Michael and Amy's Blog

Fantastico!

Amy and I are currently in Riviera Maya on the Yucatan. We performed last evening at the Fairmont Mayakoba for an enthusiastic audience of 500, who sang, laughed, danced and rose to their feet in appreciation 4 times throughout the show. Needless to say, we had a blast, although we were a little panicked at one point.

Toward the end of our first act, I noticed that my harmonica, which I pre-set during our sound check, was missing. This doesn't sound like it would be a big deal except that my harmonica is a key part of our closing number, so much so that without it we can't do it. During intermission the event and hotel staff got busy trying to locate my mouth harp. It wasn't until Amy and I were being escorted back to the stage that one of the hotel staff approached with a smile grande and harmonica in hand. Someone had moved it after our sound check from its pre-set spot on my piano to a hidden location inside the piano underneath the music stand. Since we perform with the lids down there was no way, sans x-ray vision, to have located it during the show. What a relief!

We finished up our second act and smiles abounded. Our client was ecstatic. Their guests uber-happy. And Amy and I so thankful to be able to be together doing something we love that touches people's lives.

Today we're off and getting ready to bask in the sun on the shores of the Caribbean. It's a more than welcome change from a very rainy, grey season we've been experiencing back home. God is good.

Summer Performances

 Amy and I are looking forward to a busy summer of performances around the country and in the Yucatan. We fly to Cancun later this week for a show in Riviera Maya, the San Antonio for Independence Day, back to Riviera Maya, Cleveland, OH, Meridian MS, Philadelphia, and more. Hope to see you at one of these shows!

For more information and show dates visit our website at www.michaelandamy.com

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What's in Your Wallet?

Most of us carry a wallet. Perhaps a pocketbook for some, a clip for others, but most of us have some sort of carry-around holder for stuff, which we consider to be of great value. We keep important things in our wallets, don't we? We keep cash, we keep credit cards, photos of loved ones, business cards, identification, health insurance cards, and if you're anything like George Costanza - important documents, food, and articles of clothing are stuffed in there too!

Our wallets, in many ways, hold that which we value highly in our lives. The slogan, "What's in your wallet?" could also be restated as, "What's important to you?" That's a really good question!

I've always laughed about how when Amy and I travel, as we do very frequently, we only take with us the things we really need for our trip. We distill all the stuff we posses in life ( the stuff that at one point or another we just knew we had to have ) down into that which will fit into a suitcase, be under 50 pounds, and will be able to completely sustain and meet our needs for the trip's duration! It's amazing what we really need and value in life when we're limited to what we can actually have.

Ah Dinner

Amy and I just landed in Billings, MT. We still have a long drive ahead of us to get to the Big Sky Resort where we'll be performing a special show for Wells Fargo Banks tomorrow night. But now... We're hungry! Can you guess where we're having dinner from the photo? And why am I blogging such a silly thing? Well, I spoke with my dear friend Rob Kelly this afternoon on a layover in Denver and he gave me a hard time about not posting to this blog more regularly. So this one is for you, Rob!

Michael and Amy for President?

Off to Portland

 

What a busy day! Amy and I awoke before God this morning, got ready and hauled our two grand pianos to church to provide music for our service. It was hot, humid, and well worth it! This evening we're sitting on a plane getting ready to fly to Portland, OR to meet our new niece who is less than a week old. We're very excited. So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try out my first mobile blog post. They're getting ready to close the main cabin door so I should be brief. I don't want to get busted by the flight crew! There went the door! More later.

The Best Decision I Ever made

This morning I celebrate with a full and thankful heart. Today Amy and I have been married for five wonderful, amazing years! In fact I can say without hesitation or reservation that these past five years have been the best years of my life. Now I know some dutiful husbands may feel obligated to make such a claim at least once per year, if for no other reason than to woo the "nookie monster." And though I am not above occasionally mustering up and and strategically setting out all the sweet sugary ingredients necessary for, and in hopes of, cooking up a great "nookie," on this occasion my words are sincere and not just an attempt to pre-heat the oven. You see, I've lived some. I've been around the block more than once and, like most, have a story.

Bundle of Joy

It's very exciting around here today. We just received a call that Amy's sister Mary is in labor this morning with her first baby! We're so excited for Mary and her husband CJ. Looks like we'll be taking an impromptu trip across the country to Portland to welcome our new niece to planet Earth!

Seems there are babies galore around us as of late. Amy's best friend from school delivered her first baby earlier this month. Amy's sister Mary is in labor as I post this and my little sister Sue will be delivering her first in October. So the pressure is on, let me tell you! If Amy and I should decide to have a family I just pray to God our babies will be out of their diapers before I'm in one!

Getting What We Deserve - the sequel

Today I received a phone call regarding one of my Blog posts titled, "Getting What We Deserve." The call was fascinating, yet sad. The individual who called was quite upset over the post and clearly wanted it to be removed. I realize I'm under no obligation to comply but here's the thing - I genuinely care about people. I genuinely care about those who are easy to like and those who drive you nuts! I realize everyone has a story and that often times very few of us really know what the underlying cause may be motivating another person's behavior. Half the time I can't even figure myself out!

I tend to befriend people quickly. I want to believe the best in those I meet. This isn't a bad thing, but can and will bite you in the hiney at some point. I can live with that.