I just received a funny comment from musician Steve Merrick prodding me to include Azusa Pacific University and Biola in my tour blog. Well of course! I've been so busy slogging through the day to day on the tour that I've had little time to write. I'm in Nor Cal resting up for a few days so there's finally time to catch up. Yes, the next stops in the the travelogue were indeed Azusa Pacific University where I was interviewed by John Sutton and where Mike Lee led a music biz class roundtable with his very engaged and talented students. Later that night we went for sushi with Mike, Aly and her comic/musician husband – plus the previously mentioned Steve. M. who loaned me a keyboard helped set the whole thing up in the first place. We slept at Campus apt. to lots of noisy partying, but fortunately kind Rebecca upstairs gave us her wireless code and all was well.

Next came Biola University with Dr. Barry Liesch and his worship music class then Dr. Thomas Crisp and his philosophy class. Very much enjoyed all of this. Met with friend Mark Joseph to discuss his new distribution/marketing arrangement with Nettwerk. Played Plush Café with Molly Jensen. Not too well attended. Oops. Michael Miller came, he connected with Molly. Mark Joseph and Steve. M came and also Keith Tutt of DBU and JF fame was there. Drove to average hotel with noisy birds all night – slept poorly but made it to Encinitas in time for acai bowl. Did the whole trade car thing and get new rental – drove back down to SD and past to Point Loma. Had a coffee at Joe's and headed to the school, Point Loma Nazarene University. There I visited with Paul Kenyon and his music students (faith, music, culture). Then the gracious Jamie Gates, M.Div., Ph.D. and Director of the Center for Justice and Reconciliation led a discussion with me and Dr. Karl Martin. I had a very good visit with early fan of mine now Lit Prof and currently works for Dana Gioia at NEA – doing Big Read – Erika Koss. Ate three burgers within 4 hours of each other. Worked on a song titled Nazarene Teen with Chico and went to Doug the bass player's recital. Did in fact get up at crack to do all the usual airport jive mess.

Flew home to Nashville for a micro-visit and then up again in AM for Indiana which is just like San Diego but different. Had a wonderful time with Anderson University Students. Spoke at the school a couple of times then went to The Living Room where I opened up for some very, very good students musicians. Afterwards about 30 of us went out to Steak & Shake to nosh and josh. Next day Chico and I drove to Detroit for a concert at the Trinity House Theatre. That's where the music came back and I sensed for a couple of hours that I might be able to not only return to form as a performer but even grow past where I was when I put it all down for production and staying home. Next day, Sunday in Novi with Brian Sleeth and new friends and substantive discussion of arts and the imaginative life. Ah, then yes, home for a bit before the great and grand Northwest!