Introducing Ourselves - Part 2

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September 28, 2007 - 11:08am

640 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

Since the original topic now has hundreds of introductions and is getting a bit hard to navigate, this seems as good a time as any to launch a new one. The original is here, should you wish to catch up on the who's who since this opened up in May. If you haven't introduced yourself yet, please do! And if you already have, but have something new to tell us about you and your life, speak up! (A bit of housekeeping business so we don't have to repost everything we posted before--izzie and I are the moderators here, and for our more extensive intros see the original topic.) Thanks and welcome!

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April 14, 2009 - 10:11pm

#291

brenodo

Joined:
April 14, 2009

Greetings from VA

Howdy gang. Just got in from the DC show and my short and to the point review of that is: "I went in with an open mind and low expectations and I walked out with a big smile on my face and pep in my step..." I'm male, 42, I am a live music addict and a recovering Phish head (joke). I started to see the Dead in the 1980's and lost a bit of my love soon after Brent passed, and really fell out of touch after Jerry passed. I have worked in the music industry and had the great pleasure of working with some the Dead's crew and staff on the 1997 Further Festival with the band moe. I have no idea how many shows I have seen, never cared to count. Seen shows all over the country and thought I'd poke my head in here and say hello. Tonight's show in DC was a whole lot of fun for me, some great playing all around mixed in with some mistakes and a lot of new ways to look at old songs. I have to admit that the players that stood out to me tonight were the back line, the drummers, man did they smoke tonight, I was also really impressed with Warren and Jeff as well. Not to take anything away form Bobby or Phil, but Jeff and Warren really fit in nicely with the other guys. It was nice to see Wavy Gravy up on stage for set 2, he was dancing in his chair and had a big smile on his face. Tipper Gore on drums! Anyway, Hello everyone! Thanks for this little piece of heaven in our mixed up world. Peace! Brendan
April 13, 2009 - 6:29pm

#292

Diva27la

Joined:
April 13, 2009

New to the boards

My sweetie Greg and I will be going to our first Dead concert on May 9th at the Forum in Inglewood [LA]. I told him that I wanted to give him a new experience in sobriety for his birthday this year, and the experience was going to be our first Wharf Rats meeting ;-). [Him-sober 7 years and counting; me-sober 6 years and counting.] I don't really know what to expect, of course, and will venture over to the Wharf Rats section to get suitably educated, but wanted to wave hello here. *waves hello* My mom died a little over a year ago and for about 5 months I worked on an assemblage piece based on Box of Rain that got me through the bulk of my grief. For that song alone I will be forever grateful to Phil Lesh and Robert Hunter. Cheers, Nancy "Today we're going to teach poodles to fly."-Raul Hernandez, UHF
April 12, 2009 - 4:38pm

#293

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

jazzkitten

if you haven't already posted in the Wharf Rats topic, please do!
April 12, 2009 - 8:07am

#294

MamaTried71

Joined:
April 12, 2009

Hey all

Hey all, Dustin from Wilkes-Barre, PA here......It's been along time 87-92 since I have been around the scene or the music.....Couldn't pass up the chance not to see the dead in my own back yard....There has been alot bad buzz about this venue and why they picked it, but I assure you it will be a cool time for all....The town is great and has alot of following. If anyone needs help getting around or help in general let me know.....This is going to really bring back some memories from a long time ago.....
April 12, 2009 - 6:01am

#295

Jazz Kitten

Joined:
April 12, 2009

Looking for Help in Philly

Hey All, Tammy from Philly, PA here, 78 days sober, my 1st sober show will be in Philly Sat May 2nd and i'm nervous, looking for wharfrats to help me stay sober and dance the night away. Please contact me so i don't have to sell my ticket out of fear, i had to give up all of my ppl, places and things. Jazzkittenpoet@yahoo.com
April 12, 2009 - 12:24am

#296

danceswithbears

Joined:
August 26, 2008

Hey Y'all

My name is Ken, I've been jumpin' around the site for a while and figured this would be a good time to introduce myself. I live in Boston now, but when I was still a teen I hung out with a guy that always spoke about the dead, the only thing I knew about them was my older sister had what I know now as "long strange trip" before 8 tracks were extinct. I knew a bit about music like santana, airplane, allmans, hendrix ect, and heard very little of them on the radio. I didnt quite know what to make of them, then when he played st.stephen from a live show he had, I pushed my way on the bus. My first show was 10/9/84 in Worcester, Mass. when we got there I felt right at home. I was really amazed, this wasnt a concert this was an event. I wanted more. I had been a long time fan of the beatles and when the encore was revolution my mind was blown. My last Jerry show was highgate 95, With many great memories and shows in between,The scene of course had changed alot since my first show, and even in boston it seems there are less heads than back 20 years ago. I went to Penn state to see the boys back in oct. where for part of the show I was in the uppers, then behind the rythym devils for the rest. Billy was a riot, pretending like he was scared to jump off the stage and all. I look forward to the 2 shows in Worcester this year making it almost just about 25 years ago at the same venue when this beautiful journey began. Look forward to seeing Y'all soon."peace is ONLY idealistic to those who believe it to be so" Peace, Love and Hugs,
April 11, 2009 - 1:42pm

