Summer Marches On

Panama City, FL
Hello Friends-

Here we are again on the shores of the Gulf Of Mexico. I am happy to report that oil has not shown it's slick head. Supposedly this area of Florida is suppose to be very touristy yet we seem to be in the bad part of town as we have seen nothing but sketchy people and dirty laundramats.

The internet this week is not very good so no pictures today. Though we have some great ones to share last week when Mandi and I saw dolphins!

Our base this week is tiny, yet the most hectic when it comes to security. It is always a chore getting on and off base in a huge red truck that says MCT on the side, however once we get squared away with orders it's usually not a probelm. Not so here in Panama City. Usually 2 out of 3 times, even though we have badges and a vehicle pass, we are ask to pull aside and have our truck inspected. They are poliete about it and so are we and honestly the whole process takes less then five minutes.

Still there is something about not really feeling welcome every place you go that slowly wears on you. And as this has been the case the whole summer, Mandi and I are defianetly feeling the dregs of mid-summer tour. It's really hard to motivate yourself to go explore a town when 1. It is a pain to get on and off base. 2. You are in a very expensive region of the country (Florida has sooo many taxes) and 3. It is so hot and humid that even the locals are staying insides. We stay in best spirits as possible and thankfully next week in Columbia, SC (Ft. Jackson Army Base) we will be staying in a hotel OFF base. I think that will be a nice change of pace.

I performed as Buckaroo Bob last week and will this week (that's the Tour Actor role in Beauty Lou and the Country Beast). I forgot how fun it is to perform with those 60 kids and giving them energy they need to perform and having fun as a performer as well. It's a great feeling and it is an EXHAUSTING show. This role keeps you on stage for touch or an hour straight and you sing lots of cowboy yodeling songs. Good stuff.

So that's the report for now. We are at about the halfway point for summer tour. For the fall I will be staying on Beauty with a new tour partner and it sounds like I will be in the NW. Boy that temperate fall is looking great right now. Hope you are well.

The Adventure Continues - ML

New Orleans - Part Deux

Jacksonville, FL
Hello Friends!

After a wonderful week of wedding fun (Congratulations Erin and Kepler!) it's back to the road with a very quick week here in Jacksonville, FL. But we will come back to that, now lets jump back two weeks and talk about our fun Mandi and I had on our solo trip to the Big easy on the third of July.

First off the show in Belle Chasse went very well. It was well attended and the base commander even came and saw the show. Afterward he gave us a coin of service for our accomplishment that week. They are kind of a big deal and many other tour actors have received them as part of their endevours at other bases. I (and Mandi) had yet to receive one and was thrilled to get one. I know it is not the greatest of pictures, but trust, it is a very treasured gift. After the show our contacts took us out to a local hang out off base and we had a wonderful time.

The following day Mandi and I headed to New Orleans via the east shore ferry, which is great! Passengers ride for free (though we had to pay to park the truck) and vehicles only pay a dollar. First we headed off the Aquarium of America on the waterfront. Being a holiday weekend it was packed, but the aquarium has a nice layout and we got to see everything. It's a great aquarium and has many different types of exhibits ranging from swamps, to open ocean, to even a sting ray petting pool (they stink by the way). I being very over zealous with Mandi's camera took way too many pictures of fish. The one shown is probably the best. If you ever REALLY want to see some average and often blurry pictures of fish, just ask, I now have a ton of them.

From there we had to go get a nice cool beverage since we are in the south and hot and humid go hand in hand. So not wanting to buck the trend we promptly got ourselves some daiquiris and started strolling around the French Quarter which is much more active on the weekends and during the day then it is on a weekday night. We saw the vendors, took in the famous landmarks, and of course, hit Bourbon Street again.

This time though the Essence Magazine (African American Women's Interest I believe) music festival was in town, and boy did we see some amazing outfits as ladies were dressed to impresses on Bourbon St. We took in jazz in small allies off the main drag and of course enjoyed a few more daiquiris, it was a hot day after all.

By now it was dinner time and we wanted some more Cajun cuisine before our time in the bayou ended. After eying many other restaurants we came across a a little diner not to far from Cafe DuMond. Mandi ordered a sampler of local sea critters and I had a New Orleans original - a muffalota (really spelled wrong) sandwich. It was amazing! This sandwich is basically a fancy grilled ham and cheese only with great bread, high quality ham and provolone (I think) and the real thing that kicks it into flavor overladed is that it also has a smear of olive something on it (basically olive melody smear) and then it is all grilled to perfection. Oh my goodness, it was delightful. Oh and one word to the wise. Take all things in moderation. When Mandi went to the ladies room I took this picture of a native sitting near us. This maybe the best picture I have ever taken.

With bellies full and Mandi ready to drive (I did enjoy those daiquiris!) we back on the ferry home and said good bye to the Big Easy. New Orleans is a great town that is basking in the glory of the Super bowl winning Saints and yet still grieves from Katrina and now fears the constant threat of oil ruining it's livelihood. It is a city were anything goes. A city rooted deeply in history, tradition, and superstition. A city I look forward to visiting again real soon.

