There are no words

Church sign across from a school. Jumpertown, MS.

You know you're in Mississippi when......

The morning radio show is called  "Rick and Bubba"

All political discussions on the radio...., wait there are no discussions. This is a neon red state.

5 country stations, 2 soft rock stations, 3 christian stations, and one R&B station.

The ratio of McCain/Obama lawn signs are 10/1

There is a "lunch plate special" at every diner in town.

I have met 3 mayors who have come to these schools to introduce the show. AND THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME.

Tupelo is considered a "city"

When doing warm ups before a show, the P.E. teacher asks if you are having a seizure. 

(true story)

There is a Wal Mart 5 miles in either direction.

As the site of Elvis' birth and childhood home, there is a crazy lady talking and laughing to herself, or maybe to a leaf she thought was Elvis..... one of the two.

Every sponsor I meet that introduces our show feels the need to explain the genius behind when he was in a school play back in 1974 and changed the one line he had to get a laugh. The best one was when this guy explained to me what a dress rehearsal was. I heart people.

There is a pecan store named after a 1970's KKK enthusiast.

Another Add Your Own Caption!

Day 30: Highlights of the Day

• I found Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle in a local grocery store here is Louisville, MS for $5! How cool is that?
  

• I also figured out the perfect touring dinner: microwaveable rice in a bag+can of pinto beans+microwave= $3 delicious dinner
  

• Our show will be featured on the local CBS news tonight. Kinda a big deal. People know me.

• I had two 12 year old boys offer to come with me on the rest of the tour as my groupies and carry the set for me. Super cute.

Alternative to a Hate Ode

Patty O'tomtom's bitch cousin Molly needs to be thrown out the window. She has no idea where she is going half the time, and lies about where roads are. My original plan was to write a hate ode cursing her very name, but that would take far too much energy, and she does not deserve that much of my attention. Come to think of it, even this post is giving her the power.....

Crafty wench.

Back on the Road

After a delayed flight in Minneapolis, a delayed flight on Chicago, I finally got back to Memphis sometime after midnight, drove (ok, slept, while steve drove) 90 minutes to our hotel. Very classy, the hot water got stuck on at 2am in the shower.

I had a wonderful weekend, I don't know that I would have stayed sane another month if I had not been able to go home and recharge. Everything I did, and everyone I saw reminded me just how lucky I am to live in this city and be surrounded by such amazing people. Though sad to leave again after just a quick 60 hour whirlwind visit, and flying off with tears streaming down my face, I think that now that I have a solid understanding of this process (touring), and can get even more out of it in this last half of my adventure. 

There are so many things that are rapidly changing in my absence, and to be away while all these transitions must evolve is stressful, but somehow at the some time I am grateful. It seems that I must find my cat a new home. Being alone in my apartment is just making him so unhappy, and I just can not stand the thought of putting him through another month of this, and even when I am back for good, those transitions I have mentioned will sadly not leave me much choice but to give him a better home with people who will be available to give him adoring attention and love. This, among so very many other things that have been brought to my attention over the past week, this more saddening then some of the wonderful revelations that I experienced over the past few days. Believe me, there were PLENTY of those...... one in particular that sticks in my mind. But that's a story for another day. :)

My goal for this week is to figure out how to record a video blog entry, Dr Horrible style......

Wait for it......

attempting to post via blackberry

Home

Home for the weekend.

Call me!

I miss you!

xoxoxoxo

Mystery Solved!

Duh. Sometimes I am just the brightest bulb in the box. The entire time I have been on the road, every hotel key I get stops working after about the first day, and it's been super annoying. I have had no clue why the hell I was cursed like this, until this afternoon when I realized I am just stupid and have been putting all the keys in my wallet, which has a MAGNET in it. Sigh.

I Heart Pundit Kitchen

Day 23: Is laughter considered a tic?

