eddie from ohio journal June 29, 2003

Thanks to all who braved the weather for our two Virginia shows last weekend. First was the Heritage Amphitheatre just outside of Richmond which was memorable for it's beautiful setting, enthusiastic crowd and abundance of large un-nameable insects flying around the stage--many of which ended up near or in Julie's mouth. Ah, Summer.

We spent the night at Mike's brother's place just outside of Charlottesville which is just down the road from Meriwether Lewis' original home. (For state-educated folks like us, that's Meriwether Lewis of Lewis & Clark fame, who are responsible for discovering the West Coast, which is really quite remarkable considering they had to make it through Kansas first. Not that there's anything WRONG with Kansas. Lovely place. Lovely people. Direct all dissenting e-mail to Mike). Anyway, that's neither here nor there--we just thought it was cool.

On Sunday we played at the Nelson County Festival in Lovingston, VA, about 40 miles south of Charlottesville. Beautiful, beautiful setting and a great festival. In keeping with our contract with God, it did not rain during our sets (we played two--each equally stimulating, we think). In fact, it rained before, between, and after our sets, but not during them. It occurs to me that God may be taking this contract thing a bit too seriously. Anyway, it was also Father's day and my son Ethan's 6th birthday and we sang to him on stage. He sang and clapped for himself. A regular ham, that one. Don't know where he gets it.

Can't wait to get to CA for our first time at the Kate Wolf Festival next weekend. Lots of great music will be there--Tracy Grammer, the Waifs, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Patty Larkin, and many others. There will be much fun, music, rejoicing, and perhaps even a chicken wing or two. But definitely no rain. (please). Until we meet again........

Robbie