The Adventure Continues - ML

A Brief Respite

Missoula, MT
Hello Friends!

This week I am taking a break from the road and am back in Missoula for a wedding of two of my dearest friends Erin and Kepler. Every day has been filled with friends, fun, and errands and updating this blog is not one of them. I will be back on the road in Jacksonville, FL next week and look forward to posting you all about the adventures out here and, of course, the long awaited New Orleans part two update. Don't worry! They are locked away in my mind like a steal trap!

The Adventure Continues - ML

Daring Dining! ~ Crazy Horse Cafe

Pensacola, FL
Hello Friends - Welcome again to the culinary adventures of - DARING DINING!

This week's dining experience started with a simple question from our contact "Have you ever had fried green tomatoes?" With an answer of "no" from both Mandi and myself we were wisked off to Crazy Horse Cafe here in Pensacola, FL.

The Cafe is tucked away in the swamp sprawl that lines the rural highways of Florida. It is a restaurant that based on it's outside appearance is one that you would not visit on a whim. However the parking lot was full and it is clear the locals love this place, and for good reason. The inside had all the hallmarks of a ma and pa greasy spoon and it is clear that the owners are constantly trying to spruce up the place as decor varied from room to room. Our room was very IKEA. We started with an order of said fried green tomatoes (yes those are them next to Mandi's eyes) and they were tasty. Of course antyhing fried with a little bit of ranch dressing is tasty, but these were well done. The breading wasn't too heavy and the green tomatoes had a nice tartness on the inside.

Mandi order a chicken vadalia onion sandwich (I know I spelled that onion wrong, but you know what I am talking about). The sandwich was made of a fried chicken breast, vadalia onion sauce, grilled onions, fried mushrooms (yes FRIED not grilled), melted swiss cheese, and served grilled on texas toast. It was amazing. Bad news, Mandi had a snack at home before we ate and couldn't finish it. Good news, I didn't and finished it.

Both myself and our contact order off the daily special menus which could be found on the many white boards around the restaurant with popular items already rubbed off from lunch service, this place must keep busy. We both ordered the open roast beef sandwich and my two sides were green beans and mac and cheese. It was WONDERFUL! A bit on the salty side, but I like it that way. The only downside was the green beans. I just don't care for the southern style of serving them in pork grease, other then that it was well worth the $8 price. It was washed down with many cups of UNsweet icea tea (you have to be specific down here) and it made for a great meal on a hot Florida day.

Our waitress was very nice and even gave us full to go drinks of our beverages - delightful! Crazy Horse Cafe is closed Sundays and Mondays and is a bit off of I-10, but it is well worth the stop for cheap, wonderful, and completely satisfying southern comfort food. Highly Recommended!

New Orleans Part 2 coming soon - I promise!

The Adventure Continues - ML

The Big Easy - Part 1

Pensacola, FL
Hello Friends!

Greetings from the home of the Blue Angels, you know, those super fast and cool Navy jets you see at air shows? We are currently on at Pensacola Naval Air Station were the Angels are based. We are in the throws of a short week as we had the 5th of July off. Kids are doing great and our contact is wonderful, but we will talk about Florida later, first we have to discuss New Orleans! Mandi and were able to go to New Orleans twice last week. First during the week with our great contacts and then on Saturday by ourselves. (By the way that wanted picture is from a display at the back of the gym were we performed in Belle Chasse, LA. Not picture are the 20 children behind the picture taker making fun of us...)

Our first outing with our contacts (one of whom a native New Orlean-er - that is her pictured with Mandi and I) took us to get some good Cajun cooking in the French quarter. The food was much better then our experience with Lil G's, but I was a little over seafood-ed and since they boil the crawfish right in the dining area it STUNK! Thankfully I ordered the Jambalaya and it was very good (as was my Hurricane). My fellow diners had OK dinners so I was the winner!

From there we went to Bourbon St. and even though it was a weekday night it was still bopping. This was my third time on the world's most famous street so I was prepared. However this was Mandi's first time and seeing her reactions to all the drinking and strippers on the sidewalks was great. It is deferentially another world and since we didn't want to be rude tourists we had a walking drink on Bourbon St. as well. Ah the world famous daiquiris. We both ordered the "tropical itch" and enjoyed them as we strolled. They were very sugary and by golly did have a wee bit of "libations" in them.

Next we went to our last stop of the evening, beignets at Cafe du Monde . The famous 24 hour cafe is know for their beignets(French doughnuts, or fried squares of dough bathed in powder sugar) and their coffee. The binges were tasty but I still don't understand what the big deal is, it is fried dough with sugar, who hasn't had that at a fair? I did not have any of the coffee (it has chicory in it making it real good I hear). We went there at 10PM and the place was packed, poor Mandi even had to wait 20 minutes to use the bathroom.

