Hello from Destin,. Florida

On Tuesday we went to the Oakoloosa Beach. (okay I admit I have to check the spelling but it is close.) The one thing I am truly amazed about here is the color of the sand. It actually looks like snow. In fact when we arrived most of the cast thought it was snow. It looked just like the snow in Colorado. I never seen such white sand and I have been to plenty of beaches all over the world. They had a cute boardwalk with restaurants and shops. Missy finally found the Oysters she has been craving but she is paying for it today. After having a nice lunch we went to all the little shops while the boys played at the playground on the sand. They really needed to burn up some energy after all the bus time they put in this week. Unfortunately the fog rolled in when we got there. Similar to when we went to the beach in San Luis Obispo, CA the fog did not stop the boys from rolling up their pants and going in. Needless to say, Colin and Mikey when home with wet, sandy jeans. The one thing there that really weirded me out was they had a crashed plane on display in front of the entrance area. I know it bothered me because I had a dream last night that I was trying to sell my house and when the people came to see it black clouds formed and fell into the water causing a giant wave that hit the house. Can any dream experts out there let me know what they think..............Today the cast sang Christmas Carols and then some Oliver songs for residents of a nursing home here. The residents really enjoyed the show. One women loved it so much she grabbed my hand as we were leaving and asked "When are you coming back." The kids really enjoyed doing it. Mikey had reindeer ears on, a flashing christmas necklace, a red flashing light on his nose and a stuffed rudolph on his waist. (He didn't get into to much-LOL) After the nursing home Mikey had understudy rehearsal and enjoyed playing Oliver in the "Funeral Scenes." He really enjoyed getting to sing "Where is Love." They ran through all the scenes twice so he was happy to sing it again. I know I am his mother but I couldn't believe how he knew every line and how well he delivered them. The show is going on now and I am in the dressing room catching up on this blog. We leave here tomorrow for Lakeland Florida and then on Saturday we will be in Melbourne for two shows. Aunt Loretta and Uncle Bill will be coming to the show in Melbourne. We can't wait to see them. Then the big day comes: Sunday, when we go home. We are counting the days. "Be Back Soon." Love, Sue and Mikey

Lafayette, Louisiana to Destin Florida

We have finally landed! After a week of sleeping in different hotels in different states every night we have arrived in Florida. We will be here in the same hotel for 3 whole nights! This is a good thing because the bus rides this week have been driving me crazy or as the muppets would say: "I got cabin fever." Plus we hit a string of hotels with no washing machines. Last night we had a show in Lafayette, Louisiana and us parents were so desperate to do laundry that we actually did not go to the show. We thought we had a great plan since there were two washers and dryers. The only problem was one of the dryers was broken. We find laundry is generally the biggest challenge on tour. So it took us a little longer than planned but we all got it done while the rest of the cast was at the show. Today stopped for lunch in Biloxi and drove past some cool looking swamps that the boys enjoyed looking at. Tonight, after arriving in Destin, Florida the cast had Christmas Caroling practice and Missy and I took a walk to the beach. We wanted to make sure our legs were still working after sitting so long on the bus. We had a good laugh when Missy heard some kind of animal in the bushes and grabbed me. I was just hoping it wasn't an alligator. The cast will be singing Christmas Carols at a nursing home this week. They all truly sound amazing together. Since we had the night off the usual suspects went to "Outback" with us. It was a pleasure since we did not have to rush our meal for a change. Now Mikey is reading his book and I am typing this. We just got our flight home information so we are very excited. We should be home in Rockaway by 4pm on Sunday. Mikey got homesick for the first time last night and told me he really misses Maria and Nana. He had to call his Nana to tell her. I think he is really exicted about Christmas and can't wait to get home to help decorate the tree. He has been keeping himself busy by sketching all the characters for his new show: Pirates of the Carribean take on the roles of the cast in Oliver. They are very interesting and detailed drawings. He also came home from the show last night and decided he wants muscles. He showed me how he can do push ups and sit-ups and wondered why he did not see biceps or have a six pack right away. LOL. Tomorrow we hope to take the kids to the boardwalk for lunch once they are done with school. Now it is time to turn the lights out. "Be Back Soon!" Love, Sue and Mikey

Hello from Oxford, Mississippi

Hello from Mississippi. Today we traveled from Baton Rouge to Oxford for an 8pm show. We left Baton Rouge at 9am and I think everybody is starting to feel tired from the one night show and being in a different city every day. Today I was so tired I actually think I fell asleep a few times on the bus only to be quickly awoken by my sons feet. Apparently he moonlights as a break dancer in his sleep; one that does 360's and high kicks. He woke me up everytime and never woke up himself. It was amazing that no matter where I put my feet he managed to find them in his sleep and somehow managed to kick me right across the aisle of the bus. At first I thought he was messing with me, especially when I tucked my feet in front of me and he still got me. Then I watched in amazement as his feet went up in the air with a little spin and kicked the tutors feet whose seat is across the table from his. Jeremiah's feet were actually up on the table so he had to kick up in the air to get him. He managed to wake his Mom and tutor and still remain sleeping. If I wasn't so bone tired this would be funny! We finally arrived in Oxford around 3pm. After dragging the luggage up a flight of stairs, ( we hate hotels without elevators) we had an hour to relax before dinner. We had dinner with our tour family: the Araujos and Nims in Apple Bees and then got back on the bus to go to the theater. The theater was on the campus of the University of Mississippi and we were able to watch from good seats tonight. It is always better when we get good seats because it is fun to see all the actors expressions during the show. Allaggio struggled a little playing Noah because his ankle was still swollen but he did a great job. The fight scene just had to be modified a little. Ashley did a great job filling in for him as "Captain" in Fagin's Gang." She is real fun to watch and her expressions are great. The theater was a great host to the cast, providing snacks, drinks, cereal and animal crackers. Mikey especially loved the "Rice Krispies." They had a "green room" that looked like a living room so it was fun when everybody gathered between there scenes and chatted. Everybody really appreciates when there are couches and space. I think just about everybody misses there couch. The bus seats just are not the same. On the bus ride back it was fun to watch Jen help Chaz's secret santa decorate his seat on the bus. His face said it all when he got on the bus and saw the blue garland with snowflakes along with the big red stocking. He was very thrilled. On another note I was happy to talk to my baby girl "Maria" today. She told me a whole list of things that she want to do with me when I get home. They include: Playing Princesses, Reading a bedtime story, Christmas Shopping, Christmas Decorating and watching a movie. I can't wait to do all of them with her. Only one more week to go... Yipee! Now I must go to sleep since the bus call for the morning is 7:30 and we are heading to Lafayette, Louisana. Love Ya, Sue and Mikey

Baton Rouge

We boarded the bus 9am today after having breakfast at TGI Fridays. The beds last night where to die for so it was hard to get up. The hotel was very nice and different looking. We wished we had more time in Memphis. Sorry Elvis....I did not get to Graceland. The bus ride was quiet all morning since most of the cast really enjoyed Memphis and needed some sleep. Even though the ride was shorter than the past two it was still long. We are all getting "bus fever." This part of the tour is going to be rough because there are many one nighter's coming up. That means travel and show the same day. Not looking forward to it. The days begin to merge into one. Good thing I have this blog to keep track. We arrived in Baton Rouge a little before 4pm. Mikey took a quick shower and then we dined with the usual suspects: Missy, Colin, Q and John. We enjoyed going to Cracker Barrel because it was the first time we ate in one on this tour. (Something different!) You really start missing home cooked meals when you are on the road. After a while all the menus look the same and you don't know what to eat. Mikey and I had something very different for us: Chicken and Dumplings in a cream sauce. He really loved it and ate the whole thing. After eating it was back on the bus for a 10 mile bus ride to the theater. While the kids did "Mike Check" before the show, the parent explored down town Baton Rouge. After being on Beale Street in Memphis, 3rd Street in Baton Rouge seemed boring. Not much was going on. We stopped at a pub where Missy was happy to find a beer called "Purple Haze." John tried Purple Haze and I happily resisted it and had a Pinot Grigio instead. We then went and watch the show. Poor Allaggio hurt his ankle and we are hoping he is okay by tomorrow. Tomorrow we have a 9am bus call and travel to Mississippi for a show. Seems crazy since we drove through Mississipi today and now have to go back. That is show biz! Have a goodnight. Love, Sue and Mikey

"I'M WALKING IN MEMPHIS..........."

