Hi, everyone,

No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth yet, though it may seem like it to most of you here--and for that, mea culpa. Some of you know the details of what's been happening to me and mine over the past couple of years since our last JPF Showcase (at first, most of it good and then, oy vey); I'll spare you the goriest of the details (if you're curious, e-mail me), but can say that just as my band and touring was taking off, my mom in FL got sick; since July '05 my life has been a rollercoaster of first traveling up and back to care for her, then her death in April (and the legal and administrative aftereffects, not to mention grief). Had some nasty injuries in '06 (fracture, sprains, bruises, etc.) from falls I took; my singing partner Susan broke her ankle at the Fox Valley Folk Festival after-party and could not bear weight on it or drive for twelve weeks last fall. Just as things got back on track, I broke my foot on New Year's Day and my elderly inlaws in NYC suffered catastrophic illnesses themselves. I've been bouncing up & back between here & there like a ping-pong ball AND trying not to cancel any more gigs at the same time. Meanwhile, I did my fifth year in the Chicago Bar Assn. Christmas Spirits show (unbeknownst to my castmates, in double knee braces and on handfuls of Aleve); and have been involved in putting together the annual FARM (Folk Alliance Midwest) conference--for the first two years as Registrar and now as President. SASS! (in our sometimes incarnation as a trio) formally showcased at the main Folk Alliance conference last month in Memphis. I have had to turn over my half of the Chicago Songwriters' Collective reins to John Ludwig; and I suspect that it's going to be time very soon to pass the JPF Chicago torch on to one of you as well. Unlike when we started, we now have an active and vital online community here; and I have high hopes that under the leadership of someone with more time and vigor our chapter will grow and prosper.

Meanwhile, I would love to be able to perform in the Roadtrip Showcases in May (either solo or with Susan as SASS!) and will do what I can to help administer them and provide the PA if necessary (I have a full 10-ch. system with speakers and stands now). My home is available to host Brian, of course, and I look forward to seeing him (and hopefully, Linda) again. I apologize for not checking in here more often; but as I told Herbie, between my music, my mom's estate, my in-laws and my clients I've been online or on the phone 8-12 hours a day as it is.

Looking forward to meeting with you all and hearing you perform again!

Sandy

PS--if you want to see what's been keeping me busy between the episodes of medical and family "tsuris," check out:
www.myspace.com/sandyandina
www.myspace.com/sassandthesasstrio
www.sass-music.com
www.andinarich.com
and
www.farmfolk.org (would love to have a JPF presence at the FARM Gathering 2007 in Techny)

Last edited by Sandy Andina; 03/31/07 04:16 AM.
Sandy Andina
http://www.sandyandina.com