I was there at Valdi's for the first time last Wednesday at the open stage. The place was packed. When I got up to play I lost my table in the balcony area and got shifted to a corner location. They were apologetic but I couldn't help feling underappreciated. You'd think the place would have a bit more respect for someone who was offering entertainment for free and for all the work that all the folks were doing there trying to do the same. I cut out early so as not to waste their table space any further. In truth I was only there to provide free entertainment. I didn't have any cash to spend. There were about four other events I wanted to check out that evening but I only got to three of them. I sat in with friends most of the evening at the Hank Williams Review, just down the street at the Tractor. Then it was on to The Bit Tavern, a few more blocks south, to jam with a select group of jug band blues buddies. A very magical evening, and week.