"I'm Walking in Memphis.....with my feet.......okay I love that song but for the life of me cannot remember the second line. I definitely think I have early Alzheimer; I use to remember everything. After two days of very long bus rides we arrived in Memphis, Tennessee. Everybody was looking to blow off some steam especially since there was no show. Luckily we are staying in the heart of downtown only 2 blocks away from the famous "Beale Street." The home of the blues. Beale streets is three blocks long with about 30 stores, clubs and restaurants all lit up with music blaring from each of the restaurants trying to lure in patrons. After browsing the shops we couldn't decide which place to eat. We actually went into one place, sat down, got menus and then after looking at the menu walked out. Lucky we did because we ended up eating at "BB Kings" where a live blues band was playing and we had a blast. Many of the cast members, unplanned showed up at the same place. The lead singer noticed the kids dancing and enjoying the music upon the balcony and made some comments about it. (because they are so shy! ) Later, Mikey made a sign and was waving it "Sing It To Me" The kids decided to go in front of the stage and dance so she can read the sign. By the end of the night Mikey, Q and Colin were sitting on the stage with the lead singer hugging them and introducing them as the cast of Oliver! She really made their night when she came off stage and danced with them. Q busted a few moves on her! You could see it in theire faces how much fun they were having. We also had scrumptous meal of BBQ ribs and baked beans. The ribs were so good we ordered more. Mikey really loved them. Tomorrow we continue our trip to Baton Rouge and have a show at night. We all really regret not be able to stay in this City. Graceland and the Civil Right Museum are nearby but unfortunately we did not have time to visit. Mikey was very happy to hear from Reilly and was talking to her while in BB Kings. He is really exicited that she got the part of "Charlie" in Willie Wonka at the Rockaway Theatre Company. He really got a kick that they both are playing a role where their names are Charlie. We are praying they have a March show so we can see it when we get back. Well time to go to sleep......Be Back Soon! Love, Mikey and Sue.

Farwell to Rapid City....Hello to Missouri

We bid a fond farwell to Rapid City, South Dakota also known as the "City of Presidents." They have statutes of the former Presidents on almost every corner in Rapid City's Main Street area. My favorite was JFK and John John. I think Mikey's favorite was Pocohontas since he had me take a picture of him kissing her. He was disappointed when she did not come to life and discovered for the first time in his life he wasn't really a prince. (LOL) Since we were in Rapid City a few days we were able to swim and relax in the hot tub, shop in the cute town, do laundry, dine out and of course as I wrote yesterday fulfill a dream. Mikey and I were also very happy to find a verizon store because we both broke our phone holders. I also needed to up the texting on the plan since my husband discovered how to text. (LOL) The first night we arrived we went to a cute restaurant that was called the Fire House Brewing Company. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays; fire truck and all. Q and John's dessert was so big Mikey had to help them eat it; they still were not able to finish it all. Yesterday after returning from Mt. Rushmore we browsed all the cute unique shops until we could barely walk back. When we walked back to the hotel Missy was like the "General" marching ahead at a fast pace while John and I could barely move our legs anymore and had to order them to keep moving or risk freezing to death. I definitely took my car for granted all these years. "Seriously, Never Again! Today was a really long bus ride. It took us about 12 hours to get to Missouri for a stop over on the way to Baton Rouge. We were so happy to get off the bus and go to "Arbys" for dinner. Then we browsed the truck stop stores hoping to find some secret santa presents. Now Mikey just finished reading a chapter in his book. He is reading "The Maze of Bones-The 39 Blues. He is really enjoying it and is laughing out loud. We talked to Mike and Maria several times today. They are busy decorating the house so when we come home we will only have to put the ornaments on the tree. We are counting the days until we come home. Well I have to go night night now. Bus call is 730am. Love, Sue and Mikey

Mt. Rushmore---Need I say more......

Today was a dream come true for me. I only wish Mike and Maria were with us to share this truly awesome or as the kids would say....GI-NORMOUS experience! Thanks to our fantastic tour manager (Clare) the cast went to see Mt. Rushmore today. We were really worried last night because it was snowing and we were not sure if we would be able to go today. However, we woke up to bright sunshine and and the weather was perfect. It is truly a remarkable site and the sky was the bluest I have ever seen. To think that one man's idea developed into this beautiful monument. My first thought.was....How did this actually get created? It seems like a miracle and I never really thought about it before. Luckily there is a museum at the site and we all watched the video in the little theater there. The video explained the history and how the sculpture was made. It took 14 years to get the project completed but only 6 and one-half to actually do the carving. There was a lot of politics involved and fund raising to get it completed. What amazed us all as we watched the video was how they used dynamite to blast and shape the granite. Even when some of the faces were carved already they utilized dynamite to make the rest. Truly amazing stuff. The project began in 1927 and was completed in 1941. It cost just under one million dollars to create which was a lot of money at that time. Most of it came from the government. The orignial idea by Doane Robinson was to carve Sioux Chief Red Cloud or Lewis and Clark. When he contacted sculpturer Gotzon Borglum to actually create the monument, Borglum had his own lofty and creative ideas. He was very patriotic and felt that the men whose actions helped to create this great nation should be the ones carved into the mountain. He died a few month before the project was completed and his son took over until the project was completed. One thing I found real interesting was how Mt. Rushmore got it's name. Between 1884 and 1885, a young lawyer from New York named Charles Rushmore kept visiting the area on business and spent time with the locals. He really gained the respect of the locals and was fond of one particularly impressive granite mountain. One day he asked his guide "What is the name of that mountain?" His guide responded, " Never had any, but now-we'll call the damn thing "Rushmore." We also had great fun as we were leaving. Chaz's(Mr. Bumble) secret santa left him a note that he had to do Shoopoopi from Music Man at Mt. Rushmore to get a present. Well he put on quite a show and luckily I video taped it because Mikey joined in to do the "Shoopoopi dance." What a memory.....not many people can say they did the "Shoopoopi at Mt. Rushmore! Scroll down and look to the left to check out more photos. I also added more to facebook album under Oliver-Mt. Rushmore......Love ya, Sue and Mikey

Ft. Collins, Colorado

On Friday night after the show we went to the Pool with Q and John. The boys were thrilled to find baby Spencer already in the hot tub with his Grandma and Grandpa who were visting. We all had a lot of fun playing with Spencer. Spencer apparently was having a lot of fun to because when his mommy and daddy took him out he demanded to go back to the pool. The boys were really happy when Rhiannon and Brendan joined the hot tub party. They love their leading lady! Since we have been here since Wednesday, Mikey is now best friends with most of the waitresses in the I-Hop across the street. On Saturday, we got to do some shopping in Wal-mart. The hotel was kind enough to allow the shuttle to take us there and back. We are having a lot of fun with Secret Santa. The show last night was great and we think the ghost returned for a brief moment when the set staircase wouldn't budge for a scene change. We were really wondering how the cast would handle it since a lot of Consider Yourself takes place on the stairs. Bart saved the day donning Chaz's costume to fix the problem; with the cast dancing and singing all around him the audience did not realize there was a problem. The boys are beginning to get spoked by the ghost and are a little jittery in the dressing room. They keep hearing noises and seeing curtains move. Of course Zac (Fagin) got them good yesterday and Chris said he never heard such a high pitched scream as Mikey's and that Colin and Q almost jumped into each others arms (LOL) Today we were happy to be woken up by Maria and Daddy's phone call. There is a two hour time difference. Maria's cough is all better and they are on there way to the Children's Christmas party at Daddy's work. She was excited that she may see Santa. Mikey is really excited about going home for Christmas and his birthday. I am counting the days until I can hold my baby girl again. Today is a beautiful day here in Colorado. It feels about 50 and the snow is starting to melt. We enjoyed breakfast with Q and John at I-Hop and Mikey and I are relaxing, reading our books until bus call at 1pm. That is all for now...................Love, Sue and Mikey

Ft. Collins, Colorado

Thursday, December 4th---Morning
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! We arrived here December 3rd. Mikey and I send a shout out to Aunt Mo.....Happy Birthday! It has been snowing since we arrived and it looks like a winter wonderland. I have a feeling there will be a major snow ball fight later. Ft. Collins is a college town and we are right next to Colorado State University. We haven't had a chance to explore much since the kids had a show last night and are in school now. Last night's show was unbelievable. We think there is a phantom in the theater. The first act had so many things go wrong. Mikey jacket got stuck on top of the bridge's fence during "Consider Yourself" and he could not free himself. It took Chaz and finally Chris (Bill Sikes) to free him. His jacket was ripped up the whole back. The big monument that Mikey pushes out with Jen wouldn't stop moving when its' wheel broke. Another member of Fagin's Gang (Jen) had to go to the hospital when she fell to the floor off Alaggio's shoulder during "Pick a Pocket." Thank goodness she is only bruised and did not break anything. There were many other bloopers that I will not mention. I do believe there was a ghost in the house. We have been watching every show for months now and never seen so many things happen.

