In the News Garden State Harmonica Club

[Danny G]

Here's the video that appeared on News 12 tonight. Thanks again to everyone who attended that meeting and participated.

https://newjersey.news12.com/jersey-proud-glen-rock-harmonica-club-unites-members-with-love-of-music

John McNamara

Graphics, Communications, & Social Media Director

The Garden State Harmonica Club

www.gardenstateharmonicaclub.org

[Age]

Cool!!
Always fun to see folks having fun.
I still say we play the "funnest" instrument in the world.

[Rich35]

Great Video
  Great Subject ,Great Folks

[brorat]

I only wish there was something like that closer to my home!
The company I worked for had its HQ in Wayne, NJ.  I was there a LOT during the 90's.  I knew my way around that part of NJ ... especially all the "shortcuts" to get to Newark Airport ... that the locals called on me to tell them the best way to get there
So ... I'm very familiar with the area of the GSHC.  Sounds like a fun time.

[Danny G]

I've made allot of wonderful memories at The Garden State Harmonica Club. The first harmonica festival I vended, the first club to give me a spot on one of their festival schedules and the first festival that my wife and I attended together. There are only a couple of people in that video I don't recognize and several that I consider as old friends. Now that winter's  arrived I expect that they will return to having more frequent Monday evening  Zoom meetings. I'll post the links when (or if) that happens.

[brorat]

I've made allot of wonderful memories at The Garden State Harmonica Club. The first harmonica festival I vended, the first club to give me a spot on one of their festival schedules and the first festival that my wife and I attended together. There are only a couple of people in that video I don't recognize and several that I consider as old friends. Now that winter's  arrived I expect that they will return to having more frequent Monday evening  Zoom meetings. I'll post the links when (or if) that happens.

Thanks Danny.  I did recognize John from our SM Zooms.

[Age]

Yeah, I think more ZOOM options (different days and times) would be a cool thing for folks all over the globe, aye!

[Danny G]

Ya got to be up with the early birds if you want to make it to the Harmonica UK meetings. https://www.harmonica.uk/pages/Events

Long Island is every Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3364871707

Passcode: lihc all lower case long island harmonica club

[Age]

Just like Jimmie's, on my bible study night
As far as the UK is goes, I go to sleep around 2:30am, so the only thing I get up early for is to pee. Heck my brain don't even start working till about 11:am

I am definitely NOT a "morning person." "Nite Owl" yeah, but "early bird," not so much.

[Scotty]

Just like Jimmie's, on my bible study night
As far as the UK is goes, I go to sleep around 2:30am, so the only thing I get up early for is to pee. Heck my brain don't even start working till about 11:am

I am definitely NOT a "morning person." "Nite Owl" yeah, but "early bird," not so much.

Hah! Everything you wrote fits ME to a tee as well, only sometimes I'm up even later than 2:30a.m. Must be a holdover from my days of getting home from work at 11:30 P.M., staying up to watch Johnny Carson, sleep at 1:00 then up at 4:30a.m to do it all
over again. I got into a weird doing without much sleep zone and haven't ever really gotten out of it. It works for Luka as well, we take 'catnaps' together, lol I DO wake up at 8a.m. to take my migraine meds (Fred gets me up then) but must go back to sleep until 11 or I'm useless the rest of the day. Weird how we both have an almost similar schedule.

scotty

[Scotty]

I've made allot of wonderful memories at The Garden State Harmonica Club. The first harmonica festival I vended, the first club to give me a spot on one of their festival schedules and the first festival that my wife and I attended together. There are only a couple of people in that video I don't recognize and several that I consider as old friends. Now that winter's  arrived I expect that they will return to having more frequent Monday evening  Zoom meetings. I'll post the links when (or if) that happens.

When Val and Phil ran the Club were the years I so thoroughly enjoyed spending time there. It was a heckuva drive from Long Island but we'd do it at Val's insistence (she could be persuasive) and always go out afterwards to eat, occasionally with Bill and Bonnie along, getting home in the wee hours of the morning. I recognize Pat (in the light grey cap and hoodie). Phil was working with him to learn chromatic but here he's playing a diatonic. The room's the same and I have quite a few photos taken there. John's new to me - is he the new President? But Ralph is instantly recognizable - from GSHC AND SPAH where he loved to play in the Lobby circle with Tony and Phil Sardo. For a while GSHC was becoming primarily chromatic and now it seems to be switching to diatonics. Interesting and the News Station did nice coverage without making fun of the club attendees or the instrument (which is new to me). Thanks, Danny! I really enjoyed this.

scotty

[Age]

Just like Jimmie's, on my bible study night
As far as the UK is goes, I go to sleep around 2:30am, so the only thing I get up early for is to pee. Heck my brain don't even start working till about 11:am

I am definitely NOT a "morning person." "Nite Owl" yeah, but "early bird," not so much.

