I started our run of dates in March with an ouch.   A serious ouch....

 well let me back up a bit...

 I meet up with my fellow crew members and a few band folks at the Los Angeles Airport - we were bound for Kansas to meet up with the rest of the band and crew before driving to the first show in Newkirk, OK.  

We got to see each other during rehearsals in an un-disclosed location in Los Angeles, prior to the show in Anaheim - but we really didn't get to see each other and hang out that long.  So this short tour was one I was looking forward too.

 I really love our little road family - we all have worked together with the same folks for the last ten or more years, occasionally adding a crew member - or revolving bass player to our mix ;).   When we get together it feels like I'm with my brothers and sisters.  

Landing in Witchita came with a few little moments of drama. First was an announcement over the loudspeaker.  There is a musical instrument that was left on the plane that just arrived from Houston - would the owner please come back to the gate.  -   Oh boy Kristian had brought a bass in a "soft bag" - which is the kind that you see people trying to make fit in the overhead compartment, praying all the while that you won't shove your backpack on top of it and break it.    So off Kristian goes back to the gate, but not without some ribbing by the crew guys...

Next - Nancy's blue tele - yes THE BLUE Tele had been checked in a flight case on the plane - and when bags arrived, that particular case was no where to be found.   Pulses raced, voices got loud, beads of sweat ran down foreheads...and then - ta-dah - ohhhh you mean this case?  It was found and we all went to our hotel to overnight before the first show.

 Morning of show, the crew and I got on our bus and headed down to the gig.  It was an hour and a half drive to Newkirk on our bus.  A few climbed in to their bunks, to get a little bit more sleep - while the rest of us drank coffee and talked about what we had all done since seeing each other last.  Meanwhile sports center was playing stats from anything that happened the night before on the tv.    OK - i have an issue with this.  Why do guys have to keep this thing on all day long.  they are just showing the same sports news for the billionth time... AGAIN. Being the only woman on my bus - this gets old really fast.

We pull up to the gig - and see our truck driver parked "in the hole" - which means he's lined up to the loading dock and ready to go.  - Everyone grabs their gear and we are off... time to put together a show.

Cases are pushed this way and that - with a stage manager directing what goes were.  I "catch" the cases that are headed towards the production office and dressing rooms.   I have the "locals" move the large wardrobe cases and production cases in place, and start working.

One of my new jobs is dressing rooms.  I take an ordinary room and turn it into a zen area, where our ladies can relax, and not worry about who sat on that couch, and what in the world is on that wall.  The ladies never see that - what they see, is an oasis of blue hues - velvets, textures and patterns, that i vary from night to night.  It takes hours to put the room together.  Fabric - ladders, and binder clips.... and only minutes to tear apart.

 After i'm done with that - i work on a "wellness" room - which is a work out/yoga/zen space.

Then - i go out to the semi truck, and get my merch "pull" together.  This first day, i got two pallets of merchandise delivered, and needed to put it on the truck.  I'm impatient when i'm busy - and decided to muscle these boxes in to place...

that is until.... OUCH

what did i just do?   what did I pull?  ow ow ow ow ow...

 (more soon)