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Today I leave Berlin where I have been the last few days going over some songs with my friend, Wenzel and his band. We are going to do just a few gigs in Germany. The only gig I know I did before was at JazzClub in Eisenach, which was really fun - like playing in a large cave. It really has one of the best collections of jazz and blues on vinyl I have ever seen - just amazing. I'm looking forward to tonight as well as the other two gigs. Then I get to spend a couple of days with my sister, Nora and her husband, Michael in Bonn - That'll be fun!

I had a fabulous time with Keith Lockhart and The Boston Pops at Tanglewood before coming over here. As a matter of fact, I did the Tanglewood gig, and walked off the stage ready to go half way to New York that night. I was booked on The Queen Mary 2 going from New York City to Southampton, England the next day. So, I'm sitting back stage and Cookie (from my office) hands me the ships paperwork. I suddenly notice it says something like "no one will be seated for dinner without formal attire."

I look in my little flight bag. Nope. There's no formal anything in there. And I remembered that years before I had a formal western (as in country and western) suit made for some occasion. I wondered if it was somewhere on the bus at home. So we drove home scrounged around the closets of the bus and WOW - It was there! I grabbed the attire hoping I hadn't outgrown it and headed to Woodstock for the night. Took a limo ride the next day and got myself settled on the ocean liner. The next six days were mostly spent looking at fog and getting dressed for dinner.

So, here I am in Berlin - a great old city but changing very quickly and becoming yuppified faster than a New York minute. Still there are a few remaining places where regular people are being themselves. It's like there was this great old town where there was music clubs, theater and young (not financially endowed) people staying up into the early hours of morning. So naturally everyone wants to come and move into these areas, except they start complaining about the noise, and the traffic. So new people come and buy up these old places, and the rules start changing to accommodate them (and their loot). It happens everywhere these days. So, I'm enjoying what's left of Berlin. Nuff for now... adg

We did the last full show of the "Rides Again" tour in Spokane the other night and finished up with two slightly shorter shows at The Ellen Theater in Bozeman, MT. We rarely do two gigs in one night, but the first show sold out so quickly we had to add another. From Bozeman the family and crew go off in different directions, some going back to the farm, some heading to Yellowstone for a look around, and I'm heading down to The CrabHouse in Florida to pick up my car and head north for the first of the solo summer shows in Westbury, NY. Looks like I'll be spending most of my summer with these Solo gigs both here in the USA and overseas.

I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed the last year. It's a good thing Mrs G recorded almost all of it on video. Expect to see some more videos of the highlights either at the RSR website, or on Youtube. It's going to be lonely on stage after this tour, but I'll have some fun as always. Then later on this year, I'll pick up the Burns Sisters and the great band I had for the "Lost World" tour. We'll continue into 2011 with the "Journey On" tour (begins in Oct.). New songs, some good old ones etc. That is something I'm looking forward to.

But, before we completely end the one we're on, let me thank everyone who made this happen - Our great drivers Walt and Ashely who got us everywhere we needed to be; BC as always made us sound good; Sam - we just plain love Sam; Lisa fixed everyone (Both Sam and Lisa made sure the littlest ones were on stage at the right moments), Terry - Just a pleasure as you have been for the last 30 years; Sarah Lee & Johnny - who opened up the show every night with their great songs; Cathy and Annie - so great to have you both on the road this time (and Ramsay who came for the CA leg, fun singing with you); Krish - I think you're in the band at this point & Mo - for the first time out playing the bass, it was awesome; and Serena! Wow I'll never forget those moments at each show backstage when you were getting ready to go out to sing or play, just so awesome having you there. And Levon & Izzy, Olivia, Jacklyn, Marjorie & Sophia - you guys probably won't read this, but it was so much fun having you there. You all sang great!!!

Lastly - Abe… who may actually read this: There's no way your dad could have done this without you. Not going to get smutty on ya, but you make it possible… You de best.

And beyond lastly - Mrs G - so much fun having you out on the road for the whole tour!!! Last time we did that was the '84 tour (somewhere around there), when our kids were about the age of the grandkids now. Your videos will keep folks entertained for years and years to come, and give you something to do for the next year or two. Happy editing love

We are on the road again after the holiday break with the whole family. Everyone was so happy to be back together. We'll see if they feel that way in May. It's a tough schedule but we get to go to some interesting places.

We're beginning to put together the schedule for the next tour called "Journey On." And it looks like I'll be touring in Europe for much of the summer and fall. There's festivals and shows that will be taking me farther afield than I've been in a good long time. The only downside is that I will not be able to do our annual Church Revivals as we've been doing for many years. It's not only a conflict of dates, but we are playing in the area at the major venues this year too. Having said that, George, our director at the church, has put together a pretty impressive agenda for the summer schedule there. I hope everyone will attend when you visit the area.

Meanwhile, we're back on the trail crossing the country. I hope everyone gets to see this show with the family. It's fun!

Love as usual,
adg

Just a short note to wish everyone the best Christmas ever. Everyone seems to celebrate something at this time of year and why not? We have solstice, candles, birthdays, and all kinds of stuff going on, a little something for everyone. I love it all! I love people celebrating for any reason especially when times are tough enuff. I especially love that we can celebrate all these different things in one place at the same time! What a great people we are at times. I guess some will dismiss this as marketing on steroids, but we can celebrate that too.

I raise a glass to everyone everywhere who takes the time to celebrate. Cheers! And a Happy New Year - May the coming year be better than the last, and may all our dreams of a better world unfold day by day, mile after mile, and maybe inch by inch

adg

Well, at least a lot of us get a day off, or get a little extra loot for working. To everyone spending time with loved ones or friends - Enjoy. To those dishing out food and care to others who need it - God Bless You! And those caught in the web of the worlds problems, take a moment for yourself today. We are all in the same boat. There is no past reality, nor is the future ever reachable. We have only the moment, this moment. I've written about moments for decades, but I only write about them in the now of things. It's this now that I love, where I can decide for myself who I am. And if there are days when I can't seem to remember who I am, that's okay too, because I also know that I am loved. Whoever I am, whatever I've done, why ever I did anything, I am still loved. And I am not any different than you, which means you are loved. That's something to be thankful for anytime, and a good time to start remembering is now - Thanksgiving is all about knowing you are loved. Whatever, whoever you name your beloved, the love is the same. For that I am pretty thankful... adg