Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It is so nice to be remembered on my birthday. Only 4 more years and I can retire from my day job and become a full time, underpaid musician.

Alba, I probably won't be able to attend this year's Getaway. My wife and I are planning to go on Seamus Kennedy's Caribbean cruise in January and that will probably take up all our vacation time and traveling money. But we'll make it back to Maryland again one of these years, I promise.

Jimmy, here is a photo of me doing just what you suggested. Thanks for the good wishes.

And I want you to know, gnu, that there is a nice, cold Guinness sitting in the snow right behind the guitar case. lol.

Thanks to Terry and Alan and Rapaire and Bobert and Susan and all my other friends on Mudcat for keeping me partially sane and totally entertained. It is nice to be a part of this community.

Mike