Thursday, February 14, 2008, 4:10 p.m., C.S.T., Nashville, Tennessee~

Dear Journal~

Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux here. Hope this finds you well.

I am okay; however, I could be better. See, in less than two days I face one of the most important auditions of my life. I am auditioning for a chance to appear on the TV show, "America's Got Talent", on NBC. I tried out last year; did really good until I got cut from the top thirty five acts, which eventually went down to fifteen.

Does that make any sense to you? If so, good. If not---LOL

Anyway, I was told (by the judges) to come back again next year (which is now this year), so I am.

At first, I was going to sing "Coal Miner's Daughter", my favorite country song of all time (sung by my favorite singer of all time, Loretta Lynn). Then I decided I did that already last year, so then I was going to do Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This". Well, they'd probably heard at least fifty different versions of the song, so then I opted for "I Wanna' Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart", which is a very old yodel tune.

I have been teaching myself how to yodel better (thanks in part to the new Taylor Ware CD I got recently); it's something different, and I figure I could try to wow the judges with that; so I am.

I've been practicing for the last three weeks; I think I could sing (and yodel) that song in my sleep! LOL My throat's a bit irritated from all the yodeling/practicing, so I've been suckin' on cough drops all day, to alleviate the soreness. So far it's been helping. I've also been drinking lots of lemon juice and/or water to further help my throat/singing.

In case you don't know who Taylor Ware is, she's a now-thirteen-year-old yodeling champion from near the Nashville, Tennessee, area; she was on "AGT" nearly two years ago. She came in something like fourth or fifth place out of the top ten contestants; she wowed the judges (not to mention) the audience with her yodeling skills/singing. She was 11 years old when she was on the show.

(Taylor taught herself how to yodel from a booklet/tape she'd gotten; she's been singing all over the nation, and she's even appeared on the Grand Ole Opry more than once. She's phenominal!)

I've been on the Opry several times myself, but that's not important.

I got Taylor's CD a few weeks back, and she's inspired me. I love the way she yodels, so I have been trying to work on mine. It's really not that hard to do once you get the hang of it; it's actually kind of fun! :)

Besides practicing for my upcoming audition in a few days, school has kept me busy: homework nearly every night. Also have been keeping tabs on my little brothers and sisters, going to church twice a week (Wednesdays and Sundays, plus I have choir practice on Thursday evenings), and just being a typical teenaged kid: hanging out with friends, talkin' on the phone, spending time on the computer, and working on my writing/singing.

Health's been great since my surgery a month ago (seems hard to believe, doesn't it?). My hands are just about halfway healed, and I'm hardly in any pain. They feel great, and I can  move my fingers/wrists so much better! It's been incredible!

(Will have to wait a few more weeks before I pick up the Cajun accordion or my other instruments. Can't lift anything above five pounds just yet. Darn!)

Well, I am going to yodel some more, practice some more; want to make sure I'm ready for Saturday's audition at Opryland Mills! I want this thing really bad; I know I can do it! Just wish me luck, and keep me in your prayers! I really can use 'em! Thanks!

God bless and I'll see y'all a while ago! Later, dudes (and dudettes)!

(((HUGS)))) and much love, your gal pal, Ronee' Le-Anne. :D