And the tour ends...

Many of you know how I feel about being on the road. (I love it. I can't get enough.) And this week and a half of sleeping (too many hours) in my own bed and driving fewer than 300 miles a day, has been relaxing, predictable, restorative, and a little boring. I was meant to tour!

Anyway - here's a list of things that I learned or confirmed this tour: (in no particular order)

• Always do an idiot check. Even if you feel like the idiot because you're checking for all of your stuff one more time - there's a chance that you've left your harmonica on someone's windowsill, and then they'll have to mail it to you down the road!
• I LOVE the beach. Really. Can't get enough. Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Charleston were all amazing. I live a mile from the beach when I'm home, and I'm wondering why I never go?
• Grace Potter and Tina Fey are amazing. I'd like to recommend, 'Bossypants' (the audio book) and, 'This is Somewhere', for your next road trip.
• I might be the stork. (I was privy to some baby announcements that haven't hit Facebook yet, so stay tuned!)
• House concerts are my jam. First of all - I know that this is a phrase I should never use, but it's so perfect! Singing in living rooms and telling the stories behind my songs, is exactly how I should perform. It makes the most sense! So get ready, because I'm going to be calling you to sing in your home soon!
• People judge based on appearance more than you think. My appearance is changeable, so I'm not claiming this as a hardship. I've just noticed, especially on this tour, that you can literally see in someone's eye as they make a snap judgement about you. They're judging my hair, which I can (but won't) easily change…imagine being constantly judged for something like your skin color? I learned a lot from this.
• I get offered weed all of the time. Again, back to assumptions. Seriously. All of the time.
• Running isn't that bad. Especially when you get to run in a different town every day!
• I belong on the road. I love touring, I love seeing friends every night, and I love meeting new folks and seeing new places night after night. This is where I'm supposed to be. And this is a wonderful feeling.
• The world is ready for the Just Be Nice Party. Really. Folks are ready. They're ready for their representatives to get along and work together. And they're ready for the government we voted for to do its job with commitment and maturity.

Lastly, when you walk around like you live the best life ever, as a smiley society member, people respond to you. I smile and say 'hello' to anyone I see, and after the initial shock wears off (I don't think many humans expect actual acknowledgement anymore) people are so happy to chat! Just more proof that love wins.

Thanks for another awesome tour, friends.

See you soon, Kristen

Lucky girl.

I just got to spend a week on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota and arrived in Mexico on Saturday night. And both places are awesome. And both places make me happy. I spent the week with kids that I love and kids that I've missed!

We got to dance together, play Legos together, eat birthday cake together and go to a pow wow together.

And before I knew it, the week was over and I had to leave. Again.

I feel like I'm always leaving these kids.

And then I arrived to a super moon in the Oaxaca sky. And we started planning trips to the park, and trips to Casa Hogar, and trips to the jungle, and now I'm here, and so glad that I'm here.

And when I leave to go back to the reservation, I'll miss these kids. And then arrive to my Cheyenne River friends.

I am a lucky girl to have so many kind faces to greet me wherever I go.

Why Ed Graves is awesome.

Here is a list (an incomplete list) of why my father, Ed Graves, is absolutely awesome. He used to do chores off of my list in exchange for piano songs.

He taught me how to water ski.

He makes jokes that no one understands.

He taught me how to create and stick to a family budget (he is an accountant after all).

When I came home with new songs after my first year of college he shook his head and told me 'you're gonna make it.'

When I introduced him to Bryan, he couldn't wait to tell me what a 'nice fellow' he was.

When I obsessively started going to Mexico during college to volunteer at Casa Hogar, he supported me every. single. time.

When any other female artist comes on the radio he exclaims that they're not as good as I am and promptly puts in one of my CDs.

He's a fantastic organic gardener.

We are the only two people left who call my brother David.

He loves country music. Especially the old stuff.

He drives a John Deere tractor.

He has run marathons.

He watches crime shows with me.

He did not get upset when I balked at the idea of being 'given away' at my wedding. Even though I'm his only daughter. And loved the idea of us walking down the aisle as a family, after Bryan walked down with his mother as a family.

He sent me a piece of mail every day when I was in college. Usually with a few $ inside for a cookie.

He shares my insane love for popcorn.

He not only puts up with my crazy dreams, but thinks they're perfect and absolutely attainable.

He is the nicest and cutest registered Republican in the world. The party could and absolutely should learn a lot from him. Though he's now joined the Just Be Nice Party, so they've missed out.

He has a refrigerator full of beer and wine. And stocks it when I'm coming for a visit.

He loves bonfires, and might be a pyromaniac (in a good way).

He loves the water and walking on the beach with his daughter.

Love you dad. Have a happy birthday. I wish I was there. K