Sitting At The Kitchen Table

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: CapriUni
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 05:07 PM

Well, it's the New Year, well and truly, now. And my mind is turning toward the question of "Resolutions." In my case, I've given up the conventional idea of resolutions, since focusing attention on my faults just makes me depressed, and self-critical, and ends up being self-defeating. Instead, in recent years, I've given myself a creative project to complete in the course of a single year, so that I can look back and say: "This is what I did in 2009, that I am proud of." And, in the course of working on the discipline to complete that project, hopefully break myself of bad habits along the way as a side-effect.

For this year, I've decided to slow-write a proper novel (as opposed to the mad speed-dash of National Novel Writing Month). And for a plot, my mind is starting to gravitate toward the idea that first popped up in these verses about the Winter Gift-Giver, that I wrote a few years ago.

Anyway, that got me thinking of all the predecessors my little story has (will have?), and how many of them rely on the trope of saving the existance of Christmas itself, and that put my mind back to this passage from the very first modern Christmas story: Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Reconstructions in film and on stage can't hold a candle to the power of Dickens' original words, so I thought I'd share them here.

Charles Dickens' point is as valid and worthy of minding as it was when he first penned it:

They were a boy and girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread.

Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude.

``Spirit! are they yours?'' Scrooge could say no more.

``They are Man's,'' said the Spirit, looking down upon them. ``And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!'' cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. ``Slander those who tell it ye! Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse! And bide the end!''

``Have they no refuge or resource?'' cried Scrooge.

``Are there no prisons?'' said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. ``Are there no workhouses?''

The bell struck twelve.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 07:44 AM

Hello Capri Uni,

That is powerful writing indeed. Thanks for sharing it with us. Often we forget the depth of feeling that is expressed in the actual words Dickens wrote. The film and radio versions often don't portray the outrage but focus on the folksie!

You kindly asked about ice cream with 'boom'......This was a wonderful confection that they made themselves. Basically it was ice cream in a light pastry shell. The ice cream had liberal quantities of brandy mixed in! I guess that provided the boom!

Finally got out to the first song session of the year last night after a few false starts! Excellent! Everyone was in good voice and the welkin rang! Made a mess of the second verse....but I think I got away with it! Luckily I knew the story of the song and made it rhyme somehow!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 04:21 PM

This being the kitchen table and all, conversation can flow in any crazy direction it likes. From Charles Dickens to Charles Chan.

Now that the Holiday season is over and we're starting to get our strength back, it's time to crank up the old Charlie Chan movies. We'll watch one tonight. Both Ruth and I grew up watching the Sydney Toler Charlie Chan movies, with Charlie's various numbered sons. It wasn't until years later that I discovered that Warner Oland was the first Charlie Chan. There was serious doubt that the series would survive when Oland died and they went on a Star Search to find a replacement. All of this was before my time, if you can imagine that...

In the last couple of months I've picked up a boxed set of four movies starring Toler and another one starring Oland. Sunday night's are Ruth's mystery night, alternating between Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder, Matlock, and the other series with the detective whose last name starts with "M" that doesn't come to mind. They're showing the holiday made to tee vee uplifting, heartwarming, tear-jerking, happy ending movies for the umpteenth time, but there's nothing like a murder to make people happy. Tonight I think we'll watch a Warner Oland Charlie Chan. The mysteries are more front and center, and the comedy is less pervasive. The movie will have a happy ending too. The bad guy always gets caught.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 10:24 PM

Computers make me feel inadequate.

It seems like a cruel twist of fate that we become increasingly dependent on a piece of machinery that 99% of the world don't really understand. My scanner decided that it wasn't going to work any longer for such low wages and suddenly dissappeared. I have no idea where it went... just took its software and went home, I guess. I spent a couple of hours today trying to coax it back, only to become increasingly frustrated. Finally, I figured that my scanner was prime landfill, and went out and bought a new Cannon. Is that name an irony, or what? I installed it this evening and it does work, but completely differently than my HP scanner. Back to school. I specialize in doing thing I have no confidence in my ability to do. :-)

When I get the scanner all figured out, I have to get back to trying to get my website up, and it I can finally figure that out successfully, I'll take a few deep breaths and try to figure out how to use my recording equipment. By the time I figure that out (if I ever do,) I suspect that my computer will turn belly up.

What ever happened to the days of tin can phones, made with kite string?

Oh yeah, I finished my final editing on my book and if something else doesn't blow up while I'm in restless sleep, I'll send it off to the publisher. Then all that's left is a final proof read to make sure they made all the corrections I requested, and it will be ready to print.

Acutally, if you can keep from being overwhelmed by all this technology, it has some unexpected benefits. Your brain never gets a chance to take a break.

Anyone else ever feel this way?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 07:57 AM

Hi Jerry,

Just wanted to say that I stopped by this thread for the first time yesterday (UK time)and am gradually working my way through - currently at 3rd March 2006 so I've a bit of catching up to do.

What I've read so far has been great - it's just like a "real-time" novel and in true tradition, I've just skipped to the lst page to see what happened!. I'll keep reading and get caught up, hopefully before your computer has "control, alt, deleted" itself!.

Oh, and you are so right about kitchen tables and kitchens too. When I go to parties, I always stand in the kitchen - sooner or later everyone passes me by, so that way I don't have to circulate and risk missing someone who is circulating in a different direction. (It beats hanging around outside the bathroom, which is the only other way of getting to meet everyone!.)

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 08:49 AM

Welcome to the kitchen, Deirdre:

If a home is a living organism, the kitchen is the heart.

