Spring Wrap Up

Spring Wrap Up: No Move

Winter wasn’t the best. My dog died. The house in NC had a deal pending for nearly 6 months. I kept hearing ‘any day now’ the entire time. I set writing aside to focus on getting rid of things, and rehabilitating my old prairie schooner (RV) so I’d be ready to roll when the time came.

The house finally sold. Right when I thought I’d be leaving Sanford, the new owner arrived and inviting me to stay and work on projects. That gesture has sparked one of the best creative phases ever! Since the sale of the house, I’ve been writing, playing music, building things, and dog training.

Writing: The Hill Beautiful

Spring began March 15 with a trip to Folley Beach, SC. to visit a girl there. Met her on a dating site called Plenty Of Fish. She was really nice and we had a great time, but it wasn’t a match. While I was there though, I got back to writing everyday. As part of my book project, I’m working on a short story that incorporates the writing techniques and devices of my book project. A sort of test drive if you will. So…

COMING SOON: The HIll Beautiful. I’ll post this short story in installments. I’ve fussed with this theme before, so if you think you know the story, I promise you that you don’t.

Music: Jus’ Right

Bob Fox, Paula Conley, Alicia Stone, Tim Glasson

After I returned from SC to Sanford, I got seriously involved in a quartet singing 4 part harmonies. I’ve never had such a good time playing music! Rehearsals have been serious business, but always fun— can’t remember laughing so much— and often we take turns cooking and have a nice dinner too.

Recently, we started performing at different venues: open mics mostly, but have also played in churches and a rest home. If you ever want to enjoy an appreciative audience, consider entertaining at a rest home (is that the right thing to call them these days?).

Work: Vinyl Siding

Back of house

Did my first vinyl siding project. Vinyl siding is pretty easy to work with. Most of the effort goes into preparation.

Rebuilding corner

Preparations began with the repair of rot and termite damage. The rot was plainly visible and was on the list of projects the bank wanted repaired right away.

I did the back wall which connects the original house with a large addition. The walls weren’t even and required furring strips to make the surface flush.

Needed furring strips to make wall flush

While prepping the back wall, I decided to fix what looked like a small area of rot. When opened, we found termite damage missed by the inspectors.

Ended up ripping it out and rebuilding the corner of the garage.

Don’t know how long vinyl siding lasts. Never thought of using it before, but it sure looks a lot better than what we started with!

Just needs gutters!

Summary: Life is good!

I’ve enjoyed some creative phases before— Texas comes to mind where I was working on neon and writing and building things. The time I spend up in Traverse City is always good. Spring 2010 in NC was good not only because I was having fun building things, but also enjoyed an intensely creative period of writing and music making!

Pulled the awning out of the scrap pile

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July 1, 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Radio Performance

09.15.09

Music

Tim and Diana Glasson came up to TC for a couple days.  They drove up in their RV. Tim was hoping to go fishing, but Ron busted the out drive on his boat.

Tim and I played music though.  Last Thursday we played a famous local open mic at a place called the Hay Loft on M-72. We did a good job. After we performed, a local radio personality invited us to play a live set on his Friday public radio station program.  Kinda thrilling to be celebrities.  The radio performance went well too and was an adventure for us both.  I am surprised to see how many people heard us.

The station burned a copy of our performance on a CD. As I listen to it, I have to smile when I think of how far Tim and I have come since first singing together.

Showed Tim and Di a few of the sights, but they only had a couple days before Tim had to go back to NC.   I was a little sad watching them drive away.  I know we had fun touring the area, but I would have been happy just playing and singing for the entire visit.

Bucky

Bucky is still feeling better.  She seems to tire quickly, but when not tired, she dances and runs around. Best thing is that she’s obviously feeling happy.  Still don’t know how much treatment she’s going to get.

Computer

Had my old G4 laptop set up for getting the internet.  Pretty convenient.  Saturday it died.  My new computer isn’t set up for the high gain antenna, and the software for it is back in NC. So now I’ve to drive into town to get my eMail and check eBay or anything else I need to do on the net.  Time consuming and inconvenient.  Until I figure out a fix, I won’t be getting phone messages or anything else as regularly as I was.  Replies will be delayed.

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September 15, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Bad News Bucky

08.21.09

Click to enlarge

Bucky has cancer

Bad News Bucky

Greetings from TC

Bad news first: about 2 weeks ago Bucky got pretty sick.  Suddenly she couldn’t climb steps, became very lethargic, and the glands her neck and elsewhere became swollen.  She began panting constantly even when it wasn’t hot.