Thursday, December 4th- Evening
After school Q, John, Mikey and I walked in the snow storm a few blocks to a wonderful sandwich place called "Which, Which." We had a lot of fun on the way there and back. Mikey took a few snow baths after he kept throwing snow at the parents and did not heed our warnings. John got him on way there and back. I got him on way back after he hit me with snow, one time too many. After lunch we had to go to the theater for brush-up and under study rehearsals. The cast worked hard and it was interesting to see Adam, Mikey and Michelle do the "It's Your Funeral" scene. They did a great job. I thought Mikey looked adorable in the hat but then again I am his mother. The rehearsals went longer then expected so we had to grab a quick bite at I-Hop and then the boys had to be back at the theater for tonights show. Hopefully the Phantom got everything out of his system last night. I pooped out after being at the theater all afternoon and John kindly offered to take Mikey so I could do my laundry. Early reports from Mikey and Missy after Act I are that the Phantom must be resting. Act I was great tonight. They just called that they are on the way back and we all plan on going into the swimming pool and hot tub to unwind before bed. The kids worked hard today so we agreed we would let them swim tonight since they did not have a chance the last two days. I will be going to bed happy since I got all my laundry done without having to go to a laundromat. (Ah, the little things in life.) "Be Back Soon." Love, Sue and Mikey

Bye to Kansas, Hello to Ft. Collins Colorado

Sorry to say clicking my heels together did not work! I am still on tour. I think Mikey stole the real ruby slippers so I would stay with him on tour. (Either that or for himself. ) After seeing Kansas landscaping from the bus I think I know why Dorothy ran away. Miles and Miles of barren looking flat dry land with hardly any houses. We saw a lot of cows and the kids got excited seeing windmills. Every once in a while I would see a lonely looking house in the middle of no-where. Mikey did manage to find Dorothy, however not in human form. Plenty of ornaments, t-shirts and statutes. I had to hold on to my purse! He still loves his "Wizard of Oz." His singing "Over the Rainbow" in front of the whole school in kindergarten is what led to this tour! After we were finally off the bus we had a nice steak dinner at "Montana Mikes." (even though we were in Kansas and not Montana) After dinner we went shopping for some "Secret Santa gifts." Mikey is really into it, only problem is he want to buy everything he sees. I am exicted to be back in Colorado. We arrived in Ft. Collins, Colorado around 230pm today. There is some snow on the ground and some light flurries. We have a show tonight so we are heading off now to I-HOP. We will be here until Sunday......."Be Back Soon!" Love, Sue and Mikey

Ft. Smith, ARKANSAS To Kansas

THE WIND BEGAN TO TWITCH THE HOUSE TO PITCH...(IF ONLY I HAD A HOUSE!) We are on the way to Kansas now. When you look at the window it feels like you are in the middle of no where. You see cows and flat brown grass that looks thirsty for water. We have no show this is just a travel day because it takes two days to get to Ft. Collins, Colorado. Let me fill you in on yesterday. On Monday, December 1st, we began our day travelling on the bus to Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Or as the cast members like to say, "Ar......KANSAS! On the way the tour manager allowed us to stop off to shop for some secret santa gifts. Everyone had fun picking out little things they thought their person would like. Everyone is getting into the spirit of Christmas and their bus areas are getting creatively decorated. Mikey decorated our areas with colorful curly ribbons. Missy bought him a stick on rudolph decoration so he decorated his window and he put candy canes around the picture he hung up of him and Reilly. Mikey has taken to wearing his rudolph antlers with bells everywhere. It's getting fun because everyone is now finding little surprises on the seats or in their dressing rooms. Mikey was a little perturbed that my secret santa delivered a gift before his had a chance too. I got an Advent Calendar which will really help me keep track of the days. I keep forgetting what day it is. Mikey's Santa surprised him by leaving a gift between acts in his dressing room. It was a Christmas Ornanment filled with bubble gum. He loved it. The bus ride took about 8 hours so when we arrived at the hotel we had only time for a quick shower before going to the theater. The positive thing about the bus ride is that I did get a lot of On-Line Shopping done on the bus, until my battery died. I really have trouble sleeping on the bus so I usually go on the computer or read. All I can say is thank God I can read or I would really lose my mind since unlike mostly everybody else, I can't sleep on the bus. I envy Mikey. He goes out like a light for hours and I wind up staring at him in jealousy. He does however take after Nana in that he needs a dramamine if he has to read on the bus. The same kid that can go on every scary ride in Six Flags will get nauseous if he reads on the bus. The Theater fed the cast dinner before the show. Another nice meal that the cast really appreciated. Mikey really liked the bananna bread pudding and asked me if Nana knows how to make it. Of course he also liked the chocolate cake. The Theater had about 1400 seats and the parents watched Act 1 and then tried to relax in the dressing room. (That wasn't happening after the kids all ate chocolate) (LOL.) To give Clare (tour manager) a break I kidnapped her baby boy, Spencer during Act II. He spent part of the second act in the dressing room with the boys all entertaining him and giving him rides in the laudry basket between their scenes. Spencer and I had fun walking the the long hallways together and I took him back stage to see Jeff the drummer drum at the end of the show. He is such a cute little baby! I think he is really learning from his dad Bart and the crew about moving things too the right spot. He was so funny moving the laudry basket around the dressing room and then announcing "there" when he thought it was in the right spot. Well we are on the bus now stopping off to sleep in Kansas on the way to Ft. Collins, Colorado. Mikey is on the look out for "Dorothy" and I am hoping to find the "Wizard" so I can go home!" Either that or I am going to try clicking my heels together and say "There is No Place Like Home." That line from the Wizard of Oz has taken on a new meaning for me. I feel Dorothy's pain! Love You All! Sue and Mikey Scroll down an look left to see some new photos.

Goodbye to Orange, Texas!

Not to much to report. The hotel was nice but did not have any food places nearby. The hotel had a nice fireplace and couch sitting area with a Xmas tree. Next to it was the breakfast dining area. The first night we arrived we decided to make this area our home and ordered Italian Food with the Nims and Araujos. We all enjoyed sitting on a couch and watching the flat screen TV. It was nice because it felt like we were in someones living room instead of a hotel. The cast performed two shows at the Lutcher Theater in Orange Texas. The theater treated the cast really well providing home cooked meals and freshed baked:cookies, brownies and cakes. I really loved those cookies! Mikey couldn't get enough of the brownies and they seemed to give him a blast of energy while on stage. (LOL) Yesterday the cast and crew all picked the names for the "Secret Santa." We will all give secret little presents in the next few weeks and your secret Santa will be revealed at the end when we exchange bigger gifts. The kids and adults all are excited. The parents were also excited to get the laudry done. These are the little things that exicte you on tour. We bid a fond farwell to our Mr. Brownlow (Matt) who left us Sunday to join the cast of the Drowsy Chaperone. Adam did a nice job as understudy yesterday while the new Mr. Brownlow, James gets ready to take over the part. We will miss Matt, especially at any future roller rink parties! After the show we traveled 2 hours to Conroe,Texas so we would have a shorter travel to Ft. Smith, Arkansas today. Last night, Rhiannon joined the boys in the back of the bus for a DS Marathon playing Mario Party. All four DS's were in fast action with fingers flying and a lot of laughter, grunts and groans. This was good for the boys because it made the ride go by faster. They really all are amazingly good kids on the bus. I started to Christmas shop on line beacuse I will have very little time once I get home to prepare. Christmas dinner is at my house, Mikey's birthday is two days later and we have to visit our family upstate. A lot to do when we have to fly back to Sarasota, Fl on December 28th. Yikes! Trying not to panic. "Be Back Soon!"

