Some days off, and some shows.

The morning of the Lubbock, TX show Kenny was still sick.  Junior and Kim decided it was in everyone’s best interest to fly Kenny home so she could focus on getting better. They ended up renting her a motel room so she could try to get some sleep, and to quarantine her a bit just in case she was contagious. After the rest of us got some sleep, we stopped at a laundry mat so we could wash all our beddings, towels, clothes etc. again, just in case Kenny was contagious.  We also gave the RV a good cleaning. We picked up Kenny, and went to a Walmart parking lot to meet an Uber ride to take her to the airport.  While we were there some fans recognized us, and we ended up selling them a shirt and CD right there in the parking lot.

Load-in and set up in Lubbock went well, and the staff was super nice at Backstage!  My apologies to the opening bands because I was working throughout their sets and didn’t catch their names. The first opener was more of a punk band.  It was a nice change from all the metal.  The second band had a punk feel as well.  They did a cover of a Weezer and a Blink 182 song. The third opener surprised me.  The lead guy got up on stage wearing skinny jeans and a baseball cap.  I was NOT expecting the metal vocals that came out of his mouth! The last band unfortunately was having some technical difficulties.  They didn’t quiet handle it as well/amusingly as the Last Savior of God.

One-Eyed Doll’s set was awesome, as always. Kim was a super cute skeleton but it was too foggy in there to get any clear pictures. The crowd was really into the new song “Black in the Rye” and started moshing during it. There were a bunch of Pterodactyls in the audience this night. Kim also really liked using the chest of this tall guy front and center as a foot rest while she played guitar. It was an amazing crowd for a Tuesday night. They sang along during “New Orleans.  Kim even had a couple of bras thrown up on stage. Once again, they ended up accidentally playing for 2 hours, despite the fact that some rowdy fans kept yelling “Hail Satan” through out the entire set :)

That's one of the bras on the banner there

After we got everything packed up and loaded in the trailer, Billy, Erik and I relaxed in the green room and ate some Whataburger they bought for us. They even got me a bun with veggies and avocado on it since I’m a vegetarian.  They were seriously so nice there.  Hopefully we get to come back soon.

We still had the motel room for the night, so we all got to take showers before heading out. They had this super classy Euro bath stuff, and wood paneling in the shower. Just in case you couldn't tell, I was being sarcastic about it being super classy...

Next we were off to San Antonio, TX.  Again, we had plenty of time to load in and get set up. There were a couple of regulars of the bar there hanging out, and they ended up buying a bunch of shirts and stuff before we were even set up.  They had to leave before the show because they had plans, but luckily they made it back for OED’s set.

One of the band members of the first opening band was sporting a One-Eyed Doll shirt :)

Long time OED fan Cobra’s band was another opening band!!! :D

OED’s set got off to a rough start.  During the beginning of Committed Billy tripped over the power cable to Kim’s amp and unplugged it *face palm* Luckily Kim (who wasn’t completely sure what had happened) covered it well, and they managed to pick up right where they left off. I tried to come out from the merch table a bit to watch the show, but some drunk guy started asking me about shirt prices during the middle of Kim doing “New Orleans.” Then he tried to buy me a drink. The middle of an A CAPPELLA  performance is not the time dude! Worst of all he did the creepy patting me on the lower back thing creepy guys do while saying “gotta take care of the ladies, ya know?” I finally had to straight up telling him to be quiet!

Cool story of the night, I met a girl from MI! I ran her card on the iPad and it was a large order so I asked if she wanted a text/e-mail receipt. She started putting in her 269 area code and I was like “OMG! That’s my area code!  Where in Michigan are you from??!?!!” I can’t remember where she said she was from, but she knew where Battle Creek was!

This also may have been another sold out show!

I also had to finally change the label of the barrettes we were selling to “hair clips.” I lost a little faith in humanity every time someone said “Oh look, they sell berets!” *dying inside*

The next show was in Dallas, TX. This is the show Junior and Kim were most nervous about because they have a history of bad experiences in Dallas.  The entire day/night went incredibly smooth and amazing!!!!  We got there on time, got everything loaded in and set up.  After sound check we had time to grab some coffee, then ate a big sushi dinner. Paulo, our fireman, and his friend Richard came along. I’m sad Paulo isn’t driving us this tour :( but at least we still get to see him :)

SUSHI!!!!!

