Wednesday Feb 13 2019 – Day 1 – get me to Zurich
I leave today for Switzerland for 10 days. This weekend The Last Bandoleros are playing the 35 International Country Music Festival Jubilee at Schutzenhaus Albisgutli. I was SUPPOSE to fly out at noon from Nashville-Atlanta-Amsterdam-Zurich and land about 20 mins before the boys flight from PHL. However I woke up at normal time to get the kids ready for school and had an email from Trip It telling me my flight from ATL to AMS had been cancelled. That’s all I had. No email from DL, no rebook, no nothing. Called mom to see if she could check on it while I got the kids to school. She called back a few mins later letting me know I was now leaving BNA at 10:00 AM to JFK then Swiss air JFK to Zurich. That’s fine. I just must hustle a little faster after dropping the kids off.
It was hard having to say goodbye to them for 10 days but hopefully the time will go by fast. They are staying with Mom while I am gone and their teachers at school are giving them some extra love 😊
Mom picked me up at the house at 8:30 and took me to the airport. Delta was able to check me in to JFK but not the Swiss Air flight from JFK to Zurich. Landed on time in JFK with a 5 hour layover in JFK. I went to Swiss Air lounge and they were able to print my boarding pass, but couldn’t assign me a seat. I have to get that at boarding time.. Keep fingers crossed. Was able to sit in the lounge for a few hours before heading down to the gate. Got my seat and we started boarding about 30 mins before departure. The Swiss Air flight is nice and the flight attendants were really accommodating. Very much enjoyed being rebooked! Mom picked the kids up a little earlier from after school care so I was able to talk to them for a sec before take off. I checked The Last Bandoleros and their flight is on time too.
Watched part of a movie during dinner and then tried to sleep for a few hours.
Thursday, Feb 14, 2019 – Happy Valentines Day
Flight landed Zurich a few mins late but nothing bad. As I was going through passport control I could see the band heading to baggage claim. Good timing! Their belt is right next to mine so while we were waiting for our luggage to come out I heard my name being paged over the intercom to come to Swiss Air lost luggage ☹
My bag did not make my flight from JFK so they put it on the next one out and it will land at 10 AM and they will deliver to my hotel. So pretty lightweight travel to the hotel for me. Albi and the driver met us outside baggage claim and I rode with Albi to the hotel while the boys followed in the shuttle. Arrived at the hotel and all the rooms were ready. The boys took their stuff up then came down to the restaurant and met Albi and I for some breakfast and coffee. Today is just a chill day. However Michael Peterson is playing tonight at the festival and his band is the same guys I spent a week with in Germany on the Darryl Worley military tour back in August. Albi said he would pick me up at 6:30 so I can go eat with them and see the show.
Rested a little and then my bag was delivered around 3. Was able to unpack and take a shower before meeting Albi to go to the venue. It was so nice seeing the guys again and catching up with Michael and his wife. Dinner was a hoot. Unfortunately, we eat from a set “festival” menu so I have the same 4 choices for the next 3 nights. Tonight, I did the vegetable and fruit curry which was really good. Michael and the band go on at 9:30 so around 9 we walked back over to the venue. Bill who owns the club in Germany that we work with was here so it was nice to see him. Annaliese and Irene that live here also came out. It was almost midnight when we got back to the hotel and I sat downstairs talking with the band and Michael before heading back up to bed. Was able to talk to my kids before crashing. They both wrote me such sweet Valentine cards and they seem to like their presents.
Friday Feb 15, 2019 – 1st show
Slept till 9 AM, got ready and went downstairs to get some breakfast before it closed. Michael and the EU guys are leaving out in a few so I was able to tell them goodbye. Went up to the room for a few then walked down to the grocery store and grabbed some water and snacks. We leave the hotel at 3:30 to go to the venue for soundcheck then dinner and then show. It makes for a long day.
The guys started soundcheck but Albi asked them to grab a guitar and come outside. Seems there is a Farmers magazine that wanted to do a small photo shoot for their magazine next month with the guys and the Ram Truck they brought in. They guys were good sports about it and did the photo shoot but I now have to make sure management is ok with it! Soundcheck was breeze and we ended on time at 5pm. Now we have an hour to wait till we can have dinner and then another 2 hours after that for showtime. They guys had a late lunch and asked if they could just eat after the show. The restaurant said it was fine to order their food before the kitchen closes and they can bring it to the green room for after the show. So the boys took an Uber back to the hotel to get ready there and I stayed here. I already had my computer and everything set up and didn’t really want to haul it back and forth.
They band was back at the venue by 8:45 and ready to go. Took Maya back to say hello to the guys and then it was showtime. If you ever have a chance to see The Last Bandolero’s – GO. They have such a great sound. They came out and signed autograph’s after the show so it was after midnight before we made it back to the hotel. Stayed up a little while longer then crashed. Tomorrow we do not have to do soundcheck so call time is 6:45 PM!
Saturday, Feb 16, 2019
Well today was not as eventful as I would have liked. We have the day off and I wanted to go into town but as I started to get on the tram my phone would not connect to any cellular service! Spent a little over 2 hours on the phone with Tmobile trying to fix things. I at least have cellular now and wifi, but no mobile data ☹
Walked down to the little grocery store to grab some water and a sandwich. The guys do not want to eat before the show so Albi is just having someone pick us up at hotel at 8:30. 1st set starts at 9:30. So mostly just hanging out at the hotel and working and did get to talk to the kids before they headed off to Zac’s basketball game. I hate that I will miss his last 2 games ☹
Mom messaged me right before I left for the venue to tell me Zac wasn’t feeling well. He went back to sleep after the game and is still sleeping. Headache and upset stomach and dry throat. Told her it was probably strep. She is going to wake him up and take him to the Care clinic.
Our driver picked us up at 8:30 and brought us to the venue. Doug Adkins is performing first and it was nice to catch the last half of his set. The guys took the stage and came out rockin. The crowd really enjoyed their high energy show. It was also nice to see some of my old friends again too. They did 2 great sets and sold most of their merch. We left the venue around midnight and went back to the hotel.
Mom was at the care clinic with Zac but they are so busy that it was an hour before they were able to see him. I was getting ready to lay down when she messaged that he was positive for strep. Poor thing…hate he is sick and I am not there. Going to try and sleep a few hours before we have to leave for the airport at 9. I am going to make sure the guys get checked in ok and my Doris is suppose to land at 8:50 AM. She is going to hang out with me for a week in Switzerland. Looking forward to spending a few days in Grindelwald.
Sunday, Feb 17, 2019
Up at 7 and down to breakfast at 8 and all my guys were in the lobby ready to roll by 9. Easy drive to the airport and Doris flight landed early. They guys got checked in at the AA counter and were headed to the gate about the time Doris made it up to meet me. Really enjoyed being here with the guys, so talented and nice and easy to work with and hope to do more with them. If you get a chance to catch their show – GO!