Earlier this year, I posted about hoping to soon report on owning another canoe. Today I get to do just that. I found a canoe that was almost exactly what I have been looking for and worked out a deal with the owner. I picked it up on Saturday. I would like to put a photo on here, but it is just sitting in my back yard right now. I will post some in action in the future.
Now that I have it, I am hoping I will enjoy the activity of canoing as much as, or at least partially as much as, I did when I was younger and doing a lot of canoing. The next hurdle is finding the time and actually getting out on the water. I want Vincent to learn about the canoe and to be able to use is well and safely, and would like to bring in Patrick and Caroline as well. They are all so busy that it is hard to get time with them for these things, but I will keep trying. I think they would enjoy it too.
The first canoe I owned was really made for use on lakes, but I used it on rivers, and even took it down the Nantahala once. The second one I had was a square sterned aluminum canoe that I only took out on a few lakes. Patrick was very small at the time, so I didn't get on many rivers (or any).
Both previous canoes I have had were aluminum and I wanted one made of Royalex this time. that is an ABS composite plastic material. The Royalex is a very resilient and tough material. It flexes and goes back to its original shape, instead of denting as aluminum does. It also slides off rocks easier, aluminum tends to stick to rocks.
Those who have been around me much, know that I have been looking for another canoe for several years. My dream canoe has been an Old Town Tripper. A canoe that can be used for anything from recreation on the lake to extended trips in the wilderness and down long rivers. It will hold over 1200 pounds of people and gear. While that was my dream, I was looking at several different possibilities. My desire was to have a canoe that was a minimum of 16 feet in length, and would take a Royalex, Polyethelene, or aluminum construction of that canoe. The one material I did not want was fiberglass, as it is prone to holes when hit and not really good for river use.
My dreams of using the canoe involve day trips, overnight, weekend, and longer trips. These may be on lakes, oceans or rivers, though most likely on lakes and rivers. While I expect to stay mainly in the Southeast, - with the concentration on North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee, - I hope to someday get farther away, such as the Western states, Canada, and Alaska. Only time will tell if any of those happen.
Now for my new (used) Canoe. It is a Blue Hole Canoe that was built in Sunbright, TN. This was one of the premier canoes of the 1970's and early 1980's, and the first of the Royalex designs. The one I have is 17 feet in length, has a rounded bottom, 15 inch depth, and slight rocker to help handle whitewater. It is very close to the Old Town Tripper in capacity and versalitity of use. While for years I wanted a green canoe (the dark green used by Old Town), though would take a red or the silver of the aluminum canoe and be perfectly happy (I had inquired on several Gurmmans while looking). In the past year, I decided that I really would prefer a red canoe. Color is not the main thing though, use is. The one I have is blue, which I have went ahead and named "Old Blue". It has seen some use, but obviously has a lot of use left in it. I hope to get a lot of that out. While I am not the whitewater paddler I was in younger years, I do plan to do some whitewater paddling.
My wife has already told me I could not go alone, though that will still be discussed further. I see no problems on going out on the lake and practicing alone, but she does. The good news is that my nephew Matthew has said he will go with me. Hopefully this will work out when I cannot get Vincent to go. Matthew already has a little experience on the water.
You may have gathered that I am excited about this development in my life. I have to clean up the canoe some. It has been hanging in a shed and needs cleaning inside and out. I then plan to try using Armor All on it to protect the color and exterior. Maybe, making it look a little newer, though if it doesnt' that is okay too.
See you down the river,
Nelson
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Recording
I am excited about recording a CD to have available when I perform. I don't know how many of you reading this have ever tried recording anything, but it isn't as easy as it seems. Maybe it is for some people, but not for me. David and I started over two years ago working on a CD, and never finished it. We have some good tracks and some that still need work. Now I am working on a solo CD and am struggling with whether to make it completely solo or to invite in some friends to play on some tracks. I like both ideas.
My other adventure in recording was in 1994 & 1995 when David and I recorded and produced a cassette tape. I would like to digitize that to reissue as a CD also, but first things first. Recording is a challenge. The first challenge is adjusting the microphones between instrument and vocals to get the right mix and sound. I have that mostly worked out. The biggest challenge is recording the song almost perfectly and having the right energy for the song. The frustrating part is sitting down and playing the song perfectly, then turning on the recorder and messing up every other phrase. Recording is very different from playing live. Little glitches that I would never pay attention to live become a reason to discard the track. What is on that CD is forever and you want it to be right (at least I do).