We had about 20 family members and friends here for Christmas day. My side of our family lives too far away, but my wife Ruth's family is mostly within driving distance, and in the ten years we've been amrried, they've beomce my family, too. Forget the in-law part. We have a "Great Room" connected to the kitchen with a half wall/counter dividing the two rooms. Our house is not really large, and with close to twenty people, it gets crowded. I spend the whole day heating and serving food so that my wife can sit down and spend time with the family. She's usually been up most of the night doing last minute prparations, no matter how many weeks in advance we start getting ready. The most popular place in the house is the space that connects the kitchen and the Great Room. When I'm constantly moving back and forth between the two rooms, I have to weave my way through a group of people who choose to stand right in that spot. As you do. While it makes it a lot more awkward, having to constantly excuse myself, I am very happy to see it. The purpose of a gathering is for everyone to enjoy each other and have a good time. When I see that happening, I'll just stop for a minute and look around the house and see how much people are enjoying themselves and I think to myself, "This is really a great Christmas!"
It's what my wife and I work so hard for.

If you're ever over in the Colonies for Christmas, you're invited to stand in the doorway and just enjoy yourself. I'll just say, "Excuse me," as I'm passing you.

This thread is about nothing in particular, and everything.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 09:46 AM

Great stuff Jerry!

My new house (moved in June 2008) has a kitchen / dining area and is great for me as a "solo" host - I can entertain / join in the fun while doing whatever is necessary in the kitchen part.

I'm looking forward to reading another instalment this evening.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 11:55 AM

The Iceman Cometh:

For the last twelve hours we've had a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Mostly freezing rain. You could go ice skating on our lawn, or the top of our car, if you didn't skate too close to the edges. It's a great day to stay home. We just watched a Joan Crawford movie on Turner Classics. What a fitting choice of a movie. The Icewoman Cometh.

I've love days like these. Enforced respite. I'll submit my manuscript for some final corrections, and probably watch another movie with Ruth this afternoon. We have plenty of food in the house, and plenty of good music to listen to.

As for kitchens, my friend Art Thieme recently e-mailed me a photo he took at my kitchen table in the gate house of the Museum where I worked for so many years. I ran a concert series there for 28 years, and during that time ran summer string band concerts, and for a stretch of six years, a folk festival. With rare exception, I put the performers up in my home and that kitchen table heard countless hours of wonderful music and conversation from some mighty fine musicians and friends. I only regret that there's no way to post photographs here on Mudcat. It would be nice to share those memories with you.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Tootler
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 06:48 PM

Hi Jerry,

You may not be able to post photos on Mudcat, but if you get that website up and running you can post photos there and put a blue clicky on Mudcat.

Here's mine for what it's worth. Unfortunately I haven't updated it for a few years and have plenty of other photos I could add sometime......Ah well, maybe sometime...

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 07:16 PM

I've tried to post to this thread twice with no luck. If I suddenly have three posts, don't look at me. He did it!

I was complimenting Tootler on his website and suggesting that if there already isn't a thread where Catters can post a link to their website, there should be. I know that I'd really enjoy it.

Jerry

Now, let's see if this one posts...

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 09:50 AM

No, Jerry...it wouldn't have been you.....it would have been Katie!


Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 08 Jan 09 - 02:07 PM

An in joke, folks. I sent Peter a song I wrote with the chorus:

   Katie did, Katie didn't
   It wasn't me that did it, it was Katie

American folks that grew up the country know what Katydids are.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 05:38 AM

Morning All!
I have just put a big pot of coffee on and made up the fire....it is very cold and icey here in the East of England this morning, very pretty but jolly cold. Yesterday we had freezing fog all day very grey and gloomy. It would be lovely to see the sun and a blue sky.
We are waiting for our third granchild to be born,all my predictions of an early arrival in time for Christmas were unfounded and now our daughter is a few days overdue,so we must have some news soon.With all the doom and gloom on the TV news a happy day would lift all our spirits.I have stopped buying newspapers and in the morning ,instead of Sky news I have found a channel that shows American funnies, so I am watching Everyone loves Raymond and Frazier!!How sad is that!
Never mind, lovely music , a pot of coffee and good company round the table I feel better already.
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 10:38 AM

That's exciting news, Wendy! Let us know when your grandchild is born. Yeah, the news is pretty universally upsetting. But then, it always is.

A few years ago, I got tired of listening to a group of women who were saying how much better everything was in the 40's. They were bemoaning everything that was going on, and in looking back had selectively altered the past. We're all guilt of doing that. Finally, I got fed up and said, "Yeah, I sure wish it could be like it used to be in the 40's. Those were the days. I sure miss Hitler and the Holocaust, when we lynched blacks for looking at a white woman. Those were the days!" Needless to say, my comments weren't appreciated.

I know that's not what you're saying Wendy. I too find the news particularly distressing. I wrote a song (as I am wont to do) expressing my feelings on the state of life these days:

I take cold comfort in the ways of man
I find no justice in this land
I feel the anger of the un-stayed hand
May my heart find rest in Thee

Chorus:
   And in the darkness, give me the eyes of faith
   In my sorrow, send down your saving grace
   And on my journey, may my path he straight
   May my heart find rest in Thee

Give me the wisdom that I might understand
Give me the courage that I might take my stand
And when I'm weary, lend me a helping hand
May my heart find rest in Thee

Some spend their lives in a search for power
Ignoring treasures time can't devour
All that I ask in my final hour
May my heart find rest in Thee

There's a powerful, very dark story behind that song that may be too strong around the kitchen table, involving a fatal accident. I had just written this song, and the chorus carried me through the darkest night of my life.

