RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather

Subject: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jan 06 - 11:51 AM

We've enjoyed all the Mudcat company, here in North Central PA, but this old house is getting just too hard to maintain-- especially as a rental! So Hardi and I are agreed-- one more big Gathering, at least in THIS house. (And we'll see where we are for Getaway travelers in the fall.)

This thread is JUST FOR RSVP's and coordinating rides. Heck, all people really WANT to know is, "Who else is coming?" We'd prefer to use email to coordinate the rest.

All the details are RIGHT HERE-- location, what to bring, how we'll handle food, pix, pets, etc. If you need to know anything else, PLEASE EMAIL us: [e-mail] .

Hope you can come!

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: open mike
Date: 21 Jan 06 - 02:53 PM

have a good one..
I have ancestors in Pennsylvania..
Crawford county..
I am glad you are filling those endless
montains with music@!!

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Susan of DT
Date: 21 Jan 06 - 02:56 PM

Dick and I will try to make it.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jan 06 - 04:14 PM

I hope you find something else which is easier on you both. I know about those big old rambling rentals and how much it takes to maintain them! Kinda sad to know it's the last, though. Good luck.

kat

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Jan 06 - 04:21 PM

Well, we can't keep pouring retirement bucks into someone else's hole in the ground just because we love cluster flies and road dust so much, you know what I mean? :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Jan 06 - 04:26 PM

Where else will Hardi get those Guzla lessons?
Giok

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 22 Jan 06 - 02:06 PM

Susan, I'm intending to get there for the occasion, providing that I can slide it around that big 117 lb bully I married.

I need to do some figuring and budget it out, for the sales presentation to her. I'll let you know fairly shortly, but I think so.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jan 06 - 02:07 PM

Oh, just tell her we love her, that ought to do it!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 23 Jan 06 - 09:17 AM

Susan, wish we could be there, (you haven't put the mileage or driving time from the UK):-)

Just had to say I went on the link from here and heard my favorite song again. Brought it all back.

Y'all have a wonderful time.

whb

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Janie
Date: 23 Jan 06 - 10:31 AM

Rats! I had really hoped to make it, Susan, but it just ain't gonna work out.

Janie

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 23 Jan 06 - 11:13 AM

what's the date again?

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 06 - 12:40 PM

All the details are RIGHT HERE.

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 23 Jan 06 - 12:43 PM

yes - but some of us can't *GET THERE*. For example - I live behind a content filter that blocks all yahoo groups, all MSN groups, all personal pages. etc.

I suspect there are others that have the same problem.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Jan 06 - 02:37 PM

Watch your email. Anyone else with that problem, please email me at the address above.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Burke
Date: 23 Jan 06 - 05:39 PM

No can make it, my neice is getting married that weekend.

Have fun.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 08:38 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 10:07 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 10:27 AM

(yes, I saw it...)...thinking

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 10:47 AM

(talk to Rita, THEN think)

Hi Bill!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 06:06 PM

(it's automatic...talking to Rita always requires thinking afterwards!)

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 06:38 PM

:~)

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 07:26 PM

Well, now that Firecat has so kindly sent me my very own official personalized Mudcat badge as part of last Christmas' Secret Santa pressie, I guess I'll just have to go to a Mudcat Gather so I can wear it! :^)

Besides, Susan, you've been inviting me to your place for quite some time now. It's high time I took you up on it, seeing as this roundup will be the last one at the place!

So I'll leave lots of food and water out for my kitty (and possibly an extra litter box), and I'll plan to go upstate!

Any other 'Catters from the Philadelphia PA area going? If so, is carpooling a possibility? If so, what's the number-of-instruments-per-person limit???

Sharon

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 07:37 PM

Sharon,

TOO COOL!

Instruments, no limit. We'll kick someone out of a bed to make room for the cases! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 08:00 PM

Hmmm, if it's too cool, I'd better bring extra sweaters and long undies. :^D

OK, glad to hear there's room up there for plenty of instruments. However, depending on carpool arrangements, I may not be able to bring the whole arsenal of cases with me. The acoustic bass, especially, takes up a lot of space!

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 08:41 PM

Oh but we MUST have the bass, especially if you will grace our Sat. nite service with it. We'll do some black gospel if we have a bass, and I can growl the vocal!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 08:48 PM

Well, okay, then, if you have a bass amp and a cord to plug into the instrument, neither of which I own at the moment.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 09:20 PM

You betchum!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 12:31 PM

All righty then. The carpooler with the biggest car gets to carry us all plus the bass! (Note: this is NOT an upright bass; it's an acoustic bass, held and played in the same position as an electric bass, but bigger. Mine has a jumbo body and extra-long neck -- I'm having difficulty finding a gig bag to hold it! It's a bit awkward for this 5'3" lady to play, but it gets the job done.)

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: growler
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 04:10 PM

Got the wrong WYSIWYG, Love to come, but when I got to Falmouth my car started filling up

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 04:12 PM

*grin* would that be Falmouth, Maine, or Falmouth Massachusetts? Or some other Falmouth?

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 04:18 PM

Growler, LOL!

I warned Don about confusion over the similar name awhile back-- hope he doesn't get TOO many houseguests next month, and that, if he does, they bring food! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Feb 06 - 07:16 PM

Hooray! My circumstances for that weekend have unexpectedly changed, and I intend to be there, w/banjo and guitar.

I don't suppose that at this late date you still have any room for me in the house, Susan. Right? I will have my sleeping bag, and a tent if that seems good weatherwise.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Feb 06 - 07:27 PM

Of course I do, Dave, and somehow I KNEW you would be here. (Dave had PMed me he would be unable to come.) No tent needed.

Coming alone? (Bring a friend!)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Peace
Date: 13 Feb 06 - 07:34 PM

Susan,

I will never make one of them anywhere, anytime. However, it would have been a blast to get to one of yours. I hope it is a great success and that you keep a million treasured memories from it.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 13 Feb 06 - 08:31 PM

Susan:

No, I'll be all by my lonesome. Dorris has a piano competition she's engaged to judge, but she's graciously allowed me to get away that weekend.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Feb 06 - 08:51 PM

OK, Dave, come ahead!

