Welcome to our blog. Don't expect too much. A hootenanny at most. What's a hootenanny, you may ask? I'm afraid there is no concrete answer, for this is a quandary that has vexed academia for decades. Hootenannies first came on the scene in the early 19th century, mostly for economic reasons. Families struggled to make ends meet, and Alexander Hamilton vigorously lobbied the fledgling government of Papua New Guinea for a secret fertilizer that would make American crops grow taller than trees. Instead, the Papuans gave him nothing but a hootenanny. Though disappointing at first, the hootenanny soon gained a place in many an American heart. A little known scholar has recently discovered that Melville toyed with the title Ishmael, the White Whale, and the Hootenanny Crew. History suggests that perhaps America wasn't quite ready for such a groundbreaking novel. The majority of Americans today know hootenanny from their childhood during the Baby Boom era. Their fond memories of hootenanny accompanying the first television programming, even the first man on the moon, cause their hearts to burn bright despite their professional and emotional disappointments in later years. In our attempt to blog in the proper patriotic spirit, Maren and I have decided to add our own strand to the already rich and vibrant history of hootenanny. We hope your time will be well spent within these pages.
Dave and Maren
