Topic: Port Townsend Post-soak/Decompression

[Bill Roggensack]

Waxwing:

The housing saga is a long and complicated one which is best explored off-list. I suggest you contact Jed Pauker (Weenie's Operations Manager, who can be found at jed@jed.net) - you will probably have to go to voice to get the full picture. Weenie has always wanted the ranks of his faithful to swell to full conference status (32 persons) and it sounds like with you, Belly Meat, Sandy and a few others, we could be getting close. It's not too soon to start getting organized for 2004!

During my dorm dwelling years, I always viewed the price as being a room with free (optional) meals. That made the restaruant alternative easier to accept. All-in, PTCBW remains the finest and most economical vacation I can imagine. And by leaving my wife at home, I avoid the lost time and extra expense of daily shopping trips (aside from a couple of dozen CDs!).

Cheers,
FrontPage

[Buzz]

What a past couple of weeks! A great PT , no question about it.
I miss all of you pals, and the music we shared. And the Conmemorativo, and the food, and walks.

Slack, that was a great idea to get us moving for walks to town each morning.  Kept the joints gliding, and got the minds going. A cuppa and a walk and we were there for the Mando class!
The housing was great. Thanks , Jed. Great sleep, great food. Having John Miller and Ari join us for grub and gab was a real highlight for me. I enjoy their friendship a lot. And the stories, John, of Lester Flatt and his player who"don't suspect nothin'" is hilarious. I guffaw when I try to rememeber it!
HAving David Evans play old Delta tunes on his Reso as we prepared food, ate, or chatted was a totally cool, full immersion kind of experience.

Rich Del Grosso is  a superb teacher: prepared, patient, experienced. He covered a tremendous number of keys and tunes, lots to work on. A real asset to the faculty.And he mixed so well. It showed during the last concerets--he sat in with everyone, and they sat in with him. I agree with Andrew: the best Cephas andWiggins have ever sounded to me, and , IMHO,
they were juiced by Rich, and did they groove--Ragged and Dirty was goose-bumps quality for me, so tight, and so good. They were real good. Phil has some great licks, and is better and better. John had me worried  for a couple summers, but , he showed me that he still has some awesome talent, speed, vocal range, repertoire. I really admire him and Phil for there work.
I realy would like Rich to be invited back. And Phil and John, of course.

Ari and John Miller were so great in the lounge that nite, I agree with FP and Slack. The varied styles you pointed out, Slack, were so great with each other. The technical ability and tone and all was so great to hear and experience.
I never get tired of hearing them play, and playing together is a treat. They  are Weenies, by God, and must return!

I never laughed so hard in my life, as when I heard Lightnin' do Cecelia and the tune about the captain. I never thought I would play tunes on my hand whistles, either. That's what a couple of those wicked
Russell Hibbert Margaritas will do for you: a nice warm buzz, and here comes the tunes! Lightnin' was a real hoot, and I loved his ukelele repertoire. His cassette is great. I am going to learn more uke stuff too, and more mando. I really want him back again too. His guitar class was great, and he could teach a class on classic uke tunes, even slide.Terrific repertoire, even country and weestern.

Kudos toBruce, Joan, and Bonnie, indeed. I agree with all of you who wish them well and congratulate them on a well -run workshop and festival.
They worked tirelesslyfor all of us and the faculty, and the result was splendid for all. Thanks, Bruce and Joan and Bonnie.

Some strange thing has happened to my MDs: not one will play back any sound, just some faint hiss. Old ones from last year work fine. Seems that my record feature is on the blink. I will try it again...could be I screwed up--wouldn't be the first time or last. Oh, Well! So...Slack, can you buy some Mds and copy me all 4 of Rich's Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri mando classes, and all of John Millers classes?
I will send you a check for the MDs and all the effort. I am playing the music Rich gave us, but I do need the tunes and all.

