On the Road - Los Angeles

In an effort not to make every post just a retelling of the day waiting in line and the concert that followed, I think it’s time to talk about the nitty gritty of following a band.  First of all, you’re gonna be tired.  It’s a thing that’s going to happen.  You’re not going to get enough sleep.  You’re going to get up early to line up, stay up late waiting for the guys by the bus or going to the after party, and spend a few nights driving as far as you can before you actually have to lay down.  You can be as prepared and scheduled as you want, but you’re still going to be tired and not get enough sleep.  That’s just....how it is.  Before lining up for the LA show I got probably three solid hours.  Three.  I’m not proud, but here we are!  

Luckily, the line in LA was pretty pleasant.  The spots Lorraine and I procured were in the shade for all but an hour of the day, and we were next to a door that sometimes blew out some air conditioning.  I also have learned that it’s totally acceptable to spend the better part of the day in comfy clothes (ahem...pajamas) and change later, and I have perfected the art of sleeping in a camper chair.  This was the second show, so there were plenty of friendly nods and smiles of recognition when we took our spots.  Hey, we’re all here again!  Cool!  

I was able to take a nap in the van during the day which definitely helped my mental and physical state, but I was still pretty wiped from the day we had in Anaheim.  When we finally got ready to go into the venue, a wave of exhaustion hit me.  When we actually got into the theatre, it was hot and stuffy and I definitely had a moment where I thought I was not going to make it through the show.  I sat on the floor, since we had an hour until the show started and took a few deep breaths.  This was probably the low point of the follow for me…

But then the show started….

I don’t know how we do it, every single time, but somehow the music is magic.  Already Home began and I felt my heart pumping and the smile returning to my face and it was like a jolt of energy coursed through my body.  I was definitely still tired, and by the end I could feel myself crashing (I could barely jump for If Only!!  The blasphemy!!), but the show itself was incredible.

The night was full of surprises. Some highlights!

• Well first of all, a humongous disco ball was lowered during Where’s the Love.  I’m talking HUGE.  Zac’s face when he saw it right above him was priceless.

• This Time Around was a definitely a high point.  It was just so powerful and resonated with me this….time around.  
• They played Runaway Run which will ALWAYS be one of my favorites and will always give me the best kind of goosebumps.  I love it so much.
• Wildflowers again!!
• They brought Danny Hutton from Three Dog Night on stage to sing Never Been to Spain with them.  I’m pretty sure they were way more excited than anyone in the audience was (even though I was screaming pretty hard myself).  It’s so cool to see musicians you admire play and interact with musicians they clearly admire.  
• I actually DIDN’T cry during SETB.  So that was the biggest surprise of the night for me.
• I Was Born really is a high point for me every night, which is still crazy considering how long it took me to really warm up to the song.  I was so tired by this point and I was kind of crashing so I just stood still and listened to Taylor’s speech and smiled like an idiot.  I let it all kind of just wash over me, and that was exactly what I needed it to do.  
• I did in fact cry....during…...MmmBop???  I know, I know...out of all the songs in the entire Hanson catalogue.  MmmBop.  But let me explain!!  The ASL interpreter signed the chorus in a way I was definitely not expecting.  She made a heart with her hands and then signed “I love you” in rhythm with the music and it really choked me up!!  Because that’s what it’s all about, right?  Holding on to the ones we love, and making sure they know we love them and are there for them.  Because this moment is all we have!  

Oh yeah, and it was Zac's birthday!!!! 

And because this moment is all we have, sometimes it’s okay to only get three hours of sleep in order to go to a concert.  Sometimes it’s okay to take a nap in a van and spend the day on the sidewalk and talk to your best friend on the phone even though you sound like you’re completely delirious.  Sometimes it’s okay to make friends fast and hard and cling to them for a week, only to say goodbye when the stage lights go out and it’s time to go home.  It’s okay to go through the nitty gritty in order to do the things that make you feel the most alive.  

Peace, Love, and my first birthday on this planet,

KT

If I wait for summer to begin...

Holy wow, it's been a while, hasn't it?  I was even joking with my sister, who has a blog she actually updates regularly, that blogging is not my thing.  But writing definitely IS my thing, so I'm going to keep this little website in my back pocket for whenever I need or want it.  It's been with me through a whole heck of a lot.