I took Bucky to her Vet in Lake Leelanau. Dr. Harrison has diagnosed Bucky with a fast acting lymphoma common in dogs, but especially in Boxers.  He also said that she probably had about a month to go before she would have wasted away.

I’ve heard of these fast cancers.  Other Boxer owners have told me about their dogs being fine, then dead in a month. The news made me pretty sad and I barely kept it together in the doctor’s office. I asked him if it was time to put her down. I have friends that put their Boxer through chemo, spent a fortune, and not only did the dog die anyway, it was miserable the whole time. I told him I wouldn’t be able to stand seeing her miserable just to keep her alive.

Dr. Harrison showed me an article about the latest protocol just published in July. Good news is that cancer doesn’t seem to have spread and her appetite is good. He assure me we can make her feel better— at least for a while. Decided to pump Bucky up with steroids so she can enjoy her last weeks in comfort.

That was a couple days ago. The transformation is amazing. Bucky went to sleep crying and woke up a brand new dog, dancing around, wagging her tail, and wanting to do everything.  Yesterday we took her to a sunset beach (Good Harbor) on Lake Michigan where she went swimming and played in the sand. The medicine has her running around and obviously feeling very happy.

Ron & Jann

Ron and Jann like having company.  They don’t travel much, so Jann likes to bring the world to them. Ron likes taking folks fishing, but doesn’t have a captain’s license, so can’t make a business out of it— even though he is very good at it.   Ron is a hard working guy employed by a builder.  A few years ago, Ron quit drinking.  Most of his friendships revolve around church and fishing.

I met Jann about 25 years ago.  She was a young mother with a toddler that had just extricated herself from an abusive relationship.  She was in a desperate situation, so I invited her to stay at the farm only insisting that she buy her daughter some books.  Jann is industrious and it didn’t take her long to get her life back together.  Right away her daughter, Rachel took to the books and eventually became her high school valedictorian.  I can’t take a lot of credit, but do like to count it as one of the good things I’ve done in my life.

Anyway, Jann and Ron have invited my friends from NC, Tim and Diana Glasson to visit and go fishing. Jann also likes playing music and is an aspiring banjo player.  They have a place where Tim and Diana can plug in their RV.

The weather here has been mild.  Long range forecast is for a warm September (warm here is like mild in NC).  There is something sublime about being surrounded by a sweet water ocean.  Once visiting here, like my friends from TX, people often find themselves wanting to come back…

Music & Fishing

There are open mic nights somewhere just about every night of the week here.  I’m looking forward to performing with Tim while he is in MI. I’m sure Tim will like doing some fishing on Grand Traverse Bay.  The weather is great.  Plenty of room for the RV.

Ron sez the best of the Salmon season is over by Sept 15, so he thinks they should try to get up this way before then if they can.

I figure I’ll be in TC for a few weeks— or until it gets cold.

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August 21, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Getting To Knoxville

07.26.09

Route to Knoxville

Travel

Made it to Knoxville without incident.  Had a good ride.

I had been concerned about my car making it.  Guess now I was lucky to have had all those problems with my Escort back in Sanford last winter. Certainly was a lot easier to deal with and fix there than on the road! Hopefully my car will be good to go for a while.

Larry McNeely

Stopped and spent the afternoon in Carthage with my friends Larry and Beth McNeely. Larry is one of the best banjo player in the world.  Larry has worked with scores of well known musicians, has recorded well known movie sound tracks, and might be best known for the Dukes of Hazard TV theme music.

We became friends when I got to play a couple shows with Larry: one in Carthage for the Buggy Days in 2007, and later we played a street fair in Southern Pines. Beyond his extraordinary talent, the best way to describe Larry is to say that he is an intelligent and gracious gentleman.

Road from Sanford to Carthage

Larry and his wife, Beth are both really fine people. They operate an antiques store in Carthage, NC called Granny’s— named for Beth’s mother.

Larry is also a writer working on SciFi projects. We became best acquainted talking about our mutual literary aspirations.

Bucky and I spent much of the afternoon visiting with Larry and Beth in the Old Buggy Factory where they have their store. Larry asked me when I was headed for MI. Told him I was already gone— his town just happened to be my first stop. Larry insisted that we play some music when I get NC.

Uncle John Dougherty

My uncle is doing very well at the moment.  Though his condition is considered terminal, for the time being, Uncle John is improving daily. Even hospice decided to leave and wait to comeback when they are needed. I’ll bet they don’t get to do that very often.

