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Sitting At The Kitchen Table
Related thread:
BS: Kitchen Table Reducks (19)
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 12 Aug 07 - 08:01 PM I just eliminated the spammer, Charley. Ruth and I were watching State Fair, so it slipped by me for a few minutes. Not to worry. One of us will catch them when they rear their cholesterol-loaded head. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Charley Noble Date: 12 Aug 07 - 07:53 PM Jerry- Looks like the spammers have tracked this thread down again, but congratulations on having your BS thread elevated above the line. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: GUEST,Carly Date: 12 Aug 07 - 06:21 PM Jerry, don't forget a woman and her tools! I just became the new owner of an old flax spinning wheel; because I am a spinner (though not a spinster!) I am happy to say that it is in good working order, and even has its distaff, which is usually the first part to break or go missing. I will be putting it to good use. Our summer has been busy. Serious illnesses and surgeries have been the lot of too many of our family membere and friends, but almost everyone is doing well, or at least better, now. We did leave town long enough for a lovely week at Pinewoods Folk Music Week, immersing ourselves in music, friendship, and two ponds! It is nice to stop by at the kitchen table; I hope everyone is well. Speaking of tables, if any of you make it to our house, I invite you to sit at our dining room table, recently given to me by an old and dear friend, who raised her family around its broad walnut surface. My dining table up to now could only fit eight (very friendly) people, while my "new" table will accomodate twelve! That fact, and the love with which it was offered to me, has made it a very special piece of furniture. Carly |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 12 Aug 07 - 06:19 AM Yeah, Patty.. windjammer would work too, as long as the jerk ended up in the slammer. Come to think of it, the model of my electric Hamer Guitar that I play with my gospel quartet is a Slammer, so I'd have to use something else. The sentiment is right, though. We've got our tools securely attached to our tool belts now, so spammers are going to have a short life on this thread. What is happeir than a man and his tools? Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: pattyClink Date: 11 Aug 07 - 10:00 PM windjammer! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 11 Aug 07 - 12:30 PM Shhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't tell the Spammers that we're hiding up here in the music section. We could make this a music thread by writing a song: "He was a Spammer from Alabammer" What's a good rhyme for Alabammer? How about Slammer? Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ron Davies Date: 11 Aug 07 - 12:09 AM Looks like purging impurities, to say the least, is necessary again. I'll contact Joe. I just wanted to thank you, Jerry, for the heads up about the "greeting card". Jan does in fact get e-greetings from her friend of 30 years in the UK, and from other friends and relatives--but we never open a "greeting card" from somebody we don't know. Looks like that's a prudent approach. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 10 Aug 07 - 11:41 AM You're right about car deals, Donuel. But, Ruth and I are heading off to South America early in September and that'll more than take care of our discretionary spending. Besides, the car we have is running fine, so we don't feel any pressure to replace it immediately. Thanks for the suggestion, though. While I'm at it, I got an e-mail this morning which I forwarded to Mudcatters whose e-mail address I have, and Ron Davies suggested that it was worth mentioning around the table. There is a news mega-virus circulating now that will permananetly wipe out a section of your hard drive if you open it. If you get an e-mail saying that you have a greeting card waiting for you to open, DON'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! delete it immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Turns out, Ron had just received such a notice in his e-mail but didn't open it, thank God. Don't want to lose no table friends.. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Donuel Date: 10 Aug 07 - 10:20 AM Jerry, often the best deals on cars is at the end of the year. Is spring even better? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 09 Aug 07 - 11:38 AM Hey, rehab: If you click on the Quick Links box at the top of the screen, and then click Member Photos & Info, and then click Locator when the screen opens, you can see which Mudcat members are from Maine. A PM with your request for information should help you out. I'm from down here in Connectciut (and haven't camped out in 40 years) so I'm of no help. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: GUEST,rehab11 Date: 09 Aug 07 - 11:22 AM Is anyone at the table from or near OOB maine USA need info on cheap camping or motel/hotel Have not been in 11 yrs need info on folk and blues bars also can not sit in Sohos all the time if Armand is still open... Boston info good too.... RI and New Mexico Do not know how far I am going. Hi to Emma, Montreal is diff you know we are the city of Fests and poutine, not true Canada.... Francofolie Fest. Hope you had fun at you fest with Sev... deedee |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: billybob Date: 09 Aug 07 - 11:01 AM Hi Jerry, that Gin and Tonic was just what I needed,or what the Doctor ordered funnily enough, our Doctor told my father to have a G & T every night for cramp in the legs, he does not drink gin but has a glass of tonic every night.Yes we have tonic water in the UK and G &T is a favourite summer drink when we have hot weather, the other is Pimms which is a gin based drink which we dilute with lemonade and add a slice of apple, cucumber, a few leaves of mint and lots of ice. Wendy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Col K Date: 06 Aug 07 - 05:16 PM So sorry to hear of Corries illness, please pass on my love and good wishes to Joe and to the other Messengers as well. I hope that you and Ruth have a wonderful time on holiday, I will be thinking of you. Peace be with you Col |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 05 Aug 07 - 08:03 PM How great to see you, Col! Blessings and misfortunes have befallen us and our friends, the Messengers since the last time that we saw you. Joe's wife, Corrie has Alzheimers and is instituionalized now. It almost killed Joe. Literally. But, the hardest part is over now that she is being taken care of. Life is much the same for us as everyone else. Heartaches and headaches are part of the package deal. So are the blessings. These days, I am performing alone... doing folk and gospel, and blending them all together. They are all a part of who I am, so it feels perfectly natural to do a southern mountain banjo tune, followed by a black gospel or blues song on electric guitar. I've never been an appreciator of boundaries... musical or in friendships. Ruth and I are fine. We'll be heading off for a 17 day tour of South America in early September. As soon as we get back, we're going to a jazz luncheon, and I'll be doing a concert of gospel by myself. Then it's preparing for NOMAD. I'm doing a lot of writing these days... songs and other stuff... some of which I've put on the Writer's Corner thread. We look forward to your next trip over. You know where out kitchen table is. Ruth sends her love. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Col K Date: 05 Aug 07 - 07:52 PM Hey Jerry, Is there room for me to join you in a coffee at the round table in the kitchen? Not visited for a while but hope I am still welcome. So much has been happening everywhere since I last visited, I hope you have all enjoyed good health, or if not that you have now recovered. Music is still in my life and I am glad of it, it can be of great comfort when times are bad or when times are stressful. Festivals come and go, some more stressful than others, but all of them create a wonderful feeling amongst those who go and make music and also provide great friendships(and sometimes good coffee) and also great fellowship, something that all of us need from time to time. Thanks for listening, see you again soon Colin |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 05 Aug 07 - 08:05 AM I've passed the halfway point on the final Harry Potter book. Anyone else reading the series? The book started out with a bang and then coasted along for 100 pages, but it's picking up steam, now. Today is a day of rest, so I know that I'll sprint through at least another hundred pages. I've been trying to get to the latest movie, but haven't, yet. Hopefully, we'll do it this week. My wife and I have a strong desire to keep each other happy, and whether or not we are interested in something ourselves, we're always happy to do something with the other person just to see how much they enjoy it. Ruth isn't at all interested in Harry Potter, The Lord Of The Rings, King Kong and the rest, but she's happy to go with me to see the movies. I'm equally happy to take her shopping (the bane of husbands,) and not only don't complain, but help her find what she's looking for: often when she can't find it. It's a wonderful way to live. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 04 Aug 07 - 09:24 AM Welcome, maeve: Be sure to come back. This thread has become what I hoped it would... a great place to stop by, where everyone is welcome, the conversation is good, and the coffee extraordinare. Beats Starbucks, any day. I only drink coffee from Starbucks at gunpoint. But, perfectly nice people seem to like it. I went for my early morning walk today and spotted a raspberry that the birds overlooked. I have black raspberries and they've large and sweet. The raspberry bushes along the road where I walk are red raspberries and even though the one I picked was very ripe, it had very little flavor. The birds can have them. Now, I'm keeping my eye on wild grapes that are not quite ripe. The house I owned many years ago was next to a woods, which was all tangled up with grap vines. And nary a grape. These grapes look good. I hope that they have more flavor than the red raspberries. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: maeve Date: 04 Aug 07 - 08:09 AM Such a pleasure to read this thread. maeve |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 03 Aug 07 - 11:47 AM Hey, Wendy: Will a cold glass of tonic work for you? Heavy on the ice cubes. I'd forgotten about tonic, and hadn't had a gin and tonic in many years. It used to be a favorite drink of mine during hot weather. I'm not much of a drinker (I kid that my beer cans get rusty in the refigerator) but I enjoyed gin and tonics (and used to make home-made wine, too.) Being older, and all of that, I've been bothered by muscle cramps in my calves at night. The Stampeding Calves Syndrome. I've been taking a natural muscle relaxant that works wonderfully, and the other day my doctor suggested that I have a glass of tonic water before bedtime, and that will have the same effect. It's the quinine that relaxes leg muscles. I bought a couple of bottles of tonic water yestrerday and because it's really hot here, I ended up finishing the first one off, long before bedtime. A gin and tonic, hold the gin. I had forgotten how refereshing ice-cold tonic water can be. Do they drink tonic water, over your way? I worked outside for about 20 minutes this morning, and feel like I just climbed Mount Everest with a piano strapped to my back. I know the perfect tonic for that. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: billybob Date: 03 Aug 07 - 08:02 AM Hi Jerry, a cold drink would be nice, at last we have hot weather in England after weeks of rain, summer is here.Looking out of the window it is lovely to see so many smiling faces, funny how we all cheer up if the sun shines.Living on the east coast we were lucky and did not get the dreadful floods that they had in the west of England but the rain kept the day trippers away, however the past 3 days have been very busy, the beach is packed with sun bathers and parking places are impossible to find.I am working on reception at the salon and we are very busy so a cool corner in the kitchen and an iced tea will be lovely! Wendy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Partridge Date: 03 Aug 07 - 05:45 AM He's back! What in Gods name does he think he will achieve by posting here. Anyway your previous posts make sense again jerry! Until the good clones do ther job. The sun is shining here at the moment, which makes a pleasant change from the continual rain we have had here in the UK. The sky looks like the opening credits of the Simpsons - blue sky with some fluffy white clouds. I should be job hunting but I think I will make the most of this weather and do something outside - life's too short Hope the sun is shining on you love pat xx |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 01 Aug 07 - 08:43 PM Man!, fastest delete button in the West. My last post won't make any sense unless you saw the advertisements that the Guest posted. I'm extremely impressed. Thanks Joe. Or one of your clones. Who says cloning is bad? Jerry
-Joe- |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 01 Aug 07 - 08:41 PM Hey, Joe: Please flush Guest lycreno. This is the kitchen, not the bathroom. How can people post that kind of stuff in here? Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 01 Aug 07 - 01:53 PM Hi, Pat: Glad your kitchen table is well-populated with friends. I'm glad you dropped by and joined ours. Don't be a stranger, now. This morning, my wfie and I went to pick up a gate for the fence we've been installing. The person in front of us paid by check, and there was a young girl at the register. For whatever reason, she couldn't process the check, so we stood there, waiting. She called someone and was on the phone for a couple of minutes, and tried something else and that didn't work. By now, the line was getting longer and the girl more flustered. She tried again, with no success, and she kept apologizing to us. I told her not to worry, "They also serve who stand and wait." Finally, just before checkout line rage erupted in the line, she got the register to accept the check. They also serve who sit at the kitchen table and wait. I don't think that's in the bible. But it's true. In my life, downtimes have been preparation times. Cosmic shift times. Same thing seems to happen when I'me beating my head against a wall trying to make something work that is broken, and isn't supposed to work. Yesterday when I took my walk, I passed the long stretch of black raspberry bushes that I've been checking up on. A couple of days earlier, the berries were nowhere near ripe enough to pick. Yesterday, they were all gone. They were ripe enough for birds. Just not humans. In the meantime, my bushes are producing enough berries for breakfast, and a pudding with fresh berries for desert after supper. The birds don't seem to have discovered them. sssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Partridge Date: 01 Aug 07 - 05:20 AM Just finished picking the last of my raspberries, earlier in the season I made some delish jam, but there are only enough for breakfast now. In a few weeks time the brambles will be ripe, and I will carry on the tradition of bramble jelly. I inherited the jelly sieve from my Dad. Time hangs heavy at the moment, I lost my job six weeks ago and the death of my best friend unexpectedly bowled me over. But life is for living and I try very hard to get on with it. Over the last ten years I have worked in offices, doing project work or admin. I'm taking the time to rethink. i don't think I'll work in an office again - not sure what i will do. It's good to sit back and appreciate all the positive things in my life, the kitchen table of my life is populated with many good friends, who at this time af need have made there presence felt. I send my love to them all. Pat xx |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 31 Jul 07 - 05:17 PM Today, Ruth and I stopped by the Chey dealer to look at new cars. We're not going to buy one until next Spring, but