Howdy folks,
We are proud to announce our most recent release: "Sittin' on a Jury" . Recorded during our November 2006 sessions at Dirk Powell's Cypress House Studios, this limited edition 10" album (on red vinyl!!!) clearly marks a transition from the old school country and old time music you've grown to love, to the original music that's been germinating in our subconscious for the last year of so.
Side-A opens with an old Flatt and Scruggs gem, "Bringin' in the Georgia Mail". Then we put the honk in the tonk on Hank Williams' classic, "Long Gone Daddy". We round out the side with a wonderfully sloppy and loose version of "Brown's Dream"- an old time fiddle tune pushed to its limit, with Dirk Powell sitting in on banjo, and the band sounding like it might be the last thing we would ever record (it WAS, in fact, the last song we recorded during the session).
Side-B is the title track, "Sittin' on a Jury"- a 9+ minute meditation on yours truly's experiences while sitting on a Kansas City 1st degree murder trial jury in 2005. It is completely different that anything you've ever heard from us before, with surpising instrumentation and unbelievable additional production from Dirk Powell.
Sound great? Well, hell yeah. But I can hear the critiques coming in now..."But I don't have a turntable any more..." Well, no problem, because inside each 10" vinyl jacket, you will find instructions to acquire a free digital download from Free Dirt Record's website. Follow the instructions, and you can burn a cd version of the EP, that will play on any old regular cd player. Or, better yet, slap them directly on to your Mp3 player and listen to them in the privacy of your own brain. So, even if you don't have the archaic technology to actually play the beautiful vinyl version, we've made sure that you can still enjoy the music, without any additional cost. Warning! Free Dirt Records is only pressing 2000 copies of the vinyl version. So I urge you to go to wilderscountry.com and order a copy now. It is certain that we WILL SELL OUT OF THESE, and once they are gone, they are gone forever. So please, reserve your copy as soon as possible. Thanks friends.
brotherphilwilder
If you ain't got a turntable, you're likely just a bubblegummer, and maybe not worthy of Wilderism.
ReplyDeleteI agree, that's why I have 2 turntables, one for back up duty if required. The 9-11 disc, I love it.
ReplyDeleteHope there's still a chance to buy the vinyl at Winfield--we leave Tuesday morning, and I won't be able to get to a computer to order online. Save me one??? Please???
ReplyDeleteHey, I was watching the tube, and a commercial came on advertizing the Crossroads down there in KC and it was showing a bunch of bands, and the Wilders were on there. Too Cool. I don't watch much TV, and that was cool to see. Peggy, I bet that Phil will save you one.
ReplyDeleteI saw that commercial too, LVJ.
ReplyDeletePlease save a vinyl for us too, BroPhil.
BroPhil assures me that he will save you a vinyl Peggy, he is taking 1000 to Winfield. One has your name on it. U2 Betty.
ReplyDeleteWell am I hearing an echo here? The Wilders hall seems so empty with everyone at Winfield, and the rest of us just wandered off for awhile. I'm waiting for all the kraut, peeing and flat dancing tales to unfold. Tick and LV are sure to take the blog to new heights, those two together are like mixing bleach and ammonia, probably add Peggy and Rick in there too. (VBG)
ReplyDeleteYEAH the Wilders are gonna be at "THE ROCK HOUSE" in Reed Springs, MO. !!!! My favorite place in the world. If any of you can make it I think you will agree. I didn't get to go to Winfield :-{ but I will get to go to SDC and Rock House, I am so looking forward to that.
Hang tight blogger, good stuffs on it's way. Be safe one and all.
v
Can anyone offer advice re: how to get iTunes to recognize the downloads from "Sittin' On A Jury"? I just received the vinyl and code to download. Will listen to the vinyl at home, but need some portable Wilders. Help would be most appreciated. You can email me at kstableford@yahoo.com. Thx in advance.
ReplyDeleteNot enough time to write, but now I take it.
ReplyDeleteHey to you all!
Peggy, thanks for your comment to me. Yes, you are right, it´s important to surround myself with kind people and beautiful things. Minds into a good place – I think through this the life is much more better.
I hope the weather by yours is liveable for you all!
I live in the region “Rheinland-Pfalz”, approximate (app.) 600 km from Berlin, app. 50 km from Landau (where I have seen the Wilders the first time in my life this year).
I like the region Rheinland-Pfalz very much – it´s possible to live here in a good way: The people, the activities, the food, the countryside, the culture. So much things what you can do – too much to do it all.
The weather in our region: Many poeble say it´s too hot, too cold, too wet, … so I´m anomaly, because I like it in the most of the time - I look outside, I see what kind of weather we have, then I go to the cupboard and take the right clothes for it – so I can enjoy it. In the last years, I feel sometimes more tired when it have jerky leaps by the temperature. But by this way I learn to live slow down –the life is in the most of the time fast enough.
About the writing from Phil: He is very diligently and writes interesting. It´s wonderful for us. Thank you therefore Phil.
Peggy, when your ice men plays calliope music, you can try to dance like a greek – that´s nice. And thank you very much for your translation!
Vieta, thank you for your love!
Betty and all the other ones, who give us a message about the feeling from the Wilders – thanks a lot therfore.
We think to you all, also when we are not on the blog.
Not possible go to Winfield or the Rock House, but I think to you all. Meanwhile I visited the african workshop and a middle age market. Africa was very nice, but my hands are not to born to beat drums (they was a little bit blue), but with sticks it wasn´t a problem. We have had a lot of fun. The beat sounds great in our heart. In our pause we have made nonsense: We played drums and one of us play keyboard, another sang “we will rock you” (Queen) (imaging with African drums) – we were all so happy. For two hours a women showed us African dance. After that day it was hard to walk – so muscle ache. After five days I was o.k. --- really funny.
On this weekend we visited a middle age market = another world – a good contrast to our real world. You can see pictures from last year on:
http://www.eifelsoeldner.de/image/markt2006/012ebernburg/index.html
Bye, bye – till the next one. Good minds to everyone of you!
Jutta
If you have purchased a Wilders 10" record here are the instructions to download your free MP3 files:
ReplyDelete1. Enclosed in the vinyl jacket is a special 13-digit alphanumeric case-sensitive code. Email this to:
downloads@traderootmusic.com.
2. Within 12 hours, you will receive a reply that includes a special login and password created exclusively for your code. Use this login and password to access the dowload page at:
www.traderootmusic/wildersdownloads.html.
3. Each track will have its own link on the webpage. Dowload all four tracks, and enjoy! Please note that access to the webpage with your login and password will expire after 72 hours.
If you have any questions or need technical support, please contact info@traderootmusic.com
Hi, all!
