Saturday, December 5, 2009

15 Minutes With Angela Curran

Posted by Michael Floyd

Here is a 15 minute interview with Angela Curran that the Bluegrass Widow recorded way back on January 9, 2009. Apologies to Angela for not getting it on the blog sooner than this.

Click on the link below to listen to the interview in your web browser or right click and choose Save As... to save a copy of the MP3 file to your own hard drive. Be patient; it may take a few minutes before the audio begins playing as the file is 14 megabytes.

Click on the image to see a larger version of the same.

speaker icon Interview with Angela Curran.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Does Anyone Want a Bass?

We have a stand up bass in the corner of our livingroom. Big deal, you may say, but since there is not a great deal of real estate in the livingroom, the bass, or at least it's size, do indeed become a big deal.

At Christmastime we had to make a decision to either find somewhere else to put the bass in order to set up a tree, or just decorate the bass. I wasn't opposed to just hanging some balls from the antique tuning thingys at the top of the bass, but some people decided it would look tacky and we set up the tree instead.

When we drove to Halifax two weeks ago for my sister Heather's wedding, we took the bass along with us. It needed special glue, I was told. It turned out to be $260.00 worth of glue...damn right it's special. I'm thinking good old Elmers School Glue will do a fine job next time. Picture this, too. In order to get the bass into the car, the following must be done in exactly the correct order, or the bass will not fit.

First, open all four doors and raise the trunk lid. Next, lay down both back seats, making certain that the seat belts are far over to the side and out of the way. Now, move the driver seat as far forward as it will go. Move the passenger seat as far forward as it will go, and then drop the back rest of the passenger seat only back as far as it will go. Then, one person, taking hold of the bass and standing at the left rear open door, carefully angles the bass in and then forward, toward the rear view mirror, being ever careful not to bump the roof of the car, the mirror or the back of the driver's seat.

The other person (yes, it really does take two people to put the bass in the car) waiting expectantly at the open front right passenger door, gently easing the part of the bass nosing forward around the driver's seat and away from the rear view mirror..."not TOO hard, it might damage the bass!". Whatever. Then, the second person carefully pulls the bass toward her at an impressive angle, and seeing that the bottom of the bass is now actually in the car, eases the bass backwards carefully, and then down, so as to position the bass neck nicely between the two front seats, with the bottom end of it stuck halfway between the trunk and backseat. If Bass Loading were an Olympic event, Michael and I would be gold medalists.

All that to say that I'm finding the bass to be a pain in the butt, not to mention expensive. If you want it, come and get it. But please, bring a truck and your own people. This athelete is changing sports.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Floor is Clean...Sort of...

Been going through a lot of family stuff lately. As I wrote that I wondered if they (my family of origin) also think we are going through "family stuff" or if they are oblivious to it all. I'm not sure of what they may be thinking, but I know beyond a doubt, I am going through FAMILY STUFF.

I spoke with my sister tonight; she is getting married in less than two weeks. In itself this is not odd, but the fact that she announced the engagement little more than a week ago puts a different light on the situation. Every time I speak with her lately I end up feeling jittery and pacing, and the cure is to do housework. Argh...

Friday evening, I vacuumed the whole house. Tonight I tackled the kitchen and dining room floors. At one point they were white and over time, well, since Christmas, they have faded to grey. On Monday the Sears repairman installed a new part in the dishwasher (thank you God!) and he left his boots on, and it was rainy out. After he left I peered at the floor in front of the dishwasher and that was when I realized that the entire floor was the same color as the grit he had left behind. Time to clean it, I guess. After talking with the sister on the phone this evening, I needed to do something, so I got out the mop thingy and some spray stuff and polish. I like the smell of floor polish. I don't smell it often. Whaddya mean Uncle Johnnie's not coming to the wedding and now I have to drive 5 hours each way with Uncle Roger who is extremely hard of hearing and thinks I am too? Are you kidding me?

I got down on my hands and knees and sprayed and scrubbed and sprayed, and then mopped up the excess wet stuff, all the while the conversation with said sister ricocheting through my mind. Yup, it was starting to look white again. After I washed and rinsed the whole floor and let it dry, I brandished the bottle of polish enthusiastically, feeling pretty good about my accomplishment. Whaddya mean you want me to have Cheesecake because it's your wedding and after all, it's just cheese. Are you kidding me?

