Road Journals

On The Road with ETT We're back! The Evacuation Theatre Troupe returned from a two month tour of the Lousiana Purchase territory, performing the original play "The Voices of Lousiana." On the road with ETT on the Louisiana Purchase tour, September 2 - Nov 15, 2006. For pictures of the trip, visit our Flickr page [ Here ] Check the Schedule link for the road ahead... On the road with ETT on the Louisiana Purchase tour, September 2 - Nov 15, 2006. For pictures of the trip, visit our Flickr page [ Here ] Check the Schedule link for the road ahead... Home "We shall never cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive from where we started And know the place for the first time." T.S. Eliot And so it was as the Great River Road brought seven explorers home again in mid November. We performed in Carriere, Mississippi at Hideway Lake Lodge on November 10 & 11 and at St. Mark Catholic Church on November 15 in Ama, Louisiana. After a Thanksgiving break, we traveled again to Abbeville, Louisiana for shows on December 15 & 16 at the AbbePlayers Theater. Although our exploring has not ended as we have shows slated in Destrehan, Hammond and St. Bernard in 2007...but we have returned the RV to its Covington home and the Evacuation Theatre Troupe to their respective homes in the New Orleans area. The final leg of the journey, the river road home and shows for local audiences, made for memories that will last a lifetime. Our first show close to home in Carriere, Mississippi brought in full houses with many ex patriot St. Bernardians. For the first time in weeks, there was no discussions about whether or not they'd get the jokes. They got it. And we got the love, good food, and hospitality of our people we had long missed. Many thanks to Beckie Kennedy for the comfort of her home, and to the folks at Hideaway Lake Lodge for providing a lovely and accommodating venue. And special thanks to Margy, Jim and Yvonne, for keeping the faith. Ama, Louisiana hosted the ETT for a dinner show on Nov 15 that was a first for this river road community. Mary Loup, along with Debbie & Al, made us feel right at home and even booked a lovely little local songstress, Lindsay Mendez (http://www.lindsaymendez.com) for preshow entertainment. Our 2006 road tour ended where it began, as our Lafayette connections, May Anderson and Ronnie Oliver, opened their home to us again in December when we performed in nearby Abbeville. In the weeks since we spent our first night on the road with them, they managed to move into a beautiful new home and get themselves engaged! Way to go, May. The charming AbbePlayhouse and the gracious people of this Cajun town proved once again there's nothing like southern hospitality. Many thanks to Jerod and the board of this wonderful showcase. The opportunity to share our show with these loving friends in Carriere, Ama and Abbeville was a fitting end to our 2006 road tour. We began with a vision, and a dream of sharing our stories. We ended our road tour with the love of old and new friends, and shared experiences of seven lives forever enriched and intertwined. Thank you, Louisiana, for the rich history, beauty and culture of our home. We are proud and grateful to call ourselves The Voices of Louisiana. Saturday, November 4, 2006 Today was spent in Hannibal, Missouri nicknamed America�s Hometown. Of course, it could also be named Mark Twainville. Talk about the influence of a writer. We stayed at the Injun Joe Campground, we ate breakfast at the Mark Twain diner, and then we explored the town, passing the Mark Twain Museum and boyhood home, the Becky Thatcher Bakery, giftshop, and sweetshop, the Jumping Frog Caf�, and even the Chew Chew Twain dental clinic. Maybe not, but you get the idea. In addition to exploring this charming small town, we also found a place to watch the big LSU vs Tennessee football game and watched our Bayou Bengals win at one the last play of the game. Go Tigers. After returning to Injun Joe, we walked along the water�s edge, and discovered an outdoor theater that was a tribute to Huck and Finn and life on the Mississippi. And in traditional Twain fashion, we dined on stuffed artichoke, sweet potatoes, and pork roast, compliments of Rose. The hardships of life on the road continue. And as proof that we are getting to closer to home, for the first time in months, we saw grits on the grocer�s shelves...BL Friday, November 3, 2006 The early bird breakfast club, typically consisting of the ETT's two most senior members, increased by three this morning. Having braved another brisk night within the RV bowels of our beloved Isabella, a quintet of troupers settled into a cozy booth at Mo's diner and feasted on a variety of the day's special offerings. Muffins and biscuits and sausage and gravy, coffee and juice and a warm, clean bathroom. Nice! The bulk of the day was spent traveling along the river. First in Iowa, then Illinois, then Iowa again, then Illinois (whoops, wrong turn) and back to Iowa, before completing the day's journey just outside Hannibal, Missouri, birthplace of Mark Twain and the focal point of our day tomorrow. At dinnertime, troupers strapped on feedbags and headed to the local all-you-can-eat buffet. Later, the five least senior members opted to take in a movie...across the river in Illinois. For those of you keeping score at home, that's three round trips across the Mississippi River in a single day. Marquette & Joliet, for all they accomplished along this great river, never did that...HTH Thursday, November 2, 2006 Having enjoyed a brisk fall evening under a glorious Iowa sky, the ETT awoke to sub-freezing temperatures in the bucolic setting of Bellevue State Park. Ignoring the icy conditions, a quartet of determined, testosterone-driven thespians ventured out just after dawn (OK, not exactly �just after dawn� but still pretty early by ETT standards) to experience the Field of Dreams in nearby Dyersville. They built it, so we came. To say that it was a little cold would be an understatement. With the cornfield in right providing scant shelter from the bone-chilling wind, the 2006 edition of the Gashouse Gang (don't ask) took the field for a brief workout that included running bases, fielding grounders, shagging flies, and exaggerating moments of glory on the diamonds of yesteryear. The experience was simple and thankfully devoid of commercialism (though a few souvenirs were purchased). Was this heaven? No, it was Iowa...freaking cold Iowa, my friends. The remainder of the day included leisure activities (reading, writing), a guys' lunch at a brew pub in downtown Dubuque, and a tasty twist on the old �hot dogs and chili� theme by the chef of the day (Billy Schneider, daily becoming more in touch with that part of his persona that is gentle and nurturing). By evening's end, plans were being made (OK, not exactly �made� but at least discussed) to hit the road Friday morning and continue the journey home along the Great River Road. With an overnight low temperature expected in the upper teens, the ETT hunkered down for another chilly Iowa night...HTH Wednesday, November 1, 2006 Recovering gingerly from their night of semi-wild abandon, troupers dragged themselves from warm motel beds before the crack of noon, showered (some for the second consecutive day!), and hit the road. The day was brisk but sunny, and the drive along Wisconsin�s Great River Road was dotted with both visually alluring landscapes and charming riverside towns. We crossed the river at Dubuque (located in the spot where Minnesota, Wisconsin, & Iowa meet) and camped 20 miles south of the city in Bellevue State Park, securing a campsite just before dusk. Electric hookup, running water, vault toilet. Who could ask for more? But wait, there was more: spaghetti & meat sauce, liquid spirits around a roaring campfire, preparations for an overnight freeze. The simple pleasures of life in the great Midwest outdoors�HTH Tuesday, October 31, 2006 Halloween morning started at Perrot State Park in Trempeleau, Wisconsin. We woke up to frigid temps (15 degrees or so). After bundling up, Barry, Rose, Tom, Will, and I went hiking up to Brady�s Bluff. Following a brief conversation with a pleasant park ranger, we made our way to this popular bluff for the best views of the Mississippi River. Though cold, the day was truly a beautiful one. We first followed a small path that had deer tracks on them as if the deer knew we would need direction. Wow, man, we�re so connected to the animals up here. Sometimes we feel like we are one with them and they know what we�re thinking. Anyway, once we reached the bluff we could see it would be quite the hike up. With determination and walking sticks, we made our way up the winding paths and man made stairs, circling and circling the outer edge of the bluff seeing nature at its finest. The fall colors were rich and the wildlife were plentiful. Red birds, sparrows, squirrels, chipmunks and other cute little animals seemed to follow us on our journey to the top. We finally got up high enough to see some of the surrounding lakes. Eagles soared high above us as if inspiring us to go all the way to the top. As you past this point and the steep steps start up, you start thinking of all the hard work the CCC had put into making this trail. This path was a labor of love. You start appreciating the benefits of preserving nature. As we started the climb with winded breath, views of the mighty Mississippi started appearing. With that inspiration, we kept climbing until we got to the very top. The soaring eagles were so much closer. You could see their awesome wingspan and white heads. Ahhh what it must be like to have the freedom to fly. Anyway once we got to the top, the views were breathtaking. Well, the climb was breathtaking too, but for the view it was absolutely worth it. The sun glistened over the Mississippi so perfectly. I don�t remember ever seeing the river so beautiful. On top of the bluff, there was an Indian burial ground, which gave you a spiritual sense as well as a historical one. It was one of my favorite hikes so far on this trip. After spending some time taking pictures and video, some of us made our way down the other end of the bluff for a longer walk back to the RV. It was a day of good exercise and great views. Once we got back, we packed up and made our way to Lacrosse to celebrate Halloween. When we got there we checked into a pet friendly motel and ran right to the showers. Most of us had not bathed in three days. Then we decided to rest most of the day. When nightfall came, Tom ordered us some delicious Chinese food. After eating, Barry, Shannon, Rose, and Will decided to put costumes on and get into the spirit of Halloween. We made our way to downtown to Brothers Bar where there was a costume contest. The bar was packed full of ghouls and goblins. Will went as a belly dancer, Rose as Anne Rice or Red Beans Anne Rice, Barry as Vampire Lestat and me as Maria La Gildea Antoinette. Some of our favorites were Bobby from Talladega Nights (sporting only underwear & helmet), pirates of the Caribbean & his princess and two girls who used exercise balls, plungers, and baby bottles tops to make big gigantic breasts. BTW-They won $200 in the costume contest. Oh and we met a new friend named Tommy who drew a caricature of Barry & Will. Awesome pic! Thanks Tommy!!! Anyway, it was a great ending to a great Halloween day. We�ve posted some Halloween pics on the flicker pager. Check them out. See you soon! �.SKG Monday, October 30, 2006 A long day's driving has brought us to Centerville, Wisconsin, at Perrot State Park. It's 7pm, and we're just getting settled into our spot in what looks to be a beautiful spot � it's too dark to tell. But the ride here was breathetaking, and we're happy to be settling in for the night. Barry's working on chicken/andouille gumbo, and a fire is beginning to roar outside. For me, today was a day of riding and reflecting. I wondered how far the voices wristband-wrapped twig we threw into the headwaters might have gotten. It was