Looks like I’ll be in the states again this December and beginng of January. Guess I’ll have to see if I can get enough money to fly over to Former’s for a meal, then over to Tori’s for a little club action!! = )

FWIW, I’m resonsible for getting the current wave of singer/songwriter evenings going in Helsinki. Started it around three and a half years ago, and it’s still alive and kicking in at least three venues.

Feel I should leave with some words of my own. Even though it’s not Saturday, I hope I’m not out of place here. Should be soulful enough = /

At The Gardner

I can’t let it go
I can’t let it go
Sorrow owns my soul
Sorrow owns my soul

I can hardly breath
I can hardly breath
Anguish chokes my heart
Anguish chokes my heart

Now that I can see the beauty
And damage that’s been done
And knowing I too am guilty
Now how can I go on?
And how could I ever be worthy again…
How do I go on?

How can I get up?
How can I get up?
Love has crushed my bones
Love has crushed these bones

Now that I can see the beauty
And damage that’s been done
And knowing I too am guilty
Now how can I go on?
And how could I ever be worthy again…
Ever be forgiven?
Ever be forgiven?

Your’s a-gain

rachelbaker– Take Linda up on the invitation! She has sent me food porn, er, I mean food pictures of her meals before and they look unbelievable.

Barbara M. Lloyd– Momma Lloyd, Betty is in heaven right now grinning and giving you the A-OK sign!

Rachel, I can tell you that Linda is an excellent cook. We had her cooking for us in a hotel in the middle of Ohio….or was it Kentucky? Wherever it was, we all followed Russ Taff in and around two states that weekend..and he was worth it.

If themema were here now, she would hasten to add that y’all need to make arrangements for him to come to your church for a solo concert. What a blessing! (sorry, Tori, I couldn’t help myself)

I do that Mexican “pile up” thing too. And I keep the cast iron grill hot in case someone wants to fill a soft taco shell with meat, cheese, spanish rice, refried beans, green onions,…. roll it up, and I’ll grill it for them. That’s very very good! Was that Mexican corn bread I see in the 9X13 pan in the back? That’s what I make to go with the Mexican smorgasbord!

Thanks for sharing the party with us, Tori! I had a good time.

Barbara M. Lloyd– Thank you , Momma Lloyd! (I’m never really sure that just because something is interesting to me, that automatically translates into it being interesting for other people, too!)

Not only have I been entertained, but it has been a very interesting blog on your part, sweet Tori. Thank you….once again.

How lucky for all of you to have this evening! Colleen

When I was a teenager I had a soft spot for scruffy, definitely dangerous Miami Vice star Don Johnson – must have been a combination of his confident swagger and raspy voice…

I can see now that the whole singer/songwriter type may have been an oversight on my part!

I have always been a big fan of the songwriter. I learned of and became a fan of Don’s from being a big fan of Kathy Mattea’s. The band I followed around for years doing P.R. and photo shoots… they got into a regional country music contest and won it and it took them to a finalist show in West Virginia and Kathy Mattea M.C.’d the event.

If you sing — anyone can sing a song and make it theirs to their audience… but a songwriters gift comes from their heart and soul and you can learn about their life through their song. I just have a great respect for that talent. Thanks for sharing this very special special event with us. Wow I so wish I could have been there just to shake his hand. Just a big ‘ole music fan!!