Wednesday, August 31, 2005
At 12:30 today, the postal carrier pulled into my yard and honked his horn, which around here means he has something too big for your roadside box- nice of them- don’t leave that little yellow notice, but bring it to the house. This was a small package containing two copies of my book, Me & Tange…, that I had ordered last week: one to fill an order, and one for myself. Of course, as soon as I ordered the two copies, another order came in, so once again I am left without a copy for myself. But I took a moment to glance through both copies, making sure everything was printed correctly, and it just struck me how beautiful these books are! Everyone should buy a copy of this book! Even if you have just the tiniest little bit of interest in woodcarving or art, or travel, or adventure- it is simply a beautiful object, worthy of desire based purely on its own qualities! Like that lawn tractor I saw at Sears the other day- way more than I would ever need, but it was just so beautiful, I wanted it, and I think if I had had the $5000+, I might have even bought it, it was just so beautiful! Some things are like that. They are just so beautiful, you want them regardless of any other reasoning. And just flipping to any random page in Me& Tange…, this book is like that- it is just so beautiful.
At 1:30, both copies were back with the post office, on their way to their new owners.
-Jud
Monday, August 29, 2005
LOC
Any of you who have read Haltia and the Third Planet know of my love of the Library of Congress. Well, today my love has grown!
When one registers a copyright, it is required that two copies of the work be sent to the Library of Congress. It is noted on that form that this does not mean it will be included or available in the LOC catalog or collection; that each title is considered on its own merits and may or may not be selected for the collection.
I was just taking a look to see if Haltia and the Third Planet, my commentary on life on Planet Earth thinly disguised as a sci-fi/fantasy novel had been so selected and alas, no... or maybe not yet.
But, I did discover that the relatively recently submitted Me & Tange: an Autobiography of an American Hobbyist Woodcarver has (already!!!) been added to the catalog!
-Jud
KATRINA
About midnight last night, Hurricane Katrina took a "right turn" just before hitting New Orleans and though the destruction is still major, it was not what it could have been, or was feared. That is the good news.
The bad news is that a friend of mine lives in Slidell, just a bit north of New Orleans, and that suburb was hit extremely hard, and it, like most of the adjoining neighborhoods, does not have the levee's and pumps to handle the flooding that New Orleans has. My friend and his family left on Saturday, so I do not fear for their safety, but I am fearful of what they will come back to face.
My thoughts and best wishes to all affected by this storm, but especially to my friend and the others in Slidell.
About midnight last night, Hurricane Katrina took a "right turn" just before hitting New Orleans and though the destruction is still major, it was not what it could have been, or was feared. That is the good news.
The bad news is that a friend of mine lives in Slidell, just a bit north of New Orleans, and that suburb was hit extremely hard, and it, like most of the adjoining neighborhoods, does not have the levee's and pumps to handle the flooding that New Orleans has. My friend and his family left on Saturday, so I do not fear for their safety, but I am fearful of what they will come back to face.
My thoughts and best wishes to all affected by this storm, but especially to my friend and the others in Slidell.
-Jud
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Monday, August 22, 2005
I was driving over to the Post Office this morning to send out a piece of snail mail, and what goes with snails? I turned down SR19, the major road, undivided highway, two lanes each way, runs along the entire west coast of Florida... and as I was approaching the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park entrance, I noticed a dark shape in the middle of the road. It was moving rather slowly and awkwardly. Spotting what it was, I immediately pulled over and leapt out of my van, waving my arms to stop traffic, went to the middle of the road and picked up the large turtle and carried him to the other side- guess he wanted to see what the chicken had found. Surprisingly, he didn't tuck back into his shell at my touch, but rather, kicked his legs wildly as I carried him, with enough force that, at one point, I thought I might lose my grip! Anyway, second turtle I've saved. And people around here know this happens so no one gets pissed at you for stopping traffic. Saw one the other day that didn't make it- not a pretty sight!
Joe Dillett responded to this post and gave me permission to share his tale, which I found delightful...
"Turtles are cool. Never seen a homeless turtle yet. I found about 150 lb snapper once. I'll never say turtles are slow. He ran and I had to walk fast to keep up. I hung on the tail and he pulled me along with my heels digging in the ground just like I wasn't even there. His claws were about as long as my fingers. He was bigger around than a full-size washtub. He would have had no trouble taking a foot or hand off in one bite. He couldn't turn around quick to bit so I felt safe hanging on for the ride." -Joe
I carved a turtle once... had a heck of a time getting it to stand still...
-Jud
Write for free eBook version of Haltia and the Third Planet
Friday, August 19, 2005
-Jud
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Someone sent this to me and I thought it was nice so am sharing it here. I do not vouch for its veracity and you are not required to forward it to anyone, though, of course, that flying camel is going to... Well, you should know what happens by now.
I simply enjoyed it and I hope you enjoy it too.
-Jud
________________________________________________________
One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.
Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list.
Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much," were most of the comments.
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.
As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked.
She nodded: "yes."
Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."
Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."
All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the topdrawer of my desk at home."
Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."
"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary"
Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists"
The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important.
________________________________________________________
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Friday, August 12, 2005
Time for something new!
In 1980, I had the great good fortune to fall into a set of circumstances that led to my entering a master/student relationship with one of the great artists of our time, Knox Martin. I spent hundreds of hours studying privately under Knox, whose patience was only matched by my desire to know. The most important section, artistically speaking, of my new book, Me & Tange... An Autobiography of an American Hobbyist Woodcarver, covers much of this experience in detail, including all the secrets I learned under his tutelage.
In 1980, I had the great good fortune to fall into a set of circumstances that led to my entering a master/student relationship with one of the great artists of our time, Knox Martin. I spent hundreds of hours studying privately under Knox, whose patience was only matched by my desire to know. The most important section, artistically speaking, of my new book, Me & Tange... An Autobiography of an American Hobbyist Woodcarver, covers much of this experience in detail, including all the secrets I learned under his tutelage.
WOMAN WITH BICYCLE 6 Stories HighCorner of Houston & Macdougal Streets New York, N.Y.
One of the things for which Knox is best known are his large wall paintings that can be seen mainly in New York City, but also as the centerpiece of a three story glass wall on the Nieman Marcus building in Westchester, New York in 1981, and others, elsewhere.
Thus it was with great excitement that I opened an e-mail I just received from Knox announcing his newest project, Whaling. The impact was immediate and visceral. Commissioned by Greenpeace, the powerful work is shown in mock-up here from the maquettes as it will appear when completed. The view is from Hudson street, between Houston and Clarkson streets. Variations of the work will also be impacting viewers in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Vancouver.
-Jud
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Hi!
I have noticed that many of you have clicked and gone over to my books site and I do appreicate that! I want to point out something that I don't think some realize. I have a lot of material there available for free download! If you click on the individual book titles, the free preview is in many cases the entire publication in "e" form; while others have the "e" version available "for purchase" at no charge. So please feel free to take advantage of this. Yes, I would love for you to all buy a print copy of Haltia and the Third Planet, or Me & Tange..., two fascinating stories, one of which actually happened, but am almost as happy to see people take advantage of the free downloads.
And for anyone who would like the complete novel, Haltia and the Third Planet in a specially formatted "e" form, drop me a note so requesting, and I will send it to you. Why? Well, I recently joined a self-publishing list and discovered that while getting in print is readily available these days, marketing, the real work of a publisher, is about three full time intensive jobs and I am not ready to take it on, at least not yet. So frankly, I am not going to get rich selling books, and it is more important to me that H3P gets read, more so than I make money from it, so decided to give the "e" version away to those who request it.
As follow up to my previous post, as anyone may know by now, the shuttle did not land that morning at KSC, nor the next, though I waited up all night watching and waiting, and I am sitting here now as the astronauts do their walk around at Edwards Air Force Base in California! (Been there!)
And as for laundry- was hired to haul some trash the other day and while there, the new home owner, deciding as many do to replace all appliances regardless of condition, let me take the almost new, very nice heavy duty brand name washer and dryer! So maybe laundry news isn't always dull.
-Jud
Monday, August 08, 2005
8 August 2005: 12:45am- I see a few of you have bookmarked, and are checking back, which I appreciate! I have a new entry standing by- something more than "I did my laundry today," which I have seen on some blogs and wonder why... but I do want to let you who are looking that something new is coming soon, but I am waiting for another photo from the subject: trouble is, sometimes he takes months to reply, so I might go ahead with what I have in the next few days anyway- very exciting stuff and hard to delay.
Right now, I am filling time, waiting up in hopes of seeing some evidence of the passage of the shuttle Discovery as it streaks across the skies over my home at about 4am and makes its trademark double-boom, of which I have been told, but never persoanlly experienced. The track is running a bit more south of me than it used to, as they are bringing it in over the gulf rather than Texas as was previously done, but I hope to catch sight of something anyway.