said that a raindrop falling at the headwaters takes three months to get to the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico. Thought about the people we met on our travels, those we left behind, and the interconnectedness of us all. And what the morrow will bring. Shannon's been planning her Halloween costume for weeks, so the morrow will certainly bring laughs and that's a good thing. Sunday, October 29, 2006 What do you do when you're in Minnesota, have seen the headwaters, have an extra hour because of daylight savings time, and know the Saints have a noon nationally televised game? If you're the ETT troupe, you get an early start from the state park and hightail it to the Paul Bunyan Bowling Alley and Sports Bar just in time for the game. Unfortunately, the game didn't live up to the glee we felt in finding the place. After seeing yet another statue of Bunyan and the blue ox, and crossing the Mississippi by bridge for what seems like the twentieth time, we're once again happily ensconced in Crow Wing State Park for the night. No running water, again, but hey, it could be worse, the game could have been...oh, wait, it was that bad. But, it's Shannon's night to cook and the aroma from the RV kitchen is enticing. She's the healthiest eater/chef among the troupe, so the lentil soup and lettuce wraps she's making will be both nutritional and delish. Hey, I just heard Katie say she's making brownies, so life is indeed good. Rose out � to a roaring fire tended by Chris and Tom, once again. Saturday, October 28, 2006 Hello Lake Itasca and its State Park! The Headwaters are just inches away and we're all excited to have made this journey. We left our Lake Itasca Suite which was very sweet. Did we mention that the brochure said no pugs allowed in the suite. Hah! All I gotta say is what happens in Itasca State Park, stays in Itasca State Park. We ALL had a good night sleep and I think Barry actually showered twice and finally brushed his teeth. After packing up, Will, Tom, Rose and I went back to the visitors center to settle up. Will and I watched a short video on the state park and the many happenings there. Gorgeous place with lots of history. There was also some on hands stuff for us to play with. My fave is the Minnesota state bird since 1961- the Loon. The call of the Loon is so hypnotic. Unfortunately they have all flown south for the winter, so no mesmeric sounds for us. We met the others at the headwaters and all of us (even the pugs) made our way 600 feet to the mighty Mississippi. As we approached, there was a sign that read �Here 1475 feet above the ocean the mighty Mississippi begins to flow on its winding way 2552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico� There it was! Shallow enough and short enough to cross either by stepping on stones, crossing a wood plank, or braving the cold water, but there it was!!! It was so inspiring to see the quite, clear, and cool headwaters of the Mississippi. Once again a reminder of the connection we all share through this mighty river. We felt at home again with the sun shining on us so brightly. It was well worth the trip. So worth it that some of us (Tom, Will, Barry, Chris, and Rose) rolled their pants up and crossed the river barefoot screaming 'I can't fell my feet anymore and whooo hoooo and it's so friggin cold. Will loved it so much, he went twice. I chose to cross the rocks with my walking stick and then the plank with Saki and Sushi. Well, Sushi only made it half way across by herself. I carried her the rest of the way and we celebrated with a toss in the air. Saki even put her little paws in the river. She's so adventurous! She's like a lab trapped in a pug body. Katie also crossed the rocks. Some of us hung out for a little longer reading some of the history and then strolled back for a ride to Bemidji State Park. We stopped along the way and took a picture with Paul Bunyan or maybe it was a blue ox. I really can't remember. hmmm.... Then we had some lunch in Bemidji. I ate a delicious meal at the Harmony Organic store. I finally got my hands on some healthy organic snacks. The rest went to Keg's Irish pub for clam chowder and burgers. Once we got to the park we hackey sacked a while and Rose starting preparing her minestrone and muffelettas. Katie and I went to a store and bought thermals and the movie Fargo. We're so intrigued with the accent up here, we just had to hear some more of it. Especially since we will be traveling through Brainerd soon. We ate Rose's delectable meal and then Chris and Katie set up the projector and a white sheet inside the RV, so we could watch Fargo in style, don't you know? You betcha. Ah geez then. SKG Friday, October 27, 2006 Today was a big day. Literally. After roughing it last night in Crow Wing State Park sans water, showers and flush toilets, we headed even further north into Paul Bunyan country. This country is soooo big, (fill in your own joke here). On our way to the headwaters of the Mississippi, we stopped near the largest Paul Bunyan statue you could imagine. And like so many people whom we met on this trip, even PB'sn hand was outstretched which made for a great photo op for all. From there, we came to Lake Itasca, home of the mysterious bog. A bog, like marsh and swamps, are part of wetlands Here, the Mississippi begins its 2200 mile meandering to the Gulf of Mexico. We also learned that no state parks in Minnesota will have running water this rest of this year, so we best prepare ourselves for cold, dark poops in vaulted toilets. Since most things are closed, our dinner options were limited, but Christ delighted all with an omelet dinner complete with your choice of bacon, sausage, tomatoes, onions, and cheese. And if your Will or Chris, you want it all � even BBQ chicken! Good stuff. We also treated ourselves to a cabin. That's right. We saw the World Series (ST. Louis, a team on the Miss River won, which bodes well for the Saints, right), took hot showers, and enjoyed some of the comforts that come with high rent. After dinner, a stroll to a secluded cabin and some incredible stargazing, made this night a good start to our long journey back home. Thursday, October 26, 2006 We are making our way up the Mississippi to the headwaters, and our most convenient stop was the mythical...mysterious...elusive...Crow Wing State Park. Mystic Lake is now behind us, and here we are at the Wing of the Crow...right on the Mighty Miss. Crow Wing State Park is our home for the evening, and I am the pre-determined chef for the evening. I had planned on making New Orleans style jambalaya, and Barry was to couple it with his infamous Creole Gumbo; however, due to the lack of water at the facility, gumbo and jam were out......but....BBQ was in. Now technically, I have never bbq-ed on my own, but I have aided many exquisite bbq-ers in the past...to name a couple: Mr. Christian Michael Bordelon...and the Best...the King...Mr Louis Schneider II...my pops. Burgers, bratwursts, chicken, and fish were the choices. The Minnesota Walleye...a first for everyone...was wrapped in foil and masterfully placed over the fire to cook to perfection. The brats, burgers, and chicken were covered with delectable Jack Daniels BBQ sauce, prepared and spruced up by me, and cooked magnanimously by who??...Me... twas also served with veggies and salad. Now, of course, I cannot take full credit for my scrumptiously delicious meal...Shannon did the salad; Tom did the veggies; Barry seasoned, and Chris kept a watchful eye on me. As a true team, we cooked and ate with prestige. I was more than delighted. After the meal, a walk was needed. Being so close to the Mighty River, it was a necessity to stroll there in the dark. Like true woodsmen and pioneers, we navigated the forest in the moonlight and enjoyed the sights and sounds of nature as John Audubon once did. The perfect evening amongst great company...the best company. A great meal...great company...a perfect evening.........TO THE HEADQUARTERS!!!...WFS Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Today was our last day in the St. Paul area and to commemorate the big day several of us went to the Mall of America, the largest shopping center in the United States. Five stories of shops, but wait there's more. How about a roller coaster, two sushi bars, a high school and a university. Tom kept asking folks about where the stables were located since this place seemed to everything else in it. It was truly a mecca of commercialism. They even had a Hooters, so you know it was a classy joint. And speaking of class, Barry also got his long-awaited second tattoo today. After much searching and deliberation, he found himself at Lucky Linda's, so as a tribute to Will's mom Barry chose this place as the place. So on his right shoulder, he now has a colorful scene � an origami crane in front of a cypress tree at sunset. It hurt. A lot. But it's a lifetime reminder of the trip of a lifetime. Why an origami crane? It's about storytelling and art. And hope and resiliency. And survivors. And peace. There are hundreds of them flying inside the Oklahoma City Memorial from all over the world, our first stop on the journey. Why a cypress tree? Because it's about Louisiana and nature. And the symbol of our natural storm surge protection that has been compromised by oversight and salt water intrusion. It's about growth and beauty and the fragility of our lives. Why sunset? Because it's pretty and colorful, but also because it's the best time of day. A transition between day and night. Setting sun means the end of our today and the hope for what tomorrow may bring. And the fact that it was done by a nice stranger in the small town of Shakopee, Minnesota pays tribute to all of those kind people in little places that have helped us find our way on the road and to those who have come to help rebuild our communities..BL Tuesday, October 24, 2006 Today was the big show!! Heart of St. Paul, 600 seat theater, and advertising in places where some people don't even have places! How did the show go you ask?? Well... it didn't. Nobody showed up. Anger and embarrassment were the first two emotions to go popping up in the old cranium, especially because the influential people (who's names will be held) were nowhere to be found. But that subsided after a while and the emotions that followed were guilt, sorrow, hunger, and finally acceptance. We had a pretty tough gig, battling Tuesday night, World Series, Barbara Streisend, and a $25 ticket price. The people of St. Paul, Minnesota missed out. They did not get to see or hear, The Voices of Louisiana. I hold no grudge towards this beautiful place. The people here are good and many of them (namely members of Hamline University) have been and will be returning to New Orleans. To offer their help. Knowing that people still care... I'll take that over a sold out crowd any day..CB Monday, October 23, 2006 More promotions today as Will, Chris and Tom took to the streets, and universities, of St. Paul, while Katie, Rose, Barry and Shannon 'worked the phones.' The St. Paul contingency met with a Hamline University representative, Sharon Jaffe, who had a staff of Katrina relief workers who were interested in coming to the show, while Rose found Diana ?, who founded a relief organization and had been to New Orleans seven times. Tonight, we also found a nice bar in Shakopee, Minnesota, where we met with Diana and her friend, Lynn, and shared Katrina stories. It was a good day, meeting and speaking to good people who seemed to understand our mission. Sunday, October 22, 2006 Time to promote again. Rose, Katie, Chris and I went into St. Paul to hand out flyers and set up our photo exhibit at The History Theatre, while Barry, Tom, and Will stayed back to clean the RV. When we finished setting up, people started coming in to the theatre for a matin�e. There was a lot of response to our photo exhibit so we decided to hang out a little longer to promote the show. After setting up, we went to eat at a bagel shop, gave them some flyers, and bought their last