My room is filled with the scent of my new lilac blossom candle.
I have real roses and baby's breathe in glasses around my bed.
I have my OWN room for five days.
Yes, its a good evening.
After a day long drive North, we have made it to Des Moines. I suppose I should recap the last day or two...
I was last seen at Mama Joy and Grandad's house in BG. MJ took me to meet Great Aunt Judy, and cousins Becky and John at a rest stop. They were heading up to Paducah a day early, so they offered to drive me to my hotel and save MJ the trip. I hadn't seen any of them in quite a while, so it was fun to catch up. Aunt Judy was decked out in a snake skin print jacket and pants..."I don't dress my age.", she says. She was a hoot. We were definitely riding in style. A brand new Jaguar...if that ain't classy I don't know what is. After a fairly short trip, they hugged and kissed me, dropped me off at the hotel, and then headed to win big across the river. I relaxed a little then met some of the tour fam for some Mexican food in downtown Paducah. The joint was practically empty, BUT the food was glorious. Also, one of the best margarita's I have ever had. (Well...AVL's are TRULY the best, but for a restaurant these were dang close) Kipparazzi was in attendance so of course we had to take advantage of picturesque downtown Paducah. After a quick photo shoot, we headed back to the hotel. After my little vacay in BG I was refreshed and full of energy...aka not ready for bed yet. I decided a little hot tub action was in order. I went down to the indoor pool area, plugged in my iPod and, being the only one in there, sang my little heart out. It was delightful until I turned on the jets and realized they were above the water level, so it created a splashy wave-like effect. Not as soothing as I was hoping, but I decided to hold out and move away from the jets to see if that would help. I was singing a particularly soulful section of an Amy Winehouse song, when I got a faceful of water from the dern jets and decided it was time for bed after all.
The next morning was an early one. Two shows awaited. The first show was great...I felt really good about it. Which was a pleasant surprise compared to my slightly strange morning. Let's just say I showed some kids my rear. Literally. Our dressing room had these huge windows facing the street and I wasn't thinking and started to change into my costume. I was standing there, pants around my ankles, in all my polka dotted underwear glory when two school buses drove by. All of the children happened to be staring DIRECTLY into our window. Joy. So needless to say I was glad I wasn't laughed off the stage...
The second show was an exciting one for me because 9 people from my family were in the audience! Other than the occasionally familiar giggle from someone in my clan, the audience was SILENT. I hate it when the teachers shush the kids. They scare the living daylights out of them and then they are afraid to laugh and react. They need theatre etiquette in schools, I tell you!
After the show, I got to get and give lots of hugs and the camera flashes kept coming. I really am the luckiest gal I know. All of those people drove at least two hours there and back to see my show. I have the best family ever. The Robertson and Settle clans accompanied me to a leisurely lunch at a seafood place downtown. It all ended too soon...I was so sad to see everyone go. Even though I always want more time, the little time that we had was just what I needed to perk me up. After I hugged everyone goodbye, I took a little cat nap, then met the tour fam at Rafferty's for some basketball and margaritas. I was excited to be watching the Butler game, and bigolly, they won! I had fun texting Melis and Cam during the game. Cam is a bulldog through and through so I know he was excited by the win. Because we went to dinner so early, we got home early and fairly early to bed.
I didn't sleep well last night. Very restless. Hot and cold. So the morning rushed at me in the worst way. Two of the cast have traveled away for the weekend so the van was very roomy. I had my own seat the whole trip which. was. awesome! Whatever sleep I missed last night I made up for today on the drive.
We are staying in a schmansy hotel in downtown Des Moines. So schmansy that they charge for internet...but luckily the Kennedy Center came through and included it in our room! I am getting so spoiled :) I talked to my momma a few times today since she is on the road too. And its her birthday...happy birthday mommy! Also, my beau's birthday was yesterday. And my sister's birthday was Monday. And my parents' 27th wedding anniversary was Wednesday. I am happy and thankful for all of these celebrations, but wish I could have given each of these special people a big squeeze on their special day. Part of the tour blues I suppose.
Taking it easy tonight...maybe a little b-ball in the hotel bar?
I will leave you with some wise words my Mama Joyce declared the other morning at breakfast:
"If you don't, you won't."
Grandad won't ever let her live that one down ;)
XO.
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