Sitting At The Kitchen Table

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 May 06 - 02:51 PM

I have a story to tell. And as the song says, there was a blessing "on the other side of through."

When we bought this house five years ago, that first Fall I wanted to turn off the outside faucets so the pipes wouldn't freeze in the winter. When this house was built, 50 odd (very odd) years ago, they finished the basement by building a second interior wall with about a 12-14 inch space between it and the foundation. It gave a nice finished look to the basement, but all the pipes are between the two walls. When I finally realized that the shut-off valves for the water were between the two walls, and I had to squeeze through a rough-cut panel that had been cut out for access, I started getting real nervous. When I removed the panel, the shut-off vale for the main water was about five feet in from the opening. It looked like the shut-offs for the outside lines were back there, too. My wife was upstairs, so I squeezed myself in between the wall studs and managed to get back to the shut-off valves. After I was back in there and could see better with a flashlight, I realized that the valves were all for lines in the bathroom, so I started to come back out. About half way out, I got thoroughly stuck between the outer wall and one of the studs. And visions of the Canterbury Ghost, walled in to die a miserable death came flooding through my mind. So, I sucked in my stomach (the best I could) and kept trying to squeeze a watermelon through a key hole.
The more I got wedged in, the more I panicked. Finally, with a great effort, I dislodged myself and crawled out into the light. I was really shaking with fear. And then I realized that I hadn't turned the lines to the bathroom sink back on. The thought of going back in there really freaked me out, and then I got an idea. I went in the garage and got my saber saw, drew a profile of my belly (just like Alfred Hitchcock used to fit into the line drawing on the tee vee program) and cut out a profile of my stomach. After I'd done that, I was able to squeeze back in relatively easily and shut off the valves. It was still a tight fit, but I was never in doubt that I could get back out.

That's the first blessing on the other side of through... and the other side of the washing machine. I'll tell you the second blessing on a separate screen.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 May 06 - 02:59 PM

Blessing number 2:

This afternoon, there was a knock on the door and it was a young man from the water company. They are replacing all of the meters in town, and we were next on his list. I brought him downstairs and after moving a few things, showed him where the cut-out in the wall was. He shined (shone) his flashlight back between the walls and let out an audible "gulp." The meter was back where I got stuck. And I would have needed a chain saw to cut out a profile of HIS stomach. But, thank God I had cut the notch out. Even then, he knew he couldn't work back in there, even if he could squeeze his way back between the walls. And then he noticed the the medicine cabinet in the bathroom was cut out very close to the meter. So, we went into the bathroom and with a lot of tugging and cutting out caulking, I was able to remove the medicine cabinet. The meter was close enough so that he could get at one side of it, but the other side, he'd have to crawl back between the walls. I offerred to do it for him (I've lost 30 pounds and I could get between the walls now without the cutout profile. But, he was able to squeeze between the cut out stud and the wall and reach the pipe he had to disconnect. Blessing number 2. When he was putting the new meter in, he needed me to go between the walls and hold one side of the meter. With my new semi-svelte shape, it was a piece of cake. I felt thoroughly vindicated. I must admit, I went in and out from behind the wall mores times that I probably needed to, but I just wanted to show the wall who is boss in this house!

When the guy went out to his truck after the job, I went out to check the mail and I could hear him telling his boss what a nightmare the job was. I told him he'd be telling his grandchildren about this job.

Maybe that's blessing number 3 on the other side of through..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 04 May 06 - 06:58 PM

Huh! That's quite a tale. a bit like something out of "A Prairie Home Companion."

I awoke the other day to a racket that sounded like John Henry was going at the side of my house with a sledgehammer. It was a guy putting in a new gas meter. It must be a national contagion. Spring, and a young man's fancy turns to meter replacement.

Hey, JerryElmer, a while back on this thread you wrote, and I quote, "You know I wrote a song about how my Father met my Mother, reffering to him by name..."

Any chance you going share those lyrics with us?

Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 May 06 - 08:50 PM

Hey, Elmer:

The song is Alfred. One summer night when I was home visiting my family and we were all sitting in lawn chairs, my Mother started kidding around about her old beau, Alfred. I had never heard his name mentioned before so I asked more about him. My Dad (Elmer) seemed a little uncomfortable about the whole thing, but Mom plunged ahead. When my Mother was a young woman, she was in nurses training at the local hospital. At that time, she was going out with Alfred. It was only after I had written and recorded the song that my Mom 'fessed up and admitted that she was engaged to him. Alfred was a classmate in high school with my Mother, in a very small town with less than 20 students in the senior class. He was the Captain of the basketball team. (I wonder if they even had enough boys to have a football team.) Anyway, my Father ('course he wasn't my Dad back then) came to the hospital to visit a friend of his and we he saw my Mother, he was very attracted to her and asked her out for a date. He wanted to take her to the vaudeville show, and a couple of the other girls in nurses training were going to be in the show, so my Mom agreed to go. When Alfred showed up at the hospital that evening, the nurses let the cat out of the bag.

To make the story more complicated, my Mother and Alfred's classmate Velma had a crush on Alfred, but Alfred wasn't interested in her. Alfred also had a sister, who ended up marying my Mother's brother, Walt (I had never even heard of his first mariage as Uncle Walt's first wife died before I was born and he remarried.) There were many revelations that evening, sitting in those lawn chairs.

And here is the song:

Alfred told my Mom that he would be her one and only
But she'd have to be his one and only, too
And if he ever caught her going out again with Elmer
That their courting days would sure be through

CHORUS:

'Cause Alfred loved my Mom, but she was crazy 'bout my Dad
'Course he wasn't my Dad back then
And Alfred hardly noticed that Velma existed
Though she thought he was the living end

Elmer bought some tickets for a night at the Apollo
So that they could see the vaudeville show
And even thought she knew that she was bound to catch the Devil
Still my Mom decided she would go

After work that night when Alfred came around to callo
They told him that my Mom was at the show
And when he found she'd gone with Elmer Alfred blew his top
Just to think that she would dissapoint him so

Alfred told my Uncle Walt who married Alfred's sister Edna
That the day my Mom and Dad were wed
He took a train to Appleton, or maybe it was Fondulac
Because it made him feel so bad

After Mom and Dad were married, Alfred finally noticed Velma
And he came around to call
And when he finally got areound to asking Velma for her hand
She thought the wait was worth it all

A double happy ending..

The song is on my album Handful Of songs, which I've finally had remastered, and will have ready to release in the next couple of weeks.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 04 May 06 - 09:14 PM

Haw! I'm chortling into my coffee. (Uh-oh! It's starting to dribble out my nose.) That's just great. Thanks for taking the time to post the lyrics. I like the line about "He took a train to Appleton, or maybe it was Fondulac," just in case the listener isn't getting boggled enough following the story.

Kindly make a big, virtual noise when you release Handful of Songs.

Elmer (sputtering java down his shirt)

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 05 May 06 - 05:37 PM

Da kitchen iz now open for bizzness! Mudcat seems to be either Catatonic or Catalyptic these days. Maybe just as well... I haven't had much time to spend in here the last couple of days, it being Spring and all. I just thought I'd put something in here to keep the thread from disappearing off the bottom of the screen..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:51 PM

Hi Jerry,

I meant to say--a while ago--that's it's no mystery why you're in the middle of some of the best music going--you and your groups are making some of the best music going.

Between Mudcat hairballs and my own schedule--rehearsals Tuesday and Wednesday--and again tomorrow--I haven't been able to even bring this thread up for a while.

Your plumbing adventures are very impressive--I'm not sure I could have emulated you.



One of the things on my list now is to collect "Normanisms"--things our conductor has said over the years--to be printed in a book we're going to give him at our next concert--which is a combination 40th anniversary of the group/ Norman's 70th birthday.   I've written a lot of them down in my music. For instance a bass line that wasn't very clear he called "a real wine-cellar special"--as if we'd visited a wine-cellar before we sang it. He had a lot of good comments like that--as you know, they really liven up a rehearsal.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 May 06 - 07:09 AM

Hi, Ron:

I know busy. But at least I'm retired, so I can take breaks pretty much when I want to, most days.

When I scan the BS section of Mudcat these days, I think the prefix should be changed to "Oh, Yeah!" And the them song should be The Storms Are On The Ocean. The BS section seems to go through the vortex pretty regularly. There used to be more periods of calm between storms than there seem to be, now. It's more like reading the news headlines: 8 killed in terrorist bombing, Iran lvows to destroy Israel, riots sweep Paris, etc. That is part of reality, but not all of it. Even on my worst days, I see many examples of generosity and quiet commitment to trying to help other people. For some reason, there are people who believe that "reality" is all the ugly stuff, and the beautiful things we see around us and in each other are just "wishful thinking." Or that we're out chasing butterflies in a field. Reality is the whole deal. It's not just the meanness, the destructiveness and the selfishness. It's the kindness and generosity, too.

