Week 4

Hellooo!

It's been a great week of visiting with family, seeing a lot of snow, and getting anxious about finding out who's going to win the primaries (we're watching the results of Super Tuesday as I write)!

Last Sunday we drove to Michigan in time to catch an evening church service at Mars Hill. Rob Bell spoke for a short period of time, and then they had communion and an extended time for prayer which was really nice.


The first show in Michigan was on Monday at Grand Valley State University. My whole family came, despite it being a 9pm show on a school night. It was fun having all of the kids there to see what it is we do when we're on "tour". The GVSU students who put on the show wore neckties to advertise the show (I think they saw Ryan's blog and stole the idea from Cameron University, but that's okay...whatever works! :), they had some extra ties, so they offered them to my nieces and me to wear. Emma asked if they had a tie that said "Abby" on it instead of Ryanhood, but since they didn't she decided she wasn't into the idea of wearing one. :)


Tuesday we had a nice short 2.5 hour drive to Adrian, MI to play at Siena Heights. My aunt and uncle who live nearby showed us the area and introduced us to a great Mexican restaurant (we've been craving GOOD Mexican food ever since we left Tucson!) and then they came to the show. My mom's friend Mickey from Ohio that we've stayed with on past tours also drove up for the show which was a fun surprise!


Wednesday we had an even shorter drive (10 minutes) to Adrian College which is where I last blogged from. Here are photos from the cute cottage we stayed in at Adrian College...






The cottage didn't have a kitchen, but I cooked dinner anyway using our hotplate and foreman grill in the living room. Foolishly, I set the foreman up right under the smoke detector and set it off at least twice before I mustered up the motivation to move my established "kitchen" from the living room into the bedroom...there we were smoke detector free! Of course each time the smoke detector went off I freaked out...opened the front door to -5 degree weather to fan it out and batted at the smoke detector to get it to turn off (this all taking place while the guys were at the venue sound checking). Luckily by the time they returned all was under control and we were able to eat our chicken, couscous and green beans. The show had a fun element, in that their student activities advisor and her husband (Katie and Pat) opened the show playing their own original acoustic music...they were fantastic!

We decided to have a bit of "normalcy" in our life and go see a movie. Juno was our film of choice...I highly recommend it...heart-warming tear-jerker.


Thursday we drove to Aquinas College in Grand Rapids and were greeted with lots of fresh snow falling rapidly to the ground. The students took us out to eat at Yesterdog, a classic hot dog joint in East Town. The show that night was in a cozy campus coffee show that was packed with students...probably my favorite show of the tour so far!


Their creative advertising...


Friday we had the day off. Cameron went to Chicago to visit a friend, while Ryan and I stayed in Grand Rapids to spend time with my family. The kids all had a snow day so we went sledding at Maranatha...the hill I always went sledding on while growing up. I have to say, it's a scary hill...my stomach jumped as we went down it...I much preferred going down with one of the kids so I could squeeze onto them and scream. :)


Nichole is about 6 months along...can't wait to meet the baby in May!


Saturday we drove to Sault Sainte Marie in the Upper Peninsula for our last Michigan show of the week. We found a great local restaurant called Abners that had live music playing as you walk in the door. Outside there were snowmobiles parked throughout the parking lot (the primary mode of transportation in the winter for some in the UP).


The room they played in at Lake Superior State University had windows facing the Canadian Border with the lit National Bridge...it was gorgeous.


The Mackinac Bridge




Sunday we drove down to Port Huron and stayed with our friend Melissa's Aunt Vickie and Uncle John...and their grandson Bryce who was over for part of the time. We had a great evening with them watching the Super Bowl and relaxing in their home that sits right on the St. Claire River.


Ryan and Bryce playing the mandolin..


Monday we drove through Canada to Albany, NY where we stayed with Chris' parents...it's been so great getting to stay with so much family and "family" on this tour!

Now, we are in Gardner, MA getting ready to embark on another week of shows and adventures.

Week 3

Hello!

We are in Adrian, MI right now where it is currently -5F! Wowsahs...it's chilly! I just took photos of the cute guest house that Adrian College put us up in, but my camera batteries died just after taking the photos so I can't upload them...so I'll have to show you in the next post. Ryan and Cameron are practicing in the living room, and I'm blogging from the cute little desk area in the "master bedroom".

Some people have asked what our tour schedule is for the next few months, the easiest place to see the dates/times is at www.myspace.com/ryanhood or www.ryanhood.com...if we're in your area, please feel free to come to the show, most college shows are free and open to the public...and if you can't make it to the show, we'd love to try and meet up with you for coffee or a meal before or after the show!

Here's a look at our past week...

The first show was at Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS...here's Ryan looking hot playing the tambourine and shakers...


Our next stop was for a show at Wichita State University; home of the first ever Pizza Hut which was started by students in the entrenpeneurship program. Unfortunately it is no longer making pizzas, but they have a Pizza Hut in the student center where we ate for memory's sake...


