America Drinks and Goes Home - 07 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 513

Micah 6:8
Ephesians 5:15-21
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Another day of music in the books, but I won't bore you with the details. Just know that you should be envious.

Today is Mead Day! Not Margaret, the honey wine. One of the two worst things I ever put in my mouth was mead I made in my university days based on an Amateur Scientist column in Scientific American from the 70s.

I do really like Camelot Mead from Oliver Winery in Indiana, and recommend it heartily. It's especially good hot.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Bluegrass Rules - 06 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 512

Micah 6:8
Ephesians 5:18-20
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Well, one day down, two to go. We're loving the music and our time together, and it seems that everyone else is too.
The bands are thrilled to be in front of a live audience.
The audience is thrilled to have live music on stage.

The amount of Gospel in the sets was really high - more than usual - we think the bands are so thankful to be back working that praising God just comes naturally. No complaints here.

Heidi commented that Sammy Shelor was the coolest guy on stage all day, and I have to concur. The Lonesome River Band had wireless pickups on all their instruments except the fiddle (maybe not the bass), and the guys moved around the stage while playing, joining whoever had a break to look him in the eye and enjoy the moment together. Then, Sammy found a little kid (2 years old? something like that) and played to the side of the stage several times, just having a great time with that young-un.

Anyway, the weather was great, the crowd was appreciative of everything except Blake's jokes (and I don't know why - he was hitting on at least 7 cylinders most of the time), and the music was really good. We got to chat with a couple musicians we hadn't seen in a long time, and life is good.

Pick On!


Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Pick Away! - 05 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 511

Micah 6:8
Psalm 33:1-3  Genesis 9:21-23
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Milan!!! We're finally back to seeing live music with other people around us! I can't wait! Oh, I don't have to wait, it's today! Here's hoping for great weather for the next few days.

By the way, it's also National Underwear Day - I'm planning to celebrate by wearing underwear most of the day.


Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Is This Iowa? - 04 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 510

Micah 6:8
Leviticus 25:17-18
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

On this date, 04 August 1921, Major League Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Landis gave life bans to eight White Sox players accused of throwing the World Series in the so-called "Black Sox scandal."

This, of course, led directly to the 1989 major motion picture, Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner in one of his least wooden performances.

Never willing to pass up a promotional opportunity, Major League Baseball will be hosting a game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Black White Sox at the Field of Dreams in Iowa later this month. If I followed baseball, I might watch. It appears that it will be an amazing production with microphones planted (literally) all over the field and cameras galore (possibly an entire plethora!).
Again, if I followed baseball, I might watch.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Art Projects - 03 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 509

Micah 6:8
Exodus 35:30-35 
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

First off, please note that the second word in today's blog post title is a noun, not a verb. Art may project (and in fact, he generally does when singing in the choir), but I'm talking about art projects - artistic endeavors.

Today is Airplane Crop Duster Day. Why in the world did that take me to art projects? Well actually, my first thought was of a school friend from many years ago whom we called "Farmer" for no reason I can recall. Sorry, Jim. I don't know why we did that.
At any rate, my next thought was of a short film that I've had rolling around my mind in a planning phase for something like forty years now. 

It starts with a doctor handing a patient a prescription to take care of the fungal infection on his left thumb.
The camera zooms in on the paper and we read that he's to go to I-94 at Moross, pull over on the shoulder and put his hand out the driver's window.
We cut to an outside shot of the patient's car pulling onto the shoulder, his putting on a surgical mask (how prescient!), rolling down the window just enough, and putting his hand through the opening.
The camera pulls back and up, as though we're standing on an overpass, and we see that there are cars parked nearly bumper to bumper on the shoulder along with our patient. Then, in the distance we see ... something ... it comes nearer and we realize it's an old biplane like the barnstormers used to fly.
We hear the plane's engine as it comes closer, suddenly dropping quite low over the cars on the shoulder, and it begins to dust the cars, just as a crop duster would.

That's it. A pretty awesome, award-worthy film, no?

I've had plans for many other projects, as well. Things like a series of photos of street signs related to the Bluegrass Music (e.g., Monroe Street, Banjo Drive, etc.). Maybe it's time to actually execute some of these, eh?

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Celebration - 02 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 508

Micah 6:8
Malachi 3:16-17
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

What an emotional weekend.
The memorial service for our two dear friends, Charles and Patti, was Saturday afternoon, and it was as good as something like that could be. There was a great turnout from all parts of their lives, and it was a great service. It was fairly long, but it never felt like it - it never dragged, nor seemed as though we should have been done by then. The choir did a pretty amazing job of singing God's praise in their honor, generally getting through the whole anthem with no sobbing or other breakdowns. I didn't expect it, but the one thing that really brought tears to my eyes was some instrumental music - "Master Tallis's Testament" by Herbert Howells played by Dave Wagner. That was a wonderful tribute to both Charles and Patti. (here is a recording that will give you an idea of how moving this music was)
Then on Sunday, the Bell choir played for the first time without a director. Frankly, we were really good - we watched and listened to one another and will play again fairly soon. I think Patti and Charles would have been pleased and proud - I know we were.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Worship - 01 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 507

Micah 6:8
John 6:24-35
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

 

 

For our 9:30 worship service we have the handbell choir at offertory time, two hymns for congregational singing, and we're sharing Communion. (Yes - we're back to congregational singing. We're Methodists again!)
Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person, and intend to continue that practice indefinitely.

As usual, today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264