Back on my hands and knees I liberally souse the floor with polish...mmmmmm...smell that. I smile and start...well, polishing. As I move backward across the kitchen floor, away from the corner and toward the door, cuz I'm not stupid, ya know, I keep having to lift my knees from the floor in order to move them...they are sticking to the floor. First I scrub a spot, then separate the knees, then drag them backward, causing my toes to drag across the floor. Scrub, scrub, peel, peel, drag, drag...and so it goes. After a short bit I notice circular blobs of blue on the floor, and just beyond this long lines of red. What the heck...? Whaddya mean my twenty year old daughter is invited to your staggette party, but I'm not? Are you kidding me? Oh man, the circular blobs are from my jeans sticking to the floor. I can't figure out what the red stripes are...oh wait...that's Sally Hansen "Hard as Nails" Crimson Red. Shoot.

Now I do scrub, scrub, peel, peel, wipe, wipe, and point the toes as I drag, drag. I manage to get the whole kitchen and dining room done in this fashion, trying to ignore the cramping in my feet. I am getting bored however and rather than moving the laptop bag, I polish around it. In retrospect this was a poor idea as tomorrow when I lift the bag to take it to work, that spot will be dull. Whaddya mean you want me to wear light purple in your wedding...do you mean Easter egg light purple? Are you kidding me?

I wait upstairs patiently for the floor to dry so that I can put the chairs back. I tested the floor and it seemed fine so I stood a moment, surveying my nice clean floor and the fruits of my labour with satisfaction. Stood a moment too long, I will wager, as when I started walking I ripped a layer of skin off the bottom of both feet. I screamed in agony and expected the husband to come to my rescue, but, too late, I hear the faint hammering of Groundhog on the banjo. I could die 5 feet away and he would not know. Whaddya mean you want me to find the knife and cake server that I used at my wedding 25 years ago. Are you kidding me?

I limp back upstairs to wash the dried on polish off my hands, and to find something to put on my feet. I notice that the knees of my jeans are shiny. I have to go through the kitchen to get to the laundry room, so hopefully the polish will wash out later. I'm tired now, and feeling fairly good about my clean floor and hoping the pain will pass soon. Tomorrow evening, after I speak with her, I will clean the bathrooms. And no, I will not be eating the Cheesecake, one day at a time. And I'm not kidding!!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Interview - 14 Minutes with Mike Scott

I'm getting down to the last of the interviews I did in December of 2008.

Here is my 14 minute interview with local Bluegrass musician and all 'round good guy, Mike Scott. This interview was recorded on December 21, 2008; I hope you enjoy it.

Click on the link below to listen to the interview in your web browser or right click and choose Save As... to save a copy of the MP3 file to your own hard drive. Be patient; it may take a few minutes before the audio begins playing as the file is 8.5 megabytes.

Click on the image to see a larger version of the same.

speaker icon Interview with Mike Scott.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Interview - 20 Minutes with Harvey Arbo

Thanks for tuning in again to the Bluegrass Widow blog.

Here is my 20 minute conversation with local Bluegrass musician and good friend, Harvey Arbo. The interview was recorded on December 20, 2008; I hope you enjoy it.

Click on the link below to listen to the interview in your web browser or right click and choose Save As... to save a copy of the MP3 file to your own hard drive. Be patient; it may take a few minutes before the audio begins playing as the file is 11 MB large.

speaker icon Interview with Harvey Arbo.
 

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Bane-Jo of My Existence

As I was drifting to sleep last night to the melodic and wistful lulling sound of “Ground Hog” being hammered on the banjo by my darling, I was thinking of a blog. Unfortunately, when I woke up, all I could remember was Ground Hog. It’s a beaut, let me tell you.

I do recall a few random thoughts. I was actually laughing to myself remembering the last blog I wrote that I was not allowed to post. When I say ‘not allowed’ I mean that out of respect for my husband, I won’t post it. He didn’t feel it was near classy enough for me to post. We’ve been married nearly 25 years. The poor man is still living in a delusion.

Anyway, the blog was about a horrific episode in a dressing room at a local department store where I was attempting to buy a new bra. After reading the blog, Michael sort of sat up straight and knit his eyebrows together (he does this when he’s about to impart something important) and said “I don’t think the words “boob” and “torpedo” should be used in the same sentence.

The other thing I recall is not funny at all and very painful – I may need counseling. As I was giving our bedroom a good cleaning (yeah, right) last weekend, I noticed a receipt on my dresser that had “BIRKS” stamped on the back. I didn’t open the receipt as that would be dishonest…who is that girl and what has she done with Helen? ...but I did a bit of jumping up and down and clapping my hands together that a purchase had been made at BIRKS, which is a very high-end jewelry store in uptown Saint John. I do love shiny stuff. As I was clapping and squealing like a stuck pig I wondered how I could (a) find out what was bought without (b) acting too greedy. Impossible.

That night, all cozy on the couch next to Michael, I took his hand and, batting my eyelashes at him, I said “I see on the dresser a receipt for BIRKS…I promise I didn’t open it! But I’m dying to know what you bought”…twitter, bat, twitter, bat, bat, bat, bat.

