my Gordon Lightfoot Anthology books, which entered the land of missing nearly twenty years ago. Talk about a "miss-file" ! It was at the bottom of a box of topographical and property maps.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 07:00 AM

Love is in the air...

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Cappuccino
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 07:52 AM

No demands for payment arrived in the morning mail.

- IanB

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 08:08 AM

And today continues...

Let's see.... oh yes. Something really important, that had been a puzzle, is now obvious.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Murph10566
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 08:34 AM

Making painfully slow (but rewarding) progress trying to learn the mandolin...

Long been an admirer of this sweet instrument, but it ain't easy with sausages for fingers...

Best to all -

Murph

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Dharmabum
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 08:48 AM

Got out of bed today & my legs didn't buckle out from under me when I stood up.
Even though my hands shake,I can still make a chord & strum the guitar.
The Doc says this is a moderate relapse.

We'll be celebrating my grandson's 2nd birthday this month. I've got another grandchild on the way in about 6 months.

DB.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: GUEST,swirlygirl
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 08:56 AM

1) Off to Cambridge to see English Jon and on Monday we're going to the Carthy Waterson filming thingey in London...yay!

2) I played - badly - a version of the Gypsy Rover that my mum recognised down the phone, on the melodeon... well at least she recognised it!

3)It's Friday!!

4)I actually have some sort of semblance of having money!

5) Just about everything's good actually apart from my debt :(

6) I have alittle nephew whoo's one who tries to talk to you down the phone now so it's all a bit more fulfilling when you call!

7) Premature baby that I know has put on another few ounces and is doing great!

I could go on...

:)

xxx

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: SDShad
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 09:38 AM

I've been reading Greil Marcus' The Old, Weird America: The World of Bob Dylan's Basement Tapes (a reissue of Invisible Republic with the title Marcus originally wanted. It's kind of a funhouse tour of Big Pink, Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music, the West Virginia Mine War of 1920-21, with stops along the way in the most unexpected places. It's about a lot more than just Bob Dylan, but it's always about music, even when it's talking (or rambling) about history. Interesting read.

Chris

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 01:02 PM

It is Friday and as usual I'll have music here tonight. There are 10 or 12 people who come; we sing and play for 4 or 5 hours and everybody goes home satisfied and at peace. I love Friday nights.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: kendall
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 01:48 PM

Being unable to sing has forced me to take up the banjo again. Oh, you asked what was good, sorry.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 02:10 PM

LOL, kendall!

Good: It is Friday and I received my paycheck! This means the company I work for is not in deep enough trouble that it can't pay its employees... yet. Next Friday, who knows whether we'll be paid?

Good: Looking forward to the usual first-weekend-of-the-month folk-music party and folk-song-society meeting!

New: Enjoying a series of fanciful murder-mystery books by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, with cats as the detectives. I'm not sure one would classify them as "good", but they're fun!

Good: Tomorrow is Ground Hog Day (02/02/02)! Perhaps Punxsutawney Phil will tell us that spring's around the corner... :^)

Sharon

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 02:18 PM

Kendall, in these parts, Hardi and I have learned that another possible response is, "well, that's... different."

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Willa
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 02:45 PM

New Folkworks summer workshops details arrived in this morning's post.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 03:14 PM

Kendall, visualizing you playing banjo reminds me of how much I wish it were possible for 'Catters to hear each other! I used to sit in on HearMe but I haven't linked up with Paltalk- and I suspect not much is happening there these days anyway.

We need to throw a BIG party. Whatever happened to the notion a year or so ago of a farm/ranch where music and friends is the main product?

Eb

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Kim C
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 03:14 PM

I won some old violin sheet music off eBay and am very excited about getting it! Also I am learning a gyspy tune - it is a lot harder to play than, say, Billy in the Lowground, but I'm getting the hang of it.

We are now set up to take online payments for our tape at our website. And there's a few new pictures up there too: Paul and Kim Caudell

We are getting bookings for this year, and have been invited back again to some of the places we played last year. (It's nice to have repeat business.)