#297

Darkshire

Joined:
April 11, 2009

Hi all

I don't know exactly what to write... I'm a pretty simple woman, so here is the story of how I just became a deadhead. I seem to have found out in 2009 that I am a deadhead. I suppose this could have happened long ago - people have long told me I would have made a great hippie and that I would love San Francisco, etc. But truth be told I didn't actually like the first Grateful Dead song I heard. Touch of Grey just had the vibe of the times sucking the spirit out of something cool - something I felt when I heard Kokomo by the Beach Boys as well. Enter then-boyfriend, jackass Tim, budding guitarist. One afternoon he played a Grateful Dead song for me. I didn't really listen to the words he softly sung that day, as I just wanted to make stuff up to the music. I think that ticked him off, but whatever. So... Tim skipped town, and left me alone and brokenhearted. Now I know I'm a moron for feeling this after the way he screwed me over, done me wrong (pick your bad cliche!), but a few weeks back I was missing him something fierce. And I thought of the song he played, only I hadn't paid attention and didn't know the name, so I cried a fair share because that tune was as lost to me as he was. Obsessive and clingy as I can be, I remembered another afternoon in his truck when he had to finish out the CD because the last song was Truckin' and he was a truck driver. So, I picked up American Beauty because that song was on there and would remind me of him. I played the disc through, and to my surprise Tim's song was Ripple, right smack in the middle of the album, and not lost to me after all. In a way it feels as if Tim left me in better hands than his. I was reading the liner notes and saw a picture of Pigpen and thought he looked kinda hot and definitely interesting. And in the course of reading more I learned about his story and well, that gives me pause when I get start to get a little too wallowy in self-pity. So I've been playing a bit of Pigpen's blues when I am blue (youtube is so wonderful), and listen to Jerry Garcia's sweet guitar when I'm feeling hopeful. But when I'm blue I can now see that maybe I can do something with it. See, I never even liked the blues until I had the blues. I discovered this when I was alone in Memphis on Valentine's Day after my fiance Randy died and I heard it blaring from the jukebox. It was only after I could relate that I could appreciate that sometimes you just have to let stuff out. So where does this leave me? I suppose a lot of Deadheads think back to some magical moment when they caught on. Me - a jackass threw me under the Deadhead bus as it were. But I found my way on all the same, and I surprise myself that the music has awoke in me again. In the past few weeks, I've picked up my guitar for the first time since before Randy died, and every time I come over to the new place I start singing Ripple (I'm in the process of moving... ugh - can't wait to be done!). As a teenager I always wanted to go to a Grateful Dead show for the people-watching even though I knew nothing about the music. But I put it off because I thought I would have time in college and then Jerry died. So I'm super thrilled that now that I actually get the music I'll be going to my first show in Chicago on May 5. I even bought an extra ticket so that I can either make a new friend or just make somebody's day in the parking lot. Well... that's enough for today. Boy I can be wordy sometimes. Love, Steph
April 10, 2009 - 11:37pm

#298

Musky_Ranger

Joined:
July 28, 2007

Hello Folks

Howdy fellow fans, Very intersting to read the intros! Most of the most fun I have ever had in my life has been at Dead shows. I especially appreciate bonding with fellow starry eyed buddys when the Band hits those high and mighty strides. I read somewhere that a good Dead show is, by far, the happiest place on the planet at that moment. I don't doubt it a bit. The scene has influenced my life since the late 70's, for good or ill. I say "good or ill" because I've become pretty disgusted with the dark side of the whole Dead scene. Toward the end there were junkies passed out on the sidewalk, junkies convulsing on the sidewalk, junkies begging money and cigarretts and hits off my balloon. Ah, recall the summer reek of urine on a huge hot black asphalt parking lot? At my last Riverport show, while walking in the dark area between the stage and bathrooms, I almost fell flat smack on a friggin little baby that was laying on the grass while mom twirled 10 feet away. That's the show where I saw the stunted, impish, pointed eared and grinning creatures crawling on the scaffolding above the stage. Looked like dwarf Grinches. If you could see them, they knew it and would stop crawling and look you right in the eye and smile the smile of a fat, full leach. Um, hang on a second. Ok, I'm back. Well, I would like to meet some Dead fans here in southwest Michigan. Throw a frisbee or maybe I'll take you fishing? Stay the course.
April 10, 2009 - 11:32pm