ReplyDeleteWe had to leave Winfield yesterday afternoon, right before The Wilders' last set--think they closed down the stage area with that one. So sad that it's all over, but what a wonderful time we had! Boy, are we beat! Figure we'll gradually catch up on sleep over the next week or so...
Rick and I got there on Tuesday afternoon, and the rest of the family dribbled in over the next two days. La La Land was up and running a week or so before, so we had no trouble finding a place to set up our little "home."
We ran into tickmeister on Wednesday, riding his bike through the campground. LVJ made it in on Friday, bearing delicious kraut for our "spasm" at La La Land. Ike came in for a brat, too, which was a treat for us! Spent a little time in Chicken Train Camp, listening to Nate and Ike play, before Phil and Betse arrived.
We caught all The Wilders shows, except that very last one on Sunday, and they were in great form--HUGE, enthusiastic crowds! The Stage 5 performance on Friday night was phenomenal--so much energy! Lots of variety, including some rock and roll, since they were playing to the younger Stage 5 crowd (except us, of course...) Phil came on wearing a Beatles wig, and he and Ike traded back and forth with it and a cowboy hat. Betse used some sort of voice modulator for talking with the huge crowd. Nate brought Gretel up on stage, and she sat there, enthralled, through most of the show--so adorable! I got to see her again on Sunday morning. She looks exactly like her Daddy!
Got to see tickmeister strut his stuff on two separate Wilders sets--he has gotten so good at flatfooting! Rick is impressed, and promises to practice for next year. Also got to meet Mary, tick's wife! Not only does she exist, but she's really funny and nice!
Nearly forgot--tick and I got to play a little guitar and mandolin together at one point--Wednesday or Thursday night, I think. Can't remember, because Winfield always runs together like a big, wonderful blur... Anyway, it was fun to hear him play and sing!
Vieta, I REALLY want to make it to the Rock House this year! If Rick's on call, I may drive over alone and meet you! What's the date?
Jutta, I so enjoyed your last entry--especially hearing about your area of Germany. Thanks!
Haven't had a chance to play the vinyl yet--maybe tomorrow. I'd undoubtedly screw it up today, because I'm so groggy...
I've got to get back to my laundry. Bleah. Life does go on, post-Winfield... just more slowly...
Thanks Peggy, I've been waiting right here for you all to get back and tell us about Winfield! Wish I could have been there too :-{. but hearing is second best/ GG will probably be grown up before I get to see her. {another :-{ }
ReplyDeleteYES, meet me at the Rock House and anyone else that can, it is Sat. Sept 22 at 8:00. Look on their schedule, click the link and there is a picture of it. Just the sweetest people run it, you'll love it I promise.
Jutta and Christina looking forward to your posting too, love to hear more of what you are doing and of your country.
Now I'm going on standby for more Winfield news.
Besafe everyone of you.
v
Peggy, so a nice big report in detail – I can imagine it – brilliant!
ReplyDeleteVieta, I´m not so often in this blog in the moment and in the future it will be not better – it will be more silence by me than now. – But sometimes I will come back to tell you all a little nice story from the life.
Hugs to you all!
I was there. Winfield. What fun. I think the kraut has made the Tickmeisters dancing so smooth. I may have to send another quart up there. I didn't see a good kraut spasm all night.
ReplyDeleteI did hear some good music though. Peggy played and sang some very beautiful songs. This little lady named Shannon from who knows where, did some picking and a grinning. I was impressed. Thanks Peggy and Rick for letting me hang out and make a general nuisance of myself.
I watched some of the flat picking for my flat picking brother. Nothing has changed there. I constantly checked out stage 5, stage 7, the Chicken Camp and LaLa Land to see who was jamming and I seemed to miss the good stuff.
Of course the Wilders blew me away. Listening to the Wilders is like opening up a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get. Some people actually think that. I think that listening to the Wilders is like opening up a big old can of whoop ass, you know exactly what you will get. Your ass whooped. I hope I can say that with no repercussions.
The Wildest played the main stage on Saturday Night and the stands were full and the infield was packed. People were dancing all over the place. The afternoon show on stage 2 was packed too. I would guess it was 3 or 4 thousand? Who knows?
I didn't buy any CD's or T-shirts. I did drink a few beers and actually slept a little here and there. Next year, more kraut, more jamming and more of everything.
I wonder how many red vinyl records were sold? I bet nearly all.
Thanks Peggy and LVJ for the Winfield review. Wish we could have been there.
ReplyDeletePeggy and Vieta have fun at SDC and the Rock House. Write us about it when you can. We sure enjoyed it last year.
Would have liked to see Tick strut his stuff on stage with the Wilder's.
Jutta I enjoy your interesting blogs.
Writing can sometimes more mistakable than speaking. So Vieta, I must append something to my last comment, because it´s possible that it had sounded ironical. I wrote “… tell you all a little nice story from the life.”
ReplyDeleteI mean really nice stories, because you wrote so lovely, that you love to hear … so I like to wrote nice real stories. That´s the whole addition.
Betty, I must smile about your comment – thank you.
Now, I going on with my intensive life (sometimes too intensive, but better than too be bored stiff) – but I will come back, you know, because I take a great fancy to you all.
Have a lot of fun with the music.
Take care of you all et bisous!
Et bisous, I think I remember that from latin class in High School, it translates to "eat bison". I'll take my bison with barbarque sauce, kraut, musturd or hot sauce. Let me know when you're cooking it and I'll be there.
ReplyDeleteOooohh, as I read your comment (imagine a bison with barbecue sauce and kraut ------ mmmhh!!!) along the way my mouth water. But then … to pity no barbecue by LVJ. --- I like it to eat, but I don´t like it to cook. I cook only for survival. But if we will be near by us, we can cook together with the mixed herbs fun and nonsense.
ReplyDeleteGros bisous to you all!
...I forgot an important spice: MUSIC from The Wilders! Yeah!
ReplyDeleteJutta...I don't like to cook either!! How 'bout we let LVJ take care of that chore and we will sit back an eat!!
ReplyDeleteChuckle, chuckle, chuckle ..... Betty, that´s an excellent idea from you!!! Maybe we could help LVJ shop the bison (because it´s possible that the bison is a little bit heavy) and then LVJ cook for us during we sit back and sing loud to our music! ...... Nice to meet a women, which don´t like cook. For example it´s more nice to paint walls or to supply anything in nature or hike ....
ReplyDeleteI would prefer that I was consulted before any decisions are made. Bison Burgers, well done, off the grill with anything but ketchup. Yummy. Peggy, I volunter Rick, I know he can cook brats.
ReplyDeleteChuckle, chuckle ..... LVJ, yes we will consult you before – no problem. Good to know that you think about it, and nice that you want to yoke Rick to barbecue (chuckle). So probably Peggy will come also with it and maybe someone else from the lovely people of this blog ... it will be a party .....
