Ten Years Ago...

The things you find when you go digging around all the stuff you stored someplace at home.

I came across a cassette tape of a radio interview I did on KFAI, 10 years ago this month. Time sure flies. I was interviewed on the Local Sound Department, then hosted by Mark Wheat, now one of the top DJs on Minnesota Public Radio's 89.3 The Current. He was kind enough to give a gal trying to bring attention to local musicians a shot in the arm. We talked about my newsletters I had going on at the time and I got to play some songs by local folks I was working with or listening to at the time.

My speaking skills were decidedly pre-Toastmasters at that point (I didn't join a club until two years later), high-pitched in spots, but I at least sounded like I remembered to slow down when gathering my thoughts. Which is a good thing. I tend to stumble on my words when I try to last-minute edit in mid-sentence.

One of the thoughts that came up in our conversation was that we were both doing what we did for the love of it and not for pay. I'm still in that spot and shifted direction a little since then. Mark has of course gone on to well-deserved radio success. Way to go.

It was also interesting to hear how much had changed over 10 years...mentions of venues and events that no longer exists, groups no longer together or artists that haven't been heard from since then. The acoustic scene has always been a revolving door as coffeehouses go. But listening to that show reminded me how exciting a time the early/mid-90s were when I was in my local music promo heyday.. and how grateful I was for all the opportunities which came my way then to promote the artists I believed in.

Ernie and the guys come to town

Finally, after a general drought of Southern Gospel artists in this area outside of the annual Gaither Homecoming, we had Ernie Haase and Signature Sound do a show in Bloomington. As I commented on my Gaither.com blog, I can understand why these guys are the hottest SG act out there. They start their shows with a repeating video of trivia questions and amusing clips. Oh, and Bill Gaither kicked off the show. On video, that is, leading us in a singalong of Gaither and other classics. How clever!

Ernie and the group had it going on vocally, they were very entertaining, personality plus, dancing (I love the dancing. Let them call you the Temptations, guys, that's all right) and humor. I did note, however, they did "borrow" a bit from the Gaither Vocal Band that they aren't using anymore now that Mark is gone from the group. You'll have to see them to figure out what that is. But at the end, they sincerely and clearly explained why they were there and do what they do...to share the good news of God's love.

In the aforementioned opening video, we were asked to shut off our cell phones ...unless we were ordering pizza for the guys. Well, someone must have done that...as I was leaving, I saw a Pizza Hut delivery guy bringing pizza to their bus.

Back home now...

I'm back home in the Twin Cities. The day I left, I took a look at the return flight schedule and was quite surprised to realize I booked myself only 25 minutes between connecting flights. What was I thinking?? I must have been swept away by this ticket price--I never book less than two hours in between connections. When I got to the airport this morning and saw my flight out was delayed, I figured I was done for. The kind folks at Midwest Connect made a backup booking for me on the next flight in the afternoon. But, it wasn't necessary. There were about 8 of us from Nashville to Milwaukee connecting on to Minneapolis. Our plane actually arrived 15 minutes late but Midwest held the plane to Minneapolis for us. Now that's service (NW, take note). So it was about 4 hours traveling from Nashville to back home here. Not bad. If I could get all the flights to work out that way and have all the planes wait on me, I might book a little tighter. :)

I had a wonderful time. I met some really nice people. I love it there. I will be back next in December.

Off to Nashville day 3

Today was a long but wonderful day. I started the day at GracePointe Church in Brentwood. Pastor Stan Mitchell's Book Club discussed a portion of Brian McLaren's book "A Generous Orthodoxy", dealing with being stewards of the environment. Then Pastor Stan continued his series on vocation, a topic of great interest to me--especially today when he included my life verse, Romans 12:8 which affirmed to me my calling to encouragement.

I got together with friends, one new and one even newer who gave me a grand tour of Brentwood and provided me with bits of valuable information I'd been seeking first-hand answers to. We took a look at the condo development she had just purchased a home at and is awaiting completion. I walked through some models, and let me tell you, in the Twin Cities you will never get the floor plan for the amount of money these were going for. In fact, I don't even see such prices for 3 bedroom condos here, period.

If you go to Nashville you just don't go without hearing live music, so I wrapped up my day at one of my favorite spots, the Bluebird Cafe. I heard a very fine bluegrass band called the Farewell Drifters. I told them about the "Bluegrass Saturday Morning" show on KBEM in the Twin Cities and suggested they send a CD.

It was a wonderful, but short, trip. Guess I gotta get ready to come home now....

Off to Nashville day 2

Today it was off to Rutherford County, through LaVergne, Smyrna and Murfreesboro. It was another one of those drives I like in Nashville, straight shot strip driving, easy as pie (and listening to WSM and Bill Cody--how cool is that?). I was given a grand tour of Murfreesboro, courtesy of Ruthie, fellow Gaither.com message board buddy and a New Jersey resident with a cousin in the area. Murfreesboro is about 30 miles south of Nashville, the home of Middle Tennessee State University, a very nice looking city with just about anything a person would need.

On the way driving back to Nashville, I stopped at a Kroger grocery in Smyrna to pick up some fruit and water. My purchases were on sale if you had their card, but being I'm not from around there, I didn't. I explained that when I was asked at the register if I had a card--suddenly a woman at the checkout in front of mine turned around and said "here, she can use my card." Now that is Southern hospitality. Very sweet and unexpected. I saved over $2 because of her kind gesture. The checkout clerk then offered me my own Kroger card and I course accepted...because you never know, you know. :)

I would have gone elsewhere but I had enough driving today and gotta save that gas (though regular is not yet $3 here most places!). I did get a swim in during the afternoon. So tonight I watch the new Gaither Vocal Band video on TV and watch and listen to the Opry again.

By the way, if you watch the Opry on GAC on Saturday night, I hate to tell you this, but you miss a lot of good stuff when the commercials are on. I listened live on WSM radio along with the TV show...the show goes on during the TV commercials and there some great performances happening while the sausage is being sold on TV. I can also tell you there is a 7 second delay between the radio and TV.

Brentwood and the Bluebird tomorrow...

Off to Nashville day 1

Well, nothing too eventful about the flights today--they were just late. I didn't have to have any secondary bag screening and I put my grooming items in my checked bag, so no problems there.
The flight in here was very scenic--lots of beautiful green terrain.

It had just started to rain when I got there. Nonetheless, I decided to venture out on foot in search of a place for supper. The desk clerk recommended a restaurant across the street. When I got there, though, I noticed that next door to it was a Chinese buffet! Woo hoo! Obviously I changed my plans and ate my brains out while a very good radio station with a good 80s oldies mix played in the background.

The challenge shall be trying to maintain a semblance of (relatively) healthy eating over the next couple of days. Let's just say that when you fly Midwest, it's a given you're gonna cheat with the homebaked chocolate chip cookies.

Tonight I shall listen to the Opry and watch Randy Travis and Josh Turner perform together on CMT. Tomorrow it's on the road..

Off to Nashville...

I'm headed to Nashville this weekend for a very short trip. If the laptop's able to connect, I'll be blogging about it here and there, so stay tuned.

Due to the new travel regulations, no spiky hairdo for me when I'm out there.