alrighty....

Hey y'all...

    Another de-lightful day to share.  Spent some time with my cousin Betsy pickin' on banjos and her mandolin.  Ordered my very own mandolin, which is very excitin!  Ma got if for my birthday.  I wasn't sure if I should get it or not, I was feelin' a little overconsumin' and guilty... but then I talked with Noelley, and I get such joy from music, so we decided it's a good idea.  I just realized I have a nice track record of calling Noelle for big decisions.  She hasn't led me down a bad path yet.  The quaker meetin' today was enjoyable.  Marie spoke about channeling anger and fear into activism.  Now, imagine that coming from a little white haired lady... she's so sweet, and rockin' too!  

   I've been thinking a lot about simple living.  As I get rid of most of my stuff and prepare to send some to Seattle, I've been reminded of how much junk I don't need.  Simple is such a relative word, though.  I'm wondering if a laptop is part of a simple lifestyle?  I'd sure like it handy to record music on.  I think perhaps intentional living might be a better goal.  If something helps you share joy and love, it just might be worthwhile.  I'd be interested to hear any feedback on this one. 

   Am headin' to Berea on Tuesday... y'all can look forward to the 50cent/free sale, lots of crazy shirts and good books... location TBA.  :)  Took another joy-ride today on ma's bike.  mmm'mmmm, that's good for ya!  Also, went on my first "long" walk-1.5 miles, yeah buddy! 

 

grateful list:

-missy sharing her heart stories with me

-water-yum!

-music

-my banjo and soon to have mandolin

-bumpus the cat

-clouds

-singing music in the car

-that I grew up in a tiny place

-Marie Cotton

-when ma and I have enough space to get along

-mobility!

-adventures of heart around the next corner (3 weeks to take off)

Alright y'all...
Another mushy, silly, sticky-sweet (and whining?) love song out of my system... that feels better. This one was a real turkey, I tell ya... not my best work, but certainly an effective relief. I'm thinking about getting a myspace so i can share my songs (I mean I've written all of 5 1/2)... but that seems to be a slippery slope (myspace=millions of hours lost online and that weird "friends" thing).
Overall, I really can't complain. Lots of good happenin' these days. (aside from me and my crazy fella antics). I've had the pleasure of spending this taking care of Jen, Ava, and Ricky. It feels great to have work that is meaningful (not that the 'brary is bad, but it isn't as cool as huggin' Ricky and laughin' with Ava). I'll be headin' back to the ol' Ber town for a final farewell tour. It's likely that I will also haul a lot of my stuff down to give away/have a 50 cent garage sale. I certainly don't need to take a lot to Seattle. Ma has offered to get me a delightful mandolin. It almost feels like cheating on my banjo to be honest, but another bluegrass sweety to add to the mix is certainly temptin'. I took a six mile bike-ride last night (no laughs please!) and it was a joy! It feels good to get back out there. Nice. The foot doc said all is comin' along pretty well and to just keep on truckin'. Last week grams took us all to Chuck E's for my 22 birthday (never too old, right?). Then Missy, Ma, and Reuben took me to El Toro in Vandalia... which was fantastic... excellent food and after the meal the waiting staff came out and sang to me and then smeared whip cream in my face--a nice touch! I also got to take a nap in a bookdrop on my birthday, now that was relaxing.
Just finished up reading The Celestine Prophecies, not bad... At times it reminded me of Eckhart Tolle, but other times it was just a novel... and you know how I generally feel about those. But seriously, there were good points made about being addicted to other people, following instincts, power dynamics, and taking responsibility for your own spiritual growth.

The grateful list:
-mail. if I don't have your current address, please pass it along, as I do love to postcard folks.
-water! Oh yeah...
-rain!
-Lucky, my banjo
-chickory flowers
-the sleep I will get tonight
-honesty... even when it is tough (especially when it is tough)
-summer squash
-sunflowers
-ma's bike (oh yeah, nice ride!)
-talkin' to friends on the phone
-writing songs
-swings
-sellin' old stuff on ebay
-Ava and Ricky
-Jennie and Jeff pretending they liked the pizza I messed up (I know I like honesty, but I was feelin' sleepy and sensitive about my cookin')
-Missy Boo
-being able to walk
-music in the morning


More pics:

Ricky Lawrence. My little angel... look at this sweet child! He really is a darling. Ava and Jen colorin' the little fella's casts as he sleeps. Ava says Ricky is her best friend.
That's right... the "Ken-Chuck-E Derby"... another nice addition.