Today we're practicing up here at the house. That's a hardship for Joe and Frankie, but they're happy to do it. Frankie will be 80 in a few days, and he still works seven days a week, running his pavement company. He'll be up early this morning and working hard, right up to the time that Joe picks him up. Joe has a stressful day, as most of his days are, but he's sacrificing to make the time to come up here. It's an hour's drive to get here... one I'll make, going down to Frankie's this Tuesday night. Joe and Frankie are very "real." They aren't out chasing butterflies in a field. They have committed themsleves to something that they believe in, and they'll honor that commitment if they can crawl. Frankie came directly from the Emergency room to a concert once (for which we weren't getting paid.)

If we sound good, it's not from wishful thinking...

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:02 AM

Hey Jerry, what's this harsh anti-lepidopterist line you're taking? We lepidopterists are just about ready to come up and picket your house. We (our cats, anyway) have no choice--we have to chase butterflies. And that's where we find them--in a field. And just think of all the aerobic exercise we get chasing them. It's no wonder that in a scientific survey, 58% of doctors found butterfly chasers to be much less likely than folk musicians to be overweight, and in better condition in general. Of course Jan and I are now trying to plant milkweed, also known as "butterfly bush"--to attract butterflies (specifically monarchs). But if we do, we won't be chasing them anymore--they'll come to us. So maybe, in the interest of our own health, we should rethink this.

(Sorry--I'm in a whimsical mood--I actually know what you're talking about--and I applaud you--and anybody else who makes music.)

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:06 AM

And when we get together, we'll have to see if we can get Bill D too--he does a great job on "The Storms Are On The Ocean".

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:12 AM

Hey, Ron: The chasing butterflies in the field (while singing, la,la,la,la,la) is how a certain member of the Cat characterizes my positive attitude toward life.

I know about you butterfly chasers... catch the little buggers and then drive a pin through their abdomen and while they're making their silent screams, you mount them on a board. :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: freda underhill
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:44 AM

I haven't found any butterflies here in Carinthia (down south in Austria) Jerry and Ron, but this morning I went for a long walk with my daughter. we wandered along by a river, past rows of trees blossoming with pink blossoms, with ducks resting under the trees and looking across to the Alps,

I think I like the idea of chasing butterflies!

freda

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 May 06 - 11:44 AM

What you have to look out for are butterflies that chase you. They might be rabid.

And I have other plans for Bill D, Ron. I wabt to do Working On A BillDing with him,

Sounds beautiful, freda..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 May 06 - 01:57 PM

Not guilty, Jerry--I swear I haven't done that to a butterfly since about age 8. And yes, I caught the reference. But consider the source. Or perhaps ignore the source--when the source only draws from the sewer, it's not likely anything of value will result.



Anyway, how's the weather up there. For some reason, we're getting a real spring this year--not segueing from very early spring directly into summer the 3rd week of April, as sometimes happens.

And it's wonderful. We had our rehearsal today on the National Cathedral grounds. They were having their big flower mart. And I stayed outside til the last possible moment--too bad the rehearsal wasn't outside.

Jan is at the 4th birthday party of a neighbor she has taken care of--and still does from time to time. Then we go to an azalea party cum sing. One of our hard-working cats is lying on the chair next to me; another is asleep in a cardboard box she's decided she likes. They seem to have no interest in this gorgeous day--go figger.

Here's hoping the Mudcat doesn't have more hairballs for a while.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 May 06 - 01:58 PM

Jerry, your speaking of the kindness and generosity reminds me of the bemusement and mindboggled reaction I so frequently feel these days.

Since the church and community hall (where I work part time) last month, I am simultaneously utterly amazed and admiring of humankind - and proud to be one.

There are contributions coming from all over the country, along with heartfelt and heartwarming reminiscences of past history.

I don't remember- did I tell you about the tiny local church that donated its entire own building fund ($7000) to the Restoration Fund?

There are also many, many donations from individuals of $200, $400, even $1000. And some of $25, which may be even more money, coming from them, than the larger amounts.