What a great time I had, and it sounds like we all had. I love PTCBW! I love all you guys and gals too! Great fun.
Miller

[waxwing]

Thanks much, FP. The lads from Sitka are, indeed, interested. I'll contact Jed. I'm looking forward to the posibilities of exercising my culinary skills almost as much as my musical ones. Well, not really, but some.
Ugh, I dropped right back into an overload of work. Way too much stress, which can only be released by that killer R. Balfour lick in E. Maybe I'll get those few changes down tonight. What with various life logistics I've hardly had a chance to go back over much so far. So much to digest and work on.
All for now.
JohnC.
P.S. After I posted I noticed your post Miller. Thought I'd say Hi, we being both SF Bay Areans. I live over in the SF Mission District. If that was you with the Sears Duolian, I was the guy who asked you about it at the end of John's class on E grooves. I'd love to get together sometime and finger that a bit. You could try out my '30 'O'. Trade some tunes and some PT stories. I work in Alameda so some early evening thing would be easy for me. Any other weenies nearby? I didn't notice many folks from the bay area on the roster. By the way, I have MDs of all John's classes, which you are welcome to borrow. The E groove class is a little windy but you can hear almost everything through it. That breeze was so refreshing that afternoon, and John was somehow inspired, bouyed up by it. What a fun class. I'm so glad I got a recording of John's "What a pain in the Ass!" about using tapes. Ha! Well, give me a ring, I'm in the roster.
Really all for now.
John C.

[Sandy]

Greetings Weenies:  I got this web page address the other day from Front Page...AKA Bill...gotta try'n keep that straight.  Much fun to check out everyone's comments about the week.  It was my first time and I loved it.  I've stopped trying to describe the experience to my friends and family.  I just smile and say it was great and take out the memories and polish them up just for myself.  
Not being nearly the blues guitar player that most of you are the experience, classes and jamming were all very much learning stuff for me.  I particularly loved my classes with George Rezendes learning slide guitar.  Now have my Washburn tuned to open G and am working at it every day.  I keep the Larrive in regular tuning so I can practice what I learned from John Cephas...a really really fine teacher.   ;DBy next year I should have improved at least a bit.  The goal was to shake me out of my 15 year guitar rut and get happy about learning again.  The PT week picked me up by the feet, shook me up twirled me around and I might never get this grin off my face.  
I got to play in the jug band with Steve....too much fun...and sing in the gospel choir (about 60 strong) with Cora....we were GREAT!!!!  (If I do say so myself) too bad so few got to hear us on Saturday morning.   And jamming late into the night with the Sitka boys....(John from San Fran included in that lump as well as all the others in the dorm)...was SUCH a highlight.  From a woman's point of view they were all complete gentlemen musicians...a plus any way you look at it.  (not to mention brilliantly creative in the "kitchen" or lack thereof.)
Unless something terribly untoward happens between now and then I can't imagine missing next year.  Jed, I would love to talk to you more about participating with the group.  My email address is sandra@qcislands.net and I'll keep up with going's on via this site.  
It was so great to meet everyone....
Cudo's to the organizers....I actually did tell them all that in person...and I must say...I did love that the Java Gypsy's were so dependable.  Gotta have my daily fix.
Take care all....Sandy.  

[Slack]

Welcome Sandy!

Know what you mean about getting out of that 15 year guitar rut, PT is the place to do it!

Very glad you joined us.

cheers,
slack

[Sudsbury]

Los Weenos,
Great to hear from some "new" folk - welcome Sandy, John C. et al.
What a year at PT!!  My second, and now a definite lifer.  So many positive comments to make - the list is too long.  But I can't remain silent on the wonderful culinary skills on display in Weenie Central. Yummy thanks to Miller, Uncle Bud, Shelley, FrontPage and all others who sliced and diced, washed and dried, etc.  Pity I don't drink Tequila, as it seemed to add even further to the kitchen conviviality  
I thought that this year John M. outdid himself with his lessons, which is quite a feat.  Thanks for the intro. to Joe Calicott who was new to me (OK, OK, so I'm just a beginner) - love his Frankie and Albert, and am practicing hard.  His religious songs session was innovative, fun and moving.  Thanks for putting in so much effort every year John - it  shows.
I was really thrilled that Ann (my sig.other) made it out for the last couple of days - it blew her away, so I now have free rein for years to come! (Even after she discovered the 26 CD's that I had somehow accumulated).
Loved the party animus added by Lightin' and Andy Cohen. Always a treat to be around Ari, John M, Phil Wiggins (missed his cooking this year).  David Evans (who's book I'm now into) added fascinating knowledge.
The largest possible Thanks to Jed for doing the weeniehousen and accounts, and particularly for providing such great accomodation for our Conjugal Visit. Long may your hard drives turn Jed. And to all the Weenies, muchos gracias for the laughter, music and warm friendship.
Bruce, Bonnie, Joan and unsung others at Centrum - three cheers!  You pulled it off and put on just a great show.  Thank-you.
p.s. Do we have firm dates for next year yet?
Sudbury.