McAllen, Texas

GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE! Welcome to summer! The weather in McAllen was in the 80's! The first thing we did was go to the pool for a swim. It was wonderful to lay in the sun. We spent November 26 and November 27th in McAllen. The kids had a show on Wednesday night and then were off for Thanksgiving. Mikey and I along with some of the early risers in the cast layed by the pool enjoying the sun and swimming after breakfast. Of course I called some of my friends and family to rub it in since it was so cold back home. We missed Dad, Mikey, Maria, Nana and the rest of our family. Especially the homemade stuffing, turnips, mashed potatoes, etc.... Our tour Manager Clare arranged a nice dinner for the cast and crew at a different hotel. It was in an atrium. We sat at round tables with piano music playing in the background. The dinner was a buffet with a carving board for turkey and roast beef. The buffet included glazed ham, sweet potatoes, stuffing, brocolli, potatoes, rice, etc.... The dessert bar had wonderful cakes and fruit. Ashley (dance captain) gave a beautful speech that was appreciated by all. Although everyone missed being home we really enjoyed eating together with our cast family. Since we had an early dinner and it was so nice out we all went back to the pool. It turned into some pool party with just about everyone getting thrown in the pool at some point. Those hiding got squirted with the garden hose. Missy was thrown in coverup and all. Efrat was thrown in chair, boots and all. It was a lot of fun. Mikey and Colin really got into it and helped plot some of the drownings. Zac and Chaz proved tough to throw in but they eventually got hosed. Michelle even tried to get Zac off his lounged chair to dance with her to give the guys an opportunity to get him. The more she danced the more he resisted. (LOL) After a really fun pool party we went up to pack for the trip to Orange, Texas. I am writing this from the bus where apparently they don't pave the roads in this part of Texas. We just had border patrol agents board the bus and ask for everyone's ID. Nobody was happy because they all had to be wakened up for this. The agents took one look at the junk on the bus and left. If was pretty funny when Stacey popped out of the bathroom and the Agent was standing right there. Well all I have left is that Texas has stretches of really flat land, very different from the mountains of the West Coast. To all my family and friends who I did not get to speak too....I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving! We miss you all. Love, Sue and Mikey PS Scroll down when reading because I added some photos on left and entries from the days I missed.

Waco, Texas

For those of you dying to know......No, I did not get to visit the "Compound." After Dallas we went to Waco, Texas for two days. The cast was not crazy about the stage because it was really small for the set. Let's just say some funny things happened at times during the show because of the adjustments needed. We got to me John's friend Max and his beautiful daughter "QQ." They came to see Q in the show and have been friends for a long time. John and Max did some male bonding in the Gazebo and payed the price a little the next morning. Missy and I did some girl bonding the night of the first show when we cut out on the guys during intermission. The kids dressing rooms were a little small so Missy and I found a nice place across the street called the "Green Room" to hang out during the second act of the show. We had intended to go back for the second act until we discovered this place. It had nice linen table cloths and small tables with candles. We enjoyed drinking from real wine glasses. (I think John was going to file a missing persons on us when he did not find us in the dressing room after the show. ) Missy and I busted two college students having dinner. They were supposed to be at the theater to watch the show as part of a class assingment. They said they weren't theater people so skipped the second act to have dinner. They pumped us for info on the show so they could write their papers. We took John to the Green Room the second night and were a bad influence on him, he skipped act two too! The kids really enjoyed the hotel in Waco because he had a beautiful atrium with a indoor pool. The pool was surrounded by plants, trees and a Gazebo. they enjoyed eating their lunch in the Gazebo and taking a swim before returning to school in the board room. I was happy because I got so wash done without having to go to a laundry mat! The weather was also fabulous.

Medieval Times, Dallas

We were a little tired on Sunday after going to Six Flags the day before so we had a lazy day in the room until dinner time. For dinner we went to Medieval Times with Colin and Missy. John and Q went to the Dallas Cowboys game. Medieval Times was really a lot of fun. The adults liked it was much as the kids. You enter this castle and take photos with the knights or princess. Your tour the gift shop and then go into the dinner theater. Mikey bought a knights shirt and wooden dagger. Maria picked a princess headband and she looked beautiful in it. It is a big arena with movie seat type chair but with a long counter in each row. We had dead center seats third row up. They were perfect. Each area is given a knight who wears a certain color to cheer for. We had the black and white knight but unfortunately, despite losing our voices cheering for him, he lost the first joust. We did not take it well. Okay, I tooked it the worst and when the other knight dared someone else to fight him I screamed "I'm Coming!" The waiter got a kick at of that. The knights are on horse back having jousting matches, sword fights, etc... Mikey turned to me and said "this is even better than six flags!" That was quite a statement since he loved six flags. The meal is served during the show in metal dishes with no forks. They try to make you feel like you are in the Middle Ages when people ate with there hands. We had half a chicken, baked potato, apple tart and ice tea. Okay....I an fibbing, the parents had beer! Perhaps that is why I shouted to the Prince at the end, " I love you Prince!" It was really fun cheering for your knight and waving your flag for him. We all had crowns on her heads and would wave our flags like crazy when our knight road by us on horseback. It was a perfect ending to our too brief vacation in Dallas. It was good for Mikey because he just studied the Middle Ages in Social Studies and for Dad becaue he is in the middle of reading Robin Hood. Maria and I just loved it!

Six Flags Over Texas

On Friday we went to Six Flags with other members of the cast and crew. A great day was had by all. We were so lucky because almost all the rides had no lines. I discovered that both my kids are fearless when it comes to rides. After being greeted by Bugsbunny and friends we began to explore the park. The teacup rides were fun for all and everybody (including Missy) was able to ride without turning green. The Pirate ship almost did in Colin but he was a trooper. His face was priceless and it was touch and go for a moment with those below him watching closely (John, Melissa and Dave) hoping he did not lose his cookies! Maria totally amazed us by going on some scary rides like the "Pirate Ship, a rRollercoster that turns sideways and is supposed to be like a scateboard, a flume rollercoaster, etc.... She giggled like mad and loved all of them. She got very upset and insulted when we hit the first ride that she was not tall enough to go on. It was a bucking flying cow ride that whipped around. At the end of the day I asked her which was her favorite ride and she told me it was the "Cow Ride." When I said, "But you weren't allowed on it," she said, "Yes, but it was my favorite." Mikey went on every rollercoaster he could find. I was very surprised that Dad was keeping up with him on the rides and then at 4pm
Dad pushed his luck to far. They both went on the batman ride and then decided to go on a second time and invited me. Let's just say you need a good lung capacity to ride because you scream the whole way and when you get off you think "What the heck just happen!" The ride is a rollercoaster where your feet hang. (No floor) You go upside down and sideways and every other way. When your on it you can't tell if your upside down or not. I survived it thanks to the tips from John and Mikey. Well, this ride finally did Dad (Mike) in. We had to leave him in Johnny Rockets to recover. When we check on him he was slouched down sleeping in the booth and all you could see from the outside window was the cowboy hat on his head. (LOL) He looked line a drunk cowboy. We ended the day with Mikey going on the "Titan" rollercoaster with Michelle five times in a row. He had to get a new partner after Batman knocked off Dad and Mom. Maria really enjoyed meeting the different characters along the way and took pictures with: Scooby, Superheroes and Taz. Maria ended the day with going on the Carousel and "El Sombrero with Dad. She also met "Tweety Bird" and was a little upset because Dad did not have the camera. She was also upset with Tweety because he did not say "Tweet, Tweet." Mikey bought red Superman Cape for him and a Pink Super Girl Cape for Maria. I was glad to go back on the bus and relieve the stress on the feet. This was just a great day!

Sixth Floor Museum

On Thursday we went to the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas. The museum is located on the floor of the building where Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK from. The boys teacher gave them papers with questions on them that they had to get the anwsers to during the visit. When we entered the museum they gave us all headphones with a recorder. As you went through the exhibit you listened to the narrator and could stop the audio on your recorder to read the displays and watch the various interesting videos along the way. The boys seemed as facinated as the rest of the country with the possibility of a conspiracy. Mikey who is nine, was totally facinated trying to understand what conspiracy meant. I tried to explain that he should review the facts and evidence and then form his own opinion instead of being swayed in either direction. There were plenty of peddlers in the street selling papers about the "Conspiracy View." He asked me if "Nana is conspiracy?" (LOL) I told him to ask her. The boys got a discount on some newspapers from one of the peddler who believed in the conspiracy because they noticed his money blowing away and picked the dollar bills up for him. It was really interesting being there on the eve of the 45th anniversary of JFK's death. You could look at the window where Lee Harvey Oswald look while shooting the President. They also had the FBI's model of the scene (buildings and all.) It was very sad especially when you reflected on the tragedies that were still to befall this family. Watching the videos that contained parts of JFK's famous speeches really gave you a sense of how he inspired a nation. We also visited the grassy knoll and stood on the spot where the President was killed. They have an "X" spray painted in the street on the exact spot. We also saw the jail building where "Jack Ruby," the man who killed Oswald was incarcerated until his death of cancer three and half years later. This trip was a school field trip for the boys and because of that we all really read everything and went slowly through the museum at times helping them find anwsers to their assignment. We all agreed this was the first time we really read everything in a museum. It really took time to get the anwsers but in the end we all enjoyed learning so much. Then we visited the shop on site and Maria bought a stuffed doll of Jackie and Mikey picked out little JFK and Jackie figures. Of course when we got back to the room they both created an "Opera" led by Mikey with their toys. It was a little disconcerting hearing four year old Maria singing with her Jackie doll "My husband's been shot." I guess they will retain what they learned for a long time.

Howdy from Dallas!