I'm not a member of this church - or a member of any church, truth be told - but I'm looking forward to payback time. I think all of us that are involved have become more generous these last 6 weeks.

Sure! I'll have another cup. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:22 PM

Hi, Ebbie:

Before I joined the Bpatist church where I'm a member now, I was a member of a Lutheran church with a Scandinavian history. When they celebrated their 100th Anniversary, they decided to donate $100,000 to other needy organizations. One of the things that we bought was a bus so that family members of people in prison who were too poor to afford the transportation to visit could go to see their family members. I know that meant a lot for Mothers or Fathers in prison
to be able to see their children. Another bus was bought for transporting the handicapped who were served by a very financially limited service organization. I thought it was beautiful that the chose to celebrate by helping those so sorely in need. I was proud to be a member of the church. It's a good reminder that the villification of churches in here, and other places speaks to only a small part of the true story.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 07 May 06 - 01:06 PM

It's true--churches have done a lot of good over the course of history--and continue to do so. It's too easy to dwell on the Inquisition and religious wars in general--and Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson's idiocies these days---and ignore the other side. I suspect that a lot of people who talk only about the abuses of Christianity would not assume that all Moslems are in the mold of Osama. The double standard is pretty blatant.

And I don't consider myself religious in the least--and hardly ever attend church.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 08 May 06 - 09:40 AM

My, my, my! Heaven's to Betsy! (I wonder what means?) All's not well in Mudville. That makes it especially pleasureable to pop in here once a day to see what's going on.

This morning, I got an e-mail with my performer's application for NOMAD. It was very refreshing to receive it. NOMAD is one of my favorite festivals. It's also a good nudge to find out whether they would approve of a Church and Street Harmonies workshop with the Gospel Messengers and The Sentinels (the a capella Doo Wop group I've recently come to know.) It sure would be fun. Too bad NOMAD is the same weekend as the Getaway, or we coujld maybe have Ron and Jimmyt up here to join in.

Gotta go water the lawn..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 08 May 06 - 10:07 AM

Hi Jerry...watering the lawn? Here in eastern England, the driest part of the UK, it has rained non stop for three days! Oh to be in England now that spring is here? The blessing side is the trees are all in blossem, the clematis is in bloom , a beautiful pale lavender, the wisteria that Billy brought back from New Jersey has buds of flowers for the second time in 7 years.We have a wren and Robin nesting in the shed and I have heard the cookoo.
Next weeek we are cottage sitting while our daughter and son in law holiday in Malta, they live on the bank of the Orwell river in the middle of a vineyard, very peaceful and lovely walks by the river.so I am looking forward to a quiet few days and catching up on reading some good books.
Loved your story about the plumbing and your escape.
Helping myself to more coffee thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 08 May 06 - 10:52 AM

Hey Mrs. billybob:

How come no one ever wrote a song, When It's Springtime In New Jersy? For those who only know New Jersey through the Jersey Turnpike, that might sound ridiculous. But, New Jersey IS the Garden State, and it's aptly named. We have mockingbirds nesting in our shrubs again, along with Cardinal, Blue Jays and Robins. This is a beautiful time of year... probably my favorite.

I was thinking of Freda when she dropped by the other day, and while we're welcoming the Spring, it's Fall Down Under. That's always hard to remember. But then, one of my sons and his wife paid for Ruth and I to visit them in Florida in February, and we drove two hours through the worst ice storm I've seen in years to get to the airport in Hartford, here in Connecticut, and arrive in Fort Lauderdal with the temperature in the 70's. My greatest culture shock was in the 60's when I spent a summer on a floating iceberg in the Arctic Ocean, 800 miles NORTH of Alaska. At the end of the summer, when the runway was frozen enough for planes to land, I was picked up, brought back to Point Barrow, Alaska, and then flew back to New York City. I went from below freezing weather with 24 hours of sunlight on an iceberg to the subways of New York City in early September. But, it was a memorable summer... not many people have stared a Polar Bear in the eye, in the wild with nothing around you but ice.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 May 06 - 11:47 AM

I have a friend who spent a work season at the opposite end of the globe, Jerry, as a construction worker. The two of you should meet.

One of the sadder facets of encroaching old age, in my experience, is that some things you never got around to doing are just not available any more. For instance I can't tell you how many places I've driven through or spent a brief time in that I told myself that I was coming back someday to spend a year there - and never did.