#299

Musky_Ranger

Joined:
July 28, 2007

Hello Folks

Howdy fellow fans, Very intersting to read the intros! Most of the most fun I have ever had in my life has been at Dead shows. I especially appreciate bonding with fellow starry eyed buddys when the Band hits those high and mighty strides. I read somewhere that a good Dead show is, by far, the happiest place on the planet at that moment. I don't doubt it a bit. The scene has influenced my life since the late 70's, for good or ill. I say "good or ill" because I've become pretty disgusted with the dark side of the whole Dead scene. Toward the end there were junkies passed out on the sidewalk, junkies convulsing on the sidewalk, junkies begging money and cigarretts and hits off my balloon. Ah, recall the summer reek of urine on a huge hot black asphalt parking lot? At my last Riverport show, while walking in the dark area between the stage and bathrooms, I almost fell flat smack on a friggin little baby that was laying on the grass while mom twirled 10 feet away. That's the show where I saw the stunted, impish, pointed eared and grinning creatures crawling on the scaffolding above the stage. Looked like dwarf Grinches. If you could see them, they knew it and would stop crawling and look you right in the eye and smile the smile of a fat, full leach. Um, hang on a second. Ok, I'm back. Well, I would like to meet some Dead fans here in southwest Michigan. Throw a frisbee or maybe I'll take you fishing? Stay the course.
April 10, 2009 - 10:15am

#300

The_Cat-Tribe

Joined:
April 10, 2009

Howdy! San Diegan looking for someone to go to the May 9 show

Hi there! I am a 39-year-old male attorney and a nice guy who loves the Dead. I live in San Diego, CA. I have 2 VIP tickets to the May 9th show in LA, but none of my friends can go with me. Anyone want to join me (obviously we should meet at least once first). Please contact me if you are interested. I've never been to a Dead concert before and my drug days are long behind me, but I expect to have a fabulous time.

Since the original topic now has hundreds of introductions and is getting a bit hard to navigate, this seems as good a time as any to launch a new one. The original is here, should you wish to catch up on the who's who since this opened up in May. If you haven't introduced yourself yet, please do! And if you already have, but have something new to tell us about you and your life, speak up! (A bit of housekeeping business so we don't have to repost everything we posted before--izzie and I are the moderators here, and for our more extensive intros see the original topic.) Thanks and welcome!

My bad - Show at Orpheum in Boston is March 5- anyone comin'?

Here I come and I'm gone again!

So Glad To Find This Website

I found this site about four days ago,already feel at home. I work as a nanny for Olivia who is three years old and can sing trucking , box of rain and touch of grey from begining to end. She is pretty cool. I found the dead when a friend of mine Victor Scaracini who died 9/11/01 when his plane went into the World Trade Building. He was a pilot and gave me a recording of Blues for Allah. I had listened to led zepplin,pink floyd,black sabbath,Eric Clapton,Beatles, but did not hear anything like this. My soul came alive in a way it never did. The music was a message of love and hope. I have seen over 60 shows, and it was not enough. I wish there was a time machine to go just back for one show and get to watch it. I am 57 years old, worked as a nurses aide,teachers aide,library aide I guess I am just helpfull lol. About all I try to be as Jerry sang I try to be kind.

welcome stardancer!

hope to run into you at some furthur shows ! kindness will return in many ways ! enjoy the site !

first post

nice to be here.

Gratefulfest 2011

Hi, My name is Julie and ever since my last Grateful Dead show ( Indianapolis 95 ) I have been attending Gratefulfest. ( a 3-day music festival to honor Jerry, in Garettesville , Oh . on July 4th weekend ) . This is an awsome event. DSO headlines all three nights and there is always an appearance ( and an increadible set or two ) from Donna Godchaux, Jerry Garcia Band, and many others. If you have never been, it won't dissapoint. If you have been there - you go back again and again ! I live in Florida now, but get to Ohio ever year for this festival. The only thing that could make this event better, would be The Other Ones ! Come check it out . You can visit their website at nelsonsledges.com

Hello Everyone

Glad to be here and to get in touch with fellow peopleMiss the shows Hope to hear from ya

Now On the Bus!

I used to pop in every now and then, just to see what's happening since I've last been around. I recently figured "Why not just register?". Well, I did...and here I am! Glad to be on the scene.

Happy to be here!