I have developed a tic. Aside from a selective drawl, and the repeated use of "Yes, ma'am", and "No, Sir", I have also begun scrunching my nose periodically. I believe this is something I have used as a character choice, that is now slowly taking over my day to day mannerisms. Not as cute or endearing as Samantha on Bewitched, but more annoying to be sure. On the other hand, being surrounded by so many children, all laughing and having the time of their lives, the joy is contagious, and I am finding myself laughing along with some of them in a way that I have not experienced since I was perhaps in the same age group. It feels amazing. I wonder how I will adapt to being around "grownups" again......

Day 21: Oh, Omar.

Ah, Beale Street. I was very excited to return for round 2, especially since A: I did not have to drive, B: I did not have to get up early the next day, and C: I knew what to expect, and so was even more excited to go get crazy. We met up with Nick and Aimee, and headed out to the liquor store across the street called 3 Habits (beer, cigarettes and porn), and the store next to it called The 4th Habit, which sold liquor. Walking in, the bottles were on shelves along the wall, encased in glass. It was like going into a booze zoo, where you got your brown bag passed to you through a drawer. Awesome. We decided to have the front desk call us a cab, and we waited for a white van, driven by someone named Omar. ( I think he was dating the front desk girl so we got tons of information about him which I found humorous.) He arrived, and we were instantly charmed by him, and chatted non stop from the hotel to Beale. I took his number, and we promised to call him when we were ready to head back to the hotel. Had a great dinner, and started the drinking. First stop: the shack that sold 32 oz beers for $4. $4!! Went back to Coyote Ugly, dedicated to getting Aimee up on the bar, and after 2 beers, a couple swigs from my flask of Jack, I got my wish. We danced like rockstars, and were then stuck up there for 20 minutes, because there were girls on either sides of us doing body shots.  From there it was a marathon of drinking, dancing, and drunk dialing. Just wonderful wonderful wonderful. 

Long story short, we eventually could drink no more, and called Omar for our ride. We were hanging out on the corner waiting for our big white van to show up, so when we were finally saw it we jumped in hugging and high fiving Omar, chatting on and on about I don't even know what. The entire time we were driving home I found it strange that Omar's cell kept calling me, but I was really not caring. But by the time we pulled into the paring lot it clicked. This was not Omar. This was not our big white van. We had just made total asses of ourselves to some random cab driver, and confirmed the drunk tourist theory: drunk tourists are dumb. 

The rest of the night, not so fun, nor was the morning. So finally crawling out of bed at 2pm, I think I was still a bit drunk, but at least I felt slightly human. Pretty low key day today, went to the Rock and Soul Museum, which was amazing and beautiful and very moving. I learned that Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin, and find that very funny. I also learned that the Mississippi river looks the same down here as it does back home, but it was neat to see the ferry boats carting all the drunk middle aged people around because they couldn't hack it on Beale. The boys wanted to do Beale again, but both Aimee and I were all worn out, in need of some R and R, more specifically alone R and R. 

Driving to Mississippi tomorrow, though I love Memphis, I am looking forward to seeing some more of the south.

Add Your Own Caption:

Day 19: Adventure at the Scary Mall of Memphis

Went to the scariest mall in the entire world yesterday. If I remember correctly I went in to find ear bud headphones, and walked out with my heart racing, grateful for mall security. Ok, so it wasn't actually that scary, but I was not about to hang out there by myself after dark. Now I know about half of you reading this are shaking your heads because almost all of you have at one point or five told me to "be careful", and I assure you I have. But I was not aware how crappy the neighborhood around me is. After spending a whopping $.75 on my dinner at Aldi, which was a terrible idea, by the way..... very gross chicken, corn and potatoes, I pulled into a mall parking lot, and walked inside. This was my experience: walked by kiosk after kiosk of indian salesman trying to sell me "gold bling", store after store of spray painted t shirts, tacky shoes, and horrible "couture". I realized as I rounded the corner that the lights we very dim, I was the only female in sight, and also the whitest. The only two stores I recognized were Rainbow (super classy) and Sears. I ducked into Rainbow, and found myself in female company, and decided to buy new sunglasses, since I have lost a total of 2 pairs so far this trip. Cashless, I paid with a credit card, which let to the discovery that their machine was down. Long story short, they tried to take an imprint of my card, and after watching them fail for about 20 minutes, I calmly showed them how to do it. Though my impulse was to get the hell out of this empty shell of a mall, I decided to trek it over to Sears to get some socks. Mission accomplished, I briskly walked back to the front doors, dismayed at how zealous the vendors were to sell me bling, but grateful that mall security was present as I walked through the darkness to my car. Once back at the hotel I happily went for a swim in the heated pool, watched the debate (I swear if McCain said Joe one more time I was going to throw something), and crawled into my very very comfortable bed with 4, yes, 4 pillows!

