[mooz49]

The Elusive Hal Ketchum Story

Starring
Hal Ketchum (the hero)
The Promoter (the bad guy)
The Bodyguard (the scary guy)
Brian (DH) (moral supporter)
Eileen and Anne (damsels in distress)

In this story, as I don’t type too quickly, P stands for Promoter, B for Brian, E for Eileen and Hal for Hal Ketchum!!

Saturday night was the Hal Ketchum concert but as you probably know I didn't get ............... but on Saturday I did actually get to see him but I didn't know it at the time!! B and myself went for a short drive around the town and as we driving past the Marine Hotel corner I noticed a man with longish hair, wearing a denim jacket and jeans and he was talking into a mobile phone. We went around to the seafront and came back again and the man was still there. I looked at him again and I said to B "That looks like Hal Ketchum! ..... turn at the roundabout and go back!" ...... so we did and I had another look and we drove to the seafront and turned and came back again and he was still there and I still thought it looked like him ...... but I wasn't sure. I had never seen him before except for photographs.
When we got home I showed B a picture of him and he said that looked like him.
I immediately sent my friend, E, a text message saying that I thought I had seen Hal Ketchum and she phoned me back and asked if I wanted to go down to the Marine to see if it was him ...... so we did. We went into the hotel and asked the receptionist if he had been there and she said that he had stayed the night there and had just left!!
So we drove about the town for a bit looking out for him but we never saw him again. I thought ...... how weird is this ...... driving around our wee town looking for Hal Ketchum!!
Why oh why did I not have my camera with me at the time??

On Sunday morning E phoned me and said that she and her hubby had just driven past the Marine Hotel and Hal was sitting a the corner window with P. E and her hubby were going to a restaurant for lunch and I knew she weuld not be free for sometime so I asked B if he would drive me down past the Marine and I would take my digital camera and take a little movie as we drove round the Marine corner. B was washing the car at the time and I expected him to say “ Catch yourself on woman and have a bit of sense!” but he said OK!

We set sail and I started my movie just as we were approaching the Marine corner. We drove round it and there was no sign of Hal at the window and B said he’s not there so I stopped the camera and just as I did we drove past this car and I looked at it and there was Hal sitting in the passenger side with the window rolled down and he was looking at me ( probably thinking “why is this silly woman holding up a camera?”) I could have reached out and touched him! I could have kicked myself for stopping the camera at that point!!

So I said to B ……. let’s go to P’s house and see if they went there so we set off. We came to P’s house and the car was there but there was no-one in it. B drove on a bit and turned to came back and this time they were in the car. B stopped the car and said “Get out and take your camera!” I walked over to Hal’s side and said “ I have been searching Ballycastle all morning for Hal Ketchum!” I shook hands with him and asked him if I could take a picture and a little movie for my friend in America. So he got out of the car and I got my camera ready. By this time B was out of the car which I was really surprised at…… wellie boots and all …… well he had been washing the car and doing a bit of gardening when I took him away on this adventure!
Hal went over to B and shook his hand and then turned to me. I asked him if he would say Hello to Connie for me and he said
“Hey Connie ………. how are you ……….just waking up here in Ballycastle ……… missing you ……….(at this point he runs his fingers through his hair and I am thinking “Is there something going on here that I don’t know about?”) ….. hope you are well ……..”
By this time his bodyguard was out of the car. Hal asked if I wanted my picture taken with him (Hal not the bodyguard) so I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by saying No ……… so I said Yes Pleeeeeeze! ….. and anyway I was kinda scared of the bodyguard! So the bodyguard took a picture of Hal and myself and then they went on their way and I went home with B.