After the show we drove to Kansas City to watch our friend Chris Giambelluca play a show with the band, Luca, who is also on tour right now. (Chris is Melissa's husband who came to visit during week 2 of the tour.)

Here's Ryan, Nick Luca, and Chris Giambelluca at the Record Bar before their show...


For our day off we drove to Indianapolis to visit Ryan's Aunt and Uncle who just had a baby 3 weeks ago! Cameron become quick friends with their oldest daughter, Abby, she's 3. Unfortunately when we are with them my nickname becomes "Big Abby" to clear up any confusion...not necessarily the most flattering nickname...Ryan and Cameron keep joking that they are going to start telling people at the shows to go talk to Big Abby at the merch table if they want a cd.

Welcome James Donald (JD)...


Aunt Jo, Abby and Ryan...


Uncle Donny and Isabelle (the middle child)...


Cameron and Little Abby playing on the computer...


The big excitement for the night was having our first go at the wii...I pretty much suck at all video games, the wii is no exception for me...here's Ryan and Cameron boxing...


Our last stop for the week was at Marietta College in Ohio (right on the border of West Virginia). It was a phenomenal show in "The Gathering Place" on campus. Here's Ryan playing his new mandolin!

Week 2

Hello!

I'm sitting in our Tulsa, OK Hampton Inn tonight. It's been a very relaxing day of napping, working out, taking a bath, cooking dinner (chili), talking on the phone with friends, and writing out our February itinerary.

Here's a look at our past week:

We got this great book for Christmas called "1000 places to see before you die"...I know it sounds a bit morbid, but it's a cool resource for off the beaten path things to see in small towns and large cities.

Our first excursion was to the Stockyard Exchange in Oklahoma City, known for the world's largest cattle auction. When we first got to the address, we couldn't find where it was taking place, so I went into a building on the property to ask for directions...and I also asked him if it was something people watch...and if it's even worth watching. All I got was, "You've never been to a cattle exchange before?" I took that as, it's definitely something I had to see!



Ryan walking the "cow walk"...


The auction building...


And...the auction! It wasn't as big as I had expected for being "the world's largest"...but the auctioneer was definitely a faster talker than I had ever imagined! At first we thought the cows were going for really low prices...everything we saw was sold between $10(poor homely little cow)-$100...but later we learned that was per pound...which, is a lot for an animal that generally weighs between $800-$1500 pounds!


The show that night was at Cameron University in Lawton, OK. The student activities board promoted the show by wearing ties they had puffy painted the show info on, and bedazzled! I so wish I could've been a part of that craft hour! :)


One of the students after the show asked Ryan and Cameron to sign his guitar...a big honor in the world of music!


We made a spaghetti dinner on our off night in the beautiful hotel we were staying at..


Our next show was at UT Tyler...they did a wonderful job putting on an afternoon show in their student union/ food court area.


Ryan and Cameron then flew to Walla Walla, WA to play a show at Whitman College, while Melissa flew to meet me in OK for a weekend ladies' roadtrip! The first stop of our roadtrip was in Wichita Falls, TX where we stayed with my friend Jen (whom I know from living in Boston) and her husband Andrew. It was Andrew's birthday, so we had a nice dinner with yummy homemade carrot cake!




Melissa and I then drove to the Wichita Wildlife Refuge (another of the 1000 places to see before dying).
We were greeted right away by a Texas Longhorn!


We also saw a herd of buffalo grazing, and 14 deer ran across the street right in front of us. It was a really beautiful location with wildlife surrounding us.
Also on the refuge is the "tallest mountain in oklahoma"...which, took us about 7-10 minutes to drive to the top of. :)


We were tipped off about a great hole in the wall restaurant to stop at after the Refuge....Meers....a shack-like restaurant that had been added onto a couple of times. It was a fun find...we ended up spending hours inside eating and chatting.


Next, we were back in Oklahoma City and went to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial and Museum. It's not in the 1000 places to see book, but I'd put it in there...it's beautifully done and very informative.
The reflection pool where the federal building once stood..


That night we treated ourselves to Braum's ice cream! It's an Oklahoman specialty...each dairy (they sell dairy products as well as ice cream) is within 15 miles of the actual farm!


This morning Melissa flew back to AZ to spend time with her husband Chris, before he leaves on his tour with the band Luca.

And, Ryan and Cameron flew back to Oklahoma!
The show they flew out to play at Whitman College went REALLY well! But unfortunately, they had a run-in with a deer while driving to the Spokane Airport at 5:30am...they are completely fine...just a few aches and pains at first, but totally back to 100% now, but the deer didn't make it and the car was totaled. :(


Bedtime for now! We're driving to Kansas in the morning! :)

Thanks for your comments...if you're an anonymous poster...please write your name...I love knowing who is saying what! :)

Goodbye AZ...hello freezing!

Hello!

Well, we've been on the road for 4 days now, and are getting into a rhythm, which feels good. But, before I get into life on the road...here's a little glimpse of our "goodbyes" in Tucson.

