Tonight I finish packing. tomorrow I head west for folksome frolics. I've downloaded the workshop & mainstage schedule, also my volunteer schedule. This is ONE place I don't mind driving around in a golf cart. Carrying banjo and autoharp players is so much nicer than ...er.. golfers.

Workshop choices... do I go to hear Judy Cook, Bryan Bowers & Bovee & Hell do Gospel,
or
Funny songs with Lou & Peter Berryman, Cindy Mangsen, Steve Gilette and Joel Mabus.

Love, Murder & Betrayal... or Songs of Love and Lust.
Tragic songs
or
Sacred Harp sing? (lot of mood overlap there)

Autoharp with Brian Bowers (will he do anything new and exciting, or have I heard it all before)
or
harmony singing? Dannnnng but there are hard choices to be made.

I'm stretching this weekend festival into a whole week in Chicagoland for my first vacation in decades. I'll be trading songs & staying with one of my favorite people with one of my favorite voices, Margaret Nelson. Wish you were going to be there, too Art, I'll send hugs with Judy (she's a GREAT hug - she can do it with just a smile, I swear!)

I was blathering about this festival this morning to my dentist. She's a famous locally as a folk music supporter and is will be in Chicago this weeknd. Her enthusiasm for the idea of taking a day off offspring housing construction to play with the music folks was a great joy to me. Dr. Anne and son-with-broken banjo meet Fox Valley, I can't wait! If any Mudcatters DO decide this is" just the ticket" ( so to speak) ask the folks at the record table to point me out and introduce yourself.

Joanne with suitcases packed in Cleveland till tomorrow