Hello from Missouri

Our wonderful tour manager (Clare) gave us time to stop at the St. Louis Arch yesterday. We were so happy because we passed it in our travel several times but never had the opportunity to stop. The kids enjoyed getting in the elevator that looks like a little spaceship with 5 seats and riding to the top. The Arch is 650feet and overlooks the Mississippi River. You could see the city and the river from the top of the arch. You could see the ice floating in the river and you could also see the stadium. Mikey was using his new camera to snap photo after photo. He layed on the ground under the arch and took photos. We are happy again because we will be staying in the same hotel for tonights again. We had a nice dinner in the sports bar and rested the first night because there was no show. Today, Mikey and I enjoyed having the heating swimming pool all to ourselves. After swimming went to the Mall with Missy and Colin. Q and John went to the Mall ahead of us. We enjoyed eating dinner at Panera Bread and then it was time to go to the show. I stayed back because I wasn't feeling so hot and also to get some laundry done. Tomorrow we are off to Iowa. Goodnight!

Hello from Paducah, Kentucky

We feel like we have landed. We are actually in the same place for two nights! What a pleasure. The cast threw a "Middle School Dance," for Colin (Dodger) because they found out he missed his dance while on tour. They all dressed how they did when they were in Middle School themselves and also acted out the part. Colin was so thrilled that he went back to his room to get spiffed up himself. Mikey just loved every single minute of it. I felt like I was on the set of "Saturday Night Live." See the video Missy posted and you will see why. The girls in the cast all danced with the boys while Ashley played Sister Mary Catherine and made sure they kept room for the holy ghost. Will was teaching everyone the electric slide. Fun was had by all. Will post pictures soon. I thank the cast for caring so much about the kids and being so great to them!

Evansville, Indiana

Can you believe Mikey is really in Indiana! "Not Louisana, Paris, France, New York or Rome! But........Indiana, My Home Sweet Home! Okay, I know I am corny but I couldn't resist since his last part before being in Oliver was playing "Winthrop" in Music Man. This has been some week since returning on tour. Basically we travel 300 plus miles during the day and then arrive in time to grab a quick bite and go to the theater. We are looking forward to Paducah, Kentucky because we will actually be in the same place for two nights! Hooray!

Walking in "Memphis," AGAIN!

We were all thrilled to be "Walking in Memphis," again on a stopover to Waukegan, Il. Everyone was so exicted because Matt David and the cast of the Drowsy Chaperone were staying at the same hotel. Matt was our orignal "Mr. Brownlow," and left to be in the Drowsy Chaperone. The cast all had dinner in BB Kings and everyone really enjoyed the music and seeing Matt. Baby Spencer and a fun time dancing to the music. Mikey enjoyed his dance with Rhiannon and some dance moves with Ashley. It was fun shopping on Beale Street again. I bought myself a ceraminc Elvis to hang on the bus but unfortunately he only lasted a morning before falling to the floor and breaking. I still have him from the thighs up! Colin and I were in rare form doing our impression of the "Blues Brothers"(Can be seen on Missy's facebook.) I swear I wasn't drunk....I was just so.........happy to be off the bus! Our next stop was Waukegan, Il. What can I say except that is was minus 20 degrees. The kids did get to meet the cast of "Oliver" from the local theater company. They were putting their show on in a couple of weeks and came to see the show. The kids seem to enjoy talking to each other. Following Waukegan we travelled to Lima, Ohio. Rhiannon broke her finger so Erin went on as Nancy, Michele went on as Mrs. Sowerberry and Ashley played "Old Sally." They all did a great job and the show was very interesting to watch. These ladies are all so talented to be able to step in at a moments notice and perform so well. It was also special for Erin because her parents and friends were able to see the show. On the the next State...............

Hello from Galveston, Texas

Hello...........I'mback. Sorry I have been to cold and exhausted from the one-nighters that I have not had any inspiration to write. After Disney, Mikey and flew to meet the cast in Galveston, Texas. I was blown away by the devastation that still existed there. It brought back so many memories for me of losing my own home. We were lucky enough to have such wonderful neighbors, the Rockaway Community and the NYPD to help us. This community they all were wiped out and here it is 4 months later and the devastation is still everywhere. We saw miles and miles of coastline where just the pilings of houses remained or just the frame. Stores with no insides, cars still stuck in the mud, debris still strewn everywhere; big hotels with holes in the walls on the upper floors and people trying to rebuild again. I spoke to the owner of the grocery store across from the theater. He told me he lost all his inventory but was determine to get the store running again. He gave me a copy of how his store looked in the newspaper at that time. They were lucky in that they were able to throw out everything they had and get the store back opened that same week. He said the water by him was 9 ft and a few blocks away it was as high at 17ft. He told me before the hurricane the downtown area would be packed with people and you couldn't even find a spot. Today we say hardly any people except for those he came to the show. One women in the store told me her house was finally knocked down today and she was hoping to rebuild. While I was in the store I witnessed the store owner give free cleaning products to someone so they can clean their home. It was clear to me as they spoke to me that they felt it as clearly today and they felt it that day. As the women spoke to me about finding somethings in the debris perfectly find and other completely gone it brought me back to when we had to throw out the things from our house after the plane crash. I felt like I was back in time speaking to this women. I just wanted to hug her. Seeing a whole beach community wiped out like that made me a little nervous for Rockway. I hope this community finds the strength to rebuild itself. It will be some task. To take my mind off this sadness we had a very interesting hotel. All I can say is it felt like we were in an episode of "Cops" the tv show. The hotel had the best view of the Gulf of Mexico but that could not make up for the rest. It should have been called the "Double C" hotel. (Criminals and Critters) The cops were there regularly and while we were eating dinner we got to watch a live foot pursuit. Just to make everyone a little extra nervous....the Cops did not catch their man. The criminal element around the hotel I could deal with.....(although I wish I had my piece and handcuffs) it was the critters inhabiting my nightstand that made me stay awake all night. Let's just say the hotel's floors and walls moved and it had nothing to do with a hurricane. The hotel owes me money for my exterminating skills. We were so happy to leave Galveston. We got to shorten our trip by taken a ferry. The cast enjoyed being off the bus. We even were thrilled to see some dolphins and huge pelicans. However, we left Galveston driving past some of the most devestated areas. It was very sad.