Moving Mom

I'm sitting here laughing in the hotel from hell in Christiansburg Virginia. Everything that could go wrong since we arrived, pretty much did. This morning I left our room to see if Mom, in the room next door would like some coffee and there she was with her door ajar two inches caught by the safety lock. She couldn't get out and was standing there with her nail clippers trying to unscrew the catch from the wall. It was pretty funny as all she had to do was swing the arm off from the catch. I haven't written in quite a while as its been two month whirlwind of emotion. Moving Mom. I'm very proud of her bold decision to change her life with this move and grateful she is healthy enough to mostly do everything herself. So, all the boxes are packed, land surveyed and the well has been shocked. Moving is one hell of a job! Turns out Dad was quite the little file hoarder, leaving Mom with documents that dated back to Swan Hill Road days! He saved everything. Mom had a burning day which I'm sure added to the global warming dilemma causing the 30 inches of snow that fell on Whiteface Mountain memorial day weekend 2013. Honest to god. My sister's husband Jeff flew into Syracuse on Saturday and rented a 16 foot truck and car tower and the family all came together to pack her up and spend our last day at the last house my parents called home together. A bittersweet day. I still have to drive by this house when ever I travel south and may just take an alternate road to avoid the ghosts of my parents relaxing in their folding chairs in the doorway of the garage overlooking their circular driveway, their lush green lawns and gardens and the beautiful red maple we gave to dad one Father's day not so long ago. We are on our way to Hickory North Carolina! Mom's new home! A new beginning! For all of us Swan children! After splitting up the 11 hour trip to two days…I now know I can easily drive this myself in one day for future visits. So! Hickory or bust! I'm so looking forward to this new landscape…like new eye candy for my camera.

Graces Ghost

With Steven Skollar on mandolin

Aurora's Twenty Fifth Birthday

It's hard to believe she's 25! Happy Birthday Aurora! I cooked up one of her favorite dishes...Dinosaur Barbecue Shepard's pie...my way of course. Delicious! Barbecue chicken, garden salad and a wonderful spinach and chick pea with fresh lime.Oh and we chased chickens around the yard. Because it is spring and we could. Beautiful Day.

Groundhog...nope...Possum

In snowy South Hamilton the springtime groundhog is playing possum...IN MY WOODSHED!

The Day Before Spring Before The Weathermen Got It Right

Snow day! Tuesday and Nick and I have the day off from Wampsville and Nick's weekly probation visit. I deserve this day as last week I got summoned for Grand Jury Duty in none other than my favorite place...Wampsville. So I'll be making the Wampsville trek two times a week for the next few...well however long jury duty takes. Other than that, life is good! My summer music schedule is shaping up though I need to travel outside my comfort zone more and book further away. My patience was put to test the last two weeks with Bill's 95 year old father shuffling about the house. He's a sweet old fella with many stories I've now heard over again and again. He loves my cooking and his biggest thrill is Judge Judy and Jeopardy. I would run and hide at the sound of both coming on to the TV. Two weeks is a long time for house guests no matter who they are... Well maybe not Johnny Depp or Cat Steven's in his prime. I had my monthly gig at Georgetown last Friday that I may as well as have skipped as SU was playing Georgetown. I knew it was gonna be a slow night because of the game and after raising the back door of the Nitro and looking at my sound equipment I had neither the desire nor the energy to haul the heavy speaker or amp inside...so I played unplugged. The room isn't that big and I've always wondered if I could get away with good sound, unplugged. Well it wasn't bad but...it wasn't good either. I'd rather play plugged in as a little help of the push of the sound system can work wonders. I've been wanting to sell my system but just never got around to it. At last I stacked the system up neatly in the corner of my studio and took a shot of it and slapped it up on Facebook an had it sold in less than ten minutes to an old Sherburne Earlville classmate of mine who grew up just down the hill from me on RT 12. Jimmy Kolet went in on the price of 500 bucks with another old bud of mine Eric Porter. The system could not have gone to better musicians and friends. So! Now I've got the Bose system ordered! I've tracked it and it should be in tomorrow but with all the snow it may come later in the week. I can't wait to break in the Bose! It's gonna sound awesome but more importantly I'll be able to lift it without killing myself. In my boredom last night I decided to search for some color to help spring along as tomorrow is the first day of it. Some shots of some flowers that have graced my gardens.

The Countryside...95 all the way down to 9

It was a Brown boy weekend! It just amazes me to think of how many people have passed through my homes doors, slept in between these walls and then moved on again.If only the wall's could talk with the stories and conversations of the people who have been inside.

A Three Gigabyte Weekend

Oh this frustrating, forever undependable music scene. Feast or famine. Honestly, I wish I could wash from my hands the desire to play out, the need to haul music equipment, the thrill of the drive for however many miles to god only knows where, to play sometimes for people who sometimes don't give a rats ass about music. But I can't. Having played three gigs in a row last weekend I figured I played roughly 10 hours and drove for about 5 hours to make 450 dollars with another 50 in tips...isn't bad...especially for Central New York. It would of taken me double that in time bartending or waitressing, on my feet, shouldering heavy trays and dealing with screaming chefs to make the same amount of money...(In CNY mind you). I'd much rather sit and play. Last weekend I had totally appreciative listeners, clappers, whistlers and tippers. I love my music! Friday night was the Georgetown Inn...a very seasonal, hit or miss but local gig. I was ready to pack it up early when a table of snowmobilers, 9 in all filed in for a fish fry. They were very jovial content for being in Georgetown instead of the chaos of New Jersey. They loved my cover song choices and tipped awesomely! Saturday was a different night altogether. The Wigwam in Forestport, a tiny log cabin tavern with the butt end of a prop plain sticking out of it's roof. Snowmobile heaven with the best food! It was a little over and hour to get there in a sleety rain down pour. Long night. The locals enjoyed my music and described my sets as ...relaxing. I think they are more into karaoke type, loud rock stuff. Those days of course are long over for me. I don't think I'll be back there. My Sunday gig at the Hotel Solsville made up for the wiggies of wam ha ha. In Solsville, I know the locals and it's only a 20 minute ride from my house. They will be doing music on Sundays and I will be back there. When Monday finally rolled around I was all gigged out and I happily after I laughed...all the way to the bank.