Back to Bug You

I'm back, my friends. I got the call after six that my computer was fixed. It is fixed but different. My whole Webshots desktop that I've had for thirteen or fourteen years is gone. It was mostly photos of Mexico. I loved it. Photos collected over a long period of time. Last time this happened my StumbleUpon disappeared. I'm not skilled enough to deal with computer problems so must accept these losses, I guess. I have other changes too that I'll have to figure out along the way.

I can add a photo today. I had a couple hundred on the camera to load into the files. I had a ton from autumn walks; lots of coloured leaf shots. The leaves are mostly gone now but I'm happy I took my camera on some awesome walks in the last couple of weeks. The leaf season was over quickly as it was so windy. My new earbuds have really helped walking in the wind. I'm listening to music rather than the sounds of nature on some walks but at the same time don't get earaches from the wind. Fair trade.

I've missed my computer for music in more ways than I mentioned yesterday. My son's spare laptop didn't have a nice screen with correct colours and vision or very good speakers. I didn't comment on any photo blogs as the photos looked unhealthy and unrecognizable. Music to me must first sound good so I chose not to play much of the music on music blogs because of the poor speakers. I listened to lots on my stereo but certainly missed music online.

Since I Laid My Burden Down by Mississippi John Hurt is here today to say something about how I've been feeling since the end of work. In one word - Great! It seems Putfile may be down at the moment. It was ok this morning. I'll use the alternate method. Another song from old blues songs file that would fit today is Walkin' Blues by Muddy Waters.

The next two days are supposed to be sunny and warm. I have a ton of yard work to do and these are the two days I'm planning to get it all finished. Depending on how it's going depends on when I'll be here next. If I'm persuaded to go walking rather than gardening.......

Prime Minister of the Blues, Dutch Mason

I wish I could enlarge the above image that I picked up off the internet. I don't know how I forgot to put in a paragraph about Prime Minister Dutch Mason in my post earlier today.

I woke this morning to hear the news that my Maritime hero, Dutch Mason, had died. I was shocked. Even though he had been ill for years, to hear such news surprised and saddened me. I've been a Dutch Mason fan since the early 70's years in my Saint John years where he played often. I have most of his albums and lots of great memories of his always wonderful and unique performances.

Once, in the early 80's, I was working evenings and Dutch was booked to play a week at a Charlottetown nightclub. I took a week's vacation and went every night and was so glad I did. He was remarkable.

The last time he played in PEI, a lot of my friends were in various places in the club on a hot summer night. No one was dancing and I wasn't about to be the one to begin. Everyone headed outdoors during the intermission and I arranged that everyone (my friends) get up on the first beat of the first song after intermission and head to the dance floor. We all did and the party began. We had a real blast. I got an autograph from Dutch that night and saw the really devastated appearance of his hands. He was no longer playing at that time in the early 90's.

The last time I saw/heard Dutch was in Nova Scotia. About four years ago, S and I went on a little overnight camping trip to Joggins and Parrsboro to satisfy my fossil jonesing. Turned out that Dutch was playing at the Ships Theater in Parsboro that night. We were too late to get tickets but the Ships Theater is an old boat with a tarp for a roof. We sat out on the deck on that hot summer night and drank beer and listened to the master. While everyone was inside sitting in their seats, we were outside, inches from Dutch sitting in his wheelchair, waiting to be introduced. I kept my cool and didn't fawn or bug the man.

He was truly a master and was aptly named the Prime Minister of the Blues by BB King. I want to have my old albums preserved digitally or on cd somehow. They've always been considered treasures of mine as there really aren't a lot of those old albums around.

You'll certainly be missed Dutch Mason, but you'll get to join your old friend Rick up there and I can well imagine Heaven's going to be filled with the blues tonight.

For Dutchie fans here's a link back to Hard Times on my music page and I'm uploading Nine Below Zero, Walkin Blues and Baby Please Don't Go for today. I've also included them on my Christmas Eve playlist that I make every year tha I'm about to burn so we can all hear it tonight. I wish I could have a copy of Dutch's version of Alright, OK on my computer. He does a better job of that song than anyone, in my opinion.