I left dinner a little early so I could get ready before doors, but there was some merch stuff that needed taking care of, so I ended up quick changing and throwing some make-up on 5 minutes before doors.  I hope I don’t look like crap in anyone’s photos.

The first opening band was an awesome all girl band!  This venue also has amazing, helpful and nice staff. Just like the awesome sound guy last tour in Minneapolis, the sound guy (I’m so sorry I don’t remember your name!) was out in the crowd checking to see how it sounded from the audience’s perspective. The second opening band were these shirtless rocker guys. I remember them being good, but honestly what I remember most about them was them running around stage shirtless, lol.  The last band was this crazy 6 piece band. I think there was a lead singer, 2 guitars, a bass, drumset, and a guy playing electric drums. They had some awesome, throws your heartbeat out of rhythm, bass.

The bathroom at Trees for some reason have mirrors on the back of their stall doors.  It’s weird watching yourself pee, and it’s not a very flattering angle. My thighs really aren’t that huge right?  It was so weird….

I didn’t really get to fully enjoy OED’s set because I was working, or watching equipment, or quick trying to sneak away to the bathroom (but seriously, who puts mirrors on the inside of stalls?) One thing I do remember is when Kimberly is teaching the words to “Be My Friend” and she goes “and then you do this” and makes a cute, sad face, she pointed to someone in the audience and said “especially you!”  They also had a 7 person crew at this show filming “Black in the Rye.” Sadly (but also not sadly) the audience at this show wasn’t going crazy during the song.  They were too busy listening closely and taking it all in.

Meet and Greet after the show lasted FOREVER! But that’s not a bad thing. There were just so many fans there!  They were all so nice and sweet.  Kim had an adorable crying fan girl.  She was SO excited while waiting in line to meet Kim.  There were even a few that pretended I was a super cool rock star too and asked for my autograph and a picture with me.  I’m seriously honored (and a bit embarrassed) when you guys do that :P

Oh, I also completely forgot to mention, long time fan and now friend of OED Crystal made it to the show!!!!  She even had some time off to hang out with us after the show and the next day :D

After the Dallas show, we had quiet a few days off to relax. We ended up once again at the awesome Johnny Zero’s house :)  Funny story….

A few days into tour Billy was like “Have you guys seen these sock puppet parody videos?”   Well, Johnny Zero is the one behind those. Billy got to fan boy all over Brady, Johnny and the crew while we were there.  He even got to help out a bit.

Brady, creative mastermind, director, and puppeteer  with the Corey Taylor puppet

The "Sockknot"drum set

Things you take for granted unless you’re one tour: Toilet paper and running water! After getting used to RV toilet paper, or venue’s tissue paper excuse for toilet paper, Johnny Zero’s Charmin was the most amazing thing ever! And being able to brush my teeth, wash my hands and shower! So grateful!

Another funny story, which would be better if you were there or I had a video of it, but I’ll try to help you visualize.  So, The Zero’s were gone on vacation the first 2 days we were there.  I was the first one up the first morning. Someone dropped off their dog Patches. We were playing catch when Junior got up. We were on the first floor and Junior came to the second floor balcony.  Patches stopped dead in his tracks, and his jaw dropped, ball falling out.  It was like a cartoon.

That day was pretty much spent sleeping in, hanging out, relaxing, taking advantage of the wifi, etc. Junior dropped the RV off to see about getting the water tank fixed (which they weren’t able to do so we still don’t have running water), and he picked up a rental car for us to use in the meantime. We had a really late dinner with both Brady and Crystal. Unfortunately, every place we kept trying to go to was either closed/closing or full. We ended up at this cool little Korean place. Each table had it’s own little enclosed area and they had K-pop playing. It was a fun experience.

Johnny has a theater room with a projector screen, so one of Erik’s goals while we were there was to watch Adventure Time on the big screen.  So that’s what him, Billy and I did that night.

I believe the next day was Saturday, and it was another laid back, hang out, get some work done online, day. That’s also the night we went grocery shopped and had a big, family style dinner!  Right after we finished and got everything cleaned up, the Zero’s came home! We helped them unload from their trip, and talked to them a bit before they headed to bed.

