What fun! It was terrific to meet so many of you in person, finally! I think my New Year’s resolution for 2005 will be “learn more session tunes”…it was such a gas playing along on the ones I knew!
Redwolf
Yes… I definately need to learn more tunes.
It was great to meet everyone though, even if I have to introduce myself as my mother’s daughter. Again, I’d like to thank everyone who made me feel so welcome!
L
It was a great day! I enjoyed getting to meet both of you, as well. Man, there were some great musicians there today. 
That’s for sure! Definitely motivation to practice, practice, practice!
It was tremendous fun for me to get a chance to play with other musicians, even if I only knew a few tunes. It’s a totally different thing than playing by yourself…and quite addictive!
Redwolf
Hi!
It was nice meeting you guys too, and nice to see the folks again that I met last time. Thanks again to Tony and his family for hosting.
I wish I would have had a chance to talk to the South bay crowd more! I guess next time I have to show up earlier. Or tear myself away from the tunes (Easier said than done). 
Justine
pics if you please.
I know Tony took quite a few, and I think other people had cameras there as well, so I’m sure they’ll be forthcoming.
Redwolf
BTW, I decided last night that I can’t live without a little Syn in my life.
Redwolf
Oh, yeah - with NorCal’s help, I became a much more major Synner. And I don’t even feel bad about it.
But, much as I love my Syns (and Serpents, and other more costly/prestigious makes), I noticed something interesting last night - some of the better players were playing fairly inexpensive whistles and sounding wonderful.
In particular, I notice that Justine was playing what looked like a stock Oak D most of the night (well, in her tiny hands it looked more like an Oak C). Although Tony was on a Blackwood whistle (an Abell?) and MurphyStout on (I believe) a Sindt most of the night, last time around Tony was playing a Jerry-tweeked Generation D and MurphyStout was on a green-top Gen.
Doesn’t mean that I won’t pick up a few more hand-made whistles (I really liked the Elfsongs you and L had, and I’ve liked every Burke I’ve had a chance to try) but when you get right down to it, all you need to sound great is a decent inexpensive whistle, a modicum of skill, and a LOT of practice. And without the last, even the best instrument in the world will sound like, well, a beginner.
It was a great party, though, and I really enjoyed carpooling up with Darvis (blackhawk) and L (ancatsidhe) - it was like having the party start early and continue all the way home. And #2 daughter loved it too - I had to haul her away at the end of the night.
Really looking forward to the next gathering -
Dana
Ooooh, my head hurts. Don’t know why.
I just reviewed the photos we took. Got about 50 of them. Threw out a few blurry ones. I’ve got to crop and shrink them for the web. Considering a nap first. (I also have to go back up to the house and finish cleaning up.) Weekender offered to come up in the morning and help me. I should have given him the key and told him to get started without me.
I hope to have the photos up this eve.
Good food and lots of it. Great beers as well. (Probably explains my headache.)
I really enjoyed everyone’s company. (The reason I’ve done this more than once.) Met several new people, all very nice. I’ll miss Norcal Steve and Rene next time. They’ll be in Idaho. Dang it, Steve. Tim told me after you left that you had a wood low d that sounded fantastic. I didn’t even see it. Why didn’t you make me pay attention? We were so awash in odd whistles, I was overwhelmed.
OK, nap wins out. Be back later.
Tony
I wish I could have gone. 
That was a fantastic sounding low D, a Bleazy. It was maybe the best I’ve ever heard.
Forgot to say thank you, Tony, to you and your lovely wife. Thanks for putting the party together and being such wonderful hosts.
And thanks to Aldon for showing us musical genius.
You sure your headache has nothing to do with 10-12 High D’s playing all at the same time and SOMETIMES on the same version of the song?
Second (and thirds and fourths 
) on the food issue. MUCH great tasting food.
We shant forget the wonderful hula dancing of Mrs. Limuhead either. I was quite shocked to come in to hear Limuhead yelling out “AND TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF AGAIN!!!” My first thought was, "No wonder everyone is paying such close attention! 
" Then I remembered that hula dancing is a storytelling dance and she was only PRETENDING to take her clothes off.
Tony, thank you for your kind words. We certainly will miss attending this gathering. We are hoping to rally the NorthWest C&F whistlers to do the same thing. Not quite the same concentration of activity, so we will see.
The whistle that Tim was referring to was my Bleazey. I had the Burke composite sold to him. I asked if he wanted to play my Bleazey, he got one note out and almost melted on the spot. That totally killed the Burke deal! (note to self - leave the Bleazey in the case when selling whistles). I think you have seen and maybe even played this whistle before. Sorry if you have not. If we find ourselves down your way before we leave I will be sure to bring it down for you to try.
We also had a great time learning about playing the bones with BoneQuint. We bought a set from him (as part of another whistle transaction) and Renee is practicing as I type. (Now she is trying to TEACH our 11 year old!!! 
)Quite a different thing from whistle, but quite interesting. I totally forgot my Bodhran, but Tim had his and it gave me the desire to get it out and learn some more about it.
As usual, we stayed longer than we had planned and had to drag ourselves away. Will be quite the drive from Buhl, Idaho. Maybe once we have our house built and are settled we will plan a vacation around one of the gatherings. 
My daughter really had a great time too…in fact, she was having so much fun, she forgot her Gameboy at Tony’s mom’s house (oops!). Usually you can’t pry that out of her hand long enough for her to leave it anywhere! 
Redwolf
Thanks to all as well. I have had a series of personal misfortunes and almost bagged it just to sit home and be a hermit. Haven’t played much lately, am rusty, and miss it. My tweaked OBriain, a gift from Blackhawk, was swiped with my car a few weeks back so I felt bad about that as well.
But once I got there, all was well; the company great and the tunes numerous. I played a few and listened to more. Nobody mentioned it, but Tony’s 'zouk player friend showed up and we had some very nice accompaniment.
Thanks again.
it sounds like you all had a wonderful time (since you all did say as much several times! 
). It would be great to do something like this in the midwest (preferably in Ohio, so I can attend! ). I would love to sit and listen to some whistlers play that really know what they are doing (unlike listening to myself over and over and over…).
Anyway, glad you all had so much fun!
Oh yeah…he was great!
Redwolf
Me too. 
Karina and Mike, your absences were noticed. I wish you had been here.
Audrey, thank your daughter for the gameboy. I’ve been wanting one of those. 
I’d also like to thank the anonymous donor of the nice set of aluminum whistles in a blue bag. You really shouldn’t have.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I slaved away all day today and got the photos posted.
Tony
A couple more good folks that were missed were JohnPalmer and Vaporlock.