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.