warpdrive - Posted - 08/11/2018:  07:30:22

Hello Fellow Worms.

Sorry i've been absence from the threads, but my life is in a uproar to say the least.

I will be relocating in the next couple of months but i am in good health and will resume my regular posting when i get settled.

Thanks to all who have inquired about me, i am just taking a pause due to lack of internet and getting my life together and ready for the big changes i have coming up.

Thanks for your thoughts, and i will talk to all of you soon!
Sincerely,
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 08/11/2018:  10:30:54

Nice to hear from the King Worm...good luck relocating and pop in when you can. You know how much you amuse me.

FlyinEagle - Posted - 08/11/2018:  11:01:33

Thanks for the update. I was getting a bit concerned!

Tractor1 - Posted - 08/11/2018:  11:44:02

we will be here Kevin,play some five

mike gregory - Posted - 08/11/2018:  11:44:36

"No,Mr. Scott, I will NOT authorize Overtime Pay for you to fix ANYTHING.

I have recently seen an Official Report that WARPDRIVE is JUST FINE."

-James T. Kirk-

"In that case, Cap'n, I'll just finish m' lunch, and see if Spock wants to duel the banjos again.

"ANY time, ANY class M planet, feathermocker!"

TOMCAT - Posted - 08/11/2018:  19:06:20

Look at the size of them Vulcan hands!!

heavy5 - Posted - 08/12/2018:  07:43:44

Spock is pondering ---" I don't think I like this Fiberskin head for BG " -----HELP ME WARP !

Edited by - heavy5 on 08/12/2018 07:45:48

1935tb-11 - Posted - 08/14/2018:  04:32:17

good luck with your move warp. i was wondering about you the other day.
hope all goes well .....




terry m

RB3WREATH - Posted - 08/19/2018:  04:08:49

Kevin,

What state is the new location?

Joe

warpdrive - Posted - 08/19/2018:  11:26:30

Can't reveal that just yet,
wit sac says wait till I'm settled!

You know what they say,"easier to settle down in a new town, than to settle up in an old one!

all will be reviled by late October, but my journey starts in a couple of weeks!
Warp!

Ceres Banjo Works - Posted - 08/21/2018:  07:23:09

Kevin, If you end up this way, we've got to do coffee....
-Jim

warpdrive - Posted - 09/09/2018:  09:21:03

Ok guys,
the first leg of my re-location is over!
I am at my staging area, me and my dogs.
Just visited the local music store and changed the strings on my banjo, and man they needed it!
Still don't want to let the cat out of the bag as too my final destination, but hopefully i won't smell any "tar and feathers" where i am headed, not like as i did leaving Cincinnati!

Still don't have full time internet, am sitting in front of the local library , finally got a break in the rain and humidity, so me and the dogs loaded up and took a drive in the country, temps in the upper 60's, nice cloudy day, i love it!

Unless something unforeseen arise's, i won't get to my new home until the mid to late October, but me and the dogs are doing well, and i am knocking the rust off my picking every day.

Will check in from time to time, y'all behave yourselves!

Warp!

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 09/09/2018:  09:44:12

Warp I was looking forward to getting with you sometime in the future. Hope you are not moving too far. good luck with everything and make those new strings earn their keep!
ken

jlsorbit - Posted - 09/09/2018:  11:11:12

Good luck, Warp. I wish you well.

Mooooo - Posted - 09/09/2018:  11:42:02

Since you have been absent here on the BHO, whenever I have a hard choice to make about the banjo, I find myself thinking - WWWD?...what would Warp do?

BanjoLink - Posted - 09/13/2018:  09:46:20

Good luck Kevin .... hope all goes well during your relocation!

rcwright - Posted - 09/13/2018:  10:05:01

Witness protection program????

Stay away from the hurricane...

warpdrive - Posted - 09/13/2018:  13:22:27

Just a quick blurb,
i was in a local music store yesterday(still won't say where)
and they had a local for sale baldwin gold d, a 79 model.

It was clean enough and played well, and of course, i'm not in the market right now, but the seller was asking 4k for it.

Me thinks that is way high, unless it was Bobby Thompson's old banjo, and it wasn't!

Moo.......
wwwdd?
he'd make sure he didn't have to leave another town before they ran him out!

More from the dark side later!
warp!

Buddur - Posted - 10/14/2018:  18:02:14

It's been a month now, Warp...

...the suspense is building rapidly.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/14/2018:  18:24:36

A blur was seen over southern indiana skies tonight passing at warp speed. It was so fast that it appeared to be going in multiple directions at the same time.

warpdrive - Posted - 10/16/2018:  10:38:57

patience is crucial my feathered friends of the 5 string.

I should make my final move on or about the 29th. but i can tell you this..............

if i have my way about it, this movement is just going to be temporary, and i want to end up back in Cincinnati,
but.........
this movement was necessary, and as to why i had to move, i may or may not ever reveal, but my winter headquarters may or may not come as a surprise to anybody that knows my history.

Again,
thanks for your interest in my warfare and where a bouts.
warp!

dmiller - Posted - 10/16/2018:  17:51:21

Hey there Kevin - - - 4 grand for a '79 Ode D is about $1,500 too much (imo).  I bought my '72 Baldwin/ Ode D (that has both the banner and the ODE in the peghead) for a little over 2,500 and it was in PRISTINE condition.  Granted this was 3 or 4 years ago, but even so I think that it is more of a "buyer's market" now than ever before when It comes to banjos.



Good luck on your move, and any upcoming "life situations". 

Here's hoping you emerge unscathed from them.  



P.S.  Last I heard - - Rolf Sieker has Bobby's Baldwin.  If that's so - - it's down in Texas,

and you can pretty much bet your bottom dollar that one will probably never be up for sale.

Edited by - dmiller on 10/16/2018 18:00:36

mike gregory - Posted - 10/16/2018:  19:30:43

quote:

---

Originally posted by warpdrive

patience is crucial my feathered friends of the 5 string.



I should make my final move on or about the 29th. but i can tell you this..............



if i have my way about it, this movement is just going to be temporary, and i want to end up back in Cincinnati,

but.........

this movement was necessary, and as to why i had to move, i may or may not ever reveal, but my winter headquarters may or may not come as a surprise to anybody that knows my history.



Again,

thanks for your interest in my warfare and where a bouts.

warp!

---

Who you calling "FEATHERED"???