Thank God for music!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 11:11 AM

Thank you for the song Jerry,music is very uplifting,I loved your story about the 40's,You can imagine in my work( beauty therapist) I listen to all the ladies tales of woe, most of our clients are lovely but there are a few who can be a challenge, it is very difficalt not to tell them to count their blessings sometimes.However today has been a good one as my first client was our new vicars wife. They have been in the parish for about a year and are having a particularly tough time with a few of the older ladies who dont like change. They do not like any new hymns, insist that he should wear the traditional robes and stick to the English prayer book. The last parish they had was in London where the congregation was very diverse and had people of all colours and creeds.Here they have even had threatening letters! they are a lovely couple and I do hope they weather the storm. They have attracted a lot of young people with children to attend the church so I do hope they stay.
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 03:26 PM

Deirdre's post a couple of days ago got me thinking about how and when this thread got started. I had to go back a check the date. Atr the time I started the thread I was getting pretty fed up with Mudcat. There had been a few poisonous threads that were just too ugly for my taste (and many other's as well.) One of the greatest things that I've valued about the folk community all of my life is the warm welcome and respect that people show for each other. I always thought of the folk community as one of the most inclusive I'd ever had the pleasure to be a part of. Mudcat was mired in aggressive attacks and unpleasantries best forgotten. When I started this thread I didn't know if it would ever hit ten, let alone go over 2,000 posts. This thread and all who gather around exemplify all that is commendable about the folk community.

Here's a line from the first post when I started the thread:

I'm starting this thread with no idea whether people can relax from all the combativeness I see in here, and just join me in a cup of cofffee or tea, a beer or just a cold bottle of water. The kettle is on and I hear the whistle going off. Why not sit for a minute, tell me what's going on in your mind, or what's happening in your life... how are your wife and kids? anything happen today that you want to talk about?

The invitation still holds.

Sometimes we get it right.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 03:52 PM

Jerry,

The idea for the thread was inspired! A refuge indeed, with some excellent coffee!

Wherever people gather together to discuss any topic you are guaranteed that there will sometimes be those who find it hard to join in wit others in a meaningful way!

What I enjoy is when one of those drops by, drawn by curiosity, and just doesn't "get it".

You are right in your analysis of those people who make up the world of folk.

Here I feel that we sing and enjoy *folk* music, we don't care if someone sings us a song from a book or from a crib sheet, we call members of our audience *people* not *punters* and the only flaming is done by the fire in the old fashioned fireplace!

Now.....cookie anyone?



Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 04:34 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm still spending time reading this thread through from the beginning - up to 30th October 2006 now, so plenty more still to go. It's a great read and I feel I'm really getting to know some of you well.

I'll just make a fresh pot of tea to help me along. Anyone like some?.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 Jan 09 - 07:54 PM

This thread is like a good marriage. I noticed that I said something in the first thread about the kitchen being the heart of the house, that I just posted again five or six posts ago. Who can remember what you said almost three years ago? Recycling is green.

February 25th will be the third anniversary of this thread. Maybe we can get some of the early posters to drop by like jimmyt, Ron Davies and Elmer Fudd. We miss you, fellas.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 08:45 AM

coffee is on.......still waiting for the new baby,everyone says it will be a boy, or is that an old wives tale?
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 09:02 AM

Jerry,

I hope you can get the early posters back here for the party - I'm still working my way through the thread and so they are still sat at the table in my timescale!

Have to say how frustrating it was on Sunday evening - I'd put aside time to continue reading this great thread - only to find that the Cat was not available.

Wendy - fingers crossed for the new arrival!.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 04:03 PM

I'm trying, Deirdre: Some of the early posters don't seem to be active on Mudcat anymore. I've PM'd and e-mailed some of them but so far have no response. I don't have an e-mail address for most of the people who post on here, so if they don't drop by the Cat they won't see their PMs.

I'll keep trying. It's a pleasure to look at some of the early posts and be reminded of who was active.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 06:19 PM

Yippee! I've actually now read right the way through this thread. :-)
And I've got backache from hunching over the laptop on the coffee table. Reading a post from Col K, knowing that he is now at the great folk festival, took my breath away.

Meeting people I know here (The Villan, GeorgianSilver, Wee Little Drummer)has been great, but most of all, so many of you are now "fleshed out" - Jerry, Ebbie, Ron, Jimmyt, Elmer, BillyBob.

What a fantastic way to make new friends.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 07:28 PM

Even better yet, Dierdre, we get a chance to know you!

Jerry

I'm still PMing folks...

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: jimmyt
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 09:24 PM

Well, I just thought I would stop by to see what is going on, and to make sureJerry hasen't been spinning too many yarns! It is always a breath of fresh air to stop by here. Sometimes I think if I started a thread saying,"Generally,the snow I have seen is white," a hundred catters would immediately berate me for being stupid, and several would downright flat say snow is NOT white and I must be a lame brain for suggesting such a ridiculous thing! Oh well, life goes on!

Jerry I have my do-wop vocal band back up and playing a couple gigs next weekend! I am so thrilled. I found a new accompanist who played 13 years on a cruise ship and 5 years playing piano bars in Europe so he is more than adequate to play these 4 chord songs. Anyway, one of my quartet, the baritone is presently undergoing chemo for a recurrence of cancer after 3 years in remission. He is a gamer,though,and we are so inspired to sing with him. I must stop by here more frequently. It is so darn"homey." jimmyt

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 09:47 PM

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy... It really feels homey in here now that you've dropped by. And golleee, you even started a thread that I've contributed to.

Deirdre, meet jimmyt... my main man.

I'm having practice with Joe and Frankie this weekend, Jimmy. Sure wish you and any other Catters could drop by our real kitchen table for some music. (Ruth and I had the pleasure of sharing music with Jimmy and Jayne around their kitchen table a couple of years ago.)

This week, I'm hoping to fire up my recording equipment and see if I can figure it out this time. I've met someone over here who has offered to help me to plumb the mysteries of recording equipment.

And in honor of your new bovine beatification, here's a verse from one of my songs:

Old Uncle Jim he said, said to his son he said
Wake up Howard 'cause it's almost dawn
The snow drifts have covered up the old hay wagon
We're going to have to dig our way out to the barn
The cows will al be waiting for the old milk pale
And it won't be long before the rooster crows
So we better hop to it, 'cause there's no one else to do it
And the sky is getting cloudy and it looks like snow

If we ever make it down to your farm, Jimmy, we can sing this verse, changing Howard to Jerry. I've tried my hand at cows you know.

