Day: 15, 16, 17: Now, I'm a jazz ventriloquist

"Mr. Stinky Feet is coming to Gainesville April 17"


That was the headline in the Bull Run (VA) Observer last week. Pretty typical for most small town newspapers where we play. However, the content of the story had some firsts for me.

My old buddy Danny Gogal, who helped organize the show, was attributed (not quoted) as giving the following info:

"Cosgrove, Gogal said, started out as a ventriloquist and was encouraged by his family to expand his repertoire." Presumably because I was really bad at throwing my voice.

Danny says he was misunderstood by the reporter. He was speaking to her via cell phone from the corner of a noisy Boy Scout meeting and he told her that I had started out as a "JOURNALIST," but apparently she heard "VENTRILOQUIST."

When asked about the direct quote in the article that read, "His music is upbeat and is fun for adults, too, because he does various styles like Jazz.", Danny just shrugged and said that was the only style of music he could think of at the time.

We all got a good laugh out of it. The article is going on my "wall of fame."















Another great benefit of a long road trip is visiting good friends and family. We couldn't do it without the home-cooked meals, social breaks, and free beds. Thank you to all who make it happen.

We camped out at Kate Kopischke's house in D.C. for more than a week and she didn't even get sick of us. We must be great house guests. We had dinner last Wednesday with the Muraski clan and their five boys. Lyda was in heaven with all of those cute guys (we've lost count of her new beaus). Then we stayed with Danny and Lisa Gogal and their six kids on Friday. Lyda said she felt like she was staying with the Brady Bunch!

A guy I hadn't seen since college showed up my Georgetown Hospital show -- he's a doc there. I had dinner with Bill Geimer and Bill Barloon -- old friends I don't see very often. And Amanda and Scott Carruthers helped us book some gigs and fed us and let me nap in their basement before Saturday's show. It's a great life!

Next stop, the capital of the Keystone State.

Day 8: Move over!!

Congratulations! Virginia wins the award for most drivers camping out in the passing lane on the interstate. Move over, already!

We've put in a few miles on the road all over this country and every year we come here and find people putzing along in the left lane with no clue that they're backing up traffic. With some gentle reminders -- a tap on the horn or flashing of lights -- they just wave as we pass on the right.

Other than that and the convoy of semis on I-81, the trip up the Shenandoah Valley is amazing. This is some of the most beautiful stretch of interstate in the U.S. -- along with the stretch of I-40 between Albuquerque and Gallup in New Mexico.

We're in our nation's capitol today! Cherry blossoms here we come!

Day 6 & 7: Underpants country

Man, this is beautiful country. We are in Southwest Virginia, nestled in the Roanoke Valley, at the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley, in the heart of the Appalachians. (And folks, that's pronounced Apple-at-chens -- short "a" and hard "ch", like "throwin' an apple at cha." not Apple-ay-shens. If you talk like that, they'll know you're a Yankee.) You can catch the Blue Ridge Parkway right down the road from where we're staying, or you can hop on the Appalachian Trail.

And like a lot of places around the country, they've had some freaky Spring weather here. It was 75 degrees on Sunday. Today, it was cold and gusty with snow flurries. But that didn't freeze the spirits of the kids at Snowville Elementary. They were full of great energy, and Sadie did a screamin'-great job singing "Bop Bop Dinosaur."

Performing "Bop Bop" in the south is always a kick because this is "underpants" country. The word "underwear" is an oddity. So it can be a bit of a challenge getting through the song without kids screaming "...dancin' in their underpants." Which doesn't at all rhyme with "polar bear," but it is still universally a giggle-maker.

And a big thank you to the folks at Anchor of Hope Presbyterian Church who sponsored the show at Max Meadows Elementary yesterday. The kids there were so polite and great with Lyda and Willa.

The members of Fieldstone United Methodist Church welcomed us again this year. We feel like we're at home there. Thanks to Mandi Martinez and Pastor Bryson Smith. We'll see you next year!

We're still livin' the dream!