It is good to see my uncle doing so well— especially when I expected to find the worst.  New therapies are being developed everyday, so perhaps something will come of that.  I respect that he is choosing his treatment based on quality of life— so no chemo, however, he has changed his mind and decided to explore some radiation treatment.

Having a gathering at my Uncle’s house today. I’ll probably head north Monday or Tuesday.

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July 26, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Old Mill Crank Up!

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.

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June 22, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Moose Grass & Karaoke

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

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.

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June 19, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Uncle John

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.

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June 10, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Bluegrass at the Moose

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.

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June 2, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Bucky v. Intruder

05.27.09

Bucky v. Intruder

Caught some junkie casing the joint Tues.  At first he just stood under the tree in front and I thought he was trying to get out of the rain, but then the rain ended.  He kept on eye-fuckin’ the place.  Finally he wondered off.  Little later, I looked out front just in time to see him return and cut across the yard heading round the side.

I sent Bucky barking out the back door to thwart the intruder coming around to the back. It worked. Bucky barked. The man stopped in his tracks. Bucky looked back at me and wagged her tail. “Am I doing it right?” She barked some more, then looked back at me and wagged her tail again.

That’s my Bucky!

The man diverted his path and went toward the beauty shop. I got dressed and went over there. The girls next door said that they had an encounter with him too, but that he had left when they acted like they couldn’t understand him.  Creepy.

Flatt Tyred Bluegrass Band

Flatt Tyred

I’ve been busy here for the past week.  Along with my regular writing and musical obligations, a really good blue grass band in this region asked me to sit in on a performance in place of their regular bass player that is not available.

It’s tough learning a bunch of new songs even with some extra practices.  The band does a lot of 3 and 4 part harmonies!  I feel right at home!  One thing I really like is that they burn a CD of every rehearsal.

Bennett, NC 25 miles E. of Sanford

Bennett Arts & Crafts Show

The show was a street fair on Sat the 23rd.  Went pretty well, though I struggled some trying to remember all the chord changes for the new songs.  Sometimes, when we were singing those rich harmonies, I would see the crowd just stop what they were doing and turn to watch us.  That was a great feeling.

Prairie Schooner Brake Problem

I have determined that my schooner has a bad leak in the brake system somewhere.  I will need to move the schooner onto the driveway out front where I can roll around underneath to find and fix the problem.  Once I move the schooner out from under the shade where it is parked to fix it, I will keep going.  So fixing the brakes will be the last thing I will do here at Todd’s.

Writing & House Sitting

Meanwhile, I’m torn.  This house sitting arrangement was never supposed to last anywhere near this long.  The prospect of another long hot summer in NC does not appeal to me.  On the other hand, Todd needs to have someone here.  If I leave before he disposes of the property, Todd will be left hanging.  As for me, I am able to continue my writing work at the fastest possible pace.  For 3.5 years I have been working full time on this writing project, even while traveling, and the end of the project is still some long way off.

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May 27, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Bluegrass Show

05.19.09

Constant Rain

It has rained nearly everyday for over a month.  I’m not kidding!  The grass is finally starting to slow down. One more cutting and it should be good for a month if the rain lets up a little.

I sprayed the weeds in the cracks and the poison ivy a couple times when it looked like a break in the rain and got weather screwed each time.  Got the weeds in the cracks in the driveway and around the pool, but the poison ivy just looks healthier.

Prairie Schooner

Have been able to determine that I’ve got a big brake leak somewhere, but I’ll need to pull around in front to find and fix it.  I figure I’ll do it last thing on the way out as I don’t sit in front of the house any longer than needed. And once moved out from around the back, I don’t want to pull the schooner back in again.

Flatt Tyred Bluegrass Band

Flatt Tyred

I’m playing a blue grass show on Saturday— 2 hours!  With a new band called Flatt Tyred!  I’m sitting in for the regular bass player that isn’t available.  There have been some extra rehearsals because many of the songs they play aren’t familiar to me.  I’m nervous about trying to learn so many new songs so fast.  I’m afraid I’ll get on stage and my brain will be a blank.

The band is really good and they sing wonderful harmonies.  My voice fits right in.  So even though I’m not as good as the regular bass player, I’m a better singer.  In spite of being anxious about the performance, I’m having a lot of fun playing with new people!

Writing

Still working on my story full time.

Travel

Haven’t been back to Ypsi yet. It’s almost summer, so I’m dreaming about beautiful Michigan— even if I can’t be there.

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May 19, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »