Really?? Envelopes with a date…

It’s a windy, rainy day in Connecticut, fully in keeping with the odd weather we’ve had all month. We think we’ll just pop down to Florida tomorrow and see how they’re getting on with winter — in that way that they have, all warm and sultry and so forth. We might even play a few times while we’re there.

Meanwhile we just returned from Charleston, WV, and here are a few photos from that trip.

We arrived Friday night after a twelve-hour drive, and checked into the beautiful Embassy Suites Hotel. This was the view from outside my room door:

There were perhaps ten floors, all facing an inner courtyard, and Iheard Mark call down from the seventh floor as I was passing the elevators. Can you see him?

The whole ceiling here is a skylight. 

A walk through the local mall showed us that we were famous in Charleston for a week:

We got the cover story on the local arts insert, and a very nice writeup inside. This was the photo I think the Montessori kids were referring to when they asked why we look older than our picture. That’s why I’ve made this photo really small.

Meanwhile, here’s Margo warming up at the Clay Center: 

It was a beautiful space, and very crowded! The Clay Center also has an 1800 seat theatre, a museum, a planetarium, an educational complex, and much more. It’s an amazing cultural focal point.

Sunday we were at the Kanawha Unity Church, which is a cute little building in what almost looks like a beach town.

This is the window from inside. It was just before Martin Luther King day, and we got to hear some of his speech on an Mp3 player the speaker had brought in. It was quite moving.

Monday we were at the Montessori School, singing and having fun with several groups of kids. Afterwards we drove the 12 hours home, so we’d have a whole two days to turn around before heading to Florida. Thanks, Ron Sowell, for orchestrating the grand weekend for us. West Virginia is beautiful, with its wooded hills and curvy highways. I always remember the cedars, which are so prevalent there.

I hardly dare say it, but if there must be storms, let them come while we’re in Florida! I won’t have to move my car for the plow, then… although if we return to snow, it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had to shovel Mark and Margo’s driveway out before we can get into the house (and get my car out of the garage!)

Happy travels, everyone.

Back from Florida! And it was 48 degrees in Connecticut today.

We stayed with some very fine folks this trip; thanks first to Celinda for housing us without even seeing us first. Celinda has a cute little bungalow with some fanciful friends in residence:

I’m not certain but I think he’s checking email. There’s a pair of Dog-goyles guarding the front of the house, too.

I doubt any mean spirits ever get in.

At first I thought it was odd to have blue mushroom soup, but then I saw the local flora…

…and realized, that’s just how they do things here! But best of all was the canine company. One very large and serene Great Dane.

 …who was interested in my chicken.

We had our live interview and performance on WMNF in Tampa, which you can hear at: http://sound.wmnf.org/sound/wmnf_060120_lms_249.m3u. 

Wait through about a minute of easy-listening jazz first; then we’re on. Then it was off to Floral City, where we stayed again with our friends Pete and Laura in their little slice of heaven. They now have a kitty, who arrived under the hood of a friend’s car one day. You can somewhat see her in Laura’s arms here:

Here are a couple more images from Floral City… the venue, and the Mads awaiting their dinner.

Jim & Gayle Morris drummed up a houseful and a half of people for our appearance! Someone had made a giant chocolate chip cookie for the occasion and at the end of the night it was GONE.

One happy crowd.

This is where we first learned about “Florida snow.” We set up the CDs outside and, by the end of the set, they were laced with dew.

Gayle kindly gave me some time-release cold medication, as by that time I was going down the path of the airborne virus. We had a great, impromptu outdoor breakfast (omelettes on the grill!) when the electricity went out in the neighborhood before dawn. Then we drove five hours to our next radio show in Miami… and then had a few days off, visiting with Margo’s parents. They took us to some wonderful restaurants and made sure we wouldn’t lose any weight this trip!

How about a pool with a waterfall?

The Bixbys have one. It was too cold to swim, but we did get some exercise on the trampoline before playing our house concert there. I’m hoping Mark can put up a video of it soon, so check back if it’s not there now. (The trampoline, not the concert.)

Thanks, too, Bixbys and Hewitts, for generously housing us on this trip. We came to think of it as the Bed & Breakfast tour. We closed the second weekend at the Sailing Squadron, run by the very dedicated and loving Sarasota Folk Club. Then we got up early one more time to fly Delta Song home.

We hear rumors that they’re going under, and we’ll be Delta Sad. They’re musician friendly and they fly directly out of Hartford to a lot of places!

It seems we’re already gearing up for Texas later this month, but meanwhile I hope some of you can catch us this weekend either in Massachusetts or Connecticut. Check our gig schedule for details. And travel safely.

Cheers, The Mads…Oh, so ready to be home.

Mad Agnes makes the New York Times!

Go here to see the article. Our picture didn’t make it onto the web, but it was in the hard copy. They don’t reproduce well but here it is:

Well, I guess that could be anybody, but it was really us.

After rehearsing diligently yesterday, the band decided to see The Da Vinci Code. We’ll be good and not say anything about it in case you haven’t seen it, and want to. But we enjoyed it!

Come see us in Rowayton this Saturday.

Cheers, The Mads

Impromptu photos at an old white building in a field

And here’s something you’ve never seen before! Jennifer Archer is a dancer and choreographer in Homestead, Florida. In a unique example of art begetting art, she’s recently choreographed a piece to “A Manic-Depressive Madrigal,” with her young dancers dressed as tree frogs. Check it out:

Photos by: Bradley Marshall
Project: ‘SOUND OFF’, Homestead, FL May 13, 2006
Dancers: Ciara Garcia, Holley Abbott, Karime Castillo, Stacey Walters
Choreography: ‘Bermuda Tree Frogs’ by Jennifer Archer, ASCENTIAL DANCE COLLECTIVE

Thanks, Jennifer, for sending the photos along!

Cheers.

So much has evolved this year, it’s seemed very difficult to keep up with the road notes. Finishing the album, moving into other creative endeavors (Margo’s Feldenkrais; my [Adrienne’s] Celebrancy studies), working up new material. The newsletter has been undergoing a slow overhaul with learning curve attached. This year has passed incredibly quickly and we’re ramping up for a very busy November, including a midwest tour.

Mark just got a new computer, which was long overdue, and his end of business should be a lot more pleasant now — not to mention faster. (Does this mean we can give him MORE stuff to do?) He has made a complete physical transformation these last few months. Though he’s tired of us talking about it, I want to mention officially that he’s dropped about 40 lbs. and has become a runner, inspiring Margo and me to get ourselves into better shape as well.

I just got a new bed, also overdue, so my new challenge is getting out of it… as for the Celebrancy course, it’s fascinating — this is about creating and officiating rituals, such as weddings and other rite-of-passage events, based on the clients’ wishes and backgrounds. I just participated in a house-blessing ritual for my sister, along with another friend who provided a traditional Peruvian despacho, a table ritual involving the burning of peat and incense, and wishing on what are usually coca leaves — but we used holly, as that’s what I’d used to festoon the front door.

Talking River Books is growing; I’m gathering stories for a collection called, “Raising My Mother: Stories of the Women Who Raised Us.” If anyone would like to submit a story about his/her mother to be considered for the book, please contact me. If you want more information about TR Books, go here.

We’re gearing up the promotion for Revenants’ official release in January (though of course we have copies for you now), writing copy and editing it to death with our patient publicist, Kari. Every day seems totally full. I’m rebelling by going to the CT Renaissance Faire on Sunday. Anyone care for a joust or a game of human chess?

Enjoy this early fall air and the changing colors!

Cheers,
Adrienne (for The Mads)