Weds., June 17, 2009, Nashville, TN., 7:12 a.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Ronee' here, Ronee' Reaux.  Hope this finds  y'all well and (reasonably) happy.  I am doing okay; really have nothing to complain about, excepting I am still worried about my brother, Johnny, and his depressive state.

He's doing a little better; however, he is nervous about starting counseling next week.  I don't blame him.  There's something intimidating about telling a complete stranger your deepest feelings or thoughts.  I just hope the counseling helps; I don't think we can take too much more of his moods!  Yikes!

I am really enjoying being out of school.  I have gotten a lot of serious swim time in, as well as practicing my music (I do that everyday, for about two hours, once in the afternoon, and then again in the evening, before I go to bed). 

Sometimes I do it only once, but I still try to get some practice in.  If I want to get better in what I do, then I have to practice!

No two bones about it!

I have really gotten dark.  Because of my heritage, I tan easily.  I have Spanish, Cajun French, and Native American in my blood, as well as Scottish and Irish (not much of that, but it's there, somewhere).  I look like a Mexican mamacita!  LOL  I did have a burn, but it's gone away; now I am a beautiful nut-brown.

Meanwhile, my poor brother, Johnny (as well as my little brother Bjorn) remain lily-white.  They don't tan:  they burn.  They end up looking like a pair of boiled crawfish.  *OWW*  LOL  I feel so sorry for them; it must be horrible not to be able to get a tan going!

I go to Las Vegas next week:  I am trying to get a spot for "America's Got Talent" (AGAIN!!).  If I don't make it this time, I just may end up eating my (Cajun) accordion for lunch.  LOL  I try so hard, yet when the time comes to prove my stuff, I choke, and I screw up.  Bad.  It never fails; it drives me CRAZY!!!!  Be praying for me; I really could use some support here!!

I don't know if it's seeing those stupid judges in person or what, but when the time comes for me to prove my mettle, I mess up bad, and I then end up looking totally spazzed!!  It's nutz!!!!

In any event, besides that, I have the Nashville's annual "Red, White, and BOOM!" Celebration to look forward to.  I am scheduled to perform there; I always look forward to playing my Cajun music for the crowd; they get such a kick out of it!   I get a thrill at watching them dance as I perform; I know then they are enjoying what I do, and it makes me feel good!

It seems hard to believe, but next year I will have had my band, "Cajun Spice", for ten years, since I was seven!  We were just little snot-nosed kids when we started (especially me!!); now we're practically adults!  (Okay, I am; the others are really close to it or just arrived.  :) )  We've really grown as a band!

We still focus primarily on Cajun and traditional country, but we also do rap, rock, gospel, modern country, bluegrass, funk:  anything you want to hear, and we do it if we know it!   LOL

We're willing to try anything once, even if it's wrong.  :P

I am really enjoying driving daddy's VW Bug.  Haven't wrecked out yet (came close a few times;  it's because some stupid couchon cut me off or pulled right in front of me, and I ended up nearly putting the Bug into their front seat!); I pray this continues!  It's a small car, but it has a dynamic sound system; I put on the Cajun tunez in there, and that Bug is ROCKIN'!!  LOL

You don't want to get my dander up when I'm mad or fed up.  I start swearing in Cajun French; it's rather funny because unless you know Cajun, people don't know what in the blue blazes I'm saying!  (And I don't have to worry about owing my parents money because they're not with me!  LOL)  If they are, I watch myself; if not, then look out:  the cuss words fly like startled birds!  LOLOLOLOL

Maybe that's one reason why I'm still here:  I'm too mean to die.  LOLOLOLOL  (I have my maman's Cajun temper, plus coupled with the other stuff.  Not a good combo!  Talk about dynamite in small packages!  Yes, that's me, Ronee' Reaux, all over!  LOLOLOL)

Can you tell I'm in a weird mood?  The Fourth of July always does that to me.  Maybe it's because I've already heard firecrackers poppin' and have seen fireworks several times, like when we go to the Concert in the Park on Friday nights.  Last Friday we performed there, had a most wonderful time!  There was a pretty good turnout, and the people enjoyed themselves. 

Or we did until thunderstorms threatened; then we had to scramble, put our gear up, and get to shelter before the skies opened up. 

There were no fireworks that night!

Seems we've been getting a lot of that lately:  storms.  No wonder my body has been protesting lately!  (Ya think??)  I pray this stormy pattern ends soon; it's been bad here this spring and summer!!

Well, I am going to go into the shower, do my thing, wash my hair, and try to decide what I want for breakfast or what to do today.  I will write in here again another time, probably closer to the Fourth or so.  Until then, this is Ronee' Reaux saying so long!  Here' s a big Cajun "Aaaiiieee!!" for the road!  God bless!

~Luv, your friend, Ronee' Le-Anne.  :D

P.S.:  I'm gonna murderlize my daddy: he says I'm in a weird mood because I've been sniffin' too much of those blue fireworks when they go off!  They're *naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasty*!!  You smell/taste them for DAYS afterwards; they're GROSS!!!!  That's what he just told me; I am NOT amused!!!!

~Ronee'.  :)