I couldn’t wait to get home to look at the picture and the movies but I had my eyes closed in the picture …… well at that stage I was in Heaven!! …… so what do you expect!
Just then E phoned me and I told her what had happened and she was so disappointed at not getting to meet him. So she said she was going to go down to the Marine to find out if he would be coming back that night. She did but the receptionist was not allowed to say so I said I would ring P and ask him. I phoned P on his mobile and asked him if Hal would be back at the Marine that evening. He said they had a busy day ahead and if I was to ring at 7pm he could tell me more. I rang at 7.15pm and he said they were still quite a bit away and would not be at the Marine until very late. I asked him if my friend and myself could see him at sometime on Monday just to get our cd’s signed and a photograph. He said they were leaving the Marine at 3pm Mon so if we could come down at 2.45 he would arrange for the autographs and photographs.
On Monday at about midday I was with Orla in the car ............. she was going to leave something down at the little pub where she works ........ and as we passed the Marine corner ...... guess who was sitting at the window seat all on his own! ........... for all to see ........ not hiding away .......... very few people in Ballycastle know who he is! ........ I think it is just E and myself! ....... what a chance that was ....... but E was at work and I did not want to be approaching him myself without her again as she was the one who now wanted to meet him. When I got home I phoned her anyway and she said we should check with the Marine before we went down just to make sure he was still sitting there and we did but he was not.
Orla works in a little pub near the Marine Hotel and although she was not working on Sat night (the night of the concert) one of her workmates told her that P and "some American" had been knocking at the door at 2.30 AM. very drunk trying to get in and she told them " No, you are not getting in" Orla said to her workmate"That would have been Hal Ketchum" and the other girl said "Who's Hal Ketchum?"
Anyway E and myself went down 15 mins early on Monday and just as we were coming to the Marine E said "there they are" ........ we had just met them driving away! ........ but we were not beaten! We went into the Marine just to check that they were definately away and they were so E immediately phoned P and very assertively told him that we had been at the Marine early to wait for the autographs from Hal and we were very disappointed that they had gone early. So P said we could come up to his house for the autographs and photographs. We went to his house and I parked my car in front of the drive (just in case they tried to escape). We knocked on the door and P, looking grumpy, came to the door and asked us to just wait there and they would be out soon. We thought that was very rude asking us to wait outside. He could have at least asked us to wait in the hall!! We waited about 5 mins and then they all came out……… P still looked grumpy ……. I think he was just jealous that Hal was getting all the attention! ……… Hal looked gorgeous!
We got our photographs taken and our cd’s signed. The bodyguard was standing beside me and I asked him “Are you the bodyguard?” …… well if he wasn’t then I was going to grab Hal and run off with him! The bodyguard said “Yip” and E said to Hal “Can I be your bodyguard?” Hal opened his jacket a bit and said “There’s not much left of me to guard” P still looked grumpy!
When I was gettimg my cd cover signed, the one that has the self-portrait of Hal on it, (thanks Connie for that tip) E said to Hal “We are artists too” and the bodyguard said “Hal did that picture” E said “we know ……that is why Anne took that one down".
P still looked grumpy so we said our goodbyes and let them go on their way. They were heading off to do the show in Letterkenny that night and soon Hal goes to Scotland for a show there. I am actually glad Hal has left Ballycastle as I have been so unsettled since I first saw him on Saturday! …… although he does come back to Northern Ireland for some more shows after Scotland. They are quite a bit from Ballycastle so he will probably be staying nearer the venue ……… but I will still keep an eye on that window seat at the Marine Hotel ………. just in case …….
Now for a little bit of useless information ……. When I first phoned Grumpy P on his mobile he asked me “How did you get this number?” I said “from your website” E was saying last night that she went to his website yesterday and it said it was Under Construction …… so we are assuming that after this weekend he will be taking his mobile number off the website …… but we still have it …….
So here are a couple of pictures

[Shad]

Ooh Anne - you groupie you. What a great story. Glad you had fun. Good on you!

[Nita]

Good Afternoon Ladies,

Mooz -- Wow! You and your girlfriend are sure lucky to not only meet a famous star but to also have your picture taken with him! Way to go!

Just got back from the dentist, Gene had to have a tooth pulled. When he was taking his shower this morning his catheter bag broke and he decided to get rid of it and use the plug instead. I do believe this urologist knows his stuff because he found it more easy to use than the catheter. He is also thinking positive about taking a trip back to Ohio and PA. It probably won't happen until the middle of October.

