Kids really do say the darndest things.

Three shows have happened this far.  Each one has had (at least) one awesome occurrence!

Saturday - My friend Kim, who I've known since elementary school, came and saw her third Barrage show!  (No picture was taken, unfortunately, because she had to go right afterward.)

Sunday - My roommate of three years, Ryan, was finally able to see a show!  It meant a lot to me to have Ryan there, not only because he's one of my closest friends, but also because he was my roommate when I was auditioning for Barrage back in 2006.  He was there with me through all of the highs and lows inherent in any long audition process, and was now able to see in person what Barrage is all about.  Plus, now that he doesn't live in Arizona, it's always great just to hang out with him!

Ryan drove five hours, each way, in one day to see the show!  Thank you, Ryan!

Monday (yesterday) - Barrage played an educational show with over 250 students (elementary to high school) in Reading, PA.  This, in itself, was a monumental happening, as it was the largest educational program any of us can remember doing.

As a result of having so many kids, each violinist was kind of "in charge" of a group of kids somewhere on stage or in the audience.  I was helping with a group of beginners, who were probably around 7 or 8 years old.  They couldn't play "Old Joe Clark," but they would occasionally hop in on a simplified harmony part. 

I told them that when they weren't playing, they should try to move a little bit, e.g., tapping a foot, bobbing a head.  The littlest girl in the group (who was also the most outgoing), was really eager to show off her dance moves, enthusiastically twisting up and down.

When they left rehearsal, she excitedly shared with me that she was going to wear heels to the show.

During intermission, the kids began to take their places on stage and in the audience.  I went down to my area in front of the stage and saw all the little ones dressed up and raring to go.  The little girl called over to me, "Taylor!  Taylor!"

As though she were someone two or three times her age, she lifted up one foot, showed me her tiny heels, and said, quite exasperatedly, "Taylor, my heels are killing me!"

The Philadelphia Story

After I finished that post from three days ago in the Cleveland Airport, I walked to my gate to discover that my flight had been delayed two hours.  My layover had already been three hours long, so what was two more?

I bought a magazine and made myself comfortable.

As the departure time approached, I looked up to notice a whole bunch of people in my seating area leaving.  I figured I had just missed some announcement over the PA about a gate change, but knew they would post an update on the board in a minute.

A minute later, I looked up to see that ill-fated word in red letters, all caps: CANCELED.

While the flight was canceled as a result of mechanical delays, I had actually anticipated a cancellation due to weather.  With this in mind, I planned the flight through Cleveland so a cancellation would mean an opportunity to hang out with my roommate of three years at ASU, Ryan.  A fortuitous decision, indeed!

[Strangely enough, Ryan was on spring break when I went home from tour two weeks ago, and picked me up from the airport then, too!]

A night of Thai food, Béla Fleck's documentary Throw Down Your Heart (2008), and great conversation then commenced.

Ice on Ryan's car window at 5:50 a.m., the next morning.

I finally arrived in Philadelphia two days ago, excited to see Joanna, one of my best friends from high school, and eager to cram as much into my 24-ish hours in town as possible.

Ready, set, go! 

Lunch at the Reading Terminal Market.

National Constitution Center

George Washington

With James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights, and--most importantly--my favorite Framer of the Constitution.  Just take a moment to think about how the First Amendment affects your life every day...it's monumentally influential and unbelievably cool.  Thanks, Madison!  You're awesome.

Signers' Hall

Liberty Bell

The Kimmel Center, home of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

With Joanna after the incredible concert.

Post-concert desserts.

City Hall

Logan Square

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The view from the top of the Museum of Art's steps...

...right where Rocky stood!

A reproduction of Rodin's The Thinker.

A giant moth in The Academy of Natural Science's butterfly exhibit.

I'm glad to see the Academy keeps its snake well-informed of pop culture and Grammy upsets (notice the photo of Esperanza Spalding in the corner).

The Curtis Institute of Music, considered by many to be the most elite of the music conservatories.

A deconstructed cello in the window of a store near Curtis.

When I finally caught up with the band at the airport in Philly yesterday afternoon, I felt exhausted from all the walking I did in the previous 24 hours, but was thrilled to have successfully squeezed in a visit to see both Ryan and Joanna before tour.

[A special thank you to Ryan and Joanna for letting me visit and crash on their futons!]

Last night, Charlie surprised me with an unexpected gift:

Pear is the band formed by Denis & Lynae Dufresne, two original members of Barrage, two of my idols, and two of the coolest people around.  When I first saw Barrage back in 7th grade, they both made a distinct impression on me.  All I wanted in life was to be as cool as Denis was, and I may still be guilty of occasionally belting out "Until We Meet Again" with Lynae while I'm driving in my car...

[Coincidentally, Denis' Barrage part, Violin C, is the part I play now!]

I met and played with them in 2006 when I did a gig for an ad-hoc Barrage performance up in Calgary (after my audition, but before I joined).  Afterward, they regaled me and the other two violinists, Lydia and Arlyn, with stories of the early days in Barrage at a local pub...a Barrage super-fan's dream come true.

L to R: Lydia, Arlyn, me, Lynae, and Denis.  September 2006.

I was thrilled to finally get my hands on a copy of their CD, which I listened to while I wrote this entry.  You should check out Pear.  They're really, really great.

Thank you, Denis & Lynae!  (And thank you Charlie, for picking up the CD!)

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And just when you thought I'd gone to Philadelphia and not dorkily reenacted Rocky...

Andrew and Abigail

While these past two weeks home were by no means the most productive two weeks off I've had, I can't remember a time when I was so extremely happy for so many days in a row.  Though many different factors contributed to this, there were two events in specific, one non-musical and one musical, which I'd like to relay.

Firstly, my best friend from my childhood got married!  Andrew and I became best friends in 4th grade and stayed close all the way through high school.  And, though we briefly lost touch during college (I'm learning that distance, even with the internet, can affect friendships), I was honored and thrilled when he asked me to be one of his groomsman.  In reality, I was eagerly looking forward to this wedding since last fall!

With Jana and Andrew at the reception!

There was one, distinctly bittersweet moment for me at the end of the reception when I watched Andrew and Jana say goodbye to their guests.  For about 20 seconds, I had this strange surge of emotion fully realizing just how much time has passed...it seems like just yesterday we were playing video games, antagonizing his little sister (sorry, Elizabeth!), and building forts in his living room.

Growing up, though inevitable, will always be weird to me.  Oh well.

I was unaware, however, that the next day had nearly as much excitement in store!  

There's this banjo player and singer named Abigail Washburn.  While it seems like everyone in Barrage has been telling me to listen to her for a while, I just never got around to investing myself into a new artist.  A friend of mine posted a few days prior that she was going to be playing at The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, a dive-bar-of-a-venue to which I'd never been.  Knowing the others in Barrage would say I was stupid to have not gone, I decided to go, even not knowing much about her.

Do yourself a favor and do something I wish I had done sooner: listen to Abigail Washburn.  

She's a genius.

Her quirky spin on American folk music is too good for words, and the musicians with whom she surrounds herself are brilliant.  I've been listening to her new album, City of Refuge, pretty much non-stop since Sunday.  If she is performing near you, I implore you to see her live.

The incredible amounts of fun continue tonight -- I'm flying on tour early to Philadelphia to visit one of my close friends from high school!  The first of ten shows in a row (...yes, ten shows in a row) is this Saturday, outside Philly.

Goodbye, Cleveland Airport.  Your layover made this entry possible.

Photos from a Hike: State Trust Land (North of Scottsdale), Arizona

My friend Molly, who works for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, invited me to come along on a hike through some unincorporated, state trust land, somewhere north of Scottsdale.  While she and two MSC volunteers were busy scouting out various routes for next year's McDowell Sonoran Challenge (a run/hike/bike fundraiser), I snapped some pictures of Arizona's beautiful, desert scenery!  

[Too see any of the photos larger, just click on them.]

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Please visit the website of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy to learn more about its preservation efforts and how you can get involved.  For more information on hiking in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, click here.

A Muggle's Dreams Come True

Seeing the year's tour schedule is always an exciting prospect.  There are so many places to go and friends with whom to catch up!

But, when we first caught a glimpse last fall, I was most excited about one specific thing: finishing this last chunk of tour in Florida, near Orlando.  And though Florida is not among my favorite places to travel (please see: humidity), there are a few reasons I love Florida.

1) Oranges.  (Not only did the air near the venue in Avon Park smell of orange blossoms, but the venue also gave us freshly-squeezed OJ.  It was both unbelievable and nutritious.)

2) Cuban food.  (Thank you, Cuba, for frying plantains.)

There is a final, two-fold reason, however, which is easily the most important: Orlando is the home of Disney World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Part of my nerdiness involves being a huge Harry Potter fan.  I may or may not have been "that guy"...you know, the one who co-founded the "Harry Potter Guild" in high school, attended an informal school dance dressed as Harry (with the other co-founder, my date, as Hermione), and used that same outfit as a fall-back for multiple Halloweens thereafter...

That being quite shamelessly admitted, you can probably imagine my excitement at getting the opportunity to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

So, after our final performance on Saturday, Kiana and I grabbed a ride to Orlando with her Disney World-employed, Jungle Cruise-operating friend, Kate, and began what were, unequivocally, the two most magical days of my life.

...this guy was not enjoying the parade/dance party. 
[Click on the picture to see it larger.]

Epcot.

Fireworks: making your day instantly better since the 12th century.

Dole Pineapple Whip: making your day instantly better than any day with fireworks since whenever Dole Pineapple Whip was invented.

The entrance to Hogsmeade!

Hogwarts.

Waiting in line for "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey"...easily the most stunning theme park ride I've ridden.  I was honestly speechless afterward.

Nearly every shop window has some really neat, animated display.  Inside the Quality Quidditch Supplies store window (it's just a window, not an actual store), these bludgers are just waiting to escape from the box!

A wall of wands in Ollivanders.

Pumpkin juice.

Butterbeer!

Honeydukes Sweetshop.

Eating dinner in The Three Broomsticks.  (It's just as cozy at it looks!)

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Should you visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a few quick notes:
- arrive as early as possible, and go straight to the line for "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey"
- do wait in line for Ollivanders, even if the line is long
- plan to have a meal in The Three Broomsticks (the food was unexpectedly good for a theme park!)
- you really only need one day to take it all in (it's a pretty small part of Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure)

A special thanks to Kate for getting us into Disney World, letting us crash with her, and showing us around; also, to Barrage, for buying my park ticket as a birthday gift!

Spending one day at the happiest place on Earth and one day at the most magical place on Earth was definitely a brilliant way to start a break.