Hello everyone. I'm so happy our paths have crossed! I'm 29 and live in Chicago. I just got turned on to the Dead about three years ago and haven't been able to stop listening to them since. Although I haven't seen the Dead in concert, I do enjoy going to Dark Star shows. I love music and love good people. I look forward to meeting all of you. Peace and Love, Stella Blue

Moving back to Toronto

Hey All, This a great forum. It's like we are all back to playing frisbee in the parking lot before the show again. Anyway, been working in the Middle East and going to come back to the US/Canada for awhile before heading off somewhere else. Got my approval to live in Canada so I am stoked. I lived there for years while working for some folks and got to love the place and people. Anybody know of some places to catch great music there? It's been a few years since I last lived there. Once I have the time, I have to put all my Maxells (about 200 of them) on either digital or CD before they deteriorate. Anybody have any suggestions on that as far as the best equipment? Too bad about the Bear. I got some emails from him a couple years ago. I should have went over to see him when I had a chance. Aiko, luv2terrapin

Hey Everyone/Grateful Dead ART

Im a Dead /Techno all around Music and Art head.i love to DANCEand just great music and art i tattoo and love to draw among many other hobies.im located on the east coast..NY Nassau county queens border...Just a short intro.as you can read more in depth about me if you just click my name. The other thing is maybe I'm missing something, but i wasn't Sure how to post a new topic other than in the intro section here and its more of a reply to a topic ....its seems i cant post anywhere else..So i figure ill just post it here. the topic i wanted to ask is Why are their no Books Deadicated to the art of the dead over all the years Official and from the community... it's something i would Love to see being an artist myself...im sure others heads as well would love to own a HUGE book of all the grateful dead artwork created over the yearsTake care all... .Still Movin'.. .Long Island Ant.

grateful dead wedding cake

lifelong deadhead.....new to this site.....im unable to start a new post....so i thought id introduce myself.....and ask the honest opinion of the other heads....... is this GD themed wedding cake...completely made by hand out of sugar paste (including the psychedelic flowers) deserving of the F grade it received from Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena? cuz i say it deserved a low B/ high C just on originality alone.....HONEST OPINIONS....even if u think it sucks....id like to knowthank you http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g57/meltedvelcro/grateful%20dead%20we…

well

Le Cordon Bleu was probably not the venue, but it looks like a pretty cool cake to me.

Hi Everyone!

Hi, This is Sam from London. I'm a newbie in this community and I'm glad to be a part here and I am looking for more friends. I hope you'll welcome me here and I'll enjoy my stay here. Cheers!

hey Sam

be sure to head on over to the Deadheads from Europe topic, too.

Finally made a profile...i'm a n00b

Well I have loved this site for a couple years and finally made a profile for myself. I love reading the stories and going through set lists. I saw the Dead 7 times before Jerry left and feel very blessed. My first show was 11/30/94 in Denver. I went thinking it would be fun, but it wasn't gonna be all they said it was. Well that first day was just soo overwhelming. The lot was so busy and lively. That first show was good but I think i was a mesmerized by my surroundings to fully enjoy the music. Well the next night was a different story. I was an 18 yr old college kid from WYO and anyways, I must've had sucker written on my forehead cuz i was sold a lot of bunk goodies. Nothing was happenin as I walked up the steps to go in. Kinda bummin. Then some brother held out his hand and GAVE me some boomers. I make it inside and the second song is 12 minutes of Sugaree. Jerry had a yellow light on him and I he reminded me of an innocent kitten playin with a ball of yarn. I got lost in watching him. Then, I snapped out of it and looked at the heads un the front row. There was nothin but smiles, dreadlocks and elbows flyin everwhere. Then I saw(in my mind) this wave of energy form from this one guy. It was like a drop in a pool of water, and the energy was expanding in a 360 pattern like a wave. Woah!!! It was comin towards me. I saw it climb up the seats through the people. The wave hit me. I started crying!!! What is happening to me. I have never experienced anything like this... It's just music. A stranger next to me must have seen me crying and asked if I was ok. I sniffled and said, "I've NEVER been better!!!" He passed me a bowl. I knew from that point on that the music and love of the Grateful Dead was for me.Hi everybody!!! So glad to be here. Control for smilers can't be bought

Hi all

Hi friends, This is shamboo from india. Nice too meet you peoples here.

hey!

you might be our first arrival here from India! nice to have you here!

Hello Frnds...Nice to meet

Hello Frnds... Nice to meet you all here...

Anna

Hello everybody! I am Anna, I am 21 years old and I live in Easter Europe! I am happy to be on this board with all of you! See you!