Those are GAUZE!

Wings Over Wisconsin

 

warpdrive - Posted - 11/04/2018:  13:58:00

Ok, Fellars,
Without revealing to many personal, deplorable things about my life, here is the "Whats What" in a one Kevin Hendrix "alias" Warpdrive's ! Life.

I have landed in Mt View Arkansas, and am going to try and stay a few month, maybe the winter at my moms, "FOR SALE" WhiteWater RV Park.

Now this is something that happened to come available as i am awaiting my SSI disability hearing, and make no mistake about it, i did not want to leave Cincinnati, but was run out of where i was at, and that is another story for another time, and i do intend to go back to Cincinnati, i love it there, and my nearest and dearest friends are there, and most importantly, i am established "medically "there, and i have to many medical issues that must be regularly checked to go to long without out them, and in this place, Mt View, they still bleed you with leeches for fever, and a hammer doubles as anesthesia!

I got here last Tuesday afternoon and by 7 pm, it was raining "pitchforks and hammer handles " and i had already been exposed to a norvo virus that my mom had contracted and gave to my sister and nephew and i thought i was in the clear of "praying to porcelain Jesus" till about 5 o'clock wednesday night and it hit.
The next 24 hrs were spent seething and hurling and cussing all things in existence and my final dry heave, i swear i seen dead relatives .

Through all this my kids (Bernidine, the english bulldog, and Andy, the begel bassett mix, they have been rocks, and i could not have made it life with out them, they are my nearest and dearest loved ones, "bet that is something y'all didn't know about ole warp?

Friday brought just a hint of sun shine and i started feeling a bit more normal, at least normal for me, i did manage to shower and de funk myself, and go to the store for basics, but there isn't much for me here in this place. I know not a soul, and i can't afford cable or internet, as a matter of fact, I'm at hardees right now.

The rv park sit down in a hole, and the 9.00 antenna i bought at walmart, gives me all 4 of the local PBS Channels one of the channels being PBS kids, and the others consisting of "Sewing with Nancy" and Sit and be fit"!
If i wasn't mentally going mad before, i will be soon, i swear, a network channel would be like a visit from a pretty girl!
One bright side is i have 2 short wave receiver radios that are old mulitband Sony's and such and i can pick up WLW in cincinnati and saturday night, i got a good reception of the Grand Old Opry!

Speaking of satuday, i had to go down the mountain to Batesville to the Kroger and get me and the dogs preciptions filled, that is were we are established and Batesville is the closest Kroger to Mt View and yes, they are that much cheaper than filling locally, in fact, one of the dogs meds, the locals have never even heard of, but, this is a bit isolated and off the beaten path!

Saturday afternoon, it got half way nice and sunny, and mid after noon, i got bored, and needed to stretch a bit, and i was going to look for some boots i will be needing in the future as mine are worn out, and so i headed up to the square, not suspecting that there would be any jamming going on, after all, the season ended in mt view last week, so i was looking for a half empty town, "Boy did i ever not read that correct"! the square was covered with people, eating ice cream, drinking pop, and it looked like by my count at least 4 or 5 different jam sessions, not to mention the "Looky Lous" going in and out of Scott Pools music store," myself included!
I went in and bought 3 thumb picks and then proceeded to "sniff out" the jams!

I didn't have my banjo with me in the car, but it takes all of 30 seconds to drive from the square back to the rv park so i was not worried about being defenseless!

There were some of the regulars, nothing i was interested in, and then there was a group of young kids, and by there level of playing, none of them were beyond a few years, they were full of excitement for what they were doing, and they had parental on lookers, cheering them on, but from my view, they still need a lot of guidance in the realm of Bluegrass, and could stand some professional lessons with correct instruction on notation and fingering, but hey, that is just my opinion!

i wondered around behind the Po Folks Bar B Q shack, and found a nice group jamming, that could play well, and there harmonies were good and timing was spot on.
They had a bass, mando, guitar, and dobro, but no banjo, which was sorely needed to round out the sound, and they had 20 or so, sitting in lawn chairs, and it was a good sound and crowd response.

I ambled up to them, and watched intently, not saying anything, just listening and critiquing them to myself, i formed the opinion real quick," if i was going to break the fast of not having played with anybody in 6 months, i would not get a better opportunity than this.
I asked questions about them and there group, there banjo player was working on banjos ( he does inlay work for Greg Rich, as it turns out) today and could not make it, and they play around the region, and a couple of them, had chewed the same dirt as me, but we had just never crossed paths before, basically, they are semi pro, like me, but more active than me right now.
I did not reveal anything about my skill level to them, or even much of anything at all, i just said i knew the music well, and i liked there timing and vocals and found them very pleasing to my ears!

I left the square, and returned to the rv park, and ate some leftover Catfish and hushpuppies and fries, and fed the babies and walked them, but my mind was on those jammers, that jam session. It needed a banjo, and i found something in me was itching, and when i itch, i gots to scratch.

" I APOLGIZED TO MY DOGS, AS I WAS HEADED OUT THE DOOR WITH MY BANJO IN HAND, HEADED BACK TO THE SQUARE!"

I walked around behind the sitting lawn chair crowd, and got the attention of the band, and i motioned to my banjo case and did the "air banjo move like i was picking with my right hand" to see if they approved, and i got a nod from the guitar player, so i found a spot on the back porch of the restaurant to uncase, and i tuned up, and away i went!

For what ever reasons, i was nevous!
For one, i haven't played in 6 months, and these guys were local regulars and a touring area band.
Second, i'm getting up there in years and i have real issues of not being able to cut it anymore, but still, there are times when one must "stand up and be measured, not only against yourself but others, and that is what was intimidating me the most i think!
Third, the dreaded "what if's"!
what if i fail, what if they think i suck, what if i really do suck, what if i just can't hack it anymore............ here we go, lets find out!

I asked them to take it easy on me, and that i was rusty and nervous, so they suggested sitting on top of the world as a starter, we were in a and i kicked it off at somewhere in the neighborhood of 135- 150 bpm, conservatively.........

I could feel myself sigh a bit and relax as i watch the guitar players eyes light up and he starts smiling at the other band members and i set the drive pace for the song.

" IT FELT LIKE A WARM HUG FROM A LONG LOST FRIEND" BUT WAS SOMEHOW BETTER THIS TIME"

This turned out to be a real good jam and show for the crowd that quickly grew from 20 or so, to at times 50 or more standing and pointing, and i was so glad that i got out and did this. Oh yeah!

