eddie from ohio journal July 23, 2004

Greetings Edheads,

Where to begin, what to say, how to say it without incriminating too many folks? Gosh, it's just been such a fun week-end. Let me just say that Marquette, Michigan (that's in the U.P.) is an amazing place. It is host to a most FABULOUS festival called "Hiawatha Folk Festival". We arrived Saturday, after spending a few nights in Winona, MN (which is also quite lovely - and there was a Target within walking distance from our hotel, and chicken wings that were rated a 9, at our hotel), and anyway back to the festival.....it was too much fun. We played Saturday on the main stage (had a blast), woke up to the gospel workshop on Sunday - great time, and then closed the festival Sunday night (oh, and Robbie and Mike did a singersongwriter workshop as well). So after our set ended, and we got all packed up and settled merchandise and all of that business junk, we waltzed over to the camping section and planted ourselves in our good friend T.I's popup, along with about 40 others who hung out both out and in....
we drank red wine, ate salami and cheese, and jammed until 3:30am, at which time we were instructed by the only responsible one of us (Bob) to get in the car because we had to leave for the airport at 4:30am!!! Yes, it was a sleepless night in the U.P., and damn it was so much fun. Everyone played, everyone sang - Mike even shared his new original with everyone there - U.P, I.P., we all P in the W.C. - get it? I even strummed a bit and sang "The Night they drove old Dixie Down". I've always loved that song - ever since we did a choral version of it in 8th grade. Mike just kept breaking into song after song after song, he could have kept going all night. The man is a nut, but he sure is a fun one!!! So many thanks out to T.I., Sandy (I love my jewelry and Corey loves his bear- and thanks for the heart to heart) ,Jake, Paul and Nancy, Dave, Rachel (who by the way, if you haven't seen Rachel Davis play.....well where have you been. Look her up, find out where she's playing and go and see her. You will not be sorry. She brings me to tears when she sings "Amazing Grace")....
let's see, oh Sue and Jim, who lent us their house for the week-end. They stayed in the campground and basically said, "here use our house, take whatever you need, we're just so glad to help", I mean where do these people come from? Everyone was so friendly and helpful and pleasant, and coming back to the eastcoast was kind of a bummer! I love Virginia, but boy, the midwest just has a different breed of people - the rest of us should take some lessons from them. To all of you way up there, thank you, thank you, thank you!

So we flew out at 6:00am - got into National at 10:15 - went to shower and then to the studio to meet up with Lloyd (our producer) who had come back to mix the record. We were there all day Monday and all day Tuesday (with Eddie being the last to go), but the record is done!! Well, I mean, it needs to be mastered and sent out to whoever and all of that stuff, but it is finally mixed! Come hell or high water, that damn thing is coming out 10/19/04!

So, leaving tomorrow for Falcon Ridge - which always ends up being loads of fun! I can't wait to see all of our artist friends who we never get to see. Yeah! But we're leaving at noon, and I have to go and get my hair cut, take my car into the service station, take Liam to swim lessions (yes, he FINALLy put his head under the water and is swimming on his own - praise the Lord),pick up my car from the service station, and then somehow get to Eddie's house. Yikes! Why do I do this to myself? I never plan accordingly. Thank God my husband is the greatest in the world and will figure out something....he's really good at organizing my screwed up schedule! Like,it's a good thing my head is attached to my shoulders, you know?

Hope to see you soon,

julie

Oh yeah, Eddie's drum kit in MN. was pink/purple! Look out Donnie Osmond!