Oh, and BTW. Earlier this week I went for lunch at McDonalds and the had crack there. (For those of you who don't know, crack is the touch screen video game, with my personal favorite PhotoHunt) And the best part: It was totally free. I gotta say it was the nicest McDonalds I have ever seen: flat screen TV, high tops, jukebox, vases with flowers. I was impressed by fast food. First time for everything.

Day 18: Missed chances, nuns, and that DAMN GINGER KID.

I got a call this morning from the Science Museum of Minnesota, asking me to come in for an audition for a job acting/presenting for them starting in the spring. Paid day job acting? Score!  Of course, the audition would be on a day when I am still on the road. BOO. Yet another missed opportunity I will let go after a few days of pouting. Ah well, they said they will try to reschedule but I didn't get the impression it would be anytime soon.

I saw nuns! The second show was at a catholic school, and I got to chat with nuns. I don't think I'd ever done that before. They were super cute and very nice. And I got to sit and "talk" with a bunch of 1st graders between shows. I say "talk", because it was more like an inquisition. "Are you going home now?" "Do you two live together?" "How does he change so fast?" "Why do the big kids get a different show?" "Why didn't you change costumes?" "Do we get to learn more when we're older" "Do you know my name?" " Where's your car?" etc.. Eventually I just had to walk away.

Ok. Now I have had a chance to calm down since this morning, so I think I can rationally discuss the horror that was the first show of the day. Private school, super nice teacher who let us in, gave us sweet tea, bottled water.... Kids: MONSTERS. They just screamed things out the whole time would not shut up, would not listen. Would not sit still, there was a kid in the aisle who was constantly moving around, I almost stepped on him 3 times. But the worst was this damn redheaded kid in the front row, who kept screaming. "BATTERIES! YOU FORGOT ABOUT BATTERIES!!!" " BATTERIES! YOU FORGOT ABOUT BATTERIES!!" "BATTERIES! YOU FORGOT ABOUT BATTERIES!!" Over and over and over and over and over. I was so pissed by the end of the show, I raced through the wrap up, and it took everything in my power not to drop kick that damn ginger kid. Once backstage, I was fuming. Granted, every other show has been great, and I knew this would happen eventually, but damn it he made me mad!

But now, I am zen, I have a pool about 5 feet from where I sit, I get to go to Beale Street again this weekend (going to be AMAZING AGAIN!), and I fly home for a quick visit in 9 days!

Day 17: 3.5

I watched 3.5 movies yesterday.

1) Blindness, which had THREE actors in it from Slings and Arrows (Ellen, Anna and Darren Nicols)

2) about a half hour of a horrible kids movie with talking little dogs, I dare not speak it's name.

3) Burn After Reading. I heart the Cohen Bros.

and

4) Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Yes the soundtrack is sweet.

That's really all I got for now.

Day 16: a day off. again.

Today is Columbus Day, so no school in session in the great state of Tennessee. I'm back in Memphis after a fun filled weekend in Lynchberg where I was able to begin my love affair with Jack Daniels. Not only was the tour informative and fun, but the bottle that we drank afterwards was even more enjoyable. We had the most amazing tour guide named Ron, who had legendary facial hair, and he made it even better.  Sadly, we had to drive a good half hour before we could find a liquor store (Lynchberg being a dry town), but we found a good place to call it a night, enjoy the whiskey, and even tried "shot's in a bag". Seriously. Like a zip lock bag filled with a shot. It was actually kind of impressive.