The response dealt a crushing blow. SIGH…so much for batting and twittering. Michael said “oh, that... I bought a special cloth for shining up the gold on my banjo.” Like, just stab me. So, lemme get this straight… the banjo got a present from BIRKS and I didn’t? There is something seriously wrong with this. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

The stupid cloth even came in a fancy box with BIRKS stamped on the outside of it, and I would like to add, the stupid cloth cost something like $18.00. Use spit and paper towel to shine stuff, BUD, like the rest of us.

Shoulder up your gun and call up the dog
Shoulder up your gun and call up the dog
Goin' to the woods, gonna' catch a ground hog
Ground hog

Yonder run a whistle pig under that log
Yonder run a whistle pig under that log
Lord have mercy when the world might pause
Ground hog

Meat's in the cupboard and the butter's in the churn
Meat's in the cupboard and the butter's in the churn
If that ain't ground hog I'll be darned
Ground hog

Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf
Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf
If you want some you can get it yourself
Ground hog

Yonder comes Sally with a snicker and a grin
Yonder comes Sally with a snicker and a grin
Ground hog grease all over her chin
Ground hog

I’m still shaking my head. I love shiny stuff and all I get is Ground Hog. Could someone please send me a hubcap?? SNIFF!!

Unless you made other plans, have a happy and peaceful day. Keep doing the next right thing.

Helen

TIP - Click on either of the images above if you'd like to see a larger version of the same. Click your web browser's BACK button to return.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Interview With Reg Gallant

Bluegrass Widow Interview with Reg GallantI'm breaking in on the series of interviews I did before Christmas to present you with my latest - a lengthy chat with New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Reg Gallant.

I should like to point out that in my interview with Reg, I make mention of "Michael" playing the banjo behind Reg at the Saint John Marina. This Michael I speak of is my husband, but he is not the Michael you hear on the audio samples throughout the interview. The banjo player you hear during the interview is Mike Scott. Just wanted to prevent any confusion that could possibly occur.

This interview is long; a whole 40 minutes, but I think you'll find it informative and interesting. The interview was split into four 10-minute parts so downloading won't take too long. Click on the links below to play each part of the interview in your web browser or right click and choose Save As... to save copies of the MP3 files to your own hard drive.

Be patient; it may take a few minutes before the audio begins playing as the files are 12 MB in size.

speaker icon Interview with Reg Gallant - part 1.

speaker icon Interview with Reg Gallant - part 2.

speaker icon Interview with Reg Gallant - part 3.

speaker icon Interview with Reg Gallant - part 4.

Tip Click on the image if you'd like to see a larger version of the same.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Interview - 16 Minutes with Ed & Becky Betts

Bluegrass Widow Interview with Ed & Becky BettsWelcome back.

I hope you enjoy my interview with Ed & Becky Betts. This was the first interview I conducted in a series of interviews I did just before Christmas.

Click on the link below to listen to the interview in your web browser or right click and choose Save As... to save a copy of the MP3 file to your own hard drive. Be patient; it may take a few minutes before the audio begins playing as the file is 15 MB large.

speaker icon Interview with Ed & Becky Betts.

Tip Click on the images if you'd like to see a larger version of the same.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Interview - 15 Minutes with Larry & Carlotta Walsh

Bluegrass Widow Interview with Larry & Carlotta WalshThanks for tuning in again to the ole blog site... you’re just in time to hear another interview with the Bluegrass Widow, this time with Larry and Carlotta Walsh. Hope you enjoy it, and even if you don’t, pretend.

Larry Walsh with Jim Mills Huber BanjoClick on the link below to listen to the interview in your web browser or right click and choose Save As... to save a copy of the MP3 file to your own hard drive. Be patient; it may take a few minutes before the audio begins playing as the file is 14.2 MB large.

speaker icon Interview with Larry & Carlotta Walsh.

Tip  Click on the images if you'd like to see a larger version of the same.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Interview - 14 Minutes with Kenny Innis

Bluegrass Widow Interview with Kenny InnisJust before Christmas 2008, Michael and I recorded a series of interviews with some of our Bluegrass friends. The intent of the interviews is for the inclusion on a DVD slideshow that will highlight some of the events we've shared as a result of our common interest in Bluegrass music. Michael took care of the technical aspects; I did the interviewing.

For the whole world's enjoyment, I'm presenting the interviews in my blog. As a common courtesy, Michael asked each interviewee for their permission to post their interview; only those interviews for which permission was granted will be posted.

The interviews won't necessarily be posted in the order they were recorded. Here is a link to the second interview we recorded in the series (recorded on December 20, 2008). I hope you enjoy 14 minutes with our good friend Kenny Innis.

