Thank God For The Barge

Honestly...this winter has been relentless. White out's, snow banks half way up the door, below freezing temps, roof avalanches.
All I have to say is if the barge weren't here in town to escape to...I'd be crazy. Theres nothing better than to grab a table, set up office with a steaming pot of tea and listen to Colgate students talking about their classes and everything that Colgate students talk about. And to be able blog even if its about nothing.Takes me away from the drama of Nick and Aurora trying to make it in this f--ked up world of which I refuse to write about as it too upsetting. What I don't do for my kids with a tiny limited income. Life has NOT been easy being basically both mother and father to my children. Today's Nick drama is he doesn't have a bed. Him and his girlfriend broke up so he's back from Ithaca and living with a bunch of high school buddies renting a house that Stephen Joyce own's across from Price Chopper in Hamilton. I gave him a futon a while back and that disappeared as most everything I give him does. I'll pay his rent before I'll let him come home. And luckily rent is only 160.00 a month thank god! At least he's here in Hamilton where I can at least drop off food and keep him fed. He's so thin. All I want in life is for my children to be productive and happy. Aurora is employed. Nick has a hard time with everything. No jobs. Can't drive as he's had two accidents and can't afford insurance. It's tough to say the least.
So the barge is my official winter venting pad! There is a great art exhibit with quirky, whimsical paintings of different structures from around Hamilton hung. They almost look like a set design from Disney land or better yet a Dr. Zuess book painted by an artist by the name of Jon Iannitti. Wish I had a camera. Great stuff. Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams will be performing here this Saturday night. I'll be at Michaels watering down Waterville. Can hardly wait.

Treasures In The Heart Of New York

So, a while back I was contacted by a young, fellow San Hamiltonio musician by the name of Sean Nivison who was putting together a music CD of local musicians to benefit the local food cupboard. So I donated my song Brookfield from my last CD. This past Friday was the release party for Treasures In The Heart Of New York in Hamilton's living room, The Barge Canal Coffee house. Great turn out! I had my monthly gig at the Georgetown Inn that night and didn't get there till 9 ish. The sign up sheet was still full and had I signed up to perform, I wouldn't of gotten up till after 11. So I bagged it having already played three sets.
I understand they raised around 400 bucks. So hard raising money in these tough economic times. Here I am paying Nick's rent to give him a better chance in the busier city of Ithaca since he doesn't drive. I pray to the employment fairies daily to please hook my kid up with a job. He's trying so hard and is so ready and eager to work. I feel like America is at the end of its last knot. Kinda like the fall of the Roman Empire.

Winter White Out

Avalanche! Metal roofs are good at that. As of last night, not only was I with out a car having been towed to replace a fuel pump or what ever it needs to start, I was literally snowed in not being able to open the back door. Hundred's of pounds of ice and snow, tearing off rain gutters on the way, dumped into the driveway and all along the back side of the house. Luckily my car wasn't in its path or one of my critters for that matter. It would of been a snowy grave. Because the snow and ice is so heavy, it's no match for the snow blower. Brian, our snow plowing neighbor is having trouble starting his truck and our back up plower isn't home...BECAUSE HE'S PROBABLY OUT PLOWING! Wood that usually is carted to the wood window in a garden cart now has to be carried in the wood carrier by hand as the walk way to the wood shed is buried and just to heavy to snow blow.
Our trip to DC tomorrow will most likely be rescheduled. To say I'm tired of winter is putting it mildly. I need a break!
Spring can't come soon enough. I miss the smell of green.

Amaryllis Incentive

A bit of color in this winter white out season. The best ten dollars I've spent in months on this pre-potted bulb full of promising color. Lucky me my amaryllis grew two shoots with two fabulous blooms and four more on the way!
Another form of incentive came today. A wonderful email from my mother's cousin Fredric Brough Sr. complimenting me and encouraging me to blog after reading a post of mine from back in 2009. The post was of my reunion with a favorite childhood book called Magic Elizabeth which sits along with my other favorite books. I wonder if I will ever have a grandchild who will read it and love the story as much as I? Time will tell. Thank you dear Fredric for your email. I hope some day to meet you!
And lastly, yet another form of incentive. Nick's home for a few days! A bit thin I might add. Incentive to spoil him rotten and fatten him up. So Aurora is coming for dinner tonight. I'm slow cooking spare ribs and garlic mashed, some kind of sauteed veg and baking cookies. Alas I'm working on a new batch of songs. I have a few nice gigs to look forward to and I'm blogging which always leaves me in a self important glow of satisfaction. So today...life is good. Now if the garage would only call an tell my my car is fixed...

Skyway Open Mic

The next three Skyway Open Mic's at the following venues.
Nichols and Beal, January 28th 7pm
Hamilton Center For The Arts, February 25th 7pm
The Barge Canal Coffee House March 18th 7pm Hosted by Gregory MacBain
Hope to see you all out there! All money raised to help promote this year's Skyway Festival on June 11th at the Hooks Wiltse Field.
Headliner act TBA

Mike Jaqyuay's Chief Skyway Writer

Thank You Mike Jaquays!

Happy New Year

Well...that dang holiday season was a long haul. Way to much work and I'm really glad it's over. Happy New Year! I'm up in my studio and already in a state of frustration. RICH! I'm finally mentally ready to jump into the job of scanning all my grandfather's slides. A job Dad an I were gonna do the winter before he croaked but never got to. Aunt Loretta and my Uncle Ken set up the ole slide show projector last winter and weeded out all Gramp's travel shots, narrowing the collection of slides down to just the family shots. So now its my turn to scan them all in an get them to DVD. And since I've cut the dickens out of my middle finger. Now is a good time to start EXCEPT...My scanner is screwing me around...Again. RICH! What would I do without my dear know-it-all-about-everything-mac-related friend of mine.
So A Skyway Community Christmas was a complete success with musicians and attendance. We didn't hardly raise any money.
It's the most frustrating thing to get people to donate to this cause yet everyone wants to get up and hone their music craft.
My x husband showed up and it warmed my heart to get a family shot of me and our children. My wish is for everyone to be productive, creative, healthy and happy. And may my kayak float over many lakes and my hiking boots wander many trails. And when my finger heals may my latest CD, Year Of First's finally come to end.
Cheers!
Cheers!