I just released Howard Dean from a promise he made me, but listen why!!!

[DFW]

Last April, we were riding from Washington up to New York together on a train, and he promised
me that one day he'd introduce me to Rachel Maddow. I just told him he is hereby released from
that promise.

I was just taking my elder daughter to the airport in Provincetown, MA, and who walks in behind
me but RACHEL MADDOW, who was taking her parents (lovely people, by the way) to the airport, too.

I got to chat with her for a little while ("hi, I'm Rachel,"). One of my all time American heroes!!

[freshwest]

1. Hey D, sounds great. Did you play any tunes for them?

[DFW]

2. Ha! I wish!!

I was just dropping my daughter off at the airport. I was not sending her off with a seranade LOL!!

[freshwest]

3. Does the Doctor play any instruments? And how's Gabby?

[DFW]

4. He does indeed!

Howard is a guitar enthusiast like I am, and he is even a fan of Leo Kottke (as I am).

I have no recent updates on Gabby. I will get in touch with her office when I'm down there in a month or so.
Gabby is (or at least was) a really outgoing type, but Mark is somewhat more reserved with people he doesn't
know well, and that includes me, so I haven't tried to barge in there. It would be difficult for me, too, as
I might not handle well meeting up with a version of her I don't know.

[freshwest]

5. Okay on Gabby. That will be a long time there. I know about you and guitars, but I'm surprised

that Howard does guitar, but not surprised he plays something. That was always considered to be part of well-rounded upbringing. But I imagined him more for piano or maybe a wind instrument.

I hope you guys will record or put up a youtube video sometime. From the pictures and some of the other gigs you've done, I'll bet there is some seriously good music there.

Are you having any trouble after the surgery with your musical ear? I'm no good at that, but there are a lot of musical types here.

BTW, is it hot in Germany now, too? Still cool in the northwest.

[DFW]

6. It is miserably cold and rainy in our part of Germany

Luckily, I'm not there right now! I'm near the outer tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

[freshwest]

8. Ah, the weather will be good there until the winter time. Have fun jamming.

[elleng]

7. Great news! Where was she going?

Wonder if she'll miss all the 'stuff' going on in DC, if she's on vaca.

:hi:

Never mind; she was taking her parents to airport, so she's staying at the Cape for a while, eh?

[DFW]

9. At least for the weekend, I presume

She went back to town, and we stuck around until my daughter's flight boarded. Rachel's parents
were on the next flight, so I stayed and chatted with them for a bit. I would guess she would
have to be in NYC sooner or later to do this week's segments of her show. I'd bet she was keeping
in VERY close touch with events in DC!