The Morley family was reunited in Dallas last night. We were very happy to be together again. Maria and Mike flew on two planes to get to us. It was the first time Maria flew since she was two months old. Mike said she was good as gold and the Stewardess even smuggled some cookies to her. We dined with the Araujo's and Nims last night at "Denny's." Today we went with some of the other cast members to the Dallas Zoo. (Thank you, Clare and Will.) It was a gorgeous perfect Zoo day. It was sunny and just the right temperature. The kids and adults all enjoyed themselves. We witnessed the "Lemur's" doing something that we had to cover the kids eyes and then when another Lemur showed up it appeared that a huge arguement or "domestic incident" was happening. They were making some wild, loud and strange noises that Colin taped with his cell phone. The kids really liked going on the monorail and seeing some of the animals found in Africa. Alaggio and Chaz joined us for our last round of seeing animals and on the monorail. We had a great number of laughs with them especially when the Rhinocerous decided to poop in front of us! Maria really loved the Zebra and Giraffes. Mikey's favorite were the Pink Flamingos who were quiet when we came into the zoo and were making some real noises as we left. We also saw reptiles and some huge snakes. Maria decided she need to give Colin a personal tour and grabbed him by the hand to show him the different snakes. Elizabeth and Ira witnessed a snake ingesting a rat and filmed it. She shared the video of this with the kids on the bus ride back. (YUCK!) We then went to dinner at Sal's Pizzeria and Restaurant where I had the spiciest spaghetti sauce ever. ( I guess they make it hot in Texas!) We sat right next to a table full of Dallas Sheriffs. I could not miss this photo-op and told Mike to see if they would take a photo with him. Will post it later. Now we are relaxing in the room and just enjoying some family time. Maria and Mikey are having fun playing together and are putting on some play with his action figures. Until tomorrow.......................

Midwest City, OKLAHOMA!

"OKLAHOMA, WHERE THE WINDS COME SWEEPING DOWN THE PLAINS.......AND THE CORN IS AS HIGH AS AN ELEPHANTS EYE.............." I have been dying to write this because I love the musical "Oklahoma!" As my poor neice and nephew know. Kevin and Jess the "Cowboys and the Indians Should Be Friends!" I really loved when the cast started singing it and having fun with it on the way to the theater. There was a lot of energy on the bus tonight so the show should be very good. Mikey is getting ready for the 730 show at the Rose State College Theater and then we return in the morning for a special 10 am performance for the students. Today the bus ride was not too bad, the scenery was filled with cows, cows, cows. We stopped for lunch at "Fridays" in Tulsa, Oklahoma on the way to Midwest City, Oklahoma where we are staying the night. We had a little time to relax at the hotel before the show and now are just hanging out in the dressing room. Tomorrow after the show we will travel to Dallas where Mike and Maria will meet us for a mini vacation. That all I got!

Hello from Lebanon, Missouri

We loaded up the bus today at 730 and hit the road at 8. The travel felt really long today despite the stops. (The joints just ain't what they use to be.) The kids were happy to eat lunch at KFC and then we stopped once again to get gas. I don't think the convience store at the gas station knew what hit them. The cast raided the store, playing with the stuff animals and puppets and having a good old time. The kids just enjoy the playful cast members so much. There were different puppet show going on! We arrived in Missouri passing the St. Louis Arch again about 12 hours later. Mikey really loves that Arch and I am glad John and Missy got good photos (which I fully intend to steal ) since I did not have an oil can for my joints and could not move fast enough to take a picture. I did discover on this long bus ride that I have no control and cannot be trusted with Sweet Tarts. I ate a whole big thing of them all by myself within a half hour. After eating them my tongue felt like it got a facial with rough scrub. After school the kids and cast (that were awake) watched the movie "Wallie," courtesy of Q and John. When we arrived we quickly scouted out a place to eat and enjoyed dinner at "Gary's Catfish Restaurant" right near "Route 66." Now we are in the hotel room. Mikey is working on his homework and I finally have my legs stretched out laying on the bed writing this blog. Since I am fading fast I will say "Good Night." Kisses to Maria, Mike and Nana.

Hello Again from Toledo, Ohio

We are at the theater waiting for the final show to begin. This is the last of six shows here. We just came back from a nice dinner at Jeds. The Moms gave John the afternoon off so he could do manly things like watching football. This worked out well because he went to the restaurant early and placed our orders so we would all have time to eat between shows. The timing was great as the food arrived as soon as we sat. I asked John how the football games were and rubbed it in that the NY Giants were 9 and 1. Go Giants! We all really loved the "Bucko Mucho" Steak at Jeds. Mikey's insisted on getting his own steak seemed to disappear in seconds. The matinee was crowded as all the shows here were. We are truly amazed when we watch and the professionalism of the kids and other actors when things don't go exactly right. Today Fagin's chest of jewels spilled on the stage and it was something to see how he worked it into the act and later the kids picked the stuff up as if it was part of the show. Nobody would know but us because we watched it XXXXX times! Mikey enjoying sketching some of the cast between acts during the matinee. He sketeched Ashley in costume during Oom Paah Pa and Rhiannon as a mermaid. I think he hopes she gets cast as Ariel once Oliver is over. It has been nice sleeping in the same bed for a few nights but sad to say we will be back on the bus again tomorrow headed for a long trip to Midwest City, Oklahoma. We can't wait until Wednesday when Mike and Maria join us in Dallas. We miss them so much. Well got to go to the show........................

Greetings from Toledo, Ohio

Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Back Another Day, the Oliver Cast wants to Play! It has been raining here for two days.....I mean really raining to the point where Q and I bought boots from the store and John bought boots and a poncho just to make the trek back to the hotel more bearable. (Poor Mikey, no boots in his size.) We arrived here Thursday, November 13th and after the show Mikey, John, Q and I went to have a bite to eat at "Jeds." Many of the cast members showed up in the same place and we really had to keep the boys at our table to give the cast some grown-up time. The boys really like hanging out with the ladies of the cast. At the recommendation of the waitress we had the best steak we had in a long time and the price was very reasonable. It was so good, Mikey starting stealing pieces off my plate and keeps asking to go back so he can have his own. (As many of you know this is a kid that doesn't like to eat that much.) The boys were really impressed with all the flat screen televisions in the place including in the booths. For a little while they deserted John and I to sit in a booth that had one of there shows on. On Friday John, Missy and I brought the kids to Friendly's for an early dinner before the show. We were all very bad in that we could not resist the desserts. Although Colin and Missy were better in that they shared their dessert. I had an Apple Pie Carmel Sunday and was not about to share with ANYONE! It was as good as it sounds. Today it was raining so hard when we trekked to breakfast at Brandy's Diner. I was very jealous of John's new poncho and wished I had bought one for myself. It is really nice being in one place for five days but we wish it would stop raining. It could be worst I guess, it could be snow.....then again, I think I rather walk in snow then this soaking, windy, rain. There are six shows here so the cast is very busy. We enjoyed having an almost day off yesterday because they did not have to go to the theater until 7pm. John, Q, Mikey and I risked getting wet and took the hike to Miejer's Department Store so the hotel walls did not close in on us. (Boy... will I appreciate my car when I go home.) The store was like a Super-Walmart and we got some good stuff that we needed (and some we didn't) including the boots mentioned above. I found a great buy on the shoes I was looking for and Mikey picked out a nice, cute, pretty gymnastic's outfit for his sister. He also made a deal with me to do an extra page of Math in a practice book I bought for him if I would get him a Star Wars set. Mikey and Q were really having fun playing with them at dinner yesterday and breakfast today. It was nice watching them just being kids and having fun. With there imaginations put together it was quite a production. They had a lot of energy in the show last night and an audience of about 2,000 really enjoyed the show at the Stranahan Theater. It was packed both nights so far. John and Q had guests in the audience and the kids really enjoyed the compliments they recieved after the show. Today, John, being the gentlmen he is, gave Missy and I an afternoon off and took the boys to the theater for us. That is why I have time to update this blog. I am really enjoying alone time in the room as I am sure my buddy Missy is. Mikey just phone me from the theater very excited to tell me that Spencer (the tour manger's 13 month old) is so cute and that he is having crawling contests with him in the hallway. He was very excited that Spencer hugged him for a long time. I think Mikey misses his little sister's hugs. Mikey and I are getting excited because Dad and Maria are flying to Dallas on Wednesday to spend five days off with us. We plan to make it like a little vacation and tour Dallas including going to six flags. I just got off the phone with Maria and she is very excited. She also has big news in that she got a new haircut today and I can't wait to see her. Today is my niece Kasey's birthday and nephew Sean's graduation so Maria is happy to be going to their party. Mikey and I wish we could be there and we called them both yesterday to congratulate them. I still can't get over how proud I am of Kasey making her High School JV Basketball Team. She is awesome! Well since I am starting to babble I will say goodbye for now.....