New to the Grateful Dead

Hey everyone my name's Charlie. I have to confess I've only heard portions of a few of the Grateful Dead's songs. I was hoping I could get some direction on where I should start. You know which albums and tracks I should use to ease myself into the world of the Grateful Dead. Any help anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.

welcome, new folks

I'm sure there will be no shortage of helpful advice, but meanwhile, why not start with this week's Taper's Section, which will immediately introduce you to samples of several different eras (and lots of comments...)? Click the Features link on the upper left and you should be able to navigate, but speak up if you get lost. Lots of great listening in your future...

Newbie!

Hello friends! My name is Lindsay. I'm a second generation Deadhead... my parents took me to some shows in the early 90's.. unfortunately I was too young to remember! However, I've been hooked ever since... pretty much listen to the Dead every spare minute I get out of every day. I'm looking forward to following Phil and Bobby around this summer on the Furthur tour. Can't wait to chat with you beautiful guys and gals! Cheers!

Recycled Account

Im pretty sure years ago I had an account on Dead.net. Been listening to this band since 89'(first show, I was 16 hehehe :) Grateful to have seen the GD 34 magical, freakin rock n roll & grinnin' ear to ear times. I look fwd to reading and contributing this kick ass site! THANK YOU for having it going! peace, love and clean water "...fields of fragile thunder..."

strangest of places...

Hey mountainjam28 and UnbrokenSunflower.Just noticed that you recently made some posts (including your condolences for my Uncle, mountainjam28, many thanks) and you're both new too!! I've not been here long either, only just starting to ramble a bit; probably ramble too much, buy whaddya do?! Basically a hello, really. Hope you're both fine and fluffy. Feel free to message me if you need any help, although don't ask anything too technical as really i haven't a clue.....hell, i can't even remember where i've posted stuff!! Guess i'm still trying. You might want to check out this site if haven't already for some great Dead videos and live footage, an awesome archive of all things Kynd - http://www.livestream.com/davidaron The video library is at the bottom of the page.

Grateful to be here!

Hi, I became a deadhead because of my parents. They were huge Grateful Dead fans, following the band to different concerts. So, I guess they rubbed off on me just a little bit : ) As far as my life outside of being a deadhead, I’ve been a full-time internet marketer for a couple of years now. For my first venture, I started a dating site that reviews a number of Christian dating sites. The site also has a variety of articles that relate to online Christian dating and relationships. The site combines a few my favorite things, writing, love, and the Lord!

hello!

Hi!Just joined the site. I became a deadhead somewhat recently I guess. I was in college and my roommate freshman year was a huge Grateful Dead fan. She let me listen to a few of their songs and the rest was history. So I listened to them all through college, graduated, and am still a huge dead head. As far as what I do for a living.... I’ve been a full-time internet marketer for a good while now. For my first venture I started a dating website that reviews a good number of online dating sites. The website also contains a variety of posts that relate to dating online and relationship

Hi i'm new here

Hi my name is Andrew and I just joined this site today. I'm from New Brunswick Canada and I became a deadhead 5 or 6 years ago. My best friend was in to them alot and got me into them after he brought the album Athem Of The Sun over to my house and once i heard the opening cords to That's It For The Other One I was sold. Went out a few days later to buy the album (My first Dead album) and i've been hooked on them ever since.

nice to see all you new folks!

welcome!

A big Hey Now to all the new Heads

Been reading a lot of the posts here and it's refreshing to see the younger folks climbing on the Further Bus. The music from the Grateful Dead's Era (60's and 70's) will always be both special and timeless and I am so glad to have been there for that. ...well.. the 70's anyway. Too young for the 60's scene. Missed a lot of the scene because my work has kept me overseas a lot. - still overseas as I write this. Just been approved to live in Canada so I look forward to moving back to Toronto If there are kind people there, drop me a line. Aiko, Paul

Paul

if you haven't already, be sure to head over to the Deadheads of Canada, Eh, topic, where you're sure to find a few kind souls.

intro

Hiya Friends, My name is jimi and my first show was hamton va. 1979, next show is simpsonville sc 2011. I stuck mainly to east coast tours a couple out west and mid west but have been on the bus many many years and made my life what it is today. Jerry was the man,yes i love the whole band but i was a jerry kid. This is my first post and just wanted to say thx to everyone involved for the most wonderful memories a man could ask for. ( so many roads) we have traveled together spreading joy and love everywhere, thx bob for going furthur friend. cya around the shows friends

Hey...

