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!