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 03:33 PM

The bills are paid, money left over, JaNora's mom has passed on peacefully, I am on this side of the grass, and I spent my Xmas gift certificate at the music store........bought Poem, a Tribute to Townes VanZandt!!!

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Jeri
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 04:39 PM

I'm snowed and iced in. I drove to the local store to buy "snowed-in" supplies such as hot chocolate and ice cream, but I'm not going any farther than that. I'm enjoying the day by doing laundry and other home-bound stuff. I'll get my first paycheck of this year on Mon, so I'll be slightly above "broke."

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Amergin
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 05:05 PM

welll...i have taken up the mountain dulcimer and love it....

my goddaughter is turning 1 year old today...and her dad is moving down here...hopefully with her....

my partner is coming up to meet the folks tomorrow....and we will be spending lots of time showing her around Portland....

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 05:29 PM

Today was an excellent day for me.

For the 1st time in over a month, I was able to practise guitar in a seated (normal) position as opposed to having to lie flat on my back and support my arms with pillows, due to a real bitching and unrelenting neck/shoulder and fore-arm spasm (all on the left side) which has been visiting me for the past 4 weeks and has very in pain intensity from moderately manageable to excrutiating.

The other piece of good news is that I nailed a very nice piece of business today, that may put me in Richmond, VA near the end of May and again around the end of July/beginning of August...so I might want to hook up with some Mudcatters around these times, and see about checking out some live music or getting involved in some sort of a jam. (I haven't been States-side for about 9 years so I'm kind of looking forward to it. I love the States!)

Both of these elements are timely. Not being able to play guitar properly for a month has had me really bummed out and depressed me. So glad the fog has finally decided to lift!

Best,
"JP"

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Wesley S
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 05:46 PM

My 13 month old son will be walking soon - of course that will present a whole new set of problems - but it's fun to see him teeter on those unsteady legs as he works up the courage to make it from mom to dad or back.

There are a lot of things to learn on the mandolin and guitar, people to sing with and places to sing at. All in all it's a pretty good life.

Did I mention I have a 000 Collings slot head on order? As an instrument junkie I love to have that next fix to look forward to.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 05:52 PM

Count your blessings, Wes. Both of ours walked at 81/2 mos..........sheesh, was I ever un prepared!

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 05:55 PM

A good thread Susan....and it's getting what you were after isn't it?

I love reading the responses. 'Gin Boy, happy for you and your App! JP, glad things are lightening up for you. And did we all like the Allison message? "Love is in the air!".......and I think it really is! Some lucky SOB has found a real neat girl hasn't he? Great responses all around. Lots of good stuff and good music too!

So for me.......Well, I don't require any surgery that I know of!!! AND.....Two weeks ago I loaned a teenage girl (Cara) that is a friend of sister Connie's a decent guitar. This kid has been practicing 2-4 hours a day to play with the church group on a real piece of crap. She's saving her money in hopes of finding a better guitar, but she was at supper two weeks ago with us and when I got to talking to her it was obvious how serious she was and what a neat kid she was too. So I figured, what the hell?   WELL.......You have never seen a bigger smile and she is not just appreciative verbally, she's practicing more and last Sunday played with the group in church!

Now I hate that "manufactured" new church music, but I think if I play along I can get her over into the folky camp after awhile! Better yet, it's given me something to focus on musically and I'm playing more than I had been!

Then there is Tristan! His Special Ed class goes bowling once a week (this 6 weeks...next is swimming) and he loves it. I go too to help out and the kids are just so excited and happy to get whatever they get. Today though, we surprised Tris by being there before the class arrived (Karen too of course and we pulled Michael out of school for the morning to go) and all set up for a surprise birthday party for him. He was surprised, his class was surprised, and better yet for Tristan, Uncle Wayne, Aunt Connie, Ricky and David, came too....to watch him bowl!!! It was a wonderful day for him and since he thinks Uncle Wayne is just about a god, it was even better than wonderful!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 06:06 PM

Spaw, why not move her over into folk through what we are doing at our church-- give her my e-mail if you like and ask her to put MUDCAT in the subject line.