Farmer Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 10:39 AM

Well, tomorrow evening (Thursday) I've a committee meeting for my Choral Society - I'm Secretary. We have a new musical director this season who is fine musically but....... I'm so not looking forward to the meeting. Plus, our chairman has had a stroke which means I'll be chairing the meeting......

I'll no doubt stop by here after the event for a reviving cuppa or maybe even a tonic water! My gin and tonic making is legendary :-)

Nice that you stopped by, JimmyT, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 09:18 PM

Been thinking about this getting old stuff. For starters, my definition of "old" is ten years older than me. Right now, that means you're old when you hit 83. But of course, you really aren't old then because "old" is 93.

There's a lot of great things about getting old. I've just been trying to put some thoughts down on paper. I've heard getting old described as living a life of diminished expectations. Every time I'd go home to visit my parents when they were alive, they'd recount the things they could no longer do. But they were all physical. They may have lived lives of diminished physical expectations, but they found many new things that gave them pleasure. And despite what they had lost, they were thankful for what they still had. Or more accurately, BECAUSE of what they had lost, they were thankful for what they still had. Some people mourn for all they've lost. I give thanks for what remains. I hope I can always have that attitude, as my parents did.

These days I look at all the things I have accumulated in my life. They have given me pleasure in their day and I am thankful for that. But now they just weigh me down. It's hard to live free-wheeling with eight truckloads of possessions holding you down. I used to kid my oldest son saying that he should have a bumper sticker on his car that said "Happiness Is My Next Purchase." I think we've all been guilty of that. I'm rapidly morphing from an Accumulator to a Dispenser. Life is like panning for gold. You can't see the nuggets at first for all the dirt and sand. You've got to swish it around and wash off all the dirt that is of no value to find the littlest grains of gold.

The less you have, the faster you can move. Most of us have far more stuff than we need, or will ever use. At least I do.

It gives me the shedders.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 11:23 PM

Well, it sure is great to be able to drop in on such a great bunch around the table--even though, as usual I don't have time to say much. I still have to play the piano--quick--before Jan goes to bed.   And try to get enough sleep to be able to function at work better tomorrow.   The choral season is winding down a bit now, though I sure have a lot to say about it--with Jan's observations too. And I'd love to hear about your group, Deirdre--I think we all would.

I hope I'll have more time later. Jan is here.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 03:08 AM

Hi Ron!

I had you in mind when I posted about the group. I wasn't able to access Mudcat last evening - Max is obviously doing his relocation stuff - and I'm just off to work now but I'll drop by again in the next few days to tell you about it.

For general info, see www.gainsboroughcs.co.uk.

And Jerry, I agree with you about the getting old and possessions stuff, although I am a mere youngster of 50!. I'll give you my take on that soon too.

Sorry guys, can't stay to do the washing up, work beckons!.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 08:38 AM

Great that you stopped by, Ron: The times they are a'changing, but it sounds like your life is like it was the last time you posted. That's reassuring... :-) I'd like to hear more about Deirdre's choral gropu too. I'm still singing in the Men's Chorus at the church where Ruth and I are members, but I'm far less active now. The church is an hour's drive away, and it's starting to seem foolish spending 2 and a half hours on the road roundtipr to go to an hour and a half practice when we're reduced to singing two songs because the services have been cut back. That reminds me of the days of driving up to the Eisteddfod in Massachusetts for a whole weekend as a workshop performer and ending up doing six songs for the weekend. When you start calculating MPS (Miles Per Song) it sounds silly. But, the Eisteddfod was a wonderful time to hear a lot of great music and renew aquaintances with old friends. I'd still do it in a heartbeat.

If we start shedding possessions as we get older, we also start looking at where our time, energy and money go and focus our lives better.

Say Hello to Jan for me, Ron.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 09:23 AM

Howdy, all. Thought I pop around and give you an update on what's been going on with me (besides the usual).

A couple or three weeks back I got a phone call from the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City -- please come in and be checked out for PTSD.

Huh?? Well, on Tuesday last I went.

Well, it was determined that I'm a sociopathic pyschotic. I have to take fourteen different kinds of meds, wear a strait jacket, and I can't have anything more dangerous than a soft rubber spoon. I'm to be locked up on a desert island for the rest of my life, without food or care -- this is because of W's budget decisions.

Seriously, they said I was NOT suffering from PTSD (as far as they could tell) but that I did have quite a bit of depression and they told me where I can get help WITHOUT going three hours each way to SLC. I have several options right here in town, which is good because otherwise I probably wouldn't bother. They also suggested that I increase the drug I've been taking since 2001 for it -- I'm at the dosage where it's barely apparent and they suggested that it be doubled to the "you can almost know it's there" dosage. Gotta see a couple of docs for that, though.

So it was mixed news and that's fine with me. They were REALLY big on suicide (preventing it, I mean) and it was decided that at this point I'm not suicidal either (except around banjo-accordion duets, but then everyone is).

So, there it is. More or different meds, counseling, get more exercise, and do more music.

And now I'm out of the depression closet....

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 10:18 AM

Hey, Ron:

Not too sure how many tongues you have inserted in cheeks, or where the tonguing stops, but very straightforwardly, I went through what was diagnosed as a "depressive reaction" many years ago and voluntarily hospitalized myself for 14 days in a psychiatric ward. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I knew I had to get off the marry go 'round because it was going close to 90 miles an hour. Getting off helped me to see myself clearly. That's where the root of the problem usually lies. It's soooo easy to see where others are causing your life (mine) to be miserable, but much harder to see yourself.

As the Beatles sang, "I'm looking through you." I spent much of my life to that point looking through myself. You can't change what you can't see.

Keep on keeping on, Ron.

And watch those tongues... :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 06:17 PM

Jerry: "I had to get off the MARRY go round..."