Many other things.

It is also true that I got to do some pleasurable, serendipitous things that veered me into another direction, so it does even out.

Watering the lawn here would be just bizarre. We've had a VERY wet April and so far this month. That wouldn't be bad, except that the rain has been very cold.

This morning, however, at just before 8:00 the temperature is 40 degrees so maybe we'll get to 45 today.

The trees and bushes are just beginning to leaf out. No color yet but the leaves are beginning to unfurl. My office window overlooks a hillside that is bare but I'm looking forward to when it greens up.

And yesterday a friend told me that there were six bears feeding on roots and greens on a slide slope which is where the first bears of the spring can be found. Someone else told me once that he had seen six but the most I've seen at one time is three.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 08 May 06 - 12:58 PM

Yes, Ebbie: Some experiences seem limited to the young. The three months I spent on the Ice Island depended on youth, and that dumb youthful conviction of invulnerability. All the time that I was there, we were completely inaccesible to air support, as our runway was the surface of the iceberg, which was rife with potholes from melting, during the summer. If we had a medical problem, our "Doctor" was a botanist who fainted at the sight of blood. We had all the surgical equipment and were told that we could do emergency surgery, being walked through it by a Doctor on the mailand, 800 miles away. And yet during the time when we were first there, we'd lose radio contact with the plane as it left, before we lost sight of it..

The summer after I was there, someone had appendicitis and died on the Island. There were also two plane crashes on the pack ice, over the years. But, when you're young, you don't give much thought to those things, and the staff who recruited us made very little mention of the danger involved. Even being out on the pack ice, where there were polar bears, without any weapon to defend yourself was stupid.

Ah, to be young and stupid again.

No thanks...

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 May 06 - 02:13 PM

Wow, Jerry. There are some places that OSHA doesn't reach, huh. On top of the isolation, you were also in surroundings and conditions that made frequent accidents almost inevitable.

My friend at the Antarctic says that it was an interesting experience and he was invited to come back but he says he doesn't think he ever would. He did save a nice chunk of change, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 09 May 06 - 03:59 AM

Hey there Jerry Elmer,

I can't sleep, so I thought I'd mosey over to your table instead of pacing. Got a big shock on Friday about a dear friend--an inoperable cancer diagnosis--and the news is keeping me awake. The lady is 85 years young and has had a grand life. She says she's ready to go and is downright cheerful about it. But me and the others who love her are going to be stuck living without her, and that's a very gloomy prospect.

--------------------

There IS a song about spring in New Jersey. Michael Feinstein sings it. It starts out:

"When it's apple blossom time in Orange, New Jersey,
We'll be a peach of a pair!"

Now there are some inspired lyrics...

---------------------

Ice Island, huh? It sounds like a description of when hell freezes over. However, in spite of the dangers, it probably was quite an adventure at the time.

--------------------

Okay, back to grovel before the sandman. Maybe he likes granola? I could make him a peanut butter sandwich. Guess it's time to go shopping...

Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 09 May 06 - 07:17 AM

Hey Elmer Jerry:

I like:

Everything is peaches down in Georgia
It's a peach of a clime, for a peach of a time
There's a preacher waiting down there for ya
He's just waiting to say, "Will you love and obey?"

Probably my favorite singer of all time (as if there is only one) is/was Clancy Hayes. I wonder if anyone else in here has even heard of him... think I'll start a two or three post thread.

Man, it's getting reallllll nasty in here! I left once when it got this bad a couple of years ago. It didn't occur to me at the time that all I really needed was this little corner and a kitchen table.

I've got all the stuff I need now to put together a "Huh?" CD. Except time. But that's coming, soon.

Yesterday, I made our airline reservations to fly out to Wisconsin for my Mother's 99th birthday. My youngest son lives 45 miles away, in northern Illinois and my other son, his wife and two kids are coming, so we can have a real family reunion.. I have two older sisters who live in the same town where my Mother lives Iand I was born,) and a gazillion other relatives, so we'll have a good time. May have to entrust the table to someone else while I'm gone.

A designated table Meister, or Meisteress.

Jerry Elmer Henry Hornsbuckle

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 May 06 - 10:40 AM

Just leave your door unlocked, Jerry, and we'll keep the seats warm. This is a wonderful home by the wayside.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 09 May 06 - 11:40 PM

Hey Jerry what's the rest of "Everything is peaches down in Georgia". Who did it? Never heard of it. Sound like from the '20's? Is that a good guess?

