[FM] FA

[Rachelmail@aol.com]

Jake Jacobsen writes

<< First off, thanks to all those I met, talked with, listened
 to, and in general had a blast with at FA in Cleveland. It
 just keeps getting better every year.  Special thanks to
 Rachel and Magic Hat for keeping me from dying of thirst :-) >>

Same thanks to the general population... and it was indeed our pleasure to 
have Burlington Vermont's scrumptious brew available to our friends in 
Cleveland. The music was outstanding almost everywhere... The submerging 
artists never had a better time. Julia Altstatt was a dream and rock solid on 
the bass... Tom Prasada-Rao was as usual a musical miracle... loved meeting 
and playing with the very talented and sweet Chris Rosser (who is 
Charlotte??), of course the inimitable Christopher Williams played and sang 
so beautifully, and my pal Linda Sharar's call to her newest neice/nephew 
brought tears to my eyes... "Come to Life" oh yes.

It was awesome to have the Chicago Showcase right next door!! and Ronda 
Barton's Annex down the hall!! What talent. What a party (sorry about the 
bass, gang ;-)

I thought this was the best FA ever. The hotel was just funky enough to be 
comfortable, the staff was superb. One of the housecleaners was peeking in 
our room as we were filling a bowl with M & M's, and I said "come on in, have 
some" she did - she was an older woman and I could tell we just tickled her 
funny bone. Did anyone else meet Glenda in the restaurant downstairs? Loved 
her. What a bunch of characters we are!

The staff was so kind... they even kept our beer in the hotel cooler so we 
could have it cold... (we didn't have any coolers don't ya know) and they 
brought it up when we asked them to, even at 4am on Sunday... we really 
needed it at that point... wow now that's beyond the call of duty.

Many, many thanks to all the volunteers who make the FA possible - I know a 
few of them, Ramona and Patti and Maureen and Clyde and Debora... I know 
there are countless other, but I just want to say a public THANK YOU. It 
takes a village to create this event once a year, and it gets better and 
better thanks to you all.

Also thanks to Phyllis and Janet and Tony, not volunteers but might as well 
be. I know your hearts and hands are in everything. Sorry we didn't get to 
hang out and have margaritas with the Queen... and the Empress...

I'm planning on taking the Folk Train next year. How could I miss this 
opportunity! Can I buy my tickets now?

Cheers,
Rachel Bissex <A HREF="http://www.rachelbissex.com/main.html">www.rachelbissex
.com</A>