So it's the end of May, you guys!!  Isn't that...crazy?  I feel like time is always flying by so fast.  I'm getting sick of saying "I can't believe it's *insert month here*", but I can't!  So anyway, SUMMER.  I have always loved the summer months.  Even after I graduated and became an ~adult~ there was just something about this time of year that put a tingle of possibility in my bones.  Growing up, summer meant being in a production, or at musical theatre camp, or going on a fun trip.  It meant new friends and new places and dreams as big as the sky over the arboretum.  My favorite memories are summers. Living in the musical theatre bubble of GSA, spending twelve hours a day at Lexington Children's Theatre, performing Rent or Hair or Once on this Island, moving to St. Pete and doing The Burnt Part Boys.

Around this time of year I get an itch.  It's the feeling that something BIG is about to happen, and I know that it's just my body saying "heyyyyy you're about to do a project or go on a trip"  even when it's not actually the case anymore (adulthood, am I right?).  So I guess my challenge to myself, and to all of you, is to USE that itch.  That summery restless feeling where our fingers and toes tell us that school is out, time to do something that we could write a YA novel about, but our brains know that we're still going to have to get up for work every day.  Use it to pick up an old hobby, or go to the beach, or go on a day trip, or spend a Saturday reading adventure novels.  Or...you know...actually do something crazy. Realize that dream you've been thinking about all winter. It's summer, after all.

Savannah Highlights

Before making my way to St. Pete to start working on "The Burnt Part Boys", my Mom and I went to Savannah to visit my brother!  I was incredibly excited to go because I've never been and I love being able to spend time with Andy.  The city totally exceeded my expectations!  I absolutely loved it...here are some highlights of how we spent our time there:

-Walking and exploring: I was immediately overwhelmed with how beautiful and historic the city was.  I could feel the spirits and stories everywhere, and of course the spanish moss hanging from every tree made it even more picturesque.  

-Dinner at Kayak Cafe .

-Ukulele jam sessions. 

-Daily breakfast at The Sentient Bean: This was definitely one of my favorite places we discovered.  Every morning we would walk through Forsyth Park and fuel up on organic, fair trade coffee and fresh, vegan baked goods.   Their iced coffee was delicious, and every day I tried a different pastry.  But all of that pales in comparison to the real treat - people watching.  What with SCAD students buzzing around, the natural foods market right next door, and vagabonds trying to give away litters of kittens across the street, you could spend hours there just observing. 

- Shops and Squares: We spent the majority of the afternoons walking around Savannah, exploring the different shops and the myriad of squares the city has to offer. We also walked around the cemetery which of course was a highlight for me. Mom scored some fancy salt at The Salt Table, and I was able to while away some time in a heavenly book shop called The Book Lady.
                                                  

-Savannah Sandgnats Baseball Game: This might have been my favorite thing we did!  Wednesday evening we went to a minor league baseball game (after waiting out the rain for a bit).  It was a blast and the Sandgnats won 6-1!!

- The Jepson Center Art Museum.

- The Owens-Thomas House.

- The Cathedral.

- Dinner at The Green Truck Pub.

- A trip to the beach.

- A stop at a fruit stand for boiled peanuts.

- Flannery O'Connor's childhood home.

- Happy Hour at Mellow Mushroom: They wouldn't take my hard earned Mellow Bucks. 

-People watching and sunshine soaking in Forsyth Park.

Savannah was so much fun...a huge thanks to Andy and Dawn for being our hosts for the week.  If you can't tell, I love travelling with my Mom.  We always have so much fun together and some how we never want to strangle each other.  So that's cool. 

St. Pete, here I come!! 

What I Read: "Wild"

"The Universe, I'd learned, was never, ever kidding. It would take whatever it wanted and it would never give it back"

-Cheryl Strayed 

You know I really like a book when I actively restrain myself from finishing it.  I was so engrossed in Strayed's journey that I found myself wishing it would be longer, yet excited to see her through to the end.  If you can, I suggest you go to the library and check out a copy.  As someone who is in a seemingly lost generation, "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" by Cheryl Strayed is one of the most inspiring things I have ever read. 

Why I read it: I jetted to the library to pick up the one copy they had checked in at the time because my sister told me to.  If there's one thing I can count on Beth for, it's good book recommendations.  I like to think I got that gene too (thanks Mom!), but with the promise of an adventure story plus a virtual book club, I definitely took her up on the advice.  I knew I would be into it.  As I said yesterday, I love hiking. If I could, I would hike every day.  I also love the idea of a woman, not much older than me, setting out on a huge adventure all by herself.  The idea of escaping into that journey through the author's words thrilled me, so I immediately dove in headfirst.  