night bagels for only $1.99. We then went to St. Paul's famous historic candy store, where you could find any candy you like now or liked as a kid. Rose got her white chocolate, I got my jordan almonds and we continued to put up flyers with a sugar rush. We finally made it back to the RV at Mystic Lake Casino and Campgrounds. The RV was sooooo purty. Our three Mr. Mom's did a great job cleaning. We celebrated our clean RV with a big buffet at the casino. Thank God there is an awesome fitness center close by to work off these buffet calories. Until we meet again...SKG Saturday, October 21, 2006 Today, the troupe worked in shifts, and made the most of a day in one spot. Barry, Christian and Will went to the History Theatre for the first time, while Tom, Rose and Katie stayed back at the RV to work on promotions and script changes. Friday, October 20, 2006 Here's what happens when you go day to day, making decisions on the fly about where to stay and when to go � sometimes you see the dregs, and then you move on. That was the story today as we heard of an RV park a short distance from the state line which turned out to be a funky motel with a few small trailers in the rear parking lot. Our Queen Isabella would never have even fit in the lot, so we moved on and found � Dakota Meadows, a pretty cool place next to Mystic Lake Casino. Although we have come to prefer state parks for their natural beauty, you can't beat a good casino RV park for amenities like laundry and heated bathrooms. A cool camper next to our spot even gave us firewood and helped start a fire. This guy was in shirtsleeves while we were bundled up with gloves and hats and layers of clothing � go figure! Thursday, October 19, 2006 Rose here....We arrived at the Heyde Center with hidey hopes. It's been a long time since we'd performed, and we were especially happy about bringing our Louisiana show to Michelle's newly adopted hometown. This displaced Chalmetion has been a gracious hostess, who also worked hard to promote the show. During the afternoon, she arranged for a local television station to interview us, and also had arranged a newspaper article about our arrival. Good producer, that Michelle (the fact that she has a family of ten beautiful children also attests to that fact). Our afternoon show for one hundred and twenty students from a nearby high school was cut short by a principal who didn't quite get the message we were there to convey. Unfortunately, these students missed the opportunity to hear the real stories of Katrina, our stories, and for that the seven members of the troupe were saddened. But we rallied, in true ETT fashion, determined to make the evening performance one of our best. Although the audience was small, it was enthusiastic, and indeed this show was one of the most meaningful of our tour for me. I watched Michelle and her family in the audience, and felt my words on stage go to straight to their hearts. In fact, when we departed their warm and comfortable home, a loving note and contribution was left on their door. A fitting symbol of the 'open door and open heart' feeling I enjoyed as their guest. Wednesday, October 18, 2006 Today Will and Barry demonstrated their uncanny retention skills and were rewarded with free bottle openers compliments of our Leieny tour guide on our brewery exploration. We learned that if you drink 9 beers a day that you'll meet your suggested daily intake of water, which is good news for Barry's mom, Syl. For after all, �It's all liquid baby.� We also sampled several of the beers there including a bumblebee which was half dark and half honeywwiess and a honeybear which was the honey and a berry. Good stuff. Of course the successful local company was bought out by Miller, but so far the giant is letting the small brewery keep control the product. We also toured the Cray computer facility in Chippewa Falls. Big Time systems facility here. Remember the movie War Games....that's the place. A lot of governmental agencies utilize these monster machines. Tom and Barry, who barely understand how to light the oven in the RV, were in sensory overload at this computer mecca. Our guide for the day was Brick Stephenson who is also the spouse of our host and sponsor of our Wisconsin gig, Michelle. We also got to read the latest Gambit which featured a nice spread on us � aptly named Storm Troupers. Check out www.gambitweekly.com to read the article and special thanks to Ariana and Tracey for making it happen. Wednesday, October 18, 2006 Arriving in Chippewa Falls, WI (imagine this in a high British accent, preferably an elderly ladies accent, a voice that Will and Chris have added to their repertoire and is heard when opening up the slides to the RV) Mind the slides..... Anyhoo, the fall colors are getting better and better. We reached our destination today at Michelle and Brick Stevenson's house. Michelle grew up in Chalmette and lived there most of her life. She was the one responsible for us performing at the Heyde Center in Chippewa. Since she moved to Chippewa she kept getting the St. Bernard Voice and saw a press release about our tour. She contacted Rose and the rest is history. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the whole family. (Note: Will is standing over my shoulder right now reading this journal in that voice again ahhhhh.......) We enjoyed a delicious lasagna dinner that Michelle was responsible for. Yum Yum give me some. And then Rose, Tom, Will, Katie, and Chris stayed at their house, while Barry and I got a motel room with the pugs. The troupe at the Stevenson's visited and played with the kids. They did the dance of joy about a warm bed and bathroom. Barry and I did the dance of joy as well through the dollar general store (I don't why) and then off to the local movie theatre to see the Grudge 2. I came back completely freaked out and crazed from the movie. Barry made constant choking noises and scared me all night. But all in all, it was a lovely first day in Chippewa. Tomorrow we are all going on a tour to Cray (where Brick works) and to the Leinenkugel beer factory. I had already tried the Sunset Wheat Leinenkugel beer at the October Fest in Utica at Starved Rock Lodge (see journal October 14th) among many many many many other beers. It was awesome as well as the many many many other german beers I tried. Starved Rock Rocks!!!! Anyway we're looking forward to sight seeing and performing in Chippewa Falls. Until tomorrow....SKG Yeah.. Sure.... You betta.... Tuesday, October 17,,2006 Captain's log day 13,611 Things on the road have become more stable. I have found my peace with Tom and the girls have developed a schedule for bathing that is... adequate. I still loathe the crock-pot, and I wish that he would suspend his diabolical plot to steal my position... and my shoes. Nevertheless, we must press on. Our journey is far from over and we must find the strength to coexist. We are a team. Not an ordinary team, but a group of individuals with special abilities and talents that force us all to excel whenever there is doubt. We are a Super Team. Now, our adventures are well described by the other members, but I wonder how the people we encounter feel about us. Over the past several weeks, we have met new people and made many many friends, and they truly understand our mission. That alone is infinitely worthy of appreciation, but sometimes I get the feeling that we forget that we are part of the tragic story that we are telling. All joking aside, we are victims. Everybody shares similar stories, so they don't need to be repeated, but I would like everyone to know why I am here. I am here because this is a chance to grow. A chance to write, to act, and to develop skills that I could bring back to my community. I am here because my family and friends think that I deserve this experience. I agree. I am here to appreciate the fact that one of the best parts of any trip is coming home. We all miss home. No matter how destroyed it is. I am here to learn. Not just things like how to change a solenoid in an RV, but everything that my troupe members have to offer. I've learned a lot. Strength from Rose, confidence from Will, leadership from Barry, love from Katie, kindness from Shannon, and wisdom from Tom. I am here for everyone living in a trailer. I am here for Milton. I am here for Ace. I am here for everyone who cannot be with us. Monday, October 16, 2006 �MULE TRAaaaaAAAaaAaaaaaaAIIiIiiiIIIiiiINN!!! HIPPITY HOP HIPPITY HOP!!! JUST CAN'T STOOOoooooOOoOoOoooPPPP!!!!�...another blood curdling song from the lovely Shannon Gildea. Well here goes...hello again to all our listeners. We are currently residing in Madison, Wisconsin on our way to Chippewa Falls. Now before I begin, the Saints beat the Eagles and are now 5-1...WHO DAT?!!?! WHO DAT?!!?! OK, here's the journal. The morning started off slow and rather glum; twas wet and cold, but after an exquisite shower where we could actually control the temperature of our water, it was time to solve the laundry situation. Rose found an amazing Dick to do our laundry for 2 bucks a pound. Barry and Shannon totaled 23 pounds of dirtiness; I eased in with an even 22 pounds of laundry (but lest we forget I am the biggest person on the trip and my clothes, which are bigger, will undoubtedly weigh more); Rose came in third with a mere 21 pounds, and Tom pulled up the rear with a whopping 4 pounds 3 ounces of dirty panties...oddly enough, HIS panties. Well, Rose, Barry and myself delivered the laundry and enjoyed lunch at the Cafe at the Park. We then returned to Isabella, and all of us except Chris and Katie, who stayed behind to write and clean the RV, ventured back to downtown Madison for an afternoon/evening on the town. Tom and Rose went and got inebriated at Nadia's Lounge; Shannon shopped at the Indian Art Deco shop; Barry aimlessly wandered the streets, peeping into shops along the way, and I was fortunate enough to get my first tattoo...the foundation of artwork that will one day be on my back. On my back, on my shoulder blades, I got designs that are very symbolic and meaningful to me and my life, but seem a bit outrageous to others, such as Tom and Barry...the pooh pooh heads of the tour. The symbols are three dots in the form of a triangle/pyramid that come from the community and college that adopted me and my family. However, this is just the foundation of my tattoo-istry...just ask me if you want to know more....anywho....I GOT MY FIRST TATTOO!!! So here we are at the RV, just savored another scrumptiously seasoned sauce-filled snack by Lemoine...and Shannon finally her adequately edible green bean casserole...and there's only 7 pounds of it left And just when the meal was coming to a close........drum roll.........we lost the lights. All plugs, etc work, but none of the lights work, and we cannot for the life of us figure it out. We can't find the fuse, wire, whatever it is. We are in the dark. But we are in high spirits, thinking of fun movie titles, and playing games against Shannon. Tomorrow we'll get our laundry, hopefully fix our lights, and venture to Chippewa Falls. How I love this tour! Sunday, October 15, 2006 Wisconsin, here we are! Rose here - glad to be caught up with the journals, thanks to Barry & Tom's latest entries. And glad to be in Madison, Wisconsin, a beautiful college town where we had the joy of watching the Saint's WIN at Brat's Sports Bar. Yes, we know how to time things sometimes, as we got an early start leaving Starved Rock park this morning, arrived in Madison just in time to get to watch the game in the first quarter. And, as always, everywhere we go, whenever we say we're from New Orleans, we get immediate attention and empathy. At a walk yesterday in Starved Rock, we stopped to admire some adorable puppies and the owners were so kind to us when they heard our stories. Today in the bar, same thing happened as strangers we met while watching the game listened to our road trip stories. Relating those stories while in a place so very different from home, has a surreal quality. How to explain what businesses in St. Bernard or New Orleans have experienced, while in a thriving, �normal� community that has no idea about evacuation, contraflow, FEMA trailers and insurance problems? We've adapted the show at every venue, working to bring each audience local references and topical humor. An especially fun addition was the �Oompa Loompa� dance and song that Barry & Tom came up with for Act 2. Tomorrow we'll head for Chippewa Falls, and we are all looking forward to performing there. Although we enjoy our 'down' time and the exploration of the towns and parks we visit, we all miss performing and live for those moments on stage. Saturday, October 14, 2006 Change of plans. Instead of leaving, we decide to stick around for Starved Rock�s Oktoberfest. Big party. 