But first a thank you to everyone sending along encouragement. When you go so many long days in a row (we left Charlotte Feb. 1) things sort of blur together and you honestly can’t tell if the work you’re sending back by satellite is any good.

I keep asking Andy, which story are we doing tonight? I actually posted a journal/blog Wednesday that was meant for Friday. The Monte San Savino story airs Friday night. But Wednesday morning I got confused… again… and wrote all about that town and sent it in. It was hours later when my producer back home pointed out the problem. Did I mention the blur?

Anywho, I sort of write these television stories and watch Andy edit them and when we’re done I say, “Is that any good? Does that stink? I can’t tell anymore.” Andy stares at the computer screen and responds, “We suck.” So we shrug and move on to the next story.

I don’t know if I’ve told you this but I’m kind of a home body. It’s goofy since my job is to travel. Maybe that’s why I’m a home body. When I’m on the road for more than a day or two I get antsy.

So I appreciate your prayers.

Again I’m sorry I don’t have time to respond to all your e-mails personally. But don’t stop writing because of that. Andy and I feed off that energy

Many of you have asked about Andy Benton, the man behind the curtain in this Wizard of Oz production called Carolina Traveler. He’s killing here. He owns this place. You’ve seen the video. His back is excellent (he had disc surgery back in September). He hasn’t touched his painkillers this trip. Well, only when we’re drinking. Just kidding, Kristie (Andy’s wife). Dr. Al Rhyne over at Presby patched Andy up and whatever he did worked! Thanks, doc.

I wish you all could experience this. I feel like the little puppy mom and dad gave to their kids on Christmas morning. I’m running all over the place tackling people and licking their faces until they giggle. That’s actually an accurate metaphor of my experience here.

So quickly here’s what’s coming tonight on TV: The Carolina Traveler crew doesn’t travel light. Camera, tripod, editing gear, computer, several weeks worth of clothes, notepads, pens, yo-yos etc.

We went as cheap as we could on the hotel end (trying to impress my 12 bosses here) as we traveled from Rome to Torino. That means tinier rooms, fewer amenities (though now I insist on bidets in my WC), walking up four flights to get to your room kind of stuff.

One hotel had an elevator. Though it was more like a shoebox standing on end attached to the roof with frayed, rotting shoelaces. We gave no thought to the apparent lack of safety. It was so small we couldn’t get into it together with any of our bags. There is no love in this elevator… because there is no room for that. So naturally, we turned this into a story for you tonight. It’ll be on at 5 PM and in a longer version on the Olympic Ozone show at 7:30 PM.

OH! I got a great e-mail from a reader in London. That’s right. People in London are reading my journal. I’m very sophisticated underneath my simpleton facade dude, um, I mean bloke. I’ll share that with you chaps tomorrow.

Ciao for now.