West Virgina

"Country Roads, Take me Home....To a Place....I Belong....West Virgina......Blue Ridge Mountains, Shannondoah River.......I have been singing this song since I was a kid and finally .......after 12 plus hours......I HAVE ARRIVED! Now..... I can't get the song out of my head. "Mountain Mama....Take Me Home.....Country Roads." Not too much to report because we did not stay here long. The bus trip was pretty long but the New Yorker's can't complain because everyone else travelled from New London, picked us up in New York City and continued on to West, VA. They had 3 hours more on the bus then we did. We have a new bus with a table in the back for the kids to do school. There was a little confusion because the bus had a different number of seats and was configured differently but it is all settling down now. Everyone's seat is beginning to look like there living room again. (Only I don't have my Ocean View,my Plasma TV, Piano, big chair with Maria on lap.......and......why am I on this bus again?) Mikey and Jerimiah(tutor) really seemed to enjoy table when school was not in session. J helped Mikey tie up his Indiana Jones action figures and had them hanging off strings, saving the girl. Mikey had a whole production going on, with a sign and all. He also enjoyed sketching at the table but by the end of the trip he lost his cookies.....because the ride was really long it finally got to him. The next day we had a night show and the theater patrons invited us all to a reception at "Club Luna" next door to the theater. We had some great "Chinese Food." One of the theater goers told Mikey the ancient history of the club which really facinated him. Rhiannon really got Mikey and Q's eyes opening wide with her tales of energy and ghosts. The cast enjoyed talking to their fans and each other. We had some crazy dance moves going on at times. We have some great pictures which I will post later. Although I have advanced my skills since coming on tour thanks to Missy and John, I still have not mastered getting the photos from camera to computer. Hoping John will show me on this part of the trip now that I have bought the wires to my camera with me. The theater itself was very old and beautiful having been built in 1928. You could envision the "Phantom ofr the Opera" being present. Missy, John and I watched the whole show for the XXXXXX time but are still really enjoying it........some of us to much last night.....LOL,LOL,LOL,LOL, LOL, LOL,......and I mean literally......... Missy and John know what I am talking about! All kidding aside, we enjoyed seeing Ashley perform as the "Strawberry Seller" ....she did an amazing job. I forgot to write last time that we have some new members. We have a new Tour Manager (Clare with her beautiful son Spencer and husband Bart) and a new bus driver (Will). Andrew has also left to perform in 42 Street and we welcome Adam to the cast. We wish Tyler, Kim, John and Andrew good luck in there new gigs and will miss you. We are on the bus now on way to Toledo, Ohio for a few days........."Be Back Soon!"

New London Report

We had a nice time in New London. My friend Lori took the ferry over from Long Island to see the show and is in serious competition with Aunt Eileen for being Mikey's number one fan(if you don't count me.) Mikey really appreciates these two favorite ladies of his for traveling to see him. Mom (me) really appreciated that her wonderful husband gave Lori and I, a "Girl's Night Out" and we had some wonderful steak and frozen drinks at the OutBack. Back home we always go out for a birthday dinner because our birthdays are only a few day apart. This time we also went to a birthday lunch and Lori tried her first Shepard's Pie at the Irish pub across from the theater. It was nice chatting and catching up. I also got to introduce two women I greatly admire and appreciate: Lori (my old travel buddy from FBI days) and Missy my new travel buddy. Lori enjoyed meeting Missy because she has heard all the bad things (LOL) I have been saying about her! I think Missy has the thumbs up from Lori and she feels better about me traveling now. It was nice having Mike (Dad) and Maria (sister) on the road with us even if it was brief. Maria really loved the show again and when I asked her what her favorite part was she did an amazing performance for a 4 year old of belting out "As Long As He Needs Me." I think Rhiannon better watch out.....I have a future "Nancy" on my hands. I caught all the Dad's (Mike, John and Steve) bonding at intermission during the afternoon show. John seemed really happy to be with the men for a change! Mike (DAD) got a little taste of being on the road and how we have to go on food mission. When we tried to eat at the Outback between shows we were told there was a 45 minute wait and obviously we could not do that so we had to find another plan. We could see a Pizza Hut across a few highways which normally Johnn, Missy, the kids and I would have to find a way to hike too. We were lucky to have Mike's car, boy did it make a difference. The Araujo's and the Morley's enjoyed Pizza together and the two Dad's enjoyed coloring the placemats( where is Missy with her camera.) On Saturday the food mission began again when we tried to go to the Diner that we went to the day before only to find out it closed at noon. We then walked to a Pizza Place and sat there being ignored for 10 minutes when nobody else was even in the place. We took the hint and left and were very happy with the Irish Pub. (Mike got a tast of what we go through with the food missions.) On Sunday the New Yorkers left the rest of the cast and were able to go home for two days. This gave Mikey the opportunity to see "Prisoner of Second Avenue" at the Rockaway Theater Company with his Dad. They both really enjoyed the show! Congrats to David, Jodee, Peggy, Michael and cast. He also got to see Reilly again.
Another plus about being home on Monday was we got to see the newest addition to our family. My new nephew was born that same day. He is also my Godson:Jack Alexander weighed in at 10lbs 11 oz and 23 inches long. Maria was a little upset because she was to young to go uedp to the hospital room but we promised Daddy would take her to see him next week. My niece Kasey also received the awesome news that after grueling tryouts she made the JV Basketball Team of St. Francis Prep H.S. We are so exicted and proud for her. She worked hard to get on the team. My sister Mary can stop biting her nails now! It was tough leaving home again and I miss my baby girl and her daddy already!

Back Too Soon!

Hello from New London CT. We are both happy and sad to be back. It was so good seeing all our family and friends back home. The first week was very sad. The morning we arrived home my stepfather passed away and the whole family mourned his loss. The funeral did bring our large family all together in one place. I thank all our friends for their condolences, thoughts and prayers. On the lighter side I was thrilled to be home to spend time with my beautiful daughter Maria and my handsome husband Mike. Mikey had fun trick or treating with his friends Kayla and Caroline and then going to Alex's party. He had fun running into his class mates while trick or treating. He loved being a hippy from the 60's and nobody recognized him! Maria was the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz (green face and all). He also was surrounded a couple of times when he visited the school yard as his class was getting out. It was great to see all his friends. He did complete most of his to do list. Homework being number one! He visited his friends at the Rockaway Theater Company and Setting the Stage. He really enjoyed telling his friends about tour life. He got to watch the dress rehearsal for Prisoner of Second Ave. (Thanks, Kerry, Reilly and Peggy). He also went bike riding with his friends Will and Michael(I had heart failure!) I got to play princessess with Maria, go to lunch with Denise, Caroline and Reilly, clean out closets, shop for new clothes for her, get my eyes examined (should have had my head examined instead!), go on a date with my husband, dine out with girlfriends \(Thanks, Jo, Lisa and Marge), enjoy a homecooked birthday dinner (thanks Mom,) do laundry without paying.....you get the idea. I miss home already! There are three shows this weekend in New London. The drive from Rockaway was really not bad. It took us 2 and one-half hours but it was all I95 and the leaves were all beautiful with the colors at Peak. My friend Lori is taking the ferry from LI to see the matinee tomorrow and we are very excited to have company. Okay time to say goodnight!

Good Afternoon from Florida

Yesterday we all had the day off. We slept late, went to the Waffle House and then to Kmart. Then most of us slugged out in our rooms enjoying the rare day off. We began packing all our stuff up on the bus. Your seat really become like a home. People have curtains, rugs, blankets, sheets, pillows, pictures, cup holders, drawings, flowers, extension cords, stuff animals, books and organizers. It is amazing what everyone can accumulate so quickly to make a small space your very own. We are getting a new bus when we return so we had to buy some tubs to pack all this stuff in and leave on the truck until we return from the break.

After being lazy all afternoon, we went with John, Missy and the kids to dinner at a place called "Two Guys." The Banana Pudding was good and we gave John some toys for his birthday to keep him young. I think he liked the "Parchute Soldiers" better than the "High School Musical headphones" but I can't be sure. After dinner the kids engaged Rhiannon, Melissa and Dave in a mean game of Uno. I think everyone tried to cheat but Rhiannon and Dave. The kids really had to keep their eye on Melissa and busted her with several cards tucked into the couch. The game was never ending so we had to finally call it quits so we can go back to our rooms and pack up.

