21st Annual Sunshine State Camp, More

Last Saturday, December 11, I played a benefit show in Gulfport, Florida, to help a friend of my friend, Goody Haines, who has been in an accident, is in the hospital, and who has no money, no job, no health insurance, nothing. We're all going to have to pitch in and help each other more in the future, as Republicans take over in Congress and steer us right back into the ditch poor Obama has been trying to get us out of since he was elected to the presidency in 2008. He's sure not having much luck as President of the United States.

I didn't write this, but it is oh-so-very-true: The homeless go without food. The elderly go without medicine. The mentally ill go without treatment. Veterans go without benefits that were promised them. 60 million men, women and children go without health insurance. 10% go without paychecks. Yet we'll give billions in tax breaks to the wealthiest two percent of our population!

Well... we won't. Republicans and other right-wingers in Congress, representating the rich and the corporations, will. President Obama has done some fine things in his first two years in office, but he has been so obstructed by the Republicans and other right-wingers, and he has bungled the political/cheerleading end of the job so much, that the right-wingers, knowing Americans just don't think things through very well, have pushed voters' fear, frustration, and anger buttons well enough to get them to vote against their own, the nation's, and the world's best interests.

Oh America. Think, people. THINK!!

Onward.

After the Barberville Jamboree that I wrote about last time, I spent a lot of time working on "home" things. Still am, as a matter of fact. I have two rental properties that are vacant and were left trashed by tenants. I rent through a management company that was supposed to be cleaning them up and getting them back on the market, but in reality very little had been done. So I got to work and have just about completed the job as I write.

Those places are for rent now. Interested? Details: Rentals

Back to music. Bet you're glad of that---especially you readers outside the USA who don't really give a rap about American political craziness or my rentals! Okay then: The next major event in my life, after the Barberville Jamboree I wrote about last time, was the 21st Annual Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp held on November 12-14. It was a small camp, because hard times are on the land, but it was a great camp. All of our wonderful instructors did fine jobs teaching the classes. Students all reported having wonderful times. We had one of the very best Saturday evening concerts ever. Many activities were videoed by good friend and professional videographer Elizabeth Neely. We'll be getting some clips from the recording up on YouTube soon. Might add here that I've established a Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp page on Facebook. Call it up and "like" us, won't you? "Friend" me personally on Facebook too, please!

We'd welcome you, one and all, to next year's camp. Have a look at the web site for complete information:

Sunshine State Acoustic Music Camp

A highlight of the weekend for me was bringing my niece, Michelle Thedaker, from Los Angeles to the camp. She's a young wife and mother of two growing boys. She'd written that she wanted to come but had the kids to care for, and was without funds for the trip or the camp. So I got her an air ticket and she came out to Florida to spend some time with me and attend the camp. I think she had a wonderful time. I know I did. Her husband, Eric Thedaker, a very fine guy, urged her to accept my offer and took time off work to watch their sons while Michelle came to Florida.

Had a nice Thanksgiving day visiting with my good friend Doug Purcell in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Doug's been ill so we just had a quiet visit and some food in his apartment. Our friend Carl Wade came too. Yes---of course we played some music.

Christmas is coming up, and between now and then I have lots more work to do around the place and the rentals, so I haven't tried to book any music shows. I'm kind of enjoying not doing so much music for a while. Oh, I have picked up my teaching practice. Lesson information here: Lessons.

The clock on the wall says midnight. I say, g'night!! See you next time.