Peace, I wish you could come, too.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Feb 06 - 03:43 PM

If Brucie were coming, I'd HAVE to make time to be there! :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 06 - 04:27 PM

I would hope you would feel that way about the rest of us, Michelle, especially those who are coming a long way hoping to see YOU.

:~)

So I'm putting you down for being here for at least part of the time!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Feb 06 - 08:55 PM

Awww...well you know how it is! Brucie's my bud...he gives me lots of teaching help behind the scenes...so yeah...he holds an extra special spot!

Michelle

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 06 - 09:04 PM

OK, we "chopped liver" folks will just await your pleasure with bated breath. :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: LilyFestre
Date: 14 Feb 06 - 10:05 PM

Susan,

   Having shared these last few exchanges with my husband, he said, "Tell her not to wait. We aren't coming."

Michelle

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: LilyFestre
Date: 15 Feb 06 - 06:06 AM

There seems to be some implication here that I don't find anyone else worth my time to go to this event other than Brucie. That simply isn't true. I've met some lovely people at Susan's house during these events and I was KIDDING. Currently I am student teaching and am completely swamped with projects and lesson plans. I'm observed frequently and sometimes unannounced. I like to be ready..REALLY READY for the children I work with. Because I am new to this, it takes lots of time to plan things out so I have complete confidence that things will go as planned. Based on my workload, I have let it be known that I am not sure if I can go to this event or not. My absence or presence would have had nothing to do with who was or wasn't there. I was kidding with Brucie and he took it that way. I'm sorry if anyone else read something differently into it.

The gatherings at Susan's can be lots of fun with lots of great people. I'm sure a memorable time will be had by all.

Michelle

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 15 Feb 06 - 08:25 AM

Michelle - will miss seeing both of you. Good luck with the teaching! and just maybe things will be slow enough you can pop in for a bit anyway.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 15 Feb 06 - 04:22 PM

Susan, my present plans have me arriving in Wellsboro noon or early-afternoonish on Friday, and leaving for Indianapolis Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, depending. (Some people are indecisive.)

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 06 - 08:20 PM

Sounds great, Uncle DaveO. Hardi's been away a few days and returned today to your news. He's very pleased, too!

You'll find all the "what to bring" details in the link in my first post.


At this point, we're planning a Friday supper at a nearby diner to save wear and tear on the hostess, since as usual it's hard to say how many will be here and thus it's hard to know what to make or in what quantity. (When we head out, we'll leave word on the back door where to find us.)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Alba
Date: 15 Feb 06 - 08:31 PM

Wish I could be there too Susan:(
I know y'all will have a great time.

I won't be coming because Michelle isn't going...LOL..REALLY only kidding..although I do want to meet with her lovely self at some point hopefully too.

I look forward to meeting Y'all down the Music Road. All in it's own time I suspect *** BG***

Best Wishes to you Susan and all who make it to the Gathering.
Looking forward to hearing the stories and possibly seeing pics? afterwards.
Love and Blessings,
Jude

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 01:13 PM

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 12:45 PM

This decision just in: We're a definite probably. That means that we know life can always throw something at you at the last minute, but we're planning to come.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 01:04 PM

Looking forward to it, Bill and Rita!

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 01:13 PM

That's where I am at as well. A definate "maybe" - but I'm close enough I will be down *sometime* over the weekend even if I can't do the whole.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Susan of DT
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:57 PM

If I am reading this right, it sounds like:
    Rita and Bill
    Dave Oestereich
    Mmario
    Sharon A
    Me and Dick
    our hosts
Did I miss anyone?

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:21 PM

Still waiting for word from someone who came to our very first one and is trying to get to this one.

And if anyone knows how to contact MarkS please let him know about this Gathering-- he's been posting as Guest, MarkS, so I have not been able to get thru with a PM and I don't have his email.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:22 PM

PS, I'll be serving P-Vine's breakfast recipe so I wish she and Bobert would come!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 11:53 PM

Susan, I would surely love to come, but you made it the weekend before St. Pat's. I will leave NJ on March 9, and will be gigging straight through St. Pat's. Please know I am with you in spirit.

Mick

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 07:54 AM

Mick, you would not believe what we went through just trying to pick THIS date-- I wish you could be with us, too. If your travels take you past here that week at all, please feel free to break journey with us.

Also, Mmario, Hardi and I plan to visit Ithaca this Sunday afternoon to catch Seamus Kennedy at Bound for Glory. Company is welcome.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 04:47 PM

Y'all want to offer any guidance on when we might look for you to arrive? I mean, I do want to stop cleaning at some point and put some clothes on. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Mar 06 - 07:12 PM

I just sent email reminders to a dozen or so who have not replied yea or nay to their invitation as yet.

We do have room for several more comfortably-- or many more a bit less comfortably, either in the house or at the church.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Beer
Date: 03 Mar 06 - 07:56 PM

I seriously do appreciate the invite but it just is not possibly this time.
Adrien

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 12:12 PM

Dharmabum has written that he'll join us Saturday.

Room plans so far are Dick & Susan and Bill & Rita in the two bedrooms in the main house.

The rest of the already-confirmed folks will share the Dorm; I have one single left in the main house (near the loo) if there is a strong need to avoid using the Dorm, the Dorm stairs, and/or the pee bucket. There is a couch in the main house living room, as well as a couch in the colder room the cats will occupy-- both convenient to bathrooms.

NOTE: If you have a special need (food, environment), I need to know about it soon if I do not already know about it. I'm about to launch into cleaning; so if there are allergy concerns, tell me before I start whipping up the air, OK?

Friday's Dinner: A dearly-loved friend has passed, and we'll be heavily involved with his funeral all day on Thursday, the day before arrivals. That's usually the day I get the Friday crockkpots going. So, depending on when people arrive, and what y'all bring, we may do Friday's dinner out at one of our local diners if that's OK.

