The concert (Béla Fleck & The Flecktones) was practically perfect.  I was in the second row on the floor, right between Béla Fleck and Futureman. This was almost the same spot I saw them in Boston, last time in 2002.  It was very emotional watching the band walk on stage.  I think that Jeff Coffin had the most to prove to me despite all the fame he has gained with Dave Matthews Band because he is such a overly technical player sometimes.  I was almost trying to talk to him in ESP to put more soul into it and I couldn’t believe myself coaching him like I was some kind of teacher to the stars.  I pretty much gave up on him and had this attitude like he is never going to change.  Actually I really appreciated hearing his old style that I remember from those earlier recordings before he left the band and felt he should just stay with The Flecktones at this intersection.  I miss Boyd Tinsley and LeRoi Moore with Dave Matthews Band and although I respect Jeff for seeming to be a cool guy and ticking all the boxes about being an impressive musician in most of the aspects a traditional judge would rate on, I just don’t get excited about that expertise with DMB.  Anyways he showed me he could reach some of my expectations in one of the last songs with Alash.  Overall I was sad about my expectations with the holiday music because it was really exactly what I’ve been envisioning with music in my life right now.  Even when they played their hearts out with the skill of a superhuman it would often give the glory to God and the season in the unsung words of the songs of the holidays intertwined with their originals.  I don’t know if that was exactly the intention, though I know I was meant to be there that night.  I could go on an on.  About how Victor Wooten still loves playing bass after all these years and the deep roots that he keeps with Futureman on the rhythm section, the dynamic they all compete for with Béla’s undying leadership and search for newness in pushing his own instruments boundaries and a humbling teamwork that levels with the sophisticated crowd in many aspects.

Yesterday I made a last minute change in the route to Savannah.  I ended up going through some small towns connecting two larger roads and it was quite an amazing journey.  Although I took a few wrong turns and the trip lasted over an hour longer than expected, it was definitely worth seeing some of the countryside in Georgia without all the traffic.  I found an interesting hotel in Savannah near where the music stores are and again started a scramble to finish as much as possible.  Eventually I found a spot near the river to revisit that area and then parked on Broughton Street after that.  Most of the nightlife that I have found so far are in these two areas, however most of the river shops close by eight or nine.  There are still bars and restaurants open there later.  I did stop by Totally Awesome Bar on Whitaker Street, which I originally put on the itinerary, to check out the games and 80’s display case.  I played Venom pinball.  I couldn’t stay too long and walked around the rest of the Broughton Street area to see what else was happening.  I was definitely tortured somewhat to not be able to hangout long or have a particular group to meet, though it was exactly what I was searching for from Atlanta at first in which I could not quite find; for holiday vibes and decorations.  So I’m glad I stopped to revisit Savannah.  Today I drove back to Saint Augustine.  The trip was a major achievement for me in experience and contemplation.  I was singing one of my newest recordings in my head that I started before I left like it was pop candy for the first couple of days and had to figure out how to lose it for a while so I wouldn’t get sick of it.  The last hotel will bring me to Genius Level 3 on Booking.com which is something I really had to make an effort to complete in time this last cycle’s attempt.  I think I’ll be able to travel like I used to again in the future for longer trips with the tests I was put through.