These guys are called "Highway 36" and they have invited me to play with them anytime there regular banjo picker can't make it, and i got several invites to some local gatherings and jams and picking parties,........ 'AND I AM GRATEFUL "!

I don't know what the future holds for me guys, i sorely miss my friends in Cincinnati and that is my home, that is all there is too it, and that is what i want to get back to, not just for my peace of mind, but most importantly, my health! But...........

I will try to make the most of a not so great situation here in Mt view Arkansas, probably for the winter months anyway.

That's it for now, i will check in with y'all later this week........
for now, From the Ozarks of Mt View Arkansas
Warp!

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/04/2018:  17:23:57

Warp!!

What a great story. thanks for the update. You might come out of this winter picking in top shape. Very happy to hear of that great jam experience.  I hope you look up those kids with all the enthusiasm and do some sharing with them. It might be a great stroke of fate for you to be there for them and might make a heck of a difference to them and what they do.

If you are looking for boots, try this place. ( sierratradingpost.com/ ) It is Sierra Trading post and their prices are good. I am hoping you get a lot of sunny winter days while in the Ozarks and that everything important progresses good for you.

Thanks for the great newsletter.

ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 11/04/2018 17:25:57

Mooooo - Posted - 11/04/2018:  21:21:14

Great to hear from you Kevin. This might sound like BS, but yesterday, I was looking for this thread to find out if you're around lurking. I guess I didn't look far enough back, or overlooked it somehow. It sounds like you went back in time to the '70s with no internet, 4 channels on the tube and a short wave radio. Enjoy the simplicity if you can, seems like it will give you more time to practice. I look forward to hearing to you again from Hardees.

FlyinEagle - Posted - 11/05/2018:  05:32:40

Good to hear from you Warp, and thanks for the story.

I think you may be next year’s IBMA banjo player of the year, because the only thing you will have to do this winter is pick that banjo! And spend quality time bonding with the dogs!

I envy the free time you will have to pick. Be well, and enjoy it.

jlsorbit - Posted - 11/05/2018:  09:07:42

Good to hear from you Kevin. I hope things work out for you.

dmiller - Posted - 11/05/2018:  11:25:05

"i wondered around behind the Po Folks Bar B Q shack, and found a nice group jamming, that could play well, and there harmonies were good and timing was spot on.

They had a bass, mando, guitar, and dobro, but no banjo, which was sorely needed to round out the sound, and they had 20 or so, sitting in lawn chairs, and it was a good sound and crowd response.



I ambled up to them, and watched intently, not saying anything, just listening and critiquing them to myself, i formed the opinion real quick," if i was going to break the fast of not having played with anybody in 6 months, i would not get a better opportunity than this.

I asked questions about them and there group, there banjo player was working on banjos ( he does inlay work for Greg Rich, as it turns out) today and could not make it, and they play around the region, and a couple of them, had chewed the same dirt as me, but we had just never crossed paths before, basically, they are semi pro, like me, but more active than me right now.

I did not reveal anything about my skill level to them, or even much of anything at all, i just said i knew the music well, and i liked there timing and vocals and found them very pleasing to my ears!



I left the square, and returned to the rv park, and ate some leftover Catfish and hushpuppies and fries, and fed the babies and walked them, but my mind was on those jammers, that jam session. It needed a banjo, and i found something in me was itching, and when i itch, i gots to scratch.



" I APOLGIZED TO MY DOGS, AS I WAS HEADED OUT THE DOOR WITH MY BANJO IN HAND, HEADED BACK TO THE SQUARE!"



I walked around behind the sitting lawn chair crowd, and got the attention of the band, and i motioned to my banjo case and did the "air banjo move like i was picking with my right hand" to see if they approved, and i got a nod from the guitar player, so i found a spot on the back porch of the restaurant to uncase, and i tuned up, and away i went!



For what ever reasons, i was nevous!

For one, i haven't played in 6 months, and these guys were local regulars and a touring area band.

Second, i'm getting up there in years and i have real issues of not being able to cut it anymore, but still, there are times when one must "stand up and be measured, not only against yourself but others, and that is what was intimidating me the most i think!

Third, the dreaded "what if's"!

what if i fail, what if they think i suck, what if i really do suck, what if i just can't hack it anymore............ here we go, lets find out!



I asked them to take it easy on me, and that i was rusty and nervous, so they suggested sitting on top of the world as a starter, we were in a and i kicked it off at somewhere in the neighborhood of 135- 150 bpm, conservatively.........



I could feel myself sigh a bit and relax as i watch the guitar players eyes light up and he starts smiling at the other band members and i set the drive pace for the song.



" IT FELT LIKE A WARM HUG FROM A LONG LOST FRIEND" BUT WAS SOMEHOW BETTER THIS TIME"



This turned out to be a real good jam and show for the crowd that quickly grew from 20 or so, to at times 50 or more standing and pointing, and i was so glad that i got out and did this. Oh yeah!



These guys are called "Highway 36" and they have invited me to play with them anytime there regular banjo picker can't make it, and i got several invites to some local gatherings and jams and picking parties,........ 'AND I AM GRATEFUL "!



I don't know what the future holds for me guys, i sorely miss my friends in Cincinnati and that is my home, that is all there is too it, and that is what i want to get back to, not just for my peace of mind, but most importantly, my health! But...........



I will try to make the most of a not so great situation here in Mt view Arkansas, probably for the winter months anyway."



What a good post that was!  Good to hear you're doing well.  While reading where you "asked permission" to join the jam in progress shows to me that you have A TON OF CLASS!!  Even though you knew you could keep up with them and could add to the sound - - you had the courtesy to ask to be "invited" to sit in with them and didn't just jump in.  When you set the tempo and hit the 135 to 150 BPM - - I bet they all "perked up" and paid attention!     Here's hoping you make it back to Cincinnati - - but enjoy (and make the most of) your stay there in Arkansas while you're there.  

rbergesch - Posted - 11/05/2018:  12:34:33

Great story, Warp... Best of luck getting back to Cincinnati, but I'm glad you and your banjo found some friends in Mt View.

warpdrive - Posted - 11/06/2018:  06:40:36

Tuesday Nov, 6 8:23.....Hardee's Mt View Arkansas
HAPPY VOTEING DAY!

