Update on the Idlewheel show for Sunday, Feb. 14 at the Wade's home in Union, NJ. The show is still going to be at 5PM, but dinner will be at 4PM. Dinner with this bunch of folks is a beautiful thing.. Don't miss it. Full details for the Idlewheel shows are listed below.
2/3/10
A Dog's Life
I don't know who wrote this, so I can't give credit, but this sums up my feelings for dogs in general.
A veterinarian was called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
The vet examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. He told the family he couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As they made arrangements, Ron and Lisa said they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, the Doctor felt that familiar catch in his throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that the vet wondered if Shane understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. The family and the vet sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
"People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"
Everyone nodded and softly agreed. "Sure, of course."
"Well", he continued, "dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
Craig Bickhardt and I will be doing some shows together in February. Our band, Idlewheel, also features Tom Hampton on a plethora of stringed instruments and Tommy Geddes on drums/percussion. Look for much fun, body surfing, waking up in strange surroundings, etc.. Our last outing was hilighted by an evening at "The Casbah", aka Dorothy and Charlie Wade's house. More fun than a barrel of meth-ed out monkeys - and completely legal!
UPCOMING IDLEWHEEL TOUR
"TAKING THE NORTHEAST BY STORM" (hopefully not literally)
IDLEWHEEL
Thursday, February 11 - 7:30pm
Concerts at The Beach House (House Concert)
Lansdowne, PA
Suggested Donation: $15.00
To Reserve and for directions, email: bob@bobbeach.net or call (610) 626-0012
IDLEWHEEL
plus Valentine Love Songs In-The-Round with
Jack Sundrud, Craig Bickhardt, Lizanne Knott & JD Malone
Friday, February 12 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Nestology
The Pavillion at the Court at King of Prussia
King of Prussia, PA
Free Show
IDLEWHEEL
plus
Wissahickon Chicken Shack
Saturday, February 13 - 8:00pm
PUCK
Printer's Alley, Doylestown, PA
Tickets $12.00 in advance, $15.00 Day of Show
Advance Tickets: www.pucklive.com (215) 348-9000
Valentines Day in The Casbah!!
IDLEWHEEL
Sunday, February 14 - 5:00pm
The Wades Home
2259 Morrison Avenue, Union, NJ
Suggested Donation $25.00
Reservations: twojulysons@aol.com or (908) 764-6919
THE STORY OF HELGA - MAGIC KITTENWhile walking our dogs in the park last week (during the 18 degree cold snap) we heard an un-earthly wailing. Unable to find where the sound was coming from, and with the dogs getting restless, we continued on. The next day, we again heard the wailing. This time, we tracked it down to a large rock pile in a ditch beside the road. While I corralled the canines, Sue dug through the rocks until the source of the cat-erwauling was at last revealed. A wee baby kitten - lost, cold, ribs jutting out- hungry and not about to take it quietly.. So after looking for her home to no avail, feeding her great gobs of good food and water, intensive cuddling and a visit to the vet (to be poked, prodded and punctured) - we sailed off on an adventure to her new home - with my Dad, Omar - up in Minnesota. Upon our arrival in the northland, the 2 immediately hit it off and a deal was struck. Omar will feed her and clean up her litter box in exchange for purring, playing with various toys and non-toy-like objects, sleeping in excruciatingly adorable positions and generally being loveable. Helga - cat on a mission.. (photo: left panel - at the vet. right panel - assessing her new home state of Minnesota)
01/09/10
Happy New Year to all!
Why, it's so cold in Nashville, I saw a chicken with a capon.. I'm actually enjoying the unusual arctic-ish weather we've been having (temps in the teens - VERY unusual here). Reminds me of MN (although MN is currently having WAAY below zero temps). I haven't seen seriously frozen ponds here in many years - and this one's been frozen for a week!
And speaking of ponds, I am interviewed in the current issue of the excellent British Americana/Roots publication, Maverick Magazine.. Check it out. I expound on many subjects - and I somehow appear to know absolutely nothing about any of them..
Stay warm.
JS - BLAHG ARCHIVE:
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