I can't believe its Tuesday!! For once the long weekend didn't just fly by me! I really didn't do much for once and that was quite nice. Friday night Anna and I went to Preservation Hall to see Leroy play. We had a lot of fun and Leroy invited her to bring her trombone to Donna's the next night!! However, I think Anna was a little intimidated. Neither one of us ended up going to Donna's on Saturday. I just hung out at home and read, had Adam run me up to the store...and that was it. Sunday I did more of the same, although I did go to see Star Wars finally. Then over to Adam and Carrie's for awhile. Yesterday...I didn't leave the house at all. Overall it was a relaxing weekend. Until I got the email from the jackass who said he was taking the available room, and was sending the deposit/rent for June. The email he sent yesterday said "I think I am going to wait" Ummmm do you think you could have called to tell me that??? Told me sooner??? I have ONE freakin day to find someone!! Asswipe. He said he wants to look at the room on the 15th if its still available. Well, even if it is I sure as hell don't want you to have it. Liz and I came up with a solution last night to cover the rent for that portion...its not the best idea, but its covering it...and we will have to deal with somethings in the end ourselves. I just actually got an email from Liz saying one girl is on her way over to look at the place, and she has another lead. I have one myself.....the girl works from home as a sex phone operator!!! Anyway....on to more positive items.

Tonight after work, I am going to meet up with Carrie and Adam and we are going to Virgin Records. Better Than Ezra is doing an acustic set there. Their new CD was released today, "Before the Robots" I have heard a few of the songs from it and its pretty good. Then tomorrow, we are going to walk about 2 blocks down the street for a 5:00 free show, by none other than Cowboy Mouth! I think that is going to be one interesting show!! I have no plans music wise until Saturday. Mark Braud is playing at Louisiana Music Factory, to promote his new CD.

One fun thing I have been meaning to mention but haven't is one of my co-workers does movie work. Doug actually does freelance stuff for us. He was in "Runaway Jury" as the Juror who gets tossed during selection because he has blood all over his shirt. He also just played Chet Atkins in that Elvis movie that was just on CBS. I watched the first part and actually didn't realize it was him! Then last night on A&E, I watched "Faith of My Fathers" and he was in the last 15 mins. I know a mini-celeb!!

I am back to wearing my glasses today. Last night on the street car I could barely open my left eye. Thats the eye I had surgery over a year ago. Between wearing the contacts for almost 20 hours a day for the past 2 days, and allergies, my eye had had enough. I was looking super sexy!

I gave Phil a call, since I knew he was hanging out until going to see George Porter Jr. play. He said "did you know your friends Craig and Matt are playing down on Royal Street at 5:30?" "no? why?" "its for some food and wine festival, they are walking up and down Royal playing." So we went to go and check it out. They were strolling along playing, Matt was grumpy because he couldn't indulge in the wine. He had another gig later that evening . Those guys are always playing somewhere! I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this IS their job. They seem to be having so much fun. Except when they can't have the wine. Anyway, Craig says to me, "Lucien is in the next band Stacey" Well hell...of course I want to see Lucien. Who no matter how many times I am introduced to him, he doesn't remember me. Oh well. Well who should else be in that band?? But Leroy Jones and Mark Braud. You just never know who you are going to run into. Anyway, Phil and I wandered around a bit talking about merch and random other things.

