It began on the trip home from the Midwest CMO awards show in LaCrosse, WI, - that scratch in my throat and gunk in my nose that transforms a country singer’s tool of the trade into a vocal train wreck. I was sure I’d have this infection licked after a couple days of prednisone. The medicine carried me through a trip to my hometown and two songwriting classes for girls, but the next morning I knew there was no way I could sing my four-hour sets, two nights in a row, at the

The Gull Lake Motel owner had texted me earlier, telling me the door was open and the key was inside. And that’s where I found it. The comfy and cute, rustic motel room in this Minnesota lakes area was my home for the second night of my “Blame It On Where I Grew Up” summer tour. A quick outfit change, then I was off to Quarterdeck Resort, where I found the perfect outdoor stage: plenty of room, lights, electrical outlets close by, and I could park and unload right behi

I hoisted my suitcase into the backseat of Brownie (my car that has 180,000+ miles on the engine - a sure sign of a touring musician), closed the door and headed out for the 4 1/2-hour drive to the first show in my "Blame It On Where I Grew Up" tour.