One day and a local party later....

So RIGHT OFF...I have to show you Decorah...because, I kind of feel like the only way to properly describe it to you is to sing that song from the opening of Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' - when Belle is walking around reading a book...singing 'Little town...it's a quiet village. Every day like the one before...' And since I don't feel like singing, pictures are the next best thing. It's just so darn charming.

L: looking down the main street, Water Street, in town. R: I mean, LOOK at this building! I love it.

Anyway, we spent the day getting to know Decorah and the people here. We all went down to Water Street, their main business district drag, and had lunch and shopped around and got to know the locals. (Check out Decorah at: www.decorah-iowa.com) The city is known for it's mountain biking trails and for Luther College - which is where we will be performing. I had lunch at Mabe's Pizza - right on the main strip...and although I enjoyed it, it turned out to be a BIT odd. And I'm SO SORRY I didn't take pictures of my lunch. I had a salad: translate that to be a PILE of lettuce with 6 croutons on top. And then I ordered the TACO PIZZA. Fine. It comes out and for some reason, there is a PILE - a literal pile - of Nacho Cheese Doritos poured on top of it. I KID YOU NOT. Atleast half a bag - I'm guessing probably more. . So many Doritos that I couldn't see the actual pizza at the bottom. Weird. PLUS - the menu listed lemonade as a drink - but right after it, it read "when in season." Um...is there a lemonade season? AND why was the waitress getting it right out of the soda fountain? REGARDLESS - once I ate through the pile of chips, the pizza was good.

I think we all were happy with our purchases. And we finished up our shopping just about the time the rain storm started...and while we were waiting for Chris and Eric with the van, Jackie, Andrew, Tara and I helped this nice man at the Antique store move everything he had sitting outside to the inside of the store. It was a crazy storm. So crazy that 3 blocks over, when we were driving back to the hotel, we saw clean-up workers cleaning up a tree that had been struck by lightening.

Said storm. (Outiside said antique store.)

And now, the moment you've all been reading/waiting for. Courtney's Party! We went - she had some of her school friends over and we all just hung out. It was nice to get out of the hotel - and it was nice to just hang out. (PLUS - for those of you considering moving because your rent is too high - but don't QUITE know where to go...you should consider Decorah. Her apartment is $275 a month. That figure is NOT missing any zero's. It's sickening. Great place.) And by 11:30pm, we were all ready to head back here to the Country Inn (which Tara is now sad to be leaving - and she didn't even knit) and get our bags packed and ready to go - because we are OFF to the theater bright and early tomorrow for our first 2 shows! It will be a KICK to see how kids react to our show. I'm hoping it's good reaction.

Enjoy our pictures...wish you were all here. Of course, if you were, this Country Inn would be pretty full. BUT you could enjoy the complimentary Continental Breakfast with me. That would be fun. Whatever. Good night.

all of us at the party - before we headed to the Country Inn.

tara and chris failed to mention to everyone that it was a hat-party.

so Courtney has a ferret. i think this was about the time the ferret yelled at me, 'Enough pictures! I need down!'

tara and todd (our T.D. and Sound man) kickin' it at the party.

T-Bock's. Where the magic started.

Navy Blue.