Finally we are at a familiar place. We’ve had three gigs so far. After tonight’s concert we drove an hour to Carol’s mom’s spare condo (she’s in assisted living) where we have stayed a number of times before. A couple of years ago Carol’s sister and niece came to live here to look after their mom. This time they’re both elsewhere so we have the place to ourselves for four days. It’s bliss.
I found the bedding and the double-thick egg crate topper for the foldout couch, which is otherwise all springs and metal bars. I’ll be comfortable enough. It’s after 1am; I’m beat. C&C have driven to her mom’s place to sneak into her apartment and leave her some meds, of which she has run out. The A/C is on to drive away the stuffiness. I feel relaxed for the first time.
We almost missed our flight on Thursday. It was the nearest miss we’ve had in all the years of touring. There was black ice on the roads, and I was delayed about an hour getting to their house. I was absolutely convinced we wouldn’t make it, but Chris kept his optimism foremost and drove like a maniac, and somehow we made the boarding line with about ten minutes to spare. It was incredible.
We really like flying Southwest. They’re musician-friendly and they board differently. For an extra ten bucks ahead of time you can get bumped closer to the front of the line, and you can sit anywhere once you get on. This time there was only ONE human on the plane before us. Even farther back in the line, it means we can find seats with an open bin above to put our guitars in. We try to choose the exit row where the seats still tilt back, so we have lots of leg room. They even have crackers shaped like planes. I think they also don’t charge extra for baggage.
Anyway we got our nonstop to Tampa and all was well.
Concerts have been very good this weekend, and we’ve gotten to stay with the nicest people in the world both nights. Just the kind of folks you wish you didn’t have to leave town right away so you could stay and get to know them some more. We did a live radio hour on WMNF in Tampa on Friday afternoon that we’ve done before. I forgot how hectic it is, working out sudden technical problems and having no time to warm up and being caught up in the headphone wires every time you try to take off an instrument or walk across the room. The show has to start on the dot, whether you’re ready or not. The DJ is very good, knowing how to stretch out the last 30 seconds or hurry it up to get out on time. But it was a bit harrowing for us. I was glad when it was over.
And we never have to do it again.
Between the two nights we’ve made almost $3000 in fees, not counting CD sales, which were light the first night and good tonight. Next weekend we won’t make nearly so much. Anyway I’ve already covered the time I’m missing at work, so I am very pleased.
C&C have come back, so we’re going to count the money now. 
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Yesterday I made the decision to go on Pred for a few days. I haven’t done it in a very long time, but the eczema is just out of control — I’ve even got it in my ears — and that’s enough bullshit, really. Tomorrow I’m calling an intuitive healer I met at a gig recently who offered me a free consult in return for the music we made that night. She said some very interesting things — that I had circulation issues, for one, which is true and getting worse — and that I should use toning during Reiki sessions, because, she said, “Toning and Reiki do the same thing.” It makes sense; entraining the imbalance to a new vibration. That’s what music does; that’s what Reiki is about. Cool.
In my absence, Smidge has been having a ball at Rose & Karl’s house. She seems to have a crush on Linus, chasing him around the house, jumping on him and then running away laughing. Linus just looks annoyed. Goiter has been either ignoring her or growling from a distance, and Arthur is completely afraid of her, as he is of everything. Diva the parrot makes purring and kissing noises to her. I’d say she’s having the time of her little life.
In addition to doting on my kitty, they re-cleared a ton of snow that was pulled off the roof last week to stop all the dripping from the ice dam. For two days before I left I was emptying buckets and wringing towels on three floors as the water came down the walls inside. It wasn’t pretty. There is so much snow piled up against the house now that we’ll have to pull it away with the tractor before it begins to melt, or it will all end up in the basement. We’ve had about 80 inches of snow already, and it didn’t even start until after Christmas.
They also split the rest of the snow-covered wood that was at the top of the driveway, and filled the rick in the living room. I can’t believe all this gets done in my absence. They have generous hearts and boy, do I owe them some sweat equity!
Now I have a stack of cash, I’ve had a glass of wine and a spoon of peanut butter (well, there isn’t much food here), and my bed is ready for me. I think I’ll go to that appointment now.
