On the road again.

Ah, the glamorous life of an artist!  Scott and I left home yesterday morning, promising all three cats and Freda that we would be back.  "One week, we promise, you'll sleep through most of it!"  The van was literally packed to the gills, no looking out the back window, and be careful opening the doors so an avalanche of "Creatively Required Assorted Props" aka "CRAP" doesn't come crashing out.  We programed our first stop into our GPS and we were on our way, like a herd of turtles. 

We don't do a lot of sight seeing during our travels, in fact I try to spend as much of the time on the road checking my eyelids for light leaks.  As we said tonight to our dinner companions, the first day on the road is like a day off, a decompression day.  We just drive, usually no radio, not much talking, whoever is not driving is usually sleeping, and we just keep going.  Occasionally the van, with over 275,000 miles on it, hiccups, and I flip back and forth between quietly saying a little prayer to the god of vans, and silently swearing at it and threatening to take a sledgehammer to it if it leaves us stranded in the middle of nowhere.  So far this plan has worked fairly well, we drove past the spot where the alternator crapped out last time we were making this journey, feeling more hopeful by the minute.  Food is whatever is in the cooler between us, and we just watch the miles tick by.  725 miles yesterday, and another couple hundred today.  Yes, in case I have you worried, I did renew my triple A membership before we left.

So here we are, Fort Worth, Texas.  So far, so good, a simple load in.  The tent went up, under the main tent.  Fort Worth is known for crazy winds, and they deal with this by putting up large tents that are roped to the pavement.  Artists squeak their 10' square tents into a 10' square spot, we are wedged in there so tight the wind would have to take all six tents, plus the main tent at the same time.  And we have good neighbors, that is important, nice neighbors.

Then panels, and weights, and paintings.  Lights, chairs, table, portfolio bin, more boxes, storage bins.  It's all set up, the van has gained several inches of height with the unloading of it all.  And we checked into the hotel, a charming hotel.  If your idea of charming is a cinder block building with saggy little beds.  But the sleepier I get, the better the bed looks, and trust me, we have been in far worse.  The good thing about this place is unlike most shows, we are within walking distance to the hotel.  And we found several good bars and restaurants between here and there. 

So we'll see you on Main Street in the morning!  I think I have the best looking show I have ever put together Ft. Worth, so come on down and take a look!