Jacksonville Blues!

Hello from my hotel room in Jacksonville. Maria is still sick and I have been staying with her 24/7. Mike took Mikey, Colin, John and Quentin to the movies last night without us. They went to see Coraline in 3D. They all loved it. Last night was another tough night with poor Maria coughing all night. We were supposed to take her to see the 10am show today and had fifth row dead center seats. Unfortunately, she was too sick to go. I felt so bad for her because she was looking forward to seeing the show again. She really likes "As Long As He Needs Me." She perked up a little this afternoon so we went to Apple Bees for lunch. I thought getting out of the room and into the Florida sunshine would be good for her. Turns out it was not a good idea. The cough made her feel like she had to throw up and she would keep wanting to go into the bathroom or sleep on my lap. She is sleeping now peacefully and I hope she feels better since her and Mike travel back to NY tomorrow. He will be bringing her to the doctor first thing. Today when the cast got on the bus for the morning show they discovered the bus was ransacked and Mikey's DS and all his games were stolen. Colin had money taken out of his wallet and everyones stuff was opened and thrown around. They threw the ALL liquid detergent from an over head bin and the cap broke and the sticky liquid spilt on my seat and floor area. I am really hoping it is not in my boots. I am out the point that I can't wait to leave Jacksonville....it is starting to feel like Jinxville to me. I had such high hopes for the good time we would have here. Mike and Mikey are at the evening show and I have to start packing for the long ride tomorrow. Everyone pray that my little angel feels better soon.

Hello from Jacksonville, Florida

"Reunited and it feels so good." If only Maria felt good....poor baby. Mike and Maria joined us in Jacksonville. We spent a nice relaxing day at the beach yesterday. It was sunny and in the 70's. Clare arranged for the bus to take us all to the beach. The boys had a great time becoming Florida Polar Bears. Their tutor Jerimiah joined them for some cold fun in the water. They enjoyed the water and the sand. Mikey and Colin buried Quentin and turned him into a Mer-Man. Little Spencer joined them later to play in the water and sand. His laugh could be heard loud and clear all over the beach. Poor Maria starting coughing the night before and was so exhausted she slept the whole time we were on the beach as well as in the restaurant. We ate at a place called "Sneakers." Everyone was exhausted after the beach and since we had a late lunch we just skipped dinner and relaxed in the room. Poor Maria had another tough night and she has been sleeping most of today. I feel so bad for her because I know she would have enjoyed the beach. Mike and Mikey went to the Museum of Science and History on a school field trip with the tutor and Nims and Araujos. They enjoyed the Planeterium at the Museum. Mike is now taking Mikey to see his old Naval Base. He was stationed here 30 years ago when he was in the Navy. I am hoping Maria feels up to going out later for some dinner and a movie.

Clemson, South Carolina

I am writing this from the bus as we head to Jacksonville. The show was in Clemson, South Carolina last night. Lucky the hotel we stayed in last night was clean and had great beds. It made up for the night before. Everybody really needed a good night sleep after losing so much the night before. After the show last night we were happy KFC was opened since nobody was hungry for dinner before the show. We are so happy to be heading for Jacksonville where we will reunite with Dad and Maria. They are visiting us on tour this week. They are already at the hotel waiting for us so I keep hoping Larry our bus driver steps on the gas a little harder! I talked to Maria on the phone and she is so happy. Last night Maria and Daddy went to see Willy Wonka at the Rockaway Theater Company. She wanted to see Reilly playing the role of Charlie. Today we had lunch at Walmart in South Carolina and then I found the perfect bathing suit and cover up for Maria. I was so happy because I have been looking for a new one for her. There was only one problem......apparently where we were in South Carolina has some "Blue Laws" that will not allow them to sell items other than from the grocery section until 130pm. They let you browse in the store but when you go to the cash register you can't buy the items. I miss New York where the city never sleeps! They did allow me to buy Maria new princess underwear. Apparently you can buy groceries and undergarments before 130pm. I tried to get the lady to sell me the color t-shirts I picked out for myself under the theory that they are undergarments but she did not buy the theory. Guess I will be shopping in Jacksonville. I am excited they we will have a car to get around in. The tour is really winding down now....only twelve more shows. I am thrilled we will be home for good soon but another part of me is panicking about going back to all the responsibilities of "real life." Sitting on the bus with nothing to do is very peaceful at times..............

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!