Was that a Freudian slip or do you use a different expression over the pond?. It made me chuckle!

Deirdre
(Back from Choral meeting and rehearsal and in need of my bed - exhausted).

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 06:46 PM

Hey, Deirdre: No, it was as intentional as it gets... :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 10:46 PM

I don't know how long I'll have. Jan is likely to want the computer soon. So this may be multi-part.

First I wanted to ask Rapaire about an article in today's Wall St Journal about libraries being much more heavily used these days--mainly due to the sagging economy. " Libraries acrosss the country are reporting jumps of as much as 65% over the past year as newly unemployed people flock to branches to fill out resumes and and scan ads for job listings...."

Do you find this in your area--or is it just places like California, Florida, Ohio and other hard-hit parts of the country?

Also, article says "most" libraries have put in free Wi-Fi and computer service.   Do you think that's accurate?




Then I had a lot to say about the choral season here.   We've just gotten through the December high season--which ended with a Martin Luther King concert last Sunday. Now we've started rehearsals for a two concerts in early spring--each done by half the group. And some of us--including me--will be doing selections from Porgy and Bess with a Chinese orchestra.   Unfortunately they've knocked out a lot of my favorite parts--like "Overflow" and "Robbins is Gone" (after the hurricane).   Those two are really stirring pieces--but won't be done this time.

The December schedule was packed, to say the least.   The whole group did 3 concerts, with a Czech flavor this year--every year an embassy sponsors that series--this year the Czechs.   They sent a cultural attache to teach the audience to sing a verse of Silent Night in Czech. He was a gem--told the audience they were great but had a really strong Prague accent, while he was looking for high academic Czech. (This after about 5 minutes of coaching).

Then I was part of a group which did the music for a play--aimed at kids--which was evidently based on some Czech legends--including the historic St Nicholas--who's accompanied both by an angel and a devil--both teenagers.   They'd written a particularly great part for the devil--and he carried it off with real flair. He was such a debonair devil I suggested to him that he check out the role of Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees--especially "Those Were the Good Old Days".

Then after the play we arranged for visits from Frosty, Santa and Rudolph--with, of course, appropriate music. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", it turns out, was written about 1934.   It's so obvious that all those descriptions of toys must have been just a dream for all but a tiny number of kids at that point.


I also had my SATB caroling also--every year since 1992.   It's becoming more and more a neighborhood event--which is great.   We had at least 11 neighborhood people participating, out of about 23 singers. High point was a 4-year old, Boone, who wanted to sing "Away in a Manger".   We didn't have it in the 25-page packet I've put together--which keeps growing--but I and few others know 2 verses so we did it anyway. Then we went to sing at Boone's house for his mother and sister. He again wanted to do the same song--so we did. When we finished he was still singing. What he had done was go to the shelf and take off a tome--War and Peace, Count of Monte Cristo--that size---and he was singing from his upside down open book.

We also sang A La Nanita Nana for some Hispanic neighbors--since we get the idea they may be tired of Feliz Navidad.   I understand even some Anglos are tired of it.

Then went back to our house and sang parodies, seasonal songs etc--and ate and drank.



Anyway, as I said we just had a Martin Luther King concert.   That's always a real kick--especially when all the groups are onstage--about 250-300 of us--rocking with "I Can Tell the World" or a black gospel version of Amazing Grace, etc.   Jan said she wasn't impressed this year--says we need a children's chorus every year. Of course she says my group can't swing to save its life.   I thought it went pretty well--admittedly I'm not exactly an impartial observer.

We even had a processional and a recessional this year for the first time. Processional was "Marching To Zion"--which I really like, so now I've memorized it, to add to the songs I sing while walking to the Metro and back--( it's 4 long songs or 5 short songs to the Metro).


Recessional was "If I Can Help Somebody"--which it turns out was Martin Luther King's favorite gospel song--not "Precious Lord", as many of us thought.

Also in the concert the massed group did a rocking version of "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms". Wow. I think you know the technique, Jerry, from earlier postings. First we clapped on all the offbeats. Then the conductor more or less demonstrated what he wanted each part to do--not remotely close to what was on the page.   It was some really fast rote learning--but it worked like a charm--probably since all the black choruses knew what to do. My group just hung on--though I know some of us felt at sea without a paddle.

So now we are doing those 2 concerts I told you about earlier. But no matter what you do you can't avoid modern music. Jan says it's crazy we always do depressing concerts at the end of winter when people are depressed enough already. This time we'll be doing a Vaughn Williams piece which set some of Walt Whitman's Civil War poetry.   So we're depicting war in music.   This time I have to agree with Jan. We really ought to do some upbeat stuff this time of year.

Well that's enough rambling from me for now. Don't mean to monopolize the conversation.

It's great this thread is back in action.

What's going on musically and otherwise with you all? (I'd be especially interested to hear about Deirdre's group).   But whatever anybody wants to bring up.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: billybob
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 07:36 AM

I have a bottle of champagne, please all join me!!
Our new grandaughter Prudence Primrose was born on January 15th weighing 7lbs 9 oz.Bless her, she was 9 days late but, just as my father predicted, was born on his 89th birthday" what a party we will have this time next year" was his reaction to the news.
Scarlett Mae is thrilled with her little sister and I have been away from this table filling my daughters freezer with lots of home cooking!
mother and daughter doing well, and Billy is popping the champagne cork, fill your glasses.
Wendy

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 09:31 AM

My last post is toast. Don't know what happened to it. Congratulations, Wendy and family! What a jot! Looks like I'll have to pick up a booster chair for the table.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 10:19 AM

Do you find this in your area--or is it just places like California, Florida, Ohio and other hard-hit parts of the country?

