Saturday, December 24, 2005

Christmas eve

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope the family gatherings and such are tolerable !

Sorry I don't have any pictures from last night's gig. My designated photographer decided not to show, and I forgot to give the camera to someone during our break. It went well, although the vibe was somehow different than the first gig--fewer people, less response. We also didn't follow the order of the set list, which was basically the same as last time, so there was some hesitation between songs as we decided what to play next. But I think we played better together; there were a few songs where my guitar playing felt automatic, like I didn't have to think. I even got brave and took a guitar break on a song or two; I can't say what I did was great, but it was there, if it mattered. I don't care; I absolutely love doing this, and I want to be good at it. Every experience is a stepping stone.

So today I cleaned house, we cut a scrawny Charlie Brown balsam from our land, and decorated. I made a few cookies, not as many as I'd hoped to. It seems like there's never enough time, but Christmas happens anyway.

note-I wrote this when I was in a bit of a funk, so I edited a few things on Christmas morning. I'm feeling much better now.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, the warmest regards from Kansas City for you anyway! Spring will soon be here.

Chris O'Byrne said...

Where was the gig at? What kind of songs do you play?

I've been reading your blog for a while and enjoying it very much. I used to live up by Britt, MN and still travel up that way looking for birds.

Merry Christmas!

robin andrea said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Deb. Hope you have a wonderful day, how ever you spend it.

I'm glad to read that you took a few chances on the guitar. Good for you! I bet you sounded great!

Madcap said...

Merry Christmas to you!
Merry Christmas to you!
Merry Christmas, Ms Mando!
Merry Christmas to you!

Deb said...

Thanks for all of the wishes!!!

Chris--welcome, I'm glad you're enjoying my blog. To get an idea of what music we play, here's the set list from our first gig: Old timey, bluegrassy, folksy kind of stuff. Loads of fun! We played at a little bar/restaurant near Moose Lake and Barnum, the Hanging Horn Inn, which is really tricky to find, well off the beaten path, but they have an incredible menu and beer selection.

Deb said...

Awww, Blogger didn't like my HTML. To go to the set list, scroll down to the October archives; the set list is the top post.

Chris O'Byrne said...

Deb,

I would be surprised if you and I haven't met before or at least have friends in common. I have a lot of friends in both the music and birding circles down here in Rochester. I've played in bluegrass bands off and on as well as doing a lot of birding in the state. I worked at Quarry Hill Nature Center a couple of summers, also.

And your set list, wow! Most of them are songs that I know and play! My partner and I love Kate Wolf and Greg Brown and many of the others. (Have you heard of Tom Russell? He's a big favorite of ours.)

So, do you know anyone down here in southeastern Minnesota? Or the Stevens Point area in Wisconsin? (I'm trying to think of who we might mutually know.) How about in the Minnesota birding community?

Talk to you soon,

Chris O'Byrne
www.chrisobyrne.com
www.lowrentbirding.com/blog

Deb said...

Chris-not knowing your email, I'll reply here. Wow! Do we have a lot in common! If you've read much of my blog, you know that I work in natural resources (DNR Section of Fisheries). I actually found out about bluegrass from Dick Kimmel in New Ulm, who is a wildlife research biologist for the DNR. I bought my mandolin from him. And Fred Keller, who I play music with, spent his teen years in Rochester. Fred plays with the Whistlepigs String Band (www.whistlepigs.com).

I subscribe to the MOU listserv, and I posted there a few times last winter regarding the great gray owl irruption. Look at my archives from January-April, I was treated to the sight of 10+ owls per day as I commuted to and from work.

It's nice to find a kindred spirit out here in cyberspace! Peace and best holiday wishes, Deb

Deb said...

p.s. Chris-- I just read in your birding blog that you spent a night in Askov...not fifteen miles away from me! I'm up towards Bruno. We may have a great gray owl that spent the summer here...at least it was here in May, and my husband saw it again recently. I, of course, was not so lucky...

Chris O'Byrne said...

Deb,

My email address is cobyrne@yahoo.com.

I know Dick Kimmel, I've jammed with him before and enjoy his music. The funny thing is that I didn't know he was a wildlife research biologist!

I went back and read your posts... holy cow! I didn't realize there were that many GGOWs last year. You've probably seen posts by Dedrick Benz, John Hockema, or Chris Benson; they are all good friends of mine.

Yup, I drove through Bruno on my way up to the Bog, how cool! Now if I could just find a Snowy Owl...

Birds and Bluegrass,
Chris

Deb said...

I'm hoping for a Snowy too. I saw one about ten years ago, perched on a sign on I35 between Duluth and Cloquet. I didn't know how lucky I was then.

That's so cool that you know Dick! I met him when I was doing an internship at his research station. Do you go to any of the MBOTMA festivals? I haven't been to them in years, but I used to go to Zimmerman. I played in a band, Misty Creek, at the June 1999 festival, with Jerry Spanhanks, Peggy Armstrong, Chuck Millar, and Mike Alsaker. I moved out of state and everyone else broke up shortly thereafter.

birds and bluegrass rule!!!

Chris O'Byrne said...

Ah... Zimmerman. I used to go to those every year, but I usually spent most of my time jamming until dawn. Sara and I have mostly moved to far southern Arizona and have thankfully found a hip little community with lots of music and awesome birds.

Deb said...

good birds and good music...who could ask for more?

And now I have another place to stop when I plan my fantasy Blog Tour of the nation. :) So far I have places in all four corners of the USA, and some in the far Arctic, and even Germany.

Chris O'Byrne said...

You and your family would be welcome any time! Most of the year we're down in Arizona and about 4 to 5 times per year we're back up in Minnesota.

R.Powers said...

Deb,
I was here pre-edit and couldn't think of anything enlightening, just was sorry you felt bad. How nice to check back and see the funk is gone!