Ukulele Ladies (and Gents)

I just received my latest installment from Mr. Fretkillr (thanks Gary) and am off to find a ukulele for the reunion.











http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0KxtvFsTzE

I think we should put together a little ukulele band. We have eight months to prepare!

Fielder Family Hurricane Ike update

Just wanted to share last emails with the Fielder's:

HI,
We wanted to make sure you got through the storm OK. Let us know how you're safe and sound. Everyone is looking forward to the next reunion and hope you can all be a part of it....
Peace,
Gary

Hi Gary,
The Fielders are all right. Did you and Jim get to talk for a while?
Alyse
On Sep 13, 2008, at 5:28 AM, Gary wrote:

On Sep 13, 2008, at 7:00 PM, Gary wrote:
Hi Alyse,
Glad to hear all is well in Texas we were all concerned for your safety. That was a whopper of a storm!
No, I haven't spoken with Jim in a while. Is he on the road again? When you talk to him tell him the Paradox crew say hey. We're hoping you can both make the next reunion.
Stay Safe,
Gary

Hi Gary,
Yes, he is in Chicago for two days and then off to Canada.
He was home for all of August, so we had a tight budget, but we were glad to have him home with us.
Thanks for your concern.
Alyse

Looking back... looking ahead!

Howdy-hey, one and all! I'd have tacked this on to your "Remembering when..." post, Dianne, but the POOP/POOF sidebar just took command of the ship! Over the Labor Day weekend I found myself doing a lot of remembering when, and found myself grinning again and again and again. Like the Paradox experience, itself, the reunion was just so enriching... such a grand and glorious time. One thing has become very clear to me: I'd have played a lot less if I knew how much I'd look back and wish I'd talked a lot more. That's reason enough to look ahead to next summer and the next reunion.

I'm glad to hear you've spoken to Hanna and Fadden, Dianne, and that McEuen is already in the loop. That's really great! Hopefully, with this much lead time, they'll be able to carve out the dates and join us. Others will also benefit from the lead time, but working/touring musicians perhaps more than most. I say let's all communicate with those we'd like to see attend... and do so early and maybe often (just this side of bugging 'em). It's hard to imagine that the next reunion could actually be any better, but if even more of the old guard can make it... quien sabes?

Yes, terrific pic choices, Dianne. One of my favorites is the shot above of our willing, able, and gracious co-hosts. My hat's still off to you two, Bob and Helen. - Tony

Remembering when....

I've been reliving the reunion, pulling a couple photos for Jimmie Fadden.

Here's one of my favorites:





I also sent him this one:



Thanks to Tony for helping preserve these great memories!

going green

Norma and I, Helen, have come up with this wonderful, never thought of
before plan. Watch for our upcoming book "Drying Solar" . I'll share
with all of you many, many Paradox Lives blog readers. You first
stretch wire or a rope (small rope) across two points, trees, poles,
buildings etc. You then attach your freshly washed clothes onto this
line. At this time, Rik and Bob are working on adevise to hold the clothes onto this rope or wire so a wind won't blow them off. Now this is not recommended to use in the rain or snow, so it's kind of a summer only modern invention. After a few hours, in warm weather, you remove these said garments from the said wire or line, fold and put away.
What do you many, many readers think? Think it will wash????

How far can you run with something this ridiculous?

C, E-flat and G go into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve minors," and E-flat leaves. C and G have an open fifth between them and after a few drinks, G is out flat. F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough. D comes into the bar and heads straight for the bathroom saying, "Excuse me, I'll just be a second."

A comes into the bar, but the bartender is not convinced that this relative of C is not a minor and sends him out. Then the bartender notices a B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and shouts, "Get out now. You're the seventh minor I've found in this bar tonight."

Next night, E-flat, not easily deflated, comes into the bar in a 3-piece suit with nicely shined shoes. The bartender (who used to have a nice corporate job until his company downsized) says: "You're looking pretty sharp tonight. Come on in. This could be a major development." And in fact, E-flat takes off his suit and everything else and stands there au naturel. Eventually, C, who had passed out under the bar the night before, begins to sober up and realizes in horror that he's under a rest.

So, C goes to trial, is convicted of contributing to the diminution of a minor and sentenced to 10 years of DS without Coda at an up scale correctional facility. The conviction is overturned on appeal, however, and C is found innocent of any wrongdoing, even accidental, and that all accusations to the contrary are bassless.