Really looking forward to seeing you all. Still a few RSVP's out, and still room for more. A bed or two left in the Dorm, still, and lots of floor/couch/recliner space, too.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 12:15 PM

So that's:

Rita and Bill (Friday arrival)
Dave Oesterreich (Friday arrival)
Sharon A (Friday arrival???)
Susan and Dick (Friday arrival?)
Mmario (Daytripping due to family constraints)
Dharmabum (Saturday arrival, maybe daytripping)
WYS & Hardiman (Hosts)
A few local musicians dropping in and out

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 07:07 PM

Here's what I know (or suspect) about food, for anyone who wonders what else to bring:

Rita & Bill: 2 or 3 big bags of pre-cut salad stuff, some bananas, tangerines, apples or whatever, and something to contribute to a breakfast, plus one main dish cooked or ready to cook for suppers.

Dick & Susan: Big pot of paella; maybe egg rolls

WYS & Hardi: P-Vine's amazing egg gravy and/or crockpot oatmeal for breakfasts; pre-cooked chicken and Italian sausage for sandwiches, and my Greek stewed tomatoes (wine, cinnamon, mmmm!) for lunches; coffee, tea, milk, drinking water.... have olive oil and wine vinegar for salad dressings.... I have almost a gallon of maple syrup if anyone wants to bring vanilla ice cream or an uniced cake to serve with it.

Dharmabum: I know he's bringing "some grub," probably one of his mom's great Hungarian casseroles.

Mmario: Leo has supplied most of the missing items from past Gatherings, dear man that he is. I told him this time to just COME and RELAX.


I'm setting up an ingenious iced countertop area to keep buffet items fresh. Hardi put the new gas bottle on the grill today, too.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 07:15 PM

.... and a big Ziploc bag full of cooked chicken drumsticks if anyone wants to bring BBQ sauce to make 'em zippy for snacks....

... and the end of a cooked ham we can thinslice for sandwiches and/or cube for the snack bar...

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 08:21 PM

quote "yum" unquote...

all sounds fine. We hope to get an early start, but one which dodges rush hour around here. If Charlie Baum, our local biological AAA map, is correct, that should get us there in mid-afternoon.

Maybe I'll tune 2 autoharps for the occasion....

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 08:33 PM

Bill, there's been some new construction on 15 and new exits in the last year, so I will PM you my version of directions.

Or you could just bring Charlie!

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 08:39 PM

... and the large metal prison trays will be freshly washed and set out.... :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 09:27 PM

To gauge your progress on the trip-- we're an hour past Williamsport. Don't worry when you get up north of W'port and face the bleak wilderness. There are valleys you can't see from there, with little towns-- it's not really as deserted as it will very suddenly look.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 09:51 PM

Don't worry...I'm from Kansas. You haven't lived until you've taken one of the minor roads thru the Flint Hills...you'd swear there couldn't BE that much grass and rocks with no one doing anything.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Dharmabum
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 07:42 AM

For those of you making this trip for the first time,you're about to see some of the prettiest country on the planet.
Well,ok,I'm a little biased seeing as I've got a place in the next county over. But it is durn easy on the eyes!

Susan;I'm not sure what I'm bringing for food yet.
I'll have to check my snares Saturday morning.
Mayby we'll git lucky 'n git us some racoon 'r possum!

DB.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 09:03 AM

:~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 09:09 AM

life has happened - I most likely will *NOT* be present - but would much much much rather be with you guys.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 09:16 AM

just FYI - nothing bad has happenned to me personally - just I am living in "intersting times" as far as family health and living situations; the "circumstances beyond my control" type stuff that is gonna prohibit wandering for a bit.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 09:39 AM

My heart is on its way up there, Leo. Snag it if it's a bit off aim, OK?

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: PoppaGator
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 01:30 PM

I mean, I do want to stop cleaning at some point and put some clothes on. :~)

So Susan ~ you're one of those weirdos who do all their housework nekkid? :^)

Seriously, though: I'm sorry to learn that this will be the final such gathering, and that I won't be able to attend. If I were still in involuntary exile in New Jersey, I might be able to make the trip, but we're back home in New Orleans ~ well, not quite "back home" in our own house, but back in town in temporary quarters ~ and we're plenty busy putting our lives back together.

The number of Mudcatters I've met in person remains stalled at a paltry three: Jed Marum, Ernest (from Berlin) and Bobert. Sooner or later, I'd sure like to show up somewhere where a bunch of y'all are getting together. Oh well, maybe someday...

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 01:56 PM

Well, PG, other folks do host Gatherings. You could host one in NOLA and I bet people would come in droves.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 01:58 PM

yep, PoppaGator...Mudcatters in 'live' groups are even more fun than in cyberspace! Eating & drinking and making music seem to win out over strange debates.....(mostly *grin*).

   I know I speak for many when I say the we hope your life after Katrina takes good paths! As far as I know, the infamous Getaway will go on into the forseealbe future, and you'd be at home there in 5 minutes flat! Here's hoping......

Mario...durn! What more can I say? I know you try to get to worthy events when you can. Sure hope those bumps in the road level out soon!

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 02:40 PM

Today is CHECK ROOMS day.

I have now personally climbed all the various stairs you guestfolk will have to climb, stretched out on your beds, peed in your buckets (how do you do that HTML strikeout thing), and confirmed that YES there are beds and pillows there, YES there are bedlinens and towels located conveniently for anyone whose sleeping bag has not fit in the trunk because of excessive GAS on board, YES there are clocks in the rooms (some of them set to the correct time and working), for those silly enough to watch the time, and YES there are warm rugs to step out of bed onto.

YES! there is a place for each person to sleep, pee, and shower if you care to! Oy, reading lamps even!

I also used this inspection tour to prioritize what's worth cleaning and what I can skip to reallocate time better spent on other matters of urgent ministry-- and I have a PLAN for it all that I am NOT rushing into! Let's just say that when Hardi vacuums and dusts, it's good enough for me, and I hope it will be good enough for you! :~) I'll do the bathrooms-- because you don't want Hardi doing those, trust me, even if he don't clean nekkid OR in his collar!

Anyway, I've been told the food facilities and comfy picking chairs are MUCH more important. :~)

And now, I have to start emptying out the beer fridge. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 02:51 PM

I will vouch for almost all the beds and both couches that they are comfortable sleeping locations. If you sleep - *grin*

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 03:14 PM

burrrrp!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 03:16 PM

ain't it considered more friendly, like, to fill UP the beer fridge?

