Tootsie on Tour: Orlando, FL

**Disclaimer: The content of this post reflects my own personal views, opinions, and experiences.
This post does NOT express the views or opinions of my employer.**

Note:
Due to an ongoing family emergency, there are times where I may post less regularly or with less content.
Thank you for your understanding.
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The venue: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts


(stock photos)

Covid Tests to Date: 15
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Monday seemed to take FOREVER. I just wanted to see my boyfriend!!

But we had to wait until noon for the bus, and then the bus ride involved a bathroom break, and some traffic, and also driving past the exit to Jameson's house, lol. Then getting to the hotel, unloading, and finding an Uber to take me the 40 minutes home. Jameson could have come to get me but that would be almost 90 minutes round trip, and he had a LOT of work on his plate this week.

Finally I barged into the door, spilling luggage everywhere and squeezing my boyfriend. YAY!!!
The last time I saw him, he was in a lot of pain and discomfort.
Today he looked tired, but GOOD. Better. Healthy. I'm SO glad. So so so so glad, beyond what I can describe.
It's been a very hard month, for both of us. I was just glad that one thing at least has gone right, and that's the fact that we're both OK.

We got caught up on this and that--we've been texting of course, but some things are better in person.
We ordered dinner (and got someone else's order somehow, had a good laugh over that) and watched Holiday Baking Championship and Great British Baking Show. I watered my indoor plants and vacuumed, did a load of laundry, switched some things out from my luggage, and riffled through my mail. All of it was spam except the packages: I got some silicone booties to put over my sneakers for when it rains, a black long-sleeved shirt for layering, and three graphic T's because it's been a DIFFICULT month and they've been on my wishlist for over two years now.

The things I switched out from my luggage were my tortilla blanket (I love it but it takes up too much space for how little I use it), a few shirts (I plan to swap shirts on every break to keep from wearing them all out), some jeans (too bulky, getting yoga pants instead), my over-ear headphones (no roommate = I never use them), and the programs and other little scraps of paper I've collected so far. Other than that, I've been happy with everything I've brought with me on tour. Everything serves a purpose, and everything has been useful. Good job, me!

I found my trombone stand and "snake" (a cleaning tool) which I will bring to the theatre and store in the band box.
Then I went to the grocery for a few food items for the week, followed by an attempt to find yoga pants at Target (failure) and a trip to Skechers for some black sneakers because it seems those are acceptable in the pit and currently I only have one pair of black shoes. Tomorrow I will do some cleaning, try Walmart and Ross Dress for Less for the yoga pants, and then hopefully still have a little time to relax before the evening show.

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Tuesday, I woke up excited to enjoy a day at home!
First I made breakfast, which was nice.
Then I decided to check on my plants. Surprises awaited me!

The biggest surprise was the roselle plant, otherwise known as "Florida cranberry" or "Jamaican sorrel".
When I planted it, it was a tiny cutting about a foot tall.
Now it is a sort of TREE or SHRUB, with a huge thick trunk!
Apparently it must have bloomed while I was gone, because it is covered in juicy red calyces!



This plant is called "Florida cranberry" for a reason: the calyces have a flavor similar to cranberry or rhubarb, and can be used in all of the same ways you would use cranberries. This plant is covered in lots of big fat calyces...will I have time to make use of them before the week is over? Perhaps I could whip up a jam really quick!

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