Huntsville, TX

mdw has arrived safe and sound in Huntsville, TX for her five week guest residency at Sam Houston State University. I will be teaching technique and creating a new piece of choreography on the students. The drive was uneventful (Except for the truly "Motel 6" experience stating at Motel 6 in Texarkana, TX) and I arrived to a hot Texas afternoon. The apartment, arranged as part of the residency by the university, is beautiful! If feels a bit like being at a retreat in this stylish apartment "on the square" (meaning the hip block of Hunstville - lots of antique shops, consignment stores, cafes, salons - very Texas chic).

The prison - yes THE prison where Texas executed convicted persons - is about four blocks north of the apartment, and you can hear the changing of the guard horn throughout the day. I guess Texas has the highest number of executions in the country- doesn't seem to really be an effective deterrent, says I.

Four blocks to the southeast is a lovely historical park that houses Sam Houston's old plantation home. I've walked through it twice now on the way to campus and am enjoying the history of the place. The residency so far has entailed placement classes. Auditions will be held tomorrow, so things will really get going on Thursday. I've been able to reconnect with some colleagues and am enjoying being a guest artists very much.

I miss my boys and Samantha terribly, and we are connecting throughout the day through phone calls and videos. mtw explained to eaw how email works so that eaw can tell papa what he wants to say to mama, and then papa will type it and send it. So far I have received the following email from eaw: "Blue" - sheer poetry.