Settling in...

Hey Gang!

Sorry it's been a week since I last wrote. I have had some huge adjustments to make but think that, for the most part, I'm finally getting a routine down and settling in. TRaveling on the bus has been hard but we had a fun 4 days in Philadelphia where the bus wasn't even in the equation so it was nice to have a break for a bit. We are about to have 18 straight days with shows, no days off and traveling on most of those days is included but I think it will be a blast because there are some fun places coming up! I am really looking forward to going to Morristown NJ next week because I know I have a lot of family, some that have never seen me perform in ANYTHING, all coming to see the show and that means the world to me. It was a lot of fun being in Red Bank and having tons of family there as well because I wouldn't have the courage to follow my dreams if I didn't have the support that an amazing family like mine has given to me....so THANK YOU!

I also finally got to do some heated yoga in Philly which made life SOOO much more bearable because my body was feeling the consequences of not having yoga in my life for 3 weeks straight...which to some may not seem that long but if you know me well enough to know how often I do yoga...you know that that was nothing but torture! Also coming up we go to Bklyn and I get to stay with the lovely and talented Brad Deck which is going to be fun too. The nicest thing about touring is that if you are staying in a shitty hotel or a town in the middle of nowwhere, you know that you won't be there for too long so it makes you look forward to the next venue. I do miss home a lot though. I miss having a schedule where you know what you are going to do the next day and I miss having a closet to pick from a variety of clothes rather than a suitcase that recycles my same stuff day after day...lol. I miss having my own personal space, because believe me when I say that it is non-existent here and I miss my mom...A LOT. I miss having a social life that takes me away for a bit....I've been lucky enough to maintain my motivation to go to the gym because I find the nearest gym to whereever we are and still get up in the morning to go because it's the only time I truly have to myself...so by the time I get back from the gym is when everyone else is just waking up. Feels pretty good...not gonna lie! haha

My roommates are awesome. I have had so many laughs with them over the past nights and I'm reassured EVERY night of how blessed I was to pick the two amazing guys that I am with to share the majority of my time with. One roomie, Ken, even went to yoga with me twice this week so it's cool that they totally share in my interests and are just genuinely great people.

hmmm...what else should I share??? The venues for the show have been so fun to see too. Every stage is soooo different and I LOVE the challenge of readjusting on a moments notice to a particular venue or smaller stage. That stuff keeps it fresh and fun. My favorite part of the show is ironically the bows....because to look out at huge audiences of people that are all on their feet and dancing and singing along to the music is the most inspiring and heartwarming feeling in the world. I was talking to the trumpet player today who has been touring for 11 years and he put it best that..."we get paid to travel, but we work for free" and it was the perfect way to look at it...b/c I'll admit I'm not making that much money for everything that I have sacrificed to be here....but at the end of EVERY performance I am able to say "wow...I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world." You can have the shittiest day ever where the bus was 10 hours long and your body aches from the ride and carrying your luggage to your room off the bus....but every night ends with that finale....it's pretty amazing. So as we roll into Easton, PA....I say that I will talk to you real soon!! xo

-Shannon