Well, we pretty much have an apartment. We hope. We passed the credit check and put down a deposit of 1.5 month's rent (thanks, Ships!). I say "we hope" because our move in date will probably be 4/1. We'll know the actual day it will be available in a few days, but the Easter weekend proved too difficult for the landlords to get ahold of the current tenants.
For those still on the NCL Jewel...or who know what I'm talking about...today while we were driving in the car "Dancing Queen" came on and we were immediately reminded of Band on the Run. I even shut the radio off at the right moment so Deanna and I could transition into Lady Marmalade. Then, later in the day as I drove home from buying a new copy of Quicken at Circuit City (since my older one prompted me for an update, failed, and then errored saying I needed the CD...the one buried in storage) the Britney Speares song that Christopher uses to end Ship n Males came on. I have a feeling if Band on the Run didn't tweak songs for transitions (i.e. Clap Clap Clap...drum fill..."Macho Man!") I could make a song list that cut off in the right places. Right away, though, combining Come Sail Away and Band on the Run at the same time would be hard. Oh well.
(Secret Plug: www.rancerizzutto.com for headshots....shhhhhh)
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Spring is Here....What a delight...
So, a little joke Deanna and I would always say on the boat...Somehow or another the terrible Chicago winter would get brought up and the fact that we're in the Caribbean. We'd joke that we wouldn't miss the winter...because it lasts forever in Chicago.
The very first time I visited the city was in April...it was snowing. Granted, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, but it was April and it was snowing.
Well, yesterday was the first day of Spring and there were winter storm warnings and watches. Our county was on Winter Storm Watch...that meant it could have missed us. Then it went to warning for everyone. The forecast said it would happen late...around midnight. I went to bed at 2am and there was nothing. Sure enough we woke up to less than an inch of snow and the roads weren't that effected at all. That was around 10am. The picture is from 1:40 and the video is from about 2:05. It is coming down now and building up. On the roads and everything.
As much I my ship trip actually got me used to the heat, and as much as I said "I like cold better than heat...you can always put on more clothes, right?", and as much as I'm sitting here with frozen feet...I love it. The snow is pretty. I love snows. I could get killed for saying that out loud around someone who has been here the whole winter, so it must remain safely in my blog.
Deanna's first year in Chicago we had a gig together. It is something Marshall Fields/Macy's used to do called Bunny Breakfast. Basically kids and their families bought tickets to show up early to eat breakfast at a MF/M store. During the breakfast two colorful characters of some sort would come out and greet them with their good friend the Easter Bunny...and then go away. After the food was all finished the two colorful characters would come back out, put on some sort of skit, and welcome back the Easter Bunny who would then have kids on his lap for pictures. I say colorful characters because they would change from year to year. This particular year it was pretty standard...it was the Easter Bunny and his two common Easter friends the Farmer and the Farmer's Cow (last year it was the cow as a chef, and a chicken). I was the Farmer and Deanna was the Cow. These gigs would happen on the weekends starting two weekends before Easter and ending on Easter weekend. And the winter was always around for them. I mention this whole story because the skit we had that year involved a song that I mostly remember and sing every year when it is technically Spring but you wouldn't know it:
(sung to the Looney Tunes "On With the Show" song)
Spring is here! What a Delight!
Time to swing or go fly a kite!
No more cold weather or snow in our way!
It's time to go out and play!
(kazoo break)
The third line is my favorite. Please enjoy the following videos of Deanna and I in the Spring.
Adventure Galore
Well...what's been going on? The apartment search continues. We saw a place that looked good, but not good enough to take it. We've been looking at a place pretty much everyday. But TODAY...well, we may have a winner. We filled out our credit check applications and we're waiting to hear back.
Seems like there was something else. I don't know.
I feel like I'm in a good groove with performing. The new ComedySportz Theater is fantastic to play in. I was in a show tonight and had a blast. Got to perform and rehearse with Johnny Roast Beef, my team at iO.
Had my first photo shoot since being back...the new space I'm using is great for headshots.
Still on the TODO list...go to the gym.
OH! I just remember the "seems like there was something else" thing. Today is the first day of Spring!!!!...yeah. Right now we're on a Winter Storm Watch. We could get up to 7 inches of snow starting anytime now. I tried to find a map I could add to this post, but I couldn't. It is coming though...the snow...on the maps.
Seems like there was something else. I don't know.
I feel like I'm in a good groove with performing. The new ComedySportz Theater is fantastic to play in. I was in a show tonight and had a blast. Got to perform and rehearse with Johnny Roast Beef, my team at iO.
Had my first photo shoot since being back...the new space I'm using is great for headshots.
Still on the TODO list...go to the gym.
OH! I just remember the "seems like there was something else" thing. Today is the first day of Spring!!!!...yeah. Right now we're on a Winter Storm Watch. We could get up to 7 inches of snow starting anytime now. I tried to find a map I could add to this post, but I couldn't. It is coming though...the snow...on the maps.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Old Habits Die Hard
Well, we've been busy...in comparison to ship life. Thursday through Sunday was a mix of doing shows and apartment hunting. So, busy.
Yesterday was our writing class and then hanging out with friends playing games. The favorite of the night was Mad Gab. A card has a bunch of words that, when said, sound like a phrase of some sort. The real game is timed, but it is just as fun to just go around the room saying them. We found that saying them quick and angry helped the most. Deanna got totally stumped with "Gasp Helm Ooze Sick" say that out loud and see if you know what it is. She didn't. The fun part is when everyone else knows what it is and tries to give clues...eventually leading to clues that are obvious.
Last time we gathered to play Jon was the most memorable. He got something along the lines of Paw Pie These Hail Herman. He couldn't get it. We started giving clues like say it in an accent. I finally said "Say it like Popeye"...he still didn't get it.
Today was supposed to be a little more mellow. We were going to look at a couple apartments at 1:00pm and then I needed to get some copies made since my printer cables are buried deep in storage. Then Deanna's agent called asking for headshots (also buried). We sprung into action. I put a bunch of files on a CD. There is a Walgreens and Staples right by us. We printed a couple headshots at Walgreens, went to Staples and printed her resume and the other stuff I needed to print, went back to pick up the photos, and she was set.
Looking at places took awhile. We looked at a great place with a lot of space, but it was too far out west and didn't have parking. No go.
So, tonight we go to CSz rehearsal, then I have JRB rehearsal. AND I have my first full on photoshoot since we've been back tomorrow.
Yesterday was our writing class and then hanging out with friends playing games. The favorite of the night was Mad Gab. A card has a bunch of words that, when said, sound like a phrase of some sort. The real game is timed, but it is just as fun to just go around the room saying them. We found that saying them quick and angry helped the most. Deanna got totally stumped with "Gasp Helm Ooze Sick" say that out loud and see if you know what it is. She didn't. The fun part is when everyone else knows what it is and tries to give clues...eventually leading to clues that are obvious.
Last time we gathered to play Jon was the most memorable. He got something along the lines of Paw Pie These Hail Herman. He couldn't get it. We started giving clues like say it in an accent. I finally said "Say it like Popeye"...he still didn't get it.
Today was supposed to be a little more mellow. We were going to look at a couple apartments at 1:00pm and then I needed to get some copies made since my printer cables are buried deep in storage. Then Deanna's agent called asking for headshots (also buried). We sprung into action. I put a bunch of files on a CD. There is a Walgreens and Staples right by us. We printed a couple headshots at Walgreens, went to Staples and printed her resume and the other stuff I needed to print, went back to pick up the photos, and she was set.
Looking at places took awhile. We looked at a great place with a lot of space, but it was too far out west and didn't have parking. No go.
So, tonight we go to CSz rehearsal, then I have JRB rehearsal. AND I have my first full on photoshoot since we've been back tomorrow.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
You Betta Use Them For What They're For, And That's To See
I added pics to old posts. In doing so I think I realized that my camera doesn't know about the leap year we're in. Either my posts are a day ahead or the camera is a day behind.
Last night was my first ComedySportz show since I've returned. I was super-charged by the energy of the crowd and the new space and had a blast.
I also stayed around to watch the Beatbox show. That was fantastic as well. The crowd was pretty much awesome.
All sorts of goodness...that's about it for now.
Last night was my first ComedySportz show since I've returned. I was super-charged by the energy of the crowd and the new space and had a blast.
I also stayed around to watch the Beatbox show. That was fantastic as well. The crowd was pretty much awesome.
All sorts of goodness...that's about it for now.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Fiiiight to the Death....Cha Cha Y'all
(Random Title)
The weather has been getting warmer around here, but that means it's in the 40s. When I was shopping for that shirt at Express for Men the other day I paid for it and the clerk said "Enjoy the sunshine" to which I replied with a laugh. About 50 feet later it occurred to me that she was serious. So, in Chicago, 40s = awesome.
The apartment hunt has truly started. We went and looked at a place that Deanna found online. A walk up 2 bedroom with a garage and in-unit laundry. I believe the words spacious and something else like wonderful were used to describe it. Deanna called to set an appointment to see it and the guy who answered kind of pressured her to see other places...in a needy way. She didn't back down. So we went to the place yesterday with a lady who seemed very nice. We got there and saw it was a garden level of a house...mental note, "Walk up" means "walk down stairs to get into a garden apartment." Every...EVERY room was tiny...mental note, "Spacious" means "not spacious" or "spacious to people with no depth perception." We were done right away. As the lady drove us back she mentioned one other place. It is near Wrigleyfield...we had time since that other place took all of 2 minutes. We checked it out. It was ok, but still small...and the neighbor had a yipe-yipe dog that barked the entire time we climb up the stairs to the third floor. She assured us the dog only barks when people walk in...very assuring. When we got in the apartment the dog stopped barking, but started as soon as we left. Even if the place was the most glorious apartment with in-unit laundry, parking, furnished, and everything was free, I would have to say no OR I would go crazy and probably kill the neighbors dog. I immediately pictured the Seinfeld episode where Elaine can't sleep because of a dog and Kramer and Newman kidnap the dog and take it to the country.
We also watched a CSz show in the new space. It is hard to get a feel for how the new shows are going because this weekend begins march madness and things are a little different. Afterwards I was one of the panel in The Improv Match Game, right there as part of the Late Night Series at ComedySportz. Fun group in the panel: Matt Miller, Meagan Flannigan, Todd Edwards, Jonathon Pitts, Me, and Sam Super.
Once we came home Deanna called it quits pretty quick and went to bed. I thought I'd stay up to watch an episode of Lost that Rene has recorded from this season. I watched Lost episodes until 3:00am. It's pretty good.
The weather has been getting warmer around here, but that means it's in the 40s. When I was shopping for that shirt at Express for Men the other day I paid for it and the clerk said "Enjoy the sunshine" to which I replied with a laugh. About 50 feet later it occurred to me that she was serious. So, in Chicago, 40s = awesome.
The apartment hunt has truly started. We went and looked at a place that Deanna found online. A walk up 2 bedroom with a garage and in-unit laundry. I believe the words spacious and something else like wonderful were used to describe it. Deanna called to set an appointment to see it and the guy who answered kind of pressured her to see other places...in a needy way. She didn't back down. So we went to the place yesterday with a lady who seemed very nice. We got there and saw it was a garden level of a house...mental note, "Walk up" means "walk down stairs to get into a garden apartment." Every...EVERY room was tiny...mental note, "Spacious" means "not spacious" or "spacious to people with no depth perception." We were done right away. As the lady drove us back she mentioned one other place. It is near Wrigleyfield...we had time since that other place took all of 2 minutes. We checked it out. It was ok, but still small...and the neighbor had a yipe-yipe dog that barked the entire time we climb up the stairs to the third floor. She assured us the dog only barks when people walk in...very assuring. When we got in the apartment the dog stopped barking, but started as soon as we left. Even if the place was the most glorious apartment with in-unit laundry, parking, furnished, and everything was free, I would have to say no OR I would go crazy and probably kill the neighbors dog. I immediately pictured the Seinfeld episode where Elaine can't sleep because of a dog and Kramer and Newman kidnap the dog and take it to the country.
We also watched a CSz show in the new space. It is hard to get a feel for how the new shows are going because this weekend begins march madness and things are a little different. Afterwards I was one of the panel in The Improv Match Game, right there as part of the Late Night Series at ComedySportz. Fun group in the panel: Matt Miller, Meagan Flannigan, Todd Edwards, Jonathon Pitts, Me, and Sam Super.
Once we came home Deanna called it quits pretty quick and went to bed. I thought I'd stay up to watch an episode of Lost that Rene has recorded from this season. I watched Lost episodes until 3:00am. It's pretty good.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Secret, Hidden Post
Hey, Rance!I have been a faithful reader of your captain's log (captain's blog?) of your ship tour with the skits and the make-em-ups. So bring on the minutiae! -- Gretchen
Getting Back Into the Swing
Today and yesterday have been a mix of errands, reunions, and performances.
Deanna's day was probably a little more exciting during the day than mine. I went and got copies of keys made and got some chicken breast pitas at the gyros place I always went to.
Later on Tuesday we met with some CSz friends for dinner and then went to rehearsal. Joey brought me my red winter coat. I had been borrowing one of Rene's since all I had were sweatshirts. I had heard from Tara that Joey wore my coat once or twice with a "Guess who I am?" bit to boot. Joey told me the scoop. He said he wore his coat in some bar after a show early on in the winter. The next day he needed to be somewhere, put on his coat, and it wreaked of smoke...so he borrowed mine. He had worn it everyday since then. Glad it kept him warm.
