Yeah, I screwed myself.... didn't even know I did til I was in front of my small audience.

When I held photography workshops I used to tell young professionals that if it hadn't happened yet they just hadn't been in business long enough. My turn at that old chestnut comes almost daily these days in my new life as a musician.

My friend Chris Collins came to town and we spent the day out on the golf course. You see, Chris is an avid golfer, and if his name sounds familiar, well he is one of the top John Denver tribute artists in the country. I had been looking forward to hanging out with him for weeks and wasn't going to let a little thing like 43° stop me.

Golf carts are not built for warmth and comfort. I wasn't playing, just hanging out and talking music and life between holes. Even though I was bundled up I was butt cold. Fast forward mere hours to performance day and my hands were stiff as boards. The forecast was 45 with a bit of wind. Did I mention these were outdoor stages? In the Sonoran Desert? Everyone was dropping chords and hoarse from the bone chilling dry air.

Moral of story? Be prepared for anything, especially with outdoor venues. Just as with heat, water is the name of the game, hydration in cold is just as important to vocal chords. Handwarmer pads now live at the bottom of my gig bag. I may never again need them but I sure wish I had them. Prepare for anything and when something comes up you'll be glad you did.