Well, last we left off, I’d done the NY thing, the Massachusetts thing and settled down in Philly for a couple days off. That feels like it was about 3months ago!

Getting a full day and a half off makes a big difference when you’re on the road for a while. Laurie and I got up and ran along the river, cleaned up and started walking around town. Philly’s got some really great spots. Of course, one of the highlights was seeing the Liberty Bell. It was more moving than I thought it would be. Even though I didn’t really want to go see it, Laurie pushed for it, and I’m glad she did. It was really powerful.

Of course, after that, we stopped for a “refreshment” and decided to get matching “tour tattoos”. All I’m going to say about that is that when we get home, I’m calling my guy, Bleach, to get us in to fix them up a bit. Right now, in the light of day, they could use a little refining……

The next day we were back on the road again…hello, Vienna, VA. I played at this little club that was really cute, had a great vibe and it was really fun. Actually, every single day of this trip has been such a friggin’ blast. I don’t want to go home.

On our way to Vienna, we stopped at Best Buy and picked up Kelly Clarkson’s new CD that came out that day. It was a surreal and incredible moment in my life that I will never forget. The last track on her record is called “If No One Will Listen” and I wrote it. For the last year, there has been talk that this would happen, but I didn’t really believe it. Even up to a month before the CD came out, I was still told that it could change, so “don’t hold your breath”. Well, it’s real now. And she does a beautiful job of singing it.

After Laurie and I made a scene with the sales clerk who was ringing me up (lots of jumping around and screaming), we blasted it in the car and I felt like I was dreaming.

All the shows on this tour have been so fun. I can’t believe I was ready to give music up a few years ago. I don’t know now if I can ever do anything else but this. I’m fully in.

Laurie and spend about 5-6 hours a day in the car, singing along to Elton, Michael, Prince and Patty. We check in to whatever hotel we’re staying at, get ready and head to the venue to sound check and settle in for a night of music and meeting new people.

I have to say, though, that last night might have been my most favorite night so far. We played this really great little club called Eddie’s Attic, in Decatur, GA. It was packed with a really listening, yet interactive crowd. I played in between two other acts. They both were bands, and I played solo. But from the moment I got on stage, I felt so much love, and I just let myself go. It was so fun. But, also, two guys I went to high school with live in Atlanta. So, they came and brought some people. It was so fun to see old friends. After my set, you could find us huddled at a corner table of another part of the bar, laughing and reminiscing. I laughed more last night than I have in a long time. There’s something about seeing people from back-in-the-day that makes you feel like you’ve taken a time machine back to all of our old lives. It was so great.

Now, we’re back in the car, on our way to Nashville. Laurie’s driving while I type. (She’s playing Nelly on her ipod! I didn’t even know she had that, much less listened to it! It’s pretty funny)

Tonight’s gonna be another fun night. I’m gonna get some time with my good friend Kristen Hall. It’s always so good to see her.
Then, one more show before St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago on Tuesday. We’ll meet up with JB and Matt for that show and it’ll be fun to play as a trio after playing solo for the last week.

We’re putting together a west coast tour, so keep your eyes on the website and I’ll keep you posted……..