The Sandwich Life

Guitars, Girls and Kane Welch Kaplin

Owen's dress rehearsal went well.  Everybody whooped and hollered instead of polite applause.  And the girl who had said something VERY mean to him a week or so ago?  She screamed, "that was AWESOME Owen."  HA.  Later he reported to me that, "it was kind of scary" before pausing, only to say in surprise, "well, actually it wasn't scary....it was really fun."  When Ernie and I got home we walked up to the house and could hear him practising some more.....

On the not so great side Ernie has gotten a cold and Leo is home sick.  Now as long as we bathe Owen in antiseptic we should be o.k. for the talent show.  It means that we couldn't go see our friends for dinner last night however---which we had really been looking forward to.  Sigh.  Hopefully this will A. only hit Ernie and Leo, B. hit only Ernie, Leo and me, or C. Hit all of us as long as it is after tomorrow for Owen.

I've been trying to figure out how we could go see A.  Kristi Rose and Fats opening for Dave Alvin at Fitzgerald's on March 9 or B. Kane Welch Kaplin in Ohio on that Sunday.

O.k., I can see that A. B. C. thing could get annoying but it's kind of fun to write.

Anyway....because Kane Welch Kaplin play so rarely I would love to go to Columbus but it's on a Sunday damn it.  I posted on Kevin Welch's facebook that even I couldn't bring myself to pull the boys out of school for their show and Kevin responded "Screw school Cynthia" and I thought, "damn...I love that guy."

THEN I thought "well yeah, fucking A....I took a day off work to take them to the Lego convention."  Ernie says he loves it when I say 'fucking A' because it seems very Chicago and kinda unlike me.  Huh.  I don't know what to think about that.  Anyway....then I started hopping around expedia and priceline and looking at hotels....and it began to seem doable.  THEN I realized that I think I have to work that Sunday.

Damn.

Damn.

Damn.

So now I'm just going to go think about something nice.....like ordering garden seeds.....and try not to think how incredibly happy they would make us feel.  The jerks.  Why can't they be assholes and play lousy music?

 

 

 

Roasted Okra, Warren Hellman and Downton Abbey

Roasted okra....I think even Ernie was somewhat convinced....they were pretty good.  That and chicken wings (just baked at 450 until crispy) with a sriracha/honey dipping sauce were our appetizers for our Warren Hellman Memorial Party.  As we sat and watched the live stream of the memorial Owen and Dema worked on their cardboard gauntlets and shields.  Owen somehow convinced Ernie to track down two yardsticks and cut them down, complete with points, for use as swords.  As Ernie said as he handed them over to them, "at least now if they stab each other, we'll know how deep."  Parker came over and joined in.  It was wonderful to watch them running in the field but mostly I kept my eyes on the computer and the Hellman memorial.  It was a lovely afternoon of music and spirit---Warren's, the people that loved him, the combination of sweet boys and cut up pieces of cardboard, Kane Welch Kaplin, my husband and even roasted okra.

I know lots of wonderful musicans played at the memorial but let's face facts Cynthia style....the most wonderful of all?  Well of COURSE it was Kane Welch Kaplin.  Man, the guys sounded good...SO good...they looked strong and happy and Kieran had a wonderful scarf and when they smiled at each other it did my heart good.  Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.  Of course I immediately started yet again trying to figure out how we could get to Columbus to see them....but it's on a Sunday damn it and I just can't figure it out.  This will have to be my fix.....at least it's archived....YAY!!!

Go to http://www.warrenhellman.org/warren/stream.shtml and hover over the bottom controls, the third red arrow from the left is Kane Welch Kaplin.  My beautiful boys. 

 

 

 

 

The rest of the weekend consisted of errands, Owen's guitar lesson and lunch with my boys.  They were in particularly good moods all weekend because today is a holiday for them.  Owen's first words this morning were thanks to the presidents for this day.

Ernie and I also watched all seven episodes of the first season of Downton Abbey.  Oh MY.  Owen watched about five of them with us which meant that they were accompanied by a constant stream of comments and questions....somewhat exhausting....  Good thing I love him so....  Now I'm terrified I'll read something about the second season....don't tell me anything anybody!

Busy week ahead, talent show dress rehearsal tomorrow, tons to do at work, dinner with friends we don't see enough tomorrow, talent show on Thursday....and good lord then it will be the weekend again....I DON'T understand the pace of time these days.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Fats Kaplin and My Beloved Owen!

Two of my favorite men in the world have birthdays today.  Fats Kaplin, whom I love, and my own Owen, whom I utterly adore.

Here is a clip (THANK you Van!) of Fats doing Maloney Road at our last house concert.  This one of Ernie's favorite songs and back when Kane Welch Kaplin played at our house he asked Fats to do it--which he did and it was gorgeous.  Since then, every time Fats and Kristi Rose play at our house Ernie asks him to do it and everytime poor Fats explains that he can't do it without the other guys there.  So a couple of weeks before this last concert, Ernie mentioned that he'd have to ask Fats to do it and I yelled, "NOOOOO....you always ask for that and he doesn't have it arranged to be played solo...do NOT ask him for that."  Interstingly enough....right about the same time Kristi Rose was saying to Fats, "Ernie asks for Maloney Road EVERY time....you've got to work it up so you can do it for him!"  So Ernie agreed not to ask for it and Fats agreed to play it.  Kristi Rose and I have SUCH good taste in husbands.  Anyway, it is a joy....and since it's Fats' birthday....I thought I would play it.  Do listen.....

 

So...heartfelt birthday wishes....to Fats....and my sweet baby....

 

 

Fats Kaplin and Kristi Rose Holiday House Concert Update

1.  We have mistletoe.  It has been installed.

2. Don't forget to PayPal the money ahead of time (or drop it off with us).  The link is at the top right of this page.  Occasionally people have problems with it----but it usually works eventually....

3.  I am making a double batch of cassoulet, some pickled vegetables, my cheese wafers and maybe some spiced nuts.  Maybe popcorn too.  So we will need appetizers, sides, salads, and DESSERTS and COOKIES!  Oh, and wine and beer.  We'll have some, as well as lemonade, diet coke and coffee.

4.  If you haven't bought their wonderful Christmas CD you might want to bring some cash to do so---worth every penny and many more!

An Anniversary

 Our anniversary is this weekend….on Saturday.  Twenty-three years.  I’ve been thinking about it a lot.  Three years ago we had Kane Welch Kaplin for our anniversary party.  Ernie’s cancer had come back that year and we were pretty devastated.  My sister had already been diagnosed with her cancer, my father was sinking into dementia, my mother was becoming confined to a wheelchair.  That was when we really started talking about doing things to bring us joy, to live in the moment as much as we could.  I think we were driving home from our friend Eileen's house after staying overnight and seeing Kane Welch Kaplin at Fitzgerald’s.  On the way home we just felt as though we were glowing from the sound and feel of their music and the comfort of being with friends.  So we came up with the idea of having them play for our anniversary, just a blow-it-out-we’ll-never-do-this-again-kind-of-thing.  A way of shaking our fists against the bad news of the year.  Their booking agent ignored my emails at first so I wrote directly to Kieran and Kevin.  And of course, being the kind men they are, they quickly replied, saying that would be happy to play if we could work out the schedule.  And I remember Kieran saying that he thought Ernie would be around for a long time and I clutched that thought to myself.   And now that one party---that one defiant answer to the sadness of that year, has somehow evolved into hosting house concerts which in turn has brought us wonderful new friends, great music and much joy. A path I never imagined.

Of course Leo does refer to them as “those stupid parties you give” but you can’t have everything, now can you?

Part of the reason I wanted to celebrate our 20^th anniversary that year was because I guess I think of the 25^th anniversary as being a big deal.  I remember that for my parents’ 25^th anniversary my sisters and I (well, mostly them) got together and bought a present for them.  It was a silver letter holder with the anniversary date on it.  I have it somewhere with all the things I took from their house.