Meanwhile, I think I shall do my laundry...
Right now, I am filling time, waiting up in hopes of seeing some evidence of the passage of the shuttle Discovery as it streaks across the skies over my home at about 4am and makes its trademark double-boom, of which I have been told, but never persoanlly experienced. The track is running a bit more south of me than it used to, as they are bringing it in over the gulf rather than Texas as was previously done, but I hope to catch sight of something anyway.
Meanwhile, I think I shall do my laundry...
-Jud
Monday, August 01, 2005
OLDIES BUT GOODIES!
[Previously in the Continuing Adventures of Jud...]
May 11, 2003: Spent two days just chillin' at my favorite motel in Kissimmee, pool and HBO, trying to rest, then spent the day at Epcot on an electric wheelchair which is pretty much a requisite now for anything over an hour. Made it all the way through!
Saw the Rock and Roll All Stars, which was made up of lead people from several groups including Iron Butterfly, Sugarloaf, Blues Image, and Rare Earth. (Some in more than one.) Mike ? of Iron Butterfly and Blues Image did Ride Captain Ride, which he wrote, and I really got into it, and when he came out into the audience to jam during the solo, he gave me a hug! I spoke to him after the show during the meet & greet and while getting his autograph commented how surprised I was to hear the band doing InDagadaDavita and then Ride Captain Ride, but when you are combining the repertoire of several bands, things like that happen! I also said to him that Ride Captain Ride had been virtually an anthem of the time and he was genuinely moved to hear that.
Except for the autograph of Arlo Guthrie below, I cannot identify any of those displayed, though I did note the page that was by members of the All Stars Band. If anyone can identify any of them, please let me know!
May 23, 2003 1:05 am: Just got back from a spur of the moment trip to Kissimmee: realized Monday at 4 that the Turtles were playing their last night at Epcot and at 4:30 I was on the road! But they wouldn’t do any Flo & Eddie! (if you don’t know what I am talking about, it doesn’t matter: if you do, it does!)
Flo & Eddie, aka the Turtles.
Decided to stay for a couple of days and ended tonight with the last Grassroots concert of their gig at Epcot, then headed back here to Hernando. Good show, but a wee bit different than the days of yore! Especially when the lead “rocker” is 59 1/2! LOL!!!!!! But they still played and sounded good!
May 28, 2003 12:42 am: Today’s report, or rather, yesterday!
Epcot is running the International Flower & Garden Show through Jun 8, and as part, they have a nightly 60’s or 70’s band. So far have seen the Grassroots and The All Star Band, featuring people from Iron Butterfly and a couple of other notables.
But! I decided today I am going down on the 3-6th, cause I will catch the last night of the Buckinghams (~Kinda a Drag~), then two nights of Lovin Spoonful (~Do You Believe in Magic~)...
The Lovin Spoonful, (though lacking John Sebastion.)
...then the first night of Arlo Guthrie (~City of New Orleans~)! That will about wrap it up for me for the summer at Disney as the crowds are back! Will probably not go back till September when it slows down again. But having the annual pass is great!
Pat writes: “Jud, i envy you getting to see Arlo Guthrie if you get to meet him in person, please get me an autograph. pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.”
As a matter of fact, I *have* been getting autographs, as they do a “meet & greet” after each show, (three a night), except the last, (which is why I *didn’t* get anyone from Grassroots). I don’t know if I can get two, but if I can, I will have him sign, “To Pat– thanks for the good time!” [note: I did and he did.]
Jun 6, 2003 10:59 pm : I just got back from four days in Kissimmee (two of which I spent in bed having inadvertently gotten a good hunk of wheat somehow or other) Ended with two of Arlo’s shows, and he did City of New Orleans as his last song, after telling how he met the writer and saying some nice things about him! (Okay, so I forget the writer's name, but you should remember!)
Arlo Guthrie, his daughter, her husband and another member of the band. My apologies for not knowing all the names- no disrespect is intended, for all were fantastic musicians. May 28, 2003: Carol writes: “This just kept bugging me, so I looked it up. This song isn’t that old… and Steve Goodman wrote and recorded it before Arlo. Steve Goodman is a great songwriter who has written some good Country songs. You might find this interesting...
Growing up in what he called “a Midwestern middle-class Jewish family,” Steve Goodman began playing the guitar as a teenager. He was influenced by the folk revival of the early ‘60s and by country performers such as Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams. After attending college in the mid-’60s, he turned to playing in Chicago clubs by night and writing commercial jingles by day. In 1971, he opened for Kris Kristofferson and was seen by Paul Anka, who financed demo recordings that led to a contract with Buddah Records and the release of Steve Goodman, which featured his train song “The City of New Orleans,” a Top 40 hit for Arlo Guthrie in 1972 and now a folk standard. Goodman made a second album for Buddah, Somebody Else’s Troubles (1973), then broke with the label, which went on to issue an outtakes record, The Essential Steve Goodman (1975). Goodman moved to the singer/songwriter-oriented West Coast label Asylum for his first charting album Jessie’s Jig & Other Favorites in 1975, the same year that “outlaw” country singer David Allen Coe made the Top Ten of the Country charts with a cover of his “You Never Even Called Me by My Name” from the Steve Goodman album. Goodman’s subsequent Asylum albums were Words We Can Dance To (Apr. 1976) (featuring “Banana Republics,” popularized by Jimmy Buffett), Say It in Private (Oct. 1977), High and Outside (Feb. 1979), and Hot Spot ... None became a major commercial success, but Goodman established himself on the national club and festival circuits, frequently appearing with mandolin player Jethro Burns, formerly of the country duo Homer & Jethro. Goodman turned record producer for his friend and fellow Chicagoan John Prine on Prine’s 1978 album Bruised Orange.
Growing up in what he called “a Midwestern middle-class Jewish family,” Steve Goodman began playing the guitar as a teenager. He was influenced by the folk revival of the early ‘60s and by country performers such as Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams. After attending college in the mid-’60s, he turned to playing in Chicago clubs by night and writing commercial jingles by day. In 1971, he opened for Kris Kristofferson and was seen by Paul Anka, who financed demo recordings that led to a contract with Buddah Records and the release of Steve Goodman, which featured his train song “The City of New Orleans,” a Top 40 hit for Arlo Guthrie in 1972 and now a folk standard. Goodman made a second album for Buddah, Somebody Else’s Troubles (1973), then broke with the label, which went on to issue an outtakes record, The Essential Steve Goodman (1975). Goodman moved to the singer/songwriter-oriented West Coast label Asylum for his first charting album Jessie’s Jig & Other Favorites in 1975, the same year that “outlaw” country singer David Allen Coe made the Top Ten of the Country charts with a cover of his “You Never Even Called Me by My Name” from the Steve Goodman album. Goodman’s subsequent Asylum albums were Words We Can Dance To (Apr. 1976) (featuring “Banana Republics,” popularized by Jimmy Buffett), Say It in Private (Oct. 1977), High and Outside (Feb. 1979), and Hot Spot ... None became a major commercial success, but Goodman established himself on the national club and festival circuits, frequently appearing with mandolin player Jethro Burns, formerly of the country duo Homer & Jethro. Goodman turned record producer for his friend and fellow Chicagoan John Prine on Prine’s 1978 album Bruised Orange.
In 1983, Goodman followed Prine in establishing his own independent label, Red Pajamas, which released the live Artistic Hair and Affordable Art (1984). Goodman died of leukemia after battling the disease for many years. Red Pajamas released Santa Ana Winds (1984) posthumously, as well as a double-disc LP drawn from a concert in his memory, A Tribute to Steve Goodman, which featured John Prine, Bonnie Raitt, and others. After a second posthumous release, Unfinished Business, Red Pajamas licensed the Asylum material and put out two Best of the Asylum Years compilations.
Jun 19, 2004: On the Disney list, I was absent for a few days and one of the topics that came up was “Where’s Jud?”. That inspired a photo album of all the places and events I'd attended.
Teri writes: “Judley! I love it! What a fun album. Arlo Guthrie!!!! WooHoooo! He’s one of my all-time favorites.”
He was great! Only one not doing a “remember when” show. Performed as if he were still a working musician! And isn’t it great the way his beautiful daughter is looking at me? Too bad her husband next to her got cut out of the shot...
I told Arlo that back when I was the morning DJ in college, I played City of New Orleans every morning. He said simply, "Thank you!"
Pat writes: “LOL Jud, he is there to make sure no one gets to close to her. She must look like her mom, cause she sure don’t look like her dad. And boy, it is hell getting older. My mental picture of Arlo was still 20 yrs ago. Sigh.”
Hehehhehee… Was the same for most of the performers. But, Arlo’s voice was still as good as ever! He was the best of those I saw as far as current performance.
-Jud
