Statesboro, Georgia

Hello from Georgia. We were suppose to stay in the Ramada but unfortunately for us they some how lost the reservation for the whole cast. Sooooooooooo.....we are staying in a hotel that is giving me flashback to the Galveston Hotel. It is one of the hotels where the cast rather sleep on the bus then in the hotel room. I personally have not seen any bugs this time but other cast members have seen some in their room. If that isn't enough keep me awake there is a gang of youngsters having a keg party and blaring loud music from there car right outside my hotel room door. It is not bothering Mikey....he is out like a light. Missy and Colin showed us there room where everyone believes the strange brown spots on her ceiling may be from......let me put it this way....number 2! Yes, number 2! (LOL) I tried to make her feel better and told her it could be rust from the ceiling fan, after all....what are friends for! Ordering dinner was also interesting. We had a "Sonic" drive thru next to the hotel. Only one problem.....no car. The have all these separate parking spots with speakers to order. We stood where cars normally pull up to park and then the waitress brings the food out to you. It was pretty funny after the show when half the cast were standing in all these spots ordering. We had some excitement before the show. Fifteen minutes before show time the theater had to be evacuated. The fog machine caused to much smoke in the theater and the fire department responded. Mikey was nervous at first but quickly got over it once outside. The cast all had to go outside in various stages of make up and costume. Chaz was the best in his robe, as was Stacie with her long bloomers. Rhiannon was caught with curlers in her hair. Jen and Erin had fun posing in front of the fire truck as did the boys. The show was delayed by a half hour or so but then finally went on. Mikey and I worked on Math during intermission. I now remember how to determine the Greatest Common Factor and equivalent fractions. We both liked these better than long division! Now I am trying to decide if I should leave the television on to block the noise or to try going to sleep with the noise. Neither option is great for a light sleeper. On a better note I spoke to Maria today. She had a pancake PJ party in school today. Daddy helped the kids make the pancakes. She really had fun. Tomorrow Mike is taking her to see Reilly in "Willy Wonka" at the Rockaway Theater Company. Reilly is playing Charlie and Mikey is so happy for her. He called her today before the show to tell her to "Break a Leg." I can't wait until Sunday because Mike and Maria are joing us in Jacksonville, Florida. We have a couple of days off there and two shows. So we will have time to spend together and they will also be able to see the show again. Okay I am starting to ramble so I will say goodnight......

Where HAVE I been?

Well since I last wrote we have been to Springfield, Ohio, Williamsport, PA, Ogdensburg, NY, two locations in Canada: Kingston, Ontario and St. Johns, New Brunswick, HOME and Gainesville, Florida. It is really hard to keep up when you are doing one nighters and then the computer did not cooperate in Canada. Of course when I was home I did not want to do any writing. I will try to do a quick recap of the places. In Springfield, Ohio, the show was peformed at the Clark State Peforming Arts Center. Erin went on to play the role of Nancy in front of her home town audience and Michelle went on for Erin as Mrs. Sowerberry. Ashley filled in and did an awesome job as "Old Sally." We were staying at the Court Yard Marriot and her parents gave a reception for the cast after the show. A good time was had by all and we thank Erin's parents for being so generous. They also had a huge cake with the cast photo on it. Mikey was very excited to get the piece with the picture of him in his pirate costume. I told him I can finally bite his head off without feeling bad. Mikey was acting like the papparazzi at the party with his new camera. I am not sure we will be posting some of the pictures on facebook! In Williamsport PA, the show was held at the Community Arts Center. Aunt Terry (Mike's Sister) came to see the show and stayed over with us in the Genetti Hotel. We got lucky and had a bigger than normal room. Q wanted to know how come we got a suite! It wasn't a suite but it was a nice size room. We had a nice dinner with Aunt Terry and then after the show she treated the parents to a carafe of wine in our nice room. John and Q came briefly but had to leave when the pizza man was looking all over the hotel for them! (LOL) Aunt Terry really enjoyed the show and told Mikey she was so happy she got to see him. We loved having her. It is so much fun to have vistors on tour. In Ogdensburg, NY, Colin's Dad visited along with other family members and friends. It was snowing and looked like a winter wonderland. Then it was off to Canada in the snow storm. It got really exciting when we crossed the border and Melissa was taken off the bus because she had "Bedazzle" pepper spray. Her Mom gave her the pepper spray and painted the can pink. She also wrote some interesting sayings on the can. I am sure she made the Officers day and he had a story to share that day. They confiscated her bedazzle and let her return to the bus without to much delay. I would like to say we saw a lot in Canada but all we saw was:SNOW, SNOW, SNOW! In St. Johns I was wishing it was nicer weather because they offer "Whale" boating tours. Unfortunately, we were not there in nice weather. The snow piles were about 6 to 7 feet high and there were no side walks. The hotel had a restaurant so we did not venture far because when you walked in the street there were huge puddles. When cars drove by there would be a wave of water coming at you. Mikey and I flew home with a bunch of the cast from NY on Sunday. We had to get up at 3am but were home by 11am. We were very excited to be home and when Maria came running at us in the airport screaming I knew the money spent on the tickets to return home was worth every penny. Mikey got to spend time with Reilly and Janna and see some of his classmates by the school yard. He really enjoyed spending time at the Rockaway Theater company and seeing all his friends rehearsing for "Willie Wonka" which is opening tonight. Reilly is playing Charlie and Mikey is so proud and excited for her. Time home was short but we tried to do a lot. Mikey's cousins Luke and Maria and I got to spend some girl time together. After picking her up from school we had lunch and then went for manicures together. Mikey and Maria had an afternoon of playing with play-doh together and had fun wrecking my kitchen. Mike and I got to go on a date with Maureen and Al to Zum Stamtisch while Mikey and Maria played at Aunt Mary's with Kasey. Kasey baskeball team beat Mary Louis Academy! Since Mikey was kidnapped by the Charles family on his last night home, Mike and I took Maria to a nice dinner at Prima Pasta. Of course first we had to go and buy a "Washing Machine." I still cannot believe with all my laundry troubles on the road that when I went home my washer broke. Somebody up there has a good sense of humor! Yesterday, we flew back and joined the rest of the cast in Gainesville, Florida. Of course Florida in under a "Freeze." The show last night was in the Phillips Performing Arts Center in the University of Florida. Chaz (Mr. Bumble) was very excited because his Dad was coming to the show. Mikey and Colin (Dodger) participated with some of the adult members of the cast in a Q and A with the audience. Mikey and Colin were given hand held microphones to hold and their smiles were beaming from ear to ear. They were very cute and really enjoyed talking with the audience. One member asked Mikey what his wires were for in his hair and on his back. He was really funny trying to explain it. "He told him it was to make his voice lounder." When another audience member asked how the kids got involved in shows, Mikey told them he tried out for his talent show in kindergarten without telling his mom. He told them "My mom heard about it in the bagel shop!" Actually his kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Smith) approached me in the deli, but I was standing next to the bagels (LOL) . He also told them about how our Mr. Bumble (Chaz) told him about the auditon. It was so funny because Chaz walked in just as he mentioned him. Missy and I turned red and almost fell over when a gentlemen stood up and told us he reads our blogs and complimented us on them. I really felt guilty about being behind in my writing after that. This is probably why I am feverishly updating it today! We were teasing the kids that we had fans! Today, we had a nice lunch at Ruby, Tuesdays (Don't ask me where) with Erin, Michele, John and Q. Missy and Colin ditched us to grab the sales at the Mall. Now we are back on the bus on the way to Statesboro, Georgia. Hopefully, we have a place to sleep. Clare is trying to straighten out a snafu with the hotel who forgot we were coming today!