Tomorrow is my first official weigh-in at WW. I'm not sure if anyone has tried the Yoplait Whips --I have tried the Chocolate Mousse Rasberry and Cherry. They are awesome--only 160 cal., 2.5 fat, only 105 mg. of sodium and 23 g. sugars and 5 g. protein.

Well I need to make Gene some bullion for lunch so that I can meet my friends on our bowling league.

Take care all and have a "wonderful" day!

Anita

[HalGal]

Good morning girls!

Mooz: You are cracking me up, in a very good way. ASssss I pick myself up, running his hand through his hair you say. Believe it or not, one of the pics of have of myself with Hal, he is doing just that... I think I gave him a copy of that pic last time I saw him. He ask me if I wanted him to sign it. I said no, it was for him to keep. He looked at me funny, but hey... I want him to remember me one tiny bit as much as 'we' seem to remember him! LOL

Ahhh... just finishing a 12 hour day, and wishing I could say I am caught up.

Next Thursday, Hal will be HERE for a concert. Excited remotely describes me.

Sorry for the diversion girls, this is a once every decade event...!!!!

[mooz49]

Mornin chickies ........... Halgal ......... you are so lucky gettin to one of Ha's concerts.
........ went to WW last night and I lost 3 pounds :
............ must have been all the chasing .......... .............. and catching ............ ...........Hal Ketchum in Ballycastle over the weekend that did it ......

[1day@atime]

Hello Ladies,
Just a qucick note.

Mooz - Girl, you had an exciting adventure. Glad you were able to get the pictures. Now if it was me, I would of offerered to show him the sites, but then again, I am a single girl. WTG on your 3lb loss.

Nita - good luck with your weight in.

Hal - I don't see how you put in so many hours. I'm get so mentally tired working that long.

Shad - glad storms didn't do any major damage to your house. Next time just hang laundry of the tree limbs that are to big, then if they take laundry and limbs, you got a free tree triming.

Cat - glad everything came out ok in blood test.

[Shad]

Morning all,

Not a lot to report, haven't had the excitement that abounds in Ballycastle and haven't been anywhere except to work, gym and home, And haven't done anything worth noting recently either. It's all work at the moment.

Days are flying past much too fast. It's now only 4 weeks to my trip to Japan to see my friend. Then the fortnight will go by at the speed of light and I will be back home again. I have a dilemma to work out about work. Do I finish here at the end of this contract (while I am away) and go find something else to do, or do I stick with it until after Christmas. There is always a problem with looking for work in November because of Christmas. Sometimes there is no work until the end of January. Normally one just plans for it and either works through or has time off. I don't particularly want time off just then. The bank balance hasn't completely recovered from the 3 months off I had last year. Now that was a bit of a ramble wasn't it???

Thursday already - good heavens - this week has surely sped by. And I obviously haven't been great with the eating since I was at 72 last Friday and am at 73.5 this morning. Grrrrr. I have joined the 21 day challenge thread, to see if I can make myself more accountable.

I'm in the process at home of getting rid of my tatty wardrobe. Some of my old tee shirts are really not even fit to paint in. Some of the casual stuff I have should be my working around home gear and some of my go to work gear should become my casual stuff. I have far too much stuff anyway. Time for it to go. What I am short on though is good shoes. They are so expensive these days. The cheap shoe stores never have either the colour I want or the size I want and if both those things are present, it's never the style I want.

Mooz, congratulations on the 3lb loss. I think I found it.

Nita, I'm so pleased that your DH seems to be on the mend and getting determined with it.

Hal - work sure sucks time out of your life doesn't it.

Hello to Oneday and Cat. How ya doin'???

[Catlover777]

Hi, folks, doing fine. Shad--praying for a safe trip.

I have been falling off on the exercise--even walked the dog for less than the full half hour. So much to do. Had to finish the storytelling group newsletter, staple yard signs ("another neighbor for peace"), meeting with local UN group on 60th anniversary and how LCPJ could cooperate, and even see DH and DS.

