Back from Break, Let's go WEST! (Spokane)

Yep, a goat....but not just any kind of goat.  Though unassuming, this meek metal animal packs a powerful special skill.  Just inch your way towards it...SLOWLY...slowly...have your piece of trash or pine cone or small object you never want to see again in your had...push button to right of goat....now feed your trash to the friendly animal...don't be shy...go ahead...and watch it...WOOSH!...the goat has sucked up your trash so quickly you barely know what to do with yourself ;)  You HAVE to try this if you go to Spokane.  It is one of the left over exhibits from the '74 World's Fair held at the fantastic park right in downtown Spokane.

We also met a fascinating street musician called Tommy G from the 509.  Kara and I found another fantastic breakfast spot, Madeline's (which has coffees the size of the milchekaffes I found in Germany!).  This guy was playing is guitar in the corner of the cafe, singing with more soul than I've heard in a while from a white guy :)  We got to talkin for about 30 minutes or so, and he has quite a life story.  I found him in the park a couple days later "busting" (defiantly playing on a bench with his case out for money...which is currently illegal in Spokane).  So, I guess I broke the law with him and bought one of his CDs....take that Uncle Sam!

(This is another famous landmark in the park.  We made a cast photo before we left!)

All in all, besides the small hail storm we got, Spokane was a great little town.  I was excited to get to our next destination because it is near my sister in CA!

Raleigh and Appleton

Raleigh was definitely a highlight for me, coming back home in a way.  I grew up in North Carolina and even went to school at UNC-Chapel Hill which is near Raleigh, but I never actually spent that much time IN Raleigh.  I believe, as with many cities, they are trying to revive the downtown and are making nice strides.  It was nice to get to know my own "backyard" a little better.

The best part was seeing old friends.  My parents came, my voice teacher (pictured above), a couple friends from college as well as one guy who voted me in the all male a cappella group I sang with, The Clef Hangers.  The Clefs were a HUGE part of my time at UNC.  I also got a chance to reconnect with the scholarship foundation, the Morehead Scholarship (now called the Morehead-Cain Scholarship), that helped change my life by bringing me to UNC.  Below is a photo with my girl in front of one of the most famous UNC landmarks, the Old Well!

Appleton was probably the nicest city we've been to.  Granted, we've gotten great treatment everywhere, but Appleton kicked it up a notch...cranked it to eleven, if you will.  I celebrated my birthday out there, and a number of people in the restaurant (who I did not know) insisted on singing to me and buying me a drink.  Granted, they were a little tipsy but genuine :)  Our audiences were so boisterous that we had to hold for applause and laughter in places we never had to hold before!  What a way to close out the 2nd section of our tour.  We're looking forward to getting our original Laura back, and I'm looking forward to getting my girlfriend back on tour :)

See you in Spokane, Washington!