it's been awhile since we've looked. I had stopped in a couple of days ago and talked to a salesman, and he was the first man I met, walking through the door. We looked at a couple of cars in the showroom, but we wanted to look at a four door sedan, and we had to walk out to the back lot. As we were walking along, just shooting the breeze, (how do you shoot the breeze, and what if you miss?) we ended up talking about music. No duh. With me, it doesn't take long to get around to that. As it turns out, the salesman lived in Greenwich Village on Charles Street in 1962 and '63. I lived on the lower West side and spent half my waking hours in the Village from 1960-64. (Oh yeah, the conversation started because I was wearing a Le Figaro t-shirt from the Greenwich Village coffee house. He used to hang out there. So did I. Then, he started talking about Dave Van Ronk and the Gaslight Cafe. I told him that I took lessons from Dave, and used to sing at the Hootenanny's during the time he was living in the Village. (I even opened for the Highwaymen one week.) He said his real love was jazz and blues, and I said, "so is mine." Which led me to talking about the CD I just put together as my soundtrack to the Mike Hammer TV series, and he remembered it wel, and loved the music. I told him that if his name was spelled just a little differently, he could have been at Woodstock. His last name is Jasgur, not Yasgur. He said that he was at Woodstock. I told him, "so was I." I thought, this is getting too weird, so I asked him, "Your wife's name isn't Ruth, by chance?" And it wasn't. I was starting to get worried. You never know who you're going to run into at a Chevy dealer's. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 30 Jul 07 - 10:25 PM Hey, Patty: Sorry to hear that life is in a funk for you right now. I know the need to step away. I've had to do that more than once in my life. When that happens, words of good cheer can be downright irritating, so I'll try not to offer any. (Don't mean I don't feel them, though.) Yeah, Harlem Nocturne set the tone for the whole Mike Hammer Series, and despite it being a familiar tune to me, I can't find a single recording of it. So, I started out with a great recording of In A Sentimental Mood by John Coltrane and Duke Ellington. It's much in feel like Harlem Nocturne: a small combo, with bass, drums, Coltrane and Ellington. Great stuff. Drop around when you feel like it. Complaining is allowed at the table, too, you know.. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ron Davies Date: 30 Jul 07 - 10:00 PM Jerry-- It really does sound wonderful--and very grounded--a man who has real connection to the earth and lives in harmony with nature--to go out and pick blackberries for your cereal. When Jan came over, she felt strongly that we should also try to live in harmony with nature. Part of it was not hard to convince me at all--instead of a lawn--small anyway--we have plants and a rock garden. Our back yard was already woods. We're thinking of putting up a bat box--if we can figure out where. Jan is even more than willing to sacrifice our hostas etc. to deer who might be seeking refuge in the woods. But mostly we're not very peaceful these days--seems like a constant struggle against "service industries". Last week both my car insurance firm and the company we called out to deal with carpenter bees and termites tried to charge me more--after I'd paid in full. They both admitted they were wrong. Right now we're trying to bring a shady medical equipment operator to justice. Jan had to have a corset for her lower back. Our MD suggested a place called Hanger Prosthetics. Jan paid $262 for a corset--thought she could have had just as good a product at Sears. She then got a bill from Hanger, saying the $262 was "insurance disallowance" but she was to pay $ 114 (the balance). I called Hanger and told them she'd paid $262 already and that in fact $262 was what Hanger was not allowed to charge by the insurance company (Blue Cross), not what Jan should have paid. The person-I got her name, as I always do-- agreed. Then when Jan called, the person she spoke to kept insisting that Jan owed $114, since Blue Cross had refused to pay anything. Hanger said they had no record Jan had paid anything. Hanger has now sent us 2 bills for $114. We keep records--and she had the $262 on her Visa statement. It's blazingly clear to me--and Jan--that in fact since she's already paid $262, far from Jan owing anything, Hanger owes us the difference between $262 and $114--$114 being the actual price to Jan. When she again called Hanger, the person who answered said the $262 was in fact insurance disallowance, but the previous bill had been sent by a member of the old staff--who were now all gone. Also, it turns out Hanger has changed location several times. But the new Hanger employee still insisted Jan owed $114. When Jan threatened them with the BBB, the manager told her all she'd have to do is send proof having paid $262 and the matter would be closed. We've since found out there have already been quite a few complaints filed with the BBB against Hanger. Jan says that when she was in the shop, all the other customers were also being charged the insurance disallowance rather than the real price. And does Hanger also have no record of their paying anything? Many of the other customers, Jan says, were in great need of prosthetics. Some were elderly--and many probably paid without question--and when they got the new bill, also paid the balance. It seems it's possible, if the others were treated as Jan was, that a very vulnerable population is being massively exploited. That will stop, if we have anything to say about it. We'll make sure our MD does not refer anybody else to Hanger. We'll contact the BBB--and possibly the press. Hanger will straighten out--or close--and not by just moving to another location and getting new staff--which seems to be their MO. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: pattyClink Date: 30 Jul 07 - 09:42 PM The best part about the Mike Hammer tv series was the theme music, "Harlem Nocturne". If your score is half as evocative as that, it will be wonderful. I'd stop in for a cup, but these days I don't feel sociable. Things are kind of off the tracks and I don't want to hear how swell everybody's doing. So, carry on and I'll stop in when I'm human again. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 30 Jul 07 - 04:04 PM SLow times around the table, but I'll keep posting for awhile to see if anyone besides Ron wakes up. Every morning, I go out to the corner of our house in the backyard and pick black raspberries for my cereal. There is something very mystical about that. My father knew where every berry and edible nut grew within a 40 mile radius of our house, and he was harvesting in almost every season. We'd have wild aspargus in the summer, along with black raspberries, blueberries, apples, cherries and wild plums, with mushrooms for our cooking, and wood sorrel for seasoning. In the fall, he'd collect hickory nuts and patiently crack them on a square block of iron that he found somewhere in his travels. He'd end up cracking two or three quarts (which took a lonnnng time) and share them with my sisters and their families. I feel like I'm carrying on a little bit of my father, collecting the blackberries. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 29 Jul 07 - 08:20 PM How good to see you, Ron: I gotta tell ya, your life is never boring. Xanadu (the movie) was a major flop. Vidohounds Goldern Retreiver Movie Guide gives it a Woof! That's one notch lower than 1. It was one of (if not the last) Gene Kelly's movies. It ranks right up there with the movie of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band with the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton. I've recorded most of my music stripped down. With the exception of a short time span in the early 60's when I performed on occasion with Luke Faust in Greenwich Village, I've performed alone. I actually like to have people singing on choruses, though. I always thought that was a little strange when I'd book a solo musician in the concert series I ran, and they didn't like people singing along on the chorus. I thought that's what choruses were for. Working on this project will be interesting because I am skimming over old grooves in my brain, like Luke Skywalker in his F-Wing fighter, trying to use the Force to swoop down at theright moment and recapture lyrics that have long since slipped into limbo. Another little project of mine, which I just completed is to create a sound track for Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer stories. It turned out to be a lot of fun. I tried to create the atmosphere of a film noir movie with music. It took me three tries before I got something that put me in that time and place. Fortunately, I have a lot of bluesy, small combo jazz.. instrumentals and vocals. Back when I was a teenager, and in my college days, I'd sit in the dark and listen to music, late at night. I haven't done that in close to fifty years, and it feels good to just let the music seep into my pores and wash away all other external stimuli. I can always count on you to drop by, Ron. Maybe Ebbie and some of the other used-to-be regulars will drop by and push us close enough to 1,700 so that we can roust Elmer out of his rabbit hole. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ron Davies Date: 29 Jul 07 - 06:26 PM Hi Jerry and everybody else-- Jerry, sure is good to see your progress in putting your music together for us all--and yourself, of course. I'd definitely be interested in a CD of the music you're now cataloguing--particularly if it winds up to be just you and your guitar. (But you really should let us pay you for those CD's.) In folk music I'm a big fan of stripped-down sound. I was just recently listening to one of Gordon Lightfoot's first commercial recordings. Just him, another guitarist, and a string bass player. It lets the songs stand front and center. Early Morning Rain, For Lovin' Me, Steel Rail Blues, etc. Supposedly Gordon himself doesn't like the record. Can't explain it. Anyway, please keep us posted as to how the project is going. I'm sitting at our computer--a Mac-- and it's just amazing how the 20-somethings who run I-tunes seem to have very little idea of any music but what they themselves listen to. I've put a CD I own, of Handel violin sonatas in the "library" on the computer. Category, as far as they're concerned, is Gospel and Religious. Handel may have been feeling quite pious when he wrote them--(more likely he did it on commission)--but they're all just violin and harpsichord. Bill Cosby (Is A Very Funny Fellow) comes under Classical. Admittedly it does have the Noah routine, which is certainly classic. Norumbega Harmony is sometimes Folk and sometimes Unclassifiable. Norman Blake, in addition to being sometimes Folk and sometimes Country, is also sometimes Books and Spoken. (How's that?) And so on. As usual, I've been involved in a bunch of weird musical stuff. A little while back we (Choral Arts) were involved in Christmas at Ford's Theater. Ford's is going to close soon til November 2008, so they were taping the Christmas 2007 show. But it sure was surrealistic. "Sleighbells ring, are you listening?"