Tag Archive: Barding

Barding, Filk, friends, home, love, music, paganism

22

Aug

2016

Housefilk

We held our third monthly housefilk (Feb, Apr, May – March had us all going to Larry Kirby’s in South Carolina) tonight. It is always such a joy to have Cat Faber and Lauren Cox come over, and this month we added to the number with Cynthia Andresen and Ken Muller. Cyn and Ken stayed until 9, we went on until 10:30. Next month’s housefilk is scheduled for the 20th.

Nothing new today on the job or other means of income.

Hugs,
Me

Barding, Filk, folk, friends, life, Moss Bliss, music, work

23

May

2016

Treading water

Well, GAFilk is over for another year. I had a terrific time as I always do (that’s why I keep going, y’all) but it’s over. I have no concrete plans for any other cons this year, although there are 3 cons I’m considering (ConCarolinas, OVFF, and Chambanacon, if you’re curious) depending on funds (of which I have virtually none and have run up too much credit card debt).

Even so, I have a high point every year to look forward to, and it’s not all that expensive ($50 or less for the con, $35 for the banquet, half a hotel room, and some food and parking money). I even wrote a new song this year (not a cheerful one, sadly) and got to perform it.

There were around 160 people this year, and I know and love probably half of that number and would say the same about the other half if I took the time to get to know them. It can also be said that, of the people I know and love and/or respect, 80% of them were or had been in that room this year and/or one of the previous four.

Only 51 weeks to go…

Apparently my position is being eliminated on the 21st of this month, although the company claims they have other positions for me. Until they offer one, I have no idea how that will work out, so it’s a bit itchy.

I don’t believe I mentioned that my new coffeepot (42-cup Hamilton Beach percolator) stopped perking after only 10 weeks and they are dragging their feet replacing it even though they have already charged me for the shipping cost. So, no coffee, have to go to Pilot for a while. Which saves me money on gas…

Hugs,
Me

Barding, Budgeting, family, Filk, friends, home, love, Moss Bliss, music, paganism, weekend, work

12

Jan

2016

Synopsis

2015 has been a great year for me. I have a new, permanent home, a new purpose, a new confidence. My role in my Family has grown, as has my role in my various outside activities, helping the homeless and ministering to prisoners and my position as a bard.

I suppose the downside was my burgeoning debt. Some of that debt was incurred to fund my future; some of it was to move, or to fill the needs presented by the new house. Some of it, admittedly, was from poor decisions, not sure if I’ll ever completely get rid of those. 2016 is when I pay for that. So long as I keep my job, this should not be an issue. Aum shrim Mahalaxmiyei svaha!

I’m not really making any resolutions for the new year, other than to consolidate and grow the seeds already planted (and shrink the debt). This will be a very organic year for me, probably won’t be a whole lot for me to report upon other than road signs.

Blessings on all your endeavors!

Hugs,
Me

Barding, family, friends, home, Moss Bliss, music, paganism, Prison Ministry, work

31

Dec

Busy Guy

Today I drove to Knoxville to donate another bag of 30 knit caps to Knox Area Rescue Ministries (to add to the 28 I donated last weekend). After that, I drove to Piedmont to see Johnny Rushing and get my two 12-string guitars looked at. He fixed my old Ibanez Performance model, made a new bridge for it, then looked at my newer Dean and determined all that was wrong with it was bad strings. For that he charged me a whopping $10, to be paid when I get cash in hand. I need to go back and get the nut fixed on my blue 6-string, so I’ll just take $20 with me then. After that I went and got my car washed.

It’s nice to have my trusty Ibanez (Disciple) back in action.

Tomorrow I drive to Newport to donate a (smaller) bag of hats to a homeless project there. And on Sunday my friends Wayne and Amber are coming over to help me get some of the old shattered glass off the property — it looks like sometime 20 years ago a greenhouse fell down and was allowed to stay there. Roots and leaves and other dirt and growing things have woven through it. Every time I go pull out a layer I find five more layers beneath it. Maybe we can get it all done on Sunday.

Not much is actually going on. Just being organic about life. I have no known performances planned until GAFilk in January.

Hugs,
Me

Relaxing

Not much going on.

I performed at the inaugural WolfStock a couple weekends ago, and even (eventually) got paid for it. It was a fundraiser for Wolf PAWS, Inc., a wolf/wolf-dog rescue and recovery program just outside of Dandridge. The fundraiser was a success by the organizer’s accounting, raising at least a couple thousand dollars for the project, but it was clear to the performers that they really need lessons in promoting events (they could easily have had four times as many people there with decent promotion).

I just learned this week that I’m not losing my job when my client moves closer to Knoxville. It will be a bit longer of a drive but not too bad. My little car keeps plugging along nicely. A couple cosmetic things need to be done on him, but nothing at all major. I never did, for instance, get the lock fixed on the trunk (don’t know why, but the key does not fit the trunk lock, a fact mitigated by the trunk release button inside the car), and the left headlight lens assembly could stand to be replaced. Also the driver’s seat need replacing, the foam pulled apart on the right side and my back sometimes is contacting the steel frame of the seat. All trivia.

