Wha Happened? 4/5/10

Wha happened?!?!? Where did I go? So... I last wrote a day or two before I left for the New York area. Could that be the reason? Yes it was. The NY area was crazy. We hit Brooklyn, then Maryland again, then Johnstown PA, then York PA, and finally to NYC. It was a blur... So... Where to start...

Brooklyn was nice with 1200 kids a show. Two shows, a load out and then onward. Collage park MD was next. A great collage town and a 30 min train to Washington DC.
Into DC we traveled on the second day of our stay in Collage park. People spilled all over downtown DC. I opted to go to the Holocaust museum. Having been to DC before when the museum was closed to the public I was excited to visit. In my mind I was ready, we've all seen the pictures, and I knew what I had in store. In the end it was beyond anything I could have imagined. The museum takes you really deep. After 3 hours I had barely made it half way through. There is no real way to explain to you what I saw. There are video loops everywhere and some of them had a high wall around them because of how graphic they were. Of course my ass had to see what was behind that wall. The footage was of the killing squads that brazenly swept through Russia. Really ugly stuff... Really really ugly. I wouldn't feel the effects of the museum for a few days when we were in NYC.

A quick jaunt to Pennsylvania took me to another tragic location, Johnstown PA. In 1889 a massive flood destroyed the whole of this industrial steel town. 2500 men women and children were buried under thousands of pounds of mud. The flood was caused by an elevated man made lake with a neglected dam. It was the vacation spot for some of the richest men in America. Carnegie and Mellon, to name a couple, were members of an elite hunting club. This lake was 14 miles away from Johnstown, which was hundreds of feet lower than most of the land surrounding the town. Within ten minutes of the dam breaking the town was annihilated. It was one of the worst disasters in American History. The town still seems haunted. There are a few museums which I visited. Some light was brought into the town when my close friends Briana and Kevin came from Pittsburgh to visit me for the day. We sat with their beautiful little girl Lyla, on the hill near the dam and pondered what it must have been like to watch the lake drain. A devastating but beautiful sight.

From day one of the tour I had been looking forward to going to NYC. After Johnstown we drove into the city. Having spent almost 10 years of my life in Manhattan means I had a lot of catching up to do. The city greeted us with a lot of rain... and when I say a lot, I basically mean a tsunami. Because of the rigorous schedule of tour and the rain I decided to take it easy. I left the hotel for my friend Anne's home to stay a couple days. Heather, Anne, and I made dinner and played scrabble. Some of the best times of my life I had with these two girls. This is when the weight of the Holocaust museum started to hit me. After taking a day to recover from crazy traveling my mind began to work. Many realizations were had while visiting the town that I had spend such a large part of my life. With all of the extremely tragic visions that had been emblazoned in my mind I could only think of the fragility of life. The idea that a life is gone in a split second scares me as well as helps me appreciate every moment that I get to share with everyone I love. These women, children and men all over Europe had everything taken from them within days, even seconds and most of them dying with their last moments on earth being very horrific. Most of us live as if we will never die and we have everything to spare.

As the days past I stayed very quiet and pensive. While in New York I spent time with Pat and Steve. My aunt and uncle, my mother's sister. The two of them are very important to me and have been for many years. Our time together was spend doing what we do well... eating delicious food and pondering myriad topics of conversation. I was very happy to see and spend a little time with them. Within two days I caught up with many many people, saw Our Town, went to the MOMA, and visited a few of my favorite restaurants. Leaving NYC gave me time to take everything in as we took a few driving days heading to Florida.

A brief stop was made in Newnan GA. I got the opportunity to perform for Anne's parents, Kay and Mike, two wonderful people that I'm very fond of. They got to see what it is their daughter's best friend does for a living. We chatted briefly with pictures and hugs. It was very nice to say hi to them.

Just in time for my 32nd birthday we landed in Miami Lakes Florida. After having a painful winter that seamed to never end, Florida was a wonderful birthday gift. We had a great Peruvian dinner that night. The food was delicious. The stay was great and we made it to the beach finally. The water was chilly but crystal clear and refreshing. Our Florida stay was a week long but was rushed because we had so many shows.

From Florida we've move westward through Alabama and into Mississippi. Meridian MS looked like a ghost town. Nothing to do and less to look at... until we reached the venue, the Riley Center (pic above). This venue was built in the 1890's and in 2003 received a 25 million dollar renovation. This is the most beautiful house that we have seen so far on this tour.