I was afraid that I might not have a 25^th anniversary with Ernie. Now three years later I know that, despite not knowing what the future holds, I should indeed have Ernie around for our 25^th anniversary, and he should have me around.  We may not know what the future will bring and what our 25th anniversary will really be like....but I do know that he brings me great joy…and he has for twenty three years.

Random Notes from my Baby's Birthday

1.  It's my baby's birthday.  Happy Birthday Ernie!  What could be better?  And the boys would NOT let me give him his present early so he just got it this morning.  Two signed/numbered Kieran Kane prints (the paintings that were used for two Kane Welch Kaplin albums) for my beloved Kieran Kane fan....

2.  His first song of the day was the Byrds.  A good choice for his birthday.  I like this early version:

 

But than again I like this version with Roger and Marty Stuart.  We get to see Marty and his band in about a month in Watseka of all places!

 

3.  Ernie's requested fried chicken for his birthday dinner.  I'm out of my favorite (Penzey's) curry powder so I can't make my curried oven fried chicken so I may have to attempt classic fried chicken.  Buttermilk or no?  Any fried chicken advice?  Val?

4.  I deleted my last post, something I rarely do, but it sounded too whiny AND after talking on the phone with Personal Care I feel much better.  I found some of the information confusing so I called and confirmed that yes, there IS a maximum out of pocket of $1,200 per family for Tier II.  Granted that's an extra $1,200 we'll have to pay but that's much better than I was thinking!  So....relief....despite the fact that Ernie having $35,000 worth of treatment in the last year is a bit sobering.  But what the hell....as long as it's working it could be a millions for all I care!!!

5.  It's my other baby's birthday too.....Happy Birthday Ian!  Thanks to my beloved Phil Harris for posting this.....

 

6.  Man....I feel HAPPY today!

 

Taxes, Storms, Asparagus and Kevin Welch

Lord it feels like a Monday.  Thunderstorms and dramatic lightning woke Owen in the night and had him crawling in with us.  For some reason he seemed to take up twice the space he normally does and  Annie the cat doesn't like thunderstorms so she kept tapping me with her paw looking for a spot to crawl under the covers.  I woke up over and over and over....leading to a very bleary morning.  Then Owen felt the need to complain fervantly about having to go to 'that raging, stupid school.'  I sipped my coffeemilk and sighed a lot.  I imagine Ernie will be happy when everybody is out of the house.

Yesterday I decided to be completely lazy.  We wandered the yard looking at new growth but I didn't feel inspired to do yardwork despite the beautiful weather.  Worry about our taxes was niggling at me however so I finally decided to take a stab at it while Ernie divided and moved some ornamental grasses.  We'd gone back and forth over whether we should go to somebody or not for our taxes...my main hesitation is that my records....well, my records suck.  I've been really anxious because between the sale of my mother's house and investment stuff for the guys' trust, etc.....it was looking more complicated.  I sat down with my good friend TurboTax however and you know what?  We are still going to get money back!  Not too bad a chunk either.  I can not tell you what relief I felt.....utter relief!!

Owen had requested steak, mashed potatoes and asparagus for dinner.  Ernie and I looked at each other and shrugged---it didn't sound bad to us.  Ernie had bought two bunches of skinny little asparagus.  I sauteed it in just a bit of olive oil and it was so good that we kept grabbing it out of the pan while we waited for the potatoes to cook.  I finally pulled the other bunch out and threw it in as well.  It tastes so much like spring....

This clip of Kevin Welch singing Patch of Blue Sky made me smile and feel a little more ready for the week.  Thanks Kevin!

 

 

Well-Being

I feel an incredible sense of well-being this morning.  I adore my children but good God it was nice to have them out of the house last night.  We had originally hoped to go see Kane Welch Kaplin in Columbus last night and our beloved Mary Wyczolkowski had offered to take the guys for the night.  The guys got so excited about the sleepover that when we realized we couldn't swing the trip to Ohio, Mary gallently said she still wanted them to come over.

The boys carefully packed and headed over there yesterday evening.  Ernie and I really didn't have plans...other than to meet a very dear old friend in from St. Louis at Fries and Peanuts.  Man, I love Phil Harris.  I just love him.  It felt so good to just sit and talk.  Here's a rather shiny picture of us...me feeling good from being without children, with two men I love and a couple of glasses of wine.

Phil took off to do his stuff and Ernie and I sat and giggled a little bit.  We headed over to Huber's and listened to a band.  I made Ernie yell out a request for Crazy Arms and we drank a toast to Ralph Mooney.  I ate popcorn, bobbed my head to the music and took bad pictures with Ernie's cell phone. And yes, the band IS totally in the dark.

Eventually we drifted out, got some junkfood and came home happily to a very quiet house.  I can't believe how good it felt to be just with Ernie and know my boys were happy and being spoiled at Mary's.  Truth be told when Ernie said he was going to pick them up this morning I thought, "alREADY?" 

The boys charged in, both chattering about how AWESOME it had been, their arms heavy with their loot.  Leo explained at length a NOVA he'd watched about Mars, Owen told me how cool Daniel was....they chattered on and on and on.  Mary even got Leo to do a painting.  She is amazing.  In fact the two paintings are a classic depiction of the differences in my boys.  Here they are....your guess as to the identity of the artists.

 

The windows are open, the air is moving through the house softly.  Bob the cat is drinking from my glass of water.  Oh well.  Life is good. 

Another Old Picture Post: Fats Kaplin, Ernie and Me, and a Dash of Junior High

My beloved friend Richard Hill sent me this beautiful picture of Fats Kaplin today.  What a nice morning treat.  I want to be there with them (it's Fats and Roy Book Binder).  And I like the house....can I pretend we're all there and that it's by the ocean?

So that was somewhere in the mid 70's I would guess.  Here are Ernie and me at my folks' house around 1982.  Damn I was cute.  Hindsight is a miraculous thing.  I guess you could say this was my Joan Jett phase although I didn't realize it at the time.  It kinda makes me want to sniff longingly when I look at all that eyeliner.  If only I had shoulder pads....my 80s look would be complete.  And this is the phase when Ernie started looking like Dave Edmunds.

 

When I went through the boxes of photos recently I also found an old wallet of Judi's, had to be from junior high/early days of high school.  The little information card neatly filled out in her tiny handwriting. 

Name:  Judith Ellen Voelkl
Emergency Contacts:  Mr. and Mrs. Voelkl

That just cracked me up!  It was also filled with pictures like these:

Then I came across a couple of carefully folded notes that must have passed in some boring class....

Memories are indeed made of this.

 

A Patch of Blue Sky for Leo

 
Yesterday evening seemed to fly by.  Ernie and I were busy doing some things on the computer and the boys were of course busy playing with friends.  When I got ready to go upstairs to read I felt as though I'd barely seen Leo so I asked him to come up with me for a few minutes.  He darted up the stairs in front of me while I looked at his long legs in the jeans that had to be rolled up several times when we bought them....and now just cover his legs.  We laid down on the bed together in the dark and he even let me put my arm under his head and pull him next to me.  We talked desultorily about the day and the weekend coming up.  I can't remember exactly how the conversation ran but at one point I said to him, "I know the last couple of years have been hard honey."  He was quiet for a minute and then he said, "every year, either in the middle, or at the beginning, somebody in our family dies."  I hugged him and, "I know honey, I know.  But things are getting better.  And we did the very best we could for taking care of them.  Each of them: Grandpa, Aunt Judi, and Grandma.  We took care of them the best we could and now things are getting better."  He nodded and we talked a little more.  Then he'd had enough cuddling and jumped up and announced he was going downstairs.  I told him that this had been so nice that we'd have to do it every night.  He said maybe once in a while....I countered with every other night and he just giggled and raced downstairs.  I laid there thinking for a long time before I picked up my book.