I pretty much ran out of here at 5:00 yesterday. "Free at last!" Got a lot of interesting looks from the "Got Bone" T-shirt. I met Phil in the hotel bar where we chatted and had a beer. Phil is full of a ton of ideas and I am very excited to see them put into action. Not only just for Bonerama merchandise, but for the website as well. We had the taxi take us to the Boot which is right off the Tulane campus. We were figuring out where to go exactly when who do we see walking towards us? Brian, Matt, and Bert! They had just finished soundcheck and were walking over to grab some pizza before the gig. We started chatting for a few minutes, and along came Eric and Steve. Practically the whole band. They told us where to go, after we told them we couldn't join them for a slice. We had to go sell merch man!! We found the green room area where the guys had their stuff stashed, then out to scope out where we would sell the merch. They were playing an actual theatre. Definetly not the norm. We set the merch table up in the lobby. I was sad for about a minute when I realized that I wouldn't actually get to "see" them play. However I soon got over that. As we started setting up, people started flocking over. We soon had a line of people to sign up on the mailing list, and lots of money was exchanging hands. There were no worries about hearing the guys at all. They started playing and nearly tore the roof off!! A lot of the people that I talked to said that the Bonerama show what they were looking most forward too for the whole conference. We had a few more things to sell as well. Matt brought out a few copies of Ambassadors of New Orleans which I actually finally bought a copy of last night. Steve brought out a book he had put together of breathing techniques as well as how to rehearse. Both Phil and I would take quick turns peeking into the packed theatre, it was a little odd for me. Everyone was sitting. How in the world they were sitting during "Shake Your Rugalator" is way beyond me. Luckily Steve's girlfriend came over and danced with me in the back and we were thisclose to running up front to dance. We totally should have. They played two sets and during the break it was a contolled chaos at the merch table. After the show more of the same. Anna got the chance to meet the guys, and said she LOVED them. Again..how could you not? Mark is in trouble because he didn't play my request. ;) Overall it was a fantastic show, even without the dancing. It was probably the most attentive audience they have ever had. After we had packed up everything, we loaded up various cars and then drove it all over to Loyola (right next to Tulane) and unloaded so they would be ready to go for this mornings clinic.

Which I did get to attend. Kinda. We were again set up outside the room, and as soon as we pulled out something that said "Bonerama" there was a line. It was so cool. We could hear strains of "Crosstown Traffic" and then it was quiet. Wasn't sure what they were exactly doing in there, but I found out later, David who does most of their sound for the shows told me that they played the song. They had up on a screen the music for the song (except for the solos) they then talked about the process of arranging the song. They took questions. Then they played another tune, and were done. Again more streaming masses of people at the merch table. We ended up doing the biggest merch sales in these two days, than we have done in one night at a club. Of course it was a trombone conference and the people were there to buy. And they loved, loved, loved the sound of the band. I then ran back to work. I am so happy with how it went, and am so excited for how things are moving along for the band. I wish I could go to Little Rock and help out, one day that could be in the picture, but not quite there yet.

I am sooooo freakin excited about tonight's show!!! I have changed into my "got bone" shirt, my bonerama necklace, and am now just sitting here waiting for the ole 5:00 work whistle to blow. Phil did make it so I am going up to his hotel to meet up with him, thten we are off. Why should I be so excited? besides the obvious reason of seeing Bonerama live? Its because my friend Anna is in town, and this will be her first time seeing them live (not counting yesterday's rehearsal cuz she didn't hear much of that) I soooo love introducing people to Bonerama's music, and its so much better when you see them live. Not that their CDs suck or anything, because they are live, but to be there and experience that music coming at you full blast. There is nothing like it.

2 minutes and counting.....

That I will ever get bored of talking about or seeing Bonerama live? I honestly don't think so. They are playing tonight for this trombone convention thingy. There will be 800 people attending the conference. Give or take. Not too sure how many will be there tonight. A majority of the trombonist attending study/play classical music so it will be interesting to see how they take to the guys. Mark was sounding a little nervous last night, I am sure it will be fine with more than just "one or two new fans" as he was predicting. Phil is going to be in town, as long as his plane left on time so both him and I will be working the crowd, selling the merch. I am really looking forward to tonight, it should be fun and educational. Oh and the good news is Mark knew that the "big" birthday was 3 months away...without me reminding him. Lisa must have reminded him. ;)

On a completly different note, I did meet a very nice potential roomie. She would be able to move in, in July. And we may have someone for just June to July. Now to fill the other spot. Hopefully soon!! That is if she decides to move in. Fingers are still crossed on that one.

Liza's new bed is now a plastic, blue WalMart bag. My cat is weird.

