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.