OK, Well I've posted here once but wanted to introduce myself. I live in Sydney, Australia but have never seen the Grateful Dead due to a combination of things: geography, age, and ignorance. I've listened to a lot of music throughout my life but have only come to the Grateful Dead within the last 8 - 10 years. I was always aware of them, always conscious of the name and recognised Jerry Garcia's face, but before I listened to them that was the extent of my knowledge. Beyond that, there was only speculation and guesswork. Their name conjured up for me images of an all-devouring beast of a band that would eat you alive, a great, impenetrable psychedelic morass of musical machinery that could not be made sense of. And then, one day, I decided to make up my own mind. I walked into Red Eye Records here in the Sydney and started scouring their (back then anyway) fairly extensive Grateful Dead section. I didn't know where to begin. I saw lots of skulls and flowers and tie dye. From about 50 or so CDs (they had a good number of Dick's Picks in there) I chose one completely at random, based on no cover aesthetics at all. It was fate. As I walked over to the counter to ask to listen (the only time I've not taken the risk of buying a disc unheard) I looked the spine. The album was American Beauty. I wasn't hoping for much. The clerk popped it in the CD player, I put the headphones on and waited. I was smiling like a fool within 10 seconds of Box of Rain. I immediately bought the album and ran out of there. Many people here would have seen the final episode of "Freaks & Geeks" where Lindsay discovers the Grateful Dead and drops the needle on the turntable back to the start over and over. That was me that afternoon (except that I kept hitting back on the CD player). I couldn't get enough and that album filled (and continues to fill me) with such great joy as a lot of their music does. That was close to maybe ten years ago. I haven't amassed a massive collection of Dead records. I still don't own all of the studio records but in the days before downloading shows became viable I did a number of blanks & postage with a lot of kind people. I imagine there a number of people in here from Australia but all of my trades were done with people overseas courtesy of rec.music.dead (I think it was called that). I posted in here the other day for the first time because I had the urge to write a letter to Robert Hunter. I've been going through a career crisis of late but just a little while ago I came up with a plan which I've been excited about but will also need to patience for it to come to fruition. Washing up dishes the other night, I was listening to Aoxomoxoa and 'Mountains of the Moon' came on. I sang the following line over and over with tears in my eyes: "Hey, Tom Banjo it's time to matter the earth will see you on through this time the earth will see you on through this time." It was a lyric that I needed to hear (without quite knowing I needed to hear it). So I wanted to thank Mr Hunter for writing that lyric 43 or so years ago, for sending it out into the world so that it could make its way into my kitchen in 2011 to mean something so beautiful and necessary to me. That's my Grateful Dead story so far. I don't think any band has given me such pure joy through their music than the Dead have. I look forward to speaking with people in here and sharing stories. OK, I think that's it. Anthony Frazer - Sydney, Australia

new Deadhead from up north

Hi all, I am new to the Grateful Dead community, writing in from Canada. Got introduced by my fiance when we met last year and I admit it took me a while to appreciate their music and culture. But now I am a convert! Looking forward to the conversations here. Have a great day. Pumpkin-Pie

hey

welcome to our new friends from around the world. And hey, Fritzsbeard, thanks for the great story.

hello

welcome, welcome all! Great story Fritzsbeard! American Beauty was the first Dead record my parents put on when I was little and it's been a great ride ever since... Thanks for sharing!

I'm excited about the online

I'm excited about the online networking, but even more than that hoping to find KIND people around where I live in Columbus, OH.

hi there!!

hey gang!!my name is melissa and i toured as a child with my mom and continued to do so on summers...amazing times and amazing memories... anyhow, i live in LA now, and i am throwing a one day late birthday party for jerry at the restaurant i run. if anyone is interested in coming i put the link to the restaurant facebook page - all the info is on there. http://www.facebook.com/gratefuldead?ref=ts#!/pages/Grub-Restaurant/515… i love cook, act, sing, dance, and make patchwork clothes for myself and friends. love! ~melissa

Hello!

Hi! My name is Kaylie Cottrell. I've been a grateful dead fan since college. In high school I was into rap and hip-hop, but when I reached college I started to broaden my horizons. I'm glad that I did! Anyways, I'm new here. If you have any questions about myself let me know : )

greetings

So Glad i made it. I'm new on here, but not new to the Dead; I've been into them since '80, and saw them a buncha times. I'm a pro musician. I play an instrument called "Prizim", which has 37 strings. It's basically a glorified autoharp, but i play all kinds of dead tunes, including terrapin, eyes, birdsong, etc. I also have played Native American Flute for my whole life. I'm currently building new websites for these instruments. My other "trade" is reading cards...that's right....past, present, future. It's all in there! You can check out my youtube channel, where all the music is, including a buncha dead: www.youtube.com/otto5ification. There'll be websites for the Tarot and Music coming soon. I'm just so glad to be back among 'family". I kinda got blown off path for about 10 years (relationships...ugh) and am now rebuilding just 'zackly who I wanna be. This (and you) are part of that. (If I told you all that went down, It'd burn off both your ears!) See ya round the boards! Mallah (hal) Looking forward to getting to know you.