Hiking a little off the beaten path in Ventana Canyon on New Year's Eve with Lori and Melissa...
Melissa fearing for my life... :)


Teamwork!


Lori hosts a bunch of Somalian refugees. I say a "bunch" because it started out as 2 or so...but now it can be up to 8 or 10 that come with us to hang out on any given day. Before we left, we had them all over for a movie party at our house...Back to the Future III was the featured film. :)


The Shunkos and Giambellucas over for breakfast...


At the Shorts for dinner and card games (7 up, 7 down)...


Our last Sunday in Tucson, Ryan led an all-worship service at our church. It was a really beautiful and moving service filled with great music and worship. Afterwards, we carried on tradition and went to lunch at Son's...


It would've been easier to leave Tucson had it been May and 110 outside, but given that it was January and 65-70, it was hard to leave the beautiful weather knowing that we were going to be going into the cold and snow...and returning in May when it's 110! :)

First news first....Ryan spent 4 days in the studio before joining Cameron and I on the tour....AND....he finished all of his recording for the record!! Wahooo!! This recording process has been going on for 2 years, so this is a major accomplishment...hopefully the finished product will soon be in our hands...and in yours! :)

The first show of the tour was in Albuquerque, NM at Winnings Coffee Co. It was a cool grassroots kind of place right near UNM that typically closes at 5pm when students aren't on campus, but said they'd re-open at 7pm and serve drinks if RH wanted to come and play a concert! 50 people came and were totally engaged throughout the show...it was a lot of fun.


We spend a lot of time in the car talking...Cameron gave me "1001 questions" for my birthday, so we've been having fun with those conversation starters. And, I'm also reading aloud to Ryan and Cameron (with their encouragement) "The Schwarzbein Principle"...a book about eating whole foods. We've been cooking our meals for this tour in the hotel rooms, and packing them for the road, which as been GREAT! So far we've had salad with salmon and crackers, turkey stroganoff (sp?), peanut butter honey and apple sandwiches, taco salad, etc...it's amazing how much we enjoy food when we make it, as opposed to going to restaurants every single morning, noon and night. Now...we can actually enjoy the food at restaurants again because it's like a special treat!

The mundane tasks of life on the road...
pumping gas...


waiting in line for the bathroom at gas stations...


Our second show stop was in Kansas City, MO at the Main Street Cafe, a christian coffee shop/outreach for troubled teens. It was a really cool venue in an old warehouse building with white christmas lights and vintage couches everywhere.
Here's a photo of us in the venue eating dinner...bbq from Gates...a local Kansas City fine dining experience.


Cameron's family lives in Kansas City, so we stayed with them. On Sunday afternoon we went to the International House of Prayer. It's a 24/7 prayer and worship center...we really wish every city had one of these b/c you can go at any time...something that is nice and flexible for us travelers.


Sunday evening we spent over at Cameron's aunt and uncle's house eating, and singing...it was a really fun evening filled with lots of sing-a-longs. (Cameron's dad, aunt, uncle, and cousin are in a band; friends that were over are singers; and then Ryan and Cameron of course). I was a great clapper for all of their songs! :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from AZ!

Ryan flew from MI to L.A. to finish recording, but only got a day of recording in before coming down with laryngitis and having to fly back to Tucson. (I was sad he couldn't finish the record, but happy to have him home!) It took him over a week to really get his voice back, so we got really good at sign language and writing notes. :)

We celebrated Christmas for 3 days in a row! On December 23, we had the Hair Tree Christmas Party (Lori's hair salon that I work at sometimes while in town) at Bazil's, our FAVORITE Italian Restaurant owned by Grammie's friend, Bebe Bazil.


Christmas Eve was the big family celebration for Ryan's mom's side of the family.
Here's Grammie and Lori posing by the pies...


Ryan and Sara both letting everyone know that they are "Greens"...


Cousins Traci and Joe in town from San Diego.


Papa David jammin' out on his new ipod shuffle...


Aunt Terri and Jim


Me and our new Christmas ornament!


Lori with her new dog (Patches on the right) and Bella on the left.


Christmas morning we all went over to Ryan's stepmom's house to be with her and Rachel.

Here's Ryan digging into the orange cinnamon rolls...which also happens to be what my mom always makes on Christmas morning!


Rachel lounging in her new Minnesota Vikings jersey...their dad's favorite team!


The whole family outside claiming it's "wicked cold", a.k.a. 56 degrees (which is FREEZING for Tucson!)


Then we went back to Lori's for lunch to feast on leftovers from the night before!

Ryan and I had a relaxing evening at home...we made dinner and watched "V for Vendetta".

Oh, Ryan is still having a hard time with coughing at night and we read online that dark chocolate high in cacao is supposed to act as a cough suppressant, so Ryan has been downing 1/2 of a candy bar every night before bed...our kids (someday) are going to love our medicinal recommendations! :)