I love reading all these and be assured, folks, I am grinning over every one of them.

Ebbie, the Mudcat Farm (not sure we will call it that) will open April 1, with sleeping room in the house for.... 2-4 in beds or reasonable facsimiles, 3-4 in the pop up camper, another couple dozen in BYO inflatable beds, limitless tent space, and picking spots on two porches, several nooks & crannies, at nearby eateries, and numerous acres. BRING IT ON, folks, and contact me using MUDCAT in the subject line. Open for gangs or folks passing through on the way to whatever, or for self-directed or us-led retreats. Resumes our specialty.

~Susan

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 06:46 PM

The last time I posted what I percieved to be the positive side of things (best Christmas prezzie thread, I think), one of the things I listed was that nobody I knew had died (as far as I was aware). Turned out I was wrong, and someone I knew and cared about had died. And this, of course, at the end of a long string of other, no less devasating losses.

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I think I'm going to take a break from looking at things from the positive side, and maybe just wallow in some negativity for a little while. Right now it feels like the safe thing to do.

( ...although I am sitting here listening to The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams and marvelling at the fact that there is still some beauty in the world. But don't anybody mistake that for being positive, because it ain't.)

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Amergin
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 06:49 PM

hey Carol.....I got a big

((((((((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))))))

for ya....

take care.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 07:10 PM

Carol, you are safe here. No better place to bring your pain than into the hearts and laps of the momentarily joyful. We've all been on both sides of it and will be again, no doubt. In the meantime, let me echo Amergin: {{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}

Ebbie

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: kendall
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 07:23 PM

I just got a long distance phone call from a very lovely Mudcatter, just to ask how I'm doing. It's the best thing that has happened to me today. Or yesterday, this year...

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Devilmaster
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 07:41 PM

Well, I'm back online after 34 hours without power due to the ice storm that ran through Ontario and Michigan.

Learning that the trolls have been hard at work, and that SPAW QUOTED ME!!!!!!!
(sniff)Thank you, Thank you, I'd like to thank the academy, my family and friends, and of course, catspaw49. Spaw - Once I get my license, we grab a couple of cars, and hit Mid-Ohio.

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Alice
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 08:47 PM

My son Ryan, a freshman in high school, plays violin and mandolin. He has been playing mandolin in our local session for about a year now, and decided to audition for the high school talent show. He and another teenager who plays fiddle at the session, put together a set of Hardiman the Fiddler/Choice Wife/Dancing Bear. He came home from the audition and said the judges were amazed... I'm sure they probably had never heard those tunes before, especially not that combo. He thinks they got into the show, because he overheard the judges talking about how to mic the mandolin. They will be up against, for the most part, garage rock bands. I think they will do very well.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 10:48 PM

I just got the words to Silent Night in Japanese from Masato! The last four years, I've done a recitation between sung verses with a black Men's Chorus at a Japanese church. If I can learn it phonetically, I may just step up to the mike next year, and surprise everyone by reciting it in Japanese...

Thanks for making my day, Masato!

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: DancingMom
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 02:26 AM

OOOh, I love Vaughan Williams' "Lark Ascending!" It's just exquisite.

Well, we are going to see our daughter play clarinet in the All-District Band Concert Saturday. The cream of the crop of the area high school students come together and rehearse all day Friday and Saturday and perform in a concert Saturday evening.

I found the Battlefield Band CD "Leaving Friday Harbor" and bought it for my husband.

I take my State Licensing Exam for my RN License Wednesday. Sharon

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Mudlark
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 09:24 PM

This is great...just what I needed. Lots of good things musically...last weekend got to see Pat Donahue who was not only stunning musically but very funny as well. His parodies of Carioca/Kareoke and Swinging on a Star/So you think you'd like to play folk guitar, and take your money home in a jar, etc. made me laugh out loud for the first time in days. 2nd nifty thing...think, hope, I've finally hooked up with some local people to play music with...will be meeting with them a wk from sunday.

