Wow, the Rogue Performance Festival has been so much more amazing than I could ever have imagined - and I already had a feeling that it would be wonderful. I've met so many incredibly warm, talented people, and I've had such a great time.

Here are just some images and impressions:

1. Getting off the train (which ran an hour late!), dazed and hungry. Meeting Steph and Sarah was a wonderful welcome.

2. Performing at the Salon. A customer was getting her hair done. Jaguar Bennett was there. I had read about him and his work, and I was a little intimidated, the way you can be when you've read raves about a talented actor, and you're an actor too. I was struck by his piercing blue eyes. Baba Brinkman was there, relaxed and smiling. Bryan Patrick, the magician, was passing out flyers for his show. Brad, the dudeboy, was there, friendly, warm. Food was arranged along the counters. But I couldn't eat, since I was about to go on. A mic in the corner. I set my mic too low, and just dealt with it. I was flat, but I tried. Afterwards, I wanted a shot of tequila, and Steph graciously accompanied me to a bar.

3. Still dazed, Steph took me to Full Circle Brewery. (I was dazed, not Steph.) BIG beautiful space, lots of people. I kept going outside to smoke. Marcel! I hadn't seen him since last September. Finally a familiar face, and he's so mellow, he puts anyone at ease. Standing on the sidewalk, I met Joy, beautiful, coming to perform (and she ROCKED later). The handsome Captain Whiffle, who looks just like his photo. RP, cool guy. Some really nice women offered me a seat at their table, but I was jumpy and nervous, since I had to perform later, so I didn't take them up on it. I met a lot of people that night, Blake Jones - a wonderful man, so alive and so supportive, the bouncer who is so sweet, Julia, the incredible John Jordan, so calm, so unflappable (and isn't he the James Bond? If so, it definitely fits), and more and more and more people...

Lydia danced. That's it - LYDIA DANCED. Mesmerizing. Amazing technique. Stunningly beautiful woman. I could have watched her dance forever.

It's loud in there. People talking, drinking, milling around. I decide that what I planned to do wouldn't work. So I did something else.

4. Afterwards, I was starving, so Steph took me to In'n'Out, and then we went to the performance space because he had to fix something. I met the quiet and strong Noa Kristi, who's running the lights for my show, and who is just awesome. She's out there with me, because the light design is a crucial part of my show, and she is doing beautiful, sensitive work - a perfect partner. I also get another chance to see how dedicated and thorough Steph is, as a venue manager, a lighting designer, and as an artist - he bends himself in four to make sure everyhing is perfect. And he's also running my sound, so he's out there with me too. A good trio.

And I love the space. Beautiful, beautiful floor, that is so smooth, and sounds so lovely when I walk on it. I'm used to using every inch of a stage, the walls, just being physically there, jumping onto and on benches, climbing up ladders - I'd crawl along the ceiling if I could - so it's odd to think of staying on a flat plane, and even odder using so much downstage blocking. But there's so much stage! Steph reassures me that his lights will help. And they do.

5. Drinking at Starline. Drinking tequila at Starline. Enough said.

6. I found a perfect dance partner in Jaguar Bennett.

7. Solitaire is beautiful! And such a together woman. A trite way to say it, but true. She's cool.

8. Fascinating conversations with Marcel about Fresno, about his art, about the Rogue. The man has style to burn.

9. Vince Jones. Wow. Cool man. Very cool man.

10. The Imperatrices. Wonderful people, so supportive. I love her work, and I'm looking forward to seeing his show.

11. The patient, always smiling Sarah, picking me up from Steph's to take me to the theater. I'm always so nervous before a show, and she is a calming ray of light. I know why you'll all miss her.

12. Eating fish and chips with Barry Smith. Playing musical tables at the restaurant with Barry Smith.

13. PC Munoz. Wow. I felt privileged to see his show, and I saw it twice. I just wish more people realized how much talent and passion was in this group. It was life-changing for me.

13. Christine Mitchell from Entandem Productions. Elegant, kind, and a brilliant writer. I am so glad we met, and I really hope to get to work with her somehow.

14. Jaguar Bennett in Bullet Point. Yes.

15. Eric Field. I am so moved by all he's doing to reach the people I also hope will see my show - people who have gone through the same things I have, who are going through them, or who are friends or family members who have.

16. Seeing Liesl Garner, as I was walking to the Starline. She had just given what I later heard was an amazing performance. She called out to me. I was a little self-absorbed (okay, depressed!), and seeing her just made me so happy. She was ecstatic, had just received a standing ovation from her audience, and seeing her glow, standing there on Olive Street, just put things right in my world. Beautiful.

17. And Fresno!!! I love it! The people have been so kind, so warm, so welcoming, so enthusiastic about the Rogue. I'm looking forward to coming back tomorrow, seeing some shows, getting some sun...

This has been an amazing experience. And it's not over yet!