Florida Baby!!!

We are now in lovely Florida!!

Yesterday we played Tallahassee, home of FSU, which I didn't know. We actually played in their arena, you know where they hold there basketball games and hold graduations and such. It was our first Arena, and it was freaking huge!! You know how they do it, totally cut off half of the arena with a black curtain, set up the stage in the middle of the floor with the seating on the one side all the way up. We still packed it out. We kind of felt like rock stars singing in this big place.It was great for Elizabeth cause it was her school, she pointed out to us where she sat for her graduation, very cool for her, Just waitin til April when we hit PENN STATE BABY( by the way did you see our homecoming romp over Wisconsin!!(it was Wisconsin right)).

Now we are in Daytona, Beach, and of course God blessed us by having a hotel that is right on the waterfront. And a balcony that over looks the beautiful blue water pool. We also have a full kitchen, large fridge, full stove, stocked cabinets with kitchenware, microwave and everything! Of course we're only here for one night though, GEESH. Oh and by the way, it is BIKETOBERFEST! So every hotel and shack is packed with motorcylcles and some of the most scariest looking people in all the country, are all over this city. Apparently this is the precursor to bike week, which is even bigger, Lord have mercy.

Oh yes! I am such a water baby, I love the ocean and the beach. So as soon as we got off the bus, in minutes we were changed and frolicking in the water. It was strange though that as soon as we got off the bus, and especially went towards the beach, We could feel that it was harder to breathe, that our throats were getting scratchy, and something was tickling them and making us cough, and making our noses run(didn't stop us from acting like 5 yr olds in the water though). We found out that this phenomena is what is called RED TiDE. It has something to do with fish eating poisonous algae, emitting this poisonous gas, that is also the ruined insides from the fish,dieing and washing up on shore. Yeah beautiful isn't it, and we had a full operetta to do in this mess, so tonight we're advised to stay inside with the air condition on.

Tomorrow we hit West Palm Beach, which I am excited about cause I have never been there. And then off to Gainesville where we have been pro-warned that Our Director will be in the audience watching us and taking notes, so We're all on edge waiting for friday, cause saturday we might have a rehearsal from 1-5pm ugh!

We had a good show tonight, we had the largest audience so far 2,000 seats sold, almost an absolute full house. And we had them all the way thru, they were cheering all thru it, and of course we got a great standing ovation. It was kind of fantastik, though the thing that sucked about it was our changing area's were like a mile away from the stage, and all this show is is quick changing after every scene, so that kind of was frustrating having to worry about running back in forth. We also had one of the biggest mess ups in the military number tonight, but it was so wrong it was funny.( oh and it wasn't my fault!)

the grand opera house

A really neat thing about being on this kind of tour that hits a whole bunch of really old small towns, is that we're in a lot of old theatres with some crazy history behind them. Right now we're in Macon Georgia, and this theatre might be the most historic so far.

Back in the 70's which I know is not that long ago, the owner of this theatre committed suicide in an upstairs room in front of a fire place, so of course we went searching for the room and the fireplace. Of course we found it and took pictures there.He apparently over dosed on some pills, but there was also a revolver found on the scene I think, maybe he was trying to drug himself into shooting himself as a precaution.

One thing we like to do is run around these old theatres, trying to find secret passage ways, and tunnels and closed doors in basements to find "things of the unknown!" And of course be scared out of our wits. (some way more easily than others)

Now this theatre, the Grand Opera house, is very old, and beautiful, very ornate, and has a high and steep balcony. The interesting thing about the balcony was that it was all wood, very stiff high wood, with not very big seating space. How interesting, of course I knew exactly why, and when someone pointed it out It was the first thing I said, "that's where the black people sat" point blank there you have it, no surprise to me. Now that section isn't used at all. But it was interesting how offended others were, (especially since I am one of 2 people of color in this show) It's like they didn't believe what happened in history in the south. Hank asked me if it affected me, nope, I know the history of these places, I said, and look where the black person is now.

On our explore tour we went behind the balcony and found a trap door, well of course me being the only one with courage I took the flashlight and went down, and in, and around. Of course I had to have fun, so I turned off the flashlight, and went dead silent. HAHAHAHA they were so goofy, some ran away, then they started screaming, and then I let out a screeching yelp! Man it was fun.

Of course we're going strong with the standing O's. and last nite the leads got flowers thrown on the stage, yeah...any way, Hank and I also went to this incredible Italian restaurant, oh I love great food!!

SO we just finished a 3 show run here on the east, finally back into eastern time, We're in Greensboro NC, and it has been absolutely great because these are the first shows where I've had people come see me!!! It's official!!! I am Loved!!!

SO the abosolute first friend to see me perform was my friend Barb!! She came last night, It was great to see her, and be connected to the world again, and see she's a beautiful redhead now. The next 2 divas saw me this afternoon, The Hot laywer, and the sexy doctor. All had to travel over an hour to see me, which just made me feel incredibly awesome!! And the divas brought me the most wonderful gift not the usual flower bouquette, but a fabulous Chocolate chip cookie!!!!!

now back to Georgia!!!

Sorry it has been almost a week again, Times is not so easy to come by when I'm actually rested enough and in the mood to post, and we haven't been in places where wireless is free. Since Texas we have gone to,

Mobile, Alabama( cool historic feel)

Niceville, Florida( beautiful big theatre, and sold out audience)And we just had a show here in Athens, Georgia, another huge theater witha pretty sold out full audience.

There's only been a couple of real cool things so far on tour.