Oh yeah! Usage is up about 20%, use of our free-to-all (but filtered) Internet computers is up about 30% and we expect greater increase to come. Note that this use is NOT necessarily reflected in greater numbers of items checked out -- many are used in the building because people don't want to take the chance of having a fine because their stuff becomes overdue. Right now our parking lot (75 slots and 20 in a second lot, plus on-street) is filled almost every day, so much so that I might not have a place when I get back from lunch.

The same is true of all of the libraries around here with whom I've spoken. I'll know more in a few days when we have the local Consortium (8 driving hours @ 75 mph long x 5 hours wide) executive board meeting.

Also, article says "most" libraries have put in free Wi-Fi and computer service.   Do you think that's accurate?

Wi-fi? No. Many have (we have) but many have not because their size (e.g., Stanley, Grace, Rigby, Terreton [all Idaho]) makes it unnecessary. There are more small libraries than medium and large ones, and budget size really makes the difference. If you REALLY REALLY want to irritate a small or even medium sized public library tell them that AT HOME your library has __________________ and you CAN'T UNDERSTAND why this isn't provided: be prepared for a frosty or even frozen response, though.

Computer service? Yes. The Gates Foundation Grants have been very good to libraries of all sizes. Problem is, some of the small ones can't get broadband of any sort and have to rely on dial-up.

Libraries are pretty much ignored in good times and depended upon during bad. My budget has been effectively cut during the past 5 years, with no increase that came close to matching my increasing costs. So now, when the bad times hit -- well, the story of Joseph and the Pharaoh's dream about the cows is pretty explanatory.

I'm planning on NO increase in budget this year next fiscal year.

To give you an idea:

My budget is US $1.56 million this year (I'm the biggest library within 50 miles in all directions, and for 100+ miles east, south, and west). Of that, $1.1 million goes to salaries and benefits. Out of the remaining $460,000 you knock off $150,000 for materials, leaving $310,000. Out of that I have to pay for repairs, heat, light, water, trash, computer services, telecommunications, marketing, insurance, and all of the ills any business is heir to.

See the problem? If there is no overall increase next year, personnel costs will still go up. You can take it from there.

And oh yes -- the cost of library materials has risen about 24% over the past three years.... The discount we usually-but-not-always get has therefore been shrinking and free shipping is a distant memory....

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 10:48 AM

Hey, Ron:

In researching various publishers in the last year, I questioned whether this was a good time to publish a book. I intended to do it anyway, but I was wondering if publishing companies are seeing a drop in sales. I was told (but don't necessarily believe it) that book sales go up during recessions because it is an inexpensive form of entertainment. A book costs far less than it does for Ruth and me to go to the movies. The popcorn is a lot cheaper at home, too. And your feet don't stick to the floor. My book should be published in the next couple of weeks, most likely at a price of $12.95. I think that's inexpensive enough that whatever sales it generates won't be hurt by the recession. Maybe I'll throw in a free box of popcorn.

Before I retired I was Executive Director of a good-sized museum with a budget in a similar range to your libraries. I'm sure it's really hurting now. I retired just in time.

Jerry
Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 12:52 PM

Rap--Thanks for that report from the front.   I did suspect that Wi-Fi was not that widespread.   Heck, I barely know what that is.

And Jerry--any chance your book will be available through Camsco? (I almost wrote Costco).


I certainly am reading more books these days--mainly I suspect since the presidential campaign is over and the fools trying to smear Obama have given up--at least temporarily.   So the time I was--foolishly--devoting to trying to counter the smear merchants-- can be used more productively. (Though Jan would say there are better uses than reading.)

It's amazing how some people were first pushing Hillary, then McCain and Palin--even on Mudcat.   It didn't seem to faze them that anybody who supported Hillary could not possibly support McCain/Palin, as far as issues---and Hillary herself said this.

It does seem as if Obama will doing the proverbial cat-herding to get any kind of unity----and that's just within the Democratic party.

But perhaps people will realize the serious nature of the situation--and compromise will be possible. And drastic change may also be possible--again because of the urgency of the crisis.



Particularly the health system needs to be addressed.

We are right in the thick of the problem these days. For all her ailments--endometriosis, continuing back and neck problems, asthma, and a boatload more, it seems--Jan takes quite a few drugs. Among other things, only pain pills make it possible for her to continue working 10-11 hours/ day. Which she insists on doing--she loves her work. Even though none of her doctors can believe she does all she does.

But as of 2009, all the brand-name mail-order drugs she takes have about doubled in price from 2008.   We all agree that everybody should be steered away from brand-name to generic drugs. We're all in favor of that. But for drugs for which there is no generic equivalent, it is not reasonable to double the price.   And that's about 6 of hers.

And it must be far worse for elderly people on a fixed income.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 12:56 PM

Heartfelt congratulations to you and yours Billybob!

Pop those corks Jerry and fill 'em up!

Let's give a warm welcome to the newest member of the Kitchen Table!

It always makes me cross that budgets for public services such as schools, museums and libraries are always the first to be cut and pared to the bone whenever there are "difficulties". Was it Joni Mitchell who sang "...you don't know what you've lost 'til it's gone....."

Wit regard to clearing things out......I keep trying, but things keep creeping back! Have you read Pam Ayres? Her poem, "Heap of stuff" describes the process exactly!

A Google search for Pam Ayres and "heap of stuff attack" will find it!

I shall raise a glass to Prudence tonight!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 01:17 PM

Hey, Rap: My publishing company, Outskirts Press, will create a website for my book, and I can sell it from there. When the book is published, I'll post a thread about it with a serious warning:
"This book contains sincere expressions of faith." The book does include the lyrics for eleven gospel songs I've written, and countless gospel lyrics from other writers and the tradition. There's also a quote by Casey Stengel and lyrics to a Roger Miller song, so it's not frighteningly pious. I just wouldn't want anyone buying the book without realizing that the basic core of the book is in the title: The Gate of Beautiful: Stories, Songs, And Reflections on Christian Life. Some of the stories have been posted on Mudcat, minus the reflections, and there's even a chapter based on a letter I wrote to Art Thieme describing an amazing experience I had doing a concert at a coffee house.