It looks to be a nice day today, the early temps were in the upper 30's to low 40's when me and the dogs got up this morning!

The sun is bright and shinny right now, and i'm sitting in a back booth with a hot cup of coffee and a big ole cat head bisquet loaded with all manner of things that probably walked or crawled at one time or another!

If it continue's to warm, up in the 60's, i will go out on the front porch with the dogs, and i have it blocked off so they can't get off the deck with me, and i will pick some this afternoon.
I must say the old RK 35 is sounding really good hear lately, despite my opinion of myself.
My mom called yesterday to check on some things, and reminded me that there is a bluegrass festival up here this weekend at the Folk Center, so if the weather is nice this weekend, the square will be "busting at the seems".

I found a flyer in mom's front office, and the groups are some of the same one's that have been around here for years, i will know many of them, and have actually played in some bands with more than a few of them..........funny, things never seem to change around here, its the same as when i moved to the ozarks in 95 and left in 2004, and now i'm back........time has stood still with the music, but were all older and grayer, this makes me pause and wonder, "Whats it really all about"?

I probably won't go to the folk center, just can't justify the money for a hamburger i can get anywhere, besides, it's going to be full of pickers that are trying to be the "next somebody" and i'm the only banjo picker on earth, that ain't trying to be anybody, sometimes i think......even me!

I'll pause for now, and will probably be here at hardee's online for another few minutes or so, i got to get some news other than PBS in my brain!
Warp!

Tractor1 - Posted - 11/06/2018:  09:03:35

can't beat Hardees prices on biscuits and gravy or playing music with the ego hobbled Kevin.Bang one out just to mess with the dogs

warpdrive - Posted - 11/07/2018:  08:02:26

Wednesday Nov 7th, 9:41 am

We'll, yesterday was a ring tail tooter. After years of driving everything from track vehicles and every thing with 18 wheels and smaller, i found out i could not move a standard Huskavarna Lawn tractor, not without knowing the little ins and out of it.

I was moving yard tools and such to moms tractor shed like she asked me to and we got a break in the monsoon like rains we've had here since i arrived last tuesday and the ground was getting hard enough that i felt good about moving it, so here i go, i get the damn thing started and it would not go into gear.
Now i know i am not the brightest crayon in the box, i get that, but i've never in my life been not able to get any vehicle to go into gear and move forward and backward, i mean it just hasn't happened yet, until yesterday.
Turns out there is a little pin on the rear of the tractor down behind the seat( i did not know about) the must be pushed in for it to go into gear. So i called my mom and she called a friend of the family who has used the tractor before, and he came down and showed me the error of my ignorance and the old girl went right to the shed.

After loading the wheel barrel with her lawn tools and having it join the tractor in there winter lodging, it was nice, in low 70's i think, so i got the old 5 out, and played till the church next door's bell tower that plays a mountain dulcimer and autoharp recordings sounded it's evening playing of " Old Rugged Cross" in the key of d.

I learned yesterday that after months of using a large dunlop thumpick, that switching to a medium tampers with my natural hand timing and throws me off just a smudge, so i switched back to my large, and will probably stay with larges from now on!

I must say it's nice to go into Scott Pools store and know that there is a great section of thumb and finger picks, and his price's are very reasonable.

The temps are going to be cooler today, so i don't know if there will be any porch picking for me and the dogs or not.
I keeping hoping somebody will hear me playing and see me sitting on the swing on the porch playing, and might walk up with a mando or guitar or fiddle and have some real music.
I'm certain i 'm playing loud enough for someone to hear me a ways off, but i forget it's also a banjo, and a bad one at that, so i'm sure i will be shot from long distance with a telescopic sight one day sitting there, just so the noise will stop!

Ok guys,
i am going to see what the day brings.
I came to the McDonolds today, there senior coffee is cheaper than hardees, and not littered with as many locals a leering at me.
Ya'll have a good day!
Warp!

chuckv97 - Posted - 11/07/2018:  08:19:43

Sounds like a swell day, Warp. Maybe git shot at, and gomers leering at you.   ;-)

Edited by - chuckv97 on 11/07/2018 08:31:41

warpdrive - Posted - 11/08/2018:  07:21:47

Thursday, Nov,8th, 8:49 am .......McDonalds

Good Mornings.
a bit over cast here in Mt View this morning, the temps are in the upper 40's to low 50's and i don't think there supposed to get about the mid 50's today with a chance for showers off and on all day........we'll have to wait and see.

Yesterday turned out to be a nice sunny but windy day, in the upper 50's to low 60's.
I ventured up to the square and watched guy named "Dusty" who is a young hobo that is thumbing his way around the us and riding trains also, just busking his way through life for now.
He was in mid 20's and a bit disheveled with piercings in his face and a ring in his nose, so needless to say, his need to draw attention to myself in that matter is a cry for help, never the less, he was a good/decent entertainer and had a aluminum pot open back banjo, that the had a self taught drop thumb style, that he could second himself very well.
His voice was good , and loud, and pleasing to the hears, and i mean he was loud, he could probably call hogs in the next county, if he wanted to!

i sat with some other locals watching and listening. One of the locals i was with is a local hero here in Mt View, JC.....i forget his last name, don't know if i ever knew it, but we've played on the square and at Melon's store, several times, he always sniffs me out when i come to town.

Speaking of JC and myself watching this guy Dusty preform, out of the store came Pappy Melon, a real local legend, fiddle player, and former owner of the infamous, melon's county store. Pappy has written several songs for some Nashville Greats, and is personal friends with Marty Stewart since Marty was 12 or 13, he had met Marty when he was touring with Grand Pa Jones.
I listened to JC and Pappy tell stories to dusty about the town and folk history, and old Jimmy Driftwood tales, and i even had one myself that was germane to the conversation, this could have been one of those old sitting around in a circle song writer vids like you see on youtube, until JC ruined it by telling dusty i was a banjo picker, and then they shamed me into playing just bit for reference.

Playing one man shows is something i'm comfortable with, so i did about 20 minutes or so, telling some of my local tales and experiences of growing up in Arkansas and learning bluegrass, took requests, and fulfilled them and even sang "Dooley" for them, telling about how i learned it from a guy that was Doug Dillards roommate (yes true story).
There was a nice group from the 56 Arkansas community, just 10 miles down the road, and they were really interactive with me, all in all, a good afternoon, and i got to continue to knock the rust off my chops!