ReplyDeleteCount me in!
ReplyDeleteHow hard can it be to roast a bison, anyway? You just need a big enough barbeque pit.
Rock House tonight! Yippeeeee!!!
yeah, that´s right Peggy and I wish you a lot of fun in Rock House!!!
ReplyDeleteO.K. There's absolutely no way to explain how wonderful the Rock House experience was! I'll make an inept attempt, anyway...
ReplyDeleteVieta and I met there about an hour before the concert. Ike was already setting up the sound system, and many people were milling around, eating, drinking... We decided to sit out on the porch and meet and visit with folks. What a great bunch!
No other Wilder family members were there, so Vieta really got the royal treatment. I even got to be Ike's "adopted Aunt Peggy."
The actual performance was the best ever. On the first song, Nate kicked a plug loose or something, and the sound went kablooey. Luckily, there was a musician there who happened to have all his sound equipment in his trunk, so he brought it in and they were able to set it up. During the twenty minutes or so it took to do all this, The Wilders just played an impromptu acoustic set--just a jam, basically. Neat!
The Rock House is a perfect venue for The Wilders--they play in the corner of a big living room, and it's so intimate! They can talk to audience members, take requests, etc... And I don't think I've ever heard them sound better.
After the concert, folks just stayed around and visited. Ike played several songs on the piano and Nate came and joined him on a couple. They had a big bonfire out back and there were people congregated around that. I even played and sang one song, at Vieta and Ike's request.
We didn't leave until probably 1:30 a.m., and the party was still going on. Back in the motel, we were chatting and still going on the energy of the evening, when I asked Vieta what time it was and she said "quarter to three." Wow! It was like Winfield all over again!
I think most of the people had seen the band before, but anyone who hadn't was certainly won over. They are such a special group of people, both on and off stage. The spontaniety of their performances really sets them apart from any other old-timey groups I've heard, and it goes without saying that musically they are a cut above, too.
Anyway, I'm SO glad I went! And I recommend that whoever can make it to the next one should move any obstacles out of the way to do it. You won't regret it!
I had such a good time, thanks Peggy for putting it in words!
ReplyDeletePeggy's singing was beautiful!
Be safe each and everyone of you.
Thank you, Vieta. And thanks for making me feel worthy.
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention, there was great dancing, and a guy played the bones... and at one point, Phil leapt off the stage into the "mosh pit." What a party!
ReplyDeleteIt was great to get to visit with D.A., too, as well as all the new friends I met.
Oh I just thought of this, the front porch had these vines with huge white flowers. six or seven inches across. They are called moon flowers, the blooms only last one night, but the vines were loaded ready to bloom again the next night.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you Bruce and Jeanette (the host) they are just great. Wonderful people in Reeds Spring.
PS to Kris from Ike and Phil a hey and "Sittin on a Jury" will hopefully be on itunes by Oct.
CD will work till then, right? Its not all about the Wilders. :-).
Take care all of you.
v
Peggy your report was detailed and it´s to read like a very nice novel. I could imagine very well!
ReplyDeleteAnd the article, where you wrote "... so Vieta really got the royal treatment. I even got to be Ike's "adopted Aunt Peggy..." - I must chuckled. --- And by this story it´s to see again, that The Wilders, their family and also their friends are a very special folk. We must love you!
It´s a pity that you are all so far away from here. But it´s so great, that we could share the experiences on this blog – thank you therefore!!!
Vieta, in Germany we know a plant which called "Königin der Nacht" (Queen of the night) – it blooms only one night too. Maybe it´t the same like "moon flower".
Jutta I found a picture that looks exactly like those at Rock House.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this link.
http://www.beemaster.com/gallery/flwr14a.jpg
We have long arms, here is a hug for you.
(((((Jutta))))))
Be safe every one of you.
v
I would like to say something about worthy: I think it´s not basic where I come from or what I can – it´s important that I respect the creature, the nature, the whole earth ... that I try to live in a good way and try to give no pain to anyone and myself (it could be hard) ... I know that it gives too much people, who think in another way ...
ReplyDeleteI still enjoy Peggy´s and Vieta´s report about the rock house. I would like to hear Peggy, when she is singing and playing – it´s sure nice.
You must know, in the basic I´m a neanderthal by internet (but I have it! Chuckle!). - Since a few days I know the webside www.youtube.com.
I think all of you know this side – in the case of not: You can find The Wilders there too!!!! In the moment I prefer the song “Hey little darling” there — oh, it´s so beautiful!!!! I hover.
Vieta, great, thank you very much for your effort – I had have a look for the picture. Now I know that the “Queen of the night” is not the same like the “moon flower”. I must say: I like the moon flower more (what a beautiful clamberer and bloom), because it isn´t a cactus (why? – the explain will follow). I would say that the “Queen of the night” is a kind of a cactus and I prefer plants with green blades without prickly, but the bloom from the Queen looks very beautiful too.
Big bisous to you all – specially for LVJ with the bison – from me to you (Beatlessong – The Beatles = the first big music-love in my life)
Jutta
I forgot to write:
ReplyDeleteVieta, mmmmhhhh, it´s such a gooooood feeeeeeling!!! Good that you all have so long arms!!! - Thanks a lot for the big special hug!!!
Jutta
Here you can see the "Queen of the night": http://www.kprkpr.de/Dresden/Bilder/Koenigin-der-Nacht/Koen-Nacht.htm
ReplyDelete.... at first a had the three comments in one block, but I made a mistake and blank it. Oh no! So I wrote it again, but it´s late and I´m not so fresh in my brain - so it had given three comments - that´s life ... yeah
Jutta, the Konigin der Nacht is really beautiful! I don't believe I've ever seen it here, and I've seen lots of cactus flowers.
ReplyDeleteOne neat thing about the moon flowers at Rock House is that Jeanette told us we could pick the blooms, since there were lots of them and they would only be there for one night. So many ladies had beautiful flowers tucked into their hair or blouses! They smell good, too!
Hey, Wilders, how are the sales going of Sittin' on a Jury?
Tick, I know we're all looking forward to hearing your impressions of Winfield. Where've you been???
ReplyDeleteMississippi. Hope to get home by the weekend.
ReplyDeleteCome out, come out, wherever you are...!
ReplyDeleteI get a sort of sinking feeling when I see that "38 comments."
Miss you guys!
Got to the office at 6:50 A.M. and got home at 7:45 P.M. I am a happy talkative guy. But whats not to love, its America! How you all doing? That good huh? Me too. I'm gonna duct tape a couple of flashlights to my mower and get to work. Hey Peggy, how is the honey? Who is going to Davey's Uptown on Saturday to see the Widers? Seen ya. LVJ
ReplyDeleteYOUR jar of honey is terrific--haven't opened ours yet...