After a late checkout the next morning, (my poor room mate was hurting pretty bad), we had lunch and continued on our way back to Memphis. It was a beautiful drive, passed the town that claimed to be the birthplace of Fred Thompson, had a HUGE picture up of him as you enter their city limits. I began to feel the strain of endlessly driving, unpacking, packing, driving as I neared the 4th hour of this leg of my journey, but then was given something else to stress over when I was pulled over for going 71 in a 45mph zone. Shit. Thankfully, the cop was super nice, I don't think it hurt that I told her I worked for a Children's Theatre, and she let me go. After that all I wanted to do was get to the hotel and crawl into a ball in the corner. All this downtime is much more stressful then I ever imagined it could be. The weekdays go by fast with show after show, but these weekends, being on a limited budget, are starting to get to me. So my solution is to spend this entire day at a movie theatre, catching up on all the movies I have not seen. Aaron would be proud.

Perhaps a portion of this stress is coming from the changes at home, Josh moving out, Molly moving in, then then all that changing again in May when I decide what to do next.  There have been so many questions raised I just don't know where to start answering them all. I have lost a certain amount of control in my life as I have known it, and it's becoming more and more difficult to accept. Or maybe I'm just having an off day.

Regardless, I am still loving Memphis, it's just beautiful in the fall, and I have met some incredible people with some incredible stories. I am grateful that now they will become a part of my story. Everyday, there are these new worlds that are opened up for me and I try to cling to the memory, as obscure as it may be, not wanting to forget a moment of this, but there is just so much to take in.

Day 14: Jack

Awesome day the the Jack Daniel's distillery. Celebrating by drinking Jack. Can't elaborate any more at this time. Pictures on facebook.

Day 13: W. Falkner at rest

Ripley, Mississippi was amazing. Tiny town with tons of heart, everyone was so welcoming, the school this morning was headed up by the sweetest woman ever. She talked with us for 20 minutes after the show, gave us a case of bottled water, and hugged us about 3 times as we made out way out of the auditorium. Just the sweetest people ever.

Afterwards, before heading out to meet up with the other troupe, we went to the Ripley graveyard where William Falkner is buried. It was a beautiful monument, all of the old stones were so interesting to explore, strange that it was placed right behind the Pizza Hut. It was a very peaceful way to spend the morning. After a classic bbq lunch at Chicken Supreme, the local eatery, I slept the entire way to Pundeski, TN where we were to meet up with Nick and Aimee, the other troupe touring the Energized Guyz. It's great to compare stories about how different out experiences have been, and I must admit I am grateful to have a little more estrogen around. The only thing of note here is a KKK plaque that was placed when it was formed here in a law office, that has been flipped over as a "statement". Small town, small minds were very noticeable at the restaurant across the street, it was a little uncomfortable to overhear some of the conversations. Up till now I have not run into this, but now I can see how this can be like an entirely different country, as opposed to a different part of the country. (BTW, I tried fried green tomatoes, actually pretty damn good.)

Tomorrow I get to tour the Jack Daniel's distillery and see what that's all about, though it is in a dry town, we should have a good time. I have earned a three day weekend to rest, and play, and enjoy sleeping in, finally. 

Day 12: Writing in Mississippi

I finally started working more on my show, feels really good to get going on that again. Especially since it is being planned for next season! Eek! I find that super exciting and super terrifying all at the same time. I am trying to remember all the stupid interview questions I used to get, so if any of my loyal readers have any questions they remember getting or giving, I would love to hear your experiences. 

