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I think y'all need to know this.



I know that the PA Game Commission's budget is mostly derived from license sales but I'm feeling kinda bitter about it being able to have a flashy youtube site (see ) at the same time the state promised to fund the NPHS building project at 24.5% and is now only going to fund it at 21%, and the whole project is at risk because fucking Corbett is unwilling to tax the terribly destructive and polluting natural gas industry and has enacted even more programs and loopholes to give state taxpayer money away to corporations that are doing just fine on their own. Even all-day kindergarten is at risk! It's absurd! All the programs that Jill & I used to revive our town are gone, turned into handouts and tax breaks to big biz.

Josh the cop at the office. We had a very interesting conversation about the drug trade in town. He has a kevlar vest on, he's not quite that big.



The road I took to get to a client site today. It was breathtaking.







Nisha has stayed with me at my new space only a few times. She's been sneaking off to another room and I couldn't find her. Now I know where she is and why - she found Honey the cat's window perch and *bonus* there's a food dish next to it. Completely happy puppy.

Ugh! My first trip to walmart in 3 years! I'm so ashamed.

A's mom died yesterday, very unexpectedly. The bus driver was just dropping her off after her dialysis appointment and she collapsed on the porch. A's dad and the bus driver gave her CPR until the ambulance came. I drove down yesterday afternoon - I was in a meeting with a client when A texted. My family is nothing like A's family - I know I've learned a lot from them about trust and communication and unconditional love, how to deal with complicated emotional stuff and complicated lives. I'm really going to miss Andrea. She's the family glue.

I asked for a family dinner as my graduation present - 13 of us, which is about the norm, sometimes there's 14 depending if Tahaun[1] joins us. That was last Saturday. A's sister Ang told me how thankful she was that I had arranged it. Staci brought her new boyfriend, it was the first time the family had met him. The first family dinner I had with them I was terrified. Sooo many people! Such chaos! I've gotten used to it in the past five years and the family is one of the many complicated reasons A is such a big part of my life.

[1] Last night one of the little kids made it clear that he thinks his name is Tahaun Solo... and then Tahaun pulled out an iPhone app that makes lightsaber sounds.... too funny.

Variety pack of family dinners - one was my graduation, the other was the four redhead kids' birthdays (Tori Rose 9, Bubba 10, Natasha 16, Joshua 18) and another was right after I got my camera.

Uncle Pen is another classic. Here's a 1956 Bill Monroe version.


And a 1990 Phish version (using rock instruments)


A nice description of the difference between bluegrass & country and how they developed:

I think this old country tune nicely illustrates the difference: Buck Owens played I've Got a Tiger by the Tail on The Dukes of Hazard. (This is one of A's favorites and he always makes his bands play it.)


Midnight Moonlight (Old & in the Way version 1973 - Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, John Kahn.)


A more modern style: Ain't No Bugs on Me, Garcia & Grisman, Not for Kids Only [@enknot, @lilho, @hodown, @metalpeter - you need this album for all the little ones!]


Another Garcia/Grisman, Grateful Dawg, live 1990.

They're more genre-defying while using the instruments of bluegrass. Amazing artists. What's really fun is tracing all the traditionals that the Grateful Dead covered. I know a lot more old country than I want to admit.

Bluegrass features instruments not part of the usual country, blues or rock setup: banjo, fiddle, stand up bass, and mandolin. Drums are rarely used. Voices are often arranged in harmonies.

The classic Rocky Top by Osborne Brothers -


Alternate version: Roy Clark with the Muppets



and one more version, just for @mike - Dolly Parton



The Carolina Chocolate Drops are my current favorite. They're classified as a string band, but it's still Appalachian folk. Here they're covering something popular that I don't think I've heard the original of.



Don't get trouble in your mind


This is one of my favorite covers of a pop song in bluegrass style (altho it has a full drum kit behind it). It makes me laugh every time and I've got plenty of good memories associated with it.


Tioga County-based bands:

• The Hickory Project
• Grass Stained Genes
• Cornpone Sally My friend Liz plays mandolin. Definitely check out "Tioga"

THP (or at least parts) & GHG will likely be playing Memorial Day weekend at the party I go to every year. @heidi #48869 GHG played for my 31st birthday party.
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And when do we get to play with this???

I love my office. Nisha loves chasing chickens or sitting with jill. It's very wet here. Uncle dudley's basement is flooded (no laundry for me!). A's basement flooded a couple nights ago, about 4".

I could tell @terry didn't quite believe me that seeing bears is a pretty common thing at home. There was a bear cub hanging around my former house at home this morning. A neighbor posted these on fb and I stole them since I couldn't share them on fb. Someone commented, "yeah that same one was way up by my house yesterday around 3"

I'm at a nascar-themed neighborhood bar in corning, ny and the options are limited: busch, molson canadian, mic light, coors light on tap, bud, yuengling, and guiness in the cooler. Yuengling is shockingly sweet compared to my usual ipas.

Bodhi is sooo cute! His dirty old grandpa says he's grabbing for the wrong thing.