There are always new songs (to me)--that's one of the best things about Mudcat.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 May 06 - 08:19 AM

Now you know, Ron, music doesn't sound right reduced to squiggly black lines. So, I pulled out a CD of Bob Scobey that I put together of my favorites, and if this mouse will just move over here, Voila! there's a copy for you. It has Everything Is Peaches Down in Georgia on it. And many other favorites... Sailing Down To Chesapeake Bay.. Right now, I'm playing Peoria. "Why you can pick a morning Gloria, right off the sidewalks of Peoria." Ive spent some time in Peoria.. "Why did I ever roam with those sailor boys? I should have stayed at home in Illinois." It's great stuff to my ears. Maybe to yours, too.

It's a rainy day today, with many more forecast. That means rather than being able to work outside all day cleaning up, cutting, trimming and taking trips to the dump, I'm stuck down here in my office listening to great music and burning CDs for friends. Some guys have all the luck.

You know, Ron... I'm not picking on you by sending you stuff. I just haven't gotten Ebbie, Elmer and some others to PM their mailing adresses to me so I can pick on them, too.... hint, hint..

Had a great time yesterday morning. Ruth and I went to do a program/service at a nursing home where we did a program every month for about four years. It's been a coincidence that we haven't been there for four months... one month I was sick, one they had to cancel because there was too much sickness at the nursing home, and once because they were doing construction. It was very touching that the room was jammed with people. And so many of them went on and on about how much they missed us, and how happy there were that we came back. The Pastor of one of the churches we support gave a short message, and I did three songs. One of the nurses aides knew the old black gospel... young black woman and sang along on a couple, and then got very excited about the Messengers's concert coming up. She's bringing her husband and some other friends. I finished with a "new" song I wrote a year and half ago, but have never sung in front of anyone... even including Ruth. It just seemed to flow naturally from the message that Ken gave. It's a straight R & B vocal group sound... the first two lines and much of the melody come from one of my favorite recordings by the Penguins: Troubles Are Not At End. I really need the Penguins to back me... or maybe just you, Ron, Jimmy (we gotta find out what Elmer sings... and you know, Ebbie, the Platters had a woman singing with them..)

One a these days..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: freda underhill
Date: 10 May 06 - 10:44 AM

humming along here in the background Jerry - what a great post. I spent the day with my daughter, picnicing and lying in the sun, by a beautful Austrian lake, surrounded by mountains..

freda
(still enjoying the warmth of the kitchen..)

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 May 06 - 11:31 AM

Hey, freda: It must be getting a little nippy down there in Austrailyer. When does Fall start, for you?

When I'm away visiting me Mum in Wisconsin, I'll definitely leave a key under the front door mat in case anyone wants to drop by for a cuppa while we're gone.

One a these days, or years, we'll forgo the cyber-coffee and brew up a fresh pot in out kitchen, when folks make it up, down or over to Connecticut...

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: freda underhill
Date: 10 May 06 - 12:37 PM

that was an AUSTRIAN lake Jerry (spring here in the Northern hemisphere!) - yes, I hear it's getting nippy back home in Oz! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 May 06 - 10:51 PM

Had a wonderful night tonight, doing what I wanted to do.. no work, just pleasure. And what is more pleasurable than putting together CDs for my own listening enjoyment and to share with friends?

That's what I did most of the night. I just sat and listened to "Huh?" and thoroughly enjoyed it... it's a free-form flow of songs with each song suggesting the next. It starts out with the Promenade to Pictures At An Exhibition, segues naturally into Ape Man by the Kinks, and along the way includes Randy Newman, Carmen McRae, J.J. Cale, R.E.M. The Tractors, LeRoy Carr, the Chico Hamilton Quintet and the Lighthouse All-Stars. It may not be for the faint of heart and it's sure to include some tracks you won't like, but if you're feeling adventurous, PM me and I'll send you a copy.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 10 May 06 - 11:27 PM

Hi Jerry--

I love those songs--Peoria, Sailing Down to Chesapeake Bay, etc.   I've been meaning to learn Peoria for a long time--it has an amazing number of verses. And I have a part of Sailing Down To Chesapeake Bay on tape done by the Red Clay Ramblers--but not the whole thing. And I figure that being close to the Chesapeake Bay, I really should know that song.   It's so amazing to me how much we share in musical taste.