Nothing at all going on here until January. Well, my birthday in December, but there are probably very few who will help me celebrate it. Another trip around the homestar, yessiree.

Still doing fine medically, only take one blood pressure med (which doesn’t like me, but it’s better than the other ones they’ve tried on me) and one injection every two weeks (my body is not producing an important hormone, ’nuff said). Otherwise, I take my handful (and it takes a large hand) of supplements every day.

So like I said, it’s snooze time here in the Tennessee mountains. Hope y’all are having a great time. Nobody ever said things had to be exciting to be good.

Hugs,
Me

Barding, home, music, work

12

Nov

Back to Hemlock Hollow

I woke up early, made sure I had all my stuff together, moved some of it to the porch. Waiting for Ken and Emmie to come and throw it (and me) in the truck (gently, please). Got my biscuits coming out of the oven.

And sometime this evening, I will have yet another performance at Hemlock Hollow. Hope I can get my energy up for it.

I sold another CD today. Yayyy! Pretty sad when a single sale makes your month, but I am thankful. The purchaser was someone I’ve “known” since pre-Internet days and a pretty well-known Canadian filker. (Thanks, Farrell!)

So the cats are fed, the litter box is changed, my stuff it gathered (some inside, some outside), I’m about to take my first morning sip of fresh coffee, I’m munching buttermilk biscuits for breakfast, and I’m going to play music before nightfall.

Sounds like a pretty good day.

Hugs,
Me

All the Love, bandcamp, Barding, Filk, folk, friends, music, weekend

05

Sep

Still moving

I just got my last utility bill from Blaine. I have no idea when or if they will refund my deposit but at least I will be totally paid on my end. I got one deposit back and another has promised to send it the first week of September. So I’m starting on the road to financial recovery… moving is expensive, more so when you have to keep two residences going for a couple months.

I have a job interview on Monday for a position which might be in Newport.

Going over to Emmie’s today to play with musical electronics (PA).

I have another performance scheduled at Hemlock Hollow in two weeks. Have also been booked for Wolfstock in October. Nothing on the convention side of things until GAFilk in January. I hope I can get to at least one more convention next year, with my eye on ConCarolinas and Chambanacon (aka Ironicon).

I haven’t spent nearly enough time on the trails here. Part of it has been the heat — while it hasn’t been ridiculous compared to other places, we have had several times more 90-degree-plus days than is usual. I’m expecting a very cold winter…

Have I mentioned that I’ve been reading the Demon Squad series by Tim Marquitz? This has been an exceptionally good potboiler, in my mind as good as the Garrett P.I. series and the Nightside books. The problem with pageturner books is you get done and there isn’t another book… I’m on Book 8 and he just published Book 9 last week.

Hugs,
Me

Barding, family, Filk, folk, music, weekend

22

Aug

Bobby G

Auntie Em has a friend up in Johnson City who is fighting prostate cancer. He appears to be winning. But he misses his drums. He used to be a drummer in various bands, rock and other, and has not had a drum kit for 15 years. Emmy set out to fix that, and contacted all of the people she knows who know Bobby G.

Yesterday, Ken loaded all the drum kit parts they had acquired — a reasonably full drum kit sans cymbals — and picked me up, driving first to Greeneville to pick up a donated bass drum foot pedal (which was indeed primo), and then to Johnson City to present Bobby G with his birthday present (turned 64 on Friday).

You have never seen a happier man. We then got him in the truck and went to a large music store in JC and got a super deal on a high hat (cymbal kit). It, too, was super, and Bobby had a great time putting it together. As of yesterday evening we have promises of donations of the larger cymbals and stands. We also took him to his favorite Cracker Barrel for a birthday lunch.

Emmy’s friend Gary came over with a couple guitars and an amp, and Emmy and I had each brought one, and we provided some music and fun to get Bobby something to drum with. A fine time was had by all.

The power of music.

Hugs,
Me

Barding, family, folk, friends, Moss Bliss, music

25

Jul

Moving Update

I’m all moved in at Sojourn, other than the usual unpacking issues. It feels to good to be here.

I need to go back to Blaine to pick Sky up on the 4th and take her to get the moving truck she has rented. Last I heard, her plans are to go to Dayton OH and try to rent an apartment when she gets there.

Now I just have to wait for my deposits to come in so I can catch up on my credit a little. The move has been hard on my finances, as moves usually are. Melanie’s song, “What do I keep, what do I throw away?” forgets the bit about “What do I have to buy to fit my new circumstances.”

I talked to John Noggle last night. He’s in his 3rd week of chemo, something he said previously he was going to avoid. I hope it helps, he has let this go for a long time.

My cousin Maria called last night (actually twice, and both times she was interrupted by a call from her mother). It sounds like she will finally get her way and move to Japan next month, I think she said the 24th. I hope she is safe and happy there.

I have to get my articles in for Peppermint and Sage soon, and learn a new song for Harvest Festival as well as plan a workshop. So I’m busy.

And very happy.

Hugs,
Me

Barding, Budgeting, Earth's Web, family, folk, friends, home, Moss Bliss

21

Jul