Hello Everyone

Hey - My name is Marc and I have been a Deadhead for about 20 years. Been coming to Dead.net for a long time now, but new to the forums. I am a lighting and experiential artist, and have been working on a performance art/sculptural installation based on Robert Hunter's poem, and the Dead's famous unreleased recording of The Barbed Wire Whipping Party. This project is being done with Hunter's permission, and with the support of Ice Nine Publishing and Rhino Records. I am trying to think of ways to get the word out about this project to the larger Grateful Dead community - anybody have any ideas? http://www.indiegogo.com/Join-The-Barbed-Wire-Whipping-Party Thanks for your thoughts, marc

hugs and canapés and bubbly glasses

hey Blew J, hey purple hippie, KaylieCottrell, hey mallah, hey marc.mixon! thought i'd say a hello to everyone and spread a couple welcomes; hope you all are mighty fine. i've only been here a short while and people sure are friendly. i tend to post regularly in the "What Are You Listening To..", "Trouble Ahead...", Positive Vibes...", Blair's Blog's topics; always up for debate and to pass on inspirations and such like. I'm a gonna send you some links and free stuff through your Private Messages so check if you so wish. as for you marc, i'm not really that up to date with other Dead related sites and what not; there are topics like "What Else Should We Be talking About" and other such posts. best to check through the All Recent Posts link on the left hand side and see what looks appropriate. It'll give you all the topic headers that are here. I'd recommend posting the same thing in a variety of them as there are regulars that only seem to use certain subjects; that way you'll reach more people. Apart from that, i'd also post comments on sites like Relix magazine, Jambands.com and Jambase. If they have a story, article or news item about the Dead, then mention what you're doing. The more people who know the better. If you're lighting artist, then see if you can email people like Candace Brightman or Chris Kuroda or check for other bands in the "scene" who they use and pass it on, ya know? Betty Cantor is on Facebook; maybe message her too. Just spread the word!!! well, take it easy fellow travelers. look out for the messages!

Kuwait deadhead

sorry so long, in not getting into the group and discussion,I am a universality deadhead, became a Muslim in the states about 1996, after Jerry death, when in 96 i had an accident and was at Brown university hospital and was told by the Doc. if i did not quit drinking, i would be "locked up or covered up" this is what i did in my search for Serenity exploring many of man kinds sciences and paths i choose Islam as the religion that appealed to my intellect, (in a philosophical tree climbing way) to channel the good freethinking vibes, to constructive use after years of tour and travel of the globe I took bible study coursed from various sources , went to the oldest synagogue in america, studied, and studied more , on tour I have been to Naroopa, boulder, an ashram out side goose creek Colorado, Lindisfarne, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, in Marin, lived in Italy considered a heretic,(Masonic) i was not catholic but i took advantage of being near RoME, and studied art history, while there also, reading on the real history of the church, as depicted in paintings. I was raised an American in Naples Italy, (origin of the Funiculì, Funiculà) lived there three different times, total of 13 years, between our trips around the globe, (father was Navy) we lived in mare island Vallejo, California, my great great grandfather is buried in Mount Tamalpais cemetery. so i was more local to the area I was about 1982. then stopped a few other places in the USA, between 1980 to 1984, my family did many road trips across the Usa, what i always could remembering all the cool folks on the roadways of America. various tours; been to the 25 reunion of woodstock in Bethel, New York 94, stayed two weeks and got in on the clean up of that site , the freedom fest and camp arrow head. 94 world unity fest in south rim of grand canyon, black mountain in Arizona, subsequent rainbow gatherings, from 92-96. I was in palm springs, California area may to July 95 I greyhounded to Rhode island from California, stopped in Oklahoma city, two weeks before Jerry un timely death, I was in Newport, Rhode island, and was considering a road trip to NY for the annual gathering at woodstock, then catching the Newport folk fest, that years folk fest was; whew... I married a wonder full Kuwaiti Woman MD, married on 03/03/03 whom, i met when she was visiting for seminars at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, in 2001, we met through one of her Kuwaiti relatives I knew from the local mosque in fairfax, Virginia. We now have 4 little boys and they demand Jerry in the morning, while driving I have raised them on the dead and may of the few "streams" to get them to listen with me. i wear tie dyes on a regular basis, (you cannot show up at a mosque in a tie-dye) I been to the hajj in mecca in 2002. I have taken my other wise conservative Muslim wife to the haight ashbury street fair in 2007, every place between Vallejo and Monterrey, i let my children see as much as they can since I did not have the benefit in the 70's in Italy all my parents had were LP and memories, of 72 Europe, dad took leave and i was about 1.5 years old. dont know if my folks want to give up the old photos.. On 9/11, of which I was TWO KM as the crow flies from the pentagon, after all the interrogations from the secret service, I had a yacht repair business on the Potomac river, servicing the marinas, people threw all the work contracts out the window , because i did not keep it a secret that i was a Muslim long before 9/11, at my core i am an american, well I moved to Kuwait, and started supporting the US Army as a mechanic, body shop, As well as working my own angles with the boating and yachting industry in Kuwait. this is a very conservative society so the only way i introduce musicians here about the dead i let them listen to Garcia/Grisman "Arabia" for some reason the song stirs the Arabian soul ; i try to bring out some musical awareness, so most Arabs think we (deadheads) are christian a cult of the dead in america, this is from from a religious point of view, and first impressions, then if you know names of popular Arabian musician, then they get the idea, the deal is to learn the language, and the society in which you live, they are all different in the gulf region, what goes for one does not for the other. thanks for letting me introduce my self