Hah! Everything you wrote fits ME to a tee as well, only sometimes I'm up even later than 2:30a.m. Must be a holdover from my days of getting home from work at 11:30 P.M., staying up to watch Johnny Carson, sleep at 1:00 then up at 4:30a.m to do it all
over again. I got into a weird doing without much sleep zone and haven't ever really gotten out of it. It works for Luka as well, we take 'catnaps' together, lol I DO wake up at 8a.m. to take my migraine meds (Fred gets me up then) but must go back to sleep until 11 or I'm useless the rest of the day. Weird how we both have an almost similar schedule.

scotty

Hi Scotty!
Check the time on this post! Ha ha! 😁

[Scotty]

TOO funny. I posted after 2:a.m. and figured you'd turned in 'early'. Not so fast, lolol.

I was mostly up all night though...our oldest pup Koda was very restless and meandering back and forth. Today not so good either off his food after upchocking hi breakfast. His nickname is Mr. Hoover since he's ALWAYS hungry, so first thing in the morning -
we're calling the vet. He's just turning 13 so I'm hoping all's ok. Also, from his ruff down he's practically 'nekkid' since this new groomer literally shaved his entire body, legs and all, just a couple of days ago. Made no sense going into the Winter and he
didn't ask permission so I'm a bit upset. Hope it didn't play into whatever's ailing him BUT it might make it easier for the vet to diagnose anything going on (trying to look at the positive side of it). Clearly not going to get any sleep tonight either. Sigh.

Anyway: for all of those doglovers here, I've found this guy, Rocky Kanaka (originally from Hawaii), now lives in Calif. who has these brilliant videos (on facebook, youtube, etc.) of him just 'sitting with dogs' in shelters. Says anyone can do it (to give them companionship). His video from Thanksgiving (barksgiving) was SO amazing - with this wonderful but fearful pure white shepherd he named Asher since he didn't have a name). WELL worth watching if you need an emotional lift.  He's one of the good guys (as is his wife who films it all). I wish I could adopt them all.

scotty

[Age]

Yeah, my Basenji is gone They moved!

[Danny G]

Hi Scotty Sue Fallon is still the president.
John is the communication, graphics guy and social media guru and is an all around nice guy. He does a great job for GSHC.

[Scotty]

Yeah, my Basenji is gone They moved!

Aww...I'm sorry, Age - I know you loved that little guy. Frankly, they should have left him with you, since
he seemed to love you more than he did them and you're the one who gave him all the attention.

scotty

[Scotty]

Hi Scotty Sue Fallon is still the president.
John is the communication, graphics guy and social media guru and is an all around nice guy. He does a great job for GSHC.

Thanks for the info, Danny. It sure seems that what he does is 'presidential' for the club.

scotty

[Age]

Yeah, my Basenji is gone They moved!

Aww...I'm sorry, Age - I know you loved that little guy. Frankly, they should have left him with you, since
he seemed to love you more than he did them and you're the one who gave him all the attention.

scotty

Yeah, who wouldn't miss those eyes?🥰

[Scotty]

Aww - I think I fell in love with him as well, just from his photo! You should check out this guy Rocky Kanaka on both Facebook and YouTube (might be on other sites as well). He's a rescue dog person (with his wife), now located in LA - he 'sits with dogs' at Animal Shelters and introduces them to audiences via his cellphone. gets a lot of them adopted too. What's cool is that he explains the dog's behaviours as he's in their cage, sitting down on the floor with them giving them treats. What some of us might think is perfectly cool he recognizes as caused by other things and explains it all. Makes sure to say that he's just a regular guy who loves animals and wants to do this - just as anyone could. Each video gives me a huge 'heart' lift.
Just google his name and you'll probably get 'something'. trust me it'll do your heart good. 

scotty

[Age]

My sister Pat is in Florida, killing some time visiting her son, while her new Husky spends his time at "dog camp / obedience training" whatever, with some dog whisperer. When she gets home, she guaranteed to have a brand new dog. We'll see, I guess.