ReplyDeleteHave fun at Davey's!
(Nice to see a little action on the old blog--thanks.)
Wow. we passed that 38 mark.... It took a jar of honey, sometimes it takes a gob of kraut. We are resilient creatures, are we not?
ReplyDeleteHow about those sound effects on the Jury? Every time I listen to it I hear some thing new.I just heard the police radio in the back ground but can't tell what they are saying..yet.I should eat a carrot, oh no, thats for your eyes :-)
Wilders the Rock House show was great, thank you.
Now every one be safe.
v
Great! A comment about the 10". Not to criticize the awesomeness of kraut or honey or any of the other stuff y'all talk about after 30 comments, but something that actually relates to the post is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSo what do you think of the EP? Dirk worked really hard to make Side Two into something special. I think the Jury track is one of the most interesting things we have ever done. But then again, I wrote it.
I've been ruminating about posting an episodic blog that recounts the true story behind the song. Maybe when we get back out on the road, I'll sit down and get that going. Stay tuned.
Bro Phil, do not forget that I need a copy, I hope to get my grubby little hands on it Saturday Night.
ReplyDeleteSittin' On A Jury is incredible! Sorry I didn't mention that before. Like Vieta said, you hear something more every time you listen to it. And you're right, Phil, it's totally unlike anything you've ever recorded. Again, the flexibility of The Wilders amazes me!
ReplyDelete(I like it even better than roast bison with a side of kraut and honey for dessert...)
OK then, I went down to Davey's Uptown last night to see the Wilders. The evening started off with Rex Hobart. Ike and Phil had been telling me about how great a honky tonker this guy is. Well he did a spagheti western Frank Zappa thing that was entertaining. Cowboy Zappa fits the bill. The Wilders came out with a whole new sound setup, and it was the best sound ever at Davey's. The band ran thru their dazzling array of Honky Tonks and Fiddle Tunes. Phil was cutting up quite a bit with the wrestling mask and the wig. He can also flat foot with the best of them. I took home a copy of the new 10" vinyl and listened to it several times today. Sitting on a Jury is totally amazing. It's a change for the Wilders, but not an abrupt change. I think they could do a live version of this song without the studio stuff that would be just marvelous. But even if it is never played live, they have this gigantic library of songs that could cook away all your head cheese. Or all of my head cheese. A good time was had by all. Can't wait till the next show!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review LVJ.
ReplyDelete"Sittin' on the Jury" IS totally awesome isn't it.
I think the guy that wrote it is totally awesome too!!
Betty, I wonder why you would think that.
ReplyDeleteCould be because BroPhil is a very close relative of mine.
ReplyDelete"ALL THE WILDER'S ARE AWESOME!!"
Thanks, LVJ!
ReplyDeleteWe ate the very last of the kraut tonight--sad that it's all gone...
Tomorrow we leave for a little vacation, camping with Rick's folks. Back on Friday.
Maybe there'll be a new post by then??? Maybe some "awesome" person will write one!
Yes like recounting the true story behind the jury song.
ReplyDeleteI was called for jury duty six straight years. I went in and asked if anybody else lived in Leavenworth. I also asked how to get a couple of years off of jury duty. They said they used a list of registered voters. I haven't voted since, besides if voting could actually change anything, it would be declared illegal immediately.
ReplyDeleteAs of this moment I plan on going to Mojo's tomorrow night. Any one else? Any questions I should ask? I'll do my best.
ReplyDeleteIf I should see you there I'll buy you a samich.
I will play the "Jury" CD over and over and over all the way there, stop at Bandana's for a bite, Wilders should I bring you a take out order?
take care and be safe every one of you.
v
I went to the doctor and told him that I was having trouble playing the guitar. I was missing chords, forgeting lyrics and messing up songs all the time. He asked me how much I practiced and I told him I thought that I must have some adult attention disorder thing. He assured me that all I needed was determination, dedication, discipline and desire and to practice every spare moment. And I yelled " I WANT PILLS, YOU QUACK!!!!" My new address is the state hospital, mental ward. I'm on work release, and they took my guitar away. Vieta, Peggy, Betty, what should I do? Eating more sauer kraut didn't help. I'm sure that Tick has an appropriate comment. Connie told me to eat more raisin bran and then I wouldn't be so full of... @#$%!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhich State hospital LVJ so I know where to send mail?
ReplyDeleteRaisin bran sounds appropriate.
Have a great time Vieta. Columbia is my home town. Tell the Wilder's "hey" for us.
Hey the new red 10" disc has some really good music on it. The sound is exceptional. I was surprised that it was a 45. It will be interesting and fun to see which songs turn up on the next CD. Ike said that "Hey Little Darling" will be on it. I'm pretty sure that some new fiddle tunes will be on it also. I think "My Sharona" should make it. The Wilders Library of old time classics seems endless. There is talk of a couple of Christmas Shows. Should be fun.
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteI also bought the 10" and I really have to say that it's fantastic! My record player is going to overheat. You can hear how much the Wilders love their music. Can't wait to get their new CD!
How are you all doing?
Lots of greetings from Germany!
Mrs. V must still be hung over. It must have been a good show.
ReplyDeleteVieta looked fine the last I saw of her. I on the other hand am a little strung out today. Wilders shows are a lot harder since I transformed from a sit on the wall geek to a dance all the time geek.
ReplyDeleteMojo's was fun. Thanks to the Wilders for putting up with the Fraziers.
Oh yes it was a super show plus super audience. The Fraziers and Wilders blend sure worked a gob of spiritual magic.
ReplyDeleteMy dear friend, Pat and myself made the journey to Columbia.... now she is way in to flatfooting after seeing Tick. We are looking for her a pair of red spiritual dancing shoes. She is near out of control.:^0.
brophil had uncles, aunts and cousin there, they were heavy Wilders fans of course. They wanted to hear brophil sing and he did some with Ike but dodged doing a solo by requesting Ike sing his grandmothers favorite "In the Garden". Next time brophil?
The Fraziers started it off then the Wilder did their stuff, then Wilders and Fraziers together, it couldn't have been any better. Betse's fiddle was in A-1 shape, she whipped the crowd into frenzied dancing, Nate came through loud and clear and the crowd loved him, you know how lovable he is!The audience was one of the best. They came to see the band, some new fans had heard of them and were there to see if what they had heard was true. Well they left as believers.
brophil did a show off of the red "Jury" record under the lights, it brought some ooohhhs, they did a lot of autograping.
Thats my take and I wish I could do it again next week, but it was great that I got to be there.......Here wishing all the Wilders a safe and successful tour, I love you all.
Any questions??
"It took awhile for her to figure out she could run... but when she did, she was long gone, long gone."