Then it was time to go home and it was much appreciated that our contacts drove. While the night was hot, it wasn't too muggy and even a block away from the life of Bourbon St. the French Quarter was quite, calm, and beautiful. Thankfully we would be able to experience the quarter again during the day when we returned that weekend. To be continued!

The Adventure Continues - ML

Daring Dining! ~ Lil' G's Kajun Restaurant

Belle Chasse, LA
Hello Friends and welcome again to Daring Dining! Where I boldly try local culinary flair and pray it all works out.

So we can practailly throw a stone into the Gulf of Mexico here, so we thought it would be best to try some Cajon, I mean, Kajun cooking this week and low and behold we stumble upon a family owned creole restaurant Lil G's Kajun Restaurant .



From the outside the place doesn't seem that impressive and the inside stayed the course. I should take that back, the inside was lined with every kind of fish you may find in the local waters stuffed and mounted on the walls and there was even a gator head smiling at us the whole meal. It firmly establish that neither I nor Mandi would be taking a dip in a pond anytime soon.

If there was one word to describe the food at Lil G's (we assumed the "G" stood for gator) would be fried. Everything was fried, the pickles (though they were a guilty pleasure) the shrimp, and of course the fries. Now I could have gotten something else then the fried shrimp, in fact I thought I ordered grilled shrimp, but it was fried to death and I could now go without shrimp for awhile because of it. Mandi had a cheesy krab (yes krab with a k) and potato bake with broccoli. She said it was good and she would have it again.

The service was slow yet friendly. We chalked it up to being close to closing on a Sunday. I couldn't help but wonder if they are now getting their seafood products elsewhere because of the spill. The reader board out front even read "Yes we do have seafood!" as if people had asked the question many a times.

It is interesting to have seen and read many stories about the oil spill for weeks and now to actually be in a community that is being deeply affected by it really puts things into perspective.

At any rate while I didn't enjoy the food too much, I hope this Ma and Pa seafood shanty can weather the coming storms of seafood scarcity.

The Adventure Continues - ML

Ducks, Drives, and Everything in Between

Belle Chasse, LA (About 20 miles south of New Orleans)
Hello Friends!

Greetings from the Pelican State! I write to you from another room in the long line of Navy Inn's I will be staying on this tour. I am happy to report that I have not seen nor been stung by a wasp since arriving on this installation. Things are looking up. Let's back track shall we.

Friday after rehearsal Mandi and I headed into Memphis, TN to see the sights of the city. The sights of Memphis being Beale Street and the Peabody Ducks. For those not familiar with the Peabody ducks, the short story is as follows: back in the day two drunk hunters thought it would be fun to put live ducks in the fountain of the fanciest hotel in Memphis. When they staggered out of bed the next day the ducks had drawn quite a crowd and the rest is history. Here is the long version. It was a lot of fun to see a packed lobby and an entertaining Emcee tells us the history of the ducks and their lives, and sure enough, at five o'clock the ducks walked the red carpet and were escorted to an elevator and taken to their duck palace on the top floor. It was rad.

Beale street was only a block away and little did we know that it is was s smaller version Bourbon Street. The sidewalks were lined with with beer vendors while restaurant barkers tried to coherse us into their establishemnts. Every place had live blues of some form playing and police were everywhere (this was around 5:30 on a Friday night and things were starting to get busy). We didn't stay too long and choose to eat elsewhere. However it is defianetly a place I would like to experince when I can stay for awhile and not have a cast of a children waiting to work with in the morning.

Our first week of Beauty Lou and the Country Beast went very well. Mandi did a great job on-stage for her first outing as Buckaroo Bonnie (I will be Buckaroo Bob in a few weeks, that's going to look great on the old acting resume!) and the kids, while a very young cast, did quite well. Mandi and I enjoyed a nice evening of pizza and Tim Burton movies on TV but not before I was stung AGAIN! Ugh... wasps...

Sunday we headed to Graceland (it was on the way), home of one Elvis Presley. It would have been $35 each for us to go in. So we went to the free gift shop and promptly left. I recommend you do the same.

We then went south on I-55 to New Orleans and ultimately Belle Chasse. I have been to Louisiana before and I am still amazed at how different the landscape is down here. A good chunk of 55 (and I-10) in Louisiana near New Orleans is on an elevate highway over bayous, it is wonderful. Our contact meet us at the gate and we got settled in our rooms nicely, we even got nice SWAG bags full of goodies such as mints, a coffee mug, totes and so on. SWAG standing for Stuff We All Get that is usually associated with expos when you collect a lot of free stuff, I have had to explain the term a lot these past few days (The more you know!) It made us feel very welcome and with one day done, the week is off to a great start.

This week we will be going to the Big Easy and seeing the sights and experiencing some wonderful thunderstorms and Cajun eats and we even may see our first sights of some oil spill. Anyone heard about this?

The Adventure Continues - ML