10 different German beers, weiner schnetel, bratwursts, live music. We got a little rowdy and even did our Altos Dance to the Oompa music much to the delight of those that were at the packed lodge. �You guys should have a box for tips� someone told us. It was a good night. Food, folks, and fun amid a beautiful and celebratory atmosphere made for a good stop for the ETT. Friday, October 13, 2006 Friday, the 13th. We decided to play it safe and got a late check out from our hotel. So, clean, well rested and ready, we left Indiana. After a meal at McDonald's (thanks to Nettie and Jack�s gift cards) and $150 worth of gas (thanks to Caroline�s Exxon Mobil gift cards) we made our way. No one wanted to push too hard today, so our destination was Starved Rock State Park near Utica, Ill. We had been there before and it�s beautiful, so it was a good stop for us. Soup, sandwiches and a roaring fire along with some hot-buttered rum made for a very pleasant evening. But we�re low on propane and not sure how the heater works, so the nights are getting chilly. Thursday, October 12, 2006 Brrrrrisk weather, yikes! We decided to play tourists today here in Notre Dame. Will and Barry visited the College Football Hall of Fame, Shannon, Katie and Chris toured a nearby chocolate factory, while Tom and Rose headed to the campus again to see the basilica, the grotto, and Notre Dame�s new Performing Arts Center. They also went to an Air Force concert while the rest of the group had a delicious Italian meal and took in a late movie � The Departed. The movie, the meal, and the sojourn to South Bend all got thumbs up. Next show, next week in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, so we�ll start our slow journey that way tomorrow. Wednesday, October 11, 2006 It snowed today! For those back home, it�s like really cold dandruff. Anyway, after setting up in historic Washington Hall for the show, the troupe checked into a very exclusive hotel, the Morris Inn. Located on campus, this place is the destination for the dignitaries that visit the campus. And us. Thanks again, Jess. Then it was show time. The weather was dreary, midterms were in effect, but the warm, and enthusiastic audience made it all worthwhile. After the show, a brief visit at Jessica�s apartment, it was back to the hotels for a warm and welcomed night of sleep. Tuesday, October 10, 2006 After returning our rental van, it was time to head to South Bend, Indiana � home of Notre Dame, Jessica Stechmann, and our next show. What a beautiful campus! We had no real plan, so upon our arrival we just parked the RV at the football stadium and began wandering. And as fate would have it, we found a gorgeous chapel-like building with spires atop. It was the first building that we went in and it wasn�t a chapel, but Washington Hall. A 600 seat, ornate theater space, and yes, our performing space for the show tomorrow. Wow! After a quick tour and kudos to Jessica for the hookup, we continued our tour of the campus. Before long, Jessica met us, gave us meal cards and we dined with several Notre Dame students. Even the dining hall was incredible. Six different rooms with different themes. South of the Border. Stir Fry. Pasta. Make your own Pizza. Ice cream station. Nice life. Jessica even arranged housing for us at the home of one of her professors, Kathy & Tim Gibney. Because of the pugs, Barry and Shannon checked into a hotel while the rest of the gang enjoyed a beautiful home, new friends, wine and chocolate chip cookies. Total strangers making everyone feel so welcomed. That has been the beauty of the road for us. Monday, October 9, 2006 Finally, another show. The partying and expense of Chicago was starting to wear on us, so we were all anxious to perform again. We made the trek to the South Side (home of bad, bad Leroy Brown) to the beautiful campus of Chicago State. A police escort brought us to the brand new library. This place is so new, the Governor was dedicating the building on Wednesday. Nice space and nice folks there. The University is 86% African American, mostly female and the average age of the students there is 30, so we were curious to see their reaction. Also in the audience were a number of administrator types, and all of the feedback was good. After the show, a pizza reception was held for us and the crowd, and we met several people there with some New Orleans ties. As a show of our appreciation, we gave the University an original painting that had been part of our traveling exhibit. Done by Slidell artist, Priscella Betz, this work is a glimpse of the those impacted by the flood and will serve as a memento of our visit. After the reception, it was back to the RV park. Most of the group stayed behind, but Will, Shannon and Barry went back one last time to spend some time with Nettie, Jack, Lou and Linda. Our destination? Of course, the Billy Goat Tavern, for one last round of Cheezborger, Cheezeborger. More beer in our belly and red meat in our colons and then it was time to say goodbye. So we did and went back to Joliet, Ill for our last night there. From here, we�re Notre Dame bound. Sunday, October 8, 2006 Today we split into groups again. As it is Katie�s 21st birthday, she and Nettie went into town to get pedicures and do some shopping, while Chris and Jack watched the Saints win. Reggie, Reggie! Will was off with Lou and Linda playing tourists, while Tom, Rose, Barry and Shannon stayed back and enjoyed a great, home cooked meal compliments of our RV neighbors � Mike and Kirk. One was a former teacher, the other a former female impersonator and hair dresser. It made us miss home. The meal and the conversation was great as was their Queer Eye rig. Flowers, runners, tapestries all were testament to their good taste. Why they befriended us is a different question. After the meal, we said goodbye, and headed to Chi town. We toured the river and the learned about the styles of architecture that are a beautiful part of the skyline. We also went to Millennium Park and then the 11 members of our extended troupe, met at the Blair Theater for the Blue Man Group. Part high tech vaudeville act, part rave, this unique theatrical experience needs to be experienced not explained. After the show, we went into some bars to watch Katie�s glee when she was �carded� and legally able to enter. Then, we all went our separate ways, gearing up for the show at Chicago State on Monday. Saturday, October 7, 2006 Today was a day of exploring. We parked in Old Towne and just began walking through the city. We stopped by a pumpkin patch, petting farm at Lincoln Zoo and popped in. Just to give a clue as to the warmth of some of the Chicago people � a woman dressed as a fairy was in charge of the children�s face painting. There was a long line and this was a glimpse into her kid friendly way. �Okay, people listen up. I told you this 45 minutes ago, but obviously no one was listening. We are only painting faces until 4 pm. You can stand in line if you want to, but we are only staying until 4 pm. After that, it�s over.� Maybe that wasn�t her direct quote but it was close. Anyway, we continued down the gay friendly part of town on Halstead Street and then to Clark Street � bars and bars along the way as we approached Wrigley Field, and stopped to watch the Tigers lose, to chow down, and await Lou and Linda Schneider who arrived later. Chicago is a big town with lots to do, and drinking seems to be one of its main activities, so we�re fitting right in. Friday, October 6, 2006 The ETT welcomed friends from back home who flew to the Windy City to spend a weekend with us. Nettie & Jack, we love you! We broke into two groups, one venturing via train into town for some sightseeing and Chicago-style pizza eating, the other remaining at our base camp (the Empress Casino & RV Park in Joliet, about an hour outside Chicago). Will sat down at the �Three Card Poker� table and, less than an hour later, walked away with $700. He also won at the buffet for the third consecutive day. Later in the evening, the entire group attended a show at the famed Second City theater. One of the highlights of the show occurred when an audience member was called on stage and included in a skit. Guess who was selected? The aforementioned Mr. Schneider, of course! Can you say �karma�?...HTH Thursday, October 5, 2006 Into Chicago for the first time for a brisk jaunt to the Navy Pier � very River walkish and not very alive during the non-summer,weekday � but the view of Lake Michigan and the new scenery was a new brain photo. The first of many Bill Goat Tavern visits happened today � famed for the SNL � CHEEZBORGER, CHEEZBORGER � NO FRIES, CHEEPS origins. Interstate repair and tolls make the to and fro to Joliet a jaunt...HTH Wednesday, October 4, 2006 Today we performed for over nearly 400 students at the Latin School of Chicago, a private school that is first class in every way � facilities, staff, and audience reaction. The only bad part of the show was the fact that it was an abbreviated one � we had to do a 45 show because of the scheduling constraints. So with our usual last minute planning, we skipped the purchase, condensed the middle, and expanded the voices. As the ETT likes to say - �It's Liquid, baby!� Special thanks to Emily Warren, a teacher at the Latin School for making the gig happen, and to all the folks there who let us share the beautiful stage. (They open Antigone next week, so we performed on their set.) We lunched in the Lincoln Park area, and then fought the Chicago traffic and tolls on the way back. Which took a toll on us. Several sniffles of those fighting colds and the convenience of a casino buffet led us to lay low this evening. A seafood buffet no less. All the snow crab you could handle was the good news � boiled shrimp was the bad. Why waste shrimp like that? I mean, how hard it is to find seasoning up here. And the bread pudding...it was really just bread. No sauce, no taste. Ucckk. Missing home cooking and Doyle and Ronda's creations more than ever. The temperature dropped about 40 degrees in one day and in keeping with casino traditions � dropped about 40 bucks feeding the machines. And here...you don't even drink for free. Playing the dollar machines, ordered a rum and coke and she hit me up for $4. So in reality, that drink cost 44 bucks. The only consolation was knowing that Will ate at least that much at the buffet. Take that Joliet, Illinois. Plans to visit the big city and take in a comedy show tomorrow. We'll see what the day brings...BL Tuesday, October 3, 2006 Captain's log, Day 31 Today marks the one month point of our journey. The stress of the road is getting to us all, but I fear that my anger towards Tom is becoming increasingly more violent. Sometimes I find myself standing over him for hours, while he sleeps, just contemplating the various hazardous substances that I want to put into his morning coffee. I thought that perhaps it was just me, but the RV itself seems to have taken on a life of its own. The other day Barry ran out of talcum powder and roundhouse kicked Shannon. Saki and Sushi have somehow managed to beat all of us in a three day tournament of Pictionary and Will has been uncontrollably crying for 34 hours. I am almost certain that I too heard the voice that commanded