Dearest Noria, On the road one day and I miss you already.  I think I'm starting to get too old for this type of life, but it's what I love.  Lael's gotten together a fine group of kids for this new project of hers and I think we'll work out just fine as long as nobody kills anyone else. I really gotta talk to her about the band name though.  Ragnarok?  Yeesh, we sound like a bunch of headbangers. The biggest problem is Rei.  I've worked with him before and he can shoot his mouth off a bit too much.  The boy means well but I think he's one of those odd types whose brain is so focused on one singular thing that other bits like socalizing gets thrown to the winds.  He's been pushing it with Hob all morning and I've been watching as the otter's teeth go on edge every time Rei  makes a crack about his height or his virility or some other thing. It's Rei's way, I've seen it a million times.  He'll push you and push you until you snap and explode, and from there on out the cheetah knows how far he can go with you and he makes a point of not crossing that line again.  I just wish Lael had given us more practice time together so the two newbies wouldn't be going throigh this particular rite of passage on our first club tour. The new kid, Jon, seems  to take it fairly well.  He's got a quiet air about him that throws Rei for a loop.  It's actually rather humorous to see Rei try and get a rise out of the pup and get nothing for his trouble.  Might be why he's decided to focus on Hob for awhile instead. Sweetheart, do you remember that trumpet player we saw in downtown Forest City?  The one who was playing in the blaring sun in the raggedy suit?  Remember how I told you how the man had the look of a minstrel in his eyes?  Jon has that look.  Every fiber and nerve of his body is devoted to music... Damndest thing though, the poor kid stutters like a thirteen year old on his first date.  Lael won't tell me where she picked the kid up from, but he'd got a lean look about him that hints at some sufering in his past.  He's useless as a backup singer, but I've heard him play.  Jon is a god with whatever you put in his hands.  I think the kid could get a standing ovation out of a kazoo.  Lael says he can write music as well as he can play.  I guess we'll see soon enough. I really hope Rei doesn't scare him off.  We need a good musician like him.  Lael's little uplifted garage bands have only taken her so far, but I think she feels the same thing about us that I do. Bah.. but enough about the band.  Is my little princess doing alright?  Please tell her that I'll make sure and get her a present while I'm in  Arthurville and ask her to help you out with the chores.  I feel horrible leaving you so soon after the news, but now more than ever we'll need as much money as I can gather. I hope this band does well, sweetheart, because after this I'm going to have to settle down into a less transient life.  I don't want to miss another shot at seeing one of my children take their first steps. All my love...