"I Said 'Hup'!"

Sunday, February 19: Palmview, TX-3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.

This morning, as I was on my way back to the lot after getting coffee, a woman in an SUV pulled out of a gas station and totally cut me off.

I started to get angry until I noticed that the back window of her SUV was incredibly dirty, except for where someone had used their fingers to draw penises all over it.

Seeing that made me feel a lot better.

Anyway.

Today was another nice day. We did decent business for the first show, the second show was full, and the third show was 3/4 full.

Dave and Sherri Shepard, our advance clowns, came back to watch the show again today. Dave is taking the pictures for our new program, so they were front and center for the second performance.

They got to see a "Steve & Ryan Screw Up" in the hillbilly gag. At one point in the act I give Ryan an audial and tactile cue to set up the timing for a big hit; in the second show the cues were either not heard or they did not register, because the bit was totally flubbed, which left me completely dazed and confused for a moment. I had no idea what to do or even what bit came next; all I could do was say in a hurt and defensive tone, "I said 'Hup'!".

Luckily Ryan moved on to the next bit and we regained momentum.

I told Dave and Sherri that maybe they were jinxing us, because they were also witness to a particularly awful Angry Birds gag in Brownsville.

After a rocky second show, I got my second wind for the last performance, and it was smooth sailing from there.

Slim Pickens

Saturday, February 18: Palmview, TX-3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.

Today was a beautiful day. The sun was out, it was warm, but there was a good breeze to keep it from being too hot.

We had a small crowd for the first show, but there was good business for the second show. The third show had the biggest audience of the day.

The nice weather made the three show day not very difficult at all. A guy could get used to that!

(Nice weather, not three shows!)

Here's a photo Tatiana took of me and Ryan pre skeleton chase:

And here's a news story that was filmed in 2010 when we played Hugo. It just went online a couple of months ago. I don't believe I have shared it here yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-txZFKhJGVU

And another reminder, if you live in the Rio Grande Valley, check us out on KNVO UNIVISION tomorrow (Monday the 20th) at 5 a.m.

If you don't feel like getting up that early to watch us, I don't blame you. Even I wouldn't wake up at 5 a.m. to watch us!

Boo Ya?

Friday, February 17: Palmview, TX-6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Miles: 21

Lot: Next to Subway

Several vehicles got stuck on the Weslaco lot this morning. I was one of them; of course I get delayed when I am in a hurry to meet a deadline for a PR!

This morning John Moss gave Ryan, Delena, and I a ride to the UNIVISION station in McAllen.

While we were there, we recorded two television segments to air at a later date, and we also did a live radio spot.

I felt useless in the television spots because they were in Spanish. Ryan and Delena did all the talking with the on air personalities. I just mugged and read out of the book that I made bearing the title "Learning Spanish" (written in Espanol of course).

I was able to redeem myself a bit in the radio spot since it was in English. Two of the morning radio hosts came by to meet us; they are promoting the heck out of our stay in the Valley, and they have been giving tickets away as well.

The female host gave us a great compliment on the air early this morning, and she repeated it when she met us.

She told us that we were the funniest clowns she had ever seen. Boo ya!

Besides the radio segment, the second television piece that we recorded was my favorite. Why?

Because I got to sit next to her:

Boo ya!

The weather today was pretty miserable. It was overcast and threatening rain all day; on top of that it was humid...oh so humid.

Needless to say Ryan and I were two very sweaty clowns.

We did decent business for the first show; the turnout was better for the second one.

Just a reminder, watch me, Ryan, and Delena on KNVO UNIVISION out of McAllen today (Saturday the 18th) at 5 p.m. If you miss the segment, it is airing again in the 10 p.m. hour.

...BOO YA!

Blah Blah Blah

Thursday February 16: Weslaco, TX-6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

It rained during the night, but by the time I was up and about, it had quit.

After going to get my morning coffee, I had Radar help me hook my truck up to my trailer. I had to do a little weaving among some trees to get my vehicle back on the lot, but it wasn't too difficult.

My friend, Ramon, came by and took me out for a fajita lunch. We caught up as well since I haven't seen him since we played the Valley last year.

We did good business today; I guess word of mouth helped us.

It started to rain steadily during tear down; it made me happy that I decided to hook up my truck in the morning instead of waiting 'til the tent was down like I had originally planned.

