Operation Laughter

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AFE’s “Heat Wave” Summer tour series brings sizzling music and comedy lineup to U.S. military serving abroad

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD, June 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Starting in late June and spanning the 4th of July timeframe, Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) is presenting the “Heat Wave” Summer tour series, which includes performances for more than 50,000 U.S. service members and their families stationed overseas.

As part of this year’s 4th of July celebrations, the Department of Defense organization is sending 12 celebrated artists and groups on tour to the five regions of the world it serves.

Artists performing for our troops around the globe include: Famed rockers Stone Temple Pilots, multi-talented R&B artist Tinashe, Australian hard rockers Sick Puppies, Marine Corps veteran-rockers American Hitmen, pop-punk emo rock band Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, alt-rockers The Mowgli’s, high-energy cover group Pop Rocks, Las Vegas-based pop group Soultry City, country music performers Rodney Atkins, The Rachel Lipsky Band and Rhinestone Cowboy and comedy tour, Operation Laughter.

“This is one of those times of year when our deployed service members and their families might especially be missing home,” said Brian Burke, Marketing and Business Analyst for AFE. “So, around the Fourth, we really strive to brighten their time by bringing high-quality entertainment that will help them celebrate America’s independence, no matter where they are in the world.”

Service members and their families stationed at installations throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia, the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific will enjoy a variety of acts from comedy shows to concerts in a range of musical genres.

While AFE provides yearlong-quality entertainment in the genres of music, comedy, sports and fitness and resiliency/motivational tours, the Independence Day holiday timeframe brings a more concentrated number of tours. This annual peak season of performances serves as the basis for AFE’s “Heat Wave” Summer tour series and includes more high-profile acts and a greater variety of music. The tour series also includes a 4th of July performance during  the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise, the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise.

“We are beyond grateful for all the sacrifices our U.S. military members and their families living abroad make,” said Burke. “We work extra hard to ensure the types of tours we send out during this timeframe are top-notch and that this quality entertainment is reaching our military all around the world.”

One of the most highly-anticipated shows from the “Heat Wave” series is Stone Temple Pilots’ 4th of July performance during RIMPAC, which is held at Joint Base Pearl Harbor – Hickam, Hawaii.

Several of the music artists in the lineup are currently touring commercially either on the heels of, or in anticipation of their newest album releases. During their performances for U.S. military audiences, the artists are expected to cover some of their most recognizable hits but will also be sharing new music from their recently released singles or albums.

For more information on AFE’s “Heat Wave” Summer tour series, please visit www.afetours.com

About Armed Forces Entertainment: Armed Forces Entertainment is the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 400,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. For more information visit armedforcesentertainment.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube

Holidays don’t matter

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Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years Eve, Valentines Day…it doesn’t matter on the road. I’ve been working on holidays since I’ve been 16. I take my “holidays” when everyone else is back from theirs. Turns out to be cheaper and less crowded. Now who is the dumb blond?

I moved out to CA when I was 19 and in order to survive I worked holidays. It was my nut for winter. Plus I could never afford to fly back to WI for the holidays so I started working. In my humble opinion, it’s all what you make it. I’ve seen people flip out that they have to work on the holidays because it’s their “family” time. To me it’s just another day and when you don’t put that much energy in the date then it doesn’t matter if things don’t work out. Call it a way of “survival” or “just another day”. It’s all perspective. I remember an ex boyfriend that got mad at me because I worked on Christmas. Not to be mean because thats not my point I said “Are you paying my bills?” He quickly became quiet. When you work one day and it’s the pay of 3 weeks worth…you bet I’m working to make my life easier.

Today is Bennie’s 12th birthday and were on the road. To be honest my birthday and his are the only “holiday” I celebrate. It’s the day we were born and I think that’s worth a celebration. Cheers. #NoRegrets #Birthday #LifesToShortForBS

My Pop

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My father passed last Oct. The closer it gets to that date it makes me sad. I try and take peoples advice. “Remember the good things about your father” “Remember the memories” “He’s always with you”. I have to be honest. It doesn’t matter….it still hurts & I miss him terribly.  Usually the time when I’m in my truck driving long distances he seems to pop in my head. The first day of my road trip I was thinking of him a lot. I had 685 miles to “think” and he defiantly came to my mind. I took his flannel with me and wore it. I use it to protect me of the sun and from getting the very familiar “farmers tan” when driving. It has a faint smell of him. The longer I have it the more it fades. Funny how that is…because his memories won’t ever fade.

I usually called him when I’m on set or driving long distances to a gig. I remembered the phone conversations we’ve had. He would say things like “So…are you getting paid on any of these gigs?” “I don’t know how you do it.” “You sure like being by yourself.”

Funny you say that dad. I don’t really know but I can’t see myself do anything else. I’ve always went out of my way to make people laugh or get out of their head for a moment. Kinda of like a Court Jester. And as for the ..” like being by yourself”. It kinda goes with the territory. I’m all that I got.

See you on the flip side dad. img_5510

Count Down Begins

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