I have hopefully 2 people coming to look at the place tonight. I am going to hope that at least one will take the place. Maybe both. One other person I talked to is going to have a friend come by as he doesn't live here yet. He is going to be doing his residency at Charity hospital. Adrian also has one person coming by. Not sure when she will come by, but she is also doing her residency here in NOLA. I could have 2 DRs as roomies. That would be interesting. Hopefully they will all come by early tonight. My friend Anna Lindvall that I talked about a few posts ago is here in town now and we are going to try to get together tonight. The trombone conference that she is in town for, starts tomorrow, so I know she will be busy for a few days. Luckily tomorrow night we will get to hang out together since Bonerama is playing an evening show for the conference. I am waiting to hear from Phil to see if he is coming to town. He thought he would be, but hadn't made a decision as of late last week. Mark had asked if I would possibly be available to help on Thursday as well, when they are teaching their clinic. That is if Phil didn't come up. I think I am going to ask for the morning off anyway. It is James' last week here and he isn't doing much right now, so he could totally sit up for the morning and cover the desk. That seems fair right? It totally does seem fair to me.

I need 2 new roomies!!! PRONTO. The end of the month is almost here. And I have been posting on craigslist for over a month now and no real solid bites. I thought I had some, but then they decided that their move in date would have to be later. Well thats good, move in later, but send rent now!!! I have had everyone from normal peoples to a sex phone operator. Seriously. Liz has posted a few times about the room as well on Craigslist, and has posted a listing at her "school" Adrian has done the same. Am I wrong to think that because techincally since they are leaving before the lease is up that it should be almost fully their responisblity to find people to take their spots? The lease is up in August and we would be re-signing it will all the new roomies. Liz has done a lot more work I think, than Adrian has. And she has a lot more going on. Like finishing her thesis. I keep thinking it will be nice to find people, but at the same time...I should have gotten my own place. *sigh*

I had a very very nice weekend. How could you not with friends, good music, and lots of wine? Oh and seeing Matthew FREAKIN McConaughey and having him utter "are you sitting here" to me. More about that. I am gonna go to the beginning of my weekend.

First of all Friday evening. I went to run some errands right after work and decided to swing by and see if Eric happened to be working. It had been a couple of weeks since I had seen him, he wasn't there, but Marti my other favorite bartender was there. She informed me that Eric was no longer working there!!! OH the horror. We will have to get to the bottom of this. I then ran home and changed and then went out to Tips. On my way there I picked up a little something for the guys, as a thank you for being so nice all the time. I got 2 bottles of my favorite wine, Luna di Luna. They seemed to enjoy it, I saw Craig hold up one of the bottles during the show. The set was awesome. Again a little too short for my liking, but thats okay. I got a lot of people to sign up on the mailing list and sold out of the "Live from New York" CD and sold a few shirts. I was pretty happy with that. Ivan Neville's Dumpsta Funk totally and completly kicked ass. It was some solid groovin funk. Craig came out for a bit and kept me company during that set, then he went and sat in for the last half of the set with Mark. It was a great time.

Saturday I went and had a mani/pedi morning, then home to get ready to head out to the winery. It was a beautiful area, the wine was great, not the best I have had ,but not the worst either. I was the only one who enjoyed the white, it didn't taste like vomit like Mark Braud said it did. I think he has a block on white wine, later at Blue Nile he didn't like their white wine either. I wish I had taken a camera out there. They did a second line through the vineyard, and at the end of the night, most of the kids that were in attendence were dancing on the stage. Gabby, a young girl who I have seen at several other of Craig's shows, also sang. The first one, "Bourbon Street Parade" was good. However "When the Saints" was bad. Not the guys playing, but she didn't know the words to it. Oh well. Everyone seemed to have a great time and thats what matters. I even sold several CDs for Craig. After the show, we loaded up and headed back into town where Matt, Mark and Craig all played with Ingrid. That was a nice set as well.

Yesterday I went to see my boyfriend's new movie Kingdom of Heaven. While I enjoyed most of the movie there were some of the fight scenes I didn't like. The way some of them were filmed, it made it almost like a strob light effect. Also the sound in the theatre wasn't all that great and some of the words were lost. Then last night, I went to One Eyed Jack's to see the Burlesque show that happening there. Mark Braud was sitting in for the trumpet player. While standing there waiting for a drink at the front bar, this guy asks me "Are you sitting here?" that was Matthew. I didn't realize right away thats who it was, and after the show, he was still at the front bar. It was so him. He does look fantastic in person. I didn't want to leave, but it was loud in the bar and it was hard to talk with Mark. And that was the weekend.

