I wrote this on the plane home. May 24, 2008

What can I say? Over the last ten weeks I have laughed, cried, had thoughtful conversations, and some very stupid moments with people I now consider family. I went into this whole venture very quickly not really knowing what to expect or having any time to prepare myself for it. I walked into it very afraid, nervous, and apprehensive but I made some great lifelong friendships.

 

Just sitting here on a plane I am crying because I know I won’t get these ten weeks back, I just have the memories of them. I am not going to wake up in the same room as Lisa tomorrow morning complaining that I don’t want to get up, while she is already on her computer checking facebook. I have no one to watch So You think You Can Dance or any of the other amazingly stupid shows we watch together. No more venues in crazy little towns or ginormus cites where we get lost. It’s just sad. I have all these things to remember and I don’t know how. Yes, I have used this blog for the entire tour, but not everything is on it. Some things I didn’t write down but I am desperate to remember.

 

I have had such a great time I don’t really know how to express it. I know I will visit everyone at some point or another and I will hopefully move to NYC by next June, but it’s going to be so weird not seeing everyone everyday.

 

Our family got a little shattered when Megan left the tour, and Shannon didn’t really care enough to try to be a part of the group even though we all tried to include her. She just didn’t care for us I guess or thought she was too good for us, but either way she just didn’t want to a part of an amazing group of people. She would have realized that if she wanted to bother. Oh well, her loss.

 

So the last week has been rough, but it just made it seem like the end was coming closer and there was no way to escape it. I don’t know what I am going to do without Chance, Lisa, Tony, Jonathan B, Jonathan Y, Jessica, or Megan. These people are so dear to me and we have gotten so close. It’s just rough…. And even though you can’t see it, I am bawling again over this. I am still sitting on a plane from Philadelphia to Charlotte, where I am going to see Mom and Jimmy, but part of me wants to get back in the van with the people I have grown to love and rely on. I want to drive to another part of the country with the beads on the visor in the van, me sprawled out on the back seat, watching the world go by while I read another book. That is all I can think about.

 

I have been exposed to so much on this, and I wish it would keep going. These amazing seven people have helped me grow so much as a person, develop a better fashion sense, understand what I truly want in life, know when to be a true to myself and tell people what I really think- no matter how blunt or bitchy (thanks Chance and Lisa).

 

I guess all I can still say is, it’s over and I want to go back. I want to enjoy this life again. I know it’s time to move on and find a new adventure, but I don’t know if that will ever happen…..

 

Each in their own right- these people are one of a kind and I love them all.

Sad or Happy May 23, 2008

I am leaving today.

I’m gonna cry.

Marty Came to My Show! May 21, 2008

In Virginia!!!! Yes, my beloved older brother got up at 3:30 in the morning to drive from Rock Hill, SC to Charlottesville, VA to see me in my show. He couldn’t come to the show in Columbia, SC (stupid golf tournament) so he drove over 5 hours to seem my show.

He made my tour.

We all went out to lunch after the show, and Marty seemed to have a great time with everyone. Jonathan Bates even calls him hilarious, which I find comical. I was just so happy he came to the show! he has been working long hours and very hard lately, and I was just really happy he came. He even made me cry. It’s all good though, he is my brother and I think he rocks!

On another note- you know those concrete things they put at the end of the gas pumps so you don’t hit them? Jessica almost ripped the bumper off the penske today by hitting one. The corner of the truck is also a little smashed in. I got a good laugh out of it.

I can’t believe it’s almost over, I am having mixed feelings about it. I hate being a sappy girl.

Love~me.

Day off In Greensboro May 20, 2008

Well, we had a day off in Greensboro, and we needed the morning to sleep in because we were up late because we were celebrating chance’s Birthday! He is 24 like me! YAY!!!!! Anyway after a night of drinking we decided today it would be a good day to go to the mall. This was the best mall we have been to on this tour. Three floors, lots of great stores, and a decent food court. It was lovely. I bought a shirt (of course) and a necklace. We all had a great time.

The best part about yesterday though was MEGAN CAME INTO TOWN! She surprised us all by driving two hours and meeting us in Greensboro. It was SO COOL! She came out to dinner with us, hung out with us, and stayed the night. The poor girl has her arm in a sling though because she fractured her elbow. It wsas great to see her though, we all have been missing her tremendously. I loved it! I wish she could have stayed longer though, that would have been even better.

Just another way to cap off this tour. Less than 3 days!

Love~me.

5 more days May 18, 2008

So I went home this weekend because we are in Columbia. I loved being home. I wish I could have stayed. 5 more days.

Then I will be home and I can’t wait!

Most of the cast, everyone except for Shannon came up to Rock Hill today for a barbcue and I think everyone had a good time. I know my family did, and they loved everyone. I even got to meet Chance’s sister.

it was agreat weekend.