After a hour and a half drive across the state line, I am now in Ripley Mississippi for the night. SMALL TOWN USA. Wow. Everyone seems to know everyone, they all want to talk to you, invite you to football games, church, and tell you about the best restaurant in town where everything is under $8 (and they have an ice cream bar).  Exciting thing though, is that Faulkner is buried only a few miles from where I am sitting, so I hope to go see that before I head out. Only two shows tomorrow morning and then onward to the Jack Daniels distillery. The plan is to meet up with another troupe that's touring through Tennessee, and spend the weekend with them, which should be fun. There's an entirely different dynamic with 4 people compared to only 2, and it should be nice to shake it up a bit.

I will be coming back for the weekend of the 24th, just for a couple of days and I would love to see ya'll at Lyle's or somewhere if I could. (Yes, yes, I did just say ya'll. Bite me)

Day 11: Quote of the Day

"Are you going to do puppets?"

"No, they're actors."

"Actors are better than puppets."

I offer this up for discussion. 

Day 10: Southern storms and broken hearts

Beautiful rain, thunder and lightning this morning, is still raging as I type. Reminds me of Oregon.

Horrible lunch at Sonic, so for those of you back home who mope and complain that we don't have one nearby, trust me, it's just like Dairy Queen.

Slight elbow injury after third show today, nothing a little tylenol won't fix though.

Going to enjoy this wet afternoon, and solve life's mysteries.

Day 9: Civil Rights with a side of gravy please.

Visiting the Civil Rights Museum was very humbling. The hotel where Martin Luther King was shot and killed has been turned into a pathway through history, and a very moving one at that. From the birth and abolishment of slavery, through world wars, segregation, the Nine, Rosa Parks, Malcom X, MLK, every room, every slice of time was presented with such brutal honesty, it became painful to let it all in. So many people, believing so strongly in something that everyone around them took great pains to rebel against. I passed visitors on my way through who became so overwhelmed by it all, that they would excuse themselves and rush outside for some air. Tears were even present as we all exited the auditorium after seeing a short documentary on the history of the fight for civil rights in America.

Outside the museum, you could clearly see the window where James Earl Ray was positioned as he fired the fatal show that brought down a hero.

Also outside, was a woman named Jacqueline Smith, once a maid and resident of the Lorraine Hotel, now sits outside the museum, encouraging a boycott because "the museum is a developmental scam, used to gentrify a poor, black, working-class neighborhood, so that spectators can cash in." This woman has been peacefully protesting at her booth across the hotel for 20 years, and 60 days, and seems to be an attraction as much as the site itself.

     www.fulfullthedream.net

At dinner, I encountered the most bossy server of all time. The is the conversation I overheard:

Server: And for you sir?

Young Guy: I'll have the chicken and dumplings please, with a side of gravy.

Server: You don't want gravy

Young Guy: Excuse me?

Server: You ever had chicken and dumplings?

Young Guy: Um....no

Server: It's all soupy. You don't want gravy. You get three vegetables or sides.

Young Guy: Ok, I'll have a corn muffin...um....

Server: Green beans.

Young Guy: Yeah, OK, grean beans

Server: Mashed potatos?

Young Guy: Yes, please

Server: You want gravy on THOSE?

Young Guy: Yes, ma'am

Server: You get one more. Mac and Cheese? Fried Okra?

Young Guy: (stuttering slightly) Fries?

Server: Boy, you already got mashed potatos, that's too much startch, how bout corn.

Young Guy (sweating): Yeah, ok, corn.

Server: Alright. (walks away)

Young Guy: Ok, I want to leave now. (and continues to look uncomfortable for the rest of the meal)

Side note: MY meal was served with a BOWL of gravy. Not a side, or a cup, a BOWL. It's official, I'm in the south.

Day 8: ......lazy sunday

I found nature in the city, finally. I made my way to a park, where I could hike around, take in the beautiful sight of the leaves changing, enjoy the crisp smells of fall. These few hours of solitude and self reflection were much needed. The highlight was the very tall gentleman walking around with his headphones on singing at the top of his lungs. To be honest, I would have been doing the same thing, were I not saving my voice to get through the next week of shows.