Katie and Rose to stop bathing, but I dare not say anything. Tom, even though I cannot stand him, is the only one I can trust, but lately he has been missing. Everyone has yet to notice. I have spent the last 9 hours hiding from the crock-pot. I am sure that it wants to take my position as Captain and it will stop at nothing to claim that title. Our lives are in danger, and I am afraid that the worst is yet to come. But other than that, life has been grand. Everybody did such a wonderful job of explaining the beauty and poetry of our experiences, so I thought I would give you guys some humor. Talk to Ya'll soon. CMB Monday, October 2, 2006 Today, the ETT reluctantly decamped from lovely Lake MacBride and journeyed east across the Mississippi River and into Illinois. We found a spot in Starved Rock State Park just outside Utica. Following an excursion along trails which line the Illinois River (and which had earlier been visited by Marquette & Joliet), we dined on leftovers deluxe before the guys, needing a testosterone fix, trucked into town to watch Monday Night Football and quaff a few beers. Late in the evening, a nasty thunderstorm moved in to the area. A tree just two camp sites away was toppled, nearby canyons were filled with water, and we awoke to local TV news reports of street flooding, power outages, and school closings. It reminded us of home. Tomorrow, we inch closer to Chicago...HTH Sunday, October 1, 2006 On our second day in Iowa, we drove through some lovely countryside (can you say �bucolic�?) and arrived at Lake MacBride State Park outside Cedar Rapids just as we learned that our beloved Saints had lost their first game of the season. Despite this unfortunate beginning, our overnight stay was enjoyable. The lake was serene and lovely, our campsite isolated. We explored the lakeshore and nearby reservoir before sharing a meal and retiring early (in contrast to the night before). As has been his custom, our group's navigator/naturalist (yours truly) elected to sleep outside the RV, under the stars along the lakeshore. It was, without question, a glorious experience. One of the blessings of this trip has been the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty that exists in mid-America. It's easy to wax poetic about the Rocky Mountains, but there's abundant beauty as well in the rolling farmland of Iowa, the cornfields of Nebraska, and the flat plains of Kansas. As for the people we've encountered along the way, they've been unfailingly friendly & welcoming. Here's to the goodness of the American heartland!...HTH Saturday, September 30,2006 Today, we bid Ms. Bell and her RV park farewell. It was a a nice little sanctuary in a nice little town. We're all caught up on our laundry, we picked fresh veggies and fruits from her garden, washed the truck and the RV, and repacked and reorganized the entire vehicle and began making our our way to Chicago. Because we have time, we headed to Rose Prairie State Park � the name drew us there. But sunny Saturday's in Iowa seem like a good time to visit state parks � so we were shut out of finding a campsite there. So, we were back on the road and wound up in Springbrook just in time for a beautiful sunset over a beautiful lake. Nature abounds here as do kids, parents, and traffic. But as we would later find out � peace and quiet and beauty were only about fifty steps away. The group bonded tonight as well over beer, champagne, and some Wild Turkey watching the stars in the perfect quiet of a perfect Iowan night... Friday, September 29, 2006 Today, members of the ETT focused on the mundane but necessary task of cleaning and reorganizing the RV. Having accomplished that, we rode into town and were treated to a tour by the mother of the woman (Thanks Stephany! Thanks Stephany's mom!) who had arranged for us to perform in Red Cloud. We learned a great deal about Red Cloud and its most famous citizen, writer Willa Cather. Did you know that Red Cloud (the famed warrior and chief of the Oglala Sioux tribe, known to his people as Mahpialuta) was still, technically, leading raidsagainst the U.S. Army in what is now Wyoming when the white men living here decided to name their new town after him? You talk about commanding respect from one's adversaries. How strong a leader must this man have been? As for Willa (for that is how she shall forever be known by members of this troupe), one senses that the simple, unhurried life she led here informed her writing in the way that access to fresh vegetables and other yummy ingredients might enable talented cooks to create a delicious meal. Which brings us to this evening's feast. Big shouts out all around, especially to Ms. Bell (owner/operator of the RV park where we've stayed for the past three nights) for the fresh veggies, the use of her laundry and showers at all hours, and her gracious hospitality. And to the Grill Master himself (CB) for making it all happen...BL Next, the ETT invades, er, visits Iowa...HTH Thursday, September 28, 2006 We performed at the historic Opera House. A small crowd was there and the hosts at the Opera House were very apologetic for that. But as was the case in Omaha � the small crowds have been some of the best ones. The folks in attendance laughed and cried and thanked us for sharing our stories. The thing I heard most right after the show was �WOW� - several folks all reacted the same way. They were kind of blown away by the nonstop humor and the emotional impact of the show. We were also interviewed a local newspaper and a tv reporter as Rose continues to work her producer magic. After dinner, Will also took a spill. Several us took a long walk along the deserted highway to see how dark the world is without city lights � saw the Dippers, the Milky Way. Wednesday, September 27, 2006 This morning, we were visited by Ranger Nick, his buddy Lloyd, and pretty puppy Sadie. Nick asked why we were parked all crooked and sideways. Will answered because of the water and electrical problems. He then informed us that there were adequate water and electrical hookups not even 20 yards away. If we only would've looked around for a minute or two, we would have been just fine...BUT NOOOOOOO....WILL HAD TO RUSH!!!!!!.......anywho, Nick and his beautiful dog Sadie were great and Saki and Sushi made a new friend. Nick was also very helpful in guiding us to our dump site. We arrived at Red Cloud, and we doubled the population with our arrival, kidding...population is 1,313. It's a small, wondrous town. Will, Tom and I went on a grocery run and found the Opera House where we will be performing. It is beautiful, very old, but quaint with a great old time look to it. It may be the nicest space we'll have. Of course, we need 40% of the town to come it to fill it, so we'll see how that goes. In a revealing and charming insight into this part of the world, across the street from our campsite, a farmer has a wagon full of hundreds of different types of squash. On the wagon is a note that says - �SELF SERVE 10 CENTS EACH. PUT MONEY IN JAR. So, the high roller that I am, I dropped a Washington into the jar, and Rose and I chose two handfuls for fresh veggies that she, with McGyver like ability, made into a wonderful side dish to accompany the bigger than Teddy's head, pork roast that we bought. It was our first family meal in quite a while and it was nice. We continued our foolish competitions with an opposite hand / foot punt, pass and kick game which was comical, bu t not nearly as funny as the �How far can you throw the Frisbee and catch it yourself game.� It required some skill and energy to fling it and chase it down. All of us succeeded to some degree, except Tom. On his fifth try, he gamely chased his toss towards the trees, stumbled and as the Frisbee made its way through the branches, he fell, the Frisbee hit him right on the spot between the nose and mouth. His reaction was �Game Over. Instant Headache.� After dinner, Will also took a spill. Several us took a long walk along the deserted highway to see how dark the world is without city lights � saw the Dippers, the Milkey Way, and billions and billions of stars. Then, a cop came and asked us what we were doing in the middle of the street, in the middle of the night. We charmed him with our Louisiana stupid - �we city folk never get to see stars like this� and he smiled and told us to have a good night. We did, especially after hearing a truck approach and seeing if we could get it to honk at us. Will, making the typical fist pump at the trucker, walked into a drainage ditch and tumbled. To his credit, he bounced up, but not before we all shared a huge laugh at another graceful move of the troupe. The good times, like Will and Tom, continue to roll...BAL Tuesday, September 26, 2006 Our accommodations were less than grand last night � picture Norman Bates in the R/V park business instead of the motel racket. And speaking of � we were awoken at 5:30 am by an angry trailer park resident who claimed that we were blocking his car in. Tom handled things diplomatically and even help decorate our neighbor's trailer � right after he left. We're constantly running and gunning and trying to find the beauty of nature while making in convenient and realistic for the day that follows. So, although our home for the night was bleak � the gig today was great. We performed for a charter school in Denver � our friend, Whitney, who was also a school administrator played the perfect host for our day on stage. A nice, big and old auditorium was the performing space as about 130 multicultural high school students joined us in listening to the Voices of Louisiana. Piper's Hanson's photo collection as well as Tracy's Why I Stayed exhibit made a great impression on these impressionable and appreciative students. The realization that the show can appeal to and move people of all ages, colors, and backgrounds, is a welcomed one. By the way, we were taking turns writing about these entries, but for a number of reasons, we have stopped being as consistent. So, loyal readers of this space � we promise to do a little better. After a day of driving, we arrived at Red Willow State Park around 8 pm. We were looking for a superintendent or someone who at least worked at the park. We found nothing but a post that asked for our money, no people. We then proceeded to look for a hookup with water and electricity. The electricity was easy, but the water was a different story. After hours of intellectually deciphering the problem, Captain Christian brilliantly maneuvered the 40 foot RV into the exact spot where we could illegally get water and electricity at the same time. Now we were finally hooked up, but we were now full on the poo-poo waste with no dump, it was late at night and the nearest grocery was 80 miles away and we had no dinner. So in his brilliance, Tom Emeril Hassinger concocted a ham in a can, pea, and yellow rice mixture that was a lot tastier than it sounds. The luxurious dinner was followed by a walk to the lake by Barry, Tom and myself which included our own scary movie type story including the order in which we would be chopped up. We got to the lake and within about 10 minutes of silence, we saw literally millions of stars across the entire sky, 8 shooting stars, and we heard dogs, cows, fish, a chorus of insects and frogs, and coyotes. We were all very much at peace. All in all, Red Willow was a beautiful night. ..PS, I learned how to fly fish.....DEUCEY �THE MULE� GALLANT...WFS Monday, September 25th 2006 BLACK AND GOLD SUPERBOWL!!!!!! SAINTS ARE 3-0 BABY!!!! NUFF SAID!!!!! A surprisingly touching moment for us � when watching the pregame craziness from the Dome and seeing the folks and the fun and the spirit, we all started missing home and the energy of that place. It was like one of the biggest moments in the city and we were away. Tears flowed. And beers. And kamakazis. And beers. The sports bar that we were in had a drink special for everything that happened on the field. �QB loses his helmet, so for the next five minutes $1 draft. �Morten Andersen looks fat � fried cheese for a $1.