(yas, yas, yas...I know better than to trust blind luck and other's taste for the important items) I can sleep on a counter, but I won't drink Budweiser!

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 03:22 PM

BYO beer is the approach, dear Bill. I'm just getting it ready. :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 03:26 PM

I also log off the puder when people arrive so guestfolk can find their own PMs instead of mine-- so if anyone wants me for anything during the Gathering, please plan on using the email addy in the opening post, not PMs.

....rrrrrrrpppppppppp...........

And Bill, you may NOT sleep on the counter-- unless you want us to decorate your navel-- because it WILL be the buffet. :~) :~) :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 04:35 PM

I'm afraid to ask what the appetizer would be... :~) :~) :~) :~) :~) :~) :~) :~) :~)

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 04:38 PM

Oh, I dunno-- isn't an appetizer usually something SMALL.... [spewing beer on keyboard]

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 04:39 PM

O my GOD-- I just realized this looks to be our first MudGather with no children present!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 04:49 PM

Then I can sing ********* *** ****** and **** ** ***?

appetizer...shrimp-like...sure. *sigh*

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 04:55 PM

I dunno Bill, I can only go by what you tell me.

There are yearling calves in the CREEK outside my window! Perky ones, jumping around, could be anywhere next!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Janie
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 08:23 PM

Susan, looks like a great gathering is shaping up. Wish I could have come.

All y'all have fun!

Janie

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 08:34 PM

Not too late....

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 08:45 PM

them yearlings is tender...open the kitchen door and see where they jump. If your description of the landlord is accurate, he can't count or keep track of 'em anyhow.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 09:35 PM

Naw, we're good neighbors. I sent 'em on home. YOU ketch yoseff one when you're here, that's fine...

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 10:04 AM

WEATHER UPDATE

The thaw is on up here now for real, and so the name I gave this Gathering ("MudBuds") is as accurate as I could have hoped. We'll also have showers over the next several days to further contribute to the pungent rural reality of manure-spread fields warming in the spring.

Short version-- leave your good shoes at home, it's gonna be messy footing 'tween car and door.

The nights and early mornings will still be quite cold. Best bring snuggly layers to put on.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 12:59 PM

Gee, I hope the new toidy seats I just bought will fit-- the ancient bowls, not the ageless guests, LOL!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 07:46 AM

I'm not ready I'm not ready I'm not ready

And we're planting our friend John today, in the pouring rain.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 08:04 AM

SUSAN! Breathe! Relax! Much as I would like to be there do not *make* me come down....(if you know what I mean...)

With the gang you've got coming everything will happen FINE! Believe me.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 10:24 AM

We'll all be JUST fine...we've even called House Beautiful and told 'em not to send photographers. The meetin', eatin' and singin' will all happen ...and you can do a lot of jest settin' and decompressing.We'll sing one for John, if you'd like.

Cain't do nothin' about the rain, but mebbe it's better than no rain, and we promise to wipe our feet...

(Whole lot o' packin' goin on...)

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 03:05 PM

I sure didn't mean I don't want you all to come-- I do, very much. But Bill, I'd like you to take charge of something for me if you would be so kind. If it really is too messy, would YOU suggest we move over to the too-clean church?

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 03:23 PM

yes'm...if it gets over ankle deep in the parlor, and the cat barfs in the sock drawer,(old family joke) we'll have to consider it....maybe...let em vote, it's the Murrican way.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 03:46 PM

So..... [it's starting to sink in a bit] let me see if I have this right--

I DON't have to put the Christmas tree away and I can just set it back on the dresser I took it off of a few weeks ago (it's sitting in a chair)????

But the dead mouse the cats left on the rug-- THAT I should pitch.

Have I got it right? Will we plug in the tree then? It revolves and twinkles, and everything.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 03:49 PM

OR we could all go yell ourselves silly at a hockey game Friday night!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 05:27 PM

What does the mouse do when you plug it in?

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 05:31 PM

I am quite silly enough without hockey, thank you!(Unless we could take those mousies and toss 'em on the ice and see anyone shoots one)

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 05:33 PM

:~)

It only has one prong, so unfortunately I am unable to test to see for myself, Dick (it seems incompatible with US wiring).

It might make a good effects unit, though, for my electric autoharp. Plug size just about right.

We can play Treasure Hunt to see if anyone can find where I pitched it. It should be warm enough overnight to give someone a head start.

Clean a little, sit to post a little, clean a little, sit to post....

You should all be relieved to know that Hardi got the new toidy seats installed last night.... they were so affordable I'm calling them the "cheap seats."

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 05:35 PM

Those are for the Peons, right?

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 05:45 PM

No, Bill; to qualify as "peon" one would need to lift the seat and dribble on the edge of the porcelain so it can dry into those cheaply attractive permanetized crystals.

Clearly a job for a man. :~)


BTW, I just discovered it's truly remarkable how clean the other side of a rug is, when you flip it over.

I sure hope I'll be able to recall, next week, where I put everything when I so carefully put it "away." I guess I could try to plan another Gathering to unpack it all, but then I'd be a liar.

Wow, I see I DID use the italics HTML in that last post! Hardi's out getting stromboli-- that ought to stabilze me and if not we have a whole gallon of Paisano sitting on the counter! Bill, I don't think it'll fit in your navel, I'm sorry to say.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 06:19 PM

My navel's Scottish, anyway...it likes Scotch....Rita would know better about Paisano...

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 06:23 PM

Oh, we have Scotch, too, I believe, if I can recall where we hid THAT. Might join you on one of those.

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 07:33 PM

I might bring some even....

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: SharonA
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 07:41 PM

Carnsarn it, I'm afraid I have to stay around these parts this weekend. As MMario says, life has happened. I've got a band rehearsal Friday (and we need the rehearsal since one member has been away for a month, and we've got spring and summer performances coming up!). Then I've got a live radio-show gig first thing Monday morning, for which I have to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed so as not to mess up the songs I'm harmonizing on and not make my good friend the lead singer (who is the featured songwriter) angry.