What I loved:  The honesty of this book is really what makes it worth the read.  Strayed isn't a person who views her past through 20/20 spectacles.  She remembers the embarrassment of the first moments, when she couldn't even stand while carrying her backpack (a very real fear I have for when I hike the AT.  It's going to be comedic gold though.  I'm going to make Beth film it because that shit will go viral).  She remembers the pain and brutality of every step she took on the trail.  I loved witnessing, through her writing, her moments of fear, loss, and frustration.  I could feel the overwhelming weight of "Monster" (her lovingly nicknamed pack) on my back, making my steps seemingly impossible.  I could feel the insatiable hunger in my belly, ever present and never satisfied.  These trying times made the moments of clarity and self discovery even more heart wrenching and awe inspiring.  Cheryl truly was able to find herself on the trail.  Peel away layers and find what it was to be fully human and fully alive.  She is an inspiration to me as I continue in my own journey of self discovery...a journey I have found many of my peers to be traversing as well.  

Why you should read it: 

-If you enjoy the outdoors, whether hiking, camping, or just sitting out in nature is your jam...the relationship Strayed forged with nature is one of total trust, respect, and understanding.  There were times she felt more at home on the trail than off of it, and isn't that what it should be like anyway?

-If you're looking for self-discovery...true, this is a special case.  Extreme measures were taken by the author in order to "find herself", but I think you will be pleasantly surprised how much you relate to her.  

-If you're looking to disconnect...I know that if I spend too much time around technology, my brain can get a little buzzy.  This book reminded me how important it is to disconnect from that and thus connect with humans and the beautiful world around us. 

-If you're excited for hiking season...there was a little teaser of warmth a few days ago, followed by snow yesterday (brb, crying) but now it's starting to warm back up again.  The sun is out and it's only a matter of time before I hit the trails.  This book was perfect inspiration...it couldn't come soon enough! 

I'll leave you with my absolute favorite moment of the book.  It echos my own personal mantra that I created so closely that I found myself having to catch my breath and wipe away tears:

"There were so many other amazing things in the world. They opened up inside of me like a river.  Like I didn't know I could take a breath and then I breathed.  I laughed with the joy of it, and the next moment I was crying...I was crying because I was full." 

12 Years in the Making...

She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,

Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;

Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,

That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

 If you know me in any way, you probably know that there is a very sizable chunk of my heart that belongs to Ireland.  I lived there in my younger years, and since the day we were forced to move back to Kentucky, I have been aching to go return.  Lots of things have kept me away.  First of all, traveling is expensive, and a plane ticket to Dublin will set any starving artist back.  Second of all, the opportunity always seemed to be overshadowed by other things I needed to do and other roles I needed to play.  Usually some grand trip to Ireland was a back up plan if I didn't land a gig for the summer.  I have been extremely fortunate with my theatre experience but I have to say that I can feel it in my bones...it's time to go back. 

A song for Ireland.

Recently I announced via social media that I am entering the 2014 Kentucky Rose of Tralee Competition.  The dream to go the The Rose of Tralee Festival is one that I have been harboring since 2002, when I watched it on my television in Cabinteely, cheering on the Dublin Rose because there was no Kentucky representative at that time.  The Festival, which turns 55 this year, is a long standing tradition and celebration of Irish culture.  It brings influential young women from around the globe together to make a difference.  This is the 3rd year Kentucky has sent a rose, and I hope to do my home state proud.  I was truly overwhelmed with the support I received from merely announcing the news!

This past Saturday was our first official event as Roses.  We all met, went over the expectations and schedule for the coming month (which is jam packed with exciting things...goodbye February, hello March!), and had an etiquette class taught by Ms. Kentucky 2014 herself: Kelly Anne Beile!  It was so exciting just getting everything started after thinking about it for months.  This coming Saturday are the official interviews with the judges, which I will surely write about once they happen! I can't wait to share this adventure with all of you - and hopefully bring you with me to Ireland this summer via this blog!  

The 2014 KY Roses!

If you want the latest news about the Kentucky Rose of Tralee, like it on Facebook here. There's lots to look forward to - especially the St. Patrick's Day festival and the Rose Ball (contact me if you want tickets!). You can get all of the details for the Rose of Tralee international festival here or follow the twitter here! And don't forget to follow me on twitter as I go on this crazy adventure.

2 of my biggest supporters <33