Hans Christian Anderson "The Red Shoes"
What a great rundown of the Mojo's show! Thanks, Vieta and Tick!
ReplyDeleteRick was really inspired by Tick's flatfooting, too. I was inspired, but am afraid I'd jar something loose in my spine if I tried it, so I'll just be an appreciative audience.
LVJ, I'm sorry to hear about your incarceration, but at least you'll be able to get some rest, right?
We just got home from our little vacation, and must do some work. Bleah.
More frivolity later...
Mrs. V....thank-you, thank-you for the review. I heard about the uncles, cousins, and aunt Wade's being there. I understand you were sitting yaking away to a Phil's uncle (my brother-in-law) not knowing until later you guys were Wilder related.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I hope to see Tick flatfoot again. We saw him last year at Winfield and were very impressed.
It sounded like a great show. Glad you could go.
HELLO- I HAD A FANTASTIC TIME WEDNESDAY NIGHT OCT 10,2007 IS WHEN I HAD A VERY GOOD FRIEND VIETA ASK IF I WANTED TO GO SEE THE WILDERS WELL I DON'T MIND ADMITTING THAT I'M A WILDER GROUPPIE FOR SOME YEARS. WE WERE AT MOJO'S AND THAT WHEN I SEEN THIS GENTLEMAN CALL TICKMASTER DOING THE FLAT SHOE DANCE AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE FOUND THESE SHOES AND THEY HAD THE DANCE SPIRIT IN THEM AND HE JUST DANCE ANYTIME THEY ARE ON HIS FEET. WELL I TRY THAT FLAT FOOT DANCE AND I'M LOOKING FOR RED DANCE SHOES WITH TAP AND THE MUST HAVE THE DANCE SPIRIT BUILD INTO THE SOLES IF ANYONE FIND THEM PLEASE POST ON BLOG --LOCATION AND PRICE --I APPRECIATE THE WILDER CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM AGAIN. PAT U
ReplyDeleteOOH YES PLEASE DON'T TYPE RED DANCEING SHOE WITH TAPS AND SPIRIT IN THE SOLES ON EBAY ----IT COME UP WILL SCARY THING FOR HALLOWEEN(^)
Rick's looking for spirited dancing shoes, too, and they're hard to find! What he needs is all leather, including the heels. Never thought of trying e-bay--think I'll do that!
ReplyDeleteGood luck finding red ones, Pat!
Hey hey LVJ, no I didn't have a hangover although I did drink a few extra beers, accidentlly. (did that sound right?) Every time I walked by the bar they handed me a beer and a salt shaker. Wish you had been there, you could have helped me out plus adding a big dab of LVJness. Peggy we must try to get all these flatfooters shoed. Tick has starting an epidemic.
ReplyDeleteYeah Betty it was so funny when we found out who we all were, they were fun and were having lots of fun too. I liked them. Met another new fan Kate Martin, she was one who had heard of them and came to see, met a whole big bunch of nice.
Now if only all of us could be at the same show at the same time.................priceless.
Christina nice to see ya!
Be safe everyone of you.
v
That would be nice V, It would have to be a weekend. Sounds like a missed a special show. We will do it someday.
ReplyDeleteHey Vieta, that's a good idea! Wouldn't it be great to organize a blogger meeting at a concert of the Wilders? :-) well, when I'll ever make it to the USA we have to do that, okay?
ReplyDeletetake care everybody.
Enjoy Truckstop Honeymoon, Vieta! And say hi for me to our friends at the Rock House!
ReplyDeleteWe're going to hear Baled Green and Wired Tight at the Chicken House Opry tonight.
When The Wilders aren't around, we just have to get our old-timey music fix wherever we can...
(Where ARE you, Phil?! We're up to 68 comments!)
Norm and I were at the Wade family reunion Saturday. The relatives that went to Mojo's thought the Wilder's put on a great show. They had VERY nice things to say about you Vieta. In their words, "what a nice and fun lady!" All were touched with BroIke singing "In the Garden" in memory of Phil's Grandma Wade.
ReplyDeleteWhat a awesome message about "Hey little darling" – thanks a lot therefore! My heart is jumping like a kangaroo ... hover through the blue sunny sky ...
ReplyDeleteBisou, bisou ...
Blue Bunny Ice Cream and Bison. Well, I would want the Bison first. I'll bet that Wade family reunion was a blast. Phil is a shinging example of the Wades.
ReplyDeleteBlue Bunny Ice Cream and Bison ... oh LVJ, I must laughing – it´s so nice! ... You have forgot the kraut ... and Phil will get grey hair with our comments, but everyone can see: The Wildersfans have a lot of good humor!
ReplyDeleteBye bye with bisous ...
Welcome back, little frauleins!
ReplyDeleteThe Wilder blogger get-together just sounds like too much fun! All that roast bison and kraut and flatfoot dancing! The Blue Bunny ice cream is just icing on the cake (to mix a metaphor). Just let me know when and where, and I'll be there!
(You can come out now, Phil... I think we're about through...)
Look at it this way, you only need 26 more comments and you'll break 100. That's pretty good.
ReplyDeleteTo explain my absence, my laptop shot craps and have to borrow Betse's just to check on y'all. Sorry, but it will be another week or so before anything new comes up. Be patient, eat Kraut, put salt in your beer, dust off the fruitcake comments if you must...
Kraut, salted beer, with fruitcake for dessert...a gourmet meal if I every heard one.
ReplyDeleteWe'll try to entertain ourselves, BroPhil until you have time to write again.
Travel safe.
Phil, I am deeply hurt and annoyed by your flippant remark insinuating that we are some kind of hillbillies with nothing better to do than blog about silly stuff. You forgot the bison and the honey. Besides, fruitcake is what fruitcake does. I was at the boats last weekend and shot craps. Have you ever been to Dingburg? I rest my case.
ReplyDeletePhil, das war großer Spaß. Dingburg ist eine Stadt von Pinheads in Zippyland. Gesehenes ya
ReplyDeleteO.K., guys, we need to get on the stick if we're going to reach our 100-comment goal before Phil comes back to end our fun. (I've been listening to a lot of fundraising on public radio lately...)
ReplyDeleteWe can do it! Maybe a contest! Use a sentence including these words: bison, bunnies, kraut, honey, fruitcake, bubblegum, vinyl, red dancing shoes...
Beer with salt, dust off the fruitcake …. What ideas from our Daddy-Phil from the blogger-side - chuckle ...
ReplyDeleteLVJ, chuckle, now Phil must learn a little bit German. It´s very nice to read a little bit German on this side. Zippyland sounded very nice – I must think by this on Pippi Langstrumpf (a famous sweden girl).
ReplyDeletePeggy, thanks for the explain about blue bunny ice cream – I thought it´s a joke too, but now I know a little bit more, little bit, little bit, ....