So I really can't afford to tucker myself out driving 6 hours upstate on Saturday, jamming Saturday afternoon and evening and night, and driving 6 hours back on Sunday. I was hoping to make it a longer weekend without obligations to rush back to, but that didn't happen. I was hoping that some other Mudcatters from the Philly area would be going and that I could carpool (and nap in the car) but that hasn't materialized. I know, I sound like a wimp, but it's only because I am! I have some health problems I have to be mindful of (lupus, sarcoidosis, colitis) -- my immune system hates me -- so I have to avoid getting stressed and fatigued in order to avoid flare-ups. And, for me, travel equals stress plus fatigue!

I'm very sorry I won't be there. I'll be thinking of you all, and hoping Susan and Hardi will change their minds and have another MudGather sometime in the future. Have fun this weekend!

Sharon

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 08:19 PM

Sorry to hear it, Sharon, and thanks for letting us know.

I nominate Sharon to organize the NEXT one! :~) IMO these would work better if one person organized and someone else hosted. There's plenty of work on both ends to go around, and they seem to need different personalities-- oh wait, I HAVE two of those.....

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 08:45 PM

I'll be damned-- we're going to be ready. Hardi is coming on strong with the dusting and vacuuming and I have decluttered as much as I care to, so that he can dust. I have only easy jobs for the AM.

We're going to chill with hockey on the radio and putter around a bit while we listen, but the scary stuff is done or nearly done.

Thanks for posting me through it, Bill.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 08:49 PM

sounds good...hope you take it easy tomorrow. We'll see you sometime in the afternoon, exact time depending on whether we navigate Harrisburg & Williamsport successfully...☺

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 09:25 PM

There's a really crappy, long stretch of 15 where it's retail, retail, retail (and traffic) south of Williamsport. There are plenty pf priune shops, though, if you need a break from the road.

Past W'port it's controlled-access. Watch the speed limit-- at the foot of one hill is a 55 MPH section and they DO ticket in there.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 09:28 PM

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D - PM
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 07:33 PM

I might bring some even....

Missed that one till now. If you have any Drambuie lurking in a corner, can you bring that too?

I have no mixers, BTW, but we can always go forth and seek. I'll need ice, anyhow.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Ferrara
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 10:08 PM

Sharon: And, for me, travel equals stress plus fatigue! Me too! I understand all-too-well why you aren't able to make a 6 hour drive, play hard, drive home and still handle a rehearsal on Friday and a radio show Monday morning. So sorry we won't meet you, though.

Susan, I'm looking forward to seeing the Christmas tree in all its glory, unless you got into over-achiever mode and actually put it away....

Well Bill has already gone to bed but I am still bouncing off walls, nice to see there's someone on this thread I can talk to. Having said that, I'm going to turn off the 'puter and go to bed. See you tomorrow!

Rita

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 10:11 PM

Yup, tree is up. Its a LEETLE tree but it should work when we plug it in. It's in front of a mirror so it's better than a disco ball.

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Ferrara
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 10:15 PM

Aaaaahhhh. Thank you.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 10:49 PM

'Night!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 09:02 AM

We've had JUST enough rain overnight for Faulkner to bring in sufficient mud on his paws to coat the floor evenly. The perfect host!

Right now it's sunny, windy, and chirpy with the birds that arrived a few days ago-- robins and mourning doves. The late-migrating geese may even still be on the pond, waiting for Dharmabum.

The wandering cattle were next door again yesterday in the remains of the cornfield, but not so close that I busted them. The corn held them off the road.... Farmer Landlord says they'll stay put better when the creek up his way finishes melting-- they're crossing on the ice where the creek usually forms a natural fence.

I say, give 'em bobwahr!

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 09:23 AM

Have a great time.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 09:28 AM

We won't forget to sing one for you, PF.

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Susan of DT
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 11:18 AM

leaving shortly

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 12:50 PM

We decided to be sure to try to quit cleaning by the time the farthest traveler starts out, and we just about made it. For the first time I can recall, I was out of the shower by the time the first arrival splashed into the drive-- Uncle DaveO is here!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 12:52 PM

... and I'm signing out of Mudcat now.

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 04:26 PM

Have fun you folks! Susan, thanks for the *visit* and the "hello" from Rita, Bill, Uncle Dave et al!

kat

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: GUEST,WYS
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 04:44 PM

You have my laugh, Kat-- not fair!

:~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 05:01 PM

Someone told me a long time ago, we had some similarities.:-)

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: GUEST,Bill D
Date: 10 Mar 06 - 06:21 PM

it's not quite dark yet, and we've had 12-14 songs already...a good omen! 2 babnjos, 3 or 4 guitars, 2 autoharps, a zither, a fiddle, assorted whistles, kazoos and nose flutes...

(The dog is mercifly in a hidey-hole back yonder...*grin*)

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: GUEST,WYS
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 07:01 AM

Slackers ain't up yet-- heeheeheeheeeeeee.....! I can go let the air out of all their tires....

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 09:57 AM

babnjos?
Or was someone into the Communion wine?
Update please.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: GUEST,Bill D
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 01:18 PM

(traditional instrument of dyslexic Rastafrarians....played with the elbows...only allowed on days witn no 'R' in them)

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 02:24 PM

And I'll mercifly away.

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 05:41 PM

This is about the tenth time I've opened the thread this afternoon to try to say what it was like. All I can come up with at the moment is that I'm gobsmacked beyond my wildest dreams, and there's a hole in my heart not because the guests left, but because Mmario wasn't among them this time.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 06:19 PM

You mean he hasn't left yet?

;-)

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 07:04 PM

I'm sorry if my attempt at humor was misplaced, given Mmario's serious reasons for not attending. :-(

Would have been a good set-up for the joke otherwise.

I'm glad you all had a wonderful gathering; I'll go back to lurking.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 07:51 PM

LOST AND FOUND:

So far, a pair of petite ladies' socks with pink toes and heels. Floating in the dog's water bowl, under my autoharp stand.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 07:59 PM

I do hope Mario's wearing issues ease soon...I sure wish he could have been there.