After I finished posting yesterday about the Mountaineer Players, I emailed one of the producers and grilled her about what was going on. Her youngest is playing Tiger Lily, and the stage manager is Katie McCoy. Katie's first show with the Players was also my first show, "Fiddler on the Roof" that was back in 1997. She has been in almost every show since. I think she took one year off....I believe it was during "Secret Garden". A magical thing happened that first year for Katie, she met Craig McCoy. Craig has been doing shows for the Mountaineers for years, and years, and years. Since he was a little boy. They met, fell in love and eventually got married. They are the sweetest couple ever. And Katie makes the BEST cookies EVER. Every weekend rehearsal that we would spend out there, out came the cookies. Katie's cookies!! Katie's cookies!!! It was so easy to get the kids under control with those around. Katie had also emailed me, saying that she missed me, but was having fun with this year round job. It is her first time as Stage Manager. I wish her all the luck, and know that she is having the time of her life.

So Gala's daughter Amy Beth is Tiger Lily, I know she is having a blast. I bet she was bummed when she didn't get the part of Wendy. Its an interesting dynamic when you have two families that are really close as the Estills and the Lindvalls are. Nancy Estill and Gala Lindvall are co-producers. The Lindvall's are a family of 5, one son and two daughters (Eric, Anna and Amy Beth) The Estill's are a family of 4, two daughters (Sarah and Jenny) The girls are all very close in age, and are very close in their personal lives. When it comes to audition time...it gets tricky. Because it was often that the two oldest (Sarah and Anna) would be up for the same role as would be the two youngest. It was really hard during the casting of "Sound of Music". Each girl is capable of carrying the roles they are up for which makes it even harder, and when your mom is a producer, it gets even harder. "Sound of Music" was a circus for many reasons, and casting was just the start. But the girls always take the casting very well and are very supportive of one another. The last show I did with them, "Wizard of Oz", we double cast Dorothy. Anna and Jenny. By this time, Sarah had graduated High School and was at college, therefore couldn't do the show. It was also Anna's last show as she was graduating that spring. It was a treat for me to see both girls in the role....bringing something just a bit different to it. Amy Beth is the one with the real desire to be a full time actress, I bet she will do it. I met these people back in 1997, I was 22 fresh from college. The kids were from I would guess 9 to 12/13 years old. I am shocked when I realize that Sarah is in her 3rd year of college, Anna her second, and if I am not mistaken...Jenny is graduating this year. Man that makes me feel old. Anna is going to actually be here in New Orleans at the end of the month. She is studying music, she plays ready for it?? ready?? Trombone and Euphoniom. I kid you not. I know exactly who I will be introducing her to when she is here. I have shared with her both Bonerama and Mulebone, right after I got their CDs and she seemed to enjoy it. I am excited that I will get to see her!!

I haven't actually "missed" not doing theatre work until this weekend. When I realized that had I still been in Seattle, I would be 2 1/2 weeks away from opening a show with the Mountaineer Players This year they are doing Peter Pan. Eh. I am sure that it would be a technical headache doing that show in the outdoor setting. I wonder who they roped into being Stage Manager this year. Okay....just clicked on the publicity photos link...and for the first time in 9 months I missed Seattle. I am missing a show that Christy Gordon is in!! I have bugged her for as long as I have known her to do another show. Now that I have left...she has. Jenny Estill is Wendy Darling....Jenny is one of the smartest girls I have ever met. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her as she was in INDIA for the summer. And Cooper as Peter Pan???? I can't express how proud I am to see that. In fact I had tears in my eyes. Cooper started doing shows with us, I guess it was my third year. Secret Garden. And he was a crow. Yes a crow. He would make me laugh hysterically, as only a 9 year old can with his crow impressions. He was/is a hard little worker. The next year he was Winthorp in Music Man. Before his first entrance, he would be so nervous that it became the practice for me to find him in the wings, and he would just grab my hand and squeeze as tight as he could. Then he would run onstage. I would spy him across the stage waiting for various entrances, doing his crow impression, cracking me up yet again. In fact, last year when I went to a performance of "Oliver!" (I decided to not do the show to prepare for my move) he ran up the ampitheatre stairs, fell flat on his face, stood up and did the crow impression. And to see that publicity shot of him singing "I Gotta Crow" just brings a smile to my face. Seeing Scott Baker, Tom Randall, just all of my "kids" old and young. I do miss them. I miss that family atmosphere we had. I am though, still kind of glad that I haven't done any shows since moving here. Working on show after show since 1997 took a toll on me, so while I miss some aspects of it, I don't miss others. Besides here I get to have somewhat of a social life, see all the Bonerama gigs and help them out with merch. But I do miss my "theatre family" from the Forest Theatre.

