BAMA

Birmingham, Alabama

We arrived to our next destination early in the morning around 5 AM, so most of my time was spent asleep or trying to sleep on the bus, so sightseeing on our trip really wasn’t something that happened.  When I awoke again later that day and looked out my hotel window, what I saw was definitely not what I expected to see.

I anticipated seeing open land, lots of grass, and farmland, but instead we were right down town and surrounded by concrete.  Maybe I had the wrong picture of what I thought Alabama may have been like, but highways, bridges, high-rise buildings, and little to no green grass, definitely sent my mind for a trip; along with the fact that Uber did not exist here either so we all went a little frantic. 

You never realize how dependent you are on something until it isn’t around anymore.  I know that we only used to have taxis, but this really demonstrated why we all like Uber so much more.  It allows you to call and speak to the driver specifically and see the car in route to you as well as the route you will be taken to your destination; these taxis on the other hand, would not show up, ran really late, took you the farthest distance possible just to increase the price you owed, and topping it all off the call station directors were insulting or didn’t even bother to answer their phones.  Needless to say we all really were not exactly happy, but we made it work.

While some chose to stay close to hotel and not deal with the taxicabs, others ventured out a little.  There were a few good shopping districts around as well as a cute downtown area with a few small parks. 

However, I was still wishing we were in an area like the one depicted in the movie “Sweet Home Alabama”.  I think we could all use a little bit of country in our busy lives right now.

Until then, we are headed to South Carolina for THREE days off!!!!

Our Home Away From Home

Tampa, Florida

So, we are back in Florida again and it really feels like this is our second home this year.  I think we have spent more time in this state than what I will spend in my home state for the next two years. 

Even our local workers for during the show are all familiar since we saw them for our dress runs at rehearsals as well as our shows in Orlando. 

Meaning, it was quite a comfortable week along with the fact that we had the least amount of shows that we have ever had scheduled.  This was due to the Stanley Cup Playoffs; and the Tampa Bay Lightning still playing which happened to be the same team’s arena that we were performing in as well.

It was a nice change that even though we all may have been holding our breath and hoping for shows to be cancelled and to see a hockey game, it was also just as well to already have this city under our belts so we don’t have to come back at a later time.

I mean we even got to perform on Stanley Cup Playoff ice!!  So there were lines, hash marks, and hockey circles on the ice this time when we are normally used to just a plain white, blank surface.  Change in this case was needed and exciting!

Aside from all of that hype, we were able to actually enjoy some time off in the Florida sun while the crew finally saw their first day off since March!

We made sure to lay by the pool, stroll along the Tampa River Walk, as well as venture out to coast at Clearwater Beach and since a fair amount of the guys have enjoyed playing soccer this year, we even got see them play in a tournament that they entered!

It was a fun filled week and even though we put in our work and made it to Show Number 400, and had a lot of familiar faces in the audience, we also got to enjoy our downtime as well!

Thank you Florida, for being our home away from home this year.  We will see you soon, but for now we say goodbye and head to the road for our journey to Alabama. 

Normal Week!

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

So this is the first week all tour that we have actually had a schedule like every other show.  This never happens and to only have two shows on a Sunday is literally unheard of this year.  It feels so good to be able to go to the gym or go for a run or go out and sightsee and not just see the grocery store and the arena.

Having those two days off meant being able to not only get a real workout in at a real gym (Spectrum) and spending time just laying out by the pool.  We finally got to see the sun again!

Its crazy how just having time to do what you want and do the things you need to do makes you feel ten-times better.  Also, without a crazy amount of shows this week; we also all had energy and weren’t dragging.  I mean I was even able to run to the LSU (Louisiana State University) campus in between shows the one-day along with being able to fin a gorgeous lake to run by at the City Park.

And of course, when the sun got too warm, it was time to either go to the mall or the movies.  Both of course happened for many. 

Even though I may be a bit behind times and spent a majority of nights catching up on movies that I have failed to see; I was finally caught up enough to see the new Avengers movie and Wow!  It was such a great movie to see in my first iMax theater and in 3D at that!

Overall, I would say it was a week definitely needed.

Now, lets see what the next one has in store for us in Tampa.

****Shout out to the crew who spent all of their days putting up Ground Support for the first time this tour!!****

NOLA

New Orleans, Louisiana

Bring on the fried chicken, gumbo, and Bourbon Street because here we come New Orleans! 

I have always wanted to come here and couldn’t be happier that I was given this opportunity while performing.  I don’t think the plane could have gotten there any faster and go figure I was on the later flight too.  Anyhow, we made it through travel day and got to the hotel smoothly so it was time to enjoy NOLA and what it had to offer.

Of course there were so many places that were just “Must See’s” like Bourbon Street, the French Quarter, the Garden District, all of the shopping, the beautiful homes and gardens, the Café Du Monde, and of course friends from college!

