eddie from ohio journal April 26, 2004

Hello Edheads,

So it's 9pm on Monday night - 4/26. It's been pouring rain all day. Rainy days with kids really stink. You can't do any of the fun outdoor things like going to the park or having a picnic or riding your bike. So I took my kids to the movies - pretty daring I know, after all Corey is only 2. We've been talking about the new Scooby Doo movie now for weeks and I finally broke down and took them. We had such a great time! Both boys were just great - popcorn and soda goes a long way, and the movie, well I've seen worse.

We only had one show this passed week, and yes it was on my birthday. I never have a problem accepting a show on my birthday but when the day actually comes and I have to leave home to go and do it, well, I begin to regret it - and pray that the show will be a good one and I won't just be on stage thinking - "why am I playing on my birthday". Despite the 9 hour trip from DC to Conneticut (we're never taking the George Washington bridge again), the show was great. The show was supposed to start at 7:30pm and we arrived at 7:00pm. Hats off to everyone there, especially the promoter Irwin. We got started at about 7:40pm and after the second song, I gave my usual "hello - insert town name here" and then the whole audience sang happy birthday to me! It was so touching and just made my night. The show was fun; we sang a new song "Stay" for the first time and it went over very well. Robbie played "Backbeat" off of his solo album during the second set. The song just kicks butt! He sounds great singing it too. So we finished up the show had some great Italian food from Bertuccis, drank some red wine, and made the trek back home.....got in at 6:50am - just in time to get Corey out of bed and give him his breakfast - Shrek cereal....if you haven't tried it, oooooh it's so yummy!

So I have to send a big thanks out to all of you who have donated on the website to the JDRF in support of "Bubba's Buddies". We're not quite at our goal yet, but it's still 3 weeks away. If you would like any information about it or wish to donate, my letter about my son Corey and his diagnosis of diabetes, follows this journal at the bottom. Also, if anyone in the NOVA area would like a free Ben and Jerry's ice cream cone - well tomorrow 4/27 is the big day. It's their 30th anniversary and all Ben and Jerry's stores, actually it's probably nationwide, give away free cones. Each store picks a charity to solicit their information and ask folks to donate while they are waiting for a cone. The Ben and Jerry's in Clarendon picked "Bubba's Buddies" and the JDRF, so a bunch of us are going to be scooping ice cream and asking for donations for the JDRF. Mike, Eddie and I are going to be down there around 7pm, so come on down if you're around and feel like a cone.

Ok, one last thing.......for those of you who are as disgusted as I am with this season...well I just couldn't believe it last week. Talk about fixed? I just can't get over it. If my girl LaToya had not been the first of those to go back, well I would have stopped watching. And I have to apologize for actually writing awhile ago that I hoped John Stevens would win!!!! What was I thinking? He's just so young and inexperienced and it shows! And why didn't anyone sing Copacabana last week? I wish Barry would have picked that out for John Stevens. Boy that would have been a hoot!! So, because of this ice cream deal, I'm going to have to tape A.I. and watch it later, oh nooooooo! It just won't be the same, but I swear we better not have a repeat of what happened last week.....or....someone...or something...or well I don't know what's going to happen but it's not going to be good!!

love to all,

julie