Sunday was probably the best of our days off.  We got up early and went to Paulo’s fire station.  We went because his captain was making his special pancakes (which Kim is now one of six people who have the recipe), but they completely spoiled us.  First, we got to climb the fire truck ladder 100 feet into the air.  Kim, Erik and I all made it all the way to the top.  Junior and Billy both had to stop part way up.  They both made it over half way though!  I’m really sad I didn’t have a way to take pictures from the top, but Kim got some pictures of me from the ground I’ll have to steal from her.  While I was on the ladder they actually got a call.  Luckily they have 2 fire trucks and they took the other one.  Kim and Junior got to ride along!

Kim eating pancakes

Mine were so good they're gone!

The wheel isn't even on the ground!

Getting ready to put the ladder up

Kim climbing...

And climbing...

Paulo: "I guess I should go after her!"

Erik contemplating life at the top of a fire ladder

Erik climbing down

Kim getting out of her new ride.

After they came back, Kim put on the full suit and tank, and got to try crawling through a blackout room.  

Kim's hose pose

While she was doing that, they got another call, so Erik, Billy and I got to ride along for that!  It was an EMT call, and before we got all the way there the ambulance made it, so we turned around and headed back.  It was still cool riding in a fire truck while the sirens were going and we were racing down the road!

I'm on a firetruck!!!!

Erik's on a firetruck!!!!

Billy's on a firetruck!

I have a video of us going down the road with the sirens on, but I don't have time to upload it at the moment :(

When we got back I got to put on the suit and crawl through the room. That stuff is heavy!  And I didn’t even have the tank on.  Paulo said the suit weighs about 40lbs! I felt like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man walking around in it.

We then played with the cutters.  There was no one to save so we didn't get to use the jaws of life spreaders.

Kim's so strong, she cut that chain!

Open

Closed.

Rolling up the fire hose.

After all of our fireman training, our last test finding our recliner and relaxing in front of the TV :) 

It's hard being firemen!

After our fire station adventure, we decided to do some touristy stuff in Fort Worth.  I’m not sure exactly where we were, but they had real long horns, touristy shops, etc.  Kim and I ended up getting matching leggings and cowboy hats, and Erik found fun little trinkets for his wife. We wanted to do a group Old Timey Photo, but the place was booked for the day :( As we were talking to the girl, she told Kim she looked familiar.  She finally figured out she was Kimberly of One-Eyed Doll, and we took some pictures with her.

Kim riding a longhorn

We went back to the Zero home completely exhausted from our long day, and from getting up WAAAAY earlier then we’re used to. I think most of us took naps before having dinner with the Zero family. After dinner we went to the Korean coffee shop/dessert place we went to during the Otep tour.

Long story short, while we were there Junior had to arm wrestle Johnny for Kim’s honor.  Johnny put up a fight, but Junior beat him.  Then there was an epic Foozball rematch back at the Zero home. I believe that was also the night Kim, Junior, Erik and I watched Melancholia. We were looking for a movie to watch, I’d heard it was good, none of us had seen it, and I think we were tired to trying to pick a movie, so we decided on that.  Boy was that a loooooong, exhausting movie. It was good, and had some really pretty visuals, but it was incredibly depressing.  But, what can you expect from a movie called Melancholia?

I believe the next day was another, catch up on sleep, attempt to get work done, day. I managed to get my laundry done (though, I started it while still in my PJ’s so I didn’t get to wash my PJ’s…)  I also spent over 2 hours talking to Corey on the phone. That night we met up with Crystal again, and Johnny treated us to a Chinese buffet for dinner.

Our last day there ended with a Johnny Zero tradition.  If you’ve read my blogs from the first tour, you may remember that during the Otep tour, I didn’t go to the show in Dallas because I was at Johnny’s house counting HUNDREDS of shirts. Well this day we pulled everything out of the trailer, counted what I had on hand and did a full restock (for some reason my restock hadn’t been fully getting done, and I discovered I was short some shirts at the merch table). The boys also reorganized the trailer so from here on out it should hopefully be easier to load in/out and do restock.  My arms, shoulders, neck and chest are a bit red now :( Nurse Kimberly bought some aloe :) Kim and I also went on a shopping spree at Dollar Tree.  We now each own at least 5 new pairs of sunglasses….

As we heading out of town and towards Houston, we stopped at a truck stop to fill up our gas tank and dump our water collection tank. While there we ran into my hair twin, Brittney!

And once again, that’s it for now!