We are home and still smiling at the good times and great company....

Uncle Dave is about halfway by now. (wow, he knows a lot of songs!)

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Ferrara
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 09:23 PM

And (of course) those are my socks.... I wanted to give Faulkner something to remember me by....

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 09:59 PM

:~)

I sure hope people do like someone suggested, and post the recipes for those great main dishes.

Dick's Paella
Bill's Chicken
Dick's Egg Rolls
Dharambum's Mom's Apple F'n Pie

That corn/jalpeno bread Dave brought was pretty good too-- I wonder if we could find the recipe for THAT. !Caramba!

BTW the dishwasher is running now, the kitchen is back in order, and we've been sitting around talking during the hockey game, about what great chemistry there was for this Gathering and how we wish we all lived closer.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 11:04 PM

Good people. Good singing. Good weekend. Good drive home. God's in Her heaven--all's well with the world. At least right now.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 02:56 PM

UNCLE DAVE-O--

The item you were asking me about is labeled as the "Presto Bread Slicing Guide." I Googled that and found that it's sometimes sold on its own and sometimes sold with an electric knife. I found a lot of results when I Googled on that product name, and a lot of them in Ebay listings. Not sure how current the listings were, and at the Presto website I didn't see it at all-- just pressure cookers, etc. Much discussed/reviewed on breadmakers' sites/lists.

Hope you find one!

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Ferrara
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 03:23 PM

Well I said I'd try to list some of the songs we sang. There were a LOT and as usual I slept through a lot more -- four hours of the singing on Friday night for starters! But ... right now my mind is almost blank. I can just list a few songs, for now. Maybe I'll get my memory back if I take a nap or something.

Susan Friedman sang (that I remember right now)
Mill o' Tifty's Annie
Lady Jane (Susan, I can't remember the full title.)
Love for Love (that's not the title Susan uses though.) It's one of my favorites of the songs she does.

Dharmabum sang two songs he wrote. They're both real winners. One is about the price of gasoline and the other about the Great Super Bowl Booby Prize.

WYSIWYG sang two gospel songs that I slept through. One was Working on a Building and the other wasn't. The word was that they were great. Bill and I also heard WYSIWYG & Greg rehearsing for a Saturday evening service. One of the songs was Jerry Rassmussen's Fields of Clover. What a beautiful song. The church is lovely. I sat in a chapel in the back and listened to their music. Wow. Great acoustics and Susan's voice and her autoharp playing both sounded "heavenly."

Dick Greenhaus & Uncle Dave O each have huge repertoires and we heard an awful lot of music from them over the weekend. What a privilege IMO. Right now the only title I can remember is Greenhaus singing "Four Prominent Bastards." Great song.

Bill sang "Towser Jenkins," "Mrs. Revoon," "The Twa Corbies" (which was better than I've ever heard him sing it), "Noah," much more.

I played a bunch of nice schmaltzy songs on the zither which made for some good jamming and nice swelling choruses. WYSIWYG has an autoharp stand that made a good zither stand. Bill was just thrilled -- another carpentry project, and another piece of furniture for our crowded house, are in the offing because a zither stand is now high on my list. I sang some ballads, I remember "Sheath & Knife" and Sheila Kaye Adams' version of "The Cruel Mother."

I can't remember the titles of Uncle Dave O's songs even though I remember a lot of the songs. Brain dead I guess. Somebody help here. I have some recorded so will listen later & add to the list. Oh, yes, I do remember one he wrote that has a very traditional feel and is a great song, I guess it's called "The Box the Cherry Came In." You can see how my mind works and which songs I remember, huh?

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Susan of DT
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 06:09 PM

Uncle Dave did a LOT or songs.

Dick sang, among other songs:
Westport
Aunt Clara
Four Prominent Bastards, as previously mentioned
Precious Lord
Raging Canal
lots of others

Bill sang the Twa Corbies, Mrs. Ravoon, etc.

I sang:
False Lover Won Back/Bonnie Love (Child #218)
King's Daughter Lady Jean (Child #52)
Mill o' Tifty's Annie (Child #233)
Grey Silkie (Child #113)
King Henry (Child #32)
Unquiet Grave (Child #78)
Devil and the Feathery Wife

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 06:40 PM

The second gospel song Rita mentions above was "How I Got Over."

Hardi and I played (and he sang) "Built for Comfort."

Hardi played a number of fiddle tunes including "Midnight on the Water" and "Ookpik Waltz," and "Ashokan Farewell."

At church, in addition to Jerry Rasmussen's "Fields of Clover," we did.... uh.... can't recall just now.

I led the group in an unaccompanied closing song based on a spiritual, "I'm Packin' Up."   

Rita played and sang a number of wonderful pieces (somebody tickle her silly for calling the zither pieces schmaltzy please), including ballads and one really wonderful song in both English and Italian.

I can't recall Bill's entries by title, except for Bold Fisherman (twinky-doodle-dum). A lot of gospel, a Utah Phillips item, and so many more I just can't even get started on titles.

I believe one of Dharmabum's two was titled "Gasoline Blues."

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 07:32 PM

One of Hardi's songs was "King Bee," and I'm pretty sure one of the fiddle tunes was "Farewell to Whiskey."

One of Uncle DaveO's songs was one he called the "Starbucks Song"-- I believe the actual title is "She'd Rather Make Coffee Than Love." Others included:

The German Musicaner
I Had a Wife
Bird in a Gilded Cage
Some Little Bug
Three Jolly Rogues of Lynn
Sing Anything

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Dharmabum
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 09:51 PM

Although my visit was all too brief,I had a great time with all.
It was nice meeting Dave O, Bill & Rita & seeing Dick & Susan again.
And as always,A great big thank you to Greg & Susan for hosting.
Yer the greatest!

The songs I did were;
"Gasoline Blues"
The other one was never really given a name.
Ive been referring to it as either "Thanks for the Mammeries" which was the caption on an old cartoon in a playboy magazine.
Or"The Itty Bitty Titty Ditty".
I'm open for suggestions.

And last but not least,I need to thank everyone for saving me a piece of that apple pie!
I'm working on getting that recipe to you Rita.

