Show Buzz #3

D34!

We were in the desert!  Sand, dust, cacti, snakes; they were all around.  And even though it may have seemed not too inviting, the beauty was magnificent.  Watching the sunset over the mountains was breath taking and waking up every morning to the sun shining was such a pleasure since in most of our homes they have already seen their first snowfall.  So, I would say that we are truly blessed to be able to travel the world and do what we do for a living instead of being confined to sitting behind a desk all day.  Instead we are able to see the world while we work and not too many people can say the same.  Of course though, like any other job, it can’t be all play and no work, but we do need our free time to escape and these three days off in Tucson were just that. 

There were some had side trips to the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas, some of us went hiking in the Saguaro National Park, others went to Mt. Limmon, while still others chose to stick around a little closer and soak up the sun. 

Arizona had a lot to offer and we were right there in the middle and aside from the Happy Helper Auction we were off and running.  Not to mention the fact that one of the hotels that our group was staying in had a full kitchen!!  I mean how often does that even happen?!  It was a nice to surprise to be able to cook more and even bake!  It was kike we were in a little apartment.  That’s how real living feels like!

Too bad it couldn’t be like this every week, but we were all excited to get to our next stop and experience Fall weather again.

Onto Portland, Oregon; home of VooDoo Donuts!

Aside from the amazing donuts with combinations you could only dream of like chocolate icing, oreos, and peanut butter on top of a donut or M&M’s or bubble gum or Trix on your donut; they probably have it, including donuts the size of about six combined!  They were so yummy!  Thank goodness we didn’t have weigh-ins this week…NOT!  It’s funny how that always seems to happen.

Anyways we probably all worked it off either walking around downtown, dancing at one of the many concerts that were also in town this week like Hozier and Florence and the Machine or hiking miles and miles into the wilderness.

No, we didn’t get lost or fall off a cliff, but there was a downed sign that could have pointed us in the wrong direction.  Thank goodness, there were only two ways to go at that point and one was a dead end unless you wanted to try out your swimming skills down a waterfall. 

Getting so far out and away from the hustle and bustle of the city was nice for a change.  Not too many times are we able to do that on tour and this was the perfect opportunity. 

It was a long nine miles, but totally worth it after the views and the beauty that we were a witness to.  Of course reaching the top is an accomplishment in itself also. 

It was a perfect way to take in the fall season with the changing of leaves and the chilliness in the air. 

I’m pretty sure that time could stand still here and most of us would be pretty content, but we all know that wont happen and the show must go on, however not with a little excitement before doing so. 

Who would have ever thought that this would be the city that our Stage Manager (Shaun Tilley) would come out of retirement and make his appearance in the ice show?!  We were all in for a treat!

Speaking of “treat” it was time for Halloween class a little early, but just as we were getting comfortable here, we were off to Idaho. 

Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes…

However, Idaho had a lot more to offer than just its’ potatoes.  It had the perfect Fall feel and picturesque landscape for Halloween and a BBQ! 

And regardless of how busy and sore we may have been from Tony Paul’s pair classes, it was all about setting time aside to get out and walk along the water, or around the Boise State University campus was a must.  Yes, their football field is blue; blue turf that is.  For some of us, that was the color of our tongues after we ate all the Halloween candy that we did.  We will be on a sugar-high for weeks.  Hopefully it will help us power through our next city.

Off to the Lilac City.

Spokane, Washington welcomed us at about 4:30 AM after a time-zone change, adjusting the clocks, and about a seven-hour bus ride.

Offering to us in the morning the Spokane Falls for the nature seekers, a shopping mall right down the street for the fashionistas, a comic book/card store for those gamers, and the Chinese Lantern Festival for those cultural explorers. 

While some couldn’t get enough, others just soaked up the easy week that we had with a special treat of only a two-show (1 and 5 PM) pack-out Sunday!  

And just like that, we were on the road again crossing the state to Seattle.

Fortunately, we arrived at a decent time, which was a first; it was only about 1:30 AM when our bus pulled into the hotel instead of 5:30 or 6 AM like it has been recently. 

Most of us tried to cram all the sightseeing into one day and the other was spent doing the typical grocery shopping and sleeping per the usual. 

And with some luck from Mother Nature since it is literally always raining here, we all ventured downtown to Pioneer Square and Pikes Place Market where you can literally find everything and anything including the Original Starbuck’s! 

However, unlike the Space Needle, which will always be here, the city is actually cleaning up the well-known attraction, the Gum Wall and it will no longer be so.  As sad as it is to see it go, they have bigger dreams for the area. 

Just like it is our job to keep moving.  We were on the road again, but this time an even shorter ride lie ahead – off to Everett; Home of the Boeing Manufacturing Plant and School of Flight. 

If you ever get the chance to go, Go!  Even if you don’t know a lot about planes, it will give you a whole new respect for flight and what it does for everyone. 

And just like that we were crossing the boarder and heading towards Vancouver, Canada.

Vancouver was home to the 2010 Winter Olympics where the torch still stands and we actually performed on the very ice that the Figure Skating Competition took place! 

Aside from all the Olympic fever that this city brought to us, it was also the start of the holiday season and smells of Thanksgiving were filling the air.  So, it was appropriate timing to see many familiar faces within the ice show family from the past and present including Judy Thomas!

However, aside from all the excitement and special visits, we all had some time to spare and were able to get out and see what the city had to offer.  From the Rogers Arena to Stanley Park to the Sea Wall to Gas Town to the Capilano Suspension Bridge to Canada Place, there was something for everyone.  This city had so much to offer that there was never a dull moment.   Everyone seemed pretty content to stay, but were grateful to return to the states where all of our cell phones worked again. 

Our first direct flight of the season brought us to Ski Town USA!

It is something that you must do when you go.  You will not regret it.  The sights are beautiful and whether you are a professional out there on the mountains or just a beginner you are bound to find a course that you can enjoy and if you aren’t all about the steep slopes, maybe the moguls or the terrain parks are more your style.   Either way the views will not disappoint especially being all the way up over a mile in the air!  Plus, all the snow around made it feel more and more like Christmas and no better way to bring in the holiday spirit than the start of Secret Santa and the naming of our Elf on the Shelf!! 

Anyways we were about to leave the snow and hit the bright lights and star-studded streets of Los Angeles, California!

Places to See:

Tucson – Saguaro National Park, Happy Helper Auction! Dairy Queen, Platinum Fitness

Portland - Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Pool of the Winds, Hamilton Mountain Summit, VooDoo Donuts

Idaho – Halloween party, two show Saturday – First Ever! Company BBQ!

Spokane - Spokane Falls, Chinese Lantern Festival, Riverfront Park

Kent – Space Needle, Pioneer Square, Pikes Place Market, Seattle downtown, The Gum Wall, the Original Starbuck’s

Everett – Boeing Manufacturing Plant, Denny’s, Subway, Starbuck’s, Quiznos

Vancouver, Canada – Capilano Suspension Bridge, Olympic Torch, Gas Town, Rodgers Arena, Canada Place, Stanley Park, the Sea Wall

Denver – Keystone Ski Resort, Biker Jack’s Hot Dogs, Downtown Denver, Pepsi Center