I am enthusiastic for the project and have my list of songs ready. The other challenge is finding the quiet time to record. Between work, things that have to be done around the house, having everyone making noise, not to mention two dogs that like to bark whenever I try to record. Just have to keep at it. Hoping I can capture something that sounds decent and finish this project.
Thanks for sticking with me. You will know how it went when the CD is available.
See you down the road,
Nelson
My other adventure in recording was in 1994 & 1995 when David and I recorded and produced a cassette tape. I would like to digitize that to reissue as a CD also, but first things first. Recording is a challenge. The first challenge is adjusting the microphones between instrument and vocals to get the right mix and sound. I have that mostly worked out. The biggest challenge is recording the song almost perfectly and having the right energy for the song. The frustrating part is sitting down and playing the song perfectly, then turning on the recorder and messing up every other phrase. Recording is very different from playing live. Little glitches that I would never pay attention to live become a reason to discard the track. What is on that CD is forever and you want it to be right (at least I do).
I am enthusiastic for the project and have my list of songs ready. The other challenge is finding the quiet time to record. Between work, things that have to be done around the house, having everyone making noise, not to mention two dogs that like to bark whenever I try to record. Just have to keep at it. Hoping I can capture something that sounds decent and finish this project.
Thanks for sticking with me. You will know how it went when the CD is available.
See you down the road,
Nelson
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Refinding the Joy
For most of the years I have been playing, I had a saying. I would say that 'There are lots of people who play and sing better than I do, but no one enjoys it any more." That remains true, though in the last year, I feel as though I have lost a bit of that joy. Not in my core, but some in my exhibition of the joy I am feeling when I play.
It may have something to do with the stroke I had the summer of 2009, and it may not. It has happened since that time though. I first noticed it on some of the recordings we had made of performances. After listening to them, I told David (Buck) that something was missing to me. It did not sound like I was having fun. I wasn't telling many jokes, or even talking a lot. After hearing those playbacks, I started noticing it as it was happening. I wasn't as quick as normal, wasn't moving much or tapping my toes even. I was still experiencing joy inside, but it wasn't bubbling to the outside. I would find that I wasn't even smiling much of the time, and that was not the me I had been for so long.
So as I am getting started again on a solo performance road, I find myself working on songs and picking, singing, stories and jokes, and in finding the joy to share with my audience. It is there, I just have to make sure it shows. Music has to be fun to you or it will be too much work. It does take a lot of time to practice, to travel, and to perform. But it is always worth it to me. Before I was taking Blood pressure medicine, I found that performing would lower my blood pressure. Now that I am a Type 2 Diabetic, I have found that performing lowers my blood sugar just as much as walking does. It has health benefits for me, as well as spiritual and soul enriching benefits. I do love to play and perform. And I thank those of you who come out to support me as I do.
I look forward to seeing you down the road. If I don't have a smile, give me one of yours.
Nelson
It may have something to do with the stroke I had the summer of 2009, and it may not. It has happened since that time though. I first noticed it on some of the recordings we had made of performances. After listening to them, I told David (Buck) that something was missing to me. It did not sound like I was having fun. I wasn't telling many jokes, or even talking a lot. After hearing those playbacks, I started noticing it as it was happening. I wasn't as quick as normal, wasn't moving much or tapping my toes even. I was still experiencing joy inside, but it wasn't bubbling to the outside. I would find that I wasn't even smiling much of the time, and that was not the me I had been for so long.
So as I am getting started again on a solo performance road, I find myself working on songs and picking, singing, stories and jokes, and in finding the joy to share with my audience. It is there, I just have to make sure it shows. Music has to be fun to you or it will be too much work. It does take a lot of time to practice, to travel, and to perform. But it is always worth it to me. Before I was taking Blood pressure medicine, I found that performing would lower my blood pressure. Now that I am a Type 2 Diabetic, I have found that performing lowers my blood sugar just as much as walking does. It has health benefits for me, as well as spiritual and soul enriching benefits. I do love to play and perform. And I thank those of you who come out to support me as I do.
I look forward to seeing you down the road. If I don't have a smile, give me one of yours.
Nelson
Friday, October 15, 2010
Reflecting on Fall
Fall has brought special feelings within me all my life. I remember even as a child having warm and somewhat nostalgic feelings every year during the fall. Maybe it started with being raised in a rural area and realizing that fall meant the harvest and more time for families to spend together as they readied for the winter. There was still lots of work to do, but it wasn't the same as during the long, growing days of summer. It was something of a winding down of the year, and I loved it. I enjoyed the cooler days that required me to have a jacket in the mornings and evenings, and even sometimes in the afternoons.
