Tootsie Yr2: Paducah & Cincinnati part 1

**Long post due to adventures**

Monday in Paducah. Since I don't have to load in, I had the morning and afternoon to myself.
I spent most of it figuring out food things for today and the first few days in Cincinnati, which are going to be a whirlwind.

When that was done I walked to Panera for an egg white sandwich for lunch, then over to the mall to look for sneakers and get a salad from Chick-fil-a for dinner (there is no time to cook).

My black sneakers got ruined when we did the pepper picking event in West Palm Beach...or rather, they already had a big chunk out of the sole and then stepping on rotten peppers and broken glass pretty much finished them.

I was going to get black ones again until I saw THESE.


And nobody wants them (because they're iridescent I assume) so they were on clearance for $35!
HECK YES


I can't wear them for work but that's ok. At that price they just need to get me through the rest of this tour while looking fabulous.

The theatre in Paducah was ok, a little cramped but we were only there for one night after all.
We played our show and people seemed to enjoy it so, yay.

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Tuesday morning and seven hours on a bus to get to Cinci.

We stopped partway at a mall.
I had poked around on Google Maps and noticed a Whole Paycheck next to the mall, but didn't have high hopes that there'd be enough time to hit it. I posted about it to our group chat on the off chance that we'd have time. Behold, the bus parked just across the street from it! A large contingent of us ignored the mall entirely and went straight for the groceries. I was glad because it saved me having to make an Instacart order (otherwise I'd have no groceries for a day and a half, no time to get them).

We got to the Cinci hotel just about two hours before sound check.
It's a big Deco hotel downtown, supposedly haunted.
I swear, Art Deco design must be the number one qualifier for declaring a place haunted!

My room is small and has little counter space, but I'll make do with the ironing board as a table.
It's not ideal, especially for a two week stay, but can't be helped.
Also, this fridge froze one of my yogurts again!!! WTF!!
(also why only one of them every time?? Frozen solid and the others are fine. So weird. It must be some sort of karmic toll I'm paying.)

Anyway, our opening show went just fine though we were all tired, especially crew.

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Wednesday I woke up early due to excitement, because after months of planning, today is the day that I finally get to visit my home, RBBX 41406, car 39 (or 38 depending on when you joined.)


I lived on this train car for five straight years. When I say it was my home, I mean it.


( CLICK HERE for Circus Things )

And then my former boss and circus Bandmaster, Brett, picked me up for lunch.


We went to a BBQ place that I found called Just Q'in. It was pretty good!
Not the best we've had, we both agreed, but definitely legit. The crust on that brisket, omg.


Of course we chatted and tried to get caught up. Brett's been working as an Amazon driver and says he enjoys it.
He says that people often question him about whether he's REALLY fulfilled doing that work, after doing something amazing like the circus. He says yes, because he had his adventure and is content with it. I can understand that. After the circus closing followed by the pandemic, I thought I'd never tour again. This tour right now is bonus adventures, an undeserved and unexpected gift.

I told Brett what I've often said to Jameson: "If I have to scrub toilets for the rest of my days, it's worth it, because I got to spend five years with the circus." And I mean that. If the cost of my time with Ringling is a lifetime of low pay and tedium, so be it. It was absolutely worth it.

After our meal I asked Brett to take me to Findlay Market so I could check it out, and of course he could walk around with me.
There was a lot to see but my phone was dying so I didn't take a lot of pics...I do plan to go back so don't worry :p

I got some real homemade yogurt from a Mediterranean grocery, and also a tiny marzipan rabbit.
The yogurt is fantastic, super smooth and delicious even plain. But I'll have to eat a lactaid with every serving.


Bunny may be too cute to eat.


Other goodies like rose water and ambrosia candies, bundles of dried herbs, and tempting salt blends.



We saw lots of tempting meats and breads, but I held back because I'm going to Jungle Jim's on Monday and because I have a lot of eating out plans ahead. I got a little turkey seitan from an all-Vegan deli and called it a day. Brett dropped me off at the hotel and we parted ways, for now.

In the room I charged my phone and spent the next hour responding to comments on my circus-related posts and images.
It was great to see lots of enthusiasm, especially on a post I'd made the night before regarding Ringling's animal care (I felt the need to say something about it since a "friend" had confronted me about it, as I wrote in last week's post.) In fact, my statements on Ringling's animal care were shared more than THIRTY TIMES, mostly by veterinarians and animal handlers who work in zoos, on farms, with domestic pet breeders, etc. I am glad that what I had to say had an impact, and I hope it's mostly a positive impact.
The post is HERE if you'd like to read it.

I walked over to the theatre around showtime.
It was cold in the pit so that kept me awake even though I was super drained from all the excitement today.

Tomorrow should be pretty chill, just getting up early to hit some bakeries (yes plural) and then not much else planned.

In closing, I got to see my ridiculous and AWESOME iridescent sneaks in full sun for the first time today!
Best $35 I've ever spent.