Two words: best. ever.

What can I say? It's just a giant love fest. I got to see tons of my friends, make some very good new ones, we had lots of jams, the dances and presentations were outstanding; I laughed, I cried, I lost 10lbs!

Me and the hot chick contingent from MN. partied with Jon Melancon, Brody Doucet, Joey Guillory, Lance Caruso, Austin Monceaux, Logan Johnson, and Greg Schucany the first night, for an evening of jamming and hilarity that set the tone for the rest of the Camp: great vibes, great music, and pure silliness! Semi-drunken revelry continued to be a theme throughout the week.

Blake Miller is about ready to adopt Jesse Lege's mantle of The "Superman" of Balfa Camp, for staying up all night, every night, jamming, then being up early for classes.

Rob Krumm and I continue to try to sit apart from one another, so as not to disrupt the classes.

Christine Guidry wowed everyone with her voice, and her accordion playing continues to improve - she's about ready to rise to the top.

Ed and Ryan Poullard, along with Blake (those 3 REALLY need a CD out), led my favorite jams, and Ed and Al Berard had so much positive vibes and so much heart that it permeated the whole camp, making the whole community a better place to be.

Best Master Presentation: McCauley, Reed, and Vidrine; I laughed, I cried, I lost 10 lbs! Mitch's story about how Fido died still makes me laugh. Runner-up: David Doucet and Jon Bertrand, especially when David told stories about Octa Clark, and played Octa's accordion.

Best Dance Band: The Huval family band. Dam-nation, they flat tore it up! Evidently, there is a new Huval back from 20 years of teaching Chemistry up in Boston, and man can he play the accordion! There's another group that REALLY needs a CD out. Runner-up: Impossible to say, what with Courtboullion, Bonsoir Catin, Sheryl Cormier, Lil' Pop, and so many others there . . . but Ed Poullard's Cajun Harmony out of Texas sure was a lot of fun, and a fresh, new face @ Balfa

The wine-tasting jams down at the docks were a nightly treat, and some of the best moments for me, because of such good company and the perfect setting at the perfect time of the day: after supper at dusk. Best wine: a semi-sweet pie Cherry with hints of cinnamon that was just too good. Runner-up: a Dry Red that a friend of Ed's makes back in Texas. The dry Eldeberry/Blackberry was dammm good, too.

Best new camper: way too close to call. I adore the Minnesota hotties, Ann Willms and Liz Mohan, and honorary Minnesotan, April Anderson. Then there were fellow Braves Jude and Gabe Meche, JohnA, Nedro, and Ron, Official Guardian of the "blonde lady in the black dress" (aka, Guinness Stout) and bawdy pub songs. Of course, I know I'm missing someone important, but I better keep going or I'll have to admit I should be at work right now - but speak up if I missed you. Other more-seasoned Braves also showed up, at least for the weekend, too many to list.

Camper I missed the most: Big Nick. We sure missed you down at the dock jams, Tom!

That's all for now; I really should get to work . . .