I'm Baaa-aaack! From the Northwest US and wish I could've taken you all with me!

Hi everybody, I am back from the official northwest leg of the Sky, Water, Clay, Fire, Rock tour. I am so thankful to have been able to work with local businesses in Palatine as sponsors and supporters. Thank you!

The tour went well. It kicked off in Vancouver, Canada on May 1st. From there I went down through Washington and into Corvallis Oregon, and then spent a month touring through Alaska.

I worked my butt off! and it was fun too! :)

May 1st concert was for the BMO /Vancouver International Marathon. I had been invited back from last year's concert there. We had a blast with the audience as they ran past keeping tempo with the music and laughing and hugging as I sang the song "Dirty Girl". There were over 15,000 runners for the event. Many more guests and visitors and onlookers.

Next I was scheduled for a concert in Seattle, Washington, However, at the last minute I received a call saying they had told me the wrong date for their event and so we had to cancel it. I didn't like that part, but I did enjoy riding the train through Washington, the mountains and by the ocean. I totally recommend it.

Then I went down to Corvallis Oregon where I spent a few weeks writing and hanging with a friend and giving a few concerts. The most notable one was on her front lawn of all places!

We had been asked by a lot of people to perform together. My friend Cherie Gullerud is a renowned Harpist in the northwest. We met on a fluke in Chicago last Christmas day evening.. (see the funny story below) Also, she lives in an upscale neighborhood. And over the years people got so busy that they rarely hung out together anymore. Some of them were also getting up in age and didn't get out as much but have always wanted to hear her play. I heard about how a new neighbor had moved into the neighborhood and that they lived there for 6 years before moving out. Not one single neighbor had ever had the time to befriend them or even get to know them. In fact no one even knew their name when the person moved. So it got us all to thinking about how short life is and how perhaps we can do something to remedy it. So we did. Her son dragged out the Christmas lights from the attic and ran errands for whatever was needed, her daughter drew up a beautiful hand made invitation and flyer and ran them around town and to neighbors houses, I ran about town gathering sponsors to help cover costs for flyers and munchies and raffle prizes, and her husband provided the sound system and engineering. The day of the event we put a large 4x8 sheet of plywood on the ground for our stage, which we found next to her garage. Then we strung the lights up in the trees, grabbed every single candle we could find in her house and put them in glass jars and set them up around the lawn. Local businesses The Mediterranean Cafe sponsored the concert with delicious Greek munchies, the Corvallis Knights donated a baseball style cap for a raffle prize, the Restyle Resale shop donated stationary for a raffle prize, Highbrow Eyewear made a generous cash advertising sponsorship to help us cover drinks and flyers, and an anonymous donor contributed towards our overhead expenses as well. The concert began at 7:30 pm and featured original music written by myself as well as original tunes written by Cherie Gullerud. Her daughter also charmed the audience with a tune. And to think it all began with her visiting Chicago and meeting me on a fluke!

A brief history ... I met her in Chicago last Christmas at the Amtrak Station. I was giving a concert in Union Station for the weary holiday travellers on the evening on the 25th. They were travelling home from Florida and heard me singing. In Cherie's words " She sang like an Angel!" Oh I loved hearing that!.. LOL!!!> Anyways, they ran up to me and asked if her and her children could sing with me. They were amazing! The bright beautiful youthful harmonies and energy filled the big cavernous hall and made it sparkle with warmth and love! They sang with me for perhaps 1/4 of the song before they had to run and catch their train. And, as if she was Santa Claus, she suddenly "turned with a jerk" and said, "if you're ever coming to Corvallis, Oregon look me up and we'll play together!" "Merry Christmas!" Then she signed her name and email address on my fan book and fled with her family to catch the train. Wow! Sure I thought, if I can only get to Oregon. I've always wanted to go and yet it seemed so far away. . hmm.. the wheels started turning and picked up speed over the next few months. I finally decided to do it! Just jump in and do it! So I emailed her telling her I'm building a tour to the Northwest US that kicks off with a concert for the BMO/Vancouver marathon on May 1st. I told her I would love to come play with her while I'm out there! She emailed me back saying she would book us a few concerts.. and thus our journey began. We emailed our progress or lack of it back and forth. Meanwhile I also decided to take the plunge and tour through Alaska. Something I've always wanted to do. So I began booking concerts there as well.

April 30th I flew to Vancouver, Canada. And there the most amazing tour began!

I will post more in my next update. I would also like to say thank you to the many businesses that sponsored the Sky, Water, Clay, Fire, Rock, tour and enjoy great music! Thank you!

Barb

Dr Pyzik - Palatine Chiropractor

Carquest/Advanced Auto Parts - Palatine, IL (123 Northwest Highway)

Bills Grove Florist - Palatine, IL

Heil and Kay Insurance - Mount Prospect, IL

Discount Muffler and Brake and Automotive - Colfax Ave. Palatine, IL

Signs Today - Colfax Ave., Palatine, IL

Palatine Hand Detail, Colfax Ave., Palatine, IL