When I post the announcement, I'll offer to e-mail a couple of chapters to people so that they can judge for themselves whether they'd like to read the book. I'm not a tub thumper, but I am very serious about my faith and I speak very openly about my beliefs.

Enough... I'm starting to write a treatise here.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 04:30 PM

Hello again everyone,

Wendy ¡V many congrats on the safe arrival of the latest addition to your family ¡V may Prudence give you all much joy!. I¡¦ll raise a G&T in celebration later this evening. ƒº

Rap ¡V I read your post about medical tests in SLC ¡V my older sister has just returned to SLC (well, Provo anyway) and is lecturing at the university there for a couple of months. When she was living there a few years ago, I visited twice, once for a holiday, the second for her husband¡¦s funeral. That must have been 5 years ago as of about now. I remember we had high daily temperatures of minus 10!. It¡¦s the only time I¡¦ve been to a funeral wearing walking boots in a vain attempt to keep my feet warm.

Ron and Jerry asked for more information about my choral singing group. I live in a small market town in Lincolnshire called Gainsborough. It has a population of about 18,000 and is situated in a very rural part of the East Midlands of England. The nearest large towns or cities are Lincoln (24 miles), Doncaster (20 miles), with Sheffield and Nottingham about an hour¡¦s drive away. The Choral Society is a very traditional English style society. It was formed in 1860 and has given performances since then with, I believe, only two short breaks during the world wars. It is therefore one of the oldest surviving societies in the UK. We are a mixed voice (SATB) group, with about one hundred members of ages ranging from mid twenties to eighty plus. We don¡¦t have voice trials, all we ask for is commitment and enthusiasm. Sight-reading isn¡¦t essential but does help as we rehearse weekly and perform a major work in about 11 weeks. The season runs from September to March and we do 3 concerts per season, one in November, a carol concert in December and another concert in March. The November and March concerts are of major choral works such as Handel¡¦s Messiah, The Creation, Mozart¡¦s Requiem (and Faure¡¦s and Rutter¡¦s), Carmina Burrana, Bernstein¡¦s Chichester Psalms etc.

We sometimes get asked to attend and perform at local community events but we don¡¦t do them as the organisers fail to realise that we don¡¦t have a repertoire of short pieces that we can trot out on demand. Plus we generally perform with a full orchestral accompaniment so our turnout would be in the region of 140 people which would totally overwhelm the event!. Ron, I¡¦m interested that your group splits for performances rather than everyone being involved in all events as we do. Our take is that the Society performs in full or not at all. Up until about 15 years ago, we did a fourth concert in May but this was scrapped when attendance fell below 60%. It generally resulted in an imbalance between the 4 voices ¡V or maybe I should say ¡§even more of an imbalance¡¨ !.

I don¡¦t know what your split is, Ron, but out of 100 members we generally field 35 Sopranos, 35 Altos, 21 Basses and 9 Tenors. Most English Societies struggle to find Tenors and I have been known to go on the local radio asking for men!. In fact the situation got so bad 3 seasons ago that a couple of us women joined the Tenors and I¡¦ve stayed!. I much prefer singing Tenor, at the correct pitch, to singing Alto although my sight-reading in Bass clef is a bit slow / suspect!. Even worse is the tendency of publishers to print the Tenor part jumping from Bass to Treble clef and back again in a work, AND putting the jump on a page turn!. In my case, I don¡¦t do voice warm ups, rather warm downs!.

The Society is a registered educational charity and we committee members are its Trustees. I¡¦ve been Secretary for nearly 20 years now which is a position I generally enjoy. Our last Musical Director (Conductor) was with us for 34 years before he retired in March. He had also been our rehearsal accompanist for about the last 10 years and had the ability to play all 4 parts simultaneously on the piano, conduct and bring in each part AND THEN tell you where you¡¦d gone wrong! He also took little in the way of remuneration and was canny when it came to picking works that we could undertake that would be enjoyable, sufficiently difficult and wouldn¡¦t break the bank!. He was always going to be a hard act to follow.

Our new MD is gradually settling in and, after Thursday evening¡¦s committee meeting, I¡¦m hopeful that he will find a way to make his mark without losing singing members, audience members or bankrupting us in the process. Back in November, I wouldn¡¦t have been so hopeful. Even so, we are going to have our work cut out to keep things going next season as we will likely have to raise our membership subscriptions by about 33% just to cover the increased costs of the MD and his accompanist¡¦s fees. My fear is that that in itself will lose us members, which means that those of us left will have to pay even more to keep it going.

In one of Ron¡¦s posts, he said that he was contemplating the unthinkable ¡V that he would leave his choral group. I can fully understand that, having felt the same way myself last November and I never, ever thought I¡¦d feel that way. Commonsense prevailed though when I remembered that we (the committee) effectively employ this chap do to the job and so, if we¡¦re not happy with his work, then we can employ someone else. Hopefully this won¡¦t now be necessary.

Ron, Jerry, if there is anything else you want to know about my group, just let me know ¡V I think I¡¦ve waffled on far too much here!.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Tootler
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 08:57 PM

Congratulations on the birth of your grandaughter, Wendy/billybob.

We're expecting our first grandchild. It is due late March/Early April. Strangely enough, my father's 89th birthday is at the end of March, so we shall have to see how things work out.

My daughter has given us copies of scans that have been taken to check the baby is progressing OK - it is. They say it is probably a girl, but it is not 100% certain. It is quite fascinating to see a picture of the tiny person inside her.

Thanks for your nice words about my website, Jerry. I keep meaning to update it, but somehow other things get in the way. There are parts that I have updated - mainly the Open University stuff which I need to keep up to date as I am tutoring for them. It keeps the brain active and brings a little extra money in to help make my pension go further. I also host our local recorder society on the same site, though it has its own URL and I have to keep that up to date, but the other, more personal stuff has drifted somewhat.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 11:25 PM

A story.