welcome

that's a wonderful story fleetwing! very interesting. glad to see you followed your heart and mind.welcome to Dead.net! (try "Ollin Arageed" on the people too, especially when the Dead segued from the local musicians into their own electrical transcendence!).

welcome fleetwing!

and feel free to post in Deadhead of the Middle East!

How are ya?

I am 27 and live in Southern California, over the last couple years i have been getting more and more into classic rock and blues and i started listening to the Dead and now i can't stop. I already have some songs that i love and i have heard they have never played the same song the same way twice, i bet that is true, and that just makes it that more magical. There are very few bands that can make me feel as good as the Dead so i am so glad i have found some more awesome music to listen to and enjoy and it really does ease your soul. Sometimes we live no particular way but our own

howdy

i'm a 52 year old, fairly new convert to The Grateful Dead. Spent most of my life listening to jazz and punk and old C & W. Saw them a couple of times in the 70's (went with a girlfriend) saw them a couple of times in the 90's. Never had a real connection with the music until last year. i've seen Further twice now (with my 12 year old daughter), the most recent time was last night at The Hard Rock in Las Vegas. i play ukulele, ride bicycles and take pictures with pinhole cameras.

:-)

Hello all!My name is Kyle Reyle and I just stumbled onto this site today. Honestly I am very new to the grateful dead, but have felt so much emotion from the people i've met. It started for me when I started going to "raves" ~ For me, it started out for the materials, but as I progressed I fell into some bad vibes. I wanted to turn my life around for the better, there was a freind that I had made at one of these events who took care of me, helped set up my tent, and even gave me one of his shirts, His name was Tony. Tony inenvirtantly introduced me to the grateful dead, I started listening to the music in whichever means that I could, mainly youtube. This is when I fell in love. I have not had the pleasure to go to any shows, but i'd still like to get together at current events and meet all the good people. I'm still a young soul ~ only 19 years old right now, but hopefully i'll be able to learn as much as I can in this life. ~ Much love, reyle. I love to draw, i'm trying to get back into college after dropping out, and even trying to find a new job!

Hi

I'm not much of a huge forum type of guy, but since I made it over "Hello". The name's Chris Larson. Will try to hang out now and again and get to know some of you. Especially the local Oregonians!

hey everybody

I just started a new blog about the Dead called http://thoughtsonthedead.wordpress.com/ Check it out and let me know what you think. It's mostly short humorous essays about our favorite band.

Another New Guy

Hello! My name is David Ciley and I've been a deadhead since i was 11 years old. I had a neighbor take notice that I was into CSNY especially Crosby and his tunes so he gave me the greatest gift next to my wife and son and that was he stole my face. I was terribly upset to find out that Jerry had passed a few years before I could see him. They actually played their last show on my 8th birthday. I will be 25 this year so I am definitely a younger head, however I've been going to shows since 2000. My dad caved in and bought us tickets to go and see Bob Dylan open up for Phil and Friends and that sort of just cemented me into the scene. My son has been hearing their tunes since before his birth and frequently gets upset when his one and only dead shirt is in the wash so he can't wear it*he's four, five in april*. I went to as many Phil and Ratdog shows as I could after the first and was elated when they toured as "The Dead" with Warren. Furthur is icing on the cake for me as I'm sure it is to many of you. I've been trolling on the site for years and years and decided I needed to just join. So here is my official Hello and thanks for having me on deck!