Since last I checked in here, much has changed, but the most important and comforting things have remained constant. I am once again on two feet--with my cane used mostly as either a prop or for hill-climbing. In fact, though my right knee still has some stiffness and soreness, I am walking without a limp and am able to stand for an hour or longer. (Still can't kneel or get up off a floor, but that's not a bad tradeoff). After a summer of intense physical therapy (10 days in rehab, 4 weeks at home with a visiting PT, and 6 weeks at a PT clinic), I was able to walk the grounds of and perform both days at the Fox Valley Folk Festival (with a reprise coming up for the Dulcimer Society in May), do a one-hour standing set with Steve at St. Mary's Nursing Center in Madison, take that wonderful Viking River Cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam, and do two more of Julie Jurgens' tribute showcases at the Gallery Cabaret (both of them on my feet).
Not just that, but I drove to FARM and flew to NERFA to network and showcase solo. No, Andina & Rich fans, the duo is still very much alive, but Steve and I are honing our solo chops and bookings for the inevitable occasions when we want to perform but one or the other of us has a major schedule conflict. In Steve's case, it's been the long final illness and the aftermath of the death of his mother-in-law; in mine, it's both the upcoming Bar Assn. Christmas Spirits show (my 11th year) and my upcoming left knee replacement. The latter will take place (we hope) in either very late Dec. or early Jan. in order for me to be able to fly to Toronto in Feb. 2013 for Folk Alliance Int'l--as a solo, performing with Steve, and doing some networking and volunteering.
As I said, the right knee still has a way to go. but it's the discomfort of healing, which diminishes daily. But "lefty" is making her displeasure known--she's hurting more and more, and beginning to give way. (Yet another Bar Show wearing a knee brace beneath my slacks--but hopefully next time I won't need it anymore). Dealing with a new challenge: the pointy cobblestones in Germany (and my stupid decision to bring German "walking" shoes and leave my sneakers home) reawakened my dormant Morton's neuroma and metatarsalgia in my left foot. Fortunately (but not for my wallet) I found a new line of Finn Comforts with rocker-profile soles that take the pressure off my forefoot and support my arches. Stylish, too (well, as stylish as orthopedic shoes can be--blue suede, black patent, bronze, etc.).
Cruise was marvelous. Wish we'd had more time on our own (or weren't so jet-lagged) to explore Budapest, especially the Margaret Island spas, Citadel, Gundel's, etc. Could have used an extra day in Vienna and especially the Rheingau & Amsterdam. Such is the tradeoff of a river cruise--rarely does the ship dock overnight to allow after-dinner exploration (and since meals and cocktails--and some evening programs--are paid-for and onboard), so we usually set sail either just before dinner or late at night and sailed till morning or even the next afternoon. But there is much to be said for unpacking just once and stashing our empty bags for two full weeks, living on a floating hotel of manageable size where we got to know just about all our fellow passengers. I think the way to view such a multi-country cruise is to use it as an introduction to countries or cities to visit later on--in-depth, on our own, and more economically. If we do this again (and it'll probably be in 2014, either Russia or Budapest-to-Bucharest), I'll bring the sneakers and buy plenty of good local wines to drink on board (prepaid booze package notwithstanding). And probably the cheap Euro-cell phone (AT&T was spotty and expensive when we did get to connect) and a real camera.
Only thing that marred the cruise was learning, upon our midnight departure from Vienna, that my mentor had suffered a stroke. Fortunately, it was not deep in his brain and he had terrific physical and occupational therapy, and he is back to work part-time now. The closing I had set up to happen in my absence ended up having to be postponed anyway for bank-related reasons (in fact, two full weeks after my return), but everything worked out to both parties' satisfaction.
We had some health setbacks recently in my household: Gordy landed in the hospital with asthma (while I was away in upstate NY) which developed after he caught a cold from one of his students (he's fine now); and Bob seems to have caught the stomach bug that's going around (which took the Bar Show's bandleader out of commission for a few days). Meanwhile, I am treating my digestive system with kid gloves, gobbling vitamin C, hydrating like crazy, sleeping more and washing my hands constantly. Thank heavens I had my flu shot. You should too! And I find myself now the namesake of the largest and most destructive superstorm in American history (though thankfully not as fatal as Katrina). Walking into a bar, and not being asked what I want to drink but having a Hurricane plopped down in front of me is getting kinda old. Seriously, the devastation is wrenching--especially neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island I remember from my NYC childhood. It's hard to imagine--unless you're unfortunate enough to have been hit by the storm--that hundreds of thousands are still without heat, power, clean running water, and transportation even three weeks later. Mother Nature paralyzed my hometown in a more widespread and ultimately longer-lasting (though less fatal) way than did even Al Qaeda.
Speaking of the Bar Show (Lawpocalypse Now), it's gonna be great this year, and I have TWO featured lead solos. In a great stretch of casting, I play a protest folksinger (guitar-slinging, again, of course) and a titillated late-middle-aged housewife who's had a literary epiphany. In the ensemble numbers, I am an elderly lawyer (I have to fake a limp this time) as well as a disgruntled schoolteacher. We are running Wed-Sun Dec. 5-9 (the final show being a matinee), with reduced ticket prices: $50 orch./$25 mezzanine. Same bat-time, same bat-channel: the Merle Reskin Theater, 60 E. Balbo in the S. Loop, 8 pm curtain.
And the afternoon before our penultimate show, I'll be out at the College of DuPage for WDCB's annual "Holiday Hoot." Tickets are $10 (or comped for the station's "angels," hint hint), running from 1-5 pm Sat. Dec. 8. Andina & Rich are on early so I can get back to the Reskin in plenty of time for that night's show, but listen for Steve in the finale. (Yes, you can listen--it'll be broadcast too).
And here's a little advance notice of our special holiday gift to you: remember I said we were working on four recording projects simultaneously? (Our followup 3rd CD "Chasing Lightning," our first-ever holiday album "Merry Humbug," Steve's second solo EP "Free Range Sofas" and my second solo CD "Candy Apple Red Herring," to refresh your memory). Well, in the spirit of the season we're releasing two singles off the holiday album: our interfaith carol "Season of Hope," and the hilariously autobiographical (but hopefully not portending deja vu) "It Sucks Being Sick at Christmas." Go to www.andinaandrich.com/music.html and there they'll be!
Happy Thanksgiving--and hope you have lots of leftovers!