We got to Texarkana a few nights ago, appropriately named because it lies on the border of Texas and Arkansas. If Meridian was a ghost town this is a ghost's ghost town. There is nothing here with a population of over 60,000. It is very poor and has a paper factory so it smells like a dead skunk farted. As we found in Meridian the venue is surprisingly gorgeous. There was feeling of depression as we realized we would be spending Easter Weekend here. Alas, we were saved, not by Jesus but by the Technical Director (Chandler) of the theater. He invited us to his home for an Easter dinner being that he moved here recently from San Diego and has had a hard time assimilating due to the lack of culture. Chandler has worked for over 40 years as a technician all over the world. Somehow my services got offered to cook dinner along with Kirstin. Now most of you know that cooking is essential to my well being so you can imagine that I was elated. Chandler is a pescatarian (vegetarian that eats fish) and Kirstin was longing for ham. We decided on a pair of Wellingtons. We made a pork loin in puff pastry with apricot chutney and a Steel Head salmon with a seafood bechemel wellington style. With a side of sauteed zucchini and roasted sweet and gold potatoes the meal was complete. We talked and ate all night. Thank you Chandler for a wonderful dinner.

Tomorrow we head for Waco... I'm done with Texas already and tour is starting to get tiring. I miss my bed, home, friends, and cats. I miss my kitchen!!!!! We have a little under a month. Yes!

I knew this tour was going to change me, but I didn't know how. One thing I have learned is that I am truly happy and lucky to be alive. I now understand the reason the tragedy of the Holocaust and of an untimely death shook me so hard. It is that I will miss the life I have made, the people in it and the beauty of it all. I sincerely believe that love is knowing how much you will miss something while it is still yours.

Days in the mid-west 3/4/10

You haven't heard from me in a while. I'll tell you why. I've spent myriad days in middle America. Not much to talk about. I've seen it and done it all. But one thing I cant say is I never want to go to Hays Kansas again. Unfortunately, we had four nights there. The pleasurable stay began at the worst Ramada Inn I've ever seen. Although everyone was excited because the hotel boasted an indoor water slide we were thoroughly disappointed. The inside of the hotel was dark and scary. Scary like The Shinning. They put us off of a hallway that smelled like burning, 35 degrees, and disintegrating wallpaper. We get into our room and there were holes in the wall and the room smelled funny. Our company manager had us moved and although our new room was nicer the heater was like a space heater with exposed elements that were red as hell. And it had burn marks. We went to the restaurant in the hotel that was lit like a hospital room. Even though the restaurant was dirty and empty they offer rack of lamb on the menu. I opted for grilled chicken. Al, Kirsten, Jenny, and I choked down our dinner and a lot of liquor. After a while I noticed it was poker night and ended up hanging out with the locals. I lost seven dollars but had a lot of fun. The next morning proved to be a godsend. We went to a new hotel!!!! Yeah! For the rest of the time in Hays anytime we mentioned the Ramada we got responses like... "Oh dear God", "That's a blemish on our community", "I'm so sorry", etc.

We moved onward to Skokie Il and ventured into Chicago for a day. It was brief but nice to be near a big city. I got to catch up with a good friend of mine that I hadn't seen in almost five years. It is crazy the amount of quality people that I've met in my life. This trip has allowed me to reunite with many of them.

So... we are now in Belcamp MD, just outside of Bel Air and Baltimore. Actually it is our day off and I slept till 1 pm. Booya!! We are going to see the Crazies tonight and I am very excited. If you don't know anything about the movie, it is a remake of a 1973 Romero film. It followed his classic 1968) "Night of the Living Dead". If you haven't seen the original you must. His films all have a strong political undercurrent. The original Crazies is about a chemical warfare spill that sends the people of a small town in PA into violent tantrums. Romero is a producer on this remake and it was shot in Iowa!!!! I've heard nothing but good things about the 2010 version but am still a little weary.

So there you have it... I've now caught you up to speed. Unfortunately I have no pictures right now... but we are heading into Manhattan and then down to Florida in time for my birthday (March 20th). Needless to say I will have more photos coming soon. Hope you all are well. Peace!!!

Wisconsin makes cheese curds 2/17/10

I did a number to the toilet this morning. There are reasons I don't live in the land of cheese and beer. Whew!!!!!! They sell fresh cheese curds at the grocery store. If you have never had a cheese curd they are something you must try before you leave this planet. What they are is exactly what they sound like. Before they process the cheese or press it into a form they curdle the milk and drain off the liquids. They tend to be salty and squeak when you bite them.

