New Mexico to New Mexico via Arizona

So what a weekend of maddening fun. We made it from Silver City to Mesa, Arizona for our one show in the Phoenix area. Phoenix was a great stop for me, because I got to spend some time with my younger brother and his family, my sister and her family, my parents and some old friends. We made it through our show on Saturday...and I'm going to report that it was nothing short of a rough show. And that might be sugar-coating it. Sound problems, costume fiascos, entrance jumbles, lighting boo-boos....we covered them all. PLUS....plus....I ended up eating half the aluminum foil wrapped around my little chocolate bar for the Augustus scene. TOTALLY hope I don't have to go through any airport-screening devices in the next week or so. (Not really sure WHAT the life of aluminum foil in the system is.....)
We wrapped up in Arizona on Sunday morning and got on the road heading right back to New Mexico. This time, our wheels stopped in Albuquerque. It was a long, long, LONG day of driving...and everyone was beyond happy to get to our hotel....with probably the worst beds we've had on tour. It might just be highlighted, though...because we have had some really AMAZING beds up to this point...so the bad ones really stand out. Today, MONDAY, was a day off and everyone did their own thing. A group headed to Santa Fe...a group kicked it around the hotel and pool, and Elisa, Eric and I went out exploring. And the pictures pretty much tell the whole story.
Tomorrow, 2 shows for the kids of Albuquerque...and then as soon as we got here, we're heading North again. I've said it before...and I'll say it again...the fun really doesn't ever stop!
Catch you all later.
G

On our drive from Silver City to Mesa, AZ, we made a rest stop at a little tourist trap, advertising our chance to see THE THING. WHAT is the thing? Pay your $1 and find out for yourself! Well, or don't. We paid our dollars, and we snapped pictures...so none of you would feel a need to travel out to Arizona to find out...it's just a fake mummy in a weird coffin-thingy. BIG let down.

Our drive from Silver City to Mesa ALSO took us right through TUCSON...which allowed us to stop for lunch there which allowed me to meet my younger brother Tim and his family for LUNCH! Cole, Leah, Tim, Annie and I enjoyed a nice lunch break at Burger King! MAN these kids are a kick! PLUS they were very excited to come to Mesa the next day to see the show!

Once in the Phoenix-area, I also got to spend time with my sister's family...who live North of Phoenix. Her daughters, McKell, Randee, Annie and I had a great time together...but their brother, Dallas, had to stay home for a football game!

The other excitement in Mesa, ASIDE from Anderson Family Fun, was my CAMERA UPGRADE! Everyone knows I LOVE my Canon Powershot that I got before I left on tour last year! And this year, in an effort to take my photos to a new level, I updraded from the SD300 to the SD630! And JUST LOOK at the cool COLOR ENHANCEMENT features my new camera has! It's going to change everything from here on out!

After I mastered THE FLOWER, I turned my camera to my table-mate, Roe...and tested some color featuers on her. Pretty cool, right?

After the family saw the show, I took some time in the lobby to take some color-enhanced pictures with the new camera. LUCKILY, Leah, Cole and my brother, Tim, were willing subjects! Sadly, Mindy and her family had already taken off!

Some great shots of the kids at TGIFriday's in Mesa. Um....side note: TRY THE DELICIOUS NEW APPETIZERS AT FRIDAYS. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM..........

AND THEN....the kids turned into little models! Look at Leah striking the poses here....classic.

Our Phoenix stop was fun NOT just because of family time...but I got to catch up with some old friends, as well. Here I am with my buddies Troy Stapley and Cody Teare (and Cody's son, Davin). We all were Mormon Missionaries together in West Virginia about 79 years ago.

Our day off in Albuquerque found Eric, Elisa and I out exploring the city...and taking a walking tour from downtown out to the historic Old Town Albuquerque. It was fun to see the architecture and "local flavor" of the area.

Part of our 'historic walking tour' took us past this not-so-historic playground. Insanity ensued....

We spent the majority of the afternoon sight-seeing, shopping and hanging out in Old Town Albuquerque. Please don't fear...Eric and I weren't actually thrown in a jail...we were just pretending.

Fun shots around OTA. Hoops and Yoyo spent most of their time drinking margaritas...but took some time for a couple of photos.

Elisa is SUCH a whimsical woman.

La Hacienda was having a sale on this Indian guy....so Elisa bought him...as a perfect souvenir to our day.

We did a little street-shopping along the Casa de Armijo. And when we found the plaque explaining the Casa, it made us laugh a little. Eric took a minute to point out the "funny" to us all...

The big CENTERPIECE of Old Town is this big, old, cool church. It even has a cool Spanish name. So I took some time to snap some pics, play with the color, and meet Hoops and Yoyo, at the end of their margarita binge, to snap a last pic of them.

Before heading out of Old Town, Elisa consulted with the local medicine man for a little advice. Basically, he told her to stay away from charging buffalo and stuff like that. Stuff we already KNEW...

A couple more color-enhanced local flair shots.

At the end of a long day, Eric takes a nap in the Old Town Plaza.