Home was Calling My Name

No sooner did we arrive in Providence, Rhode Island I found myself on a plane heading home for Christmas!! I was so excited that the fact that I actually needed to sleep never even crossed my mind.  I was running on pure adrenaline.  I had one thing on my mind and that was to get home for the holidays.

Monday morning could not come soon enough!!

Finally, I was on my way to the airport and flight number one went smoothly and then it was time to wait for flight number two.

As soon as the plane touched down, I could not get off the plane quick enough to see my family and friends!! I was on Cloud 9 and in my glory when I was at home.  It was the best decision that I have ever made, spending the money to come home to be with the one's that mean the most.

There are other opportunities to travel and sight see, but you are only given one official family in your life and sometimes you just have to show them how much you appreciate them and how much they mean to you.  Since I have been on the road the last few months, I have come to realize the importance of the little things and family especially.  Even though we have been apart most of this time, we are still strongly tied to one another with a bond that cannot be broken and there is no distance that I would not travel just to be with them again for the holidays.

There is no word to describe how excited and happy I was to be home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I was overjoyed and in the place that I needed to be.  There is no better feeling than to be surrounded with those that you love and your family on the holidays to boost your spirits.

However, the time was quick at home and it was time to get back to work.  I mean, we had to perform 12 shows in the next five days!!

New York, New York

From snow to more snow we started our very long journey and went until we couldn’t go anymore.  Stopping at a rest area only about one and a half hours into the trip, the busses had to pull over.  The roads were not visible and the snow was coming down so hard that you could not see very far in front of you.  So, we made the most of our two hours at the rest stop and played in the snow.  Well, it may not have been the most practical, but it made the most sense to us at the time.

Finally making it to our destination later than expected, we pulled into our hotel in Albany, NY.  After a little rest, it was time to explore the area.  The building architecture was definitely artistic and the Christmas decorations along the street just added to the holiday spirit that the city emitted. 

The churches, mansions, and state capital buildings were just beautiful and the outdoor ice rink was had the perfect few of the sky and city buildings. 

Even though we trying to take it all in as best as we could, the time went by even quicker with all the shows, however that did not stop the holiday spirit and gift giving. 

As the year goes on and we learn more and more about each other, we are also getting closer and closer and becoming more like a family each week. 

Happy Holidays!!

See you in the next city for a very Merry Christmas!!

Snow Snow and More Snow!

 Well, it was time for another flight experience.  This time the weather played a part in our travels and delayed our first plane and left us running to catch the next one, which ended up sitting for over an hour loading all of our luggage.  No one was very pleased and I just could not wait to touch down in Pittsburgh from Kansas!!

The negative three-degree weather and snow couldn’t even stop me.  There was nothing that was going to stand between me and seeing my family and home on our few days off before returning to Youngstown, Ohio. 

Taking it all in when I was at home, including the home cooked meals, but that was nothing compared to the surprise that I walked into as I got home! Little did I know, but my sister came home from college and was waiting for me at home, My Daddy met me at the gate as I got off the plane and my Mom and Grandma were even there to pick me up too. 

Even though it was a quick turn around once I got home, I got to experience my first Penguins game at the CONSOL Energy Center that night along the way I ran into some of my friends; making the experience that much better. 

Unfortunately, the time at home could not last a bit longer and it was time to hit the road to Youngstown, Ohio.  It was so nice being in a familiar area that was close to home and having some friends and family come watch the shows.  It makes it all that much better and more exciting!  However, the hardest parts are still the goodbyes that I have to say when it is time to move onto the next city.  That will never get any easier, but knowing that those special people will always be there does make it seem the slightest bit more accepting.  

Welcome to the Land of Toto and Dorothy

Well, we made it to Topeka, Kansas and no sooner do we get here and it gets cold!! I am not talking about 20s to 30s, I am talking like 3 degrees in the morning to wake up to.  And yes we saw snow!! It was the first time since we have been on tour that we have seen snow this year.

Yes, most of us braved the cold and the wind and continued on our merry way; that along with staying out of sight of the Westborough Baptist Church and their picketing.

I mean, who or what can stop people from shopping!! Haha, yes there was more shopping to be done, which is definitely going to make the flight interesting with the weight of our luggage already being at maximum capacity.  Oh well, it was the perfect time to do holiday shopping before it was too late.

Also, with a movie theater right around the corner, it was nice to enjoy some relaxation at the theater.  Seeing the movie Frozen was probably one of the best ideas that we have had on tour so far.  Yes, the walk was definitely a chilly one, but it was kind of ironic being the title of the movie was "Frozen."

And to top it all off, did I mention Christmas lights?!  There is nothing more than seeing houses all decked out in their Christmas gear to get you in the holiday spirit!!

Show Buzz #2

D20 Show Buzz January/February 2013

Stephanie 

The Fall leaves are turning and starting to crunch under our feet and before you know it Jack Frost will be nipping at our nose.

