March 21, 2005 - Baltimore, MD

We arrived in Baltimore about 8ish in the morning. I planned on spending my day off at home with my wife and step-daughter so I had Danette cancel my room. Joseph was booked to do a gig with another band the following day before our gig in Baltimore . His gig was in Tysons Corner ( McLean , Va ). so he needed transportation to and from Tysons Corner. I told him that he could ride home with me and stay at my house and I could take him to Tysons Corner the following morning before I headed back to Baltimore for the ‘load in'. My wife called and told me that she was on her way from home to pick me up. I knew that it would take her just over an hour to get here so I decided to get some breakfast with some of the other band member in the hotels restaurant. First I helped Victor taker some luggage up to his room then I went down to the restaurant. Danette, Saundra, Joseph and Derico were already there. Victor and Regi came later. Of course, we were just laughing and joking and telling stupid stories while we were waiting for our food.

While I was looking out the restaurants window I saw my truck ride by. My wife found a parking space and came in to join us. After eating Joseph and I went and got our personal belongings off of the tour bus. He had to get his keyboard too. My wife had to be at work by noon so I drove her straight to where she was working that day in Waldorf, Md. The office she was working at is right across the street from where I teach. After I dropped her off Joseph and I stopped at a couple of stores to pick some stuff up. We got to my house about 1pm . I gave him a tour of the house. He thought that it was very funny that I have a bass in every room of my house. He started tinkling around on my wife's baby grand. I didn't have much time before it was time to pick up my wife. She was only working 2 hours that day. I left Joseph at the house when I drove to pick her up. When we got back home Joseph was learning the song “When Your Life Was Low” by Joe Sample and Layla Hathaway. Joseph, my wife and I love that song.

Joseph and I decided hat would be best to take him to Tysons Corner tonight instead of tomorrow so he would already be there and I could just go straight to Baltimore .

I dropped him of at the McLean Hilton and I made the trek back home. I can't remember how long I stayed up that night but it wasn't too long because I was tired. My wife and I watched ‘24'. We had taped it earlier that day with our DVR machine. After the TV show went off I checked my email and went to bed. My wife, Toné', and my step-daughter, Shauna, stayed up for awhile. It's definitely cool to be able to spend a day off at home.

Peace,

Anthony

“Smells Like Home”