After CSz (http://www.comedysportzchicago.com/) rehearsal Deanna and I sat in for the Lottery. The Lottery is a show at iO (http://www.iochicago.net/) on tuesdays in which one student from each of the five class levels has been picked to be in this group for 8-weeks. Every week they are joined by some veterans. This week, we were two of the veterans.
Tuesday was also our first brush with the video game Rock Band. You may have heard of Guitar Hero, in which you have a game controller shaped like a small guitar and you actually strum while pressing one of five fret buttons. Guitar Hero II added the option to play rhythm, lead, or bass. Rock band has guitar, bass, drums, and singer. You actually have to sing and it can tell if you're off pitch. Drums have been what I've been playing...four pads and a bass pedal. It's fun.
Wednesday...today...meant starting the day off with a tour of the new CSz theater. Even though we were just there for rehearsal we didn't get the complete low-down. We had lunch with Greg and then went separate ways temporarily. Deanna needed to buy shoes and pants for the new CSz uniform and I needed to renew my gym membership (it's been at least 5 days since I've worked out...I need to get in there). While I was out I also picked up a t-shirt and stopped by a game shop to get Rene a little something for giving us a place to crash. He is a gamer, so I bought him...what else...Settlers of Catan. I'm sure we'll play soon.
Deanna and I then went to our storage unit. There were a few things missing that I though I put in places...I'm pretty sure I just remembered wrong. One of those things...CSz shoes. So we turned right back around and Deanna dropped me off at the shoe store. DSW. It is always a crap shoot there because I have to wear a 14-15 in most shoes, and the store usually maxes out at 13. So, when I say "I need to go buy a pair of black sport shoes" what do you think? "I bet he got Addidas, or Nike. Maybe even New Balance." Well...if you guessed "Dr. Scholls?" you win. I will wear them with black knee high socks while wearing shorts. I will also probably be walking in comfort while reading Reader's Digest.
We played Rock Band again and it was off to iO for my first return to Johnny Roast Beef. It was a fun show. I hosted. This is a weird thing at iO. An unspoked rule is usually if you're in the last team, someone from your team hosts. We play on Wednesdays. It is free night. The final team is always the same and we've been in that slot forever too. We think it is great because there is always a big crowd ('cause it is free). Anyway, I usually host. I like hosting and now people know it.
After that we went back home. Tomorrow we look at apartments! Ah, the joys of living lives.
Side note. I have pictures that I will add to the posts later. So, if you're a true follower, scroll back a few days every now and then.
Deanna's day was probably a little more exciting during the day than mine. I went and got copies of keys made and got some chicken breast pitas at the gyros place I always went to.
Later on Tuesday we met with some CSz friends for dinner and then went to rehearsal. Joey brought me my red winter coat. I had been borrowing one of Rene's since all I had were sweatshirts. I had heard from Tara that Joey wore my coat once or twice with a "Guess who I am?" bit to boot. Joey told me the scoop. He said he wore his coat in some bar after a show early on in the winter. The next day he needed to be somewhere, put on his coat, and it wreaked of smoke...so he borrowed mine. He had worn it everyday since then. Glad it kept him warm.
After CSz (http://www.comedysportzchicago.com/) rehearsal Deanna and I sat in for the Lottery. The Lottery is a show at iO (http://www.iochicago.net/) on tuesdays in which one student from each of the five class levels has been picked to be in this group for 8-weeks. Every week they are joined by some veterans. This week, we were two of the veterans.
Tuesday was also our first brush with the video game Rock Band. You may have heard of Guitar Hero, in which you have a game controller shaped like a small guitar and you actually strum while pressing one of five fret buttons. Guitar Hero II added the option to play rhythm, lead, or bass. Rock band has guitar, bass, drums, and singer. You actually have to sing and it can tell if you're off pitch. Drums have been what I've been playing...four pads and a bass pedal. It's fun.
Wednesday...today...meant starting the day off with a tour of the new CSz theater. Even though we were just there for rehearsal we didn't get the complete low-down. We had lunch with Greg and then went separate ways temporarily. Deanna needed to buy shoes and pants for the new CSz uniform and I needed to renew my gym membership (it's been at least 5 days since I've worked out...I need to get in there). While I was out I also picked up a t-shirt and stopped by a game shop to get Rene a little something for giving us a place to crash. He is a gamer, so I bought him...what else...Settlers of Catan. I'm sure we'll play soon.
Deanna and I then went to our storage unit. There were a few things missing that I though I put in places...I'm pretty sure I just remembered wrong. One of those things...CSz shoes. So we turned right back around and Deanna dropped me off at the shoe store. DSW. It is always a crap shoot there because I have to wear a 14-15 in most shoes, and the store usually maxes out at 13. So, when I say "I need to go buy a pair of black sport shoes" what do you think? "I bet he got Addidas, or Nike. Maybe even New Balance." Well...if you guessed "Dr. Scholls?" you win. I will wear them with black knee high socks while wearing shorts. I will also probably be walking in comfort while reading Reader's Digest.
We played Rock Band again and it was off to iO for my first return to Johnny Roast Beef. It was a fun show. I hosted. This is a weird thing at iO. An unspoked rule is usually if you're in the last team, someone from your team hosts. We play on Wednesdays. It is free night. The final team is always the same and we've been in that slot forever too. We think it is great because there is always a big crowd ('cause it is free). Anyway, I usually host. I like hosting and now people know it.
After that we went back home. Tomorrow we look at apartments! Ah, the joys of living lives.
Side note. I have pictures that I will add to the posts later. So, if you're a true follower, scroll back a few days every now and then.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Title Change
I'm ditchin' the "Day #" while I'm back at home.
The rest of the day was good. We checked out the place I'm using for photography and it is sweet. It's a theater. To say more is to let other photographers know of it's existance, and it is hard enough to book as is...so...it's good.
We ate at a cafe near where we used to live. I REALLY miss morning breakfast buffet. All I really ate was oatmeal, eggs, and yogurt (unless there were only plain or peach yogurts...which was pretty much our entire final cruise)...but I ate it minutes after waking up...MINUTES. I already started slipping back into my old eating habits. I wake up, get online to check email, one thing leads to another and it's 3pm and I'm starving. We at least got out of the house at noon...so only a couple hours before I ate a big breakfast. From food we went to the bank, Walgreens for lotion. Lotion. Our skin got almost instantly dry when we got back. I took a shower and my face was all dry after that. So, we're keeping moisturized.
Then it was off to Caribou coffee. Deanna wanted to write before we went to our writing class...I know...weird, right (write)? They have free internet there so I worked on website.
Finally, at 3pm we were at our writing class. Everyone was supposed to have written a two-liner for each day, based on Tribune headlines. I don't know many people in the class, but there are some good writers in there already. One woman in particular has a very specific and original point of view, and an interesting style of delivery...Deanna and I were enjoying her stuff a lot.
From there we went to Jewel to buy some groceries. I basically picked up oatmeal, eggs, and yogurt. I just want to start my day with breakfast. If I have the food to do that I'm ok for getting sandwiches or whatever while being out and about.
Tomorrow we make copies of keys, go to storage, and if I'm lucky...hit the gym!
The rest of the day was good. We checked out the place I'm using for photography and it is sweet. It's a theater. To say more is to let other photographers know of it's existance, and it is hard enough to book as is...so...it's good.
We ate at a cafe near where we used to live. I REALLY miss morning breakfast buffet. All I really ate was oatmeal, eggs, and yogurt (unless there were only plain or peach yogurts...which was pretty much our entire final cruise)...but I ate it minutes after waking up...MINUTES. I already started slipping back into my old eating habits. I wake up, get online to check email, one thing leads to another and it's 3pm and I'm starving. We at least got out of the house at noon...so only a couple hours before I ate a big breakfast. From food we went to the bank, Walgreens for lotion. Lotion. Our skin got almost instantly dry when we got back. I took a shower and my face was all dry after that. So, we're keeping moisturized.
Then it was off to Caribou coffee. Deanna wanted to write before we went to our writing class...I know...weird, right (write)? They have free internet there so I worked on website.
Finally, at 3pm we were at our writing class. Everyone was supposed to have written a two-liner for each day, based on Tribune headlines. I don't know many people in the class, but there are some good writers in there already. One woman in particular has a very specific and original point of view, and an interesting style of delivery...Deanna and I were enjoying her stuff a lot.
From there we went to Jewel to buy some groceries. I basically picked up oatmeal, eggs, and yogurt. I just want to start my day with breakfast. If I have the food to do that I'm ok for getting sandwiches or whatever while being out and about.
Tomorrow we make copies of keys, go to storage, and if I'm lucky...hit the gym!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Day 1
Chicago, IL.
As the Beatles said, "I get by with a little help from my friends."
We are staying with our friend Rene for awhile while we try to get resettled. Deanna and I showed up at his place around 10:30 last night. I've been to his place many times but didn't realize it's greatness. Since it is just him living here, we've got some space. A room with a futon, a bathroom that he doesn't use. Pretty sweet.
Another major score last night was that the Potbelly in the airport was open. If you haven't had Potbelly sandwiches, you're missing out on deliciousness. We grabbed sandwiches before heading to baggage claim.
The other major bonus about being back on land...internet. FAST internet.
For the past four days both Deanna and I have had River Deep, Mountain High stuck in our heads...today is no different.
Just under 8 hours until Band on the Run.
As the Beatles said, "I get by with a little help from my friends."
We are staying with our friend Rene for awhile while we try to get resettled. Deanna and I showed up at his place around 10:30 last night. I've been to his place many times but didn't realize it's greatness. Since it is just him living here, we've got some space. A room with a futon, a bathroom that he doesn't use. Pretty sweet.
Another major score last night was that the Potbelly in the airport was open. If you haven't had Potbelly sandwiches, you're missing out on deliciousness. We grabbed sandwiches before heading to baggage claim.
The other major bonus about being back on land...internet. FAST internet.
For the past four days both Deanna and I have had River Deep, Mountain High stuck in our heads...today is no different.
Just under 8 hours until Band on the Run.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Day 116/Day 0
Miami, FL. This is it. The last entry from/about the ship. We got up early and settled our accounts…turned in our nametags…and went back to bed. About 8:30am David stopped by to say goodbye. I wish we were more awake to say more than “ok…uh…goodbye.” We will miss you David. Thanks for stopping by.
Said the remainder of our goodbyes and stood in line to get off the ship. Everything went pretty smooth. We got out, got on a free bus to the airport. And here we sit. We arrived about 11:30am and weren’t allowed to check our bags until 3:30. We did that. Now we’re waiting for our 7pm flight.
Will this blog still be interesting? Will I still write? I intend too…we’ll see what happens.
In the words of Kanye West:
“Do you think about me now and then
Fireworks at Lake Michigaaaaaaaan
UHHHHohhhhh
I’m comin’ home again.”
Said the remainder of our goodbyes and stood in line to get off the ship. Everything went pretty smooth. We got out, got on a free bus to the airport. And here we sit. We arrived about 11:30am and weren’t allowed to check our bags until 3:30. We did that. Now we’re waiting for our 7pm flight.
Will this blog still be interesting? Will I still write? I intend too…we’ll see what happens.
In the words of Kanye West:
“Do you think about me now and then
Fireworks at Lake Michigaaaaaaaan
UHHHHohhhhh
I’m comin’ home again.”
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Day 115
Sea Day…the last sea day. Today was all about packing and being places at certain times. Yesterday we talked with personnel and asked if we really needed to be up at 6:30am on the final day to close out our accounts. They said we could do it today, but we wouldn’t be able to buy anything. So we figured we would stop by the finance department at 4:30pm. Well…finance was only open between 11am-12pm on the last sea day so we’re getting up early tomorrow. We would have had to be up at 8am to turn in our nametags so it isn’t that bad.
At 5:30 we had our last workshop. It was pretty good. Not a lot more to ask for on this one. Next on the agenda was taking luggage down to security at 8pm. Deanna had been punchy all day because of the 5:30am bedtime the night before. We ate dinner at Tangos around 6:30pm. She pulled a sweet move on my there. The waiter was making the push for us to order drinks from the bar and suggested a margarita. Deanna said “you know what? I WILL have a margarita!” and started looking for her card. SURPRISE! She didn’t have it. I got the drink for her.
8:00pm, we take our luggage down. They look through it and sign us off. Boom. Only a slight hiccup when I’m not on the list. We got back to the room so Deanna could take a nap before the 9:30 show.
Ahhhh…the 9:30 show. It was a variety show…a mix of the performers in a way. This is the first cruise, I think, in our contract that did not have a crew show. Normally Senad (cruise staff) plays Gorky Park on guitar in the crew show. This is his last cruise and he started of the variety show. Tambye also sang, and the jugglers did a few things. But the awesome parts? Let me tell you. David did his Crow themed straps routine (the stuff I took the pictures of), and Massimo and Alesia did their silks routine. Oh…my…god…these were great. David was towards the beginning of the show and the silks were toward the end. I’m sitting here trying to think of how to describe them and I can’t. They were great. They haven’t performed those routines on the ship before…or before at all in the case of Massimo and Alesia. We’re glad we got to see them on our last night.
We then went to shipnmales and hung out. Andy did his backwards striptease again. More importantly they did that dance I like to River Deep, Mountain High. It all goes downhill from the end of that show…the goodbyes started.
We told people we would be down in the crew bar, so it wasn’t that bad up in Spinnaker. So crew bar we went. It wasn’t that bad until people could tell it was coming down to the final goodbyes. I teared up a little bit down there. We left. We came up to good ole deck 10, walked down the hallway, went through our door, and I broke down. It all became real, all at once.
I hope I get to see these people again. I feel like Deanna and I will probably be on a ship again. Hopefully with at least some of these people. We’ve made so many great friends from all over the world, and now we have to leave them. You will be missed, but stay in touch…I mean, c’mon!