Now get ready for another gross story from the road. After packing, Mikey and I were reading our books in bed when he stood up screaming on the bed. (In High Soprano) The biggest, blackest, thick legged, spider we ever seen decided to walk across his bedspread and say hello to us while he was reading in bed. I guess the Spider was saying good-bye and wanted us to remember our time in Tennessee. Either that or he was trying to make Mikey the new Spider Man! I had the wonderful job of killing this Spider. I knew if I did not kill it, I would not be able to sleep all night. Unfortunately, once you see a spider on your bed, you don't sleep anyway and when you do you are fighting spiders in your sleep.
Anyway, everyone is really excited about flying to their homes tomorrow for ten days. The kids are doing school on the bus right now on the way to Tallahassee, Fl. The tutor has given them all assignments to do during the break to keep them up with their school work. We have a show tonight and then the theater is throwing a small reception for the cast. We have a 430am bus call to the airport but who cares....we are going home! Mikey has a long list of things he wants to do when he gets home: Go to Blockbuster and rent two movies. Make Popcorn. Go on a bike ride with Dad. Play with Maria. Visit all his cousins. See all his friends. P--P in his own house. Go to the Movies. Sleep without spiders. Etc... That is it for now.....

Good Morning from Pembroke, Tenessee

We are enjoying our day off and Mikey is sleeping in after helping Q's family celebrate John's Birthday after the show. The kids had a blast and Q's little sister Reina, Mom and friends gave us a little show singing "Green Eggs and Ham" from Seussical. The Araujo family is very talented and Mom and Reina are currently in Seussical in their home town of VA. As much as I love Oliver, it was great to hear a different song. The kids also entertained us with their version of Mama Mia until we got a noise complaint and had to close down the show! Q had many friends from his local theater (Hurrah Players) and family come to the show last night and then helped celebrate John's Birthday. It was so nice to meet John's Mom. She raised such a good son I couldn't wait to meet her.



I think I am finally over the laundrymat. After that we got to watch the understudy rehearsals and I was so proud watching Mikey play Oliver. It was the first time the understudies got to rehearse and there was little warning or prep. He did great. Sometimes I have to remind myself that he is only nine years old. You could really see how excited he was for the opportunity and so happy to be on stage with some of his favorite ladies (Erin as Nancy, Ashley as Bet and Jen as Dodger.) We got a real kick out of seeing how the other actors played the characters.



Today we plan to shop at Kmart and start packing our stuff up from the bus because we will be flying home early Monday. The shuttle will take us to the airport around 430am and should be in NYC by 1105. I can't wait to be able to read bedtime stories to Maria and sleep with my husband again in my own bed. Well it is time to shop....

Horror at the Laundrymat

Okay, I know I told you in the last post that Missy and I would be on a mission to find a laundry. Little did I know what a mission it would be. I am sorry to tell you that we found one. Boy-Oh-Boy did we! Of course it wasn't easy. We asked the hotel shuttle driver to bring us to what we thought was a good laundry. She took the scenic route instead of following the directions we gave her. When we finally found the place it was closed. We thought thank goodness because we did not like the look of it. Of course we did not give up looking for another and luckily, I thought at the time....I have a back up plan ( having been a girl scout.) I had an address for another laundry that I looked up on mapquest. When we finally found it the shuttle driver was afraid to let us out.....(with good reason.) This place made the other place look like a palace. Just glancing in our instincts told us it was not a good place to be. But being the good Mom's we are, we were really determined to get the laundry done at any cost. The first clue that made us think maybe we were better off with dirty clothes and no undies was the sign that read: "Only the attendant can call 911." As a former cop, I have to say this was a very interesting sign to read, let just say the hackles were raised up on my neck. Undeterred we forged on and proceeded to put our clothes in the dirtiest washer machines we ever saw at $4.00 a wash no less. Hey, dirt doesn't come cheap! Then we began to read the rest of the signs: "No Drugs because Mr. Lyle will prosecute." "Drinking allowed only with shoes and shirts on." (We speculated pants were not needed.) "Patrons must stay inside." Then Missy noticed there was actually a bar in the laundrymat and decided this place was so disgusting we needed a cold beer to get us through it. I tried to protest but she would not take no for an answer. Rochester ladies are tough! Since I am not a beer drinker, I was hoping she was talking about one of the small nip bottles, but she insisted that in this place we needed a pint each. Since this would be my second beer in about twenty years (I won't say who made me drink my first on this tour but you can probably guess) I figured she was right...in this place I needed it. So we proceed to sit at this brown picnic type table and drink our beers as the people in the place looked at us like we were from MARS. Missy asked me if I was trained in self-defense and I told her I use to be but wasn't sure I could still lift my legs high enough. Then we strategized our defense plan should we need it. She suggested fingers in eyes and I suggested breaking the beer bottles if necessary and using them as weapon. If only I had my piece! Oh, the fun we were having! It just doesn't get any more glamorous then this! Then Missy gets up to check on her wash and I notice we have company at the table....not just any company but the brown,disgusting, cochroach kind moving across the table and blending in with the color. As I quickly jump up and grab our beers....God knows we really need them now, I notice another one crawling on the floor...sorry to be so disgusting but this story needs to be told so I don't have nightmares. Needless to say there was no more sitting for the next hour and we stood tap dancing (better than Andrew) in front of our washers and dryers. Thank goodness the dryers got so hot that our fingers burned touching the clothes. We figured nothing alive was coming out of the dryer. The shuttle driver agreed to come back for us....we think cause she wanted to make sure we were still alive. When she came back she told us her boss said "Don't tell me you left those ladies at THAT laundrymat." I can tell you we were so happy to see her and be out of that place we tipped her very well. I have to say the Mom's went above and beyond today to give their little stars clean laundry. Goodnight and pleasant dreams......I am trying not to itch just thinking about this. I think I have PTS from it......Can't wait to do laundry at my own house on Monday. I think I am going to kiss the washer and dryer!

South Carolina

Good morning everyone. Last night the show went great and John, Q, Mikey and I tried to get some Wendy's afterwards. AS usual the food mission was difficult. After going in the open door the cashier decided they were closed, somebody was suppose to lock the door and they are only serving the drive-in customers. We tried to explain we did not have a car and the boys were hungry...couldn't you pretend we have a car. Of course they were heartless and did not care that our kids were hungry after performing. It turns out it was a good thing Wendy's kicked us out because we then ran into Chaz, Rhiannon and Melissa who invited us to eat with them at the Ale House and had a much better time. It was a nice restaurant with good food and we all had a nice time sharing all our thoughts.... I hope Rhiannon's ears are okay after Mikey and Q kept chatting to her at dinner and on the walk back. It was also great, as always, sharing a meal with fellow RTC member Chaz. He is very supportive of the boys with there acting and the parents really appreciate him. Chaz and Nancy had an exciting morning promoting the show on a TV station. Chaz also was in the local paper here after he gave an interview to them while in Binghamton. He is a SC native so they wrote about that. Mikey is very excited today because they are having understudy rehearsals today and he gets to play Oliver. He is really looking forward to working with his fellow understudies and interested to see how they all play their roles. It should be a lot of fun for him. Missy and I will be on our other favortie mission: searching for a laundrymat while they rehearse so we don't have to come back from the break to dirty clothes. We will be home this Monday and I can't wait to see Maria, Mike and Mom. I miss them so much. Love to all.

Greetings from South Carolina

Yesterday, late afternoon we arrived in South Carolina. It is sunny and nice, not to hot, not to cold. Missy, John and I took the kids to a nice restaurant for dinner since we were sick of eating in the chain food stores. Mikey and I had a steak with baked potatoes that tasted delicious. Q was very cute when he ordered Sir Lion not to be mixed up with (sirlion.) LOL. After dinner we walked back to the hotel passing some very historic streets in South Carolina and a really old cemetary. We saw the Captial building and the Supreme Court. As we walked we read the plaques that dedicated different streets to former Generals that fought in the American Revolution. You felt a real sense of history as you walked. When we went back to the hotel the cast surprised Rhiannon (Nancy) with an engagement party in Zac's (Fagin) room. They were very creative with rose petals all over the room and beds as well as nice pink balloons. The boys had a lot of fun throwing the rose petals when Rhiannon entered the room. Chaz did a good job keeping her busy until it was time and we thought Alaggio would have a heart attack guarding the door until she came. He looked like a father pacing the hospital floor waiting for his child to be born. (LOL) Quentin was showing everybody his dance moves and although Erin tried I think Q wins the dance challenge. Rhiannon told us all about Brendan and their first date and courtship. After, that "We all fell in love with Brendan. We all wish Rhiannon and Brendan a "Happily Ever After." They are two really nice people and deserve loads of happiness. After about an hour we had to drag the kids out of the party to do their homework. The sounds in the hall told me the cast somehow manage to continue the party without us.