Well, today is the first day of the festal at the folk center, and i noticed yesterday i recognized some "road pickers" from years past that have already hit town, so the next three days are going to gang busters with gun slinger musicians trying to make there mark.
As for me, i just don't want to get hit in the cross fire!
There are some old friends i hope to ferret out and re connect with, but i don't want to waste or spend money doing it, so it will have to be up on the square, or not at all.

The hostess just gave me a free refill on my coffee, so far, not a bad morning at all.
You guys have a good day, and i'm going to nurse my coffee and go to the post office and check the mail, and will probably cruise by the square later this afternoon, just to see what's stirring, and if the chance pops up, maybe pick a tune or two.
Y'all have a gooderun
Warp!

Mike Rowe - Posted - 11/08/2018:  10:18:49

I really enjoy these posts, Warp. Thank you!

rbergesch - Posted - 11/08/2018:  11:07:45

Real Life of a banjo-playing man in small-town America; back to the roots. That's where it all comes from... Love it!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/09/2018:  07:39:31

Friday, Nov 9th, 8:54 am....McDonalds

Good Morning,
Were in for a cold stretch here in Mt View, the temps dipped into the upper 30's this morning, and it's windy and cloudy, and Noaa is calling for our first hard freeze of the season tonight and tomorrow night, i doubt there will be any jamming on the square today or tonight, unless it's around a hot fire pit or indoors someplace.

Last night was the kick off to the Bluegrass festival at the Folk Center up the street and my understanding from a man that was sitting next to me here at this booth was it was a good turn out, i sure hope so, cause this town will be "emptier than last years bird's nest" by this time next month, and i don't relish the thought of those long winter days with nothing but PBS and my radios, although i am getting caught up on Talk Radio, but i sure miss Fox news Tv or any regular network tv right now!

The weather got nice again yesterday, must have soared into the mid 60's, and me and the dogs, had a good picking session out on the porch swing.
I am starting to feel real good about my playing again, hearing things tighten up to my expectations.
I broke a third string yesterday, something i have not done in a number of years, but i do run an abnormally light third string.
I did the stupidest thing, when i was changing out the third string, i thought i would run a regular gauge on the third since i have't done it for some months now, and i put the regular gauge string on the third, and tuned it up, played a song or two, to stretch it out, tuned it back up and decided i'd better cut the excess length off down to the tuner post.
Wouldn't you just know it, i cut the whole string off (damn these old eyes). So i went ahead and put my abnormal light third back on, and was more careful when trimming the excess the next time.

Well after playing a hour or so, i was ready to pick, so i thought since it was about lunch time, and i hadn't spent any money in a few days, i could afford a rich persons lunch and headed up to Kin folks for a big ole bacon cheeseburger and fries, and could also check to see if anything was stirring in front of the music store in the way of jamming.

Not a soul came around to jam yesterday, at least while i was up on the square, but then again, they could have been watching for guys like me, and were just hiding from afar and waiting to see when and if i would leave, these people can be kind of "cliquish" up here, and i ain't "regular folk" as of yet.

I did have a good visit with Scott Pool the owner of Mt View Music Store. We got to talking about instrument building, and fiddles in particularly and Scott took me inside to show the fiddle that his 15 year old daughter is building, and i mean it's impressive, far beyond what you'd expect in a skill set of a teen ager, but then again, her older brother Lucus and her
dad both are excellent lutithers, and Lucus is one of the best claw hammer banjoist in the world right now, and building his own line of banjos, and just built one for Mike Snider and is presenting it to him on the Opry soon.

In between PBS shows last night, i tuned in WSM and listened to some good music, and got to hear the latest from Molly Tuttle, and that got me going. I really like her sound and especially like her banjo players approach, but then again, i'v always been drawn to the more contemporary side of bluegrass and music in general, so this should not come as a surprise to those of you who have followed me over these years!

Well guys not a lot more i know to post, the Micky D's is really booming this morning, i guess a lot of overflow from the Folk Center festival. I see some faces that kind of look familiar from years past, especially when i was out on the road a hitting it, but that's been 20 + years, and none of us no longer look like our younger selves, and i'm sure i no longer look like i did back in the 90's and early 2000's. Now again i think i might ask one or two of them where they are from and do i look familiar , most generally i asks if we've ever been locked up together, you'd be surprised how many say, "well, we might have" especially the little old ladies!

y'all have a good day!
Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/10/2018:  06:57:00

Saturday Nov, 10th,.....8:17 am....McDonalds



Burrrrrrr,

It was 23 degrees when me and the babies(my dogs) woke up this morning.

The first thing i do is reach over and slap Noaa so i can hear what the weather is doing around the region, and basically, everybody had to have turned on the heat last night, if they hadn't already!



Usually i just get up long enough to turn the heat on, and get back into bed and wait for the chill to get knocked out of the house before getting up and dressing and making up the bed, I don't let the house get much more than tolerable, and then i turn the heat off, i can't afford to get comfortable, so light blankets and warm dogs will have to suffice, and me and those dogs toughed out subzero temps for a week in Cincinnati last year when the boiler in our apt building went out and there was no heat, so i don't foresee any problems making due in the ozarks, but believe it or not, cost of living here is more expensive than Cincinnati, guess that has to do with having to truck everything in, up the mountain!



There was no picking for me yesterday, sorry to say. I don't think the temps made it out of the upper 40's to low to mid 50's and a stiff wind blew all day.

I spent a couple of hrs if front of Mt View music, pitching corn hole with a few of the professional throwers, and i mean these guys were good. I might have had a chance if we'd been arm wrestling , but these guys bean bags had eye's on them, many a turn seen them throwing all four of there bags into the hole, don't think i've ever witnessed that before.



The evening was not much to speak of, i tuned in the Friday night opry, and waited for Molly Tuttle to hit the stage, but i was disappointed she wasn't carrying a banjo last night, at least on here first show, i did not listen to the second show.



Mike Snider had a good set, he always does. I remember the first time i met mike at winfield Ks at the national banjo contest,(my only entry into that).

I still say that was the most lopsided win i've ever seen in my life, and every contestant in that contest in 83 knew it was over before it started.

I went on, later in life to get to know mike a bit, and he is quite the character off and away from the stage, but don't that that slow demeanor fool you, anybody who can fly a plane has to be fairly sharp, and of course, he is a genius with any instrument in his hands!