This season continues to bring warm feelings within me. It seems to cause me to reflect more on my life, things I have done, things I have wanted to do, and some things that I miss. And not just things, but people who have been in my life, for a short time, for a long time, and family members that are no longer with us.
Also, like spring, fall is a musical time for me. It is a time that I always feel a strong draw to playing and performing. Like the days were meant to be sung about and to sing in them. It is a time for reflecting and writing. Whether writing letters, stories, or songs, it is a time to be creative. It is a time to remember and to hopefully figure how to use the lessons of the past to do better in the future.
The fall weather and leaf color also tends to call to me to be outside. I want to sit on the porch, go build a campfire, go camping, go hiking, go somewhere to be in the woods, go canoing, or almost anything just to be outside. Walking in the woods during the fall is only slightly less pleasurable than walking in the woods when it is snowing. Both have their own sounds, feel, and smells that enhance the experience.
As I sit here at work, knowing I will be here until almost dark, I am antsy to grab my guitar and go outside to pick, and maybe work on writing a new song. Maybe tomorrow.
Enjoy the fall and I'll see you down the road.
This season continues to bring warm feelings within me. It seems to cause me to reflect more on my life, things I have done, things I have wanted to do, and some things that I miss. And not just things, but people who have been in my life, for a short time, for a long time, and family members that are no longer with us.
Also, like spring, fall is a musical time for me. It is a time that I always feel a strong draw to playing and performing. Like the days were meant to be sung about and to sing in them. It is a time for reflecting and writing. Whether writing letters, stories, or songs, it is a time to be creative. It is a time to remember and to hopefully figure how to use the lessons of the past to do better in the future.
The fall weather and leaf color also tends to call to me to be outside. I want to sit on the porch, go build a campfire, go camping, go hiking, go somewhere to be in the woods, go canoing, or almost anything just to be outside. Walking in the woods during the fall is only slightly less pleasurable than walking in the woods when it is snowing. Both have their own sounds, feel, and smells that enhance the experience.
As I sit here at work, knowing I will be here until almost dark, I am antsy to grab my guitar and go outside to pick, and maybe work on writing a new song. Maybe tomorrow.
Enjoy the fall and I'll see you down the road.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sinking in
I have the mixed blessing of having my computer at home not working. This means that I cannot update my website and other things as I would like to. It also means that I won't get 'lost' surfing the net when I should be picking more. On top of that, it means that if I want to update my blog, such as now, I have to find some quiet time at work and do it then (now).
It is sinking in that I am about to be a solo act again. As I have said before, there are things that I look forward to about that, and other things, not so much. I do know that I have a lot of work to do to be where I want to be for performing solo.
This weekend I was working on recording some for a CD. I listened to a song I had written that David and I had recorded last year while working toward a duo CD and realized that there was nothing I could do alone that would sound as good as what we did together. It made me realize how much I would miss his picking and singing beside me. There are things I can do to sound good ( I almost said good enough, but remembered that good enough seldom is), just not as good as it is with two. Kind of like Doc Watson. I have gone to see him many times in the last 35 years. I have heard him with Jack Lawrence, his Grandson Richard, with David Holt and others. He always sounds great, but has never sounded quite at great as he did with Merle and T. Michael Coleman. I will just have to work those songs out to where they sound right when I play them alone, and maybe I can have some other picking friends to join me sometimes too.
When I played solo before, it took me a while to get to the point that I felt as good about my show alone as I did as a duo. I first tried to replicate our duo show by myself. It did not work. I finally figured out what worked best for me to do alone, and then worked on new songs to add and improve my show. I am hoping, and believe, it will not take as long to get back to that point as it did the first time. I do have set lists from before to work from, and have put together a list of more songs I want to add. Now to work out the arrangements and instrumentation that best works for me and the audience.
October 16th at Unicoi will be the final Buck and Nelson Performance. David has taken time off periodically since he first started picking. I have a feeling that he may really be retiring this time. I will miss him, and I will enjoy continuing to perform. We have been friends since high school and will continue to be friends. I wish him all the best in whatever he does, and hope he finds a way he enjoys to share the talent he has on musical instruments. And I hope I may occasionally have the welcome surprise I had at several programs I played solo before and look out in the audience to see him sitting there.
I want to get back to writing more songs again. I have put that in the back and stopped doing it as much. I have several ideas for songs and need to get them on paper and add music.