It’s the holiday spirit!! Tis’ the Season to be Jolly!!

Making it from place to place this year has definitely been an experience.  We have been to places in Michigan and Ohio where it’s definitely cold this time of year and all the way down to Texas where we saw weather in the 90’s!!  It was a nice escape from the real world and freezing temperatures, but we were brought back to reality when it was 3 degrees on a three show Saturday in Topeka, Kansas. 

From the cold north to the deep south, we have covered many regions, even the forbidden and haunted ones…BOO! 

No holiday goes unnoticed on tour.  We all celebrated Halloween at O’Maley’s in the Alley in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

From the live-looking statues to the cobwebs in the corners, to the dark lights; it was time for some fun.  Everyone, no matter who you were dressed up to partake in fun.  There was even a costume contest and Captain Canada won!!

Then, it was back to reality…on the road again, on the road again, on the road again…

We were in Texas!  The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas. 

We may not have been seeing a lot of stars all the time, but we were definitely adapting to the environment in each city.

In Waco, Texas we performed in a fairgrounds building.  There were rodeos taking place at night after our shows cleared out and horse shows in another ring, and did I mention, there was the infamous red Texas dirt everywhere!!  It really made you feel like you were back home at a state fair especially with the pungent fragrance that filled the air. 

Who would have ever known that out of the four cities that we performed at in Texas, that they would be so different?  Each was almost as if it was it’s own special island instead of being part of the same state.  However Allen was definitely unique.  It was Thanksgiving!!

Everyone was in their glory.  We were all a bunch of little kids that morning; waking up early to watch the Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade.  Then it was time to go bounce in the Bouncy Castle!! Yes, we think we are adult, but really we are all kids at heart.  Who doesn’t want a bouncy castle at their Thanksgiving Day celebration?!

After we were all tuckered out like little puppies that play too hard, it was time for a feast of a lifetime.  I am not talking about one or two turkeys for all of us, but how does 10 deep-fried turkeys with all the fixings sound?!   We even had dessert with pumpkin pie, and pumpkin rolls, and cookies.  You name it and if it was food, we basically had it that day.  Thank goodness we did not have to worry about weigh-ins that week because we all ate enough food to hold us over for days.

Places we have been/Places to see if you go:

Auburn Hills – Chrysler Factory

Dayton – Performed on Wright State University campus, United States Air Force Museum

Cincinnati – Underground Railroad Museum, Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, Newport Aquarium in Kentucky, Halloween Party at O’Maley’s in the Alley

Houston – Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, Performed in football stadium (Houston Texans)

Laredo – One mile from Mexican boarder, San Antonio, Corpus Cristie – Padre Island – Mustang Beach (great for a bonfire and smore’s), Largest Rattlesnake in Texas

Waco – Dr. Pepper Museum, Wild West (Line Dancing), Spice Village (shopping), riverfront, Baylor University, Baylor men’s basketball game, Texas Sports Museum, performed in a fair grounds building

Allen – Allen Outlets, Shopping Mall, Thanksgiving – Bouncy House, Black Friday shopping, Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade

Topeka – Be ware of the Westborough Baptist Church (STAY AWAY), Christmas lights!!, More shopping!! Freezing weather… first snow fall that we’ve seen on tour!!

Congratulations to:

Anie Smith –  Engaged

Adam Blake -  Recognized for his chorography and won the Young Artists Competition (will be assisting in choreographing the new show for Disney On Ice next year)

Tis the Season - The Holiday Season (Allen, TX)

Who would have thought that I would be in Texas for Thanksgiving?  If you would have told me this last year, I don't think that I would have believed you, but it's only true.  It happened.  It was my first holiday away from my family.  We all made the best of it here in Allen, Texas though.

We surrounded ourselves with our own family for a year.  We all may be from different parts of the world, have many likes and dislikes, and not one person look like the next, but that is what makes this family so unique.  That, and the fact that we had a bouncy house for Thanksgiving!!  I mean, what family has one of those just for the holiday?!  Haha, this one does!! Clearly, we are one of a kind, but that's what makes it all that much better.

We even brought in the holiday watching the Thanksgiving Macy's Day Parade in morning just like we were little kids again.  This time though we all were a lot older.  It really felt like a holiday especially with the day off from work.

Then, it was time for the feast and good company of course only after we were all bounced out and the 10 deep-friend turkeys with all the fixin's were done, it was time to eat!! Never has it been so quiet in a room of over 60 people before.

Aside from the holiday celebrations, it was definitely a city for Christmas shopping.  If you needed anything, Allen was the place to find it, with outlets in one direction, a mall in the other, and strip malls with little shops in another, you were bound to find something to your fancy.  This being said, most of our suitcases are feeling the repercussions of that.  It will be interesting to see how many of them make weight the next time we have to fly.  Until then, we were off on the bus ride to another state and another city!! See you all in Kansas!!