The bartender decides, however, that since he's only had tenor so patrons, the soprano out in the bathroom and everything has become alto much treble, he needs a rest and closes the bar.

Week in Paradise

False dawn seeps in over little Walden Pond. It is quiet now. It will be hours before the peanut competition begins. Blue Jays vs. Squirrels, with the Blue Jays holding a slight edge, but for now they are sleeping and dreaming their little creature dreams.
It's a reflective time and a chance for Ralph and I to drink up the peace and tranquility before the journey home. The week has gone by much too fast, and we're not looking forward to the smog down south, but our hearts are torn between two worlds. I miss my Susan and Ralph misses Buddy the Cat , so perhaps it is time to go.
It was a week of tranquil chaos if such a thing exists. So much to do and so little time to get it done.
Kudos to Bob and Helen for opening hearts and home to a bunch of aging Hippies, Again. For them it's always been about the musician and the music. You have to wonder if it would have turned out the same without their over the top nurturing. Shout out to Dave for rising to the occasion and delivering his best sound and recording. Thanks to Floyd and Joy for the House Concert and the use of the beautiful studio and extraordinary piano. Ralph was a happy camper. Stand by for the Ralph's Barr CD, soon to come. Bob, Harmonius Combustion, Michael Ray,Ralph, Steve,Cat, John thanks for the great music. A nod to Mothers Beach on theYuba River, for reviving our hot dusty bones.
Thanks to Daisy and the kitties for keeping it all in perspective.
For all who couldn't make it, well.....maybe next time!
We are going too miss everyone and can't wait 'till the 2009 Paradox Reunion.....PEACE Gary

news from the ranch

Wow! what a fun week we had.

On Sunday our daughter Virginia came, and on Wednesday Steve Noonan and Michaelray arrived in Michaelray's roady van, traveling around doing gigs, here being one of them. Thursday Gary and Ralph came.

The gig in Rough and Ready was so much fun. Not a whole lot of people, but those there were a great audience. It's an old school house, really a cute place.

Dave Hall did the sound, great job as usual. Bob, Ralph, Harmonious Combustion, Cat Girton, Michaelray, Steve all performed. Other Paradoxers in the audience included Rob and Steve Scaff.

Next night, Ralph, Michael Ray and Steve did a house concert at Floyd and Joy's house. Some of you may remember them from last year's reunion. That was really fun I'm told. I didn't go, but Bob and Ginny did.

Monday we all, including Dave and Tara Hall, piled into 2 cars and had lunch in the town of Washington at a old hotel that has a deck overlooking the Yuba River, awesome place! Then we spent the rest of the day IN the Yuba River, what a ball! We all turned into little kids again, splishin and a splashin'.

The very most wonderful music we ever heard, however, came from our very own deck. What a wonderful group of guests we had.

Gary is a wonderful cook by the way. Neither Gary or Ralph ever sleep! We would all go to bed, and when we got up in the morning there would always be donuts or rolls or something magically appearing. We just had way too much fun!

OK, I rickrolled you. So sue me.

Here's a column from a friend of mine, and one of my favorite writers, Jon Carroll, of the SF Chronicle. You never know what he's going to go on about, whether it's his kids, the government, philosophy, music, his grandkids.... Sometimes I'll finish the column and have no idea what it was about, but it was a fun read.

Here he goes on about old friends of ours and music I like. This one's titled "Gritty Great Bird". If you're reading this after 8/6, you'll have to click on the title in the archives column on the right.

Without further ado, my friend Jon Carroll (applause)

http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/carroll/

Every once and a while...

... a piece of music is released that is truly iconic. That recalls those halcyon days when music mattered, and when the world was ours to change, and before the kids changed it back with whatever it is that they listen to now. Jungle music. I mean, it's all just noise. I mean, where did the melodies go?

Return with me now to the 80s, when music was still music. An era of superb sequencing and amazing hair care products, and when the idiot in the White House may have been a moron, but at least he was...... Well, a moron.