UNIVISION update:

Friends in the Valley, watch KNVO UNIVISION (out of McAllen) tomorrow (Saturday the 18th) at 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to catch a segment featuring me, Ryan, and Delena Fusco. It is the same segment airing both times.

On Monday the 20th, watch at 5 a.m. to see a different segment air. And if anyone could record those for us, it would be greatly appreciated!

Practice Makes Perfect

Wednesday, February 15: Weslaco, TX-6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Miles: 24

Lot: City Park

This morning I unhooked my truck and took it into town to do laundry and go grocery shopping.

It was really nice to have some freedom away from the show after being stuck at the lot for the past few towns.

Apparently the company that sponsored us here last year has since disbanded, so Weslaco is now a lot and license date.

We had an average turnout for the first show, but more people showed up for the second show.

After the second performance ended we had a finale rehearsal to implement a few new people into the number.

I was ready to finish, because the practice was standing in the way of me going out for dinner!

And now a PSA:

To all our fans in the Rio Grande Valley: In the morning we are going to the KNVO UNIVISION Studio in McAllen to record some segments promoting the Kelly Miller Circus. Stay tuned for the air date!

Where's My Candy?!

Tuesday, February 14: San Benito, TX-6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Miles: 25

Lot: fairgrounds

Once I got to the fairgrounds in San Benito, I tried to get my truck off the lot so I could go do laundry.

Unfortunately the ground was still soft from all the rain last week, and I backed up right into an extremely mushy patch.

I tried to move forward again, but my back tire was buried in a rut.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Luckily Jacob was nice enough to pull me out of the mud with the Bobcat. With my tail between my legs, I parked my truck back in front of my trailer and pouted.

It turns out that if I had waited a few hours, I could have backed up alongside my trailer on the other side where it was a lot drier, especially after the sun had been out all morning.

Fridman replaced my trailer's water pump, which was a great relief. I now have better pressure in my sinks and shower, and it doesn't sound like my trailer is going to blow up every time I run my water.

I watched the movie, "District 9", today; I enjoyed it a lot. If you are a fan of sci-fi, action, gore, and South Africans, definitely check it out.

We did decent business for the shows. Due to the humidity and low energy from the audience, the performances were a bit tough to get through.

Pirates In The Audience

Monday, February 13: Port Isabel, TX-6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Miles: 21

Lot: Laguna Madre Park

The crew was working all night to get the tent down and the big trucks off the lot. I heard that it took about an hour for each semi to be pulled out of the mud.

The last show vehicle was off the lot about an hour before our call time.

Once 6 a.m. rolled around all of the trailers were pulled off the lot. Once I had a clear path, I attempted to drive off without assistance.

I made it all the way to the road, but when I got to the curb, I chickened out and slowed down. Stuck! Centimeters from the pavement!

The tractor pulled me off and I went on my merry way.

When we got to the lot in Port Isabel, I thought we were in for more of the same. The ground was soft, there were already muddy tracks, and the generator truck got stuck pulling into its position.

Luckily the sun came out and was there to stay. The ground dried up nicely, Ryan and I cleaned our props, and I was able to hand wash all of my costumes and shoes and then put them outside to dry.

Ryan, Tatiana, Nico, and I walked into town to get some lunch and look around. We ate at Pirate's Landing, which is right next to the Black Dragon Pirate Cruise, of which our friend, Christy McDonald, is entertainment director.

Unfortunately, Christy was out of town until the late afternoon, so we didn't get to see her. My friends, Amber and Michael; however, are pirates on the cruise, and they came into the restaurant to say hello before taking off.

Obviously two pirates in full regalia coming to our table attracted some attention. Ryan suggested that I should have stood up after they left and said, "Maybe you've noticed, but I'm kinda a big deal."

We wanted to attend the pirate cruise today since it is just down the road from the lot, but we had a company meeting at 3:00 p.m. to go over rules, regulations, and the like.

We had good crowds for the shows today. Everything was SO MUCH easier without a field of mud to tromp through.

Also, Ryan and I had a few more minutes to rest in the first half because Carolyn's dog act went into the show tonight.

Our friend Christy came to the second show with her boyfriend, her parents, and her boyfriend's parents. Michael, Amber, and Amber's son were also there.

It was good to see everybody; we are planning on getting together again when we play Los Fresnos later in the month.

Ryan, Nico, and I with Christy and Darren.

By the way, if you ever want to see tour dates, go to our website: www.steveandryan.com

I just updated them.