Long Day May 15, 2008

We performed in a primary school today. We performed in a cafeatorium. You know, the cafeteria with the stage at one end? Yeah… we performed on that today. It was super tiny and our set didn’t really fit on it. I do have to admit Shannon did a wonderful job today. She learned everything in less than two days and the show went very well.

Tomorrow we are performing a three show day and our last show is at 7pm. Then we have a four hour drive to Columbia!!!!!!!!!!! Jimmy is picking me up at the hotel and I get to spend the weekend at home! I can’t wait! I have been counting down the days til I get to see my family and it’s almost here! Everyone is coming up to the house on Sunday and we are going to have a Barbecue and a relaxing afternoon.

Love~me.

Two nights in one hotel! May 14, 2008

That doesn’t happen except for weekends…. It means I don’t have to lug my obnoxiously big suitcase that weighs more than I do up and down stairs (yes, stairs not elevators) for two days. WA HOO! Today we were at a pretty good venue, except there were only 126 kids. Yes, I am happy that we got to perform for these kids, but it sucks because I love big houses and wanted to reach more kids here in central Georgia.

We had another rehearsal today for Shannon to get her totally familiar with the show and to learn everything. This girl picks things up quick! She also got to watch the show and see how we have done things compared to her cast. I think she will be alright for tomorrow. I would freak out if I was going onstage as a lead after 7 hours of rehearsal. She had to learn all our dances and blocking. That’s tough. I am very proud of her though and I think she will do fabulously!

I don’t think I explained why we have a new Beauty in our cast. Megan, our first Beauty could not finish the tour. we knew that from the beginning, she is going to Prather’s Theatre in Florida to be Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, and she starts rehearsals before we are done with the tour. Thus, Shannon is brought in to finish out the last 9 days of shows. We all knew it was coming, but today we all cried and were messes. It was a good show though. i don’t know what the hell i am going to be like in DC at our last show. Oi.

Love ~me.

What a Week so far. May 13, 2008

Monday:

We were in the place from hell. Albany, Georgia at Darton Community College. We arrive at 8:00 to load in and everything. The Tech Director there was horrible! He was rude, unkind, and gave Jessica a 20 minute lecture on how to be a good stage manager because he thought we were all rude and unprofessional for not introducing ourselves….. Here is where I feel he is unprofessional and oblivious to reality.

HE LET CHILDREN COME BACKSTAGE DURING THE SHOW WHILE I WAS CHANGING AND WE WERE ALL BACK STAGE!

Yes, children saw me in my bra and crinoline skirt, and that’s it. Really? You want to call US unprofessional? When asked about an alternate bathroom (which were located in our dressing room) he went off on Jessica. I wanted to seriously punch this man. He lets children and teachers and God knows who else come into our dressing rooms to use the bathroom, as well as brings children backstage during the show.

I was really pissed off about that. All in all- Albany, Georgia sucks.

Tuesday:

Not a bad day- we had a great show in Tifton, Georgia. The woman at the theatre was wonderful- kind, funny, helpful; the complete opposite of the guy the day before. The kids loved the show, and we had a good time.

Our drive was the interesting part. We drove to Dublin today (I am sitting in rehearsal right now) and wow, what a drive. We were in the middle of nowhere. Seriously. We even drove our 15 passenger van on dirt roads and saw cows that got out of their gate on their farm. We also got to see a cute little dog and saw very pretty countryside.

Today we met Shannon- our beauty 2 if you will. She’s very nice and I think she will be a good person in our show. We are currently in rehearsal to teach Shannon our craziness. It’s going to be very interesting. I think it will be alright though.

Oh well, back to work.

Damn stupid TD’s who think they are God’s gift to theatre…. in a community college.

Long drives and lots of rest May 11, 2008

Well, we are coming down to the wire, almost done. We drove from Louisiana to Georgia, and are chilling out this weekend, I really haven’t done much excdept watch movies and Family Guy and it has been wonderful. There is a very creepy dude styaing the the same hall as us, and he kind of harassed Jess and I today. It was very awkward. Oh well.

Our new Beauty comes in tomorrow, and we start rehearsals with her very soon. So tonight we are going out as a cast one last time before we add the “newbee.” I am looking forward to it, but at the same time I am going to miss Megan, she and I have gotten to know each other and I think she is a really nice girl.

Oh well…. off to the bar.

Love~me.

Longest drive ever May 9, 2008

Well, I am now back in the eastern time zone……we drove from New Orleans to Albany, GA today. 8 and 12 hours. Back roads, small towns, a few highways, and the Penske got pulled over by some very sexist cops.

Also, my butt officially hates my guts.

Our venue today was terrible! We were at Tulane University, which is a gorgeous campus but the auditorium we were in was amazingly bad. There was no light board or lights (we had florescent lighting); no loading dock, so we had to drag everything across the grass and up a side ramp into the front of the auditorium; the dressing rooms were crap; the ushers starting bringing kids into the house during mic check; and our sound went totally haywire.

What a day.

I am so thankful we have two days off, we all need it. I am exhausted so I am off to bed.

Love~me.