Well, the Micky D's is starting to fill up, and i can over hear mubbleings of people talking about last nights activities from the Bluegrass festival, i'm sure everybody had a large time.

If the weather would just warm up to the mid 50's i bet there would be jamming on the square today, but there is no such luck. Although it's fall bright this morning, i would be surprised if it bust the upper 40's today, but i guess there is always hope?



Guess i should take this chance to say "Happy Veteran's Day" to all who have served! (i know it's still a couple of days away, but i dont want to forget saying it)

I see many Vietnam Vet hats around town, and i'm sure there are many others from other era's as well, they all make me proud to have served my little bit, and i still believe it is the greatest thing that anyone can do in there life!



I guess the strange thing about this place is i can't find a radio station that plays at least a few bluegrass tunes now and again. Even the NPR stations i can tune in up here don't have a regional or local bluegrass show on the weekend, who'd have thunk it?



Well that's about all i got for now, guess i will refill my coffee, and watch the people a bit and then head for the post office to see what surprise's life might deal me today? Maybe some sort of windfall will come my way, but i aint holding my breath. It's been my experience that in my life, all good things come's with strings attached, and the payback is always more than the payout!



Y'all have a gooderun

Warp!

Edited by - warpdrive on 11/10/2018 07:01:45

Joe Connor - Posted - 11/10/2018:  12:55:26

Keep it up, Kevin. Very enjoyable reading.

warpdrive - Posted - 11/11/2018:  07:06:47

Sunday, Nov 11th, 8:31 am....McDonalds

Happy Veterans Day To All Who Are Serving, And Have Served!

Not much to speak of in the way of yesterday's activities. There was a good crown of people milling about town, overflow from the bluegrass festival, but it was just to dog gone cold to pick, unless you were in one of the many rv park picking sheds or somebody house or i guess the many jams probably going at the Folk Center Festival!

Played a new guitar the Scott got in yesterday at the Mt View music, it was a "Fuch"? it was from the Chezc Republic and it was there plain jane model but it had a "voiced" top.
The guitar played like butter, and really projected well, the neck was comfortable to my hands, and was priced very moderately , and would hold it's own with any guitar out there, at least to my ears, and for me, i really like the un-varnished looking instruments!

Yesterday after noon found me watching PBS documentaries about Veterans, and as much as i dislike PBS's politics, i must say, they did honor or Veterans day Holidays all week with good, and introspective programing, much of it, really touched my heart, and brought a tear to my eyes, knowing what many of my brethren in arms have went through, just makes me hurt, and i feel so un-worthy to call myself a veteran at times, i can only imagine what PTSD those soldiers must endure, every day, for the rest of there lives!

Later on in the evening, i watched much lighter fair programming. Now you can go ahead and give me the "horse laugh" for what i'm about to tell you, but i am a huge fan of "The Lawerence Welk Show", simply put, "there were never better musician's anywhere on the planet"!
The show always takes me back to childhood, and care free thoughts and times, for me, it's just good entrainment, and i love it that they would cover all genre's of music, pop, rock, country, and i my first love, "Big Band Swing" that's right, i said it, my first love is Benny Goodman!

I rounded out the evening with Tunning in the Opry at 7 and listened to it most of the night, with the exception of watching "Father Brown".

Mike Snider had another good show last night, he hosted a segment on his own. The big bluegrass act for the night was of course Bobby Osborne And Rocky Top Express.
Bobby had a good two sets on the first and later shows and of course he sang rocky top for his closer each show. Bobby's banjo player had a very good lick, and was very very "sonnyesque"sounding, he was really pulling great tone, and using many of Sonny's signature back up and annoying to Bobby licks, and i found him very pleasing indeed, and i think i heard Bobby call him Gary? but Bobby's spoken voice was hard for me to hear at times, especially when the radio would fade in signal strength as it does at times when your 7 hrs from Nashville, up in the hills, but when it's right, it's good!

I finished my evening by trying to stay up later. The nights are so long, and going to bed my 10, and with my insomnia, i am usually awake the first time with in 3-4 hours and must get up by 3:30, so, i am intentionally forcing my self to stay up later so i will be able to say in bed at least until sunrise.
I watched part of the first set of Austin City Limits and Kasey Musgroves ( i really like her voice and throw back style)!

Last night was not a cold as Friday Night, the temps only dropped to the mid to upper 30's. It's over cast this morning, and i seen ice pellets falling from the sky as i left the house to come here this morning, so the weather that Noaa is calling for, is upon us. I will see what the day holds, but it don't look like much.

Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/12/2018:  07:18:02

Monday, Nov 12th 8:28 am.... McDonalds

Good Morning,

Well i guess those of you , still in the working class, for at least some of you today will be a holiday, i hope you enjoy it!
I guess the only job i ever had that celebrated and gave off, the Veterans Day Holiday, was back in 05, when i was a emergency sub mail carrier at Loveland Oh. I did that job for 6 month and was never smart enough to get a good score on the postal exam so going full time just wasn't an option for me, and i started driving truck!
I think working at the post office was one of the most "mentally incapacitating "jobs i've every not enjoyed, and my hats off to our postal workers, it's a damn tough job!

Yesterday was just the biggest nothing. I kept thinking i would get my banjo out and play some indoors, although the sun did come out, and it seemed really nice outside, maybe even warm enough to pick if the sunlight was hitting just right on you, but, i'm battling depression from my state of affairs in life right now, and it's way easier to find a reason "not to pick" these days.
I'm tired of going up to the square and trolling like a stray dog looking for scraps to survive on, and there are times i come real close to just taking the old 5 to the pawn shop, and get whatever it will bring for cash on the barrel head, and never looking back.
I find it amazing the people that would love to have my musical ability that say, "i'd be picking here or there, and how grand life would be if i could play like that, but i'm hear to tell ya, it just hasn't worked out like that for me.
The tinnitus in my ears is one of the more severe cases that any ear doctor has seen, and after about an hour, i can't tolerate the loudness of my banjo and the pitch of my tinnitus, besides getting so loud it makes me crazy, it achieves the same tone as the fifth string on my banjo, and i can look down and not even tell from hearing if i'm striking the fifth string on not, unless i physically am looking at the string, it really is dishearting!
I heard something on Tv yesterday that made me laugh and say,"well that's me" it went something like, " i have no money, i have no responsibilities, i have no hope, i'm the happiest man on earth"!
I have lived the last two years by "murphy's law" if something bad is going to happen, it will happen, and at the worst possible time".
I live hand to mouth, and i've gotten really good at it, and just when i think, I'm going to get by a month, and not be broke when my small 30% disability check( because it's not VA, i pay taxs on it) when hits the bank, i will have a few bucks left over, and can slowly start building up enough to hopefully by spring, get me the hell out of here, and back to Cincinnati,.........no such luck!
Last month, it was a 200$ unexpected car repair, a throttle body when out on my 2002 Trailblazer, and not this month, it my precious little baby, my female english bulldog Bernidine. I'm carrying her down the mountain this morning at 11 to see a vet because she has a nasty ear infection that i just can't stand to see her shaking her head anymore, and i no she's probably having pain with it, so i will pony up the 100$ or a little more to get her back in shape. And on this subject, there is nothing more important to me, and i would gladly sell my banjo, and down to one firearm or maybe all firearms to keep my dogs going, i've already sold things in the past to do this, for example, both of my past guitars went to save her life when her heart problems started.
Oh well, i have to believe that some how or another, this experience is preparing for something i am to go through later on......dare i contemplate what that will be?

