EARLY Morning Rain....

5:58 am - I blink awake to rushing water. Someone is in our shower and it couldn't possibly be Dilana, could it? Naaaw, must be the shower next door. I adjust my eyes in the dark and see that her bed is empty! It is her! I jump out of bed, grabbing my room key and set out to find another bathroom - she's actually gonna beat me to the diningroom today! Today we have to leave by 7am to make our gig in Arnold MD by 10:30 am.

After breakfast we met the Johnson's to ride to the gig at Anne Arundel Community College. We decided to keep Stacey and McKenzie in our car and let Michael ride with Chip and Chan so they could make frequent food stops - growing boys, you know!

Upon arriving at the college, the fun begins - we walk into an empty stage and no sound equipment or soundman. Dilana is not happy. Finally the equipment rental people show up with a crew to set up the equipment, but no sound guy. Dilana is just bit unhappier, but she and Michael jump in setting up and doing there own soundcheck. Two d-i's-and Dilana's guitar won't work in either one. That's the end of the line. Dilana gets up on stage and apologizes to the crowd for the poor equipment that is causing her to cancel her show. Oops! I immediately get Jewels, D's manager, on the phone, connect her to the college's activities director, and presto -we have a new d-i that works! We are back in business and the show goes on.

Dilana's frustration quickly translates into musical power. She hit the stage, after soundchecking while singing the first song, walking through the audience. "Addict" was her opening number and she put such feeling and emotion into it, the audience was immediately transfixed. Other numbers including a bouncing rendition of Hangover and Time After Time with great crowd participation. Then Dilana reaches into her bra (where she keeps her pic) and discovers a hand full of brownish, sticky goo! Turns out she also keeps her vitamin pill in the same place, but forgot to take it at breakfast and now, three hours later, it was melting all over her boob. She picks it out and flicks it to the floor and a well-meaning fan throws her some wadded up napkins for the clean-up - an "endless wipe" as she described it. She was in fine form - on fire on stage today! Dilana ended the show with a rousing version of "Build A Boy". What could have been a very bad situation, turned into the BEST crowd and BEST, most energetic and engaging show of the tour yet!

After a nice lunch with the Johnson's, we hugged good-bye and Matilda kindly showed us the way to our new hotel. Upon arriving, totally spent, the best thing happened! While checking in I was anxiously awaiting a hot cup of afternoon tea on my bed, with my book, when the desk clerk presented each of us with a big, warm, homemade chocolate chip cookie- heaven had arrived. I smelled it, grabbed my bag and couldn't get to my room fast enough!

After a chill out afternoon, we were meeting our friends Eva and her sister Mags at a place called Ramshead, that was recommended to us earlier by a student. Dilana looked it up online and found they had a blues band she really wanted to see. Dilana and I got dressed and met Michael downstairs to take the shuttle to town. Michael made friends with John, a guy from LA and asked him to join us for the evening. When we reached the bar, we all gathered on the outside patio and had a great time.

Later, Mags and Dilana went downstairs to see if the band had started. Mags came back up without Dilana, so I went downstairs to check out the band and sat with her. The band was good, Dilana did a little dancing (on the floor - not the table), then she and Michael took the stage during the band break and Dilana belted out Roxanne to the delight of our crowd. From where I sit, behind the taxi driver's wheel, it was a nice way to unwind after a long, but great day!

PS- upon arriving back at our room, I find a little visitor crawling in the bathroom - some weird bug. I flushed it and went out to my bed where I find another one on the side of my bed! Now I tell Dilana, the Lysol freak. She jumps out of bed where she was having a "hot" time with her Indian food, grabs her huge can of Lysol and attacks the beds one more time! (no, they weren't bedbugs- I check each hotel thoroughly for those!) Then, finally, some zzzzz....zzzz

3 Comments

It was a fun day. @Zach,yeah,we were glad to see D,it had been too long. I just wish she was able to play a few hours,lol. The writing is killer indeed Linda!!you go lady!! wonder if the bugs are stink-bugs,they are everywhere this year , I never heard of them till this year at the Wild Duck,my work place,and everyone locally is saying they are seeing them,they are about .5 inch big,and when you smash em,they give off a horrible odor. I havent killed one so not speakin from experience. So great to see and hang with you all,hugs

Posted by: Eva | 10/14/2010 at 05:16 AM