Yeah, it's good to take stock every now and then. My fiance and I have been running around for months with obligations and we have two weddings coming up in October. I long for a little down time by myself. Still, nothing to complain about and as long as life is full it's good.
Bob On Sep 24, 2010, at 12:32 PM, mistertaterbug wrote: > Bob, > Not a list to speak of. Just was sitting in front of the computer > after finishing the last chart and reading a few blurbs here. Thinking > about keeping an open mind and the fingers did the rest. Not > reflection so much as train of thought rambling. > > Staying on the road. > Bugs > > On Sep 23, 9:20 pm, "Robert J. Dragone" <dragonm...@mac.com> wrote: >> It's interesting that you took the time to stop and make a list of all the >> things coming your way. Are you looking for some cohesion in all that? I >> didn't recognize a pattern, but then it's not my life I'm looking at. We >> all recognize the artist that you are but tend to forget that it all boils >> down to bills, kids and groceries. Maybe a little satisfaction with all >> that toil, but Douglas seems to have hit the core of it. Sure, it's a >> paycheck but very few of us get to enjoy greatness with our pay no matter >> how meager or rich it may be. Please stay on the road. >> >> Bob >> >> On Sep 23, 2010, at 8:11 PM, mistertaterbug wrote: >> >>> Okay. Here's what happens when a person stays open-minded and follows >>> wherever the road leads... >> >>> This year so far, I've had more work than I've had in a long time. The >>> webcam lesson schedule fluctuates depending on the economy, babies >>> being born, new marriages, new divorces, new jobs, lost jobs, families >>> moving, illness, lost interest, etc. Sort of my own private >>> abbreviated view of the 'big picture' we all deal with. But so far the >>> last few months there's been at least a dozen new folks coming on and >>> a number of old friends threatening to come back on board in a month >>> or so. >> >>> There's been a number of things on my plate this year, some old, some >>> new. >> >>> Still working with the NBB, though sparsely booked. A great band to >>> work with and a smart bunch of guys. I always enjoy our gigs and being >>> around those guys. The duet stuff with Joe Newberry and David Grier is >>> a lot different from each other, but both fill a gap that I'd miss if >>> I didn't have them. Plus, it's good to have the time to hang out with >>> one's friends and I'm fortunate to count both of them as such. The >>> Elvis Costello tour was a whirlwind and a hoot and an experience that >>> I'll not forget. I had three months to get ready for the initial blast >>> last year and I worked my ass off to memorize 40+ songs and it paid >>> off. I am way better now at writing charts (partially in part to >>> assistance from Matt Combs and Jeff Taylor's help and endurance of my >>> many dumbass questions) and playing chord changes that aren't found in >>> country stringband styles of music. Plus, I had to buy electric gear; >>> amp, pedal board, pickups, a Randy Wood acoustic/electric mando, etc. >>> and start figuring out what that's all about. It's like learning >>> another language to me. But as Jerry Douglas says, "There's money >>> there". Enough said, Flux. Count me in. >> >>> The year's count on workshops/seminars has been about half a dozen, >>> most of which were week-long endeavors. This year's Monroe Mando Camp >>> went over great. So improvements being made. Looks like next year is >>> starting to shape up some for more camps and a better Monroe camp >>> expected. Planning on it, at least. >> >>> Now, more TBone work. On my doorstep appears less than one week ago 3 >>> CD's of material to chart and learn. Plus, two files with 'greatest >>> hits' material...you know, stuff we've all heard on the radio since >>> high school. Heavily-orchestrated material. Now, here's the band >>> situation for this hillbilly mandolin player: two drummers, two >>> electric guitar players, one bass player, background singers, a horn >>> section, and a mandolin player. Lord knows what else. Rehearsals for >>> the material start Oct. 5 and last for two weeks. Then, about half a >>> dozen concerts, some TV, etc. The lineup for the show is: Elton John, >>> Leon Russell, Elvis Costello, John Mellencamp, Gregg Allman, Jeff >>> Bridges, The Secret Sisters, Ralph Stanley, Karen Elson, Mark Ribo, >>> Neko Case, Punch Brothers. Knowing what you know about me, figure >>> where Bill Monroe's mandolin style figures into this mix. Or better >>> yet, figure in where a derivative of Bill Monroe's mandolin style >>> figures into this mix. Also take into consideration that I'm treading >>> water fast as I can with just my eyeballs above water. >> >>> Next year looks promising too. More duet work with Joe Newberry and >>> Grier already on the books, solo work in Australia for about two >>> months thanks to Paul Duff and associates. Will get to play with >>> Bluegrass Parkway there and make a visit to the Gilchrist mansion on >>> Lake Gnotuk. Also will get to play with two more of my oldtime heros >>> down under, Bruce Molsky, Rafe Stefanini. Some NBB work booked for >>> 2011 and some work with Charlie Cushman and Dave Peterson playing some >>> straight-forward bluegrass. Looking at probably getting some Hartford >>> String Band stuff on the books. Also, it looks like there's probably a >>> TBone production coming too. We'll see. >> >>> Sure, it seems rosey and all that, and I'm glad, grateful to have it >>> all. Still, with all this going on, it's hard to keep the car running, >>> the mortgage paid, the groceries bought and always a chore to keep the >>> middle-aged spread from spreading. But it could be a whole lot more >>> uncomfortable. And maybe one of these days I won't be living from >>> paycheck to paycheck. >> >>> Keeping my mind open and doing the next thing that comes down the >>> road... >> >>> Tbug >> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Taterbugmando" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to taterbugma...@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group >>> athttp://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Taterbugmando" group. > To post to this group, send email to taterbugma...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. 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