Of course in the case of Peoria I bet it has something to do with sharing an addiction to shameless puns.


Totally new topic: Jan is sitting here and says she's totally disgusted with all the US dentists she has seen. Does anybody in the US have a good dentist? We've tried 5 in the past 3 years-- and "they're all rubbish". She says she thought British dentists were bad--but they are actually better than "the tits over here". (Can she say "tits" at the kitchen table?) (Actually chickadees are very much like great tits in the UK). Jan hopes you all know about blue tits, great tits, cold tits and long-tail tits, (the last ones she used to get in her garden once a year--in January. About 1 to 3 January.) She is bringing to the table this evening her very sore mouth and a cup of hot peach tea.

Jimmy--we have a seriously dissatisfied customer of US dentistry here--can you offer any counsel?

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: KT
Date: 11 May 06 - 12:09 AM

Hi Gang! Is the kettle on? I've just returned from my gig at the outdoor restaurant and could use a cuppa hot! It's COLD out there! The calendar says mid-May, but that don't mean nuthin' 'round here! 'Specially this year! There was fresh snow on the mountains this morning!

Jerry, those songs you're talking about sound like they'd be great ones to add to my repertoire. I meet folks from all over the country (and world) all summer long. Some are even from Peoria!

I may just need to call you one o' these days and chat about your nursing home gig. I'm thinking of commiting to do the same on a more frequent basis.

I love this thread. I don't have time to read it (!) but I love knowing you're all there, enjoying each other's company over a hot cup.

KT

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 May 06 - 12:16 AM

KT--

It's so great to hear from you again. Please drop in and give us a couple of lines any time you have a spare minute. It doesn't have to take long--and it's wonderful to ( well, almost) hear your voice. Hope the music (and life in general) is going well.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 May 06 - 09:33 AM

He3y, KT! How nice that you dropped by. Ebbie was just talking about you, yesterday. Today is another rainy day and I've pulled out my 6 Bob Scobey, Clancy Hayes CDs and am looking forward to putting together a "favorite tracks" CD. When you mention songs about places, it occurs to me that Bob Scobey and Clancy did a lot of those kinds of songs... could do a whole CD just of those:

Here are some:

   St. Louis Blues
   Coney Island Washboard
   Beale Street Blues
   Sailing Down To Chesapeake Bay
   Wolverine Blues (about the Wolverine state, Michigan)
   Chicago
   Peoria
   Hindustan (Where we stopped to rest our mighty caravan)
   Memphis Blues
   When The Midnight Choo Choo Leaves For Alabam
   Mississippi Mud
   Parson, Kansas Blues
   Mobile

If you're interested, KT, I'd be glad to send you a copy of the CD I'm putting together... it won't have all of these songs on it, because there are so many other great songs that I want to include.

Long Gone, which I will put on as one of my favorites has the line "He's long gone from Bowling Green" and "The Guard forgot to close the Golden Gate."

I listened to the "Huh" CD I put together three times last night (and it's close to an hour long. Music soothes the Gentle Dane.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 11 May 06 - 11:33 AM

Hey Ron,

I happen to like my dentist very much. He loves his work, keeps up with the latest advances in the field, cares about his patients, and inevitably carries on a highly entertaining monologue while my mouth is full of instruments (dental--not musical). The last time I was in for a cleaning he talked nonstop about all the Grateful Dead concerts he attended while he was in dental school, and he described the antics of the Deadheads. I received a full education about the rituals of that particular subculture. What a hoot. All that and clean teeth too. Such a deal!

Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 May 06 - 11:47 AM

I have a great dentist, too, Elmer. And he's closer to Jan than yours. I kid my dentist that I am disappointed when I don't have any reason to come back and visit for a couple of months. There's even some truth to it. He has a great sense of humor, and I hit it off with him immediately. On top of that, his Dental Hygenist is one of the most delightful people I've met in a long time. Like my dentist, she has a good sense of humor, and all the people who work there are very positive and upbeat. We invited my Hygenist and her husband to come over for a Gospel Messengers practice, as they'd expressed a strong desire to hear us, and we had a terrific morning. My Hygenist (name being Gail) and my wife hit if off in a way that I've never seen in all the years I've known Ruth. Yesterday, Ruth and I had to run out on some errands and we swung by my dentist's office to drop off a couple of fliers for the Gospel Messengers concert coming up, and Ruth cane in, just to see Gail. What fun!