1 the recording session in the studio,

2 getting fed home cooked jambalaya and pecan pie in Texas

3 seeing a rainbow

and now riding on a bus on a ferry over the gulf of mexico. ah, and seeing dolphins. So that was way cool, we were even aloud off the bus to roam around thru the other cars and stand in the upstairs deck, and on the front of the ferry. It was definitely pretty cool. I think I was also inthralled with the fact that it was the Gulf, which I was just excited to see for some reason.

here's some pictures, more to come

Here's some fun in the dressing room in Galveston Texas from my awesome roomate.

We just arrived in Texas! It is my first time ever in this state, and as soon as we crossed over, it was raining Cats and dogs, but the sun was still shining, and it's warm, there's nothing like warm rain, actually if it wasn't for my tattoo, I would be outside playing around in it, oh but it stopped anyway, oh well.

We had 2 shows in our stay at the Hilton in Lafayette Louisiana, one there, and one in Baton rouge in hr away. The Hilton was pretty nice, very comfy beds and pillows, beautiful pool to lay out at(which I did of course, where do you think this glorious color comes from, well besides chocolate anyway), The only problem was that we didn't have Internet access. You think ok well whats 2 days without the most modern technology, but it's different for us, it's our only connection to the world we found out. No way to stay in touch. I actually had to resort to watching tv, awful I know. We had 2 great shows but our our original evita did not go on both her understudies did, it was Malia's first time, and she rocked it out to a packed house, it was great. The cast kind of nick named her trashy Eva, which she is very much ok with, I don't think it's a slam at her, and she doesn't take it that way, none the less I still don't call her that, but it is interesting the different styles and sounds each one has. Elizabeth is classy Eva, a more softer demeanor. The dancer in her makes her have a sensual sexiness seduction about her, while Malia is more of a raw open hippy sex. Sorry if you're offended by those descriptions, but that's the motivation of Evita thru the show. The reason why Cameron was out is because she has tonsillitis, and actually she gave it to Hank to, so now we have to crazy sick people on tour, so really pray that I stay healthy.

The most incredibly awesome thing happened on our way to Baton Rouge. In the midst of this freak rain storm, with the sun still shining, a beautiful rainbow crossed the expanse of the sky, over the high way. It was breathtaking! You could actually see the both of them, cause there are actually 2 rainbows when you see one. Now I tried to capture as many pictures as I could to give you a good picture but nothing makes the colors pop, like it was to actually see it. I mean you could really see every color, bright and vibrant, it was just SPLANDIFFERICALLYTASTICALISTICAWESOMAZING!!!!! Ha, say that 3 times fast!

Anyway life continues on, the Venue we're playing at tonight is providing us dinner so I'm trying to hold out til then. They say it will be Jambalaya, which I thought was primarily enjoyed in LA. but maybe since we're so close it doesn't matter, we'll see if everything really is bigger in Texas.

I'm doing ok, been doing a lot of thinking about how I'm leaving, and what I am portraying to people. I think I have a lot of anger in me, and most of it is directed toward God for frustration for the confusion and frustration I feel I have because of the certain things He's allowed in my life. So I'm trying to resolve that issue and live life in joy, and with a sense of Gratitude. I also see my moral fiber jumping into fight when I see people not holding themselves accountable, when they cross the line of flirting, and they have significant others. But I have to remember, it's none of my business. So you can see a little of the internal stuff that goes on.

I also got my passport!! Yeah!! So now I can go anywhere, like SCOTLAND!!!

The beautiful Black Girls

Hello Hello,

So here we are in Jackson Mississippi! And we finally had a little break from crazy cause we had 2 shows here, so we got to hangout with each other last night, and sleep in today. I actually got up early for breakfast( unbeknowingst to myself, clock was 2hrs fast), and then went back to bed til 1130, which was just so nice to do.

The theatre was nice and big with a deep house and ample dressing room space, and the shows were in full tact and we did well, and as usual we were met with standing ovations. We are defintely getting spoiled with those, I actually tonight we wouldn't get one, but they surprised me, and did it anyway.Which does make you feel great. We are in a point in the show where we know which scenes are monotanous and boring, so we try and come up with stupid motivations, or different ways to make each other have a good time on stage.

But the best thing for me being here in MS, was the chance to see my great friend Jason Black. We met 7 yrs ago in Virginia working at King's Dominion at a summer campus fellowship program. We grew real close, He ended up dating and marrying a girl from that program as well, so I was apart of that whole thing happening, and they actually had me dance in their wedding, which is one of the most incredible honors I have ever had. I haven't been able to see him in 3 years because of the big distance between us, and becuase he;s been in med school, and since then he has had 2 beautiful girls, Abigail, and Ester Marie. The beautiful Black girls. It was fantastik to be with him, and fam, and just hangout at the house, and have a fabulous home cooked meal. We wanted to go to the State Fair but it wasn't opened in time, you know I've never been to a state fair before. But it was kind of nice actually not going cause I got to do laundry instead, and for free which just wonderful. It was fantastik!!!

By the way my tattoo is healing well, so well that it's surprising everybody, I attribute it to God blessing me. hhehehehe

The Price of FREEDOM

Today was the first day of the rest of my life.

Earlier in life I was confused, and out of that confusion came bad choices.

The results of those choices were dire consequences of discipline, and accountability.

October 1st was the day all of that was cleared away.

So I Marked this day in a way I Would never forget it.

OCTOBER 1ST, 2007 MEMPHIS, TN