Our day started out as normal. Muster at 8. Announcements. We had our ‘call away’ at about 1000 for our helo flight to shore. Our plan for the day was up in the air as we departed the ship. The days leading up to the performance were a bit scrambled because we had an idea as to what was going to happen, but due to some logistical snafu’s, things were a bit crazy and still in limbo. The original plan was for us to play with the Nicaraguan Army Band during our performance today. However, no one from the Nic. Army Band could be contacted so we didn’t even know if they were going to show up. Well thankfully they did show but it wasn’t until after we had set up. We didn’t play with them but what ended up happening was the BQ played their set first, then the Army Band played and then we played for about half an hour or so at the end. It all went over very well, and the crowd seemed to love all of the music that each group played. The town Mayor came out. The ship’s leadership was there as well as the Surgeon General. We were blessed to have some children perform local, cultural dances for us. It was great. They looked so festive with the girls in all white dresses lined with red threading to match the red flowers in their hair. They looked like little grown-ups with their eyes covered in shimmery-blue eye shadow and lips of bubble gum pinks and red. The boys looked so handsome in their white shirt and pant ensemble which was capped off with a straw hat lined with colorful red, green, blue and yellow streamers. They danced to local music which was nice but way too loud for my taste. I had to plug my ears because it was so loud. And even as I walked 50 feet away to escape the pain my ears felt, it was still too loud. Am I getting old and turning into one of those people I see at our gigs with their hands over their ears? The ones who seem to stare straight through you as they make a face that says “I wouldn’t have come to this concert if I’d know it was going to be so loud!”. I hope not. It was just loud; that’s all. Well after the dancers finished, we quickly tore down so that we could make it back to the HLZ in enough time to catch our helo…not that they would leave us, but hurrying makes it extra special when we make it back in time. And in true band fashion….true gig fashion, it rained just as we were getting the last of the equipment onto the truck! HA! It just wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t get rained on. We got back….I washed my face and went to eat dinner. It was veggie lasagna and some veggies. It was ok. Boy I sure was hungry. After dinner, I did some laundry and while it was in, I headed to the Confirmation brief for tomorrow. We are heading out to the American Embassy for a couple of performances. We get to stay overnight, and it should be interesting because we aren’t staying in a hotel…we are staying at the Ambassadors vacant residence on the Embassy compound…it has nothing really. At first we were told that we would have to bring our own linens…and towels…but now that has changed; they have some for us. Whether or not the towel are the size of a hand towel or a bath towel, we don’t know…we may be sleeping on a bed or a cot…we don’t know that either. It should be interesting though. I love adventures, and here is yet another one! I’m looking forward to it…stuff like this gives me more stuff to write about. Woo hoo!