Dentists!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You Gotta Love 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 May 06 - 09:37 PM

Been listening to the Bob Scobey and Clancy Hayes CD I just put together... real nice stuff... a copy will be coming to you, Ron, and any others if they want one..

If you can share a love, why not share and share a "like?"

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: jimmyt
Date: 11 May 06 - 11:08 PM

Ron. I assume you are in Silver Spring/Takoma Park and I cannot help you in that exact location but I have a couple good friends who are excellent dentists in Frederick who I would recommend. Paul Gauthier and Dan Mc Keown. In the same office   BOth excellent dentists who are generally good guys to boot and if you call them mention my name and tell them that if they piss Jan off I will come up and kick their asses. About all I can do from this far away! I am sorry she has had a bad experience@! jimmyt

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 May 06 - 11:28 PM

Thanks, Jimmy. We're getting desperate "A lesser woman would have jumped off a bridge by now" she says.

She's always taken very good care of her teeth. But she's at the mercy of these people--and they can affect you so drastically. She says that in the UK people have even committed suicide over botched dental operations.

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 12 May 06 - 09:40 AM

Surely there must be a blues song concerning dentists?

There are plenty with lines about, "I went to see my doctor..." and the doctor tells the guy he's got the blues, or is in love, or needs jug band music to cure what ails him, or needs a mojo, or has a boy-child coming who's gonna be a sonavagun....

How about, "I went to see my dentist..."

"and he told me, son, you need a woman named Flossy," or "you got a brush with greatness comin'," or " you need to wash your mouth out with soap..."

Time for the first cup of coffee of the day ; > )

Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 12 May 06 - 10:02 AM

Good ones, Elmer:

How about,

"I went to see my dentist
'Cause I was feeling down in the mouth
He asked me why my baby left me
And all I could say was mumble, mumble, mumble"

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 12 May 06 - 12:37 PM

Just got a very moving e-mail from an old friend. Back in the 50's, he had a couple of regional rock-a-billy hits and answered the siren of musical fame. His "fame" burned out very quickly, but he kept playing, singing country music in bars... living the Merle Haggard life without the recognition or financial rewards. All those years of playing in bars left him with asthma, and now he has to be on a breathealotor (or whatever they're called) at times. He's moved back to him home town where his Mother and Father are in a nursing home, and he can't find work.. having a tag sale just to try to meet bills.

So, along with the other CDs I'm burning to send out to some of you folks, I'm putting together a package for him. He can't afford to pay for anything, but I love doing this kind of stuff, so we're a good combination. I have the blessings, he has the needs. Sometimes, just knowing that someone cares about you is the greatest gift of all.

And, I've got a batch of CDs ready to pass around the kitchen table, too..

Whoops... I think the mailman is coming..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 May 06 - 01:28 PM

"And all I could say was 'mumble, mumble, mumble.'

Good one!

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 13 May 06 - 12:14 AM

Got my baby a gold crown.
A root canal, and a brand new partial too;
I told her, "Ain't nothin' too good
For that sweet little smile you do."

Now she done run off with the dentist,
And I'm stuck here with the bills;
I'm gonna cry into the toothbrush glass
And then head out for the hills.

--Blind Lowdown Elmer Bicusp

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 13 May 06 - 02:50 AM

Got a bill from my dentist down by the San Francisco Bay,
And my HMO sez they ain't gonna pay.
I didn't mean to need a new bridge.
Heck, it costs more than my fridge!
I'll kiss my credit good-bye,
I'm gonna swear off pie,
This bill's enough to make a grown man cry.

Now my Visa's overdrawn and my accountant won't give me the time.
And my mouth hurts so bad I think I'm gonna lose my mind.
When the lidocaine wears off for good,
You'll hear my sobs all over the 'hood
'Cause I got the acci-dental blues down by the San Francisco Bay.

Uh, it's after my bedtime. Nighty-night.

Lockjaw Elmore

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 May 06 - 07:51 AM

You're on a roll, Elmer: I just hope that it's sugar-free.

Jerry Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: jimmyt
Date: 13 May 06 - 09:10 AM

YOu folks are all on a roll, albiet at my expense! grin

Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: jimmyt
Date: 13 May 06 - 09:11 AM

FIVE HUNDRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!