tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post524974662685408840..comments2023-04-03T07:08:03.903-04:00Comments on ninetymilewind: Looking Back, Looking Forwardchromeheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08033332691491146650noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-86822731908869147552009-01-09T15:32:00.000-05:002009-01-09T15:32:00.000-05:00Condolences accepted!Condolences accepted!chromeheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033332691491146650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-45956438534072124212009-01-09T15:23:00.000-05:002009-01-09T15:23:00.000-05:00Oh Craig - you sound JUST like my husband, especia...Oh Craig - you sound JUST like my husband, especially the part about fidgeting till the chair breaks thus exiling you to the kingdom of <BR/>"I Only Know Useless Information." (My hubby can do every bar trick every known to a bum). Please pass on my condolences to your wife!<BR/><BR/>But, your blog is truly a breath of fresh air, so it's not all useless. I find myself passing each and every post on to at least one person I know, songwriter or not. Your insights apply to much more than songwriting. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-8785569143131695242009-01-07T18:16:00.000-05:002009-01-07T18:16:00.000-05:00I'm not sure you can really "take" blessings, but ...I'm not sure you can really "take" blessings, but I've discovered there's power in dwelling on them. <BR/><BR/>I'm also in the camp of "pay all the bills, or get new glasses once a decade," but I'm the happiest I've ever been: partly because I get to make music (better music, thanks in part to you) and I have an ever-deepening relationship with the wife and kids; and partly because I frequently realize, specifically, how fortunate I am. The other side of that coin is that I have the daily opportunity to actively pursue worthiness of those blessings. <BR/><BR/>And so the coin flips brightly through the air, seemingly defying gravity. For much of my life, it wasn't that way. (It's hard to flip a coin underwater -- believe me.) But fortunately, I decided I'd had enough of being an unhappy mud-puppy, and began the struggle up toward the light. <BR/><BR/>I also wish you the best year of your life. <BR/><BR/>--Gary ReynoldsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-65848533782128361222009-01-03T13:44:00.000-05:002009-01-03T13:44:00.000-05:00Brother, you do this well. And just think of how m...Brother, you do this well. And just think of how much we enjoy our lives. Cause we do.<BR/><BR/>NAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-53481903988833752762009-01-02T08:23:00.000-05:002009-01-02T08:23:00.000-05:00craig...as always, a very entertaining and edifyin...craig...<BR/>as always, a very entertaining and edifying epistle! i look forward to your literary pursuits in the coming year! you are an excellent wordsmith and i'm sure your subject matter will find an appreciative readership!<BR/>have a safe and happy new year!<BR/>richardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-29652754846571351482009-01-01T20:44:00.000-05:002009-01-01T20:44:00.000-05:00A few years ago I purchased a swag of CD's form Th...A few years ago I purchased a swag of CD's form The Bluebird Cafe, and in that lot was Craig Bickhardt's 'Easy Fires'.<BR/><BR/>I knew the name from writers credits from songs I had been hearing over the years, so I went in search of him and others including, Gary Burr, Hugh Prestwood, Don Schlitz, Allen Shamblin.<BR/><BR/>In part, these writers changed my life a ittle.<BR/><BR/>I had played guitar in my teens, twenties, then surrendered it to a mis-marriage, kids, depression, and recessions where neither my skills were required nor my personality wanted. (You're too intelligent, too well educated, too experienced and way too handsome to work here...) <BR/><BR/>I went through hell (I feel a country song coming on!) and came out burned, bruised, battered, and broken.<BR/><BR/>But I limped along to do do a Post Graduate Degree, I started my own business which I sold a few years ago, I attended a Radio Course, and I finally picked up the guitar again with which I fluffed about. And then Craig Bickhardt started writing his Blog.<BR/><BR/>Well, all hell broke loose.<BR/><BR/>The Radio Program has been re-jigged, a song writers group has been started (slowly slowly), a House Concert Circuit is being developed, and I am writing songs.<BR/>(Do not fear...I will not inflict any upon the world unless the world calls.)<BR/><BR/>And in part it's mostly down to the songwriters that have inspired me to use the creative streak that has yearned inside me. I have never felt so alive. <BR/><BR/>I ain't no Craig Bickhardt, Steven Walters, Hugh Prestwood, Loudon Wainwright 111, nor Cliff Eberhardt, but gee I've never been happier.<BR/><BR/>I have little money, but I did get some new specs recently though - seeing as I dropped the new one and the old one, and stepped on the really really old one breaking them all within 4 days.<BR/><BR/>I am thankful to have my sons, a partner that encourages me, some health, and a smile.<BR/><BR/>So Mr Bickhardt, if it's of any interest: you make a difference. So keep those steel strings a-twanging against that wooden box, buy those specs when you need them, and writer that book.<BR/><BR/>Keep doing the things that keeps your blood circulating. Cos I'm sure there are a lot of folk out there that respect you, admire you, and need you; not to make that a burden, nor a calling. It's just a fact.<BR/><BR/>And don't worry about a business plan, nor a marketing plan, your blog is the plan - changed a few words and you'd get that Degree from Harvard.<BR/><BR/>See, I do ramble on don't I?<BR/><BR/>Have a good New Year. <BR/><BR/>Makk<BR/>www.myspace.com/tunesmithscafeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-27055865422924385062009-01-01T03:28:00.000-05:002009-01-01T03:28:00.000-05:00Very funny and feisty commentary. Happy New Year, ...Very funny and feisty commentary. Happy New Year, Craig. Thanks for all that you do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-46006321331380122522008-12-31T20:53:00.000-05:002008-12-31T20:53:00.000-05:00“Well, Mr. Bickhardt, and what exactly have you ac...“Well, Mr. Bickhardt, and what exactly have you accomplished this year?”<BR/>“…A heck of a lot compared to most other mortals!” would be a modest answer!<BR/><BR/>Your daughter did most of the work on making you a grandpa, but I think that grandparents should get some kudos for that accomplishment, so congratulations again! (My wife and I just went to see the movie Twilight because our niece worked on the movie—wouldn’t you know that they would misspell her name in the credits…. I mentioned to my wife that we used to identify with the kids in movies; then, a while ago we began to identify with the parents; now, in this movie we don’t identify with anybody because they don’t even show the grandparents— of course, [plot spoiler] the main characters could be grandparents many times over, agewise! How would you like to have to maintain perpetual teen angst? HA!) And you brought a new baby—CD Baby (plug intended)—into the world. How cool is that?!!<BR/><BR/>Your blog has been one of the highlights of my year, and I thank you greatly for providing the challenges, the insight, and the wit of your prose as well as the continuing joy of your music. <BR/><BR/>Here’s wishing you and your family and friends an ever better new year,<BR/>TimTim McMullenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840770464754311701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-35956191267653383312008-12-31T16:02:00.000-05:002008-12-31T16:02:00.000-05:00Thank you Craig for a year full of enlightening an...Thank you Craig for a year full of enlightening and intellectually stimulating topics of musical discussion. I must confess that I have verbally plagiarized your ideas to impress my musician friends with the wealth of knowledge and information that you share in your blogs. They think I’m a god and I owe it all to you. Seriously though, I haven’t missed a blog yet and my friends and I intend to remain loyal subscribers. We anxiously await a new year of ninetymilewind. Hopefully I can get this comment posting apparatus to allow one of my comments to make your page just once. Sorry for the duplicates and triplicates by the way. Yes, that was me commenting in multiples. I sincerely apologize for that and promise to leave my comment only once from now on regardless of how much I wish to participate. Thanks for opening our eyes and bringing dignity back to our profession.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4775955554050052451.post-86198188056150873562008-12-31T14:47:00.000-05:002008-12-31T14:47:00.000-05:00No small miracle, indeed! It's a humbling thing t...No small miracle, indeed! It's a humbling thing to look back on last year, and still have a means of employment and a roof overhead. <BR/><BR/>They say the economy condition is mostly about perspective, and there's a man who inspires hope, set to take the reigns. God's speed to him.<BR/><BR/>Its been a blast to sift through your blog this year, and I'm looking forward to hearing the fruits of your labors in the studio.<BR/><BR/>Blessings, Craig!<BR/><BR/>TimTim Wheelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00411070860432450603noreply@blogger.com