� Something like that. The Miller Beer Girls were there, encouraging us to switch to Lite, and the younger, more frisky member of the tribe gave in, and was rewarded with free stuff and a smooch at the end of the night. And the reason our bar bill tripled our food intake. It was so good to see the Saints actually beat a team. Not just win, but beat em down. We were hooting and hollering and met some other folks who were from home too. We were rowdy, but we passed a good time, Cher. And then it was back to the Norman Bates Campground in the middle of the Denver hood for a few hours of sleep, before our gig on Tuesday. --RMS, BAL, SKG, HTH, CMB, KJB, WFS, Saki and Sushi Sunday, September 24th 2006 Along a creek in Estes Park, Colorado � just a quickie to keep things up to date till ETT regroups tomorrow...Will's at a Rocky's game, Tom's at Eric's (who is hosting a dinner in Tom's honor tonight), Chris and Katie should be on their way back to Denver, and Barry & Shannon at a wedding in Durango. I've booked a loft room in a quiet lodge, had Greek food at a restaurant nearby, and just put the celebratory Hot-Air Balloon ride bottle of champagne in the fridge to enjoy tonight... But I'll let Will post about the morning's adventure and yesterday's wanderings...and the others when we get back together. For Tara, who I know is keeping up with us � thought about you a lot last night, while attending a performance of �Sweet Charity� at Boulder Dinner Theater. That's a role you must someday play! Everywhere we go, the ETT signs on the truck attract attention and questions. Today Will pulled over to take pictures of a couple dozen elk sitting on someone's front lawn, and we (the truck) were recognized by people staying at our Boulder hotel. Now, if only the national attention would follow!...RMS Friday, September 22th 2006 Rose here, in Boulder, Colorado, listening to the sound of Chilly Willy snoring to a baseball game on TV. It's been another one of those days, almost indescribable in it's complexities and adventures...but I'll start at the beginning... Early morning at a Denver motel found the members of the ETT going separate ways for a few days. After leaving the RV for safekeeping with a new friend for whom we will perform in Denver on Tuesday, here's where tonight finds us... Barry and Shannon and the pugs are in Durango for a friend's wedding this weekend...Christian and Katie in New Mexico to visit Christian's grandmother...and Tom's in Boulder visiting a friend named Eric. After dropping Tom off, Will and I decided to get lost in Colorado, knowing we have Dundee (our GPS system), to cover our back. We had a great day in and around Golden and several other mountain towns, ...along the way � a few highlights... An email Barry received from a student, Megan Ring, who saw our show in Omaha (see the testimonials link for complete email) that had all of us grateful that she added her voice to ours and shared her heartfelt words...another email about a possible gig in Notre Dame brought excitement...a change in our Chicago schedule was a downer...a gig in Abbeyville, La for December brings the excitement level back up... A pancake breakfast with an International flair for me, Tom and Will...altitude and attitude changes, a hike to a waterfall, driving through breathtaking mountain roads in snow (!), and a turn in the road finds Will and me taking a tour of the Coors brewery...then more Killian Red at a biker bar named Buffalo Rose...bar-side stories from a Mr. Jimmy that surely stack up as a character study we'll both refer to for the rest of our lives... And now...can that really be my 21 year old �son from another mother,� Will �party all night� Schneider sacked out before 8 pm in this room? Okay, so he drove the truck for hours and had I-forget-how-many-beers and is fighting a cold...oh, well, I must admit the day has worn me out, too. (Shout out to Linda and Lou � your son is a treasure. Thanks for lending him to us for a while). For me, mountain panoramas bring on memories of another time, another life, that are bittersweet. Of mountain motorcycle trips with my husband and our friends. Memories. Mr. Jimmy seems to be living on his, in this old western town. When will my memories settle into a place in my heart, and when will the future seem less scary? Forgive me � once again I find I cannot drive through a beautiful scene without aching for the home and loved one's I've lost. New Orleans, St. Bernard, my husband and my life...all so far away. Rebuild, recover...we carry home in our hearts and no matter the GPS co-ordinates. Though my teammates have separated for a few days, I settle into the evening thinking of them, and of our recent performances and audiences... of the joy of being on stage as part of such a talented, inspired group of people. Of living and learning, and telling those who come to see us of our home and our memories. Thanks, BAL, for the vision and dreaming the dream. Thanks, my ETT compatriots, for the pleasure of your company and your talents. And that, for tonight, is good enough. Love to all from RMS Wednesday, September 20th 2006 Finally a minute alone! All the peeps have left and all I got to say is - Black Chocolate's in the house!!!!! It's me Saki Woo Del La Mooch, coming at you from the Holiday RV Park in North Platte, NB. Those fools forgot the horse shoes at the last campsite and are now playing shoe shoes, actually throwing their own shoes into a sandy horse shoe pit. I'm awfully glad I'm not human � what fools these mortals be as shakes-pug would say. Got to meet Buddy the shitz tu and got sniffed in the hiney by Midnight the black lab. Saki likey. Not a real pretty place, but cable access, animal planet, and fried pork chops make this pug happy as a fly on a bison's butt. I gotta go now. Sushi is bugging me to check her R Mail. She's such a bitch. Anyway, tomorrow we head to Denver. This will be my first time seeing a mountain, sniffing sage and lavender. Ta ta for now.....Saki Tuesday, September 19th 2006 Performance Day!!! Some of us woke up with the sniffles and the possibility of a head cold. I guess the change in weather is weighing heavy on us, but our spirits are high and it's a beautiful day in Omaha. We got an early start to an Econolodge Motel. It was only 3 miles away from the university and it was pug friendly. We checked in, got some grub, and made our way to the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus to set up. Erin Cron was our contact at UNO. Her and her student volunteers were very welcoming, sweet, and helpful. After setting up, Will and I ran around campus passing out flyers and Barry got some great footage. We performed in the Nebraska Room in the Milo Bale Student Center to a smaller house, but one that was full of emotion. A shout out to our audience members! You were very responsive and full of energy and we thank you for that. Also in the audience were several hearing impaired students from The Metro College, who enjoyed the show through a sign interpreter. After a group picture with some awesome UNO students, we hit Applebee's and enjoyed an adorable waiter and well needed munchies. We returned to the motel to snuggle with the pugs, who have both been a constant comfort to the group. Everyone's happy when they hug a pug. So much that almost every troupe member has woken to sing the Rise and Shine song to the pugs. Rise and shine, rise and shine, it's time for pugs to rise and shine. I like it the best when Tse-Tse (Tom's new nick name) does it. We also have a peas and carrots song that was made up by Gallant (Will's new nickname) which is often sung by Shoe Shoe Sleepy Pants (Chris'new nickname). Stay tuned for a journal dedicated to new nicknames and trivia games. Black and Gold Super Bowl!!! .....Pampy (My new nick name).... SKG Monday, September 18th 2006 Goodbye to our new friends in McPherson. And a special shout out to Karlene, Rick, Emily, and all the McPherson faculty. Ya'll were as sweet as pound cake with peaches, raspberries, and sweet cream. Also goodbye 30 mph winds, scary lightning, ragweed and a horse named Sweetie. We're not in Kansas anymore! From wheat fields to corn fields. Hello Nebraska! We traveled all day today, reaching Bellevue, NB at twilight. We stayed at Hawroth City Park (pronounced Hay-roth) I think and it sat right on the Missouri River. After reading a narrative and seeing an old photo depicting what a French Trooper looked like back in the day. I now feel Tom should change his costume to red velvet pants, a blue and white puffy sleeved shirt and a turban. It also looks like French Trappers might have traveled with cats. Hmmmm. Well pugs will have to suffice. Anyway this evening became a fun-filled Mexican Fiesta (Barry's night to cook) and with a lot of team work, Barry delivered a tastee din din, while Tom's world music CD played in the background and new wheat beer named Sunshine was enjoyed. After our delicious ethnic wonderment, it was off to the campfire for Wink's (Barry's new nickname) trivia hour. Chris also tested our knowledge of a 15 letter word in the English language that does not have one repeating letter. Rose finally answered correctly. Tom was close. It drove Will MAD that he couldn't figure it out. After that, we all nestled in on a chilly Nebraska night for an early start to Omaha to set up at The University of Nebraska at Omaha for a 7 pm performance. Stay Tuned this week for a pug entry....SKG Sunday, September 17th 2006 THANK YOU MCPHERSON...pronounced mac-fur-son...for a gloriously triumphant return of Will Schneider to his second home. Will Schneider entered McPherson, KS like a victorious Caesar after years of battling away from his kingdom. From the moment he walked onto the campus, hundreds of thousands of admiring fans swarmed him and fainted in his presence. The only comparison one can offer is that of the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show...people liked Barry, too...but not ChrissiePoo. Seriously though, the entire week in Kansas was one of the best weeks and experiences of my young life. I was able to return to the community that supported and saved my family, and we were able to repay them in our own way. We arrived Monday evening, and I ventured out to meet my friends, some of which I haven't seen in a year. An evening of Monday Night Football and an onslaught of good times shortly followed. Tuesday was a meet and greet day at the campus where everyone got to meet all the wonderful key players at MAC that were vital in our performing there. After business, I again ventured out to the gym with my buds and proceeded on a beautiful 3 mile run. The night ended with buffalo pizza and with me winning the poker game, even though at one time I was down to literally 2 chips. Wednesday was more business followed by a day of horseshoes. After whipping Tom and Chris (2 times each), Barry had to come and dethrone me. Horseshoes was followed by more working out, another three-mile run, and an evening of Beer Pong and Bizz with the fellas. Thursday was another workout, another 3 mile run, rehearsal, revealing of the Troupe on the front page of the McPherson Sentinel and an ultimate destruction of the all-you-can eat buffet style dinner at the McPherson cafeteria. I must admit that I ate the most...soup, salad, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, 2 pieces of pizza, 2 cookies, and of course ice cream...good thing I've been running a lot, eh? After dinner I visited with other close friends for a quiet evening of �catching up.