Everything just seemed to come together this week.  We were in a beautiful place with amazing weather and sunshine and the timing was impeccable.

Not only were we performing on a college campus (University of New Orleans), the friends that I got to see were from college and we all ran both track and cross country together and it just so happened to be; that at home for SRU (Slippery Rock University) it was PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) Track Championships as well.  

So needless to say, there were so many memories that came pouring back especially since one of my friends works in the very arena that we were performing in as an athletic trainer.  That meant that most of my spare time I spent in the ATR (athletic training room), just as I did in college, but this time it was just to visit and hang out instead.  Also, the hurdles in the gym made it hard to resist not attempting the drills we used to do in practice.  Its funny how things always have a way of circling back around at just the right moments. 

And even though we were performing on the smallest ice we have ever seen this tour, just five headers, there was so much more to enjoy about the week. 

I could definitely see myself coming back.  This city lived up to all my expectations and more. 

See you down the road NOLA, off to Baton Rouge.

Hot and Steamy

Hidalgo, Texas

On the road again…

It was nice to have a bus trip since most of our travel days have been flight days lately, but only having one day off made for a tight turn around. 

The poor crew went directly from load-out in Houston to load-in here in Hidalgo and we cannot thank them enough for all the work that they have put in.  Because of them, they have made the show possible so that we could perform for the audiences. 

And even though this is a week that isn’t packed with a 15-pack or anything like that, there were more morning shows than what we have had including a 9:00 AM show!  That made for a very early morning. 

Anyhow, we made it through and even managed to have some fun in the process. 

Yes, it has been exceptionally hot this week with temperatures in the 90’s and thunderstorms at night, but the one night that we needed the skies to be clear; they were.

It was time again for a company BBQ! 

Fun and games and a night full of laughs and for some of us that had other festivities planned it was a night to make lots of memories. 

In the end, for all of us, no matter what we were doing, it was a night to escape work and take in the warm temperatures and yummy food before it was time to pack up and head to the home of Mardi Gras!

When it Rains, It Pours

Houston, Texas

Bring on the heat!  We were headed south again and into warm weather and sun…or at least we thought so.  Having sent 40 bags ahead of our scheduled flight everyone was able to have their bags including carry-ons as soon as we arrived at our final destination airport in Houston.  This hasn’t happened in I don’t know how long; quite a nice surprise. 

However, we were in for an unpleasant surprise soon. 

Even though we left the cold behind, we must have brought stormy weather with us.  Literally, everyday there was some sort of rain or thunderstorms.  The Queen really has cursed the land we travel to each week.  Not really, but that’s the way it seems to be for us. 

It got to the point that the thunder was working with the show and each entrance or pyrotechnic cue went off with a bang of thunder to accompany it.    

And if we weren’t wet enough from the rain outside, we were definitely soaked from the water that was lying on the ice. 

Since we were performing in our second football stadium of the year there were a few things that we could expect, and tank ice (manmade ice) was one.  However, coming off the ice and feeling the water all the way through your layers and in your skates was not one.  Nothing ever dried.

We made it through though with some pretty good laughs I might add as well as some yummy dinners out and new memories.

Special thank you to Lisa Scuffell for coming back and making it feel like we are a true family again just like back in rehearsals.   Also, to Natasha Kuchiki and Cindy Stewart for coming to visit!!

D34 – Once a Family, Always a Family  

North We Went

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Just when we thought we were over the cold and wouldn’t see snow again, guess what happened…More Snow!! This was after the fact that we almost didn’t get on the plane because there wasn’t enough room for all of us and our luggage.  So, you know what that meant; luggage got left behind.  A total of 41 bags were left behind and shipped to us at a later hour.  So late luggage meant no warm clothes for the cold temperatures we were facing now.  You would think that we have seen enough this tour, but clearly Mother Nature does not feel that way.  Thank goodness there was inside entertainment this city and that we were not outside all the time. 

So, of course, most of our time was spent at the Mall of America, a place I have always wanted to go ever since I saw it on television when I was younger. 

It was almost unreal being there.  The place was huge!  There were four levels of shopping and places to eat along with a roller coaster, a water ride, a merry-go-round, a miniature golf course, a movie theater, Lego Land, and a few things that I am probably forgetting to mention.  For the most part, the stores and places to eat were pretty typical for an average mall though.  

It was still just the fascination of being there and taking it all in, just like the movie Furious 7.  While we all have our varying opinions, I couldn’t wait to see the movie.  Yes, I was one of the ones that had tears running down my cheeks at the end, but you will have to watch it to find out why.

And while this was all fine and dandy on the days off, we had to buckle down quickly for our contract talks concerning the upcoming tour season.  It is approaching quicker than what we think.  We are now down to single digits in terms of how many weeks we have left this tour before we head home for a short time and continue on to Mexico and then the West Coast.

For now though, we have to finish the rest of this season so, see you back in Texas in the sunshine and warm weather!