I found my thoughts drifting back in time to other fall afternoons of note. And revisiting a certain sadness while thinking about events and people long gone from my life. Fall always seems to bring out this sentimentality in me, while still being comfortable and soothing at the same time. I love the balance. That shall be my word of the week. Balance.

Day 7: Graceland AKA the wall

Not so impressed with Graceland. Granted I did no go inside cause I don't care enough about Elvis to pay $30 for the "cheap" tour. The VIP tour was going for $70. But I walked around it, and in all the gift shops and such. Imagine Disneyland. Now take away Mickey Mouse and insert Elvis. That's what it was like. Shirts, mugs, golf balls, socks, posters, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, you name it, they had it. But there was a wall outside the grounds that was covered in graffiti and note from all over the world, which was neat to look over.

Speaking of walls, I just hit one about 10 minutes ago. I don't know how to explain it, but I think a part of me has shut down to protect myself from.....well, something. I don't even know exactly what it is. But a sense of optimism has been lost, which leaves me a little hardened, but perhaps in the long run it will be for the best. It all fairness, I can't say I am surprised, I actually expected this to hit a lot sooner......

I leave you tonight with an exchange we had with a homeless man in Chicago:

Man: I bet you anything I can tell you where you got those sunglasses.

Steve: Ok, where?

Man: On your face. Oh snap! Can you spare some change?

Day 6: Beale Street: Blues, Beer and Coyote's

I must preface this by saying that Beale Street is totally amazing in every way, and I order every one of you to go there as soon as you are able.

Picture this is if you will. Three traffic free blocks of cobblestone street, with bar after bar, and club after club with neon signs inviting you into a party of blues, bbq, beer and dancing. And between each of these 40 hopping joints, are street bands, each with their own blend of R&B, blues and a dancing crowd, all with a beer in hand. As you walk down the street, marveling at the abundance of energy pulsing through the crowds as they wander from place to place, you see a group of men clearing the street for the "Beale Street Jumpers", who proceed to do an impressive routine of acrobatics down the street with amazing precision. Maybe you stop into to the legendary blues club BB Kings to dance to the kick ass cover band, enjoy the delicious house draft, and taste the best fall off the bone ribs you will ever eat.

Sound good?

DAMN RIGHT!!!

This was only the beginning of my night. After BB Kings, we went into  a place called Wet Willies to try their famous (read: strong) daquiris, and jello shots. The band there was a little more chill, but no less inspiring and toe tapping. Leaving this bar, we came across a street performer named Richard Johnston, who was playing guitar, a drum set, AND singing his own brand of the blues. He had gathered a HUGE crowd and even had his own roadie, who felt in necessary to drag me out in from to dance for a bit, but his horrible B.O. caused me to sneak away and in doing so was accosted by a man eager to buy me a drink, not because he was hitting on me, but out of appreciation for my appreciation for the music. This southern hospitality has been consistent all throughout the week, and it's just wonderful. And frankly, rather surprising.

I'd snuck a peek into Coyote Ugly as we walked by and was curious to see if it stood up to the way it was portrayed in the movie, so we ducked in for a bit. The girls were indeed on the bar doing their thing, they had a few dance numbers which were fun, but I'm sorry, they were no Tyra Banks. As I was ordering a beer at the bar, I found myself being pulled up and suddenly I was strutting down the bar dancing with a girl as she told me my boobs were "totally awesome".  Though I was slightly concerned that they were going to make me add my bra to the collection hanging on the wall (a risk that I took according to the sign on the wall, just by entering the bar) I went with it and had a blast. Even when I got down at the end of the song, another girl dragged me back up and also insisted on expressing her admiration for my boobs, while dancing all up and down the bar. Eventually, I was helped down and exited into the night, totally jazzed at my new found title as a Coyote. We checked out a few more bands along the way, finally decided to call it a night, and made our way back to the hotel, both of us totally wound up and buzzing from this exciting event. I have ever intention of going back as much as I can while I am here, it is truly one of the best places I have ever been.

If you like beer, BBQ, seafood, music, dancing and just general fun and games. THIS IS A MUST SEE!

