3/12/09: Key Largo
Sitting on our balcony overlooking the pool and marina. The pool is empty, the marina is not. Beggars can’t be choosers. Just got back from Coconut’s. It’s a bar across the way that features food, spirits, and the crankiest curmudgeon of a bartender to be found in these parts. We waited for 20 minutes to order a beer (unsuccessfully) whilst watching him berate others in our cast for having the audacity to bother him for a beverage. And why would you be hungry? Asshole paying customers who are pumping money into the regional economy not to mention his pocket. The nerve!!! Needless to say, that is how we ended up on our balcony. Much better vibe all the way around.
Didn’t make it to the beach today. It is a good thing. I find myself seeking naps as though sleep were a finite commodity. 3 months out, I have discovered that bus sleep is not real sleep. I have a nice set up with an egg crate, pillow and blanket that I spread on the floor across the aisle which is entirely serviceable but still not real sleep. I end up dreaming about traveling by bus. Add to that, a few (dozen) 7 am bus calls and sleep becomes a long lost friend at times. I feel like a man-squirrel gathering up sleep-nuts for the long cold winter.
Something new. We rolled into our venue tonight which was at a private resort community where rumor has it, the cheapest dump of a dwelling cost several million. And Frank and Kathy Lee have some digs there. What better company could one keep? Anywho, the presenter was a resident and bought the show personally. That doesn’t happen much if at all. Methinks someone as an unhealthy attachment to the catalog of awesomeness of one Kenny Loggins. Which is cool…..
We found out earlier in the day that the band would be…. wait for it…. wait for it…. on/in the back of one of our semi trucks. ”Surely you jest” you may find yourself saying. I jest you negative. ”An exclusive community has the civic wherewithal to build a theater but neglected to put in a pit? The most money you’ve ever been around and not even a tent?” you may exclaim in an astonished fashion? It’s true. And not as bad as you might think. Our crew fashioned some air flow with various fans placed strategically for maximum effect and the acoustics were better than some of the venues we have already played. It was a fun homage to the flexibility of our merry band of misfits. Definitely not our worst day at the office. And the catering alone made the company manager call the booking agent today to request the same venue for the next tour. (Except those pesky carnivores in the cast ate all the veggie stuff before the 2 vegetarians, myself included, made it through the line…) All in all, a good day.
and tomorrow we fly to jersey. Good bye paradise. At least tonight’s bartender prepared us for the culture shock. Just kidding! I love you New Jersey!
