Can You Hear Me Now?

People really are wonderful. Don’t ever doubt that. When one lets you down, out come a ton of genuine good people that surprise the hell out of you.

I’m going to Toronto in September. My accommodations for part of the time fell through (which I now know is for the best… my gut told me to get out of it last month, but I didn’t listen. Gut is always right, people!!! We have had this discussion before! LOL) I’m so glad it came to a head now and not while I am out there. Anyway, once my accommodations fell through, I started looking for a hotel. I will be able to stay with my cousin part of the time, but because I have a lot of plans for late nights in downtown Toronto, I now want to be central for the first part of my trip. One of my friends in Toronto offered her place as a possibility, but she is insanely busy the weekend I arrive and I’d really feel like an imposition. I figured a hotel would just work best.

So, I sent out a plea for help. Not a plea for “take me in please”, just simply a plea for names of cheap hotels in central Toronto. I sent it to every email address I have for a person in Toronto, or that travels a lot, or may know the answer. I even opened it with “sorry if you don’t know me well, just looking for a quick answer and you may have it…” because I sent it to some musicians I have met out that way (musicians and cheap hotels go together), but certainly don’t KNOW.

The responses have been pouring in. Everyone from Jim Bryson to Lindy has tried to help, and yes I am name dropping, but who’d a thunk it? I sent the email out but didn’t really think attention would be taken by almost everybody. Lindy is “talking with my record company right now and we are working on finding you a cheap hotel”. You BABE!!! I did not expect this. I just thought it was so sweet, that they would help out a fan this way. My friend Jerome offered up his place for me to stay a few nights (which works out well, since I am going to his shows two of the nights I’d be staying with him. I get to go home with the main attraction! Hee!) as did his ex, that I have never even met and only emailed with a few times when her and Jerome were together years ago. My friends, family (cousin), aquaintances and even people I have only ever met once or not at ALL have been unbelievable with wanting to help out as best as they can.

I guess I have to look at this as a testament to me, and that yes, a lot of people DO care about me. This trip is just working out soooo well. I get to see my favourite musicians perform (Billy, Lindy, Jerome, Jim… all doing shows that week. I may skip Billy though - don’t GASP - I have seen him a lot and will most likely see him when he tours out this way… I’d rather see someone I would not have a chance to see here or have never seen before, and there’s other stuff going on that same night that interests me - like a CD release party at one of my favourite old haunts…)

I am getting sooooooo excited!! Now, I just need money to appear out of the sky. And you know what? It will. Well, not out of the sky, but something will work out to help me make more money between now and then. Because my clients are also great people, and will also help me out. And because my gut says so

Oh, before I sign off, I have to say here that my favourite Kiwi artist has his website up and running now and you can download a sample of his new single. I saw Phil years ago in New Zealand and his voice blew me away… he’s a sweetheart too. We have kept in touch over the years and whenever he has something new coming out he lets me know. So visit Phil Madsen and become a fan too! Watch this space for info on how to order the single and album from this part of the world when it comes out. Ahhhh what a voice!!!