Eco-Ville Gothic? A pic from my recent Ber town trip... sure has been a while since I posted pics..
Grams and Ava enjoyin' Chuck E's. Look at that kid... could it get much cuter?
O-hi-a... yep... corn, soybeans, and wheat...
Ragin' Ape-A sure bet for tickets if you're visiting Charles Edwards Cheese... If you hold onto this ape's metal rods while the whole thing vibrates, he smokes and you get 12 tickets! Oh yeah :)
The Boo and I... She won.

duped again!

Drats...

     I thought I had the relationship thing out of my system... but alas... I just might have bitten the dust again!  Word to the wise: don't write songs for people... even if it happened by accident... and if it happens, record it, share it with your friends and never speak of it again! 

   Well really that's probably over dramatic, no big deal-e-o, just a chickadee slightly embarrassed over a fella here. 

peace out....

megasaurus "make a turkey of herself" rex

 

thankful list:

-do I really need to do one of these today?   you're right... I certainly should

-missy suzanne

-Ba!

-Rosie O

-leftover birthday cookies

-banjo music (even if it gets you in trouble!)

-the wonder years (missy was watchin' it, and I do admit, I did indulge)

-my sister as Mrs. Doubtfire when it comes to fake bakin'....

-Ava and Ricky, two sweet little buggers

update! sorry no pics yet...

Shucks folks... it has been a while... but I never said I would update that regularly... so here's a brief reflection of recent times... I've got to type quickly ma will be home soon and the tv will be turned on and thus the return of the obnoxious background noise is soon to resume... drats!  I wasn't quick enough they're home... well then, this might be even more brief (I generally leave the room when the tube is on, it gives me the willies!)...so a quick rundown:

-banjo gig today at Dorothy Love nursing home, heaps of fun... sweet sweet folks!  My little Quaker friends came and that was very thoughtful of them!  I liked the way that everyone there was a character and a half, and vocal too.  I had them sing with me for a few songs, and it was a joy!

-Bub's wedding:  My papa got married last weekend.  Betsy (my cousin and I) played a few songs together... it was fun to figure out a few songs so quickly (we started practicing the morning of the wedding!) and great to spend time with Betsy.  I hadn't really talked to her in years... so it was good to catch up with family I'm not that close too and of course great to dance a bit.  Bub made a little dance floor out of plywood for a nice spot under the stars and fireflies.  Plus there was this fella with a really great unibrow gettin' down, and he made our day!  I also caught the flowers (whatever that's supposed to mean!).

-Ricky is well!  That sweet little fella lets me hold him and he snuggles right up.  He does throw up on me a bit, but hey, that's to be expected. 

-Ava is a proud big sister and she says Ricky is her best friend :)

-Last week I went to Ber-town after Hally visited.  It was a perfect refresher for the heart!  Imagine, there were folks to make music with and hug 8 times a day!  Perfect... swimmin' weather too.  Just great really.  So so so good for my heart.  I think I brought a little of that de-light back home with me....

-I made a brochure to try and sell natural cleaners in a local farm store (wish me luck, y'all!)

...and that's about all the update I can muster (well while listenin' to that darn idiot box anyway)

 

grateful list:

-Missy Suzzane and our sisterly ways

-Ricky dear

-Ava darling

-playing music for people

-interesting reading: "Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?" To learn a bit start here: http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html

-the hammock in the backyard

-my banjo

-bike rides I've started taking every evening... on my mom's bike which I call "the caddy".  It is red, with whitewalled tires, a springy seat, two mirrors, a basket, and a bell.  It sure gets me to the park and back... and it feels good to be mobile.

-being able to walk!

-clean drinking water

-that I have been outside Anna, Ohio