I also need to get back to marketing, promoting, and booking shows. I have 3 programs to play solo between now and the end of November. I have been thinking back and remember that I set up more shows solo that I did as a duo. Part of that was because I liked to be performing regularly to keep myself sharp, and partly because I enjoy traveling more than David does. I need to pull out my list of venues, start making calls and writing letters or e-mails, then add to the list of venues I already have. I also want to start targeting places I would like to go and perform. I am thinking of taking a week or so this winter and doing a small tour through Florida. I have joined the Friends of Florida Folk and have a list of many places that have music throughout the year. So we will see.
Of course, I really need to finish my CD and have it available to sell at shows, and especially if I am to take a tour of anything out of my usual area. I do have a list of songs I plan to include and may add or take away as I see how they sound when played back to me.
I appreciate those of you who have followed me enough to find this blog. Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and for coming out to my performances. If you know of a place I could perform near you, please let me know and I will check it out.
See you down the road,
Nelson
It is sinking in that I am about to be a solo act again. As I have said before, there are things that I look forward to about that, and other things, not so much. I do know that I have a lot of work to do to be where I want to be for performing solo.
This weekend I was working on recording some for a CD. I listened to a song I had written that David and I had recorded last year while working toward a duo CD and realized that there was nothing I could do alone that would sound as good as what we did together. It made me realize how much I would miss his picking and singing beside me. There are things I can do to sound good ( I almost said good enough, but remembered that good enough seldom is), just not as good as it is with two. Kind of like Doc Watson. I have gone to see him many times in the last 35 years. I have heard him with Jack Lawrence, his Grandson Richard, with David Holt and others. He always sounds great, but has never sounded quite at great as he did with Merle and T. Michael Coleman. I will just have to work those songs out to where they sound right when I play them alone, and maybe I can have some other picking friends to join me sometimes too.
When I played solo before, it took me a while to get to the point that I felt as good about my show alone as I did as a duo. I first tried to replicate our duo show by myself. It did not work. I finally figured out what worked best for me to do alone, and then worked on new songs to add and improve my show. I am hoping, and believe, it will not take as long to get back to that point as it did the first time. I do have set lists from before to work from, and have put together a list of more songs I want to add. Now to work out the arrangements and instrumentation that best works for me and the audience.
October 16th at Unicoi will be the final Buck and Nelson Performance. David has taken time off periodically since he first started picking. I have a feeling that he may really be retiring this time. I will miss him, and I will enjoy continuing to perform. We have been friends since high school and will continue to be friends. I wish him all the best in whatever he does, and hope he finds a way he enjoys to share the talent he has on musical instruments. And I hope I may occasionally have the welcome surprise I had at several programs I played solo before and look out in the audience to see him sitting there.
I want to get back to writing more songs again. I have put that in the back and stopped doing it as much. I have several ideas for songs and need to get them on paper and add music.
I also need to get back to marketing, promoting, and booking shows. I have 3 programs to play solo between now and the end of November. I have been thinking back and remember that I set up more shows solo that I did as a duo. Part of that was because I liked to be performing regularly to keep myself sharp, and partly because I enjoy traveling more than David does. I need to pull out my list of venues, start making calls and writing letters or e-mails, then add to the list of venues I already have. I also want to start targeting places I would like to go and perform. I am thinking of taking a week or so this winter and doing a small tour through Florida. I have joined the Friends of Florida Folk and have a list of many places that have music throughout the year. So we will see.
Of course, I really need to finish my CD and have it available to sell at shows, and especially if I am to take a tour of anything out of my usual area. I do have a list of songs I plan to include and may add or take away as I see how they sound when played back to me.
I appreciate those of you who have followed me enough to find this blog. Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and for coming out to my performances. If you know of a place I could perform near you, please let me know and I will check it out.
See you down the road,
Nelson
Friday, September 10, 2010
Moving on Down the Road
So now what? Playing solo again. Did not ask for this, but am fine with it also. As I said in the previous post, I will miss having David at the performances. Though I also look forward to some aspects of performing solo.
I think that maybe I was needing a change too, though I did not realize it. My mind has been much more active in the last few days as I start preparing for the solo road. Working on songs, thinking of where to play, and even recording some for a CD. Getting a little excited about it.