I love this band. It just killed me when they broke up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AdFA6WWJ7E&feature=related

Gary Does The Elevator Boogie

Well we just had one of those infamous So. Cal tumblers. This one was a 5.8 centered in the Whittier Narrows.
Susan and I were at her doctors office and she was at the counter finishing up and I had just entered the small elevator alone for the trip down. I pushed the button, the doors closed and as soon as it started moving, the quake hit.
I thought the elevator had failed as it rocked back and forth. I was waiting for the big drop to come but it just slammed it's way to the bottom and then the doors opened. When I walked out of the elevator people were all over the lobby on cell phones. I thought, Wow!they must have heard the elevator slamming and were calling 911.
It never even dawned on me that it was an earth quake. It was one of those jolting quakes and I can assure you a down elevator is not the place to be!

All work and no play

Did my damnedest to clear the decks and come up for the Rough and Ready dealie, but work won't let go of me. Y'all would be finished and headed home by the time we got there. Say hi to Steve, Ralph, and Michaelray for me, and book another one soon.

I hit a milestone of sorts last week, and now have as many banjo students as guitar students. I've dressed Tex's banjo up with a calfskin head, took off the resonator and flange, raised the action, and now have the killer clawhammer axe. It sounds great for the old timey stuff, and now I have to really woodshed that stuff. It's more difficult for me than the three-finger. I only get to teach one day a week (Thursdays), so I don't have much trouble filling the roster. But I'm looking forward to the day when I can give up sales and teach full time. It's much more enjoyable, and pays better, too.

Finally got the Gayle Lynn CD in the can. As always with these things, I listen to it and all I hear is what I should have played. But it does sound pretty good for a bunch of middle-aged white people. We've put the release party off until September since everybody's off on various vacations and business trips. Norma and I are being homebodies.

That's the news from Fogtown, folks. Remember, live music is best, so go out and see some, or go out and be some.

ABSOLUTE MUST SEE

TOOOOOOO MUCH FUN!
http://www.jibjab.com/originals/time_for_some_campaignin

These Days

Over the weekend I treated myself to volumes 1 and 2 of Jackson's acoustic albums:





Listening to him sing "These Days" on Vol. I took me right back to one early evening when he took me and someone else -- one of you? -- outside, under a freeway, to listen to his new song.

I must be getting old because I felt very sentimental listening to him sing that song again.

His song "Lives in the Balance" is also eerily relevant today.

The music continues...

This just in from Helen:





























Sorry I can't make this any bigger (you can click on it to make the flyer bigger) but just in case the dates and time are Saturday, August 2, at 7:00 p.m., at the Rough and Ready Grange Hall in Nevada City, California, $10.00 at the door.

A very talented family.....

And this just in from Helen and Cat Girton:



For more information, contact cathgirt (at) pacbell (dot) net.

John Besharian anyone?

Mary McCaslin has been in touch with Bob Lesher, who was a friend of Steve and Jackson, and who is looking for John Besharian, with some round about ties to Ted Staak in Fullerton and Santa Cruz.

Does anyone have any leads on Besharian? I wonder if Rand might know?

(If any of you do have his contact info, please send it to me privately and I'll add him to my reunion list. Speaking of which, there is a "Plan B" for reunion dates because of a conflict with a city-wide race. I'll be sending out new dates to everyone soon.)

Happy 4th of July

Follow the link! http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1540404134712&source=jl999

Hello from Mary McCaslin

From Mary:

"I have the dates you sent for the 2009 events and hope to be able to attend at least one of them. I know there's a Blog, but I've never written one and am not sure what I'd say that hadn't already been said by any of the other wonderful Paradox folks. Keep in touch and give my best to everyone. Take care."

The Ranch News

Greetings from Willow Creek Ranch.

It's maybe a good thing we aren't having a 2008 reunion this time around. Last Saturday we had an electric storm, no rain but many lightning strikes Boom, Boom, Boom, right on top of us, knocked out our power for 3 hours.

It set off 800 fires in N. California. Our air quality is yucky, thick with smoke. In the Mideast they have too much water, here we have to little. I think Mother Nature has her little jokes!

Dave Hall just had to have emergency surgery, he suddenly had his retina detach on one of his eyes. He went to the Dr. here in our area, and that Dr. sent him right down to Sacramento. He isn't allowed to come back here yet because of the elevation. He has to keep his head lowered for a few days, not fun.

On August 3rd, Steve Noonan, Michael Ray Cox, Harmonious Combustion, and Bob Sheffer are doing a gig together in the town of Rough and Ready's Grange Hall together. Should be fun.

Next reunion planned for June, 2009.