The Peaceful Touring Mornings

My favorite thing of being out on the road with fancy pants musicians are the ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of touring. I could care less (usually) about who’s on stage, who they know, or what they’re into.
Unless it’s kitty cats. Then, we’ll talk.

What I love is inhaling the wash of color across the sky as the sun begins to rise; enjoying a good cup of coffee, a bagel and a walk around the city with Biceps while everyone else is still asleep (hungover).

When an bustling city is at its quietest-around 3 am, I peer from my hotel room window and watch the methodical street cleaners glide down the road, picking up last nights debris. (That’s white spot is the top of our bus and our trailer).

And before the insanity of a sound check administered by a grouchy pony-tailed engineer begins; we hop on our bikes to check out the ghost land that will soon be full of a beer guzzling, hooting and hollering crowd in just a few short hours.

We bike closer to the venue, draw in by the low rumble of the semi-truck’s diesel engines. The calming monotony of the engines as they idle assures us that we are getting closer to the possibility of catering.
Mmmm….food…..

Once our tummy’s are properly full, we bike back to the hotel, ignoring the smell of the generators as the purr away. We have approximately seen 7.25 people throughout the entire morning and we sneak back into our room, without so much as a glance to the busses full of people.
The peacefulness continues until Biceps insists we pull out P90X and ‘get our workout on’. I groan and try to hide underneath the covers…but he always finds me.
The peacefulness was good while it lasted.

A Mexican Reminder

I had a bit of a pity party this weekend.
I am woman enough to admit it.
My cell phone (my right hand) was snatched from my cart while shopping at Lowe’s. Right out from under my nose. I saw the ‘perps’ and even tried to get them to admit to what they had done. They took off, of course.
My one chance to punch someone had passed me by.

While waiting for the workers to review security tapes at Lowe’s, I began to pray that ‘those dirtbags would get caught, that there would be a prosecution and a restitution’.
And my Creator, for some crazy unknown ‘Omniscient’ type reason, brought to mind our trip to Mexico-where my cell phone didn’t matter to me anymore.

Slowly, my prayer began to change. I started praying for the men who stole my phone-that they would find Jesus somehow. My Creator brought to mind this picture as I was praying, and I knew what He was trying to say to me. I speak German, so sorry if this translation isn’t spot on. I believe the words on the fence say, “God is much bigger than my problems”.
Do you know where this fence was? Scroll down.

Here.
Next to the city of Reynosa’s landfill. This is where several hundred people call home, living in shanty’s and shacks and surviving off of other people’s trash.

Their children played soccer in this dirt lot, which was surrounded by the smoldering landfill. They were some of the happiest children I have ever met.

The shanty townspeople pilfered through the garbage, finding anything they can sell. They are so hip and green and don’t even know it…

And as I drove my air conditioned vehicle back from Lowe’s and pulled into my driveway, I was reminded of the enormity of the blessings in life. The blessing that I didn’t deserve.
I noticed that my driveway was surrounded by a freshly mowed lawn with landscaping and pathway lights. That my white house had beautiful black shutters and fresh paint on the windows.
And that my wonderful husband, Biceps was waiting for me inside with a huge hug and probably Cowboy at the helm. I cried right there in my van, realizing how unimportant the loss of my cell phone was to me at that moment.
I think it’s always good to have a little Mexican Reminder.

Oh Cecilia, You’re Breakin’ my heart….

If you don’t know this song by Simon & Garfunkel…please click here.
Then come back here. Or else.
Well, Cecilia…you’ve done it again. You’ve broken another heart.

All I wanted were a few pictures of your magnificent landscaping, the sky blue pool, the uber private rooms, the sassy ‘member’s only’ lounge area….

I had no idea, Cecilia, that you were so exclusive and that even these shots that I had already captured were strictly ‘Verboten!’.

Yes, I felt the vibe from the yard crew as they gave me the stinkeye…but I had no idea, Cecilia, as to the reason why.

I was in love with you, my dear. From the cruiser rental bikes to the perfectly manicured lawn, you had captured my heart. And then, something horrible happened-something embarrassing.

As I snapped what would now be my very last photo of you, Cecilia, I was asked to leave…rather politely-but still-asked to leave, since we were not guests.
I turned fifteen shades of red.
Don’t worry my lovely Cecilia, when I am filthy rich and cruising through Texas once again, I will be back in your arms. And I will have forgiven you for shutting me out-for breakin’ my heart-because that is what true love is.

A Naturally Cool Thing to Do

Smack dab in the middle of Austin is a gorgeous natural spring called Barton Springs, which runs through Zilker park. We were brought to this wonderful oasis by some good friends of ours while finishing up this last tour. It was refreshing, to say the least.

I had to be coaxed, prodded and bribed to wear a borrowed bikini in public. I decided to get into the water as quickly as possible. However, the water is frigid. Cold. Icy. Chilly. Polar.
It took me ten minutes just to get my ankles into the water.

The sun had begun to set, cooling off the air around us. I inched my legs further into the water. After about twenty minutes, my knees were in. I was so proud of myself. And then this little cutey pie came up behind me and plunged right in. It’s hard to have a four-year-old show you up.
I finally forced myself to get in up to my waistline. My teeth started chattering. Biceps told me that once I got all the way in, it wasn’t so bad. He has never lied to me before…but….
I decided to stay at the waist line level. Please don’t judge.

Our friend shelled out the $3 to get us into the ‘nicer side’ of Barton Springs-complete with a diving board. There is also a free side to Barton Springs, but that means no diving board, no life guards and no sitting area.
However, you can have your dogs frolic about on the free side, which is honestly pretty cute to watch. And this is coming from a cat-lady.
I recommend this ol swimmin’ hole if you are ever in the Austin area. You won’t be disappointed.