Many years ago, I met a young couple who came to the folk concert series I was running. The wife was extremely, embarassingly enthusiastic about my music. The husband liked it pretty much, I think. He was a biologist and went to Africa with his wife to study mountain gorillas. While he was off in the mountains all day, his young wife was left in the pygmy village to entertain herself as best she could. She brought along a cassette player and played my Secret Life of Jerry Rasmussen album on Folk Legacy. (This is not a plug, it's a story.) The pygmy children loved listening to the music and the one song of mine that they loved best was a doo wop song I wrote titled Ten Pound Radio. Even though they spoke very few words of English, they learned the song and sang along phonetically.
When she told me the story, I got a big kick out if. It shows how universal music is, and how it can make a complete circle. I was a white kid growing up in a lily-white southern town who fell in love with black rhythm and blues whose roots stretch back to Africa. A lonely young wife sat outside her tent in a pygmy village in Africa playing the song I'd written (and I sing all the harmonies, multi-tracked.) African pygmy kids learning a song written by an ageing white kid from Wisconsin. And the circle is unbroken.

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 04:40 AM

Sorry about the weird punctuation in my post above - I wrote it in Word over a couple of hours, in between doing other things and then pasted it in here. It looked OK in the box before I submitted it.

:-(

Tootler - when I was born in '58, I was due on 25th March but finally made my grand entrance on 2nd April, at 7.30am so my Mum missed breakfast. She's never forgiven me...........! So, if your grandchild misses your father's 89th, I'm more than happy to share my birthday.

Nice story Jerry, you must put me on the list for your book please.

Off to visit my god-daughter now, I feel the need for a cuddle!.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Tootler
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 09:27 AM

Thanks for your kind offer, Jerry. My Dad's birthday is the 29th.

My mum apparently had a long labour when she had me and always used to tell me that I started as I meant to go on - dawdling.

Cheers

Geoff

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 10:14 AM

Hey, Geoff: (and anyone else) Please PM your e-mail address and I'll send you a couple of chapters of the book...

Jerry

Subject: RE: Sitting At The Kitchen Table
From: Ron Davies
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 10:24 AM

As I said earlier, don't mean to monopolize the conversation--but I'm sincerely interested in musical groups other people belong to.   I'm always interested in what Jerry has to say about his groups--how rehearsals go, their accomplishments, problems--and anything else he wants to talk about.   And it's also fascinating to hear about your group, Deirdre, and recognize similarities and differences.

So I expect--and hope--that people won't be bored by our talk about that sort of stuff.


As for mine, since you ask:   specifically regarding the question of why everybody doesn't do every gig:   I would say it's basically since our conductor is just a boy who can't say no. And there's no way everybody would have time to do every gig, unless everybody were retired, which the overwhelming majority are not.

This season (2008-2009), for instance, there is a series of 4 concerts, mostly at the Kennedy Center, which all members--there are about 180 of us-- are expected to sing. These are the Verdi Requiem (2 Nov), Christmas music (--3 concerts -- 15, 20, and 24 Dec), a concert of opera choruses and the Haydn Spring from The Seasons (26 April)--and one of either a Bach/ John Tavener concert (27 Feb) or Purcell/ Britten/ Vaughn Williams (29 Mar).

Not all will be singing the Purcell piece ( Come Ye Sons of Art)--just about 30 he picks--and I think the same is true of the Bach (Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn)--though all in those concerts are expected to sing the other piece or pieces.

But all were allowed to pick either the 27 Feb or the 29 Mar concert--with the expectation that it would be a good split between the 2--and every part would be strongly covered.

In addition we are all pretty much expected to sing a concert honoring Martin Luther King--which we've just done--with 2 large black groups.   That's always a real charge from my perspective, though there are some who don't seem to like to do it--maybe since it's a lot of music, on 3 rehearsals, and we have to get used to various gospel styles of conducting--meaning not singing just what's on the page--and constantly watching the various conductors like a hawk for signals.



But on top of this, there are lots of other gigs. We often sing at the Kennedy Center Honors--which kills a weekend in December, of all times. Fortunately this year we didn't sing for that--December is bonkers enough without that.

Then there are the 2 family concerts--also in December. About 30 of us do them--on a volunteer basis. I find them just delightful, and always volunteer.

And possibly singing at the embassy of whatever country is sponsoring the series of Christmas concerts.   That's a little group chosen by our conductor.   I was part of the group that sang for the Austrian ambassador the year Austria was the sponsor.

Then there are other gigs, like singing at Ford's Theatre for some occasion--most recently in June 2007 we taped a Christmas concert in 2007--I talked about that on this thread--that was the one for which Olivia Newton John's Xanadu was evidently declared a Christmas piece.

And singing selections from Porgy and Bess with a Chinese orchestra--which I volunteered for.    I'll sing Porgy and Bess with any group.

And there are yet more gigs during the summer.

Tours, if there is one--which are actually great fun--and I always try to do those--if we leave the US.


Singing at Wolf Trap. Singing for the 4th of July on the Mall.
I'd rather not sing in a tuxedo during the summer outside in the DC area--so I don't usually volunteer for those gigs. But fortunately there are people who seem to enjoy singing with a bunch of celebrities for the 4th-- though it's background music, by and large. I did that once. I didn't think it was worth the time, considering that we just provide accompaniment. But I have to admit I'd love to sing the Russian chorus portion of the 1812 Overture--which the 4th of July group sometimes does.

And I think there are some other gigs I can't recall.

So basically there are some concerts everybody is obligated to sing, some for which a small group is picked, and others for which he asks for volunteers.

With all the groups and subgroups it's pretty easy to stay pretty busy--(and most of us have full-time jobs also).   I've heard talk of "Choral Arts widows" or "widowers".

But it seems to work out pretty well.