We’re so thankful for this opportunity and hope another comes along.
This is the last post from the ship. Well…I guess we’re going to at least eat breakfast on the ship. Oatmeal and boiled eggs…one more time!
Friday, March 07, 2008
Day 114
Sea Day. To be honest (I hate when people use that phrase, by the way…it seems like if you start a sentence with “to be honest…” then you are saying “…because all the other things I say are lies”) I am writing this entry late at night on 3/8 (…see, in this case it clears up that I’m not actually writing on the date stated. I feel cleansed). Once you read tomorrow’s post you’ll understand why.
So, today…what happened? I did laundry…our last ship laundry. And started packing the rest of my stuff. Tomorrow we have to start going through our sign-off tasks. One of which is taking our luggage down.
We had our improv shows. Before that we saw our last Cirque Bijoux show. It doesn’t even really feel like the lasts are really lasts (on 3/7). I think with all of the prepping and such we’re keeping busy and thinking about getting all of our packing done on time. After our last improv show we stayed in the bar for the Quest. We didn’t necessarily watch, we were just hanging out. Christopher has been taking our leaving pretty bad. He seems sad whenever we see him. It’s starting. The actuality of leaving.
I had a strawberry daiquiri, and then Jen bought me another one because she said she’d never seen me after two drinks. I wasn’t much different.
Something I didn’t mention about the crew party and shipnmales show…the JARs did a dance number that they did once before when Christopher’s parents were on board. It is Chris/Sapphire lipsyncing to River Deep, Mountain High sung by Celine Dion. The dance is fantastic and sexy. I wished I would have video recorded it. They told me they were going to do it in the shipnmales show for the passengers because Johnny’s sister was there. Awesome.
At the end of the night we went to the Blue Lagoon for food and Christopher brought me a CD I asked him to burn (River Deep, Mountain High)…and lent me the Celine concert DVD. He said if I liked their dance I should see the dancers on the DVD…I watched it and I like the JARs version better. After I watched that one song I was done. Deanna was not. She put the DVD in and proceeded to stay up until 5:30am watching it.
So, today…what happened? I did laundry…our last ship laundry. And started packing the rest of my stuff. Tomorrow we have to start going through our sign-off tasks. One of which is taking our luggage down.
We had our improv shows. Before that we saw our last Cirque Bijoux show. It doesn’t even really feel like the lasts are really lasts (on 3/7). I think with all of the prepping and such we’re keeping busy and thinking about getting all of our packing done on time. After our last improv show we stayed in the bar for the Quest. We didn’t necessarily watch, we were just hanging out. Christopher has been taking our leaving pretty bad. He seems sad whenever we see him. It’s starting. The actuality of leaving.
I had a strawberry daiquiri, and then Jen bought me another one because she said she’d never seen me after two drinks. I wasn’t much different.
Something I didn’t mention about the crew party and shipnmales show…the JARs did a dance number that they did once before when Christopher’s parents were on board. It is Chris/Sapphire lipsyncing to River Deep, Mountain High sung by Celine Dion. The dance is fantastic and sexy. I wished I would have video recorded it. They told me they were going to do it in the shipnmales show for the passengers because Johnny’s sister was there. Awesome.
At the end of the night we went to the Blue Lagoon for food and Christopher brought me a CD I asked him to burn (River Deep, Mountain High)…and lent me the Celine concert DVD. He said if I liked their dance I should see the dancers on the DVD…I watched it and I like the JARs version better. After I watched that one song I was done. Deanna was not. She put the DVD in and proceeded to stay up until 5:30am watching it.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Day 113
St. Lucia. Deanna and I slept in later than usual…about 11:45 or so. Just long enough to miss breakfast. The weather wasn’t that good and we didn’t research ziplines so we stayed on the ship. I went to the gym for the first time in awhile since being sick, and I did laundry.
We had our last rehearsal at 5:00. Deanna plays a grandma in one scene…a dead grandma who is playing football. The lights come up and you see her laying face first on the floor as a football lands by her. During rehearsal she had dropped her pants and her butt was hanging out. She’s silly like that.
Our shows tonight were good. They were our last sketch shows. The JARs were at both of them. At the end of our second show Jimmy the cruise director stopped us from leaving the stage. He was on mic and the audience already knew we were at the end of our contract. He said that there was a tradition that we take of our mics one last time, on stage. Now, earlier…after our 7:30 he had said that he was going to try to pie us in the face. Jen said that was actually a tradition when it was someone’s last show on the mainstage. He said “really?” So, while he was telling us to take off our mics we pretty much knew we were going to get pied. After that it is kind of hazy. I remember he was saying something else and then said “wait wait wait!” I looked behind to see JARs with pies. I remember Johnny, Christopher, Jon Paul, and Ryan were there. We were all gracious and took it. I managed to take my tie off and put it in my pocket first. Christopher was my pie-er. He covered my face and then slid the plate up into my bangs. I think I got the most. Well played. I don’t think I’ve ever been pied before…maybe once at outdoor school.
We went out for drinks with most of the JARs and signed programs for some like it was the last day of high school with yearbooks.
Two sea days and it all comes to an end. It re-dawned on me tonight that, come Tuesday, we don’t get to watch Band on the Run. It’s like watching a weekly TV show, but the show is the same episode each week…but you still look forward to watching.
One more side note. I didn’t dry clean my suit the whole time. I don’t sweat enough to worry about it. I was planning on cleaning it when we get back and now…it is pied. Just a little…on the pants. But enough to actually warrant a cleaning. So, good timing, pie. We feel honored to be pied. I guess usually one casts leaves and the next comes on and that is really all that happens. No big hooplah. But we made enough of an impact to get pie.
We had our last rehearsal at 5:00. Deanna plays a grandma in one scene…a dead grandma who is playing football. The lights come up and you see her laying face first on the floor as a football lands by her. During rehearsal she had dropped her pants and her butt was hanging out. She’s silly like that.
Our shows tonight were good. They were our last sketch shows. The JARs were at both of them. At the end of our second show Jimmy the cruise director stopped us from leaving the stage. He was on mic and the audience already knew we were at the end of our contract. He said that there was a tradition that we take of our mics one last time, on stage. Now, earlier…after our 7:30 he had said that he was going to try to pie us in the face. Jen said that was actually a tradition when it was someone’s last show on the mainstage. He said “really?” So, while he was telling us to take off our mics we pretty much knew we were going to get pied. After that it is kind of hazy. I remember he was saying something else and then said “wait wait wait!” I looked behind to see JARs with pies. I remember Johnny, Christopher, Jon Paul, and Ryan were there. We were all gracious and took it. I managed to take my tie off and put it in my pocket first. Christopher was my pie-er. He covered my face and then slid the plate up into my bangs. I think I got the most. Well played. I don’t think I’ve ever been pied before…maybe once at outdoor school.
We went out for drinks with most of the JARs and signed programs for some like it was the last day of high school with yearbooks.
Two sea days and it all comes to an end. It re-dawned on me tonight that, come Tuesday, we don’t get to watch Band on the Run. It’s like watching a weekly TV show, but the show is the same episode each week…but you still look forward to watching.
One more side note. I didn’t dry clean my suit the whole time. I don’t sweat enough to worry about it. I was planning on cleaning it when we get back and now…it is pied. Just a little…on the pants. But enough to actually warrant a cleaning. So, good timing, pie. We feel honored to be pied. I guess usually one casts leaves and the next comes on and that is really all that happens. No big hooplah. But we made enough of an impact to get pie.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Day 112
Barbados. Today we got up a little earlier than usual and headed to Folkston beach. This is where everyone went last Barbados day when I was feeling sick. The day started off sour with some attitudes and such. Last time it was $15 roundtrip to taxi to the beach. Our guy said he would take us there for $8 one way, and on the way there he was saying that the trip back would be $10. We didn’t ask him to pick us up. Last time they got beach chairs for free. This time the guy wanted $5 per chair. I was already pretty fed up from the cab ride so I walked away from the chairs. Oh, David and Alesia went with us. They, along with Deanna, talked the guy down in price. The snorkeling was rumored to be awesome so I got in the water with my camera right away…it was cloudy out which equals crappy photos under water. Luckily there were breaks of sun. I was counting on the snorkeling to help change my mood. I saw a HUGE school of fish and followed them around for awhile. No one was with me so they missed it.
I then got out and lied in the sun for a while. Mood still not totally changed. After a while I got back in and Jen called me over. “Squid!” I stayed around them long enough for the sun to come out. They were amazing…there were about 10 or more of them, and they swam side by side in a perfect row with about a foot of space between each other. That made the trip for me.
On our way back we stopped at a rum plant called Mount Gay Rum. They had a tour that was free for crew. Jen, Larrance, and Andy wanted to shop at their gift shop. They said to take the tour. Another random person there said “DEFINITELY take the tour! It’s so worth it!” So, Deanna and I did. It was a small talk about the history, followed by a 10 minute movie on the brewing process, followed by us being allowed in a tiny viewing area of the bottling process, followed by a tasting. I barely ever drink and I don’t drink rum for sure. If I would have paid money I would have been pissed. Since it was free it is simply 30 minutes I’ll never get back.
We had a new juggling act on tonight. Brothers from Other Mothers. They were pretty good. I enjoyed their tie-ins…the bits they did in between juggling acts to keep the show flowing.
At the end of the night there was a crew party. Crew parties always have a theme and this one was gender-bender. Part of the party was Ship n Males…the male strip show. Some of the crew never get to see it so they did the show at the party. The ultimate highlight for me was when Jon got up to strip to his usual song…after about 10 seconds or so of his normal song (some U2 song) the music switched to “I’m a Barbie girl in a Barbie world.” The entire audience laughed and Jon walked off stage. Later his normal song started again and he came back, but he was mad. It made my night. It was hilarious.
Now I’m sitting here in bed watching Prestige (great movie) and listening to Deanna hiccup loudly while we’re buffeted by waves.
I then got out and lied in the sun for a while. Mood still not totally changed. After a while I got back in and Jen called me over. “Squid!” I stayed around them long enough for the sun to come out. They were amazing…there were about 10 or more of them, and they swam side by side in a perfect row with about a foot of space between each other. That made the trip for me.
On our way back we stopped at a rum plant called Mount Gay Rum. They had a tour that was free for crew. Jen, Larrance, and Andy wanted to shop at their gift shop. They said to take the tour. Another random person there said “DEFINITELY take the tour! It’s so worth it!” So, Deanna and I did. It was a small talk about the history, followed by a 10 minute movie on the brewing process, followed by us being allowed in a tiny viewing area of the bottling process, followed by a tasting. I barely ever drink and I don’t drink rum for sure. If I would have paid money I would have been pissed. Since it was free it is simply 30 minutes I’ll never get back.
We had a new juggling act on tonight. Brothers from Other Mothers. They were pretty good. I enjoyed their tie-ins…the bits they did in between juggling acts to keep the show flowing.
At the end of the night there was a crew party. Crew parties always have a theme and this one was gender-bender. Part of the party was Ship n Males…the male strip show. Some of the crew never get to see it so they did the show at the party. The ultimate highlight for me was when Jon got up to strip to his usual song…after about 10 seconds or so of his normal song (some U2 song) the music switched to “I’m a Barbie girl in a Barbie world.” The entire audience laughed and Jon walked off stage. Later his normal song started again and he came back, but he was mad. It made my night. It was hilarious.
Now I’m sitting here in bed watching Prestige (great movie) and listening to Deanna hiccup loudly while we’re buffeted by waves.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Day 111 Pt. 2
Antigua. Well, after I left my sweet internet connection Deanna and I met up with the rest of the gang at Big Banana for pizza…and oddly enough, more internet.
Deanna and I got our first homework assignments for a writing class we’re taking at iO. Monday was the first class and we get back on Sunday. I have heard absolutely NOTHING but good things about this class. The short summary is that it teaches how to write for TV in different forms, AND how to take the stuff you write and actually market it to agents and shows. Our first assignment, however, is tricky. It is writing a Leno-esque monologue two-liner joke a day based on that day’s Chicago Tribune. They don’t exactly have daily Tribunes on the ship, and internet awesomeness ended in Antigua.
From Antigua we got back on the ship and watched TV until I fell asleep. Yet another nap…boo, naps. I don’t mind the sleeping part, it’s the waking up part I hate. Deanna woke me up at 8pm to see if I wanted to get dinner. I knew if I didn’t get up that I would probably sleep until 4am then be wide awake. So I got up.
Since then we watched Royal Tennebaums on TNT mixed with up-to-date election coverage from the Situation Room on CNN.
Deanna and I got our first homework assignments for a writing class we’re taking at iO. Monday was the first class and we get back on Sunday. I have heard absolutely NOTHING but good things about this class. The short summary is that it teaches how to write for TV in different forms, AND how to take the stuff you write and actually market it to agents and shows. Our first assignment, however, is tricky. It is writing a Leno-esque monologue two-liner joke a day based on that day’s Chicago Tribune. They don’t exactly have daily Tribunes on the ship, and internet awesomeness ended in Antigua.
From Antigua we got back on the ship and watched TV until I fell asleep. Yet another nap…boo, naps. I don’t mind the sleeping part, it’s the waking up part I hate. Deanna woke me up at 8pm to see if I wanted to get dinner. I knew if I didn’t get up that I would probably sleep until 4am then be wide awake. So I got up.
Since then we watched Royal Tennebaums on TNT mixed with up-to-date election coverage from the Situation Room on CNN.
Day 111 Pt 1
Antigua. INTERNET ACCESS GRANTED! I feel like Tron.