Click on the link below to listen to the interview in your web browser or right click and choose Save As... to save a copy of the MP3 file to your own hard drive. Be patient; it may take a few minutes before the audio begins playing as the file is 13 MB large.

speaker icon Interview with Kenny Innis.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

A Camel Named Art

It's been such a very long time since I was on this site that I had to stop and think about what my password might be. Amazingly enough, I remembered it. I say amazing because Michael assigned this particular password, and he tends to use the most cryptic passwords imaginable. Yes, I realize you're not supposed to use personal information such as family member's names or birthdays or such, but Michael will assign a part number from a tube that he used to fix a 1967 RCA black and white television set when he was 20 years old, that part number having no less than 20 characters, both alpha and numeric. The fact that I remembered the password for my blog site is truly amazing.

I'm finding this winter to be rough going. I have, along with most of you, no doubt, had quite enough. I see that the clocks are going to spring ahead this Sunday, so that is a sure sign that Spring is coming, right? I know, wishful thinking.

Let me tell you a story - this tale is about a camel named Art. Two Saturdays ago our new bed was delivered and I decided that along with a new bed we should have a new bed spread and bed skirt and fancy poofy pillows and some matching fake flowers for the bedside table. I set out shopping with the spread and skirt in mind; the pillows and flowers were just a nice surprise along the way. I love it when stuff matches. Anyway, in my travels and spending glut I stopped in to a lovely home decor store that is usually too expensive for my budget and while I think everything in the store looks fabulous, I cannot picture it in our house. It would lose something in the translation. But, I ventured in for a peek anyway.

I was alone and roamed around the store for quite some time, delighting in the colors and just feeling happy to be surrounded by such pretty stuff. I rounded the corner by the clearance shelves and there in front of me was the most adorable iron camel I have ever seen. He (hard to say, actually) stood about 3 feet high. There was something appealing about him...not sure what. The original price tag said $120. and he was marked down 75%. I gazed at him for a while, roamed around a bit more, and kept coming back to the camel. A stange woman came up behind me and admired the camel too - I said, while shaking my head, "I'm not sure my husband will love this" (I was thinking more that he might despise it, or worse, ridicule it). She said "if you keep coming back to him, he must be meant for you". She goaded me; she led me to believe that the 3 foot tall iron camel would fit right in with the decor of my house; she convinced me that men are stupid and have no taste. It's all her fault.

Happily, and as if I were in my right mind, I proceeded to the cash register. Setting Art on the counter (he had not actually assumed a name at that point), I asked the woman behind the counter this question: "Can I return this if my husband hates it?" The look that passed over her face can only be called mystified. Clearly she had no clue what I was meaning. Finally she said "why would it matter if he hated it?" I asked her if she were married. Then I spotted the engagement ring. Alrighty then.

I paid for the camel after I got confirmation that I could indeed return him if he posed a problem on the home front. The strange woman was behind me as I was leaving and she told me not to worry, that I could always re-gift it. Why would I need to re-gift something I was buying for myself?

As I was driving home I tried to picture the iron camel at our house. A vision of Harvey and Kenny in our livingroom, banjo and mandolin in hand flashed through my mind. Just beyond them sat the camel, totally out of place. I knew even before I got home he would not fit in, but what the heck. I tried anyway. I knew it was going to be a problem as Michael was walking upstairs and yelled "what the heck is that in our bedroom?" The camel looked ridiculous in the corner of our bedroom, and even worse on top of the entertainment center in the livingroom. It just looked so stiff and unnatural and ... iron. Michael, who has a real flair for understatement said, "What is that, anyway? ART??" And that was how we named Art the Iron Camel.

On Monday we returned Art to the store. We had grown fond of him, but still, he didn't fit in. Or should I say I had grown fond of him, and Michael had grown fond of making fun of him. Anyway, the same person was working the counter as the Saturday before and she recognized me. As Michael roamed off to look at the pretty stuff she leaned toward me and whispered "did it not go well?" I'm pretty sure she thinks Michael is a big meanie and made me return Art, which is not the case. As I defended Michael I wondered if this was how battered women feel when they have to cover up to protect the illusion of their happy life. I grew tired of trying to convince her that returning the camel was my idea and that he didn't fit in with our home...I even called across the store and told Michael to come and give Art a good-bye kiss. As we were leaving the woman put Art in the store window so he could watch us leave. It was all just too funny. We're still laughing.

In the car I said "I feel really sorry for the people that actually paid $120. for Art." Michael said "I'm pretty sure you bought the only one."

I like to refer to that Saturday as the launch of my own economic stimulus plan. And the bedspread and fake flowers look really pretty.

Thought for today:
"The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not."
Mark Twain