[Scotty]

My sister Pat is in Florida, killing some time visiting her son, while her new Husky spends his time at "dog camp / obedience training" whatever, with some dog whisperer. When she gets home, she guaranteed to have a brand new dog. We'll see, I guess.

IF it works for her, let me know. I spent $6,000 on Luka - they took him away to a special 'doggie camp' as well. Guaranteed training all the bad habits out of him 'with love' and sent me updated photos. Lovely couple (the woman was the 'dog whisperer') Lovely french accent. Her husband brought him back and forth (2020, while Fred was in the hospital for 5 months). They took him back to 'babysit' and continue his training until Fred was recovered and home. Luka was so well-behaved...for a day. Then realized he was home, looked around and decided he could go right back to ALL of the 'stuff' he did before. He's literally Einstein in a white furry doggy suit. He behaved around them while costing me a fortune and just waited them out. It's taken me till now to sloooowly get him to be a better behaved boy, but he's still out of control at times. I'M the only one who can handle him at all since Fred doesn't want to learn, so he flies off the handle, Luka shuts down and around and around we go again. I know he was abused, neglected and abandoned so do all of the commonsense things to show him he's loved and won't ever be abused again. It's a slow process, but he's clearly 'my' dog now. If your sister's people do a good job with her dog, I might look them up.

scotty

[Age]

Oh wow! that stinks!
I'll hafta call Patty, and ask if her Husky puppy is a "new dog" as promised, or did he just morph back into his spoiled old rotten self, eh?

[smojoe]

North Port Long Island isn't nearly as far as North Port Florida. 

[Danny G]

Hello brother Joe and happy new year.

[brorat]

North Port Long Island isn't nearly as far as North Port Florida. 

Happy New Year, Joe!  So good to hear from you!

[Scotty]

North Port Long Island isn't nearly as far as North Port Florida. 

oops, did I mention North Port LI? Our old vet is there - and it is a good bit away from us, but yeah - the trip from your house up here was far longer (especially with our then 'new' vehicle). Hard to believe it just turned 14!  

The 'doggie whisperers' I mentioned are not here on LI, though. they're in Connecticut, and in freezing weather (when they took Luka in 2020) they either drove down or took the Ferry if weather permitted: the last visit when they dropped him off, after Fred was finally home from his last surgery/stint in rehab, we had a thick sheet of ice everywhere here. Imposible conditions. We have
a wee bit of that now, but not as bad, and it's warming up.

I've just gotten through 'the' worst bout of illness I've ever experienced...highest fever ever but at least I survived it. Fred got Covid - again, and I seemed to avoid it then 5-6 days in the fever hit me. His was handled at home on Paxlovid and other meds which is a wonder drug for him - not so much for me; same meds but they made me sick and I couldn't get past the cough, no appetite (still subsisting on plain white rice) and total exhaustion which has lingered until today. 'Might' be a combination of this new flu as well - couldn't get in to the doctor to check.

Don't treat this lightly, people - if you have lung issues or are susceptible in other ways.

take care everyone,
scotty

[Gnarly He Man]

"Post COVID" isn't here, and not likely to arrive any time soon.
Be well, folks, and try not to "pass it on" if you do get the bug.
In other news, I got the first shingle shot--that hurt!
Best wishes for better health Scotty!

[Age]

Yeah, got an industrial strength case shingles that almost killed me (see below) and my idiot doctor advised me to get a "shingles shot" while I still had some lingering shingles, and immediately got more shingles on the other side, and as a bonus, I've have had PHN ever since. That's when I pretty much stopped listening to doctors. 

[Gnarly He Man]

My wife is an RN/BSN specializing in geriatric care—I listen to her.
As I am old.
How did that happen.

[Scotty]

Yeah, got an industrial strength case shingles that almost killed me (see below) and my idiot doctor advised me to get a "shingles shot" while I still had some lingering shingles, and immediately got more shingles on the other side, and as a bonus, I've have had PHN ever since. That's when I pretty much stopped listening to doctors. 

Even 'I' know that you're never supposed to get a shingles vaccine on top of still having it! What the heck is wrong with your former doctor? You should sue him for malpractice - i'm serious! Shingles is about THE most painful condition one can get.
My brother John suffered for years with it - they even cut nerves to try to alleviate some of his pain, and he could barely tolerate even the lightest t-shirts touching his skin. I still feel so badly for you - going through that!

scotty