� And to top it off, another outing with the guys at one of the local bars, Hank's. At the closing of Hank's, we headed to yet another bar, Shaggy's, and remained there for the remainder of the evening. I played ShuffleBoard for the first time, and needless to say, I was beaten...horribly. Friday came, and so did the Schneiders. We were greeted with hugs, kisses, Hubig Pies, a gross of beads, and our Voices bracelets. My day consisted of yet more working out, more running, more kicking it with the boys. We watched football and then played more Beer Pong and Bizz til the wee hours of the morning. Saturday the troupe played tourists while I hung with the homies. Our marathon day began at 11 o'clock with the Kansas State game. It then rolled over to Hank's for the LSU game with the guys, the troupe and the fam. After football, we had a wonderful evening with Rick, Karlene, and Emily Tyler. Rick is the head of the theatre department and they invited us over for an amazing dinner. The food, the company, everything was just perfect. When dinner was over, Shannon and I went to the bar with my folks, were there for a couple hours, and then as they went home I was dropped off with the guys and we proceeded to party til 6 the next morning. Like I said, a marathon day. Sunday, the big day...Game Time. After waking up around 2 or so, I watched the Saints be led to victory (2-0...BLACK AND GOLD, SUPER BOWL!!!), and had a nice dinner-lunch with the parentals, Shan and Barr, and Rose. Now it was time to play. The crowd started rolling in, slowly at first, but then we filled in no time. Believe it or not ladies and gentlemen, the Evacuation Theatre Troupe was spectacular again. A virtually flawless performance, and it even included me getting very emotional at our end closing piece. I had trouble fighting back the tears after performing for the community that saved my family. It was absolutely phenomenal. A standing ovation and an encore...enough said. But the night was far from over. We then proceeded to Karaoke at Nasbar with the whole troupe, the parents, and my boys. Will and Christian's famous rendition of Bad Bad Leroy Brown was performed, along with the 504 BOYZ (consisting of Will Schneider and Alan Childress) performing TLC's �No Scrubs� and Nelly's �Air Force Ones.� The Entourage (Will Schneider, Alan Childress, Randy Elber, Lee Lethal Gustafson, and the Klumpe Stump) performed the finale. It consisted of Backstreet Boys �I Want it That Way,� and a little tribute to Boyz in da Hood. The night ended with McDonald's in the weight room of the RV park at 4 in the morning. It was by far the best, last night in McPherson anyone could ask for. It was the perfect ending to the perfect week. I can't thank the McPherson Community enough for all that they have done. They were truly there for my family in our times of despair, and I can't thank all the guys that befriended me last year. You are the ones that kept me sane and stable, and I love each and every one of you like a brother. Randy, House, JC, Lethal, KlumpStain, and everyone else up in MAC...I love you guys. Thank you all for a �triumphant� return home. Can't wait to see you all again......til Mardi Gras, guys. My turn to repay you. Love ya MAC...Willie Curls for the Gurls...WFS PS...I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD AND LOU LOU!!!!!! Saturday, September 16th 2006 Today's journal: A quiet time in the Stepaulken Game room as Christian worked on his new play...Katie joined Lou and Linda Schneider for a day at a craft fair...Barry, Shannon, Rose and Tom made our way to a Swiss village called Lindsborg for some Swedish meatballs, pancakes, and a bicycle built for four...and Will joined his buddies for another day of McPherson bonding (i.e., drinking)...also on tap was the LSU game for some at a local bar, and speaking of bars, the bar was raised again in the meal department by Rick and Carleen Turner of McPherson University, as they hosted a lasagna dinner for the troupe. Engaging conversation, wonderful food and hospitable people, including their daughter Emily, made for an evening I'll not soon forget. Especially because tonight was my night to cook, and thanks to Carleen, I get the big bedroom without having to lift a culinary finger. Life is good. As I hear the winds raging outside of the RV tonight, I'm reminded of a time a little over a year ago when friends and neighbors back home waited out a storm on rooftops in winds stronger than these Kansas bursts. We talked tonight with the Turners of our memories of the storm and of home. Finding words to explain what we left behind, what we remember and what we miss. I miss my family terribly, especially after hearing news of my sister, Judy's recent illness, and of the passing of Milton's birthday last week. So strange to be so far away, in a land untouched by Katrina. So strange to be inside a beautiful, comfortable home that reflects a family's lifetime of memories...and remember all of us who lost such a place. We talked of tornado shelters, and what these folks go through when they hear a siren's blast that announces someone has spotted a tornado. We talked of the differences between hurricane warnings, tornadoes and earthquakes...but the unspoken conclusions - what do they matter? We live where we live because we choose to, with whatever dangers and devils dwell there. The road, this unkempt little family of ours, is what we choose for the next few weeks, and the future lies in its unasked questions...just around the next turn...rms Friday, September 15th 2006 Today, after a biscuit breakfast and hours spent working the phones, we got into our performance space at McPherson College as we prepare for show number 2. Nice black box theater that will seat about 200. A girl in the cafeteria expressed doubt about that space being big enough to accommodate all of the folks that have expressed interest in the show. Front page of the newspaper, and back cover of the school paper is helping spread the word. In the space, discussions and disagreements about content surfaces. Nothing too heated, but differing views as to �will this play� and �will they get it.� Also, have Tracy Morris' photo exhibit and a video to project - showing the effects and devastation of the storm. Should they be part of a display or incorporated into the show. This is a Brethren College � do we need to trim. Speaking of, after Lou and Linda Schneider arrived in Willville, they told us that the Vagina Monologues had played here, so we all breathed a little easier. I mean, Will doesn't have a vagina! Chrissy B fried chicken and made a some dressing to go with it, so the good meal streak continues. The big news was a big storm that came sweeping through the Kansas plains. It was kind of cool at first � kind of like heat lightening in the Gulf, but it got less cool as it got closer � forcing Tom and his bunkmate out of the tent and into the rec room to watch the weather channel. I don't know how Chicago got its moniker b/c this place is a major windy city causing stress and anxiety to the high strung member of the troupe. In our animal report, we've seen several dogs, horses, a cat, dead raccoons, two snakes, bison, cows, a frog, crickets, a turtle, fish, and Will at an all you can eat buffet. In the lost and found report, Tom, somehow lost the important items in his wallet (driver's license, credit cards) but managed to hold onto his blockbuster card and astronaut application. Fortunately, Kansas has some honest folks and his valuables were returned. In our goodies from home report, Lou and Linda brought us a case of Hubig pies, our Voices wrist bands, and a gross of Mardi Ggras beads to throw as part of the fun. It was good to see some of our peeps as we move towards week three away from our world. Starting to miss home � even what passed for home before we left. But a new gig in Red Cloud, Nebraska and plans to visit Little Sweden in the morning helps us stay excited about what the adventure will bring. We'll see...BAL Thursday, September 14th 2006 Captain's log, day twelve Kansas, the sunflower state. We are here, alive and missing everyone, but determined to push on. Its difficult to stop a 37ft RV and a big ass truck piloted by two men who feast on buffalo meat and lamb testicles. There have been a few more mishaps, but I'll get to them later, lets concentrate on where we are now. The first week of the tour was an adventure. We witnessed beautiful landscapes, some unique culture, and the most heavenly atmosphere. However; all of these things, we enjoyed on our own account. That's not a bad thing because each one of us has taken something away from the experience. Now we are in a place where the scenery is somewhat subdued (or a word like that) and we are working together. We are using the opportunity to search for more places to go and to secure venues. I think that this time together was much needed and very welcomed to the group's morale. The freshest joke in the ETT arsenal is about troupe member Will. It seems that everybody in McPherson, KS is in love with him. We give him a hard time about it saying that he is living in his brother's shadow (Will's brother, Lou, attended McPherson College), and that he loves them more than he does us. Honestly, we cannot go anywhere in town without someone recognizing Will. Its probably very easy to get aggravated at this, but here is the truth. Will and his family evacuated to McPherson, and in that two to three month period, they managed to build friendships that could quite possibly last a life time. They have without a doubt touched the hearts of these individuals, and in turn have become infinitely welcome into their community. That is no joke. That is inspiring. How many people did we inspire during our evacuations? How many will we inspire on this tour? Will our struggles be accepted, heard, answered, respected? Judging from McPherson, KS, ...the love is out there... we just have to bring it down to us. Here are the mishaps that I promised: -Shannon got into a verbal fight with a nine year old. (Note from Rose - this was really not a fight. Shannon simply corrected a youngster on the apparent beauty of pugs versus poodles.) -Will had to share the bed with his ego. -Christian finally lost in poker. -The pugs made a permanent bed out of Katie. -Rose slept with sunflowers... interesting. -Tom lost his glasses..CMB Tuesday, September 13th 2006 Today marked the triumphant return of William Fanning Schneider to the town of McPherson, Kansas, where he and his family had evacuated last year. Accompanied by an entourage of ETT supporting players, he strode confidently onto the campus of McPherson College and was immediately greeted by throngs of admirers, their eyes glazed with admiration. Though he signed no autographs (for if you sign one, you must sign them all), he did grant brief audiences to former teachers, classmates, and the President of the College, with whom he is on a first-name basis. We saw fliers promoting the show this weekend (with Will's picture prominently displayed) posted all over the campus, and everyone we spoke to told us they were planning to be there. The troupe did some window shopping in downtown McPherson, enjoyed lunch at the Main Street Deli, and returned to the horse motel to continue with tasks both mundane (washing clothes) and challenging (making phone calls to set up future gigs). We also met the only other person staying on the grounds, a friendly fellow who inquired about our tour and even made a $100 contribution. Indeed, everyone we've met here has been incredibly warm and friendly. In the evening, we enjoyed "prairie pizza" (with ground buffalo, portabella mushrooms, orange & yellow peppers, garlic, and lots of cheese) compliments of yours truly and settled down to a friendly game of poker. In keeping with the theme of the day, Will won....hth Monday, September 11th 2006 9/11 resonates today more than ever � between our recent visit to the bombing site in OKC, our friends in NYC and our own loss of community. A good meal (paid for by the Nettie and Jack Walmart Fund) and several toasts to those we love, lost and miss, made for an nice night � our first night in Will's home away from home -McPherson. We traded the beauty of Lake Thunderbird for a laundry, RV and Horse Motel. Kind of reminds me of an old drive in parking lot � remote and literally NO ONE else around, but some nice amenities. Besides the laundry, there is a pool table, satellite tv, and some incredibly kind hosts. We watched Aaron Brooks