Goodnight from Kalamazoo, Michigan

Today, Mikey performed in a Matinee at West Michigan University. The cast was thrilled to see a huge billboard advertising Oliver on the highway. It has the picture of Colin and Q from "Consider Yourself." Missy has posted it on her facebook. The theater was huge and had a full house. After the show we went to dinner at Brewsters with our tour family (Missy, John, Colin and Q.) We trekked back through the snow singing songs from the 70's and 80's. I was on a brief roll actually knowing who sung some of the songs. Tonight the Da Vinci Code is on TV and Mikey is totally facinated with it. I told him make sure he does not quote the theories back at St. Frances De Sales School (LOL). He spoke to his Dad on the phone so he could understand the plot better. Now I am getting ready to pack again because we leave 830 tomorrow morning for Springfield, Ohio. It is very cold here and I think it is going to be even colder there. Mikey has been working on his sketch of Zac playing Fagin. I think it is his most interesting one yet. He had Zac posing at intermission in the green room so he could study his makeup. He is becoming a very serious artist! I will be very happy when I don't have to pack every night and drag luggage every morning. The tour is starting to wind down. One of the crew today said we have 21 more shows left. It seems so little a number yet March seems so far off. Tomorrow we are in Erin's (Mrs. Sowerberry and Old Sally) hometown and her parents are throwing a reception for the cast after the show. Everyone is looking forward to that. We just spoke to Maria and Mike a few minutes ago to wish them good night. I can't wait to tuck my little girl into bed again. I am looking forward to flying home for a few days the first week of February. I miss the other half of my family sooooooooooooooooo much!

Hello from Kalamazoo, Michigan

Today, we had a more human bus call (11am). This is good because several of the cast members are under the weather. I am happy to report that baby Spencer is feeling better. We all felt so bad for him yesterday afternoon. He bounced back pretty quick last night and was having Mikey chase him down the hotel hallway. Mikey has been giving him all the love an attention that he can't give his baby sister Maria. Mikey has decided to follow in Colin's footsteps and start learning from Chris (Bill Sikes) how to do pushups, pullups, situps and jump rope. He is very funny because he thinks he has already gained muscles and decided to show them off by carrying Clare's big suitcase up the hotel stairs last night. (One of those hotel's we hate: no elevator.) It was only a three hour drive to this hotel in Kalamazoo, so if felt like a piece of cake compared to all the long rides we had. After Mikey finished his homework we went with Colin, Missy, Allaggio(Noah) to grab a bite to eat. This is another state that does not believe in sidewalks. There are snow piles 5-6 feet high so walking in the street was a little scary. We always seem to have to risk our lives to find food on this tour. We went to a nice place called Brewsters which luckily was not to far of a walk. It is suppose to get even colder the next few days so I am not looking forward to that. I think that Brewster's walk will feel longer once the temperture drops. Missy and I stayed back tonight to do laundry. It is a sad thing when the most exciting thing is that the hotel has a washer machine and dryer. It is amazing how quickly laundry piles up and you just don't want to miss an opportunity to do it when you can. We are happy that we are in this hotel for two nights. These one-nighters are wearing. All you do is pack in the morning, upack at night and then pack back up again the next morning. The worst is that I haven't been able to fall asleep lately until 230am. It wouldn't be so bad if I could sleep on the bus but so far it has been a struggle. Mikey is still loving every minute of it and still has the glow on his face when he is performing. I can see he is going to have a tough time when he has to say good-bye to the cast at the end of the tour. He has been presenting each cast member during the tour with a sketch of them in costume. He finished his sketch of Colin's (Dodger) and gave it to him the other day. Colin has it hanging up on his bus window. I am truly amazed at the details he puts into his sketches. I told him he has to pick up the pace with his sketching because the tour is winding down. I am really pleased by all the sketching he is doing. He has been creating characters for plays that so far are only going on in his head and not written down. He has his "DS" with him but he mostly sketches. This kid got talent from somewhere....but it certainly wasn't from me! I was happy to talk to Maria who was excited about a sleep over at Uncle Jim's and JoJo's house. she told me about all the fun she had at cousin Skye's house. She played with Luke, Johnny and Skye on the trampoline. She loves going to Skye's! Mike is preparing for another Polar Bear Party with his work friends on Sunday. You would think New Day was enough for him, but no he is crazy! Mikey should be arriving back from the show any minute now, so I will say good-night.