Mark Delaney's Official Banjo

Legends of the Potomac Make Roots Music Top 20 List for 2011!

January 6, 2012

Quite a surprise--TakeOff is listed at #13 on the Roots Music Report list of Top Bluegrass Albums for 2011. The Legends are out there in front of some pretty heavy-hitting bands.   Especially impressive for a musical entitity that no longer existed by the time 2011 rolled around!  (It's not too late to buy your copy-see link above.)  

December 28, 2011

My end-of-year message for 2011: If you have not made it out to hear Mark with Danny Paisley, I recommend you make a resolution to do that in 2012. You can find the schedule here. If you are not the type of person who likes to have fun, make sure NOT to go see the band at at their regular (twice monthly) gig at Jumbo Jimmy's in Perryville, Maryland. And for those musicians out there who have been putting off taking lessons, don't you think this could be the year?  Contact Mark and set something up!   HO, HO, HO!  Happy New Year, everyone.

Below: Some of our favorite holiday ornaments....

October 2, 2011

Mark just got back from the 2011 IBMA World of Bluegrass event in Nashville.  Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass got glowing reviews for their showcase at this year's IBMA.  Very exciting! Here's a picture that was posted to Facebook by Jim Beaver. 

 September 13, 2011

Let's see.....other than an earthquake, a hurricane, and the dregs of another hurricane over the past few weeks, not much to report here other than a flooded basement.  Hope you have all had a great summer and are enjoying the pre-fall season.  Will try to get some new pix posted soon.....

Ruth

 Summer 2011

These days, Mark is playing with  Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, and Footworks.  It's summertime, which means festivals--check the band websites for info on where to see Mark play.        

  Meanwhile, on the home front, Hank, Fred, and I have embarked on a project to make our backyard more bird-friendly--the view above is the front--stay tuned for pictures.  I've done a lot of tree trimming, planting, and added more bird feeders.  Hank and Fred's very important part in this endeavor is to stay inside.  It's hard work, but they are up to the job (see illustration at the bottom of this column). 

Gone But Not Forgotten.....

Miss the Legends of the Potomac? Visit archives of their website here!  Or search for their videos on YouTube.

 Rube, not Ruth !

I expect most of you have heard of a "Rube Goldberg Machine," an overly complex device that performs a simple task.  (If you've ever played the game "Mouse Trap," you know what I'm talking about.)  Recently, I discovered that there are a lot of people who think this type of device is actually called a "Ruth Goldberg Machine."  I didn't believe it, til I checked with Mr. Google and discovered that it is true.  Web page after web page refers to the Ruth Goldberg Machine.  Amazing. I think this would be an OK name for a band, or I could use it if I ever invent a swell new blender, and I suppose I could be flattered, but mostly I just think it's sad.  People taking my name in vain, thinking they are making a clever cultural reference while instead merely demonstrating their ignorance.  Sigh....What's that you say?  You thought it was a Ruth Goldberg machine and I am merely demonstrating what a mean-spirited snob I am?  Um....Never mind.



Equal Time for Fred!

Hank is kind of a camera hog, but we've been hearing from some of you that you would like to know more about our other cat, the original, Fred.  And to answer the most common question, yes, he really is that big. Right now, he weighs in at around 17.5 pounds, down from his all-time high of 26 pounds in 2007.

 Fred resting up for his next big meal.....

  Fred came to us in 2001, the week before September 11, courtesy of the wonderful Lynn Morris (thanks, Lynn!) and was joined a few months later by his brother, the late, great Tony.  Fred graciously agreed to forgo a career in movies or commercials to live a much-less-glamorous life with us, and we are forever grateful. 

Fred keeps a lookout for intruders .....
A young Fred helps Mark practice mandolin.....

It's a Really, Really Rough LifeWhile I slave away behind a desk, and Mark either labors in his motorcycle shop or in the bluegrass trenches, Fred and Hank are left to their own devices at home.  The other day, Mark emailed me this photo with the caption "There were no survivors......." (Make sure to zoom in to get full effect.....)

(photo (photo by Angela Howard)

Thank you for visiting, and thanks to Mark for letting me crash his site.

~Ruth

Hank Helps Around the House.....

He does dishes......

 And rides along as Mark's assistant on household projects......

Holidays 2011 in Delaneyville!

 View from the Sidecar

One of the best parts of summer is getting to ride in the sidecar!! (Yes, it's not just an album title!)  On a hot day, there's nothing like putting on a leather jacket, cramming one's head into a helmet, and experiencing the rush of fresh air and bugs.  But seriously, it is fantastic. Here's my typical view of Mark.....

 About Me....

I usually describe myself as a writer, editor and musician.  Currently, I work for you (if you are a U.S. taxpayer) as an editor at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), where I help supervise a very talented and entertaining group of writers.  Broadly speaking, our job is to explain complex animal and plant health issues in plain English.  Before USDA, I did freelance editorial work of all kinds, and spent 15 years doing a variety of jobs for Time-Life Books which, alas, no longer exists.  Working for Time Life was an amazing experience--like being paid to go to college except someone else gets to decide what you major in, and they change your major for you whenever they feel like it....This is one reason I know a teeny bit about a lot of things. 

My whole family is musical, including my brilliant mathematician brother, David and my brilliant singer-songwriter sister, Eve. 

I sing and play guitar.  From 1993 to 2003, I fronted an acoustic, eclectic band in the DC area, The Urban Legends [archived website, may take a while to load], featuring Ira Gitlin, George Welling, and Jamie Daly. Not currently doing any music, but hope to get back to it eventually....  

Always a fashion plate....this is me, around age 6 or so....

  The Late, Great, Tony

A few months after we got Fred in 2001, Tony came to stay briefly while Lynn and Marshall had their house painted.....Except that he immediately disappeared into the rafters and was not seen again for months.  And that is how he became "ours." Like a phantom, he emerged to eat only after dark, and sightings were extremely rare.  It took months for us to woo him, and we both had to work hard to earn his trust.  As you can see below, he became quite a music fan.  Always plagued with chronic health problems, he nonetheless was a terrific companion.  When he died in 2007, we both felt like we had lost one of the best friends ever.   

Hank's Corner.....

Hank waits for Santa, Christmas 2008......
 

Hank, (who appears elsewhere on this site disguised as a paper weight) could really teach the rest of us a thing or two about how to relax.....