Well tomorrow is another day. Big anti-war march Sat--will get my walking in then!!

Night, all.

[1day@atime]

Hello Ladies,

It's been a busy two days here. Bracing for the storm. Which looks like it's coming east of us, so we shoud be ok. Just wind and some rains. But about 1 1/2 hour away (east) looks like there going be anywhere from 12 -15" of rain. We have some work sites out in east texas, so we're on call to help us if needed. Grocery stores were packed last night, stopped by and picked up a few items. Came home and put some patio furniture in the garage, even though we're not expected to get high winds, you never know what path it will take.

Shad - Decisions, decisions - I"m sure you friend Chris is looking forward to your visit. I too need to clean out some closets.

Cat- I can understand, too much to do and too little time. I did get on my treadmill two nights this week. I knew I was going to watch the show "Lost" and 7th heaven, so I knew I was going to be glued to the tv for at least an hour.

Hope everyone is having a great day.

Keep us all in your prayers that Hurricane Rita dies down before she hits land.

[Catlover777]

Patty--prayers for you, for all of Texas, and esp. for those poor folks being evacuated a second time.

[HalGal]

Hello everyone,

It has been a traditional, long hour, hard working - yet week of total enjoyment teaching this week. It is nuts, absolutely nuts the number of tasks or requirements that continue to be added to our responsibilities, and nothing is ever taken away 'in exchange'. State test scores came out this week and our school scored very well, even in comparison to other high schools in our district, city and surrounding are suburbs - so why am I not out partying? I am 'too pooped to pop' to quote my beloved Grandmother Preuster! Love her...

Here is yet another foil pack dinner. If I do not have things like these prepared and waiting in the freezer I find myself having frozen meals which tend to be too high in sodium for me to stay healthy.

Foil-Pack Chicken & Artichoke Dinner

Makes: 6 servings

3 cups quick brown rice, uncooked
3 cups warm water
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.), 1/2 inch thick
1 can (13-3/4 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, quartered
2 large tomatoes, chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup capers
1/2 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1/4 cup DI GIORNO Basil Pesto Sauce

PREHEAT oven to 400°F.

Mix rice and water; spoon evenly onto center of each of 6 large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Top each with 1 chicken breast. Cover evenly with the artichokes, capers, and tomatoes. Drizzle evenly with the combined dressing and pesto sauce.

BRING up foil sides. Double fold top and both ends to seal each packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Place packets in single layer in 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Freeze on tray, then place into freezer bag.

BAKE 30 to 35 min. or until chicken is cooked through (170°F). Remove packets from oven; let stand 5 min.

Shad: Enjoy your trip! We will look forward to hearing all about it!

CatLover: You sound like your activities are so very worthy. Hats off to you.

OneDay: I do hope you stay safe, and free of damage from the horrible storms. My prayers are with you, and our gulf coast residents.

Nita: Good to hear Gene is doing well. Certainly your temperatures are coming down a tad with the change of seasons? They say we will be in the 60s for highs next week. This week saw 90 degree days. We always go from summer to winter, little fall these days.

Mooz: You are such a tease! I am SO proud of you, hunting the Elusive Hal Ketchum down. Priceless. Trust me, if you only knew how skillful he is at avoiding 'the masses' you would be bragging much louder. Thanks for all of your support and humor as you chased 'my man' last weekend across the hills or Ireland! Too funny. Just think, I'll see him this Thursday. It is not ironic? Is it a small world?

I agologize for not posting more frequently girls during the week. My schedule is absolutely nuts. I arrive at school anywhere from 6:45 to 7A and ususally get home about 6 to 7P. Some nights are later, but usually not more than one or two a week. Shad is correct, it absoutely sucks the life out of me. Like I always say, it is a good thing I love what I do.