Deanna and I were awoken early by our neighbors, the Screamersons. The have always been loud talkers, room thumpers, wall tappers...annoying. But this morning they were having a screaming match. Two parents, two kids. They are making this final cruise a real treat.
Deanna and I were awoken early by our neighbors, the Screamersons. The have always been loud talkers, room thumpers, wall tappers...annoying. But this morning they were having a screaming match. Two parents, two kids. They are making this final cruise a real treat.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Day 110
Tortola. This is a day I’ve been looking forward too, ESPECIALLY since I didn’t get off the ship in Miami. In Miami I normally go to the Holiday Inn to use WiFi and go to an ATM for cash. That didn’t happen, but it is something that CAN happen in Tortola. Cash and internet.
So…I get off the ship with everybody and walk them to a cab (they all went to the beach). As I started walking I saw Keelan and Charlotte walking back towards the ship. I knew they were going to the internet café so I asked how it went. Everything in town is closed…mostly. Everything I needed was closed. We found a few shops that were open, just not the ones we needed. As I was talking to Keelan and Charlotte, Alesia walked up from the ship. I still needed to go to an ATM so I figured I would do that and go see if I could at least sit on the steps outside the café and get a signal. Our usual ATM…not giving cash. But you don’t find out until you go through the whole process. Fine, we carry on to the Café. We get there…no signal. The bookstore downstairs is open, but not the upstairs or the signal. Alesia and I hunt other places.
We stopped by another ATM…same deal. No cash, but you don’t find out until you go through the process. And it wasn’t just my card. I watched other people not get cash too. We found a restaurant that was open and part of a hotel. THEY HAD INTERNET! We went to the reception desk to get the password. No one was there. Then a guy came in through the front door and asked what we wanted. I said, “Hi. We are going to the restaurant and they told us to come here for the WiFi password.” “Are you going to eat?” he says. We said yes and he went back through the front door and then showed up behind the desk. “Are you sure you’re going to eat?” he asks. “Yes. What do you recommend?” And he replies, “I don’t know. I don’t eat.” What?! Anyway. He gives us the password. Alesia and I are getting excited that we found a place that was not only open, but they had WiFi AND we had the password! We sat down and it wasn’t connecting. It wasn’t even taking us to an option to type in a password.
I managed to check my email. I connected to a server that was as slow as the ship, but free. That wasn’t good though. Our waitress never came to us again to take an order so we didn’t feel like we needed to stay. We were outta there. Bianca showed up right as we were leaving and left with us when she heard the WiFi wasn’t working. We stopped by another internet place that charged, but they didn’t have WiFi. Boo. I stopped by one more ATM…same story. And back on the ship we went.
It was a bank holiday or something like that. At least tomorrow is Anitgua. When Antigua shuts down for a holiday, at least the WiFi still flows freely at Coast.
Everyone else came back right before the boat left…RIGHT before. Well, within the time they were supposed to be back. Later at night we played cards. Pig and BS.
Oh, I weighed myself while the ship was in port and steady. 192.5. After all is said and done, after all the eating, I lost weight. Down eight pounds from when we first arrived. I at least still have some muscle and strength. I went to the gym and tried working out. I haven’t been able to eat as much as I was so I didn’t have as much energy, but it was good to at least work out a little.
So…I get off the ship with everybody and walk them to a cab (they all went to the beach). As I started walking I saw Keelan and Charlotte walking back towards the ship. I knew they were going to the internet café so I asked how it went. Everything in town is closed…mostly. Everything I needed was closed. We found a few shops that were open, just not the ones we needed. As I was talking to Keelan and Charlotte, Alesia walked up from the ship. I still needed to go to an ATM so I figured I would do that and go see if I could at least sit on the steps outside the café and get a signal. Our usual ATM…not giving cash. But you don’t find out until you go through the whole process. Fine, we carry on to the Café. We get there…no signal. The bookstore downstairs is open, but not the upstairs or the signal. Alesia and I hunt other places.
We stopped by another ATM…same deal. No cash, but you don’t find out until you go through the process. And it wasn’t just my card. I watched other people not get cash too. We found a restaurant that was open and part of a hotel. THEY HAD INTERNET! We went to the reception desk to get the password. No one was there. Then a guy came in through the front door and asked what we wanted. I said, “Hi. We are going to the restaurant and they told us to come here for the WiFi password.” “Are you going to eat?” he says. We said yes and he went back through the front door and then showed up behind the desk. “Are you sure you’re going to eat?” he asks. “Yes. What do you recommend?” And he replies, “I don’t know. I don’t eat.” What?! Anyway. He gives us the password. Alesia and I are getting excited that we found a place that was not only open, but they had WiFi AND we had the password! We sat down and it wasn’t connecting. It wasn’t even taking us to an option to type in a password.
I managed to check my email. I connected to a server that was as slow as the ship, but free. That wasn’t good though. Our waitress never came to us again to take an order so we didn’t feel like we needed to stay. We were outta there. Bianca showed up right as we were leaving and left with us when she heard the WiFi wasn’t working. We stopped by another internet place that charged, but they didn’t have WiFi. Boo. I stopped by one more ATM…same story. And back on the ship we went.
It was a bank holiday or something like that. At least tomorrow is Anitgua. When Antigua shuts down for a holiday, at least the WiFi still flows freely at Coast.
Everyone else came back right before the boat left…RIGHT before. Well, within the time they were supposed to be back. Later at night we played cards. Pig and BS.
Oh, I weighed myself while the ship was in port and steady. 192.5. After all is said and done, after all the eating, I lost weight. Down eight pounds from when we first arrived. I at least still have some muscle and strength. I went to the gym and tried working out. I haven’t been able to eat as much as I was so I didn’t have as much energy, but it was good to at least work out a little.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Day 109
Samana. Guys. This recovering from a cold thing sucks. I took it easy today and will continue to do so until I feel more energetic. Today was a bust because it was Samana. Deanna and I stayed on the ship. She tanned and went to the spa. I just hung out and worked on photos so I would have them ready for updating tomorrow in Tortola.
Before I knew it it was time for the ship to leave. For the last few Samana days I’ve heard of at least one person seeing whales as we left port. So I went to the back of the ship to look for them as we left. I didn’t see any. I DID see a fantastic sunset though. So it was worth it.
We ate around 7pm and played Settlers at 8pm. All six of us played and Roman even paired up with Larrance. It was a pretty decent game. In the end I think it was between Deanna and I, but all Deanna needed was to build two roads. She ended up winning. She had a bad headache and I was tired so we went to bed and called it a night after that.
Before I knew it it was time for the ship to leave. For the last few Samana days I’ve heard of at least one person seeing whales as we left port. So I went to the back of the ship to look for them as we left. I didn’t see any. I DID see a fantastic sunset though. So it was worth it.
We ate around 7pm and played Settlers at 8pm. All six of us played and Roman even paired up with Larrance. It was a pretty decent game. In the end I think it was between Deanna and I, but all Deanna needed was to build two roads. She ended up winning. She had a bad headache and I was tired so we went to bed and called it a night after that.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Day 108
Sea Day. Dear lord…seven days left. SEVEN. A WEEK! Today has been rocky. I tried to weigh myself in the gym, but the scale can’t handle rocky days. I weigh somewhere in between 186-197 pounds.
Today I ate breakfast…more than yesterday but not as much as usual. My appetite is coming back at least. Deanna and I were up late watching terrible movies on TNT. Well, first we watched Saved with Mandy Moore and Macauly Culkin. Next we watched some movie with Kevin Klein and young Darth Vader (the actor that played him…Hayden something). That was pretty good, but we never knew the name of it. Kevin Klein has cancer and wants to build a house with his son. Know it? I’d never heard of it either.
I think I’m back on track with my appetite. Had three meals today. Little battles. I didn’t go to the VIP party tonight, but met with the cast for dinner at Chin Chin’s. It felt like the first dinner that we’ve all been too in a long while. And we’ve been to a lot. The past few cruises someone has had guests so we either had too many people to go eat together at a restaurant, or we ate separately. But tonight! Chin Chin’s.
Afterwards Deanna, Jen, Andy and I went to see our last Band on the Run for our contract. I don’t recall a cruise on this contract where Deanna and I haven’t seen the show. Maybe one, max. They were having fun with it for the most part. I mean…they always do, but it seemed like they were giving it extra spice tonight. At the end it got ridiculous, I started misting up thinking about how it is the last show…but I pulled it together. We hung out to chat with the JARs afterwards and apparently a lot of them were on the same wavelength. Everyone was trying to avoid eye contact with us at the end because they were thinking about how it was the last BotR with us there (in the front row if you’re Deanna and I). We’ve been blessed with a fantastic cast of people in the JARs just as we have been in our own cast.
JARs, you are great…spread the word Jenny and Christopher and Phillippa.
Oh, and that picture is of a teen who got kicked out of the Casino. He was with his dad and there was a bit of a heated discussion with Security. As always, the parent ends up staying in the Casino and gambling.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Day 107
Miami, FL. Still in bed. My last chance to go to Miami without a bunch of luggage in tow and I miss it. I got up around 8:30 and was feeling ok. I took a shower and it pretty much drained me of all of my energy. Had to have Deanna go to the buffet to grab me some food. She got me some oatmeal (couldn’t eat it), a box of cheerios, some yogurt, and bananas.
I managed to eat (throughout the day) three yogurts, the cheerios, and part of a banana. I feel like a baby working his way to solid foods.
The hilarious thing (not really) is that I was 193 when I started this adventure. I’ve been eating like crazy and going to the gym trying to put on weight. I made it to 200. Last week while I was sick (fever and phlegm…not puking) I went down to 197. I’d imagine after totally clearing out my system yesterday that I’m down to 193.
I even got out of the room! Had dinner at 5:30…rice, beans, and fries. I haven’t eaten fries almost entirely on the trip…they really hit the spot. Roman sat down with us to eat. I finished my dinner and the smell of Deanna’s food and Roman’s food started grossing me out. My sense of smell is intense right now.
I managed to eat (throughout the day) three yogurts, the cheerios, and part of a banana. I feel like a baby working his way to solid foods.
The hilarious thing (not really) is that I was 193 when I started this adventure. I’ve been eating like crazy and going to the gym trying to put on weight. I made it to 200. Last week while I was sick (fever and phlegm…not puking) I went down to 197. I’d imagine after totally clearing out my system yesterday that I’m down to 193.
I even got out of the room! Had dinner at 5:30…rice, beans, and fries. I haven’t eaten fries almost entirely on the trip…they really hit the spot. Roman sat down with us to eat. I finished my dinner and the smell of Deanna’s food and Roman’s food started grossing me out. My sense of smell is intense right now.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Day 106
Sea Day. Oh, what a day. So, last night I grabbed some food at the buffet before our shows…it was not appetizing but I needed to eat so I kept eating it. I also had a ceasar salad after our first show. Why do I mention these two things a day after they happened? I spent all of today either in bed or puking. All of it. I’m pretty sure it was food poisoning, but it could have been GI too. I don’t think I’ve had either before. Regardless, I was in hell.
Deanna grabbed me some oatmeal in the morning but they were out of brown sugar. She added maple syrup. The smell, even though it is similar to brown sugar, did not work for me (to put it lightly). Even smelling bread had ill effects.
It was Jen’s birthday too.
I think I stopped throwing up around 8:00pm or so…maybe later. All I really had was water and Gatorade. I finally started feeling like I could maybe eat late at night, but I didn’t push it.
So, I missed a birthday dinner, birthday drinks, Liar’s club, and Ship n Males.
Deanna grabbed me some oatmeal in the morning but they were out of brown sugar. She added maple syrup. The smell, even though it is similar to brown sugar, did not work for me (to put it lightly). Even smelling bread had ill effects.
It was Jen’s birthday too.
I think I stopped throwing up around 8:00pm or so…maybe later. All I really had was water and Gatorade. I finally started feeling like I could maybe eat late at night, but I didn’t push it.
So, I missed a birthday dinner, birthday drinks, Liar’s club, and Ship n Males.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Day 105
Grand Cayman. The LAST Grand Cayman visit. What did we do with it? Well…nothing. We were woken up by an announcement saying that we would be leaving early from Grand Cayman. A storm was coming and we needed to get out early to dodge it. So, we didn’t get off the ship. Deanna and I were going to go snorkeling but neither of us were inspired.
Instead we stayed on the ship and I went to the gym. When I came back to the room Ocean’s Eleven was just starting on TNT so we watched it. I fell asleep.
Tonight was our next to last batch of improv shows. Both shows were great, and the second one was packed…standing room only. Apparently a couple got married today and their friends were all celebrating. We initially found out after our first improv show when a guy came up to us and said “Will one of you come be a minister in the Chapel? You just have to pretend.” And that was all he said. I watched them find someone else and it was simply for a photo. If he would have added “for a photo for this couple who got married” we would have probably done it. Anyway, there were about five of them dancing on the dance floor as we showed up to do our second show. Larrance told them a show was about to start and they gave him some attitude. No worries though, the music got pulled and we started a show for a crowd of people excited to see us.
Oh! We saw the NCL Jade amongst the other ships in Grand Cayman. It is the new ship in the fleet and will soon have a new Second City cast as well.
Instead we stayed on the ship and I went to the gym. When I came back to the room Ocean’s Eleven was just starting on TNT so we watched it. I fell asleep.