ReplyDeleteOur region is famous for good vine. And one of the famous meals is "Sauerkraut, Saumagen, Bratwurst, Bratkartoffel,..." – a lot of good food.
ReplyDeleteSo we will have a party: We wear our red shoes (so we dance very well), eat bison with kraut and honey during the bunnies hobble around us and beat with their flower (the end of the bunny – like by a horse the tail) to the rhythm of The Wilders music (the red vinyl).
After this we need a dessert: fruitcake without dust – maybe with bubblegum??? upps
Enjoy your meal and the party with the very well, great music from our Wilders! - Slainte!
Bisous, bisous ...
... upps - I meant blogger-daddy Phil.
ReplyDeleteIt´s so good that he look to us.
Have a good time!
Thanks, Jutta! You're certainly doing your part to get us to that 100-comment mark! It's a good idea to divide your comment up into little segments, so it counts as more individual comments!
ReplyDelete(All you folks who are reading along at home and haven't made a commitment to the blog, please blog in now. Operators are waiting...)
By the way, Jutta, Blue Bunny ice cream is a wonderful concoction! My favorite flavor is Bunny Tracks, which has tiny little chocolate bunnies in it!
... Peggy, my mouth watered, because I can good imaging, what you told me.
ReplyDeletezippy means in German "belebend". Ein belebtes Land - A zippy land - mmmhh - interesting ....
ReplyDeleteOk, an idea. I'll start a story and use one word, next person choose their word and continue the story. Of course I'll pick fruitcake.
ReplyDeleteI left home to go on a walk early one morning. I began to tire, thought maybe time to go home but the problem, I didn't know how to get there. I was sooo tired and hungry, then, there in the weeds I saw a small tin. It was rusted and bent. I poked it with a stick and out fell this lovely little fruitcake.
I was so surprised that my mouth fell open, and out came my bubble gum, falling right into the fruitcake!
ReplyDelete(Was I right to use the first AND second words? Next person needs to use THREE, right?)
Hey, good Peggy! What say we leave it up to the poster? Good if they can do that, but for sure use one new word.
ReplyDeleteI thought the blue bunny ice cream tastes of bunny... *laugh*
ReplyDeleteMaybe if I can't handle the blog and send the same comment 7 times again, we can reach the 100-comment goal easy...*wink*
Okay, I'll try to continue the story...:
I was busy with picking the bubblegum out of the fruitcake when I suddenly saw a bison standing direct behind me.
Well let me tell you I was literally standing there shaking in my red shoes.
ReplyDeleteRed "dancing" shoes that is.
ReplyDeleteAnd I arrived on the scene and said " There you are, Billy Bison, my pet bison. He likes fruitcake and wants a taste. He doesn't like red, so don't make any sudden movements if you have something red on. NO NO NO DON'T START DANCING WITH THOSE RED SHOES ON! RUN VIETA RUN. BILLY YOU BAD BISOUS BISON, COME BACK, SHE DIDN'T KNOW, WE'VE GOT FRUITCAKE! RUN VIETA RUN. SORRY IKE."
ReplyDeleteBut that´s not the end of the story.
ReplyDeleteDuring Bisous Bison Billy ran after Vieta a pick-up came up the field path. At the steering-wheel sat Sweatpie and on the loading ramp sat ...... guess ..... Yeah! ..... The Wilders! - Beste, Ike, Nate and Phil .... playing their music! When Bisous Bison Billy heard the special Wilders sound he stopped very quickly and looked very rejoice. He began to nodded with his hip and was so glad – he danced (imaging a dancing bison) ..... and Vieta was eased ....
Ta Da.............Jutta to the Rescue!
ReplyDeleteThere is the sky, a red vinyl orb, radiating and bobbing.
Thank God! I needed V to survive for further adventures.
ReplyDelete.... Meantime Peggy arrived too. She and Betty (still standing there at the fence shaking in her red shoes) observed scene.
ReplyDeleteBisous Bison Billy looked to the red vinyl orb, that radiated bob. Christina and Tickmeister also came to this scene ..... ...... how go the story forward?
We're at 98 comments! Whoever adds #100 gets to finish the story, right?
ReplyDelete(oops, I've already wasted my turn...)
GO Peggy GO!!!!!!!!! Use the rest of the words.
ReplyDeleteI didn't want to be the one to put a hunnert on here. But anyway, there was a big bisous bison barbeeque. Plenty of kraut, honey, fruitcake, etc. Vieta sang the Star Spangled Banner. Peggy brought a big block of head cheese. Betty brought the beer. Tick danced up a storm, and LVJ was as ostentacious as ever. The Wilders marathon lasted 3 days. Everybody had a good time, said goodbye, laughed and cried, and said we must do it again sometime. Everybody said OK.
ReplyDeleteWHEW!!! LVJ finished the story and made the hundred mark, and he did good job of it...now I can relax and wait for the next Wilder adventures.
ReplyDeleteThanks LV.......Good Job!
ReplyDeleteYou know, when you go through and read one of these, you get the feeling that there are a bunch of crazy people out there with way too much time on their hands. I'm not really apologizing, it gives a person something to look forward to after a day of shoveling, how do you say in Germany, Shisen? You know, Stuff.
ReplyDeleteI guess that I am going to have to down load the Jury, I'm wearing the vinyl out.
I can't believe we ate the whole bison! And a pet one who dances, at that!
ReplyDelete(Phil, HELP!)
Howdy,
ReplyDeletewow...we reached the 100-comments goal! Now it's time for a new blog from Phil. I'm looking forward to a new CD from the Wilders which includes the song "hey little darling" (it's one of my favorites). Does anybody know if the Wilders will comeback to Germany someday?
Take care,
C.
Hey gang,
ReplyDeleteGuess what? Ike, Nate and a I broke down in Knoxville, TN on our way home from tour. Luckily, Betse was spared the drama by visiting her brother and flying home from North Carolina. She didn't know that by "staying a couple of extra days" to hang out with her family, that she would beat us home.
Anyway, we just got home after sitting in a Motel 6 for 3 boring days. To make new blog possibilities worse, my laptop broke before the last tour. So, even though y'all made the 100 comment goal. I'm going to ask you to continue talking amongst yourselves for at least a few more hours until I can get some damn sleep and get right with the world. Here's at least an answer to a comment question: Yes, Jutta, we will be back in Germany in late January/early February of 2009. I know that's a long way off, but that's the plan as of now. We will be playing the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, Scotland during the second week of January and coming your way sometime after that. Thanks for staying interested. We are tired but grateful to return to Kansas City. Take care all. Stay tuned
Now to bed...
How about everybody tells their worst "broke down on the road" story? I've got a good one and will work on it in the next couple of days.