--in June-- with soap flakes falling from above. And it sure did reinforce again how fake TV is. The alleged leader of the free world was there and they asked him whether he had finished his Christmas shopping. Before the show started, they told everybody not to be alarmed if they introduced somebody who had already been on stage. Or somebody who never showed up. Or if they stopped and redid a number. Some of what we did was taped Friday for the program Sunday. Etc. Olivia Newton-John was there and she sang--directly at Mr. Bush, it seemed to me, a song called "Let Me Be An Instrument of Peace". A little late, I thought. And one of the things on this Christmas program was that well known seasonal song, Xanadu. Never heard of it? Neither had I. But it seems it was a big hit for Olivia around 1980. I told everybody it was picked since Mr. Bush wanted to prove how up-to-date he was. I think I read that it was a show about how a god or other powerful being convinced an artist to start a disco roller rink. Does that sound close? Anyway, they said they wanted 10 people-- (of the 30 of us from Choral Arts who were in the show)--for that song. But it turned out they'd given us the wrong words. And the wrong notes. And none of us really knew how it went. So one of us got it off the Net, so we could hear how the hit went. But then when Olivia and her arranger got there, they didn't want the hit version, they wanted the live version she had done a few years ago. Fortunately they also only needed 3, instead of 10 people. So rather than start to guess at how the song they wanted was to go--since it had only a tenuous connection with the sheet music they'd given us-- (at 10:30 at night, having been there since 5), I was able to leave. 2 gals and a guy wound up backing her up (from the balcony)--(no TV time, I believe), and the tenor wasn't heard at all. So it's obvious there was no place for a baritone. But at least I did get Olivia's autograph for Jan. Olivia's a good person--has done a lot for breast cancer victims, being one herself. But her manager had a cow when one of our group took a picture of Olivia. Manager threatened that our group would never work on the Ford's Theater gig again. (Actually, I can live with that--not that I think the manager has the clout to push it through.) It's a crazy business--sure glad I'm not trying to make a living at it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 29 Jul 07 - 06:21 PM Whar iz errone? I guess times change. Don't seem to be able to get any bites, anymore. Ruth and I are going to South American for 17 days in September. Don't look like there'll be anyone to keep the pot on. Jeremiah |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 28 Jul 07 - 02:46 PM Time to reconvene the Knights of the Kitchen Table. And welcome back all the fair maidens (they can be knights, too, as we're not sexist in here.) These last few weeks have been unusually hectic: (Ron Davies hectic.) Now it's time to slow down. I have plenty of stuff to write about, but am more interested in hearing about how y'all are doing. I must admit, I don't spot many threads that catch my attention these days. The English folk community is much more close knit, so the bulk of the music threads relate to musicians, venues and festivals I have no connection to. There's nothing wrong with that. But, I haven't been running across many of you in the threads I do check out. Maybe you've been as busy as I have. Got a lot of projects going on. I'll just mention one, for starters. In recent years, more and more people are recording my songs.. including ones that I haven't recorded. I made a couple of tapes of my songs that hadn't been recorded and shared them with friends of mine, who've ended up recording them. I'm reaching the point where I could introduce a song by saying "Here's a song I wrote that I learned off a recording by Susan Trump." Or others. Worse yet, the words to a lot of songs are floating around in letters, old e-mails, napkins and the backs of old envelopes. So, I'm finally collecting all the songs I've written, typing them into the computer and printing them up to put in a large loose-leaf binder. Then, I want to record all the ones that I haven't recorded. I'll end up with a couple of CDs of original songs, home-recorded and not necessarily of the quality to release commercially. But, it will be a starter. Maybe I'll feel driven eough to do another CD or two for commercial release. (That's a dumb term, by the way... nothing I produce is particularly commercial.) But, I figure that I wasn't given the gift to write these songs so that they could go moulderin' away in the basement. So, what are you folks up to these days? Sir Jeremiah |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 07 Jul 07 - 05:00 PM Glad that you stopped by, Ron. The day you aren't busy, Elmer Fudd will finally bag Bugs.... Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ebbie Date: 07 Jul 07 - 12:52 PM Hey, Ron, we've got people like that. Which came first? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ron Davies Date: 07 Jul 07 - 08:52 AM Hi Jerry and everybody else, Sorry I've been busy recently. Among other things we had a young bird (probably about a week old--some feathers)--- to try to rescue--brought us by a neighbor. Probably pushed out of the nest--by a cowbird? Siblings were also pushed out--- killed instantly--fell onto a patio. Our bird fell onto a sandbox. We got baby food--watered it down a bit--and fed the young bird. He or she started eating enthusiastically. Seemed fine overnight. The next morning still eating well and peeping. But after I went to work, Jan called and said she'd gone up after half an hour and he was dead. Probably internal injuries, we suppose. Depressing--and it makes you question nature's balance. Why should cowbirds have the advantage? Laying their eggs in another bird's nest (like cuckoos, evidently)--then when their chick is hatched, that chick pushes the others out of the nest--to their deaths. It doesn't seem right. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 06 Jul 07 - 07:14 PM C'mon, folks.. This thread is about to slip away, and here I bought a new coffee pot, and released the mouse in Brooklyn. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 05 Jul 07 - 09:58 PM Hey, ebbie: I have at least three CDs worth of my songs that I've never recorded. I got a small CD recorder for my birthday that I'm anxious to try out... with some helpful advice from Mudcatters. It is works simply enough, I want to slowly record all of my songs that I've never released, just for the record, and to share with friends. I am finding that more people are recording songs of mine that I recorded on cassette to share similarly with friends. Hopefully, it will be a manageable task. It will take months, but somewhere along the line, I may have an informally produced CD of songs to share. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ebbie Date: 05 Jul 07 - 06:36 PM I have no doubt that Meggie would be honored. She thinks everything's about her anyway. *G* I love those lyrics, Jerry. I'm going to bring out your CDs again and see, but I'm pretty sure that song isn't in them. I have your 'Sampler' and the two Gospel Messenger ones. Mind you, I'm not complaining- only lamenting. :) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 05 Jul 07 - 05:12 PM aaaaawright... as long as I posted the lyrics to the song, I might as well correct the last line, which is "With so much to tell you and songs to share." Singing the song to myself, I realize what kitchen table kind of song it is, and how well it fits the drop-in casualness of this thread. Now all we need in here is a dog... Maybe ebbie can make her dog our official tabledog. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 05 Jul 07 - 11:50 AM ... the last two lines of the third verse are: "So we'll sit and we'll talk with no thought for tomorrow Wtih stories to tell and songs to share" Or at least I'm pretty sure. Have to dig out a tape of the song, just to check it. It's getting pretty bad when you have to learn songs you wrote from yourself. Jerry Atric |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ALMOST LIKE BEING BACK HOME (Rasmussen) From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 05 Jul 07 - 10:16 AM "Wake up, time is a' wasting The sun has been up for an hour or more And old Buster is waitying, down on the doorstep With so much to show you and places to go And it's almost like being back home" Chorus: Up on the hill there's an old dirt road That leads to somewhere, or so I've been told But Buster and me, we're taking it slow So we'll sit and we'll rest for awhile And it's almost like being back home Downstairs, no one is waking Though the clock on the wall says a quartet to eight And the fiddle and banjo still lean by thewall With tunes of their own that just wait to be played Still find it hard to believe It's been such a long time since last we were here There're stories to tell you and tunes to be played ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, from Almost Like Being Back Home, words and music by Jerry Rasmussen Hi, ebbie: Your post reminded me of the song that I wrote, many, many years ago. (And am having trouble remembering all the words.) I wrote this after a recording session for my first album on Folk-Legacy. At the time, a friend of theirs, Ray Frank had left his dog with them. The original song has the dog's name, but darned if I can recall it right now, so I stuck "Buster" in there... the name of my Mom's dog when she was a little girl. I think I'll leave him in there, anyway. Nice taking a walk with my Mom's dog. I have a picture of her sitting on the front steps of their old farmhouse, with Buster as a pup. Your description of going for a walk with your dog reminded me of that morning. I woke up earlier than everyone else, and when I went downstairs, there was Ray Frank's dog sitting by the door, wanting to take me for a walk. I left him lead me, and we headed up an old dirt road, that leads to somewhere, or so I've been told. But, we weren't going anywhere... just enjoying the early morning sun rising over the hill. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ebbie Date: 05 Jul 07 - 12:15 AM Well! I must say that I'm glad to see signs of life. I kept wandering by and your windows were dark, the kitchen clearly uninhabited. Nice to see your smiling face again. Speaking of rain, today I took my little dog out 'Last Chance Basin Road', the most popular walk in downtown Juneau, a low speed, non-paved road that leads a mile into the mountains where the old mines dug into the hillsides and where today the trails begin. People take their strollers and dogs and significant others and enjoy the many-shaded greens of the canyon. It's noisy from the tumbling waters of Gold Creek, the little river where gold was discovered a hundred and twenty years ago. Today it was weely, weely wet. (Where's Elmer?) It wasn't cold but my light jacket soaked through and Meggie was even wetter. After we got home I had to towel her off; luckily she likes it, just braces herself against the vigorous towelling. Pour me another cup, if you will, Jerry. And who is that across the table? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 04 Jul 07 - 08:33 PM Leek soup is actually quite wonderful, Severn. When we moved into our home five years ago, we discovered that we had a leak between the kitchen and the Great Room (kinda like a combination dining room, sun room, family room.) It was very unpredictable. We had a new roof put on the house, which we knew it needed when we bought it, but the leak got worse. After endless attempts at trying to see where the roof was leaking, we finally discovered that it was the chimney. Once we fixed that, everything was fine. But until then, it was a real stressful occasion everytime it rained.. especially when we were away. The rain here today was o.k. by me, for the most part. It came with a nice cool breeze. Last summer, we built a large, screened-in gazebo, and we sure enjoyed it today. Now, most of the family has left, and Ruth and I are looking forward to wrapping it up. ( I think I hear signs of people packing up...) Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Severn Date: 04 Jul 07 - 08:21 PM Calming down a bit here, Jerry. Violent thunderstorms and a tornado watch (self-winding) here with a lull long enough for some fireworks predicted, if you have a tarp to sit on. Had my indoor rain on Sunday, and the dehumidifier is drying out theliving room ceiling hole, so it can be patched back up from the pinhole leak. But when the Lord deals you leaks, you make soup! All who venture within, have a happy fourth! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Jerry Rasmussen Date: 04 Jul 07 - 07:36 PM Well, a mouse made a nest in the coffee pot, and I'm using the last loaf of bread as a doorstop. Guess it's time to dust off the kitchen table. (I did buy a new coffee pot.) My lack of posting here hasn't because of a lack of interest. I've just come through a long stretch of long days and hard work and by the time we finish supper, I'm not wroth a whole lot of anything. But, there's stuff to talk about, and I always look forward to hearing from friends. Today, we had family on Ruth's side over for the 4th... a long, but good day with intermittent rain (every time I went out to cook on the grill.) Now, I've finished cleaning up in the ki9tcehn (my gift to Ruth, who is totally shot,) and slipped downstairs to post this while everyone is watching a DVD of Dream Girls. I'ts a good enough movie, but I've seen it, and sitting down to watch a three hour movie after such a long day isn't going to work. I'll be watching the inside of my eyelids after five minutes. Anyway, I have at least two or three posts in me, but I'm looking forward to hear from all of you. I see that my friend jimmy is back on Mudcat again, and maybe he'll drop by. If we all post a few times, we'll see that ornery old wabbit hunter, Elmer creeping up behind the bushes. Back later.. Jerry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Ron Davies Date: 17 Jun 07 - 12:27 PM Hi Jerry and everybody else, The story of your birthday, Jerry, which you told on that "What Makes A Birthday Happy?" thread sure does tell us why we make music. Not only is it endlessly satisfying for us, but it does so much for others, too. Who would not want to do it? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: billybob Date: 15 Jun 07 - 08:21 AM HI Jerry, happy birthday from England! I would love to get some ideas about house concerts from you. We had a collection to pay the guest and , as I said, made a small profit towards the next concert.that was amazing as for years when we ran a folk club in a local pub we usually made a loss and had to put in the difference ourselves! The marquee in the garden worked very well and gave a festival feel but in the winter I should think we could squash 30 or so into our living room.The best thing is not having to find and pay for a venue.We invited people we knew and also put a thread on mudcat that attracted some mudcatters from Kent, about two hours drive away.I am really looking forward to the next one. Wendy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Sitting At The Kitchen Table From: Carly Date: 14 Jun 07 - 07:54 PM Of course you can, Ebbie. I look forward to being among the squashed, the next time we make it to Juneau (and we will, it is a startlingly lovely place, and now we have friends to visit as well.) What kind of cake would you like for your birthday, Jerry? I don't bake very often these days ( there needs to be less of me, not more!) but I'd love to bake for you, especially with such good company in the kitchen! Have a wonderful day! Carly |
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