stink up the place on Monday Nite Football and Tom and I are working on a Saints project called Bless You, Boys. An expansion of the Facenda bit that is part of the Voices Project. We saw bison today and lots of sunflowers. We took some pics at the Women's Pioneer Museum, drove through El Dorado, and six hours after leaving Norman, we were in Kansas with our little Totos too. Chris was a trooper driving the whole way with Will at the helm of the big ass truck. Now, Will is out with his college gang, Chris is basking in another Texas Hold em title, and tomorrow is another day. No shows scheduled til the weekend, but another gig in Chicago, the Kansas State Fair a half hour away, and Will knowing folks in this quaint Kansas town give us a good feeling as week two continues. In our nutritional report, add lamb testicles to the list as each of the troupe sampled Lamb Fries in OKC � the steakhouse was listed as one of the 1000 things to see before you die. The "fries" were better than you would think. Or maybe we're just nuts. We also had steaks there and grilled fish tonight. No BBQ pits here, so Chris may get a reprieve this sojourn. As midnight beckons, it's time for to hit the hay in Kansas. Thanks for caring enough to read this and please email me or the gang if you know of anyone in Kansas, Iowa, or Missouri that could help us spread the word. That's it for me. God Bless us all � especially to all those who feel the pain of 9/11. And to all of our New Yorker pals out there � Sorry about our mayor. He can be a Chocolate idiot sometimes. Peace and love. BL Sunday, September 10th 2006 Well, This is day eight. We have reached the one week mark on our fantastic voyage. So far everyone is still alive, (apart from Tom hitting his head numerous times, stubbing his toe, and nearly being caught on fire.) This was our last day in Oklahoma. Tomorrow we will travel to McPherson, Kansas. I am rather excited to be seeing a state I have never seen before, and doing laundry. We have yet to wash clothes and I think we are all running out of clean clothes to wear. Today, Barry, Shannon, Rose, Tom, and Will went sightseeing. Christian and I went yesterday, so we stayed and babysat the Pugs. The gang went to the Cowboy and Heritage Hall of Fame, Cattleman's Steakhouse, and the Oklahoma City Memorial. I did a lot of thinking while they were gone, and I am still trying to soak in just how lucky we are to be able to see some of the things we are seeing. When they got home, we ate Shannon's delicious pot roast and salad. Now, the boys are glued to the football game... Barry and Will attempted fishing today..... They were unsuccessful, but we have hope. Rose just might brave sleeping in the great outdoors. Everyone is doing GREAT! I LOVE and miss everyone, <3 KJB Saturday, September 9th 2006 Captain's log, day seven... A strange phenomenon has taken place here at Lake Thunderbird. For the past two nights, the ETT has seen... the moon. Not just any moon, ooohh no, a full moon resting in a clear night sky. It is very easy to look at something like this as a typical evening in Oklahoma, but I see it differently. I see it as a preparation. Sort of an omen, but more personal and a lot less drastic. This moon illuminated the darkness surrounding it for miles and turned the sky into a work of art. I am surrounded by my friends and we have laughter, respect, creativity, talent, needs, and help. We are a work of art. Now me. Do I have enough light to see all of the things that will be available to me on this tour? How much will I learn? How much will I be able to take back? How much will I miss home? How much will I be missed? Well, the same way that the moon slowly reaches the top of the sky, I am learning. Today I saw (along with Katie) the Memorial Site of the Oklahoma City Bombing... It reminded me of home. It was; however, preceded by our first show, the beautiful scenery that we are currently inhabiting, and the friendship of six outstanding individuals. So put that equation together, solve for X (me), and you get an experience that can only be described as majestic. Here are a few mishaps for your enjoyment: Tom lost his glasses The awning fell while in transit Tom hit his head, and lost his glasses, again Will set Tom on fire and clotheslined him out of his chair in order to save his life Katie threw up Tom's glasses Christian and Will balanced on a RV while 18 wheelers speed by Tom lost his glasses, again The �Gray Water� backed up helping us locate Tom's glasses Tom lost his glasses Talk to you guys soon. CMB Friday, September 8th 2006 kaka coo.....Finally, our first day to perform on the road! Today the Voices of Louisiana tour brought the ETT to Oklahoma City to Bishop John Carroll K-8 School where we performed for over 100 students in their school gymnasium. The students were very attentive and very well behaved and the faculty very enthusiastic. Roars of laughter and screaming were heard when Chris started throwing Mardi Gras beads to the kids during the show. The cutest moment today was when Chris was right in the middle of his monologue and he said (in character of course) you see that boat over there and the kids said nooooo and he said well you see that boat that's not over there. I guess you had to be there. Anyway, the kids loved the show and our new friend Elaine that booked the tour for the school said it was the best show they ever had there. When it was over we got to interview 2 kids that had moved to Oklahoma because they were also devastated by Katrina. They were from Pass Christian, MS. and were very sweet. Barry interviewed them and got some pics. Now leaving the school was a different story. We somehow packed all of our show stuff and all seven of us in Rose's truck (thank goodness for the RV) and made our way back to camp to hug the pugs and catch some sunshine and of course bask in the glory of our first performance. Oh and we did play roller coaster on the big hills here (weeeeeee...) and I saw my first Oklahoma deer. Yeah! Another had to be there moment. Now, we're off to eat. It's Christian's night to cook and to get the bed. Tomorrow we plan to do some sightseeing. Until next time.......SKG Thursday, September 7th 2006 What a difference a day makes! After a marathon day on the road (including a tiny slice of Arkansas and a three-hour drive through Nothing, Texas), our travel day consisted of driving from Norman to...well, to just outside Norman. More specifically, to Lake Thunderbird State Park. As we located our camp site overlooking the lake, the members of the ETT let out a collective squeal of delight. For this park is quite lovely and serene. We've already encountered several deer and seen tracks of other wildlife along the shore of the lake. After a brief but spirited discussion of the possibility of spending the remainder of our tour at Lake Thunderbird and asking our audience to come to us, we focused on enjoying our time here while setting up other gigs along the way. But whatever happens along the rest of the tour, we'll always have Oklahoma......HTH Wednesday, September 6th 2006 A hotel room in Norman, Oklahoma is the site of this posting...first time on Internet after our 2 day stay in a rural campground. Long day's drive from Louisiana, as we crossed our home state's border for the first time..through Texas, Arkansas and now settled in Oklahoma for a while. The highlights of the last couple days include horseshoe games and trivial pursuits not limited to the board game Katie brought. Although the first dump of 'gray water' in the campground and the awning challenge weren't exactly trivial. Nor was last night's sighting of a bear (or was it Will spilling out of the RV in the dead of night?) by Tom, or Katie's migraine...but we weathered our first campground stay in true ETT humor. Tom made the most of the barbecue leftovers for dinner last night, we enjoyed (!?) gas station snacks along the road, and ordered pizza in the hotel room tonight. It's all good. A highlight of recent days was the discovery of a loving gift from Jack Jackson and Nettie Campo - gift certificates that'll surely come in handy as we maintain the pace of the tour. We all miss those friends and family we left behind.. Driving Miss Isabella report - Barry's first turn behind the wheel proved we have two capable drivers as he handled our 'big rig' for the first time on the open road today...Christian took over the task as we made our way into OK...only to have to pull over on I-35 for a second round of the awning challenge. There's no end to the mechanical and physical prowess of Chris & Will, yet what's become more obvious to me as each day of the tour progresses is that the dynamics of the group is one of team spirit and mutual respect - peppered with jibs and jokes hale and hearty. Whether it's setting up camp, figuring out the intricacies of unfamiliar equipment or making the most of a meal, everyone pitches in and makes it happen. Pug report - Saki and Sushi are at home in the back of the truck, or in this 'pet friendly' motel room...as long as Shannon's not too far away! ETT's official mascots, 2 much beloved pugs, prove 'the more the merrier' is true in this animal kingdom of ours...RMS Monday, September 4th 2006 Day three begins at Mae�s house as we continue to head West. Mae? West? Greetings from Cochetta, Louisiana. Just past Nachitoches, the oldest city in Louisiana Purchase Territory. A three hour trek and a decision to remain in place for a spell, has brought us to a bayou resort�Christian barbecued on my day to cook and all the gang gave this feast a familial feel. Tom, after a long, frustrating, obscenity-laced tirade centered on his inability to free his tightly packaged sleeping bag, eventually found peace - sleeping outdoors . The rest of our merry band found their way to a bed, an air mattress, the top of a table, and the sofa bed. Enjoying the dark and air conditioned. And for whatever tomorrow would bring. In the fitness report, gym visits, daily walks, Frisbee toss and horseshoes have been a part of our ETT day. Nutritional Report: burgers, pork, sausage, banana blueberry muffins, potatoes,� Not much propane so limited cooking options. Plans for our first dump in the morning. The RV that is. It�s a dirty job, but hopefully not too bad. We�ll see. Enjoy visiting us here, and we make our way to Bishop Carroll...BAL Sunday, September 3th 2006 Well ladies and gentlemen, THE BAR HAS BEEN SET!!! Day 1 was absolutely magnificent. With our family and friends waving us off, we headed to Rose's "Cajun friend May" in Lafayette. After pleasant driving time and conversations, we arrived at May's and ate like kings. The world's best brisket, salad, jambalaya, and cake filled our bellies. Shortly after, Rose, Tom and myself headed to Blue Moon, a Cajun/Zydeco Saloon and Guest House. WHOA NELLIE!!!! WHAT A TIME!!! Ronnie, May, Carol, Germayne, and Big Al taught us all the right moves. It was indeed an amazing day. Great driving, great food, and even greater times with the greatest people. Again, the bar has been set. Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds...WFS Friday, September 1st 2006 The ETT met yesterday, finalizing bookings and making lists of 'who's bringing what.' With only 2 days till departure and 5 wildly successful local shows under our belt, our excitement is high, and so are our hopes. Last minute servicing to the RV, dubbed Queen Isabella because it's a Monarch brand vehicle, are scheduled for today by our local mechanic, Joey Gritter, who promises to figure out how to keep the refrig working so we can keep Tom's insulin and our food stash cool. Tomorrow, we pack up Isabella, have a final night with our families, and a final night in our own beds. We have somewhat of a schedule for sleeping (seven people, seven nights to cook, once a week when you cook you get your choice of beds) and somewhat of a handle on the finer points of camping life, after spending last weekend at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville. Stay tuned for news of ETT on the road...RMS