On the nonmusical side, I'm glad I don't have to be involved in any way in Superbowl Sunday...YAY! And, got out of having to go to a funeral I was dreading...when I got there in plenty of good time, there was a line 4 deep clear around the block, and they were already seating overflow crowds on a patio. Since I didn't know the deceased, was just there to support his mother, I decided she probably had more support than she knew what to do with, so crept away and will reconnect at a less crowded time. And I've managed to make it through what would have been my 41st wedding anniversary, without flinging myself off a cliff, so I think I'm on the upswing.

Cheers to all with good news to share--you have cheered me. And best wishes and good thots to those who are a little short of good news these days. Better times will come.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 02:48 PM

I got some GREAT info I've been looking for for AGES.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 04:32 PM

Sunday's music was a smashing success!! And my partner still loves me madly. I'm playing a bit of mandolin, learning to play the banjo a bit, and continuing to enjoy life in the fun zone.

CarolC - (((((HUGS))))) Kiddo -

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Jeanie
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 06:11 PM

Oooh, Norton1 (Steve) : another happy mandolin player ! IanB has just loaned me his spare mandolin and it's great. What a delight to be able to pick something up and get a reasonable tune out of it straight away. Having struggled with the guitar for around three quarters of my life, this is brilliant. I can't put the thing down !

- Jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: SharonA
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 07:01 PM

Dancing Mom: Ah, District Band. I remember District Band (and other band competitions, too)! When I was in high school, I only made it as far as the Upper Southeastern Pennsylvania District Band (and only one year!), so I realize what your daughter has achieved. My sincerest congratulations to her, and I hope you all have a ball this weekend!

(another) Sharon

P.S. – Good luck on your exam, too.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: GUEST,SharonA, again
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 07:34 PM

Dancing Mom: ...Or was the concert last Saturday? If so, I hope you all did have a ball!!!

SharonA

P.S. – Now I'm dredging up old District-band memories... I recall that the "host family" I stayed with lived in the house where the father ran his funeral-parlor business, so we had to go through the funeral parlor to get into the living quarters upstairs. Eek! BTW, the guy's name was Tom Stone. Honest!!!

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Melani
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 09:57 PM

Had fun chantey-singing Saturday night. Will probably go to Lark-in-the-Morning Camp in August.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Bert
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 02:12 AM

Today, believe it or not, I made my daughter's wedding dress.

We went to a leather store in Colorado Springs, where she selected four white hides. I cut a pattern and made a trial dress out of some cheap material. Then I cut and sewed the dress.

Just can't wait for her to get here tomorrow morning to try it on.

She will do the beadwork and ornamentation.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: BlueJay
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 03:48 AM

Bert! That's great, happy to hear it. I can only imagine how you feel, making the dress. I know we haven't communicated since the Cheyenne thing, but I want you to know how much your CD you gave me has meant to us. We listen to it often, and the kids just love it. You should really see how our five through eleven year old kids listen to your music. It would do your heart good, I know it does mine. Many thanks, BlueJay

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: GUEST,Tony in Brussels
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 04:01 AM

What a nice thread!

Good things for me? Well - I just got my air tickets for a trip to Pensacola, Florida. Work, not play - but it'll be nice to leave this grey old town for a week or so. Any 'catters there next week, Wednesday through Sunday...?

And there's another set of air tickets in my bag for when I get back, to go to England partly for work, (again) but also to see my family - Mum, daughter Tedd and bro Keith in Brighton. Should be good fun - also on the agenda is a reunion with some friends I haven't seen for 20 years or so. This expat life has advantages, but you do tend to lose touch with all but immediate family after a while.

And it's Friday!

Good luck to all...

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 07:07 PM

Did Tony find anyone to jam with?

I had a very good doctor visit today and some reassuring words.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 07:11 PM

I can stand up straight and walk..........Monday it was not so. I have made truly marvelous meatballs for dinner, if someone actually comes home to eat dinner.

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 09:35 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: BS: What's New & Good Today?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 10:10 AM

I bought a mandolin, (Ozark , round walnut back and solid spruce top), I got a 10 pound discount as well.