Crawling back to "normal life" here, I'm going to overlap some thanks with messages on the "Road Trip" post. We had an amazing time at 3rd Coast and offer our inexhaustible thanks to Zymirrah and Sahira of Urban Gypsy for being instigators, producers, trouble-makers and putting on 2 rounds of one helluva show! Wow, you guys - WOW. Big love to Ariellah - mentor, ass-kicker and friend. Awestruck thanks to John Compton, intimidating as hell and one of the nicest guys on earth. Congrats and hugs out to the MN Onslaught: Zuza, Akasha and Nilat for their beautiful peacock number and compassionate rides; Tara - for kicking it but good on Friday night; Amina - for the 'slowest dance she's ever done' (absolutely lovely), heart-to-heart talks, and so much backstage help we are speechless. Hugs to new friends and inspirations: Artemis, for taking us a bit under her wing (and tucking ... endless tucking); Joy Herbst, the nurse practitioner by day and dancer extraordinaire by night ... for friendship and protection against would-be torturers; Danielle and Kelly from Brazen Bellies, for Wild Turkey and Dr. Pepper ... utterly devious and delightful. We'll see you all soon, but never soon enough.

Here's to 2010!