RSVP Here for WYSIWYG's Last MudGather

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?