It was a quiet weekend. For real. Not a made up story. In fact...um what did I do on Friday? I came home, and I finally watched all of "I :heart: Huckabees" It took me a long time though. I was so tired, no matter what I did, I kept falling asleep. I would wake up, go back to where I last remembered and try it again. I must have done that like 5 times. It was a fun movie, a little odd, but the acting was fantastic!!! Saturday I got up...ran some errands, did laundry, watched the Kentucky Derby, and then read. See? nothing exciting. Sunday, more reading, and then went over to Adam and Carrie's for awhile. We watched "Life of Brian" and then that lame Elvis movie. Just so we could see the parts that were filmed here. They filmed part of it just down the street from their house. Next weekend is shaping up to be a fun one though. I am of course going to the Bonerama show at Tips on Friday night and doing the merch thing. Then on Saturday there is the possiblity that I am going out to Pontchatrain Vineyards, to see Craig play with the Euphonious Brass Band. One of my co-workers came up to me this morning and said "your friends with Craig Klein right?" "yup" "he is playing out at the winery this weekend, they are advertising it like crazy and I have always wanted to go out to the winery and to see him play" So if she goes....I am catching a ride with her. Hope it works out. She has been wanting to come see Bonerama play, but never seems to make it to the Friday night shows due to going out with friends right afterwork. ;)

My cat waits for me at the door. Well technically at the top of the stairs. Doesn't matter what time of day or night. When I come home from work, she is there. When I come home from a late night out, she is there. Just hanging out. Waiting for me. Maybe once or twice she hasn't been there, because she is zonked out somewhere. She does other things that I think are dog "qualities" like playing with her water dish when its empty. I have found it in various parts of the house. She plays tug a war. She does other random things as well. When Kristy was here, she said she woke up at 3:45 AM and watched Liza walk around my head, sniffing, nuzzling, and meowing at me. For about 10 mins she did that. This morning I woke up to her licking my ear. She is an odd one, but you know what? So am I. So we go together perfectly

I didn't have to go. I didn't...but I really wanted to see Cowboy Mouth. I know I have seen them alot in the past few months, but they always put on a good show. And what was one more late night anyway?? It was for a good cause. The show was a benefit for the summer camp they help sponsor for children with Cerebral Palsy. They had a golf tournament yesterday as well. They played in the HOB Parish, which was tiny, tiny, tiny. At least for a CM show that is. There were maybe 200-250 people there, we were of course right up front. Almost sitting on Fred's drums. I finally got a drum stick. After going to so many freakin shows. It was a fun show....people were just letting go. They seemed to be speeding through some of the songs...I am sure its because they were tired as well. The next time I will see them will be June 1, just about 4 blocks from my work. They will play 5-7 on a Wed....every Wed there is music there in the park. That should be fun.

Is it sad that I got excited when I realized that Bonerama has a show next Friday at Tips??? I know I just saw them 5 times in a week....but damn its good music. And now I have lots of cool shit to sell for them. hmmm and they are playin a fest over memorial weekend...in Little Rock...my aunt lives there. I should go and visit her.

Jazz Fest has come to a close for another year. I must say that my first fest as an official resident was pretty darn cool....and tiring. I have NO idea how the musicians do it. Going from stage to stage, playing for hours. I mean I am totally wiped and I just enjoyed myself.