I know this thread topic has taken on more of a daily blog as to my life situation since leaving Cincinnati, so to the mods, thanks for not giving me any flack over it not always being about the banjo, and all members are welcome to answer or make "helpful" comments to me at anytime, but i would appreciate you remembering that this is the most serious thing i've ever done in my life, but i have no one else i can talk with about my situation as i am not what you'd consider close with my family, i just have "too many broke toys in my attic"!

I guess it' about time for me to get back to the house. I need to stop at walmart first then go to the atm and really feel some pain, but if my little bulldog gets back to normal, this will all be worth it. I still may have to hit the local pawn shop if things get too lean, and quite frankly, the two long guns i have left aren"t worth much, but.....just like peeing in the ocean, every little drop helps.

who knows, if i get a good report from the vet, i might play some today, just out of jubilation!

You guys have a gooderun ,
Warp!

Owen - Posted - 11/12/2018:  10:16:16

quote:

---

Originally posted by warpdrive

---

<snip>   ... i get the damn thing started and it would not go into gear. ...  but i've never in my life been not able to get any vehicle to go into gear and move forward and backward, ... <snip>

...enough to make a guy grab his banjo and bang out "Backing to Birmingham."  [.... or maybe even come up with an additional verse.]    Thanks for the interesting reading.   

warpdrive - Posted - 11/13/2018:  06:48:38

Tuesday Nov 13th 7:44 am.....McDonalds

What a difference a day makes!

First an update on the love of my life, and the only female i am currently sharing a bed with. Of course i am talking about my 10.5 year old English Bulldog Bernidine!
She had a nasty ear infection, and i felt so bad for having to wait so long to get her into see a vet, but just didn't have the money.

The vet said her right ear was the worst, and the poor thing just squealed with pain when the vet looked in with a scope and then had to irrigate and massage and break up the puss and gunk/infection, but he told her as he was doing it "darlin your going to feel so much better real soon after we do this" and he was right.

The vet's name is Dr Nixon, and he is just an old country vet and has probably treated everything in these hills with 2 or 4 legs at one time or another. When Bernidine and i pulled up in the yard, he was attending to 4 of the biggest horses i've seen in my life, and i've seen quite a few horses, all of them pushing 6 ft tall standing, and Doc Nixion can hunt geese with a yard rake too, he's probably 6'6.
Anyway, they gave me, ear wash to be used once a day, and antibiotic drops to be used twice a day and then cefex to be used 3 times a day for 2 weeks and some pain med that they quartered up to give once a day. The bill was 115.00, which in my painfully depleted wallet, really runs things tight until the first of next month, but the result was sooooooo worth it.

When i got bernidine home, it was time to put the antibiotic drops in each ear, and she was still tender from the vet working on her, but we got through it, and i gave her a cefex and a pain pill, and she slept good and hard for a few hrs, but when she got up, she had bright eyes, and i could tell she was already feeling better than she has in a week or more.
The rest of the evening was cold and damp, spitting moisture outside, so we (andy my begal bassett mix and Bernidine and myself) stayed close around the space heater and i listened to the radio.
The evening was un-eventful with one more dose of ear drops and cefex at 8 pm and we were all snugged in and in bed by 10:15 or so.

The night went well, and i slept better knowing bernidine was on the mend, the temps dropped to the low 20's and we woke to a skiff of snow on the porch and dusting the ground.
Bernidine was doing her playful Bulldog Bounceing at get up for breakfast time this morning, something that i just never can get enough of, she was feeling good, and her bucking bronco bounce is her way of letting me know she's feeling her oats, she didn't even seem to mind the ear wash and drops very much, nothing like yesterday.
Anytime, my dogs are happy and healthy, i don't feel like there isn't anything i can't overcome, or tolerate in my life, thats just how i cope with things, and although things are not good, they could always be worse. I look forward to bernidine getting more and more back to her old self.

On another subject, my dear friends back in Cincinnati that i had to leave to come here, have made me a generous offer.
My friend Dan, is a great bass player and plays rock and blues, and has two guitars, and is going to send me one of them, so i can get my chops back, and i will return it to them when i go back to Cincinnati, i am so lucky to have friends like him and Carol in my life.
They truly are my family, in fact, i married his daughter 2 years ago come May, when they asked me to get an online ministership, and it was glad to do it! With out bragging, i knocked it out of the park, but it was just acting, which is just entraining and that is a part of working the road as a musician, so it wasn't a stretch for me!

I talked to my former bandmate and friend that runs the Appalachian Festival at Old Coney Island in Cincinnati, Ron. I always have figured on being back in Cincy by the upcoming festival, if not sooner, and Ron needs me to do more MC work this year, besides my regular preforming on stage and roaming.
I.ve never stayed for the late finiale on Sundays before, i usually just do a set, and jam a little and head home, but he has had a regular drop out, and ask me to take up the slack, knowing its like an extension of me, to just turn it on, i said "sure".
I told him we need to find a travel trailer with A/C in it, and put it on the premises close to the main office in the parking lot, and me and the dogs could just live out of that for 3 days, and i could use the portalets and clean up in trailer, and check on the dogs in between sets and at breaks, so we will see.
This will be my 5th year in a row to work the festival, and it's a good time and venue, so if any of y'all are in the Cincinnati area this coming mother's day weekend, come on out to the 50th Annual Appalachian Festival At Old Coney Island, just right after you cross the bridge on 275 from Kentucky, first exit on the Ohio side!

