You may notice some gigs are no longer listed in my calendar. One, in July, has been removed because the organizer has decided that those of us playing the more prominent (and paid) concert series in the same area ought not take up slots in the free festival--I agree wholeheartedly. Nonetheless, I played the free fest last year, and urge those in the Madison area the weekend of July 17-19 to head over to Lisa Link Peace Park and catch part of Maxwell St. Days--the artists are of especially high caliber this year (some have previously played the aforementioned concert series) and very enjoyable. As to the Indiegrrl Festival in Nashville in August, there's no way I can do that as was originally envisioned and still devote time and energy to my organizational duties....and, just as important, get some sorely-needed recording done for the followup Andina & Rich and my own next solo CD. Sadly, science has not yet developed a way for us to be in two different places at once--computers can "multitask" in that way but humans can't. (If things change and I will be in Nashville, rest assured I'll let you know). On the creative and performing front, premiered a brand new song at the Old Town School First Friday Songwriters' Exchange the day it was written--and received very positive feedback. Played it for Steve the next day, and it will definitely make it on to the next Andina & Rich CD. (You'll just have to catch a concert or buy the disc, if you weren't at the OTS last week, to find out what it's about). Mill Bluff State Park last week was beautiful, bucolic and filled with wonderful music from our fellow artists on the bill (and Andina & Rich, she said modestly). It was also the coldest non-winter day I've ever spent (eclipsing a raw and wet day April day in line at Disneyland in 1990 and a blustery windswept visit to Tienanmen Square in Feb. 1994). I was okay while on stage (courtesy of the stage being under a canopy and sheltered from the wind), but as soon as I got back into the audience, I had to bundle up with three layers of clothing, put up the hood of my parka, and stuff my hands into my pockets whenever I wasn't cradling the hottest cuppa Joe I could find. If June is busting out all over, you coulda fooled me. To add insult to injury, after the gig I loaded up the car with my gear--and discovered a flat tire. Props to Ingrid's brother Ed, who changed my tire to the "donut" spare, which got me back to Madison where I spent an unplanned night before getting a pair of new tires the next morning (20 minutes total, including rotating all four tires) at Weber Tire in Sun Prairie. No wonder the place is so popular, aside from their prices being lower than in the city. Now, in medical news---good and bad. Good news is that my foot is not fractured and the bone itself is not bruised. It's just a worsening of arthritis (which I didn't know I had) in my 5th metatarsal and bunion and tendinitis, caused by a mild ankle sprain that came on gradually over the spring. Time marches on, and I limp instead. Bad news is that I'm stuck wearing a big honkin' immobilizer boot (like a cross between a cast and a ski boot) for the next few weeks, but will still be on my feet as tolerated. (I am definitely making a footwear fashion statement, even if I'm not "stating" that which I originally intended). At least no crutches, thank goodness. My father-in-law turned 89 this week--mazel tov to him. And in less than two weeks Bob & I will celebrate our 38th anniversary. Where'd the time go? Since our wedding we've had eight Presidents, four wars, lived in three states and cities, lost (and regained) hundreds of pounds, been through the arc of four careers (two for each of us), earned one graduate and two professional degrees, produced one terrific and talented kid (whom we're in no hurry to push out of the nest till he's good and ready to fly). Not to mention going through three hair colors (not including gray, which I still refuse to let emerge). So it looks like I'm taking the rest of June off to do a little legal work (that pesky retirement still doesn't seem to be fully "taking"), songwriting, rehearsing, eldercare and volunteering. Back into the whirl starting July 4th weekend in Madison!