Happy holidays!!!

Merry ChrisFestHanuKwanDiwEid.......and Happy Tet in advance!

Been quite a year for me and Andina & Rich.  Because of scheduling snafus regarding my knee replacement surgery, we had a few significant gig-free periods that we put to great advantage in the studio. We have "Chasing Lightning," our third Andina & Rich CD, nearly done (mostly mixed too) but for a sprinkling of instrumental accents and then mastering. Every reason to believe we'll have it out this spring (or whenever it'll be most advantageous). "Merry Humbug," our first holiday EP, has one song to go before we do final mix and then mastering. (We could have made it a full-length CD but it would have taken us into summer before we'd get into postproduction; and summer's when we need to release it).  The first two songs off it, sent to radio and in time-sensitive download release, have been all over the airwaves this month (terrestrial, internet and next week satellite!). We had a blast at Lilli Kuzma's WDCB Holiday Hoot--and not only our set but our individual collaborations with other artists on the bill will be aired Christmas night. Stephen's EP "Free Range Sofas" (on which yours truly lends a voice to several cuts) has already gotten airplay on all cuts, and he's begun a full-length solo album. And last but not least, "Candy Apple Red Herring," the long-awaited followup to my solo debut "Ghosts & Angels," is underway. Got only two songs recorded for it so far--because two others caught Stephen's ear and ended up on "Chasing Lightning." All those songs of mine so many of you wanted me (or SASS! or A&R) to record will finally be on it. I may flesh it out with a few holiday songs (one traditional dulcimer instrumental, one Hanukkah classic in Ladino, and a swing-jazz original) because it'll be out in time for next year's holiday season, in time for me to promote it after recovering from my next knee surgery.

My left knee is jealous of the new right one and wants to be replaced. Ideally, I'd do it right after New Year's, but my surgeon's booked till April--when Bob and I will be taking a long-delayed Napa Valley vacation and then Steve & I get into heavy touring season. Even though the left knee will be simpler than the right one was and need a shorter recovery time, if I were to schedule it for right after our trip I wouldn't be healed in time for SERFA and the gig preceding it in mid-May.  Were I to do it in early June right after a St. Louis gig, recovery would occupy the entire summer--as my right knee replacement did this year. No way am I going to miss summer touring. Stephen's taking Sept. off for his & Ingrid's dream trip to the NW. So it looks like either I skip Fox Valley Folk Festival and do it in late Aug., or do it right after the festival and be ready to roll in time for FARM.

Nonetheless, we made inroads last spring into the Mid-Atlantic/Appalachian area, and look forward to following up and exploring further. Looking at S. Florida for part of this summer (it's no stickier than Chicago) too.  Meanwhile, my profound apologies for the destruction caused by my namesake superstorm. Seriously, many of the places special to me during my childhood are still devastated: Rockaway, the Brooklyn beaches, Staten Island, parts of lower Manhattan, much of the Catskills and Delaware Valley, and the NJ resort town of Lakewood (Borscht Belt South). We made a contribution to the Red Cross, but look for some further fundraising efforts on my part. No plans to re-visit yet, but we'll get there.

My right knee has healed so well that most of the time I don't even notice it. My cane has become an accessory in my car, a "just-in-case" item like my snow brush and tire inflator. Still need it for uneven and hilly terrain--which doesn't describe most of Chicago.

Bob had his batteries recharged by our Sept. river cruise through central Europe, and while still working long and hard is taking more time to stop and smell the cappuccino.  (We're getting our parachutes ready to jump off the fiscal cliff). And Gordy has discovered he has a knack not just for acting but teaching as well--he teaches improv skills to impoverished special needs kids in a S. Side public school where he and his students are a mutual admiration society. The program will be expanded come January.

Time to do some last-minute wrapping, buy greeting cards and make the hard sauce for tonight's plum pudding. Have a happy and a merry!

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