Tonight was our next to last batch of improv shows. Both shows were great, and the second one was packed…standing room only. Apparently a couple got married today and their friends were all celebrating. We initially found out after our first improv show when a guy came up to us and said “Will one of you come be a minister in the Chapel? You just have to pretend.” And that was all he said. I watched them find someone else and it was simply for a photo. If he would have added “for a photo for this couple who got married” we would have probably done it. Anyway, there were about five of them dancing on the dance floor as we showed up to do our second show. Larrance told them a show was about to start and they gave him some attitude. No worries though, the music got pulled and we started a show for a crowd of people excited to see us.
Oh! We saw the NCL Jade amongst the other ships in Grand Cayman. It is the new ship in the fleet and will soon have a new Second City cast as well.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Day 104
Cozumel, Mexico. The LAST Cozumel visit. Deanna and I decided to head out on our own. Jen is sick. Andy is sick. Both with the same stuff I had, so I’m probably the source. Anyhow, we went into town and rented a jeep to drive around the island. Not too bad. $55 for the jeep and insurance. We followed the road south, this is where all the snorkel hot spots are. We never ended up stopping though. Just kept driving. We made an occasional stop to check out a beach area, but the beaches got rougher as we went along.
We even stopped at the largest Mayan ruins on the island. It cost $2 to get a ticket from the main gate into a tiny area with some shops and down 20 feet of road from there. Then another $4 to walk around. We only payed the $2…well…Deanna paid for us. We took a picture from the end of the two dollar zone and headed back to get our rental returned in time. Our jeep was a little shakey the whole time. We named it Hepburn.
After returning the jeep we stopped in at the Rock’n Java where we normally get internet to get some quesadillas and say farewell to Ernesto…the guy who has been our waiter every time we’ve been there.
Tonight was also our show night. Since we’re getting closer to prime Spring Break season that means younger, more vocally appreciative crowds. That was a nice charge to our next to final shows on the ship.
We even stopped at the largest Mayan ruins on the island. It cost $2 to get a ticket from the main gate into a tiny area with some shops and down 20 feet of road from there. Then another $4 to walk around. We only payed the $2…well…Deanna paid for us. We took a picture from the end of the two dollar zone and headed back to get our rental returned in time. Our jeep was a little shakey the whole time. We named it Hepburn.
After returning the jeep we stopped in at the Rock’n Java where we normally get internet to get some quesadillas and say farewell to Ernesto…the guy who has been our waiter every time we’ve been there.
Tonight was also our show night. Since we’re getting closer to prime Spring Break season that means younger, more vocally appreciative crowds. That was a nice charge to our next to final shows on the ship.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Day 103
Sea Day. Weather, huh? It seems like this entire month has been a series of good-byes. Tim and Russ (trumpet player and bass player respectively) were supposed to sign off on Miami day…and yet they are still on the ship. We had meals with them today and apparently their replacements got caught in weather so they stayed on. They’ll be leaving on Cozumel or Grand Cayman day in theory. We also lost our sound guy, Matt. This is also Sveta’s last cruise before she settles into her and Roman’s Miami apartment to get ready for their baby.
This cruise has a lot more younger people on it. You can tell we’re getting closer to Spring Break…we’ll just be missing the height of it. I went to the gym after breakfast and it was packed so I went again after lunch. Better. More young people means more people working out.
Later I fell asleep. I was going to get dinner around 6:15 or so. Deanna asked if I could wait until 7pm. So I waited, but fell asleep. I was moody for the rest of the night. I hate naps. I’ve always been a “sleep in” guy. Why break up your day with sleep when you can get it all done in a 8-12 hour block, right? Anyway, we ate and then caught Band on the Run. A nice thing about the younger groups is that they actually cheer. As soon as the “rules of the theater” audio started playing they were cheering. Unfortunately for the JARs something major happened with the lights. I don’t think any of the audience really noticed, but the lights were all out of whack in the beginning. From that point on the light cues all seemed weird. I’m pretty sure the odd lighting throughout the show was actually manual mastery…meaning, the cues might have all been worthless so the lighting guy was working on the fly. I might be wrong. Everyone made it through the show ok and I doubt the audience had any idea.
We also checked out the Newlywed game in person tonight instead of watching on TV (they film it and show it on the ship for the rest of the cruise). Jimmy the Cruise Director asked for a couple that had been married 5-10 years and got a gay male couple. It was nice that he did it…especially with the overwhelming conservativity of passengers. It was enjoyable…until...one of the questions Jimmy asks is what is the strangest place you and your spouse have ever made whoopee. Well, one straight guy says “the bathtub”, another says “on this ship”, the other “in a semi truck”…then the guy from the gay couple says “a rectory.” The room was rendered silent momentarily. His partner didn’t match the answer when he came back in at least. Ships!
This cruise has a lot more younger people on it. You can tell we’re getting closer to Spring Break…we’ll just be missing the height of it. I went to the gym after breakfast and it was packed so I went again after lunch. Better. More young people means more people working out.
Later I fell asleep. I was going to get dinner around 6:15 or so. Deanna asked if I could wait until 7pm. So I waited, but fell asleep. I was moody for the rest of the night. I hate naps. I’ve always been a “sleep in” guy. Why break up your day with sleep when you can get it all done in a 8-12 hour block, right? Anyway, we ate and then caught Band on the Run. A nice thing about the younger groups is that they actually cheer. As soon as the “rules of the theater” audio started playing they were cheering. Unfortunately for the JARs something major happened with the lights. I don’t think any of the audience really noticed, but the lights were all out of whack in the beginning. From that point on the light cues all seemed weird. I’m pretty sure the odd lighting throughout the show was actually manual mastery…meaning, the cues might have all been worthless so the lighting guy was working on the fly. I might be wrong. Everyone made it through the show ok and I doubt the audience had any idea.
We also checked out the Newlywed game in person tonight instead of watching on TV (they film it and show it on the ship for the rest of the cruise). Jimmy the Cruise Director asked for a couple that had been married 5-10 years and got a gay male couple. It was nice that he did it…especially with the overwhelming conservativity of passengers. It was enjoyable…until...one of the questions Jimmy asks is what is the strangest place you and your spouse have ever made whoopee. Well, one straight guy says “the bathtub”, another says “on this ship”, the other “in a semi truck”…then the guy from the gay couple says “a rectory.” The room was rendered silent momentarily. His partner didn’t match the answer when he came back in at least. Ships!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Day 102
Miami, FL. Today we started off by going through immigration. Since we started of this journey with passenger status we would just go on and off the ship with the passengers and every Miami day that meant going through immigration and customs. Well, since we signed on as crew at the beginning of our last cruise we had to go through the “new crew sign-on immigration”…something you only have to do when you sign on, sign off for your contract, and random times in between your contract. Unfortunately this meant waiting for all of the passengers to go through…and some were lollygaggin’. There were about three or four “final” announcements for passengers to please leave the ship. Once they finally did then the in-transit (a.k.a. “back to back”) passengers went through, then us. It seemed to take a while, but we made it.
We met up with Brett Lyons and Vanessa Turpentine (not her real last name…I can’t think of it) and hung out around town at our usual spots. It was great seeing familiar faces from Chicago.
I did laundry and ended up taking a nap. Still sick. Apparently this is a common flu strain going around the nation. Jen has it, I have it, I think Larrance and Deanna too. It is more annoying than anything.
It didn’t stop us from playing Settlers again…Cities and Knights. Jen dominated the game with her long road, thanks in part to what Deanna and I might call “Larrance’s favoritism”. He was really screwing us over and letting Jen run free.
We met up with Brett Lyons and Vanessa Turpentine (not her real last name…I can’t think of it) and hung out around town at our usual spots. It was great seeing familiar faces from Chicago.
I did laundry and ended up taking a nap. Still sick. Apparently this is a common flu strain going around the nation. Jen has it, I have it, I think Larrance and Deanna too. It is more annoying than anything.
It didn’t stop us from playing Settlers again…Cities and Knights. Jen dominated the game with her long road, thanks in part to what Deanna and I might call “Larrance’s favoritism”. He was really screwing us over and letting Jen run free.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Day 101
Sea Day. Typical second sea day. Gym, food, TV. Still trying to shake this cold. C’mon cold…shake already!
We had our workshop today. Deanna and I were leading it. Normally we have 45 minutes, but Wii was happening 30 minutes from our start time so we compacted it. People loved it. People are blown away by “yes, and…”…everytime.
After that…well, later after that Deanna and I joined Andy and Jon for dinner at Chin Chin’s, the Chinese food restaurant. I’ve only been there once and thought the food was terrible. But, I went again. I ordered something different and it was great! It is one of the “pay to eat” restaurants so we haven’t gone much.
We didn’t really do anything after that. I watched Transformers on DVD. I was expecting it to be awful so it was actually pretty good.
We had our workshop today. Deanna and I were leading it. Normally we have 45 minutes, but Wii was happening 30 minutes from our start time so we compacted it. People loved it. People are blown away by “yes, and…”…everytime.
After that…well, later after that Deanna and I joined Andy and Jon for dinner at Chin Chin’s, the Chinese food restaurant. I’ve only been there once and thought the food was terrible. But, I went again. I ordered something different and it was great! It is one of the “pay to eat” restaurants so we haven’t gone much.
We didn’t really do anything after that. I watched Transformers on DVD. I was expecting it to be awful so it was actually pretty good.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Day 100
Sea Day. Of which I spent almost the entire time in the cabin. I got up for breakfast, ate, and left when I was done instead of hanging out. Stayed in the room doing nothing much but watching TV and resting. Deanna turned on some Gregory Hines movie where he was portraying Bill Robinson aka Mr. Bojangles. When she flipped to it I told her to watch something else because I didn’t want to watch a tap dance movie. She didn’t. I was pretty much just playing solitaire or hearts on the computer the whole time. Well, it came to the end of the movie. Mr. Bojangles is in a hospital bed with a plastic bubble around him and his agent is there telling stories from their past. His agent tells him some other tap dancer wants to stop by and say hi. Oh…SPOILER ALERT…this is the end of the movie. So, Mr. Bojangles says “where are my shoes?”…this is moments before I look up at the screen. The agent says, “how am I supposed to know? Maybe in your closet or…” Mr. Bojangles is there and now he’s dead. I…start…BAWLING uncontrollably. Well, I managed to say “stupid movie letting Mr. Bojangles die” or something as I started crying. But it was UNCONTROLLABLE. I started laughing, Deanna started laughing, but I was still crying along with the laughing. This went on for about 3 minutes at least. It was stress relieving, that’s for sure.
Other than that we had our improv shows tonight. They were both great.
Now I’m trying to kill a cold. Deanna and I are in charge of the improv workshop tomorrow.
Other than that we had our improv shows tonight. They were both great.
Now I’m trying to kill a cold. Deanna and I are in charge of the improv workshop tomorrow.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Day 99
St. Lucia. Today was pretty rainy. Neither of us wanted to get off the ship. We went to the gym and then the spa instead. I even started writing some standup material. Deanna thought it was funny, but that some of it was creepy. To which I wrote another bit saying “my fiancée thinks my material is creepy…”
Other than that we had our shows and that was about it.
Tomorrow marks day 100…15 days left. It seems like walking in on old men in restroom stalls is a thing of the past.
Other than that we had our shows and that was about it.
Tomorrow marks day 100…15 days left. It seems like walking in on old men in restroom stalls is a thing of the past.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Day 98
Barbados…or as I called it, relax and heal. Still trying to get over that cold. Everyone else went out…most of them to a place called Folkston. Deanna came back and said it was the best snorkeling she’s ever seen…and I missed it. I guess we’re going back there next time though.
I got some sun on the ship and did some web work…real exciting stuff.
At night we went up to deck 12 in the back and watched the lunar eclipse. There were some people around talking. Mostly older. One guy kept saying he wasn’t going to make it until 11pm to which his wife would say “it’s almost done!” Just as the eclipse was nearing completion a bank of clouds covered everything…and a lady applauded thinking the whole moon went dark.
So…that’s my day.
I got some sun on the ship and did some web work…real exciting stuff.
At night we went up to deck 12 in the back and watched the lunar eclipse. There were some people around talking. Mostly older. One guy kept saying he wasn’t going to make it until 11pm to which his wife would say “it’s almost done!” Just as the eclipse was nearing completion a bank of clouds covered everything…and a lady applauded thinking the whole moon went dark.
So…that’s my day.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Day 97
Antigua. Today was a day of interneting in Antigua. Other than that it was low key. Gym, food, etc.
We had a minor game night at 8:15. I had to leave at 9:00 for an adventure though. I filmed a documentary style behind the scenes of the JARs Country Gold show. I’m not exactly sure why. It had been talked about that Country Gold gets crazy backstage because of the quick changes, and ESPECIALLY because they are changing in and out of cowboy boots. So it would be me filming an empty hallway or one person lingering waiting for their number, and then a mad rush of people coming through, ripping off clothes, throwing on a new outfit, and then running back out.
Deanna said she may edit it with her mac.
About halfway through that I started getting a cough. I had the start of a cold a few days ago and it felt like it went away, but then I just got a cough. I came back to my room as Deanna and others went off to a crew wine tasting event. Then I started getting feverish. I cranked up the heat but was still cold. Didn’t sleep very well either. It sucked. But, on the bright side, not bad for not really having a cold for the past year. I used to get colds all the time, but they have been far less frequent since I tried cutting back on high fructose corn syrup…aka soda.
So, I spent the night huddled in bed trying to get warm or at least break a sweat. Deanna got back from the wine tasting around 2:45am. Yikes.
We had a minor game night at 8:15. I had to leave at 9:00 for an adventure though. I filmed a documentary style behind the scenes of the JARs Country Gold show. I’m not exactly sure why. It had been talked about that Country Gold gets crazy backstage because of the quick changes, and ESPECIALLY because they are changing in and out of cowboy boots. So it would be me filming an empty hallway or one person lingering waiting for their number, and then a mad rush of people coming through, ripping off clothes, throwing on a new outfit, and then running back out.