Well, i don't know what the day holds, the sun is bright right now, but colder than a well diggers boots. I really should play some today, and since things are looking a bit better today, i probably will. Got to keep the callus's in shape.

Just overheard the gentlemen sitting in the next booth talking about the sighting of a mountain lion here locally, what a surprise. If it's not doing any mischief, i hope it doesn't get hunted and killed, i would love to see one in the wild, the hills are still full of color around here, and it is a really scenic drive going down the backside of the mountain toward "Timbo"! they may not be as grand as the smokey's but the ozarks have some really good scenic overlooks, and some road that are so crooked "you will wear your horn out, honking at your own back bumper"!

I guess that's about it this morning, it's about time to think about heading up to the post office and see what surprise's life has in store me now, but whatever it is, now that Bernidine is feeling better, i'm sure i can get through it!

Have a gooderun!
Warp!

jlsorbit - Posted - 11/13/2018:  10:05:06

Glad to hear you are feeling better today Kevin. It's always darkest just before dawn.

warpdrive - Posted - 11/14/2018:  07:36:17

Wednesday, Nov 14th, 9:06 am.....McDonalds

Good morning...
Well, I've been up early this morning, i guess we got up somewhere in the neighborhood of 3:30, for no other reason than, i just felt like time to get up!

The temps were in the upper 20's, and Bernindine was rooting around in the kitchen, which is her way of telling me, "Dad, it's time for breakfast" and when i get up, then Andy the hound dog is up watching to see if Bernidine has found anything that she needs help with!

Bernidine continues to get better and now doesn't even flinch when i doctor her ears.

I decided i'd do laundry today, so i was up at the laundry mat by 7am, not knowing what the weather might do later today and tomorrow, i figured it better to just get it over and done with!
We have a chance of sleet and snow flurries today and tomorrow, not much accumulations, but around here, a 2 inch snow will paralyze the mountinan, don't think these people have ever laid eyes on a real live snow plow!
The forecast for this friday and saturday is temps pushing into the 60.s, and sunny, so yesterday , in hopes of that, i got the ole 5 out, and disappointed myself for a few minutes,( i am my own worst critic).

I am sure i would enjoy playing more if my banjo was in the shape i want it to be. I know anybody else i'm playing with, could not tell it or know it, but i am in dire need of a fret polishing. The last person to do a fret job for me, really botched it up, and i don't think anybody else could play my banjo. Although i keep the action normal to low, it really hurts having some high frets and you must really "bear down" to get clean notes in many of the positions.
If i had the money, i would put a new ebony "extended and slightly arched fret board, and new pearl nut and stainless steel frets all the way down, and probably take some thickness out of the back of the neck, yeah, that's the way i would want it, but the money that cost would probably come close to buying a good used Rk-35, and i just can't see spending 2-300.00 on a banjo that can be bought for 500.00! oh well, i'm not going to be hitting the big time banjo circuit, so i guess i will just continue to limp it along!
Was watching PMS last night (i have no other choice) and there was an advertisement for a new Ken Burns documentary to air in 2019 called "Country Music" i can only imagine how good that will be, and looks like a lot of Grand Ole Opry history will be featured in it, so you know there will be some bluegrass also, should be some good watching!

Ok guys, that's it from the Mossy Oak wearing capital of the US( or at least it seems that way, i bet they wear that stuff to church)!
You guys have a gooderun!
Warp!

Robby Boone - Posted - 11/14/2018:  08:58:07

This is awesome Kevin! You have your own thread kinda like Sonny's where you can check in daily......pretty cool. Glad to see that you're getting settled in. Best to you my friend!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/15/2018:  08:46:11

Thursday Nov 15th 10:18 am.....McDonalds

Good Morning,

Woke up to a dusting of snow this morning, and actually had to sweep off the porch and my suv , which made me homesick for Cincinnati.
I know that's sound strange to many of you, knowing i was born and raised here in Arkansas, but i've not been of this environment for many a year, and i long for the time when i can get back to my friends and familiar atmosphere!

Me and the dogs had a decent night last night, i watched the "Thi Cave Rescue" it was very good.
Bernidine was having quite a few of here spells(she has heart problems and takes Sotalol and Mexcilitine for her heart, and she is either having sleep apnea or scycopy with her heart, and now and again, if she gets to excited, she will just stop and stand still and sometime just lay down flat till her heart re-regulates, it is very taxing on me, living on her every breath sometimes, but i love her, and am glad to be here for her!

It feels like a heat wave right now without the wind blowing and in the mid 30's.
The sun is bright, and is supposed to push into the upper 40's today and flirt with 60 tomorrow, and Saturday, look out, it might push into the mid 60's.
With my luck, the square will be littered with jammers, most of them locals and they aint none to friendly to banjo pickers, but i got lucky the last time i was on the square, maybe lightening will strike twice!

Well, out of desperation, i have started following some weekly serial's on PMS and i must admit, a couple of them are pretty good. Tonight is "Jamestown" i like it really good, and sometime this weekend i think Saturday night is "Poldark" and then on Sunday nights of course is "Dalton Abby" and i would have never guessed i could follow any of these, but not for the reason's you might think........
you see, with my tinnitus and hearing loss, it is really hard for me to pick up on conversation with regular folk, and you throw a british accent into the mix, and my brain is just scrambled, and i hate closed captioning , just too many things going on at once. But i've managed to keep up on these and between the few programs i can follow, and the bad Pms news hour and BBC news and my radio, i manage to keep myself sane for now.

Well, i guess that's all i got for now, i need to go to the post office, and then home to the babies, and figure out what will be lunch and probably will pick some this afternoon, still working with some sore fingertips due to the inactivity of the cold, but i should be in decent shape by Saturday, if the need arises for "buzz saw banjo".

Y'all have a gooderun,
Warp!

FlyinEagle - Posted - 11/15/2018:  09:09:34

I LOL-ed at PMS. I might get ridden off on a rail for admitting it, but I really enjoyed Downton Abbey. My wife was way into that show, and I would coincidentally be in the living room on the nights she was watching it.

You take good care of your dogs, Warp. They are lucky to have a good owner like you. Hope the ear infection is clearing up, too.