My friend Beth Brandel (WI native) first introduced the little morsels to me in 2002 during our tour of School House Rock Live. She paired them with Salami and it was a meal that I've never forgotten. Speaking of Beth (aka Mc Beth), I had not seen her for over two years and was thinking fondly of her as we drove through WI. I had been posting where I was as I traveled and hoped that people would find me if they were near. I figured that she was doing theater somewhere in the country. Well, as I was sitting in my dressing room in Whitewater Jeff hands me a pink bag. Since it was valentines day I assumed one of the girls had put together a bag for me. I pulled out a hand written card and read... " Happy V-day. Have a good show. I'm watching... Mc Beth" Using my bear paw (I was in full make up and costume) I ripped into the bag and found local sausage sticks and cheese curds. I let out the gayest scream I've produced in a long time. It was have a gay heart attack, you know the whole clutching your pearls bit and jumping up and down. Both Jeff and Al thought that someone had delivered a dead bunny. I quickly explained the situation and we did the show. Having her at the show was a very nice surprise.

We went out and had a drink as she filled me in on where she'd been and what was new. As we chatted I learned that Wisconsinites love to drink Brandy. I "had to have" an Old Fashion sweet, made with brandy not whisky, and finished with pickled mushrooms. These along with cheese curds were things that the region is know for. I did order the drink and found it to be nothing too different except the mushrooms made me want to vomit.

As we caught up were talked a lot about the theater industry. Times have been bad for a lot of theaters and for the business in general. Friend by friend we discussed what they were doing with their lives and we came to sad conclusion that most of the people that started out in the industry with us had retired. We are both still working but fantasised about what we could be doing to have more stable income and life. You see... as a regional actor you are going from job to job and city to city. A pay check is never guaranteed. The life of an actor is one of constantly looking for the next job. Tiring and grueling... As I reflect on the conversation I feel more and more confident that starting Oeno's Distribution is a choice that was well made. Knowing this tour may be one of the last contracts I take for a while. Not to worry I will be playing Smee in Peter Pan next winter.

We have now made it across Nebraska and into Kansas. A few more days in the mid west with a day in Chicago then we head to the East Coast. New York here we come!!!! I miss my friends dearly and can't wait to see a few shows.

Thanks for reading. Time for me to sign out. Peace.

Into the cold : (

Leaving the wonderful green land of the NW coast we turned to car towards the middle of America. Driving through Montana made me feel like were going to become the Donner Party. There wasn't a restaurant or rest stop for hours. As the we drove through the barren land everybody in the car was starting to look like a nice lamb roast. And as most of you know I love to cook. The trudge kept on for three days and our asses were getting sore. I'm glad to say I'm now sitting in my Sister Amy's townhouse in downtown Minneapolis. It's very nice to stop in the twin cities. Amy and I have recently started a wine distribution company(Oeno's Distribution). I had already booked this tour when we had decided to start the business so I was upset that we would have to hold off for three months. These two days have given a little bit of time to do some work. Also there are two little kitties that Amy has recently acquired. I'm enjoying some quiet time alone today.

Touring is an intense experience. We have six people who all have different needs and all live their lives differently. The balancing act is like walking a tight rope. To be fair and just while getting what you need is tricky. We do a lot of voting and checking in on everyone. I have to say that not only is our group easy to get a long with we also have a lot of fun. We are really enjoying our time on the road. I knew this tour was going to be an experience worth having, and so far I feel like I'm on a paid vacation. We are on our way to Lacrosse WI tomorrow for a load in. Keep up with my travels to see if this stays so enjoyable.

Leaving Washington... BOO!!!! 2/6/10

Where did I leave you? Six days ago I wasn't feeling well. Today I'm feeling great physically but am very disappointed because we are leaving the pacific northwest. Washington State is now on my list of places I may want to live. The dead of winter for Port Orchard means a balmy 55 degrees. Green and lush with mountains on one side and ocean on the other. What more can a man want? Oh... how about an amazing wine region. After six days I had just begun to wet my whistle. My sniffer was out for any wine that had limited release. Bottle after bottle of wine that you can't get outside of Washington State. I felt like a kid in a candy store. One wine specifically was made by Owen Roe from the Yakima valley. 1000 cases produced of a delicious red blend. After seeing that it was Cab Franc driven I ignored the $44 dollar price tag. Smooth and tasty with nice dark fruit. I thoroughly enjoyed myself while listening to seals barking outside my hotel room. At this point I was really feeling like I was on a paid vacation.

Today was a long day and I'm ready to sleep soundly. We loaded in at 8AM and had a 2pm show and then a load out followed by a 3 hour drive. Sadly we drove east . We are heading into the cold and the middle of the country. Lacrosse WI is our next show location. This involves many days of long drives. Although it will be nice to not have to load in and out for a few days... We will be driving into frigid temperatures. North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are places the cold loves to linger. Frigid weather and I don't mesh. My people are from hot sandy lands.