Deanna said she may edit it with her mac.
About halfway through that I started getting a cough. I had the start of a cold a few days ago and it felt like it went away, but then I just got a cough. I came back to my room as Deanna and others went off to a crew wine tasting event. Then I started getting feverish. I cranked up the heat but was still cold. Didn’t sleep very well either. It sucked. But, on the bright side, not bad for not really having a cold for the past year. I used to get colds all the time, but they have been far less frequent since I tried cutting back on high fructose corn syrup…aka soda.
So, I spent the night huddled in bed trying to get warm or at least break a sweat. Deanna got back from the wine tasting around 2:45am. Yikes.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Day 96
Tortola…or for some of us, Virgin Gorda. We had heard about Virgin Gorda from many people, but never got around to actually going. The past few times we’ve been in Tortola the weather hasn’t been that good, but it was great today. Virgin Gorda is a 30 minute ferry ride away. There are big boulders that form natural caves, and great beaches. Just a nice place to hang out. It was just Deanna, Andy, John and I. Keeva was also there with her visiting boyfriend.
That took up most of the day. We normally go to the café and use internet until 3pm or so. But after a day of snorkeling and nearly fighting roosters we wanted some food. We got back and headed to Pussers for lunch/dinner before getting back on the ship. Just a nice day to sit outside. There are less than 20 days before we go back to Chicago and I think we’re all feeling it…relishing in our last days of warmth, trying to see the things we haven’t seen.
That night we saw Team Rootberry…a juggling duo. They were much more entertaining and appealed to a younger crowd. After that…we were beat. Gooooooood night.
That took up most of the day. We normally go to the café and use internet until 3pm or so. But after a day of snorkeling and nearly fighting roosters we wanted some food. We got back and headed to Pussers for lunch/dinner before getting back on the ship. Just a nice day to sit outside. There are less than 20 days before we go back to Chicago and I think we’re all feeling it…relishing in our last days of warmth, trying to see the things we haven’t seen.
That night we saw Team Rootberry…a juggling duo. They were much more entertaining and appealed to a younger crowd. After that…we were beat. Gooooooood night.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Day 95
Samana. We went on a whale watch today…or as Deanna calls it, a whale wait. It was rough seas, but not super bad. All of us were on this one. There were two levels and maybe 30 people. We lucked out and got on the top level. After a long time we finally saw one whale and headed towards it. It was playing and breaching and having a blast…until we got up to it. Then it would come up for air and go back down.
An ongoing joke with us was that one of us would go down to use the restroom so that the whale would come out. Someone always had to miss the whale. After a while I figured I would bite the bullet and attempt to get the whale out by going to the restroom. I got down there and someone was in the restroom. So, I waited and looked around. There was a lady waiting by me who had just asked for some Dramamine. People on the lower deck looked awful. I saw an older lady with a full barf bag and asking for another while shaking her head as if to say “well, you better get me another one…there is more coming.” I turned away from her just in time to see a 6 year old boy puke on his chair. He didn’t heave or anything, just a steady stream falling out of his mouth. It looked like a soft-serve ice cream machine. I quickly turned away from that. The Dramamine lady and I looked at each other for a few seconds and then started giggling. I didn’t even go to the bathroom, I just went back up top to tell the story. “It is a nightmare down there everyone.” I couldn’t say much because the story was making people queezy.
It gets better. They started playing a recording of a whale song. It was very repetitive. After about a minute of one repetitive part it switched to something like this…high pitched sound, sound similar to someone puking, high pitched sound, sound similar to someone puking. This repeated for awhile and had us and others up top laughing.
I only got a few shots…they were ok. Between the rockiness of the boat and spray hitting my lens it was difficult.
Tonight was one of two new acts on the ship. A comedian. I can’t remember his name. It was more jokes and impressions that really appealed more to a 50+ crowd. So, for me it wasn’t the best…for the older people sitting around us it was a regular laugh riot.
An ongoing joke with us was that one of us would go down to use the restroom so that the whale would come out. Someone always had to miss the whale. After a while I figured I would bite the bullet and attempt to get the whale out by going to the restroom. I got down there and someone was in the restroom. So, I waited and looked around. There was a lady waiting by me who had just asked for some Dramamine. People on the lower deck looked awful. I saw an older lady with a full barf bag and asking for another while shaking her head as if to say “well, you better get me another one…there is more coming.” I turned away from her just in time to see a 6 year old boy puke on his chair. He didn’t heave or anything, just a steady stream falling out of his mouth. It looked like a soft-serve ice cream machine. I quickly turned away from that. The Dramamine lady and I looked at each other for a few seconds and then started giggling. I didn’t even go to the bathroom, I just went back up top to tell the story. “It is a nightmare down there everyone.” I couldn’t say much because the story was making people queezy.
It gets better. They started playing a recording of a whale song. It was very repetitive. After about a minute of one repetitive part it switched to something like this…high pitched sound, sound similar to someone puking, high pitched sound, sound similar to someone puking. This repeated for awhile and had us and others up top laughing.
I only got a few shots…they were ok. Between the rockiness of the boat and spray hitting my lens it was difficult.
Tonight was one of two new acts on the ship. A comedian. I can’t remember his name. It was more jokes and impressions that really appealed more to a 50+ crowd. So, for me it wasn’t the best…for the older people sitting around us it was a regular laugh riot.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Day 94
Sea Day. Jimmy is back, so things are back normal around here. We found out our running order for this 9-day cruise. Today is Saturday….our show is on Thursday. I think that is 6 days. 6 DAYS OF ANNONYMITY! Our improv show is on Friday and our class is on Saturday. Bam! Boom! Pow!
Deanna and I got to watch one of our favorite shows today. It’s called “Massimo and Alesia.” It’s really nothing more than sharing a meal with them and watching them interact. They are great.
We haven’t seen Andy much, his boyfriend is here…so I’ve been told.
OH! I saw about ONE MILLION (20 or so) FLYING FISH today. I was in the gym and didn’t have my camera, so, bummer. I saw a bird flying by the ship…and we’re not that close to land, so I knew something was in the water. I saw one little flying fish pop up and fly. Then later a wave hit the ship and out of the wave flew at least 20 fish (flying away from the ship…not attacking). It was cool, folks.
Tonight’s Band on the Run show was my favorite yet. Deanna and I were front and center. The JARs were doing secret bits full steam. The best of them was when all the women were singing the bad girls song with “toot toot! Hey! Beep beep!” Sometimes Candi will say “De de!” instead of the beeps. She didn’t this time. BUT…there is a part where she normally says, “Hey mister! Yeah, you! Have you got some tiiiiiiime for me.” Nice and loud. Only this time instead of saying “Mister” she said “Rance.” I was caught of guard and loved it. Massimo also peeked around David in one number. Great stuff. I will miss them.
Deanna and I got to watch one of our favorite shows today. It’s called “Massimo and Alesia.” It’s really nothing more than sharing a meal with them and watching them interact. They are great.
We haven’t seen Andy much, his boyfriend is here…so I’ve been told.
OH! I saw about ONE MILLION (20 or so) FLYING FISH today. I was in the gym and didn’t have my camera, so, bummer. I saw a bird flying by the ship…and we’re not that close to land, so I knew something was in the water. I saw one little flying fish pop up and fly. Then later a wave hit the ship and out of the wave flew at least 20 fish (flying away from the ship…not attacking). It was cool, folks.
Tonight’s Band on the Run show was my favorite yet. Deanna and I were front and center. The JARs were doing secret bits full steam. The best of them was when all the women were singing the bad girls song with “toot toot! Hey! Beep beep!” Sometimes Candi will say “De de!” instead of the beeps. She didn’t this time. BUT…there is a part where she normally says, “Hey mister! Yeah, you! Have you got some tiiiiiiime for me.” Nice and loud. Only this time instead of saying “Mister” she said “Rance.” I was caught of guard and loved it. Massimo also peeked around David in one number. Great stuff. I will miss them.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Day 93
Miami, FL. Well, we’re officially crew. In our world (entertainers) there used to be white cards (full-time crew) and blue cards (sort of like crew with perks). They got rid of blue cards and made any entertainers who would have been blue cards into passenger status. This was great for a lot of reasons, but cut off crew access like the crew bar and crew store. We have been lucky enough to be allowed access to those areas as it is a ship-by-ship discretion. NOW we are YELLOW cards…supernumerary crew. What is the difference between yellow and blue? I have no idea. I think the biggest change is that we now get off through the crew entrance in Miami instead of with the passengers. Any other differences I guess I’ll figure out in the less-than-a-month that we’re here.
That whole change meant we had to be back on board by 11:30am as I mentioned. So it was an early morning. I had all the laundry done before the safety drill even began.
Other noteworthy events: we played Settlers last night and I dominated…DOMINTATED!!! (well…I won.)
That whole change meant we had to be back on board by 11:30am as I mentioned. So it was an early morning. I had all the laundry done before the safety drill even began.
Other noteworthy events: we played Settlers last night and I dominated…DOMINTATED!!! (well…I won.)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Day 92
Sea/Valentine’s Day. Happy Sea/Valentine’s Day! Today was a mix of the gym, dance lessons, and eating at Cagney’s Steakhouse (finally).
Deanna and I have nearly gotten to the point with swing dancing that we can just dance to a song. Progress!
While walking to a meal today a lady stopped us and said “Hey! We’re from Chicago!” She then said to me, “You’re much better looking in person!” To which I replied, “Yeah, I’m really ugly on stage.” This is the first time I’VE gotten something like this. Usually Jen gets that she looks younger in person. So, basically, the stage makes us gross.
So, tonight we went to Cagney’s for dinner. We had to make reservations…which you can make between 7am-5pm on the day you would like to eat. I set my alarm for 7:00am…and then reset it for 10:00 hoping I would wake up naturally early like usual. I woke up at 7:13…thirteen minutes after the start time for reservations. I got up, I called, it was booked up until 9:30pm. I took it. Everything from 5:30-9:30 booked in 13 minutes? Insane. Anyhow, we got there and there were a lot of loud talkers. It was seeming like it would be an awkward dinner at best…until magic happened.
There were two couples sitting together at a table near us. Out of the blue I hear something hit the table, like silverware dropped in disgust. One guy (youger couples…in their 20s) stands up and his chair falls back onto the ground. He exclaims to the restaurant, “Love sucks, everyone! Valentine’s Day is shit!” and walks out. The woman pauses just a moment and then walks out after him. The look on her face was not of sadness nor anger, but of “huh?” It quieted the place down, that’s for sure. After a long 60 seconds the guy remaining at the table with HIS date said “Everything is okay with Love.” Good times.
Tomorrow we have to get up early to hit Miami. We have to be back on the ship by 11:30 to sign off as passengers and sign ON as CREW!
Deanna and I have nearly gotten to the point with swing dancing that we can just dance to a song. Progress!
While walking to a meal today a lady stopped us and said “Hey! We’re from Chicago!” She then said to me, “You’re much better looking in person!” To which I replied, “Yeah, I’m really ugly on stage.” This is the first time I’VE gotten something like this. Usually Jen gets that she looks younger in person. So, basically, the stage makes us gross.
So, tonight we went to Cagney’s for dinner. We had to make reservations…which you can make between 7am-5pm on the day you would like to eat. I set my alarm for 7:00am…and then reset it for 10:00 hoping I would wake up naturally early like usual. I woke up at 7:13…thirteen minutes after the start time for reservations. I got up, I called, it was booked up until 9:30pm. I took it. Everything from 5:30-9:30 booked in 13 minutes? Insane. Anyhow, we got there and there were a lot of loud talkers. It was seeming like it would be an awkward dinner at best…until magic happened.
There were two couples sitting together at a table near us. Out of the blue I hear something hit the table, like silverware dropped in disgust. One guy (youger couples…in their 20s) stands up and his chair falls back onto the ground. He exclaims to the restaurant, “Love sucks, everyone! Valentine’s Day is shit!” and walks out. The woman pauses just a moment and then walks out after him. The look on her face was not of sadness nor anger, but of “huh?” It quieted the place down, that’s for sure. After a long 60 seconds the guy remaining at the table with HIS date said “Everything is okay with Love.” Good times.
Tomorrow we have to get up early to hit Miami. We have to be back on the ship by 11:30 to sign off as passengers and sign ON as CREW!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Day 91
Grand Cayman. Well, it is day 91 and it has finally happened. I caught a cold. Today I didn’t get off the ship. I stayed in and rested. We had our improv shows tonight and I didn’t want to spend too much energy on the island. Which also means I didn’t do a whole lot.
I was feeling ok by the time we had shows. We had a fun scene where the suggestion was something about teenage penguins. Jen was a peguin in a high school and she was trying to pretend to be a girl, but Deanna called her out on it. I figured I would be a seal trying to be a boy who was in love with Jen’s character…not realizing she was a penguin and therefore, dinner. So, I entered the scene in a seal-like manner asking Jen out to the dance. One of them called me a walrus, so I stayed a walrus. Later Deanna (the human in the scene) said she had a ball and through it to me (wanting me to catch it on my nose). I watched the ball go by and said “what the hell do you think I am? A seal?!” I mean, the nerve! Right?
After that I pretty much went back to my room and attempted to sleep…but The Prestige was on…so I was up until 2:00.
