Today is Tuesday, July 2nd and we are in Lafayette, LA having arrived the previous evening. We have a particularly busy day ahead of us today which means a very early start!!

4:30 am
The alarm blares out and it's time to get up!!!
There's just time to shower, dress and grab a bottle of water from the hotel room fridge before heading for the waiting car.
First stop of the day is the local ABC affiliate, KATC TV3.
It's still dark and as we can't find an open Starbucks, are still half asleep!

5:15 am After the driver takes a couple of wrong turns we arrive on time at KATC. It's too early for reception to be open so we find the side entrance and I announce Michael's arrival. The ABC Morning News is well under way as we meet the show's producer, Stacy Vernon and the show's anchors. Still no coffee!! Michael is taken to the set and goes over the topics to be discussed.

Michael prepares for his first interview of the day

5:30 am
On Air!!
Michael is interviewed by the two News anchors about Shadows in the Night, the charity lunch he will be attending later today at the Stadium Club, which will be covered by ABC News and his possible return to Y&R.
Up next on the show is the Cooking segment and Michael gets invited to join the cooks outside and sample some early morning BBQ. I'm invited too but it's a little early in the day for me to be eating, however I am persuaded to try a mushroom, hot from the BBQ and it's very tasty!

6.00 am
Arms laden with bottles of BBQ sauce we depart from the KATC Studios.

6:15 am Only a short drive along the road and we arrive at the CBS Television Studio, KLFY TV 10. Again we enter through the side door as there's no sign of life at the reception desk. We meet the News anchor, Lori and show's producer and finally - Coffee for Michael!!! There's plenty of time before Michael is due on air so we check the Shadows video as they will be debuting it on the show at the end of the interview. Whilst sitting in the studio wings, we are surprised when the cameraman swings the camera around to show Michael (and much to my horror - me) as Lori announces his interview will be coming up in the next segment!

Michael talking about the new single before going on air

6:45 am
On Air!!
Michael discusses the single "Shadows in the Night", this afternoon's charity fundraiser for Acadiana Youth, his possible return to Y&R (Lori is a huge Y&R fan) and the story behind the new video.
They then debut the Shadow's video, as we prepare to leave.
First though Michael has a few autograph and photo requests before we are allowed to leave!!

7.10 am
Depart TV Station and drive back to hotel. It's now light and there's more traffic on the roads!!
Back at the hotel there is just time for Michael to change clothes and for us to grab a quick 10 minute breakfast - cereal, yogurt and coffee for Michael, fruit and bacon for me.
As we are leaving Michael signs a few more autograph requests for fellow diners and hotel staff!

8.00 am
The car comes to pick us up to take us to the radio station - 94.5 KSMB where Michael is to co-host the Morning Show with Bobby Novosad.
Bobby and Michael are old friends, Michael having appeared on Bobby's show before. He introduces us to Producer Bill and Krista Stegall who has now joined the Morning Show after her appearance on Big Brother 2.

9.00 am
Michael is live on air with Bobby. Michael talks about the single and the tour so far and about the live performance he'll be doing later. Bobby encourages people to phone in and ask Michael questions, which of course revolve around Y&R and whether or not he will be returning to the show.
Whilst Michael and Bobby are talking, Michael's cell phone goes off in my bag and I search frantically to find it.
After the show it's photo time as Michael poses with Bobby, Bill and Krista in the studio.
Before we can leave though Michael is asked to sign autographs and pose with radio station staff and a few lucky fans who have turned up at the station to pick up their tickets for the fundraiser.

10.00 am
Arrive back at hotel.
Michael goes to work out at the hotel gym.
Then it's time for him to shower, change and do a vocal warm up for the upcoming appearance.

12.00 pm
Radio station comes to pick us up and take us to the Stadium Club.
We enter the club through the kitchen, as Michael walks out in to the club he is greeted by loud screams from the waiting fans.
A film crew from ABC TV are here to record the event for the evening news.
Michael sings "Shadows in the Night", "Wild Irish Heart", "Still Mad About You", "Was it Nothing At All" and finally from inside the boxing ring, "Rock On". The audience is very warm and enthusiastic, singing along to Shadows and a few lucky fans even get to dance with Michael whilst he's singing!
With the singing over with, Michael sits down to sign autographs and pose for photos.
A local Newspaper reporter arrives and Michael breaks off to give her an interview and then it's back to more signing and photos.
There's not enough time for us to break for lunch but we manage to grab a few french fries.
When everyone is happy that they have all the autographs and photos they want, we head back to our hotel.

3.00 pm
Arrive back at our hotel.
Michael has a message confirming that he is to give an interview to CBS Morning News in New Orleans tomorrow morning, so we have to pack and leave as soon as possible.
Yet another change of clothes!

4.00 pm
Michael check's out of the hotel whilst I go to the vending machines to get drinks and a snack for the drive to New Orleans

6.00 pm
Arrive in New Orleans, find hotel and check in.
Shower and change clothes for dinner.

7.30 pm Tonight we have time for a proper meal and dine at the Bistro at Maison de Ville in the French Quarter. The chefs in the kitchen were stunned to see Michael in the restaurant as they are big fans, they came out to meet him when they heard he was there. After dinner there's time to wander around the shops. We have been given a special request by a friend and have to pick up a couple of Voodoo dolls for her and her mum.

11.00 pm.
Back at the hotel we decide to go for a swim and cool off from the humidity.
We then check details for the inteview which Michael will tape tomorrow morning at the New Orleans CBS affiliate, WWL for the Morning News.
I arrange the car for 8.30 am to take us to the studios and iron Michael's shirt and trousers ready for the morning (due to an earlier incident resulting in a singed sleave, Michael has been banned from using the iron!).

12.00 am
Time for bed!!!!!!!!!!