Financially, it can be good. I can make less from the venues and still make more personally. There will be places that I cannot play, either because they only book bands, or the type of music does not fit. So what type music will I fit into? Not bluegrass, not new grass, or even crabgrass as David and I often joked about. I would say I am more Folk than anything as I like a wide variety of music, even some more modern songs. As I thought about bluegrass and bluegrass festivals, I got to thinking that maybe I was playing grass seed music. That is more of the music that Bluegrass was developed from. I know Bluegrass festivals have welcomed Doc Watson and Jim Hurst, but I am certainly not the picker either of those guys are. So I guess I will look more at Folk festivals when searching for festivals to play at. They are more welcoming to solo acts than a Bluegrass festival is.
Coffeehouses, parks, folk societies, restaurants, house concerts and other musical venues will be hearing from me for next year. If you have suggestions, please let me know. First I need to update my promo materials, get new solo photos, finish a CD to have available, set up my solo website, and update MySpace, also will add a Reverbnation site as a solo. Of to do all that, I need to be working hard on the music, so when I do get booked, I will be ready.
nelsonthomas.com is not available. Set up as www.nelsontmusic.com and also set up a musician facebook page as nelson T Music. And it begins.
Life is good. See you down the road.
Nelson
I think that maybe I was needing a change too, though I did not realize it. My mind has been much more active in the last few days as I start preparing for the solo road. Working on songs, thinking of where to play, and even recording some for a CD. Getting a little excited about it.
Financially, it can be good. I can make less from the venues and still make more personally. There will be places that I cannot play, either because they only book bands, or the type of music does not fit. So what type music will I fit into? Not bluegrass, not new grass, or even crabgrass as David and I often joked about. I would say I am more Folk than anything as I like a wide variety of music, even some more modern songs. As I thought about bluegrass and bluegrass festivals, I got to thinking that maybe I was playing grass seed music. That is more of the music that Bluegrass was developed from. I know Bluegrass festivals have welcomed Doc Watson and Jim Hurst, but I am certainly not the picker either of those guys are. So I guess I will look more at Folk festivals when searching for festivals to play at. They are more welcoming to solo acts than a Bluegrass festival is.
Coffeehouses, parks, folk societies, restaurants, house concerts and other musical venues will be hearing from me for next year. If you have suggestions, please let me know. First I need to update my promo materials, get new solo photos, finish a CD to have available, set up my solo website, and update MySpace, also will add a Reverbnation site as a solo. Of to do all that, I need to be working hard on the music, so when I do get booked, I will be ready.
nelsonthomas.com is not available. Set up as www.nelsontmusic.com and also set up a musician facebook page as nelson T Music. And it begins.
Life is good. See you down the road.
Nelson
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Deja Vu all over again
I love that saying by Yogi Berra. It is both amusing and accurate, as it repeats the meaning of the first part. It is a little appropriate for me right now because of my performing situation. Around 1996 David decided to stop performing, and did not perform with me for about 2 years. This year he has made the decision to retire from performing and has been telling me of the plan all year. As it stands we have a few more performances together, concluding with the Oct. 16th show at Unicoi State Park.
I will miss him standing on stage beside me. I will miss his help in creating a good performance. I will miss his excellent musicianship and instrumental ability. I will miss having him to share a rundown of how the show went. I do thank him for all years and time we have spent to get as far as we have. Thank him for his drive to be as good as possible before putting anything in the show. Thank him for pulling me above what I might have first thought possible. I have enjoyed the friendship, the comraderie, and all the music. Thank you David for 38 years along this musical road.
We started on this musical journey together in 1972. Practicing in my parents basement for a couple of years. Then getting with some other friends and beginning to perform as the Blood Mountain Boys in 1974. Later we were in a trio with Jimmy Waters called the Morningstar String Ensemble. Then around 1983 we began performing as a duo, which we continued until now, except for a couple of years in the late 1990's as I said before.
I have a job in front of me to get my shows back to a suitable level as a solo act. That requires choosing material, working on instruments and arrangements, learning new songs, writing new songs, and being ready to entertain an audience and keep them involved. I look forward to this in many ways and there are things I enjoy about performing solo. It is easy to get together to practice. If presented with an offer to play, I need only check my family's calendar for availability. I can do whatever music I feel lead to play. There are definitely more limitations to performing alone, but there are also some opportunities that go along with that. One opportunity I may work on is to travel more widely to perform. I enjoy traveling and seeing other parts of the country and world a little more than David does. So, I may work toward having some small tours at times, at least try to have enough programs to pay for some gas and maybe a camping spot.
