Hello Everyone!

Just a quick update on things. I did compete at the Mt. Tamalpais Competition in
May, but
due to carpal tunnel problems, I've been a bit slow typing it up . . . that and
it's a bit
depressing! Of course, I'll send out a note when the journal entry is online.
The doctor said
it's CTS but not severe enough for surgery. So no pipes for a while and I've
been cutting
back on computer time. I've been off the pipes since the week of the Mt. Tam
games.
Frustrating.

This month, we've gone from one big sponsor, Sandy St. James, to three sharing
the
sponsorship:
http://www.StJamesBagpipes.com - Sandy St. James
http://www.ToneCzar.com - Christopher Hamilton
http://www.Piping.on.ca - Jim McGillivray

Please consider making your purchases from these folks and if you do, please
tell them
you appreciate their support of BagpipeJourney.com.

Today at the Monterey Scottish Festival, I finally had the opportunity to meet
Willie
McCallum and Lorne Cousins. (Also I met Roddy MacLeod for the second time.) They
were
in Northern California for a piping school (run by the National Piping Centre)
and stayed to
judge at the local games. They were quite nice and willing to take some time to
chat. Willie
mentioned that this venue was his first actual games in the U.S.---plenty of
schools, etc.,
but first games.

I skipped competing at the Campbell Games and Monterey, but hopefully, my hands
will
be back to health in time for the Pleasanton Games around Labor Day. Time will
tell.

To those of you in the USA, I hope you had a great 4th. And to all, I hope you
have a great
weekend!

Andrew
--
Andrew T. Lenz, Jr.
www.BagpipeJourney.com - Reference for Bagpipers
alenz@...
Santa Cruz, California U.S.A.