DB.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 11:11 PM

Ron, you can just post the recipe right here.

Song title-- my vote is, "The Itty Bitty Titty Ditty."

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Hardiman the Fiddler
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 11:28 PM

Wow! What a great time we all had. There were so many songs and tunes, I can hardly remember them all. Some of the others that I did were

Road to Lisdoonvarna
John Ryan's Polka
Dennis Murphy's Polka
Over the Waterfall
Colored Aristocrasy

Even though the weekends are busy for me (and this one especially so) I had a wonderful time--and we all had a wonderful time. Thanks one and all!

Greg

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 08:47 AM

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

*pout*

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 10:43 AM

Honey, we did Angelina Baker, too. I hammered the a'harp.

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 11:09 AM

LOST AND FOUND PART TWO

More evidence there have been Mudcatters in my house! Uncle DaveO, PM me your snail address and I'll return your 3 versions of Big Rock Candy Mountain and a 2-pager about having the right tool for the job (oh my!).

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 11:25 AM

weird...I had a post just disappear!
trying to recreate it.

other songs I managed were, "Noah", "The Master's Bouquet", "It's Allright Now, but It Mighta Been Worse" (not sure of the title on the old LP), "Molly Brannigan" (after the Richard Dyer-Bennet version), and "The Housewive's Lament"


I'll sit down later and try to describe the process of creating/adapting that chicken 'recipe' on the fly.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 12:40 PM

Well, I'm pretty late getting into this post-Mudgather discussion.

I got back to Indianapolis yesterday at 4:45 (having been held up by the necessity of a nap at a rest stop along the way). Then my Beautiful wife had SOME claim on my time last evening, and I'm just catching up on my computerism.

The weekend was FAR better than I'd dreamed. And in the company of such great people, too! Simpatico squared! I was so pleased to meet and put a face to the names I've known, it seems, forever. And boy, we ate GOOD! (I know, I know, that's not grammatical, but it communicates the sentiment better than "We ate well.") My compliments to the chefs!

Such a wonderful parade of songs. I hope I cause no-one jealousy by saying that I single out Rita's rendition of "Sheath and Knife". As I told several people, it gave me chills up and down my spine. That's not hyperbole, either; it's literal.

SOME of the songs I sang were:
The Lonely Willow Tree
The Swapping Song
Hobo Bill
Eggs and Marrowbone
The Grey Mare
Blow the Man Down
Sweet Little Window
So Long, It's Been Good to Know Ya
Three Jolly Rogues of Lynn
Ratcatcher's Daughter
Peggy Bawn (no aprons thrown over her in this song; it's another song entirely)
Beans, Bacon & Gravy
Billy the Kid
John Thurman
Bird in a Gilded Cage
Zebra Dun
Great American Bum
Frozen Logger
Hi Ro Jerum
Sing Anything
Wanna Get to Heaven
The Nightingale
The Undertaker
Kansas Boys
and on and on and on. Just when I thought I'd run out, someone would sing one that brought another to mind. And of course as soon as I drove away I started thinking of songs that I wished I'd sung.

Susan, I don't need the printouts of those songs. Keep or throw them; makes me no nevermind.

Wow, what a weekend!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 12:50 PM

OK-- I'll use them as Attic Dorm decor.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 01:10 PM

Funny thing-- when the company goes home there's a lingering effect that is sometimes very strange. For instance, I just got up from my recliner and grabbed the bowl my brekky had been in, to take it out to the kitchen.

Spontaneously, my mind supplied the start of this song:

"Gathering dishes for the dishwasher's tray" to the tune, of course, for "Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet."

Scary! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 01:23 PM

LOL...the mind will have its way! I suspect that's how many great songs get started. I have to be VERY careful when I do that in Rita's hearing, as she will get 'hung' on it and grump at me.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Ferrara
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 01:50 PM

The thing is, we did that when I was growing up. My mom and dad frequently turned situations into song fragments. So when Bill starts one, I automatically start writing more lines to it and it turns into a mind virus until he sings something else silly (fortunately I don't usually have to wait very long).

BTW the very best person we ever knew for writing ad hoc songs is Tom McHenry of the Boarding Party (Padre). He not only was lightning fast at coming up with them, they were good!

Thanks for the song lists. I know they barely skim the surface. There was a LOT of music!

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Ferrara
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 01:51 PM

Some of the zither songs I sang were

Rose of Allendale
When You and I Were Young, Maggie
Faded Coat of Blue
Tenting Tonight

Also sang Molly Bender, an Appalachian version of Molly Vaughan/Polly Bawn.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 11:19 AM

I wrote a lovely long post yesterday full of reflections and appreciations-- and the power went out while I was editing it just before hitting SUBMIT. I can't seem to make my mind go back there, today.

TODAY I am noticing that there has been a lot of personal after-Gathering communication with participants-- much of it on a closer level than we'd had before the Gathering. This seems to have occurred after each one.

There is so much more that occurred that can't really be described here-- such as the enormous impact on us all, each in our own ways, when Hardi was called out late Saturday evening for a deeply tragic hospital call. I can SAY that happened, but the impact on each of us was mostly silent, wordless, and experienced on the inside.

I can SAY that Bill and I *met*-- but the flavor and content of it are beyond words, if it's anyone's business anyhow. (hi ßill!) I can SAY that Dave is a non-stop entertainer, but I could say that about anyone and it would not capture Dave himself. I can SAY that Susan of DT is a fount of ballads, but that doesn't convey how moved I am when she sings. I can SAY that Dick is a wonderful man among men, but the interplay between him and Hardi is far more complex. I can SAY that Dharmabum lit us up with his guitar playing, but to know how much that meant to me you'd have to know why he's a "found brother." I can SAY that Rita's heart led the Gathering, and if you know her I suppose you might know what I mean, but the way she fit herself to us and was still so much herself... you had to BE there.

And that is true of any Mudcat encounter, I guess-- you have to BE THERE. It's worth the advance planning to travel, and the time to recover in the days afterwards, to discover or rediscover what any given Mudcatter is, and what Mudcat itself is. It's not the threads. It's not the PMs. It's the live connection those textual efforts reflect as well as they can.