ReplyDeleteI've had so many old cars, the "broken down" stories have all just sort of blended. I've been hiking to farm houses on dark, moonless nights, praying that axe murderers didn't live there...
ReplyDeleteA funny "broken down" story:
When we lived in Connecticut, we had one car--an old, reliable VW bus. I had to get the kids to school, pre-school, Rick to work, do errands, and then pick everyone back up at their respective times. When a friend said that her husband had "fixed up" a car and would sell it to me for $400, I was thrilled. Thought I'd surprise Rick.
It was a powder blue Vega.
(Rick's boss at the time was a gardener. As a "bonus," he would send Rick home with all his larger-than-life produce--squash, cukes... We'd usually just compost them or give them to the pigs.)
Anyway, we lived in an old, funky, three-story farm house. The driveway was a steep decline to the lower level--the basement, actually--, and you walked up steps to get to the front door on the main floor.
The Vega quickly became a joke. It hardly ever started, and when it did and we were foolhardy enough to actually drive it somewhere, it wouldn't start again to get us home. Once in awhile, though, when I needed our "real" car, Rick would drive the Vega to work.
On one such morning, Rick went out the door, down the steps, and got into the Vega. As always, I was watching from the large window in the "sun room," wondering if this was one of the days it would start. Hooray, it did!
Leaving behind a large black cloud, the car began it's ascent up our driveway. After powering out and coasting back down three or four times, I was about to give up, cancel my appointment, and let Rick take the "real" car to work.
Then, out of the car window flew a couple of ten-pound zucchinis! The Vega then made it to the top of the drive, and he was on his way.
I seldom laugh aloud at the keyboard, but that's one of the funniest things I've heard for a while.
ReplyDeleteLVJ, I found the word SHOVEL in the dictionary. I try to explain, but I´m not sure: Maybe it means so a kind of cumulate? When I´m right, than I could understand the sense from your sentence.
ReplyDeleteI haven´t found the word SHISEN.
The word STUFF – yes I understand it.
Peggy, you could write books, because you can give us stories in a nice way.
I have a car-story too. It happened in the last wintertime:
I found mouseshit in my car – in the trunk – but no mouse. I was wondering. A few days later I looked under the cape hood, where the spare tire was. --- Near the spare tire was a nest, not ready, but it was sure that it was a nest from a mouse. She nibbled the styrofoam (where the tire lay) and nibbled a big hole in my drapery (which lay near the tire too) and built with these two things that nest.
As the nest was not ready and I didn´t find the mouse, so I think she didn’t like my driving style and she had looked to an other flat.
I agree Tick, that was hilarious. Jutta, I like your story too, but mouse@#$% is more appropriate. Shisen is probably from Schieben or some other @#$% word.
ReplyDeleteLVJ, I´m rejoice about you.
ReplyDeleteBisou, bisou
So, what's going on? Is everyone honing their "broke down" stories to perfection?
ReplyDeleteBetter get crackin'--brophil will be back soon!
(I enjoyed your story, too, Jutta! Reminded me of when we had a nest of packrats in our car engine. We'd clean it out, and then they'd build it right back. Guess our driving wasn't as wild as yours...)
... maybe ... and maybe rats are more insistent than mice ... whatever ... so our life wouldn't be a bore ... thank you Peggy!
ReplyDeleteOK, brokedown on the road. I was driving to work one fine fall morning about 1973 or 1974 and I was going a little fast. I was out on a county road in LV county that was a long slow turn to the left with trees on both sides. Out of sight, was a crossroad. Like I said I was going a little fast, like 75 in a 50, and I get around there and there is a car stopped in my lane and a concrete truck coming the other way in the other lane. Too late to brake, I took to the gravel shoulder, I wasn't in the mood for a concrete breakfast. I was doing some wobbles and trying to lose it but missed mailboxes and poles and gaurdrail and trees and made it back on the asphalt. I immediately went limp and pulled over and broke down on the road right there. A couple of days later, the concrete truck driver had recognized my pickup and told me that was the best piece of driving he had ever seen. Schieben en mein Liberhosen. I slowed down after that.
ReplyDeleteI think that's how Dale Earnhardt started his career, isn't it?
ReplyDelete…. this week I have vacation, to handle things, which I couln´t do when I´m working – a lot of things are to do, but now a little bit more time to look for you all.
ReplyDeleteIt´s so good to be on the Wilders blog, because here a so lovely people (like the Wilders) with some stories from the life, with a big pack of humor and love in their heart and love to the music. So I´m on the right place and it´s also good for my English (it´s not going easy in my head).
LVJ, your story: You wrote in a short way, but everything is in it: very interesting, humor, exciting and a good upshot.
And by the comment from Peggy I learned a new word, too. That´s all like a present for me.
By the way, LVJ, I could everthing to translate, but not the sentence “Schieben en mein Liberhosen”. – o.k. mein = mine – but the other words? Please tell me in American.
Bisous, bisous
After my car broke down one dark night, I didn’t want to walk to find help but there was no other way. As I walked along in the gloom and darkness, the sky grew darker still. Clouds covered the moon and stars. I walked faster as the rain began to fall. Soon it was pounding, soaking me from head to toe.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly, up ahead I heard a strange noise, “ahhhhhh”. At first it was very soft. Almost like air escaping from a tire. I slowed my pace trying to decide the exact direction of the sound. As time passed, it became louder. It was like moaning. I thought something may be hurt. Perhaps a small animal. I searched the ditch alongside the road, but saw nothing. It seemed to be coming from deeper into the woods. As the sound grew louder, it became more like a person crying out, “OHHHHHHH!” I couldn’t just walk away if it was a person in trouble. What it if wasn’t a person? What if it was a person? How could I walk into the pitch black woods without even a flashlight? I could barely see to keep on the road. I had no idea what I would be facing. I stood for a few moments trying to decide what to do. “What are you?” I called softly. Suddenly the sound stopped. All sound seemed to stop. No birds, no crickets, no wind. Even the rain slowed to a silent drizzle. This was more frightening than the moaning. I could feel my heart beating rapidly. Then another sound began. Foot falls. Foot falls crashing through the forest. They were coming towards me. My feet felt very heavy and frozen to the ground. I wanted to run, but couldn’t move. A loud screaming could be heard. With a jolt I realized it was my own screams shattering the air. Something leapt upon my chest, knocking me down. Air rushed out of my lungs as I hit the ground with a resounding crash. A huge, dark, hairy face was coming at my head. I closed my eyes and tried to protect my face with my arms, but a heavy weight was pinning them down at my sides. I slowly opened by eyes to try to find a means of escape. That’s when I discovered Arthur, my next door neighbor’s sheep dog. She had gotten lost while chasing rabbits a couple of weeks ago and was now covered with mud. It was her cries of loneliness I had heard in the woods. She must have recognized my voice when I spoke. A good ending to my story was that I now had someone to walk with me to get help!!!....