We will be here in SC until Friday morning where we then start our trek to Tallahassee, Fl. We have shows here tonight and tomorrow night. We are free during the day, except the kids do three hours of school. We are getting closer to coming home and we can't wait. Next Tuesday, back in Rockaway! Scroll down and look left to see some photos. That is it for now........................

Greetings from Richmond, VA

The bus trip wasn't too bad today. Mikey was happy to catch a glimpse of the Washington Monument. We arrived safely and Missy, John the kids and I began our search mission for food. It is becoming a ritual. I think we are all getting tired of eating out and since we had so many choices tonight (which is rare) it made it very difficult to decide what to eat. We went in Panera's and could not decide so we walked out and then finally decided on Mexican. Then we received the delightful news that there is only one washing machine in the hotel and two buses full of people that need to do laundry including me. Guess I will wait until next stop. I really hope I don't dream about a laundrymat again. Although last night I dreamt I knew how to disco roller skate again. I was sad when I realized it was only a dream. Mikey and I just reviewed his Science Chapter on Adaptions:Structural and Behavioral. It doesn't get any more exciting then this! I had a choice between trying russian raspberry vodka or studying Science. Of course being the good mother that I am we studied Science. Now I know that a kangeroo's pouch is a structural adaptation and a spider making a web is a behavorial adaptation. Which by the way are inherited unlike a dog learning to sit which is a learned behavior. Now I really wish I chose the vodka! Okay, I am losing it! Only 7 days to homecoming. Goodnight!

Binghamton

It was a family weekend in Binghamton. Mikey's family and Colin's (Dodger) family came to see the show for the first time. Rhiannon (Nancy) got engaged to Brendon. There was happiness and love all around. Mikey and I were so happy that Maria, Dad, Aunt Eileen and Reilly Ann Charles were with us this weekend. Maria hugged me for 10 minutes straight and I loved every minute of it. Aunt Eileen gave Mikey his first bunch of flowers since doing this show. Maria loved her new dress and dolls that Mikey bought for her. Reilly's Mom sent cookies and they were a big hit. They couldn't have disappeared more quickly if a magician did a trick. On the first night the families all got together in Colin's Aunt Cee Cee's room. It was nice meeting everyone. Maria had a great time playing with Q and Colin. Mikey and Reilly were in a world of their own and acting like two peas in a pod. On Sunday the kids had two shows. Reilly loved seeing the dressing room and even got to see "Mike Check" before the show started. The kids seemed to know they had a special audience and really performed their hearts out. After the matinee, Colin's Dad, Steve arranged a nice dinner for the families at an Italian restaurant near by. Quentin and John our adopted road family of course joined us. The boys had to be back early for the second show, so John graciously took them back so Missy and I could spend more time with our families. Reilly and Mikey got a little choked up saying goodbye....but that was no real surprise with these two. Reilly requested that if we go on Tour in the future please look for girl roles for her as well. She asked if she could hide on the bus and travel with us for a week. I was tempted to say yes but I figured her sister Devon would be upset. She is really sweet and Mikey is lucky to have such a good friend. Maria and Mikey hugged each other tightly and Mikey's tears started to flow. He got through it knowing he would be home in seven days for a break. Maria was a trooper but made me promise to do puzzles with her when we came home. I told her to mark the calendar every day so she knows when 7 days is. She told Mikey he did a good job as "Charlie." She really enjoyed the show although we thought she would fall asleep in the first act because her cough kept her up the night before in the hotel room. She seemed to perk up when she heard the song "That's Your Funeral." She loves that song for some reason. She was able to keep awake until just before the murder of Nancy, thank goodness she fell asleep before that. It was hard saying goodbye to my handsome husband and darling little girl and I can't wait to see them next week. Mike plans to drive us to New London Ct to extend our break. Hope some of the other family members can make the trip and see the show. This is the closest we will be to home. Now we are back on the bus and heading for a stopover in Richmond VA. We are traveling to South Carolina and the next show is Wednesday. Before I sign off, there is a rumor as we leave Binghamton that a tree is missing and that this city will never be the same since Cee Cee and friends had a night on the town! My only regret is that I could not join them! That is all for now............

Greetings from Owensboro, Kentucky

We are finally...........off the bus! The kids enjoyed watching two movies on the long bus ride. "The Little Rascals and Hocus Pocus." As much as I love Bette Midler, I have to say HP was really bad although everybody seemed to enjoy it. Last night on the way here we stopped at the Columbia Mall in Missouri. Mikey was very excited to buy his sister Maria a dress for the upcoming Matinee in Binghamton. We both miss her so much and can't wait to see her. He also loved seeing the huge Carousel inside the Mall and was wishing Maria was there so he could go on with her. Mikey was also very excited to see the Arch in St. Louis. Unfortunately, it was to dark to take a picture and we passed it too quickly. Everyone is happy to be at the hotel here, especially since it is surrounded by so many places to eat. This becomes so important when you are on a bus tour. The first question is always "Is there any place to eat around here?" Some of the places we stayed you really had to go on a mission for food. The second important question is "How many, if any, washers and dryers are on site?" Of course the first from the kids is usually, "Is there a Pool?" It was nice sleeping in late today but when I woke I was dreaming about going to the laundrymat. Then I found out Missy beat me to the washer this morning...my dream must have been a premonition. She kindly added a pair of Mikey's sweats to her load and I thank her! We enjoyed having breakfast with John and Quentin at Denny's and not having to get right on the bus when we finished. The kids are in school now and there is a show tonight at River Park in Kentucky at 7pm.

On Way to Kentucky

Last night, after a long bus trip where the cast helped entertain the kids playing games (or the kids entertained the cast, depending on whose perspective,) we arrived at the hotel almost at 1am last night.Erin was the lucky winner of the cast pool money for guessing correctly what time we would arrive. Missy and John were really close.....but no cigar! I was soooooooooooo looking forward to jumping right into bed but after playing treasure hunt to find our room we discovered the toliet did not work. After dealing with the toliet on the bus...I really wanted a working one in the hotel! We had to find our way back to the lobby (thank goodness we left a bread crumb trail). After Tyler graciously helped us get assigned to a new room it was a new adventure to find the actual stair case that led to the 2nd floor. Since the last two hotels did not have elevators I have to really thank the crew for helping the tired cast and parents. The crew came through for the second night in a row. Thanks David for helping the night before and Walter for saving the day yesterday because at that time of night the luggage feels about 300 lbs. I have to say the three boys have been exceptionally good on the bus and I am very proud of them. Three hours is usually spent on school with the Jerimiah, the tutor. He usually lets them take a nap before beginning school on these long bus rides. After school the kids have been reading, playing their computer or DS games and chatting with the other cast members. Mikey is really looking forward to seeing his sister, Dad and Aunt Eileen in Binghatom this weekend. He sends a shout out to Reilly and wants his friends and family to know he will "Be Back Soon." Now we are back on the bus on way to Kentucky. Driving through some cloudy weather but we left the snow behind in Montana with the bears. We are expected to arrive sometime after 9pm. We have a show tomorrow night so we will be able to rest in the hotel all day tomorrow. That is all for now.

Related Blogs

http://olivertour08.blogspot.com/

http://olivernationaltour08.blogspot.com/

Mikey-Oliver National Tour 2008

Hi all. Don't faint, but I am so bored on this bus right now that I have decided to try to create a blog to document the rest of Mikey's tour. We have had quite a few days. We had a great time in Casper, Wyoming with the cast's 80's Roller Skating Party. Everyone got into the spirit of things and my hair made me look ten feet tall. Mikey was very cool looking with his DA blown hair and Jordache Jacket that Missy, John and Erin helped him find in a thrift store. Mikey had a great time and just let me say that I finally realize as my birthday is fast approaching that I can no longer Disco Roller Skate like I use to. After surviving barely going around the rink twice I turned the skates in for my sneakers! All this fun was followed by the bus trip from hell the next day. Missy, Mikey, Quentin, John and I all managed to get varying levels of food poisioned at the same time on one of the longest bus rides ever. The bus broke down on a Montana (I think) Mountain in the middle of a snow storm next to a tall sign with a Bear on it that said "Grizzly Encounters." It was very comforting in the dark. We were on the bus sick from 8am until about 1am. We are feeling much better now and the show yesterday was great in, no pun intended, "Great Falls" Montana. We are now on a 3 day bus trip to Kentucky. We passed by Mt. Rushmore but did not have time to stop. We will arrive at the hotel in Sioux FAlls Iowa tonight and then continue on tomorrow. If I am rambling it is because I now live on a bus! Will post photos once I learn how. Please see facebook for now. Love to all. Sue and Mikey