I was feeling ok by the time we had shows. We had a fun scene where the suggestion was something about teenage penguins. Jen was a peguin in a high school and she was trying to pretend to be a girl, but Deanna called her out on it. I figured I would be a seal trying to be a boy who was in love with Jen’s character…not realizing she was a penguin and therefore, dinner. So, I entered the scene in a seal-like manner asking Jen out to the dance. One of them called me a walrus, so I stayed a walrus. Later Deanna (the human in the scene) said she had a ball and through it to me (wanting me to catch it on my nose). I watched the ball go by and said “what the hell do you think I am? A seal?!” I mean, the nerve! Right?
After that I pretty much went back to my room and attempted to sleep…but The Prestige was on…so I was up until 2:00.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Day 90
Cozumel, Mexico. Internet at a café. We had our shows later that night. Another combo where the crew show was crammed in between our two shows. That meant our 9:45 show was light and full of lethargy. The people who go to the crew show either leave right after because they are now too tired to stay for our show, or they stay for our show…and find out they’re tired.
Oh, well.
Oh, well.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Day 89
Sea Day. I write this at the end of the day and things are hazy. We finally got some new movies on the passenger movie channels. David got me Hot Rod on DVD yesterday and it couldn’t have been better timed…Hot Rod is off the ship’s channels.
Gym, eating, VIP party…blah, blah, blah. I DID get to meet Christopher’s parents, so that was nice. Rumor has it that Christopher was always a bright young boy and he played Abe Lincoln when he was 7 years old.
Mike has some people visiting this cruise so he’s off with them. My brain is already shifting over into “pack your stuff up” mode. We have four cruises left, including this one. That’s two more shots at each port. We have shows on both of the port days this cruise. I have no idea what we’ll be doing.
Gym, eating, VIP party…blah, blah, blah. I DID get to meet Christopher’s parents, so that was nice. Rumor has it that Christopher was always a bright young boy and he played Abe Lincoln when he was 7 years old.
Mike has some people visiting this cruise so he’s off with them. My brain is already shifting over into “pack your stuff up” mode. We have four cruises left, including this one. That’s two more shots at each port. We have shows on both of the port days this cruise. I have no idea what we’ll be doing.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Day 88
Miami, FL. Well, I’ve gone and done it this time. Loyal readers will know that Hot Rod is a movie that grows on you if you’re me. Deanna can’t stand it (I think it is a façade). Today I downloaded the soundtrack on iTunes. Great purchase. Cool beans remix? C’mon!
I looked at the weather for Chicago. -2. Yike! Deanna and I are screwed. We spent three years getting acclimated to winters in Chicago and now a breeze on a 72 degree day sends us running for jeans and sweatshirts. Guess who didn’t bring a coat with them? Me…that’s who.
I’ll probably buy one in Miami on our last day if the weather in Chicago looks bad.
I also downloaded Oxygene by Jean Michael Jarre…it is an album that my parents had when I was growing up. It’s all synthesizer, new-agey stuff…but I listened to it a lot. One of the songs was in the house music for Cirque Bijoux. That inspired me to look for it again, and there it was.
We ended up seeing the folks who are starting up on the NCL Dawn today. Brett and Vanessa are the two we know. I feel like I’m missing one name of the other folks, but they are Molly, Matt, Craig, and Jesse. Any of those could be wrong. If they’re all right then I am awesome with memory. We only got to see them briefly as they were coming in with luggage and confusion. The first day is always the hardest because of so many factors. Right now we are technically passengers. This was a change that happened right before we got on board. Now NCL is making us Blue Cards again…crew, but not crew…but definitely not passengers. We haven’t switched over yet, but two other ships have and the Dawn crew is coming in as crew. So we have that to look forward to.
Tonight we had a baby shower for Svetlana and Roman. It was a fun thing to do and they seemed to love it. Home away from home.
I looked at the weather for Chicago. -2. Yike! Deanna and I are screwed. We spent three years getting acclimated to winters in Chicago and now a breeze on a 72 degree day sends us running for jeans and sweatshirts. Guess who didn’t bring a coat with them? Me…that’s who.
I’ll probably buy one in Miami on our last day if the weather in Chicago looks bad.
I also downloaded Oxygene by Jean Michael Jarre…it is an album that my parents had when I was growing up. It’s all synthesizer, new-agey stuff…but I listened to it a lot. One of the songs was in the house music for Cirque Bijoux. That inspired me to look for it again, and there it was.
We ended up seeing the folks who are starting up on the NCL Dawn today. Brett and Vanessa are the two we know. I feel like I’m missing one name of the other folks, but they are Molly, Matt, Craig, and Jesse. Any of those could be wrong. If they’re all right then I am awesome with memory. We only got to see them briefly as they were coming in with luggage and confusion. The first day is always the hardest because of so many factors. Right now we are technically passengers. This was a change that happened right before we got on board. Now NCL is making us Blue Cards again…crew, but not crew…but definitely not passengers. We haven’t switched over yet, but two other ships have and the Dawn crew is coming in as crew. So we have that to look forward to.
Tonight we had a baby shower for Svetlana and Roman. It was a fun thing to do and they seemed to love it. Home away from home.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Day 87
Sea Day again. Apparently we missed seeing some whales yesterday. Ryan’s (JAR) dad and step-mom are on board and saw the whales breaching and playing. Nuts!
I’ve been working getting my website ready again for photo work. Deanna and I also had dance lessons with Svetlana again. Great. I’m getting better at dancing and actually having fun with it.
Apparently I need to keep up this blog when I get back into Chicago. Johnny (JAR) already said he couldn’t wait to keep up on things when we get off the ship. I doubt it will be a daily thing, but who knows. Not me…you? I don’t.
I hope Keelan and Charlotte aren’t in Camden Market. They went home for a couple corporate gigs for two weeks. CNN has had breaking news that there is a major fire there. Also hope that Phillippa’s parents don’t live there…they are on the ship right now so at least they’re safe if they do.
By the way…CNN Dr. Sanjay Gupta is talking about healthcare in the US. There is something proposed or already happening (I was typing as the story was on TV) where you will be penalized $219 this year if you don’t have healthcare (meaning private healthcare if none is provided by your employer) and $1000 in 2009. They were interviewing to rap artists (Smoke and Miles I think) who were talking about how they don’t pay for healthcare because it is so expensive and now they’re going to be penalized for that. What are they going to do, send the FBI or CIA after them? How are they supposed to provide food for their kids? Meanwhile, he is wearing HUGE diamond earrings and gold necklaces. Either the bling was fake or I just thought of a way for him to get food for his kids. Crazy rappers and their bling.
I’ve been working getting my website ready again for photo work. Deanna and I also had dance lessons with Svetlana again. Great. I’m getting better at dancing and actually having fun with it.
Apparently I need to keep up this blog when I get back into Chicago. Johnny (JAR) already said he couldn’t wait to keep up on things when we get off the ship. I doubt it will be a daily thing, but who knows. Not me…you? I don’t.
I hope Keelan and Charlotte aren’t in Camden Market. They went home for a couple corporate gigs for two weeks. CNN has had breaking news that there is a major fire there. Also hope that Phillippa’s parents don’t live there…they are on the ship right now so at least they’re safe if they do.
By the way…CNN Dr. Sanjay Gupta is talking about healthcare in the US. There is something proposed or already happening (I was typing as the story was on TV) where you will be penalized $219 this year if you don’t have healthcare (meaning private healthcare if none is provided by your employer) and $1000 in 2009. They were interviewing to rap artists (Smoke and Miles I think) who were talking about how they don’t pay for healthcare because it is so expensive and now they’re going to be penalized for that. What are they going to do, send the FBI or CIA after them? How are they supposed to provide food for their kids? Meanwhile, he is wearing HUGE diamond earrings and gold necklaces. Either the bling was fake or I just thought of a way for him to get food for his kids. Crazy rappers and their bling.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Day 86
Sea Day. Did I mention there are less than 30 days until I’m back in Chicago? ‘Cause there are. Time flies when you’re having fun. Sorry, Ben Johnson.
Today was day two of a new workout program I’m trying. It is a 12-week program…so I guess I’ll be going to the gym in Chicago. I am excited that I’ve been working out enough to A) see results and B) feel like it has become a habit…so I’ll probably keep at it. For those of you keeping score, no…it wasn’t a New Year’s resolution.
After my workout I did something I don’t normally do. I came back to the room and crashed…hard. I was watching Bourne Ultimatum again…it was even in the middle of an action packed chase…and I fell asleep. For three hours.
I got up in time for us to go to the first Cirque Bijoux show. We keep trying to sit in the 6th row in the center so we can make faces at David on the bungee cords. That theater packs quick. We’ve never been in the 6th row…EVER. David was out though. He hurt his back and was sitting in our row to watch the show. They did great. We went back to the 9:30 show too, but missed the 6th row again. We sat upfront and Deanna was giggling at something. I looked up and Christopher was nearly breaking on stage…well, pretty much breaking. That weird face when you’re trying not to laugh, but people can tell that you are trying not to laugh. Another thing that happened was a chunk of this diamond necklace prop fell off. A chunk big enough to hurt if stepped on and possibly easy to slip on. The ballroom number happened and Roman and Sascha came close to stepping on it. Then the ladies from the Emerald Isles came out. Keeva was right by it. There is one move where they are near the floor and gracefully bring one arm down. Keeva did this and gave a quick and short swat at the necklace piece. It was barely noticeable and I only saw it because I was in the front row and focused on the necklace. It was cat-like and swift.
After the shows I came right back here and relaxed and slept. It is the last cruise for Gym Tim and Gym Chris (there are two Tims and multiple Chrises). Both leaving early from their contracts. The gym and spa workers are hired through and work for a separate company from NCL. When we first got here in November is was supposed to be Chris’ last cruise, but he decided to stick to his contract. They’re both great and will be missed. It is also Ana Panic’s last cruise before she transfers to the Sun. She is saucy and was one of the first people we met because Matt knew her. I’m hoping it won’t be a month of goodbyes.
We will be attempting to say hello to Brett and Vanessa from Chicago. They are on the new cast of the Dawn and will be coming in on Sunday while we’re in port. I feel like I may have said this before. It will just be nice to see some faces from home.
I don’t remember if I have mentioned this either…Deanna and I will be taking a writing class that we’ve been DYING to take since before we left. More on that as we go.
Today was day two of a new workout program I’m trying. It is a 12-week program…so I guess I’ll be going to the gym in Chicago. I am excited that I’ve been working out enough to A) see results and B) feel like it has become a habit…so I’ll probably keep at it. For those of you keeping score, no…it wasn’t a New Year’s resolution.
After my workout I did something I don’t normally do. I came back to the room and crashed…hard. I was watching Bourne Ultimatum again…it was even in the middle of an action packed chase…and I fell asleep. For three hours.
I got up in time for us to go to the first Cirque Bijoux show. We keep trying to sit in the 6th row in the center so we can make faces at David on the bungee cords. That theater packs quick. We’ve never been in the 6th row…EVER. David was out though. He hurt his back and was sitting in our row to watch the show. They did great. We went back to the 9:30 show too, but missed the 6th row again. We sat upfront and Deanna was giggling at something. I looked up and Christopher was nearly breaking on stage…well, pretty much breaking. That weird face when you’re trying not to laugh, but people can tell that you are trying not to laugh. Another thing that happened was a chunk of this diamond necklace prop fell off. A chunk big enough to hurt if stepped on and possibly easy to slip on. The ballroom number happened and Roman and Sascha came close to stepping on it. Then the ladies from the Emerald Isles came out. Keeva was right by it. There is one move where they are near the floor and gracefully bring one arm down. Keeva did this and gave a quick and short swat at the necklace piece. It was barely noticeable and I only saw it because I was in the front row and focused on the necklace. It was cat-like and swift.
After the shows I came right back here and relaxed and slept. It is the last cruise for Gym Tim and Gym Chris (there are two Tims and multiple Chrises). Both leaving early from their contracts. The gym and spa workers are hired through and work for a separate company from NCL. When we first got here in November is was supposed to be Chris’ last cruise, but he decided to stick to his contract. They’re both great and will be missed. It is also Ana Panic’s last cruise before she transfers to the Sun. She is saucy and was one of the first people we met because Matt knew her. I’m hoping it won’t be a month of goodbyes.
We will be attempting to say hello to Brett and Vanessa from Chicago. They are on the new cast of the Dawn and will be coming in on Sunday while we’re in port. I feel like I may have said this before. It will just be nice to see some faces from home.
I don’t remember if I have mentioned this either…Deanna and I will be taking a writing class that we’ve been DYING to take since before we left. More on that as we go.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Day 85
St. Lucia. Today was action packed! And by that I mean, we didn’t do much because we packed away action in a bag or something. We were at a different port though, so that was slightly exciting. It was just on the other side of this little bay, but there were shops and such that we had never been to because they were always on the other side of the bay. This time WE were on that side. I was hoping to find coffee an/or internet. Last time I went searching for both and found neither. This time, same story. No coffee? Geez Louise.
It was pretty mellow from there on out. We had our workshop, which went great, and played Settlers of Catan. At night Andy was one of the dancers in Ship n Males…the male strip dance show. He used an idea I came up with way at the beginning when he was thinking about doing it. He did the whole dance backwards with the help of Deanna, Jen, and Star the youth counselor. He started off in his underwear with some $$ in them and danced backwards. He gave a dollar to one lady, then another, then a guy. Deanna came out screaming with some socks and put them on him. Star came out screaming with pants and put them on him. Jen came out screaming with a shirt and put it on him. His dance was over when he was dressed. Also he picked a Britney Spears song and played it backwards to the whole thing. Well done.