I am trying to remember as much as possible...no not because of drinking so much that I don't remember, but because the days blend and everything is like a blur. Some days felt like 2 different days. It was very cool that we would go from seeing Gavin DeGraw to going to see John,Mark, and Anders all in one night. Then BTE and New Orleans Helsinki Connection the next. A wide range of fantastic music. I am so lucky to get to do this.

Friday we left work at noonish. We got out to the fest around 1:00. I had to meet up with all my work homies...as it was a work "outing" I walked over to the Brass Band Stage with Kristy and saw the first song by the New Orleans Nightcrawlers. (Matt had on the most Rock Star shirt EVER) I left Kristy there and went to find out where the work "homebase" was going to be. Luckily they chose the Acura stage. I text msg'd Kristy "have they played Funky Liza yet" and she responded "yes right now" I RAN. okay walked really really fast back to the stage and caught the last half of the song....we stuck around for most of that set. On the way back to the work blanket we grabbed some food and beverages. Creole Bread is my friend. YUMMMMMM I decided I needed to find out about later on that night....the whole merch selling deal. Phil, Donna and I had kinda talked about it, but nothing had been set in stone. I was suppose to let Mark know, so that if I wasn't helping with merch, he would put me on the guest list. I knew that I had to let him know soon...so after talking to Phil and yes, I was helpin, I gave Mark a call. This was right when BTE was starting their first song. Now the night before Mark hadn't mentioned a word about playing with them. He had talked about everyone else. So I didn't think he was gonna be up there. So the message was quite amusing. "Hi Mark...gonna help with merch, don't worry about the guest OH MY GOD YOUR ON THE BIG SCREEN" There was lots of cheering by Kristy and I. Later Mark said something about how funny it was, and "you were so drunk" but we weren't. Just overly excited. BTE sounded great, and played several new tunes that I just LOVED. Can't wait for the new CD. After they were done, we found a shady spot by the Sprint stage and listened to some of Randy Newman's set. We couldn't see him, just hear him. We left soon after that, and taxi'd it back to my work where we hung out for a bit...changed clothes and then headed out for a drink before the show at Tips. The show there was awesome. They played for 2 hours...give or take, Anders was up there for about an hour. We had lots of people coming up and signing up on the mailing list.....not a whole lot was sold, and we didn't stick around for the PGF set to sell as they needed to set up their merch there. We got home about 3, with Phil saying "koozies at 11" HA. I dreamt of thunder and lighting....to wake up to thunder and lighting and a DOWNPOUR. We talked with Donna a few times and decided to make a solid decisions after eating food. The fest was still on...but the idea of standing out in the rain trying to hand out koozies just wasn't appealing. We opted for shopping instead. Then it was back to the house to wait for the BTE show. Kristy and I giggled over the old Harry appearances, how much the guys have changed. Then off we went to HOB. Donna met us outside as Mark was able to get us all 3 in. The show was fun. Donna hadn't heard them much before, and she had a great time. There were some sound issues, but nothing TO major. The show was kinda short as well, because they were doing late night shows at HOB and so the change over must have been hell. All three of us then went over to Donna's for some fun times. Paul gave me trouble again....go figure. Again we were home by 3. Up at 8 and out the door shortly after. We were waiting in line for the gates to open by 9:30. It was quite amusing to see all these people RUNNING for the stages, with their chairs, coolers and other various items flapping around. We got a fairly good spot right up front and enjoyed some fun latin music. The Bonerama set started right at 12:35...and was done by 1:25. But the crowd was totally into it. Most of the people around us knew Bonerama, those that didn't were loving them at the end. And it was a pretty darn big crowd. We then went over to the Virgin tent and giggled like maniacs as we go in the meet and greet line. We were so happy to see so many people in line and many with both CDs in hand. Craig tried to sign body parts...no no Craig!! LOL Then it was off to wander from stage to stage, eating food and just relaxing. Los Lonely Boys put on a fun set as well. We took off from the grounds around 6:15 and chilled at house for about an hour and then off again to Tips for the final show for Bonerama. I was both sad and glad it was over. I was worn out. The Funky Meters set was a lot of fun!!! Bed by 2 this time. Now I am at work....trying to decide if I am going to go to CM show tonight or not. I may also be going to have dinner with Phil and Donna. This weekend I am not moving from my bed.