Bringing Back the Memories - Johnstown

And we were off.  The stay at home was way too short, but there is no stopping now.  It was time to move onto the next city a few hours down the road.  

Heading back to Johnstown was definitely a big change being that the city is equivalent to a town, but it makes it that much more personable.  The arena was the very one that the movie Slap Shot was filmed in! It may be tiny and smaller than what we were used to, but it made it that much better for the audience and with all the changes in sizes and locations of each place, it is definitely teaching us all to be versatile.  

So, along the way not only are we getting to see places that we may have never been able to see, but we are also learning life lessons along the way. 

Luckily this was another close venture so I was able to see more of my friends and family and enjoy the scenery.  I mean there is an incline and even a Central Park in Johnstown!  And to top it all off, there is a cute little chocolate candy store there; so yummy!

This city is where we may be performing this week, but a handful of years ago I was actually competing here.  There are some really good memories that exist here and I just added to them this week.  

However, we are ready for some warm weather along the west coast!

HOME! - Pittsburgh

I cannot even describe what the experience was like being at home in front of my hometown audience.  It was absolutely amazing and something that I will always remember forever.  Walking around town and people know who I am and where I have come from and what it took for me to get to where I am today, makes the experience that much sweeter.  I definitely did not want to leave.

Even though it was a very busy week, there was still time to do a little exploring in the city.  Believe it or not, because I am a little distance outside of the city, there are still places that I have not gotten to see yet.  However, there are others that some never get to experience and one of those was performing at CONSOL Energy Center and getting a tour of the Penguins Locker Room by the CEO of the team!  Go Pens!!

Aside from all of that excitement, it was a gorgeous day for the walk down and around the Point and through the Market District.  There was even time to actually go home and spend some time with my family and even sleep in my own bed!  It may not seem like much, but the difference between a hotel bed and your bed is huge when you haven't been in it for so long. It is not just about the bed however, you never know the feeling of being away so long and how sweet it is to come home until it actually happens.  Seeing so many familiar faces was absolutely amazing.  

Also, getting outside the city in the outskirts of town and then slowly making my way to the country is definitely a breath of fresh air.  It was all about the little things that made this trip so much better and now I can finally have an answer to the question, "Where is your favorite place that you have been so far?"  Of course, it is going to be Pittsburgh!  There is nothing quite like you will experience when you perform in your hometown and it really is an opportunity of a lifetime!

However, the week did have to come to end, but we were not headed too far.

See you in the town where "Slap Shot" was filmed!

Back Where it all Began

Six months later and a very long travel day, we were back in the very place that it all started.   Welcome to Rockford, Illinois! 

It’s amazing how far we have come.  Just to think that without the experiences we had the first time we were here, we would not have the stories to tell that we do today.  It may not be the most entertaining place on the world, but it definitely brought us all closer together.  And to say that we were not all a little excited to go back would be an understatement. 

We all knew that we would at least have a decent week to catch up on some much needed sleep.  Also, already being here once, gave us all some comfort, knowing just what to expect and how close everything was.

I will say though, it is amazing how different times of year and weather can affect a place and how it appears.  Seeing Rockford in the summer time when we were able to sit down on the dock and go for a walk in the park is completely different than seeing everything covered in snow and ice. 

It may not be the number place to see in the world, but it will definitely have a special place in everyone’s memories and it will always be the place that we all started this year together. 

We have come this far, and there is no slowing down now!

See you in the Steel City!

Crossing the Border

We had a quick turn around after a long drive and crossing the boarder.  At least this time, the officers at the boarder were a whole lot nicer.  Finally, getting in to the hotel, we opened the doors to our rooms and it felt like I was back in college again.  They were huge and it was like we had our own apartment for the week!  I was completely content.  And to top it off, it was my birthday!

It may not really have felt like my birthday because we just got into the next city, but it was really nice hearing happy birthday wishes from not only my friends and family from home, but also from the family that has developed on tour as well.

This week seemed to bring everyone closer together with all the birthdays and even the company dinner that we had!

Coming together outside of work for a nice dinner out and just relaxing for the evening, can brighten anyones mood and that's exactly what it did.

However, it would have been nice to get a chance to skate on the canals or go out taking in the sights of the city, but it was a busy week with only one day off so we all enjoyed the time we did have.

I was also surprised to see how many people spoke English here over french, since the last time we were in Canada it was predominantly French.

Also, not being able to use our phones when we were out, at the same time it was nice for a change and made for some interesting explorations.  Without navigation devices it makes you appreciate the landmarks and road signs a whole lot more.  Going out and getting lost on purpose is one thing, but getting lost in an area where you are not trying to get lost is something different.

Anyways we finished yet another week and it was time to cross back over the boarder again on to US soil!

Our Nations Capital

So it was a week full of sightseeing and exploring.  There was so much to see and it felt like even if you were out all day walking around, you didn’t even see half of what there is to see here.  It is crazy how some places we visit have so much to offer and sights to see and then, there are others that basically allow you to catch up on sleep and relaxing movie nights.  Little did we know, but this city had both in store for us. 

Aside from all the places there were to see:

Air and Space Museum

Smithsonian Castle

African Art Museum

Art Museum

American History Museum

Natural History Museum

Washington Monument

Capitol Building

Navy Memorial

Sculpture Garden and Ice Rink

Georgetown – shops and restaurants:

Georgetown Cupcakes

Francis Scott Key Park

Stone House

Rock Creek Park 

We even got a Snow Day!  I felt like I was a little kid again waiting for the word to hear that school was cancelled, but this time it was work that was cancelled and the city was basically shut down.  Too bad I wasn’t at home and could build a snowman and make snow angels.