Since I didn't have an interesting "broken down car" story, I made one up!!
You got me, Betty! Hook, line, and sinker! What a great story!
ReplyDelete(Now I see where brophil gets some of his writing talent!)
I cannot tell a lie...
ReplyDeleteBroPhil's writing talent is intact...
I actually copied this story from the Internet and altered it a bit to fit being appropriate for Halloween.
:) "Happy Halloween"
Betty, totally marvelous, I see where Phil got his story telling talent. Jutta, It would be like mouse@#$% only not mouse, en = in, liberhosen is some silly kind of pants the guys over there wear. Maybe Liderhozen? Put that all together and your get happy thoughts.
ReplyDeleteBetty, you are so lovely cute, that you looked for a story and formed for us.
ReplyDeleteIt´s really a thrilling nice story!! I read it during outside is dark and the season now is the right time for such it. So thrilling! … imagine during you told it we all sit at a campfire. Perfect! And I love happy ends. – Yes, with this story we will have a happy halloween.
LVJ, thank you, now I understand. You explained it in a funny way.
Liderhozen = Lederhosen = leather trousers.
I put that all together and must chuckle. Thank you LVJ.
Bisou, bisou
O.K., tickmeister, you've had your "couple of days"--time for your "broke down" story!
ReplyDeleteOK, I'll try to go back, memory don't fail me..
ReplyDeleteWhen my brother and I were in our teens we lived about six miles from town. We never had a car that was in good mechanical shape but always had one that would run, course anyone with a thought would have been scared witless to drive it or ride in it.
One day we started to town, now at this time it was a 1940 ford and the clutch had went out a while back, however it was running good so no problem. You just needed to park on a small incline so you could hit the starter button and the car would jump, and jump a little more then get up just a little momentum and you were off and running. Now shifting was no problem if you got the transmission and motor in sync.
We were on the road (gravel). We saw a friend Simon up ahead walking to town. I open the door and yelled, DO YOU WANT A RIDE? IF YOU DO JUMP IN WE CAN'T STOP! Bill slowed down as much as he could. Simon grabbed on and ran beside us till with his grabbing, my pulling we got him in with out him falling under the car and getting run over. That is all I can remember of it but alls well that ends well.
Thats better than some of our adventures, when we drove with no brakes....Also had an old Studebaker, not sure out to spell that, the front wheels just sort of collapsed, where the top of the wheels turned in like this.
/ \ only a lot more
Fun reading all your stories guys...Good Job
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Vieta! Have you seen "Little Miss Sunshine"? DO!
ReplyDeleteMy first car was a '58 Studebaker--think it was the first year they came out with the "Lark." Lots of good stories about it... but I've had my turn.
Great stories EVERYONE fun reading them all!!
ReplyDeleteAbout 1994 I was working for Sam Rutherford, whom some of you may remember as the banjo player in the Bluegrass Buzzards. We were building medical air systems for hospitals, and we decided to build up a system and take it to a trade show in Los Angeles. We rented an exhibit space, built a system, loaded it on a flatbed trailer, hitched it to Sam’s nearly new Chevy van and headed west about noon on a Sunday in July. Plan was to drive straight through, get to LA Monday night, get some rest, then set up the booth on Tuesday. We were to pick up our alleged Texas salesman in Albuquerque at the airport.
ReplyDeleteEverything was fine until about 20 miles this side of Liberal, KS. I was driving when the van started to slow down, the engine started to rev up and a cloud of smoke appeared behind us. I know that Moses followed a column of smoke out of Egypt, but this one was following us, and I saw nothing miraculous about it. We coasted to a stop and contemplated the situation.
Sam had an early version of the now ubiquitous cell phone, but reception was a frail hope in western Kansas. After a half hour of trying, we did however manage to contact the local sheriff’s office and were promised that somebody would come and check things out. In due course, a wary local deputy appeared and advised who to call who might possibly consider towing us on a Sunday afternoon.
.
Thus we arrived at the Liberal KS Chevy dealership which was owned by an elderly lady who condescended to come out and talk to us. A mechanic was out of the question and even if one was available, parts would be scarce on the lone prairie. It appeared that if we were going to get to LA that week, it would be without van and trailer. There were no rental cars available in town. As a last resort, we asked the good businesswoman what was the cheapest car that she had for sale that was likely to run to Los Angeles and possibly back.
One thing led to another, and within an hour we were on our way, $800 poorer, but the proud owners of a brown 1975 Pontiac station wagon. It ran reasonably well, didn’t smoke much, and we were mostly driving at night, so what the hell did we need air conditioning for? The trailer and equipment was safely stored in an abandoned building owned by the Chevy dealing octogenarian and things were looking better than at any time since 4 PM.
We got to Albuquerque about 4 AM Monday. We had no idea that the airport terminal there closed at Midnight on Sunday, so had no reason to think that our unfortunate Texas salesman would be kicked out and have to spend the night sitting on his suitcase wondering where we were. He did. He also expressed some reservations about heading to LA in the Pontiac. He was pretty sure that Texas would be the best place for him just as soon as the sun came up and the airport opened.
We had another piece of information to work with at this point, that being that the Pontiac not only had no air, it ran hot even in the middle of the night. There was no way it was going to make the trip across the desert into LA. Thus we mollified the Texan and at 6 AM rented a car, put the brown beast in a storage lot, and headed west. We rolled into LA Monday night, got some sleep, and went to the trade show.
We had a very nice 10 ft. square booth, a small table, 2 chairs, and absolutely nothing to display except our fair and tender bodies. Sam and I are not shy at all, so we simply stood there and told everybody who came by who we were, what we were there for, and asked them if they wanted to buy any. The Texan was too embarrassed to stay anywhere near us, so we saw little of him until it was time to go home. We probably made about as many decent contacts as if we had had the Ark of the Covenant sitting in the booth.
We then drove the rental back to Albuquerque, dumped the Lone Ranger, retrieved the Pontiac and drove back to Liberal. The van of course wasn’t done, so we did the squat in the cheap motel for 2 days trick. We then sold the Pontiac back to the dealer for $100, retrieved the trailer, and went home.
I’ve probably had more amusing breakdowns, but that was by far the most irritating.
Wow! - what stories!
ReplyDeleteWhat a GREAT story Tick!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, at least your $700 car got you from Kansas to New Mexico, right? Don't know why you're complaining...
ReplyDeleteGreat story! I especially loved the part about you guys hawking your wares in the empty booth. That's real salesmanship!
Mister Master of Ticks, you should be paid for your stories.
ReplyDeleteAioooooooooooooooow
ReplyDelete"Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright."
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ReplyDelete