The Tucson Weekly Range is continuing its Tour Diaries series. Check in daily to keep track of on-the-road shenanigans, dirt, grime, and glory, and all the hangovers and warts. All artists are asked to tell it like it is. This time it's the monolithic Tucson badasses XIXA, swinging through Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and beyond.

July, 12. Day 1:
God laughs when you make plans. So do airlines. The weather had its way with Chicago and us. In typical fashion, we got it together, got to the airport early, got upgraded to first class only to be turned around by an alert notice on my AA app. "Flight cancelled due to storms, we have accommodated you on another flight, but your class of service will be changed." Translation: Put in a sack, and thrown in the back. 
Even the weather channel conspired against us with its scary radar reports. Three uneventful, non-bumpy hours later, here we are at the ORD Admirals Club, with an almost eight-hour layover. That's a lot of free hummus, soup and Bloody Mary's.  All of this was a blessing in disguise, because according to Chicago Admirals Club staff, yesterday was such a nightmare, half of the staff wanted to quit. They had been overrun by surly, entitled, angry passengers ... hundreds of them. So, in leaving a day late, we actually came out better for it. I think. One hour until we board our 787 Dreamliner.

Europe?

You ready?

We are about to do it all over. Again.

Stay tuned.

-Winston Watson | Chicago, IL

Quick band refresher: