What a road trip!

Check out my room!

60+ Inch TV..really! Too bad I was only in the room for less than 6 hours!

Look what was in the parking lot for the Indy Car Race in Chicago

The Willis (Sears) Tower Covered by the clouds

Pigeons gone wild!

Union Station in Chicago

My train! Loved the fully reclining seats and only $40 cost to Chicago from Michigan

Thank you Grand Valley

Hello Everyone,

I just got back from ten days on the road! I love speaking and entertaining, but it's great to come home and have someone waiting for me. I love knowing Kelly is there to pick me up at the airport when I get back from trips. It would be great if she could come on more trips with me.

My latest adventure was a success. Lots of smiles on peoples faces including mine. I took a brief inventory of my trip and here's how it worked out:

Days on the road - 9
Airports - 6 ( Phoenix/twice, Columbus,OH/twice, Atlanta, GA, Newark, NJ, Grand Rapids, MI,
Chicago, IL)
Trains - 2 (One Amtrak and One Chicago subway ride)
Rental Cars - 2
Hotels - 5
Sofas slept on - 2 thank you Rodger and Scott
Airport delays - 2 overnight stays in airports
People entertained - Over 5,500
Suitcases destroyed - 1 - time for a new one, old reliable held up for almost 3 years
Miles traveled - Almost 7,000
Hours of sleep - Not much

My trip got off to a good and bad start. I took Kelly out for a date before I planned to catch a red-eye flight to Ohio for my first speech in Marietta, Ohio. That was the plan. Then mother nature decided to have a thunderstorm over the airport and my flight got diverted to Tuscon. When the plane got their, the airline discovered mechanical problems. GREAT! After waiting in line and entertaining several people with my talks (good practice) for several hours I was on a my way to Ohio almost 12 hours delayed. Once I landed, it was off to get my rental car and head to Marietta. I arrived just in time for my sound check. The show went great. I loved the balcony crew. The bed in the hotel room was perfect after my long travels.

The next two days were good because I was able to see some old friends in the Cleveland area. Took a little time to join my friend Rodger and his kids to see GI Joe. Fun movie. I liked it better than Transformers.

After my Ohio, visit, it was off to New York to speak to the students of Drew University. 600+ freshman in a field house! Wow! Good times! Didn't know if we would have a winner of the hula hoop contest. After that show, it was off to the hotel for 3 hours of sleep and a 4AM pick-up by my shuttle driver back to the airport. Let me type this now, the Newark airport has the most uncomfortable seats in the waiting area for you plane.

I landed in Grand Rapids for two shows. My wonderful agent Brooke and her daughter picked me up at the airport and dropped me off at DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY to perform with my friend Rodger. I typed that in caps, because several times I said Drew University when talking to the students of DAVENPORT. Talk about a "Southwest Airlines Commercial" moment.I wanted to get away. I have never done that before. I'll be apologizing for that mistake for a long time. No excuses. The campus was amazing and I had a good time with the students. Thank you for all the students who became friends with me on facebook.

After Davenport, it was off to the hotel to lay my head down for a few minutes and do some laundry. After that it was off to Grand Valley State University to talk/perform for over 3500 freshman! Wow is the only thing that can be typed. I can't wait to get copies of the photos and videos to post on my blog. Watching 3500 people do the Electric Slide with Rodger was amazing!

After several high fives and a good meal, it was back to the hotel for another 3 hours of sleep. Rodger was kind enough to drop me off at the Amtrak station at 5AM in the morning for a trip to Chicago. I arrived in Chicago to get my rental car and head to Romeoville to work with the students of Lewis University. I love the Lewis campus and the 500+ people at the program had a lot of energy and made my job easy. I can't wait to go back. The night ended with a nice conversation with the college president while eating ice cream.

The next morning, I was off to Jacksonville, IL to end my road trip with a show on Dating at Illinois College. Before my show I worked with the student Residence Hall Advisors on event planning and motivation. The group works HARD! The show that night was full of energy. The impromptu runway show during my show was a lot of fun. After that show it was off to the student center to join the students in a pizza judging competition. After that it was back to one of the best hotel rooms I have ever stayed in. I got booked in the "Ambassadors Suite" at a local hotel. When the TV is bigger than your bed, and you have a king size bed, you know the room and the tv are HUGE.

The next morning, it was back in the rental car for a 3 hour drive through the cornfields of Illinois to return home to recharge my batteries.

Thanks for reading. I'll post more pictures and videos soon. I'm off for a few weeks, before my schedule picks up again. Be on the look out for my upcoming schedule.

I'm also posting updates on Facebook and Twitter so look for my updates. Just look for Frank Kitchen on either.

Video of the stage during sound check at Grand Valley and my train ride to Chicago!

Working on New Materail!

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'm working on some new projects. I'm working on various relationship talks, articles and a book. I'm brainstorming for ideas and I would like your assistance. Please feel free to answer any of the questions below or all of them. Please include your name, age, and sex

#1. If you could teach the opposite sex one thing about dating and relationships, what would it
be?

#2 What is the number one question you would like to ask the opposite sex about dating
and relationships?

#3 What is the most creative/fun marriage proposal story you have experienced or heard of?

#4 What is the most creative date you have ever been on?

#5 What is the most creative/special gift you have ever received or given?

#6 What are "deal breakers" for you when if comes to not pursuing or ending a relationship?

#7 Describe the perfect first date?

#8 What is the best way for someone to ask you out?

#9 What keeps/has kept you from asking someone out?

#10 Please describe the funniest/worst date you have ever been on.

Thank you in advance. Feel free to post replies here or e-mail me at Frank@badbadapples.com

On The Road

By the time August ends, I would have spent 6 straight weekends on the road. This season has started off really good. I'm really starting to find my footing and more comfort on stage. I have to thank all of the people who attend for their energy and feedback. I also have to thank my girlfriend for all of her early morning and late night pep talks on how to pursue my career.

I apologize in advance for the long breaks between postings. I'm organizing my photos and working on making more time to post. Be sure to keep track of me on Facebook and Twitter.

For those of you reading now. Look for me in New Jersey, Michigan and Illinois this week.

Here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks. Speeches/performances in Cleveland and Kansas City.
Forest Fires in Northern Arizona

Park University Foam Party

Park University Freshman Orientation

NFL Star and Heisman Trophy Winner Eddie George

Me presenting in Cleveland. My intro, check out my baby pic and initials in the background

Attitude Adjustment Exercises (games) with the Tri-C Students

St. Jude's Children's Hospital

Me at the "Up till Dawn" activities at the FEDEX Forum Arena.

Private Pary 800+ people in a 18,000 seat arena

The famous Beale Street. Home of Memphis Barbeque and Blues

Had to get Chicken and Waffles at the Soul Food restaurant

Last weekend I was invited to participate in the St. Judes Children's Hospital Leadership Conference. The conference has been held for the last ten years to help prepare college students for the "Up till Dawn" Program. The program is held at over 250 colleges in the United States to help raise money for the hospital and cancer research. The hospital provides top notch treatment for children under 18 years old who have been diagnosed with cancer. During the first ten years of the program, over $33 million has been raised.

I got to speak/perform for over 800 people with my friend Rodger. We were given a tour of the hospital and got a chance to meet and listen to people who have been helped by the hospital and it's programs. The experience was amazing. It felt great to be about of something that was bigger than any individual.

If you would like to help the hospital either through donations or volunteering, click HERE

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. Mom, sorry I couldn't be there to celebrate! I'll see you soon!

Happy Birthday!

Love,
Frank

Summer at the Zoo

I work part-time at the Phoenix Zoo. The summer is our off season. People don't like the blistering heat and the animals aren't excited about the summer temperatures either. One of the days everyone likes, is the annual Winter in July. The zoo brings in TONS of man made snow and lets the guests and animals play and "cool off."

Enjoy the pictures below of the Winter in July and me working with the Giraffes at the "Giraffe Encounter." If you are in the area, the zoo is free to children under twelve years old and the morning temps (we open at 7am) are comfortable enough to see the animals before it gets to hot.

Happy Birthday Jim!

Last year I was able to celebrate my with my brother for his 21st birthday. This year I can't be there to celebrate, so..........

Happy Birthday Jim! We'll celebrate when I see you next! Have a great weekend and a great birthday!

Frank

True Food Kitchen

It looks like I'm on a restaurant kick on my blogs right now. I've gone to a few interesting and unique places recently. They've been really good and I wanted to share the information with everyone.

The most recent recommendation I have is for "True Food Kitchen." It is part of the FOX Restaurant Concepts group. The restaurant is located in Phoenix at the Biltmore Fashion Park.

If you are looking for great tasting healthy food, this is the place to go.

Here is an excerpt from the companies mission statement:

At True Food Kitchen, we believe simple, fresh, pure ingredients create the most satisfying and memorable dining experiences. While our menu is packed with nutritious, good-for-you vegetables, whole grains, and proteins, we never sacrifice flavor. You may not notice the difference, but it’s there.

Kelly took me for lunch after one of my trips and I was amazed how good the food tasted, but it was even better to know that it wasn''t super expensive and all of the food was natural and grown locally.

If you would like to know more about the restaurant and would like to see their menu, click on the link below:

True Food Kitchen

The Original Pancake House

A few weeks ago I was in Ohio and I got a chance to catch up with several friends. one of my friends decided to take me out to breakfast at a restaurant with amazing food. The restaurant is called "The Original Pancake House." Everything is made from scratch and it tastes mmmm, mmm good (sorry Campbells)

I recommend the pumpkin pancakes!

Click on this link for more info.
http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/index.html

More Speaking Dates

I just confirmed three more speaking dates for the next month. If you happen to be in the areas I'm speaking, please stop by to say hello!

July 10 - Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain County Ohio - Lorain, OH
July 31-Aug 2 - St. Judes Hospital - Memphis, TN
August 8 - Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH

Getting Loaded

Just finished a great book by a fellow speaker who I know. His name is Peter Bielagus and he's a younger version of Suzy Orman. His book is called "Getting Loaded." It's a how to guide on finances. It covers everything from the stock market, banking, credit cards, home buying, car buying, wills and insurance.

When you get some time, look up the book on the internet or at your local bookstore.

Graduation Ceremony

Here are some videos from my sisters graduation ceremony.

More Chicago Pictures

Chicago Field Museum (Military and Teachers get in FREE)

Remembering the King of Pop at the Ebony Magazine Offices

The Largest McDonald's I've ever seen

The Ladies in my life (Sis, Kelly and Mom)

Taste of Chicago. The largest Food Festival in the World!

Riding the Chicago Subway

My mom, Kelly and I had a great time in Chicago last week. I got to see my sister graduate from Navy bootcamp and we got to tour the windy city during the 4th of July weekend.

We only got limited time with my sister because she was still on duty, but a little time is better than no time.

I talked on her the day after July 4th and she told me stories of all the people in Chicago who thanked her and her fellow shipmates/sailors for their service. Many of them said thank you by purchasing food. I believe she and six other colleagues were treated to enough free food and boat ride that made them sick later that night. I would like to thank everyone who supported my sister and the troops.

Here are some more pictures, enjoy!