A Gathering is to the threads like a symphony is to a busy mechanic's garage.

That's how it was for me.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 11:35 AM

LOST AND FOUND

One travel pillow in an attractively striped pillowcase, in the attic dorm.

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: MMario
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 11:44 AM

we have *got* to get you to a Getaway.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 12:14 PM

{big secret: I've never actually enjoyed groups of that size, dear friend. I find a dozen too many/too much. I'm just too empathic to coast along that much input. Yes I know I can take the group in small subgroups-- but I would need a week of processing in between each encounter.}

I'll come when it makes sense for me, but don't cry for me, Argentina!

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 04:25 PM

What I did to the chicken:

so....you take some chicken. (I use boneless breasts when I can get them cheap...like ½ price, but it's just a bit more work to use other parts)

I cut chicken into relatively small chunks, like bite sized, but I 'spose it would work on flat, un-cut boneless breasts. I just think the flavors get distributed better on little chunks, and it's easier for individuals to choose portion sizes.

Anyway, I searched Susan's spice supplies, and found some missing items, as well as some items I don't usually have..(including a bunch of Asian/Indian spices)....I set out a selection, and made some guesses about how much would be needed for 6 large boneless breasts.

I ended up with **about** ¾ tsp of mint, ½ tsp of thyme, ¾ tsp of White pepper, ½ tsp of black pepper, ¾-1 tsp of Paprika, about ¼ tsp of garlic powder, ¾ tsp of parsley , a 'little' salt, and perhaps ¾ tsp of Asian "5 spice mixture...("Ingredients- 'Spice'" ....it smelled ummm...spicy).

[insert- my USUAL spices include rosemary..(I like Rosemary a lot), Mrs. Dash's 'non-offensive' semi-bland mixtures, and don't include mint, white pepper, and Asian spices)

Now, two pans, because I also added some (what WAS in the bottle, Susan?) a tangy Asian condiment sauce to the larger batch). Put 'some' oil in pans and start it heating. (depends on amount of chicken, but this is not a deep-frying recipe, just enough to brown and moisten chicken)

Dump enough flour in a bowl to coat the chicken...Dump spices into flour and mix a bit...dump chicken in bowl, or bag...whatever. Shake or stir spicy flour till chicken is covered.

Layer chicken chunks in pans...(I usually try to have all pieces on bottom of pan, so I don't have to remember which ones have REALLY been browned)..turn and poke until all have begun to brown, but don't try to finish cooking them, or even worry about it...because now it's time to add some Apple juice! (and I 'have' used some other juices...peach, pear..etc, Apple is just easier to find, cheaper usually, and has a flavor that 'plays well with others')...so...stir in apple juice until you have about ¼" of juice in between pieces, more won't hurt, but less might. I did 3 pans full of chicken, 2 lg, 1 sml, with a pint of juice.

Let the juice bubble a minute, then IF you add more flavor, like I did with the bottle of tangy asian sauce, add it now, stir it in, then reduce heat from 7ish to 3ish, cover the pan(s) and let it simmer. The goal, for me, is to have a sort of coating-gravy, but not runny juice. So, simmer more or less time, add a bit more juice..etc...to suit....uncover pans briefly, if necessary. This all takes less time to do than to type...simmering is usually only 5-8 minutes.

Now you have gooey, flavored chicken chunks....they 'can' be eaten as they are, but my usual choice is over rice, and that is why I strive for 'almost' gravy to drizzle over the rice...personal choices on 'gravyness' determined by amount of juice and simmering time.


Yes, there are 5-6 places in all that where YOU could adjust the idea..size of pieces, crisper chicken, type of juice, spices...(see above)...but if you try it, give this a shot..15 years now, and I've about got it!

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 04:37 PM

The Asian sauce is a sweet chili sauce from the oriental store, looks to have tiny bits of fruit and peppers in it with a pale golden fruity sort of goo. It's thin enough to pour but thick enough to stick.

I'll look at the label later to see if I'm right. This one was the one they market for poultry and seafood, and there are two more in increasingly dark goo that are for pork and beef. From the oriental grocery, not on regular store shelves.

~S~

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 06:50 PM

Susan, just this morning I realized that I couldn't remember packing up the pillow, nor unpacking when I got home.

Neither the pillow (which is a disposable) nor the pillowcase (which is old) is worth bothering to mail. Just keep or throw, whichever suits your mood.

Thanx again for your hospitality.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 08:37 PM

OK-- BTW, you get the prize for the longest travel time!

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 08:59 PM

Our Thai chilli sauce which Bill used in his chicken dish was Maeploy brand sweet chilli sauce for seafood from Theppadungporn Coconut Co. Ltd. (Really!)

Love the photography of the products-- the bottles actually glow!

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Ferrara
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 01:11 AM

BTW Bill was using about 3-4 pounds of boneless chicken, I think.

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: SharonA
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 08:54 PM

Echoing MMario's cry: Waaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!

...but then again, it sounds like people who gather at these Gathers are expected (or, at least, encouraged) to cook something. In that case, all attendees should be cheering over the fact that I was not there so that they did not have to taste my cooking. Even I don't want to taste my cooking.

But I'm very sorry to have missed the fun, the music, the meeting of new friends, and the sound of the mourning doves. :^(

As for Susan's thought that I should organize the next Gather... wish I could, but I don't have internet access at home, so I would have trouble monitoring MudGather threads and email messages, especially the last-minute ones. However, I did notice that Susan at least mentioned a possible future Gather, so I have hope that I might still be able to get up there and meet all you fine folks at long last.

Take care,
Sharon

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Mar 06 - 09:25 PM

Nah, Sharon, if you host or organize (it can betwo people), you don't have to cook!

:~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: SharonA
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 04:42 PM

Whew! What a relief!

Subject: RE: RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 05:20 PM

Although I DO cook (and my Beautiful Wife says "spectacularly", but I would never be so arrogant as to claim that, myself), I didn't cook this time. Instead, I brought some snacks, but more significantly, a loaf of jalapeno corn bread from my favorite bread-baker store in Indianapolis. Wonderful stuff!

Dave Oesterreich