DAY THIRTY-THREE: February 21, 2008 Antigo, Wisconsin

I have to admit; the past few days have been the most challenging so far. After so looking forward to our day off, it only gave me too much time to think. The temperature went down to –20 last night. Of course, everything’s relative. I should be stronger. I keep looking at these motel walls night after night and thinking of Martha Stewart in prison. How would she make things homier? I’m not the victim type. I just have to have a plan.

This morning we woke up to one of the most beautiful sunrises ever. I shared it talking to a little boy in the lobby who is temporarily living here because his family lost much of their home due to flooding. (A pipe burst.) He had been away from home longer than me, and didn’t have much of a home to go back to. He was hoping to get out of school today because of the bitter cold. No such luck! Later, I saw him get in the car with his backpack.

I am now in a lounge chair basking in the warm sun, my bathing suit wet from the pool. No kidding! I’m probably going to regret not wearing sunscreen. This Super 8 is GREAT! In this huge room with knotty pine walls and ceiling, a 90- degree pool, spa, sauna, and lounge chairs have greeted me as the only guest all day. The sun beaming in the window and flooding my whole chair is magnified more intensely by the bright, glistening snow. The thermometer outside is registering at –9. Frank went out to discover the town and just came back with the most beautiful flowers! Things are looking up! In a few hours, we will be playing concert #23 here in Antigo. We will definitely be well rested and happy. A vacation has been created right here! I think Martha Stewart would approve.

The concert tonight rocked! We had a packed house, responsive audience, and good piano. People were standing in line for me to sign their CDs. It was a record night! Good thing today was restful. A woman from Allied Concert Services was there, and she had to stand in line to introduce herself! She was respectfully brief, and said she had helped to represent us and was glad that she came tonight. It’s always good to have a night like tonight when important people like that show up.
We had to rush loading in the car after the concert because the wind was blowing and it was bitterly cold. Its nights like these we have to be so careful to have packed everything, because when the stage door closes, we’re locked out!
Back at the room Frank and I made a toast to an exceptional night. We’re charged! Look out, wherever we’re playing tomorrow!