06.22.09
Cancer Benefit
Tim Glasson and I are going to play at a cancer benefit this weekend. It’s for a woman’s family— she died recently of cancer and they are also using the occasion to celebrate her life.
The benefit is being staged at the Old Crank Up Mill Friday and Saturday— out on Hwy 42 about 10 miles west of Sanford.
Tim and I are playing on Friday evening with guest star, Ronnie Cox.
Moose Grass
The Moose has been the talk of the town. Flatt Tyred really made a great impression. I’ve continued to get compliments about it all week.
Family
Uncle John is home now surrounded by family and friends. Uncle John has decided to forego chemo and radiation. At present I’m told he is weak, but alert. He should continue improving for at least a short while.
A hospital bed has been moved into the dinning room along with other preparations for an anticipated downhill run. Meanwhile, Aunt Rose Ann and Uncle John are sleeping in their own bed, and I’m told acting like a couple young love birds.
Family Days
One summer, they had a cottage on a pretty lake Mark must have been an infant. The bottom was sandy and the water was very clear. I recall that because for me it was so different than Center Lake. It was late in the day and I remember feeling safe swimming with Uncle John watching from the dock. I guess everyone else was inside.
I also recall Christmas at the Hayes Hotel. The streets of Jackson were full of people and lit with holiday lighting. I’m pretty sure I was 5. Dinner was a big buffet I remember because it was the first time I ever had bean salad. Yum.
Guess I’m getting sappy…
There were always books for everyone at Foxden, my grandparents home on Center Lake, Michigan Center, MI. I recall visiting the Michigan Center Library when Grandma was still librarian. She was sitting at the desk in a blue dress with white polka dots. I returned to Michigan Center once and shocked to see that the library was gone! Later I was happy to learn that it had been saved and moved over to Page Ave.
Escort
Currently I am enjoying continuing rounds of car trouble. Last month I replaced a bunch of crap trying to fix problems caused when the coil shorted and sent a high voltage spike through the low voltage side of the wiring— that fried all kinds of things including the brain box. Last week the alternator went bad— at least it is the easiest thing on the car to get at.
VW Caddy
Luckily, last fall I decided that I couldn’t count on my Escort to last forever, so I spent some $ and got my little diesel truck running good.
Weather
Has gotten hot here, but I’m not complaining. All I need do is think of snow and ice and the heat becomes quite comfortable Ç;-) And unlike last year, we haven’t broken 100° yet. By this time last year we had been through a whole string of it.
06.19.09
Uncle John Goes Home
Uncle John is out of the hospital. He was being prepared for transport to a rehabilitation facility where he was to also undergo chemo. Uncle John announced that he didn’t want that. He said he didn’t want chemo and radiation. He just wanted to go home. So he is home now.
Last Mark said was that the short term prognosis is pretty good. Beyond that it’s bad. For the moment he is feeling better.
I sure hate to see your parents era come to an end. Some of my very earliest memories are of your parents. They have always been very good to me.
Flatt Tyred Bluegrass Band
Flatt Tyred Bluegrass Band
Moose Grass
Flatt Tyred played the Moose Lodge Thursday night. The Moose also served a buffet dinner for $6! The place was jumping. We were scheduled for 2 sets, but the crowd was so enthusiastic, we played 3. The band was please by their reception. Their regular bass player was back, so we traded off— he likes playing other instruments so that worked out well.
I not only was the ‘featured performer’, but was a bit of a hero for bringing the band. The crowd passed the hat and were very generous.
Karaoke Ends
Two nights ago, I went in to do my karaoke show and was told I’m being given a non-negotiable pay cut. I’m already doing 2 shows each week for the price of one. I’m not accepting a pay cut. So I’m pretty sure Friday will be my last day at that venue. It’s been a good run though— over a year. I learned a lot and really feel that I have improved my singing— especially harmonizing, which I’ve had an opportunity to practice in just about every key!
The timing isn’t that bad either. I’m itching to do something else. I guess they just poured some gasoline on my desires Ç;-)
More Escort Trouble
Oh yeah, last night my car died again. Me and Bucky had to get a ride home. This time I’m pretty certain that it is the alternator. The alternator started making noise on Sunday and felt too hot to touch— neither are very good signs. One good thing it’s probably the easiest thing on the whole dang car to get at. Last week, on my back from rehearsal with Flatt Tyred in Bennett, the alternator started making a little noise. Just one more problem that may have been caused by the voltage spike in February that knocked out so many other things.
Constant Rain
This must be the rainiest May/June in NC history! I don’t think we’ve had more than a couple 24 hr periods without precipitation. We were supposed to break 100° for a couple days, but that has been revised.
4th of July Sale
Todd is planning to come down for the 4th of July. He wants to clear stuff out of the house. One of the things he wants to do is have a yard sale. My buddy, Joe whose and expert at yard sales, says that yardsales during holidays don’t do well. What’s Joe know? Anyway, if that’s what Todd wants to do while he’s here it’s good with me. Stuff is already sort of sorted. We could probably get it organized in a day.
06.10.09
Uncle John
I’ve learned that my Uncle John has an aggressive brain cancer. The tumor has been removed— along with 10% of his brain in the right frontal lobe. Shouldn’t be a problem, I’m told, since he is right handed.
Short term prognosis is pretty good. Long tern percentages are nearly 100% dead in 2 years.
Sounds like they could have gotten it earlier, but the health insurance didn’t want to do the tests…
Moose Grass
It was getting down to the wire, with only about a week to go, and I still didn’t have a show for the 18th.
I called Gary Read. The Flatt Tyred Bluegrass Band is bailing me out for the show at the Moose on Thursday the 18th.
These are the folks with whom I have done some serious rehearsals! I sat in with them and we did a good show in Bennett, NC in late May. We are doing a lot of 3 and 4 part harmonies. Cool to work with people that can sing.
06.02.09
Change in Plans
Three weeks ago, the Moose Lodge in Sanford asked me to put together a show for an event on Thursday the 18th of June. Tim Glasson said he’d like doing that, so I committed and the Moose has on their published calendar and is advertising it.
They have in the past paid bluegrass bands for shows on Friday nights. I could never do one of thse because I’m already gigging with my karaoke on Fridays.
Last night Tim told me that he forgot that he will be in Texas on the 18th. I’m in a bit of a bind.