[Shad]

Good morning all,

Quick stop in before I take to the shovel again to finish the paving I started last weekend. This time I am about to cement the pavers and then put pennyroyal and pebbles between them. These are concrete pavers and they are heavy and I don't want to have to cut them - that's way too hard. It should look pretty good when done. Then it's back to inside the house to carry on there. The roses are looking really good in the garden. Come summer they will once again be scraggy - this is really not rose country - but I love them. They do grow well and bloom well if not as big as down south however the humidity gets them in summer and the black spot is a problem.

Oneday, I hope you are okay after the storm (or are you still in the middle of it?). If you are without power like so many homes seem to be, then keep the spirits up. We are thinking about you.

Hal - I hardly think that Mooz and her friend can be described as the 'masses'. The guy probably didn't think there would be anyone in town who would recognise him off stage. Good on him for being charming and co-operative when caught. He could have been totally rude and lost a couple of fans as well.

Cat - how's the peace rally going?

Nita - hope things are going okay down in Arizona and that Gene continues to improve.

Mooz - have you got up from your swoon yet. Mel and I have found the 3 pounds you lost. Your welcome to have 'em back if you want - please, please, oh pretty please. I'm really tired of the lose/ gain back/ lose/ gain back cycle I am on. Gym seems to be refining it, but not losing it. I don't mind being heavy, I detest being flabby.

Right, without further ado, I shall begin to assemble the wherewithall needed for cementing the pavers and start work. Back later.

[Nita]

Good Evening Ladies,

I enjoy reading all of your posts very much. I did do my weigh-in on Wednesday and I have 13 lbs. to lose to get to goal. Hopefully I can accomplish this within the 10-week period. I have even started writing down what I eat and it is amazing how much you can eat if you eat the right things. Evidently I was eating the wrong things because all of a sudden my stomach problems seems to be going away.

Gene is doing well with his new apparatus and that really makes me happy. Also, when I am on WW his blood sugars are really low each morning. So this is a good thing--today I fudged a little bit but it just goes to show I am not perfect!

Tomorrow is another bowling tournament and I really get excited about bowling. I believe I mentioned I got a new "finger-tip" ball and it has been almost a month and I an finally quite comfortable with it. I also did join the YMCA on Thursday and Monday morning at 7:00 a.m. I have an appointment for an orientation to go over the different equipment. They have three Silver Sneaker classes-Mon., Wed. and Friday at 11:00 a.m. These are my bowling days but I am going to try the class on Wed and see how it affects my bowling. The young woman in charge says the group is very motivated and anyone who wishes can put their phone number on the list and that way perhaps we can find someone to meet there at other times.

Mooz - Your Hal is quite a handsome dude!

Take care,
Anita

[HalGal]

Good Sunday morning everyone!

Ahhh... Sunday morning... one of my favorites. I have a few minutes to sip coffee, wake up slowly and contemplate the upcoming week. This week was the week for new magazines to arrive, and with some luck I may take a spin few one of them. I love reading. One magazine I've received for many years is O by Oprah. I see she has published a book now of some of her favorite articles. If you have not been a regular reading of the magazine, this would be a great read.

I'm doing well as far as dieting goes. I just need to exercise. I was watching part of a movie last night (that I must watch the entire thing soon) called Ambulance Girl with Kathy Bates. Actually I saw on the credits she even produced it... anyway... as she decides to become a paramedic in her mid 50s she acknowledges the need for daily exercise. OK...

Nita: Good to hear from you! Hey tell me about the fingertip ball, does it only hold a part of your fingers, and what is the theory? Less stress on the nails, better game? I've not been bowiling for years, and I guess it shows. I love reading about your physical activities and you are helping me change my attitude. I saw Barbara Streisand on TV last week saying she hates exercise,and I found myself saying, I know why I love her even more! I know it is good for us, needed for good health, I am fooling or trying to fool myself. Hey... Hal is 'my' Hal. LOL I do love how Mooz attached herself to becoming a HalGal extroidinarre... I bet you guys would like him too!