Adding to all this is excitement it was also Valentine’s Day this week!

Then, as it all came to an end, it was time to get started on our 16 hour bus ride into Canada and hope that we all make it past the boarder.   

On the Harbor - Baltimore

So much to do! It was definitely all about going out and about and exploring the city.  We finally saw something other than just concrete! It was absolutely gorgeous when the sun was shining and the sky was pure blue.  We had some really nice days in Baltimore.

The inner harbor was amazing; so many places to shop and eat.  The little shops you find that are unique to a special place are always where you'll find the best deals and the most original buys.

Aside from all the shopping, we came across three vessels that were open to the public; the U.S.S. Constellation, the Chesapeake, and the U.S.S. Torsk unfortunately, they were closed for the season, however seeing them on the water was picturesque and just on the other side of the harbor was the third largest aquarium and aviary in the country! The Baltimore Aquarium was huge and not only did it have jelly fish, and sharks, and turtles, seas horses, frogs, birds, but the also had DOLPHINS!

There was even a Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. It was so yummy and took me back to my competition days when I first experienced the restaurant that was based off the movie Forst Gump.   The waiters quizzed us on the Forest Gump trivia while we waited for our food and the table-toppers were license plates saying "Stop Forest Stop" and "Run Forest Run".

I even found out that I liked sushi!! Of course it was all the cooked sushi, but hey, I would have never known if I didn't at least try it.  Luckily, it was a good experience to keep the good moods in check for the birthday dinner that we celebrated.  It really does make it like we are our own little family away from our own families when we can come together to make everyone's special day, one to remember.

It also helps seeing friends! I cannot say it enough, I absolutely love seeing my friends from home, high school, skating, college and The Rock distance team!

After all the fun in Maryland, it was on to our nations capital.
                           

Show Buzz #3

D20 Show Buzz March/April 2014

Well, it is officially winter.  Break out the heavy jackets and the snow boots; you’re in for a real surprise in the northeastern part of the United States. 

Suzy Snowflake began falling from the sky and gracing us with her presence and she has not let up yet.  She definitely has made some of our travel days very interesting; from delayed flights, to slow moving traffic, to having to stop travel altogether and pull over for a few hours. 

Who knew that being stranded at a travel station with nothing else around could be so much fun?  We definitely made the most of it running around the snow-covered parking lot throwing snow balls at each other, tackling one another to the ground, and making snow angels.  Needless to say though, we were all quite chilled to the bone after that.  Anyhow, we may have been delayed and may not have been happy about it, but we made the most out of it and came closer together as a group.  Sometimes you need to have things like this happen, that almost stop time; they make you take a step back and realize how far you have come, what’s ahead of you, and who you are surrounded by.  From there, the decision and feelings are up to you.  You are the only one that controls your destiny. 

Almost like Santa Claus does for many across the world and with the holidays nearing, we all hope that we are on the “Nice List”.

Even though everyone wishes that either they could be home with their families celebrating the holidays together or just to see members of their family on the holiday, some were not so lucky.  While there were a few that were able to make it home or have family come to them, others went their own ways.  Some went to see friends that were close by, others went to relatives and brought guests along with them, and still others went to watch another Disney On Ice show perform. 

What it really comes down to is the fact that whatever you choose to do and whenever you choose to do it, you have to be happy. 

Keeping that in mind, everyone had the big city on their minds after the holidays passed.

For four cities straight, New York City was just a bus, train, or subway ride away.  Everyone was venturing in to see the sights it had to offer.  Central Park, Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the ice rink, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the ice rink in Central Park, all of the shopping and restaurants; they were all sights to see.  Some were even lucky enough to experience not only Central Park, but also Times Square on New Years! That is a once in a lifetime event that most people only dream about, and yet it was a dream that came true for some. 

If you were not interested in shopping, some chose to see Broadway shows and musicals like “Newsies”.  We were lucky enough to be able to see the show as a big group and even got to meet some of the cast after their performance.  And if one Broadway show was not enough, some chose to see more: Wicked and Kinky Boots. 

So many bright lights and things to see in the big city, it sure kept us busy.  After being so close for such an extended period of time, it was nice to have a chance to recover and take it all in and save our money again. 

Still braving the fierce winter cold this season, we are now just hoping for warmer weather to come our way very soon! 

Happy Travels!

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

Youngstown – Snow, snow, and more snow! Snow-covered roads made for some treacherous travel

Albany – State Capital, Ten Broek Mansion, The Egg, Outdoor skating rink

Providence – Merry Christmas!! Some went home to enjoy the holidays, others stayed, and others saw D15 perform!

East Rutherford– Happy New Year!! Just a bus or train ride away from New York City!  Times Square, Central Park, Rockefeller Center and ice rink, Central Park ice rink, Carriage rides in Central Park

Uniondale – Shopping and groceries were close by, but temperatures were so cold that most people hibernated in their rooms this week, but some ventured back into New York City

Newark – Our show got to see another show…On Broadway! – Newsies! More time was spent in the city exploring and seeing more Broadway shows

Brooklyn – The last hurrah for NYC! Last Broadway shows, last shopping trips, last outdoor skating adventures, and last time to explore the Big Apple

Trenton – A chance to recover from the exciting city and save up from all the spending the last few weeks

Baltimore – Inner Harbor, U.S.S. Constellation, Baltimore Aquarium and Aviary, The 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia Started!

Congratulations to:

Christine Kelley –  Engaged