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!