That said, I will always welcome the opportunity to perform with David (Buck) at anytime in the future. I do not know what tomorrow will hold. I was certainly surprised last year when I had a stroke. I was blessed that it did not affect me more than it did. I do know that it has affected me though. I see that more now than I did at the time it happened. Often before when I was playing solo, I would look up in the middle of a show and see David sitting in the audience. I hope he will surprise me that way again. I appreciated his support, and the chance to do some picking together after a show as well. While we were not performing together, he was continuing to practice, and even to play at his church on occasion.
You can never have too many friends. And a good friend is not easy to come by. I have always considered David a good friend, above everything else. And that is a very good thing.
So as I begin down this road again, I hope you will watch for me and come out to encourage me, and if needed, to make some constructive comments for improvements to make. The last time I was playing solo, I started a newsletter which I named Nelson's Notes (yes that is the name of this blog now). I may see if I can make an electronic newsletter to send out now. The newsletter was a way for me to communicate things I found interesting, as well as sharing thoughts of what was on my mind, as well as interesting stories, jokes, and other things that caught my fancy.
Already, I have 2 programs for this fall as a solo act. One in September and one in November. Starting to work on next year also. I have a MySpace account already set up, though I need to add some more content, esp. music. Next I need to set up a solo website. I am searching that out now and hope to have it underway very soon. Until then you can keep an eye on our http://www.buckandnelson.com/ site for updates. I will do my best to continue to send out some e-mail blasts as well. Now, as I so often say in these posts, I will see you down the road. Be sure to stop by and say hello.
Nelson
I will miss him standing on stage beside me. I will miss his help in creating a good performance. I will miss his excellent musicianship and instrumental ability. I will miss having him to share a rundown of how the show went. I do thank him for all years and time we have spent to get as far as we have. Thank him for his drive to be as good as possible before putting anything in the show. Thank him for pulling me above what I might have first thought possible. I have enjoyed the friendship, the comraderie, and all the music. Thank you David for 38 years along this musical road.
We started on this musical journey together in 1972. Practicing in my parents basement for a couple of years. Then getting with some other friends and beginning to perform as the Blood Mountain Boys in 1974. Later we were in a trio with Jimmy Waters called the Morningstar String Ensemble. Then around 1983 we began performing as a duo, which we continued until now, except for a couple of years in the late 1990's as I said before.
I have a job in front of me to get my shows back to a suitable level as a solo act. That requires choosing material, working on instruments and arrangements, learning new songs, writing new songs, and being ready to entertain an audience and keep them involved. I look forward to this in many ways and there are things I enjoy about performing solo. It is easy to get together to practice. If presented with an offer to play, I need only check my family's calendar for availability. I can do whatever music I feel lead to play. There are definitely more limitations to performing alone, but there are also some opportunities that go along with that. One opportunity I may work on is to travel more widely to perform. I enjoy traveling and seeing other parts of the country and world a little more than David does. So, I may work toward having some small tours at times, at least try to have enough programs to pay for some gas and maybe a camping spot.
That said, I will always welcome the opportunity to perform with David (Buck) at anytime in the future. I do not know what tomorrow will hold. I was certainly surprised last year when I had a stroke. I was blessed that it did not affect me more than it did. I do know that it has affected me though. I see that more now than I did at the time it happened. Often before when I was playing solo, I would look up in the middle of a show and see David sitting in the audience. I hope he will surprise me that way again. I appreciated his support, and the chance to do some picking together after a show as well. While we were not performing together, he was continuing to practice, and even to play at his church on occasion.
You can never have too many friends. And a good friend is not easy to come by. I have always considered David a good friend, above everything else. And that is a very good thing.
So as I begin down this road again, I hope you will watch for me and come out to encourage me, and if needed, to make some constructive comments for improvements to make. The last time I was playing solo, I started a newsletter which I named Nelson's Notes (yes that is the name of this blog now). I may see if I can make an electronic newsletter to send out now. The newsletter was a way for me to communicate things I found interesting, as well as sharing thoughts of what was on my mind, as well as interesting stories, jokes, and other things that caught my fancy.
Already, I have 2 programs for this fall as a solo act. One in September and one in November. Starting to work on next year also. I have a MySpace account already set up, though I need to add some more content, esp. music. Next I need to set up a solo website. I am searching that out now and hope to have it underway very soon. Until then you can keep an eye on our http://www.buckandnelson.com/ site for updates. I will do my best to continue to send out some e-mail blasts as well. Now, as I so often say in these posts, I will see you down the road. Be sure to stop by and say hello.
Nelson
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