Today is a work day.  Shopping for and arranging flights and rental cars . . . Is it more economical to fly into Seattle and take the ferry to Seattle and drive into Canada? Where should I drop a rental car?  In the past, I’ve done most of this with my computer on the couch, but I find that no matter what, I’m left feeling that I’ve just wasted my time.  So now I’m moving to the desk in the spare bedroom, off of which my husband and I just cleared 3 mountainous piles of CD jewel cases. It’s far more professional feeling here, plus there is a cool breeze.

Today the weather is cooler, so I think of fall, and fall makes me think of going back east, and traveling back east in the fall makes me think of IBMA.  The International Bluegrass Musician’s Association, for me, was like a sort of bluegrass camp . . . only in a hotel.  The first time I walked into the IBMA hotel lobby when I was 12 or so, and I saw the Nashville Bluegrass Band just standing there, like they were just normal people, and I did a 180, and walked right back outside the and consider what I had just seen.  Some of my favorite players, everyone’s heroes, just standing there, trying to figure out where they were going to eat lunch. That’s one of the best things about bluegrass - the accessibility.   Its priceless.

I was home-schooled in high school, and the IBMA award show was the closest I got to prom. Many people, myself included, dressed up far fancier than feels comfortable an go out for a special night.  There’s the gossip of who’s going with whom, where’s the best party/jam going to be after the prom/awards?  I miss it!   Maybe I can sneak back this year for a day or so of the convention. It would be so great to see all the familiar faces and get a good solid bluegrass hang in . . .

There is much touring to look forward to this fall too!  I’m going back to the Chicago area in Sep with The Greencards, and then re-joining WPA for one last run with them.  (They’re going to tour lots more, I just won’t be joining them for a while.) Instead, I’ll be going up to be in the midwest some, and in late Oct I’m going Canada to open for John Prine, and play some shows with the Stringdusters in Nov.  Sounds like a good excuse for some new boots . . .