Barry -- A big Boo Hoo, Joe Offer had six or eight conflicting obligations for Getaway weekend and the shameful fact is, he decided to honor them instead of coming to the Getaway. What kind of person puts their responsibilities ahead of the Getaway, I ask you? Oh well Joe we love you lots or we wouldn't mind so much that you can't come!

Good suggestions for the program, Barry. We'll see if we can follow up on some of them.

Elizabeth LaPrelle is a freshman at William & Mary and has had a gig or other obligation almost every weekend from the beginning of August to the weekend before the Getaway, so she's still undecided. A ride to and from W&M might help but school might still have to be her priority. I ask you again, what sort of person ... ? The good news is, Sandy is planning to come, and John may be able to come if he can get a ride back to Rural Retreat (Virginia-NC border) on Sunday so's he can work Monday morning. (hint hint)

CET, consider yourself (and Charmion?) booked for an hour session of "Spooky, Violent, Grim and Bloodthirsty." Asking you to lead it has been on my to-do list for about 2 weeks. Shame on me. Don't know if there will be a co-leader, does Charmion want to co-lead it?

We have TWO special song writers' sessions in the works. They both look very good if they work out. There is so much interest this year that we thought the song writing folks should have two sessions if we can manage it.

Sorry to bring you all this news in dribs and drabs but ... that's how the program always takes shape, actually.

We're expecting to bring in more Mudcatters as workshop leaders, and also, we need to contact a number of our "regulars" and see if they'd like to lead a workshop. It takes time. In the meantime, I have this wildlife art show next week....

Yesterday the Washington Post printed a great photo of the National Zoo's 10 week old panda; he is finally old enough to look like something you can recognize. So today I woodburned four Baby Panda necklaces. Busy busy busy....

Rita