[Noflatpick]

I had a ball in my first year at Port Townsend.  Met a bunch of fine people, drank a fair amount of beer and even learned some new stuff on the guitar.

I was upstairs in 225 (noisy end) with the Belly Meat boys, John C., John the Canadian and the rest of the maniacs.  End of the hall, number 75, right by the shitter.  Played music every night 'till the wee hours.  Some fun!  Had the pleasure of partaking in the 3:00am Friday night/Saturday morning salmon feed.  A gastronomic delight.

Hey JohnC.  I was the guy who talked to you about us both missing the ferry to Keystone last year on Saturday evening.  You were the first car bumped and my wife and I were right behind you.  Did you ever get that washboard tuned?

Hey Sandy:  I was in George's beginner slide class with you.  I was the guy sitting by the window who showed you my finger picks with the holes in them.  Pro Picks.  Glad you had a good time.  I had a blast.

I'll definitely be back next year.

[waxwing]

Hey NFP,
Glad we could show you a good time at your first PT. That's what the Sitka lads did for me last year at my first, and if they'd let me, I'd sign up for life. So much great music to learn, and so many great people to meet.
I didn't think anyone saw the tuner gag at the show (poor timing on my part), or did you hear us talking about it in the dorm?
I made the Sunday morning ferry this year, and ran into Sandy and, as it turned out, a couple weenies. Too bad the ride wasn't long enough for a good jam to break out. 'Course, my fingers were pretty tired and sore at that point.
I'm pretty new to this board myself, but welcome. Good to hear from you.
All for now.
John C.

[Noflatpick]

JohnC:  Yeah, I heard you talking in the dorm about the tuner on the washboard and also saw you put it to the test in the show.  It WAS damn funny but, like you say, I don't think many people caught on.

[uncle bud]

Welcome aboard Noflatpick. Now that you've had one year at Port Townsend, you are doomed to repeat it, year after year.  

[Slack]

Yes, welcome NoFlatPick!  I agree with UB, after the first year my annual budget went something like:

Port Townsend
Food
Shelter
.
.
.

cheers,
slack

[Buzz]

Ditto me, Slack! I check the mail even now for the announcement of PT 2004!

Say, thanks John C for the offers of listening to your recordings, and think we should try to get together.
We are leaving town on the 26th and wont really be back til Sept 22. Let's get together after that!

Slack, I think I need copies of all the classes of Rich  DelGrosso and John Miller to go thru at my own slow pace. Any chance you could spring for 10 MDs and copy them for me? For a hamburger today I will gladly repay you on Thursday!
Back to the MAndo,
Miller
 

[Bill Roggensack]

Miller wrote:

> For a hamburger today ...

I hope that tasty little feller is made from Alberta beef!

cheers,
FrontPage

[Slack]

I've emailed Miller and given him grief for not testing his equipment.   Wimpy indeed!

[Bluesapprentice]

Hey Wennie Cambell!

Thanks for the email and the invite to join this board.

Are you THE WENNIE or is  everybody from weenie house refered to as weenies?  Sounds like you wennies have optimised the PT experience.

It was my first time, had a blast, spent most of my free time at organised events or in 225 lower lounge.  Went to 225 upper once but did not get around to any other jams.  Caught Ari & John M in the longe trading songs. Wow! That was my favorite event of the week.

Drank too much, did't get enough sleep, but I DIDN'T gain weight, dorm food ya know.

Hey Waxwing, I too would be interested in inhabiting/gastronomicalizing (did I just make up a word?) on officers row.  If you are persuing this off list would you keep me and others interested informed.  Maybe start a separate thread just for the subject.  There is probably no lack of interest among repeat attenders (pun intended).

By for now,  Ken A