Ok time to retire. Look for a lot of bitching in the next few posts. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

Not feeling well 1/31/10

Woke up today feeling dizzy and nauseous. You may not be surprised when I say that I wasn't very excited to ride in the van for 8 hours. The day was spent sleeping and trying not to be sick. Around 2pm I had to use the restroom and realized I was hungry. For my restroom choice I picked In and Out Burger. If you don't know the chain it is a very popular west coast phenomenon. The menu consists of Burger, Cheeseburger, and fries. The burgers are topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and special sauce (1000 island). They have chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry shakes. In addition to the limited menu that could be seen by the public. There are over 100 different secret ways to order the burger... but you have to know what they are. You can find them all online so it is not too secret. You can also ask for a neapolitan shake which is all three shakes in the same glass. I found it all very interesting but I don't eat fast food. Needless to say after my visit to the bathroom I was drawn to the line. I got a double double (double cheese double meat). This is sadly all I have to share today. Hope you are all doing well. Peace!

LA Baby 1/30/10

Hello all. So we've now done two load ins, two load outs, and 4 shows on the road. What have you missed. A lot has happened since my last blogging. Who knew that it took such dedication to have a blog?

If you recognize the hotel in the above pic that's because you have been to Vegas baby! Yes, our lovely team decided since we were driving through and most of the crew had never been to Vegas that we must stop for a little while. We found a very cheap lunch buffet at Circus Circus ($12.99 one of the cheapest in town)(Were actors... we are on a budget). A few of us had never gambled in Vegas, so to the slot machines we went. Full as shit and feeling the gambling fever we ambled to the blinking lights. I put in $15 and left with nothing. Everyone except Jenny lost everything they had put into the machines. Having doubled her money Jenny eagerly cashed her ticket. The rest held their heads in shame as we walked the strip. I cheered every one up with a funny story where an eager Anthony on his first night in Vegas got drunk and dropped $600 his first night in the city last year. Tears were shed that night as I dropped half of my bank account with a Marriah Carey look alike that was my dealer at the casino. After walking the strip for an hour we sadly left the illuminecent city and headed to Cali.

Oh warm weather... where have you been. We are very happy at this point since we were getting -20 % temps in Omaha for the previous few weeks. After arriving we loaded in our set at the Lancaster CA venue. This ended up being a 5 hour load since it was our first and some of the set was not wanting to travel. Thanks to our wonderful tech director (Johnathan Fries) we now have a very nice and easy set. The shows went very well considering we had not performed for many days. It was a long day and we felt like we had earned our sleep. The venue treated us very well and we found that load out went a lot faster than load in (thank the heavens).

Leaving Lancaster we were all very excited at the prospect of seeing LA and for most of us it was another first. Having a whole day free we booked it to LA the next morning. On a down note half of the day was spent in traffic (BOOO!!!!!). But some of the sights... Grauman's Oriental Theater with all of the starts hands and feet was much more awe inspiring than I imagined. Shirley Temple, Merrill Streep, Johnny Depp, HUGH JACKMAN (drool... his feet were HUGH I mean huge), and even the Marx Brothers. There were myriad costume characters that were hustling tourist for money. Don't take a picture or you will have to pay. At one point I was frightened by a little person dressed as Chucky. Weird. From there we found Rodeo Drive via Beverly Hills. Wow!!! The houses!!!! Then Rodeo... OMG... Yes I said it... OMG... I though all of this shit was going to be passe and boring for me, but alas I was a sucker. The day turned into a fabulous night. Onto Bar Brix a surprise of a find, thank you Lonley Planet online. An unpretentious wine bar with no bottle over $50 and none shy of delicious. Even for me this was a FIND. Small plates filled our tables with arrancini, burrata, and blue nosed bass. We ate and laughed the night away. The evening was truly wonderful. On a side note... for those of you who know my Atlantic life. It just so happened that one of my closest friends from high school, Jared Hall was in town for the night as well. Catching up with him in LA at a wine bar couldn't have been a better moment for me.

Today we had a loooooonnnnnnnggggg day that we had been dreading for a while. Load in at 8 am two shows then load out. If you don't know, this set it a monster and there are only six on our side to load it in. We have a 4 hour load in scheduled. We were at Citrus Community collage in Glendora CA. 1000 seat house was a thrilling prospect. Upon arriving we were warmly greeted by a 6'3" stage manager named Karen. Love her!!!!! Along with her smile was an eager crew that made our load in time shrink to a little over an hour. Although our day was long it was very enjoyable.

We are now going to eat at Dockside Grill. Seafood abounding. Yes!!!!! This will be worth the work we have done today. I guess I'm really fucking hungry. All this typing has distracted my belly. Until tomorrow. I am now off to eat and drink my day away. Peace!