Christopher also vented about some obnoxious people who were talking all through their Band on the Run show. It was one of those moments that was great because he was calling them out, but awkward for all of us because we were worried he would get in trouble. In the end the audience was on his side and the Hotel Director (who was there and is a very important person) thought it was great.
Let the sea days begin!
It was pretty mellow from there on out. We had our workshop, which went great, and played Settlers of Catan. At night Andy was one of the dancers in Ship n Males…the male strip dance show. He used an idea I came up with way at the beginning when he was thinking about doing it. He did the whole dance backwards with the help of Deanna, Jen, and Star the youth counselor. He started off in his underwear with some $$ in them and danced backwards. He gave a dollar to one lady, then another, then a guy. Deanna came out screaming with some socks and put them on him. Star came out screaming with pants and put them on him. Jen came out screaming with a shirt and put it on him. His dance was over when he was dressed. Also he picked a Britney Spears song and played it backwards to the whole thing. Well done.
Christopher also vented about some obnoxious people who were talking all through their Band on the Run show. It was one of those moments that was great because he was calling them out, but awkward for all of us because we were worried he would get in trouble. In the end the audience was on his side and the Hotel Director (who was there and is a very important person) thought it was great.
Let the sea days begin!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Day 84
Barbados. Today we went to a place called The Blue Monkey. We were told by the excursion people that you could see turtles there…TURTLES! What they didn’t tell us is that you get harassed every 5 feet to buy necklaces, get a chair, got Jet Skiing and what not. We even had two guys trying to get us to go in their cab right from the port. Barbados went down a few notches today. Lighten up, Bajans!
Anyhow…we went. It was a bit of a swim out to get where the turtles were. We knew where they were because there were 5 boats constantly going out there with people to snorkel or view via glass bottom boat. The swim out there was a vast expanse of nothing. Remember how you start seeing life about 3 feet out at Cemetary beach? Not here. Even once we got out there it was sparse. There were two turtles though…so we did see some. We also saw a couple blowfish and some weird thing. I haven’t checked my pics yet. I’m hoping they all come out. It was cloudy as usual so the light wasn’t cooperating.
Other than that…not much. Oh! Sascha, Sveta, and Roman were with us. Sascha borrowed Deanna’s mask and went swimming out there to see the turtles. Later we see one of the tour boat guys swimming her back to shore. His words as she got into safe water…”Next time bring fins”.
She has a sore knee from dancing and it apparently started acting up once she got out there.
Tonight was another crew party…this time outside. I was there briefly. Once the loud music gets even louder I’m out of there. Otherwise it is just me smiling and nodding pretending I can hear anything. I think these parties are great for the crew…just not for me.
Anyhow…we went. It was a bit of a swim out to get where the turtles were. We knew where they were because there were 5 boats constantly going out there with people to snorkel or view via glass bottom boat. The swim out there was a vast expanse of nothing. Remember how you start seeing life about 3 feet out at Cemetary beach? Not here. Even once we got out there it was sparse. There were two turtles though…so we did see some. We also saw a couple blowfish and some weird thing. I haven’t checked my pics yet. I’m hoping they all come out. It was cloudy as usual so the light wasn’t cooperating.
Other than that…not much. Oh! Sascha, Sveta, and Roman were with us. Sascha borrowed Deanna’s mask and went swimming out there to see the turtles. Later we see one of the tour boat guys swimming her back to shore. His words as she got into safe water…”Next time bring fins”.
She has a sore knee from dancing and it apparently started acting up once she got out there.
Tonight was another crew party…this time outside. I was there briefly. Once the loud music gets even louder I’m out of there. Otherwise it is just me smiling and nodding pretending I can hear anything. I think these parties are great for the crew…just not for me.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Day 83
Antigua. Today had a 10% chance of beach…but it didn’t happen. I slept in a little later and missed breakfast. Second day in a row missing the main buffet at breakfast and it sucks. For some reason I woke up every two hours during the night, and not just tossing and turning, but as if I had come out of a good sleep and was ready for the day. Every two hours until my 10am alarm, that is.
We went to get free internet again and sort out our return trip home a bit more. We have a place to stay for a couple months (thanks, Rene) if we like. That’s enough to give us a “sort things out” buffer. I’m going to need to get the photo biz cranking again. I’m just waiting to hear back from the studio I used.
On our way back from hanging out at Coast for internet we stopped to get coffee. Candy and Matt were outside so we went out to talk with them. I feel kind of bad because Candy was talking about our show, I was listening, I moved a chair to sit and a bright green gecko moved a couple inches then stopped. I thing I said “Nobody do anything!” interrupting Candy, and started taking pics. So…sorry, Candy. But the gecko was cool. It was…look at the pics.
Got back to the ship to get in a workout. Found out that Jimmy, our Cruise Director, had to go to the hospital to get his appendix out. So, he’s off the ship for a few days. That means Jon is the Cruise Director (you heard me mom and dad).
Tonight we had dinner with Michael Rossman and his son, Ethan. It was Ethan’s birthday. Michael is the juggler + (some magic, some other forms of entertainment…a well rounded act). He leaves on Thursday, but someone was chatting with him and dinner came up, so Second City went to eat with him and his son. It was great. Nice stories and food.
After that it was time for another Liar’s Club. Jen and Mike were the Second City representatives this time and they were great. That is all I can say about this.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Day 82
Tortola. I feel terrible saying this…especially for anyone in Chicago who might be reading this. We’re getting beached-out. Today we basically went to town to use free internet in the one place we know of that has it. Word has gotten around the ship…at least around the JARs. I think we had Deanna, myself, Andy, Jen, Larrance, Christopher, Jon Paul, Candy, Keeva, Stevie, and Tim there…and Star (youth counselor)…maybe a couple others. I took a picture. We basically keep this place busy when we’re there.
I left early from there to head back to the ship. Earlier Jen had warned us that they would be testing the electricity and that we should unplug anything valuable. I got back on the ship just in time to hear an announcement that all power would be shut off in 5 minutes to test the emergency power. I then watched people get on the elevators. I thought to myself “You guys are idiots! You’re going to get stuck on the elevator!” I then walked to the buffet…closed. Then to the pool deck for burgers…closed. So I went to my room. Then I went into the bathroom. Right as I lifted the toilet seat…power outage. It was pitch black in there. I guess the only thing worse would have been if I was in the middle of going to the bathroom. I walked out to see all the hallways with their emergency lighting on. Exciting.
Later on in the day we had rehearsal and then shows. The first show was by far the most exciting yet. I start the show. I’m the first person on stage who talks and I’m by myself (Andy is technically the first to talk, but from backstage with a “welcome to the show” greeting). I go out there…my mic is off. So I’m basically shouting my lines hoping the acoustics will at least work. It is a short scene. Then there is a short scene that I’m not in. During this the tech, Alex, was frantically testing things to get my mic working. It ended up that the connection was unscrewed. We also switched mic packs. By the time it was fixed I had missed one scene that I was in, but luckily it was just as a background body and probably the best thing for me to miss. We got it plugged in and working and on my belt with just enough time to hide the cord in my jacket before I had to go back out. It was four or five more scenes before I had a chance to actually hide the cord right. In the end it all worked out. Sure pumped the adrenalin though. This is the second time this has happened to me, but the first time it happened right from the start. These mics we use are nice and lightweight…but very fragile.
Other than that it was eating and all that other stuff. Tomorrow is SUPER TUESDAY in the states. We’re watching via CNN…Europe CNN. A decent amount of coverage and then a little “email us with questions and we’ll try to help you make sense of American politics” interjection.
I left early from there to head back to the ship. Earlier Jen had warned us that they would be testing the electricity and that we should unplug anything valuable. I got back on the ship just in time to hear an announcement that all power would be shut off in 5 minutes to test the emergency power. I then watched people get on the elevators. I thought to myself “You guys are idiots! You’re going to get stuck on the elevator!” I then walked to the buffet…closed. Then to the pool deck for burgers…closed. So I went to my room. Then I went into the bathroom. Right as I lifted the toilet seat…power outage. It was pitch black in there. I guess the only thing worse would have been if I was in the middle of going to the bathroom. I walked out to see all the hallways with their emergency lighting on. Exciting.
Later on in the day we had rehearsal and then shows. The first show was by far the most exciting yet. I start the show. I’m the first person on stage who talks and I’m by myself (Andy is technically the first to talk, but from backstage with a “welcome to the show” greeting). I go out there…my mic is off. So I’m basically shouting my lines hoping the acoustics will at least work. It is a short scene. Then there is a short scene that I’m not in. During this the tech, Alex, was frantically testing things to get my mic working. It ended up that the connection was unscrewed. We also switched mic packs. By the time it was fixed I had missed one scene that I was in, but luckily it was just as a background body and probably the best thing for me to miss. We got it plugged in and working and on my belt with just enough time to hide the cord in my jacket before I had to go back out. It was four or five more scenes before I had a chance to actually hide the cord right. In the end it all worked out. Sure pumped the adrenalin though. This is the second time this has happened to me, but the first time it happened right from the start. These mics we use are nice and lightweight…but very fragile.
Other than that it was eating and all that other stuff. Tomorrow is SUPER TUESDAY in the states. We’re watching via CNN…Europe CNN. A decent amount of coverage and then a little “email us with questions and we’ll try to help you make sense of American politics” interjection.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Day 81
Samana. We did another “sea day drill” while in Samana. That is…we stay on the ship and pretend it is a sea day. Eating and working out…web work and video games…good times. I think I made it to 200 pounds. We were anchored and it wasn’t wavy…the scale said 200.3 and then 201.1…so I’m right around there. I’ve only been over 200 one time, the first time we went to Maine. We came back from there and I was 205…only I wasn’t working out or trying to gain weight.
CSz Chicago is opening up in there new space (929 W Belmont) on 2/14, so that is exciting. It has been a long time coming with a lot of city hurdles (inspections and whatnots), but it will finally be open.
Today was also the Super Bowl. We watched the first half and then went to check out the new juggler…Michael Rossman I think was the name. Very good. Very funny too. He has a bit I’ll call “Sara! Sara!” that I want to use at ComedySportz…so someone from Csz remind me of it when I’m back. Say “Sara! Sara!” to me like you’re chanting. By the time his show was over I had to get my camera. I took pictures of David doing his straps routine (similar to silks) at 10:30. They came out great and I’ll have some up eventually.
Neither of us (Deanna and I) feel like going to the beach tomorrow. We’ll either stay on the ship or go to the coffee place for free internet.
CSz Chicago is opening up in there new space (929 W Belmont) on 2/14, so that is exciting. It has been a long time coming with a lot of city hurdles (inspections and whatnots), but it will finally be open.
Today was also the Super Bowl. We watched the first half and then went to check out the new juggler…Michael Rossman I think was the name. Very good. Very funny too. He has a bit I’ll call “Sara! Sara!” that I want to use at ComedySportz…so someone from Csz remind me of it when I’m back. Say “Sara! Sara!” to me like you’re chanting. By the time his show was over I had to get my camera. I took pictures of David doing his straps routine (similar to silks) at 10:30. They came out great and I’ll have some up eventually.
Neither of us (Deanna and I) feel like going to the beach tomorrow. We’ll either stay on the ship or go to the coffee place for free internet.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Day 80
Sea Day. Chillllllllll. Deanna and I didn’t do a whole lot. I didn’t make it to the gym much while my parents were here so I have been diligent. For three days in a row now. After 80 days I’ve probably put on 3 pounds…maybe 5. It is hard to tell because of the scales they have here…especially if the ship rocks. Today has been pretty rocky and according to the scale I’m anywhere between 192 and 210 pounds. I bought a muscle magazine of some sort because it had a fitness and nutrition guide for beginners. I ate every 3 hours today…except for dinner. Everyone was ready for dinner 2 hours after I ate and I was stuffed.
What else? Hmmm…Oh! We went to see Band on the Run. There were two couples in the third row on the left side that were talking extremely loud. EXTREMELY. To the point that JP and Christopher were staring them down at times to clue them in…they were clueless. The nice thing is they were drinking a lot and the ship is probably rocky enough to make for interesting hangover conditions. KARMA.
Phillippa and Ryan both have parents on this cruise. Bianca has guests. The remaining cruises for us will have visitors almost always. That will be fun.
Tomorrow is Samana day…a.k.a. Web work and jack squat day.
What else? Hmmm…Oh! We went to see Band on the Run. There were two couples in the third row on the left side that were talking extremely loud. EXTREMELY. To the point that JP and Christopher were staring them down at times to clue them in…they were clueless. The nice thing is they were drinking a lot and the ship is probably rocky enough to make for interesting hangover conditions. KARMA.
Phillippa and Ryan both have parents on this cruise. Bianca has guests. The remaining cruises for us will have visitors almost always. That will be fun.
Tomorrow is Samana day…a.k.a. Web work and jack squat day.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Day 79
Miami, FL. The day started off with our parents spending their last moments on the ship and then hopping in a shuttle. Everything else was pretty standard. Eat, laundry, gym.
Deanna and I watched No Country For Old Men. It is good…but not as good as Eric Lindberg led us to believe. Eric is a major liar when it comes to movies. If he says the movie was fantastic, it probably sucks. If he says that it is the best movie ever made, than it is probably good with some good acting…but let’s not get crazy here. Settle down, Eric.
Oh…and I got a haircut. So…EVENTFUL!
Deanna and I watched No Country For Old Men. It is good…but not as good as Eric Lindberg led us to believe. Eric is a major liar when it comes to movies. If he says the movie was fantastic, it probably sucks. If he says that it is the best movie ever made, than it is probably good with some good acting…but let’s not get crazy here. Settle down, Eric.
Oh…and I got a haircut. So…EVENTFUL!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