Day 5: One Week

It took a week. A week for me to get homesick. Sigh. But I guess one week in means I'm 1/8th of the way through the tour. And they are already asking if I'd be willing to extend it into December after a break for Thanksgiving. I can't bring myself to process that right now. All I want to do is go hear some blues, drink some beer, eat some yummy food, and then sleep until noon tomorrow. So that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

Peace.

Day 4: Paternity Tests, the economy and Hole in the Wall.

I am endlessly amazed by how much you discover in only the space of 24 hours.

Like today, I discovered, via the radio, about a paternity test that is available at my local Walgreens, and thank god for that. Now I can finally find out who the baby daddy's of all my bastard children are, simply by swabbing their cheeks and sending them into the corporate headquarters. Finally.

Also, the adventure of the day was to hit up a mall, maybe see a movie, buy something pretty, especially since I never EVER go to the mall at home. Anyway, drove down to downtown Memphis, to what seemed to be a massive, fancy, exciting mall called Peabody Place, right down the street from Beale. What did I find? A three story mall, with 6 open stores: Starbucks, Footlocker, Victoria's Secret, some ice cream cake store, Gap, and some specialty clothing store. Lame. So, I got a sneak peak at Beale Street, but I will not be sharing this with you quite yet. It is waaaay too awesome to just give a little bit of information. Tomorrow is the day I will explore not only the streets (which you can drink on), but the blues clubs (which are everwhere), and the BBQ, and trust me. After I sleep in on Saturday I will spare no detail. I know you're jealous. 

What was I talking about?

Oh yeah.

Tried to get to another mall across town, which had Sears open but NOTHING else. Plus it was surrounded by empty strip malls, out of business restaurants, and for lease buildings. My interpretation about our "troubled economy" extended as far as business being slow at the restaurant, me struggling to pay my bills etc.... But seeing all these empty buildings, knowing how many people had lost their jobs, it really hit home that........this blows, and we could all be in a lot of trouble if it continues. Thinking back to Louisville, and all the empty stores we passed, commenting on how it seemed to be a ghost town, it seems to not be exclusive to this area. 

Strange though, while all these local business are going under, there is still funding available to produce a show on FOX called Hole in the Wall, which is a reality show where contestants......... wait for it.......... jump through a hole in the wall. No joke.

Finally in an extended stay hotel/apartment with a kitchen, laundry and reliable internet. Plus, I'm saving a ton of money on my weekly budget, so I may get to stay at the real Heartbreak Hotel my last night in town. Freaking awesome.

Day 3: Bibles for China: Mom would proud.

After a full day of shows, I went thrifting while housekeeping finally came and cleaned the hotel room. There is this thrift center down the street from the hotel, and upon entry I discovered that this establishment was named "Bibles for China", as was supported by the hundreds of religious books, paintings, CDs, even 8 tracks. I have posted some pictures for you to get a hint at what this store was like. The army stool with legs, the anti abortion flag (next to the star of David). There was even a painting at the cash register (next to the no swearing sign) of jesus and hanging from the painting was a crown of thorns. I even found some neat stuff, a book (1984), a picture frame, a hat (Marlboro Country Music, red cordoroy), and a little something to bring to someone back home. :) Made me miss Mom, as I usually hit up thrift stores with her. 

I am so excited to get out of this hotel tomorrow! We're moving to an extended stay hotel with a kitchen, dresser, desk, laundry, hopefully it will restore some normalcy. PLUS. Get to go downtown this weekend, go to BB Kings, hear some blues, sleep in. And then next weekend, to the home of Jack Daniel's to meet up with another troupe. Strange fact: the town where they make Jack is a dry town. You can only drink at the plant. Crazy, eh?

I find myself using ma'am's, and sir's a whole lot, I hear that everywhere and just have picked it up. Being so surrounded with these thick accents, you can't help but pick it up. It seems rude not to reply with "yes ma'am", when even the 6 year olds reply with it as they give me hugs. Which is damn cute by the way. 

For now..........