Mooz: Who knows how much more weight you may have lost chasing Hal. You really placed a well needed smile upon my face for a good week now. I thank in so very much! Do you by chance have a favorite of his songs. One of the songs he sang on the radio yesterday is one of my favs - called The Angel Song. He wrote this for his 3 daughters. Once I connected with the northern Ireland BBC radio frequency... I just listened. I thought the conversation was interesting, and just thought it was cool. Lo and behold about 5 minutes later I determine I am listening to HAL with a very hoarse throat - I did not recognize him. So you see... I am a HalGal through and through. LOVE HIM...!!! OK, I am OK....

Shad: Your job/employment sounds so interesting. You have a say upon when and where... that means so much. One thing about our extended time off in summer is finances. If you do not prepare for the time off finanacially it is no fun at all. It is difficult to try to save for this when teachers in our state quality for low income tax credits usually until they reach their 10th year of teaching or receive their masters degreees (which ever comes first) and we received a $2,500 raise. Ahhh, anyway - we don't do it for the money so that is not a huge issue. Neat news. I had a student appear in my extended detention Friday afternoon with a Woodstock '94 t-shirt on. It was way cool. He said he found it at our Goodwill store - a seconds store where folks donate items they want to disguard. I told him how neat it was, and how much I would love one... he smiled, I know it made his day. It was without any doubt, very cool. I have heard Hal has a larger audience there, than he attracts here. He really does not attract 'the masses' any longer. This works just fine for me, I like the smaller venues, and the calm atmosphere as I enjoy his "Every Little Word".

OK I had to digress a tad here... have you guys noticed the good music coming out? Paul McCartney, The Stones, Bon Jovi all have new CDS out, or coming out! Dylan has a DVD on his career which should be a good catch also. Trisha Yearwood just released her first CD in 4, count them 4 years... ah as you all (ya'll) know I love good music. If any of you receive the cable channel CMT try to catch the Crossroads show playing now with Bon Jovi and a new country band called Sugarland. This is very good, a nice suprise!

OneDay: I hope the storm damage/rains have been minimal for your area. I can barely watch or listen to this now. I feel like we are so very unprepared to help our citizens that rely upon us - the impoverished. As far as my long hours, I do just fine for 10 hours without blinking. I usually need a snack and a 10 15 minute breather for the last few hours, but don't always have that opportunity. They schedule our meetings back to back. I had a parent sub for me toward the end of the school year last year that had previously spoke at a school board meeting saying 'Us teachers have the life of Riley" as far as our work schedules go. I had his son in extended detention last week, and he said his dad had 'no idea'. If you recall last year I had the schedule that began at 7:30A and did not have my first break until 12:45P. That was grueling. I don't know how I did it. This year I begin at 7:30A and have my first break at 11:00A. Much better.

CatLover: Keep rallying good friend. I am proud of Cindy Sheehan, and her efforts to bring attention to our losses. I heard Jane Fonda was preparing to go nationwide on a bus bringing information to the public about the war - then nothing. I also heard at the same time she has reconciled with her former husband, Ted Turner - I bet that has something to do with her disappearing act! Lucky girl!


Thin! Are you enjoying lurking? Huh, huh, huh? We know you are out there! LOL

[Shad]

Morning all,

Hal - I am self employed. That's how I get to choose where and when I shall work or play. I train in the workplace. I've been going from business to business mostly with SAP or JDEdwards (now Peoplesoft) although I have been known to train Microsoft and other programs as well. I've been lucky there has only been the one time last year when I had no income for 3 months (and I have been doing this since 1997 on my own) before that and since then I have been busy. Been working on projects since 1993.

Feeling a bit stiff and sore this morning - 2 days of hard gym workouts (2 hours on Saturday and one yesterday) plus mixing the cement by hand and laying those pavers (paving stones to the Americans) I have managed to outdo myself with exercise. Does't happen often I can tell you. And it doesn't feel like I have lost any weight either. It is so difficult to lose after 50!!!!

Nita, so you have joined a gym? Well done. Hope you get rid of those pesky pounds soon.

Okay, better go and do some work since I am being paid for it. Really can't think why I was born rich instead of beautiful.