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.