We are merely a few days away from this year’s big TBTL-a-Thon, and there’s just so much I need to tell you that I don’t even know where to begin!

Hello, by the way. This is Andrew, from the Too Beautiful To Live podcast. I hope this email finds you well.

OKAY, SO! If you haven’t already listened to today’s episode, the big news is that we’ve announced all of our plans for this year’s ‘Thon, including all the thank-you gifts that we’re so excited to share with you. You can check them out (and make an early donation, if you’d like) on our website. But let’s spend a little time basking in them here…

We’re calling this year’s odyssey TBTL-a-Thon 16: Banding Together, and all of our gifts this year revolve around a musical theme. We have TBTL harmonicas to give away! And melodicas! And tambourines with some amazing TBTL art created by fellow Ten Max Wolkowitz. Have you SEEN this yet?

Speaking of art, we’re also producing our first-ever TBTL album on vinyl, which can be yours at various donation levels. Luke and I are still in the studio working on the audio, but -- like all great artists -- we came up with the album cover first. Imagine this on your turntable (or prominently displayed in your living room):

TBTL Greatest Hits album art by Siri Berry

Putting the gifts aside for a moment, let’s also talk about next week’s activities. Luke, Jon and I are putting together a little picnic in the park next Friday, July 25th. Which park, you ask? Well, Castle Rock Park, of course, in Friendship, Wisconsin! All the details are here on the RSVP form (which I forgot to include last week.) If you live in the area and want to swing by, please let us know you’re coming so we know how much food to get. (Don’t worry, that link doesn’t take you to Partiful or anything.)

Because most folks can’t make it out to Friendship, Wisconsin, we’re also hosting a virtual get-together this coming Wednesday at 6pm Central Time (4pm PT / 7pm ET). It’s like a show-and-tell over Zoom, only we want you to share your music-related treasures: maybe an  old concert t-shirt you can’t part with, or your first CD that’s still rattling around somewhere, or your grandmother’s old ukulele, or your grandfather’s old Mötley Crüe records. We’re calling it America’s Tens Got Music Stuff, and you can sign-up to join here!

Man, this year’s TBTL-a-Thon already feels special, and I haven’t even left my basement yet. Thank you all so much for joining us on this journey. And thank you for making all this foolishness possible, in so many different ways.  

The next time you hear from us, we’ll be talking to you live via YouTube and taking your phone calls on Monday’s show. The live show starts at 12pm Central Time (10am PT / 1pm ET), and we’ll be streaming it at tbtl.net. We’ll talk to you then! 

-- Andrew

What’s your name and where do you live? 
Katherine Woltz. Buckner, MO.

When did you start listening to TBTL? How did you find the show?
He’ll if I know. It was too long ago…14/15 years ago?

How would your friends describe you?
Very nice. A bit silly. A good friend

What was your favorite cereal when you were a kid? Is it still your fav? 
Hmm. Mom didn’t let us get the good cereal, so as a kid, it was maybe Cheerios. I still like them but prefer the “fun” cereal like honeycomb or captain crunch

What food do you love to eat the most of?
Muffins. Love me some banana nut or lemon poppyseed muffins.

What’s the best or worst nickname you ever had?
Kracken. My step kids used to call me this because the younger one couldn’t pronounce my name. I love it still 

If you could play one song on TBTL, what would it be?
I’m honestly not sure. I don’t listen to much music anymore.

What’s a special skill that you have?
I’m a good mom. My kids are good kids. They listen most of the time. I’m doing the thing and raising good humans who care about others and the world.

What’s a skill you *wish* you had?
I wish I could juggle. That would be cool.

If you were driving down the street and you saw Luke and Andrew on the sidewalk, what would you yell at them as you drove past?
I’d be too shy but I’d be so excited.

Hey, it’s Andrew here again. Just a reminder that you can find our Ten of the Week form here! If you’ve never been a TOTW before  (or if it’s been a really, really long time) fill out our little questionnaire. And check out our Ten of the Week archive here!