After a couple hours of work I reach for my breakfast of champions:
Love and peace,
Kim
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
3/16/11 Willamsport, PA
After 3 hours of sleep it was time to roll out of my bottom bunk (my favorite bunk preference...I'm terrified of falling off the top bunk, I did as a kid). My head carp and I wander around and go through all dressing room/set up scenarios (best and worst) and then our days is off and running. Because we leave right after the show and jump on a sleeper bus on one nighters there is not normally showering time so we roll into the next venue looking a little more scrappy then the day before and with a little more attitude as well. Somehow less showering equals more attitude...hmmmmm. I've inspected the showers at this venue and they aren't nearly as scary as some so this may be one of the days when a venue shower changes my whole world of a day.
After a couple hours of work I reach for my breakfast of champions:
Ok...off to do more paperwork. Cheers!
Love and peace,
Kim
After a couple hours of work I reach for my breakfast of champions:
Love and peace,
Kim
3/15/11 York, PA
York is just as cute as I remember it!!! I love it so! Here are a couple pictures of just how adorable it is:
The weather was really nice and I had some delicious grilled veggies with wild rice at restaurant called something like the White Rose....can't remember.
Here's another pretty picture of the sun through one of the many beautiful trees there:
One of the many reason I LOVE coming to York is for the amazing donuts...pictures you say???
And of course here's a picture of my office at the venue we played at:
In my office you will almost always hear some kind of music blaring from the tiny laptop speakers, several piles of paper, coffee, water, and eventually a printer that likes to fight with me on a daily basis.
Ok, my watch just beeped at me to say that it is 4:30am so now that I have finished my performance report, laughed up a storm with my crew, and updated my blogness it's time for some shut eye before heading into the theatre in 3 hours....it's good to be back! xo
Love and peace,
Kim
The weather was really nice and I had some delicious grilled veggies with wild rice at restaurant called something like the White Rose....can't remember.
Here's another pretty picture of the sun through one of the many beautiful trees there:
Ok, my watch just beeped at me to say that it is 4:30am so now that I have finished my performance report, laughed up a storm with my crew, and updated my blogness it's time for some shut eye before heading into the theatre in 3 hours....it's good to be back! xo
Love and peace,
Kim
Sunday, March 13, 2011
3/13/11 Last day of layoff...Back to blogging
So...I'vI had several very sweet friends ask about my blog and if I would ever update it. To those friends: I love you, I will try to keep this puppy updated...here we go!
We've been on a layoff week this past week and as much as I love sleeping in and taking little kitty cat naps every couple hours I NEED TO GO BACK TO WORK!!!! I'm just not any good at sitting around. I'd much rather be loading in, running a show, or loading out. I could do without the dragging of suitcases to and from buses but that's part of the gig.
I frankly don't have a clue as to what day of tour I'm on so I won't be using that as a time marker for the blog anymore, but I will post the date and the city we happen to be in. I'm really excited about tomorrow because we are headed to York, PA. York, PA is one of my very favorite cities because it has the most charm of any city I've ever been to. It's super cute with a total Pennsylvania feel. It's hard to describe but I'll try to remember to take pictures and post them. I could totally see myself living there at some point in my life.
I also have come to the realization that I need to crochet another blanket or scarf. It's been MONTHS!!! I miss it terribly and need to get back to it. Our props guy is a crocheting genius!!! He wants to teach me how to crochet something more than totally tweaked out blankets and scarves but I refuse. I love my wonky masterpieces!
Ok, time to finish packing, watch a docu film to get me motivated to be a vegan again, bed, then back to tour!!!!! Yay! I miss my CATS family! xo
Love and peace,
Kim
We've been on a layoff week this past week and as much as I love sleeping in and taking little kitty cat naps every couple hours I NEED TO GO BACK TO WORK!!!! I'm just not any good at sitting around. I'd much rather be loading in, running a show, or loading out. I could do without the dragging of suitcases to and from buses but that's part of the gig.
I frankly don't have a clue as to what day of tour I'm on so I won't be using that as a time marker for the blog anymore, but I will post the date and the city we happen to be in. I'm really excited about tomorrow because we are headed to York, PA. York, PA is one of my very favorite cities because it has the most charm of any city I've ever been to. It's super cute with a total Pennsylvania feel. It's hard to describe but I'll try to remember to take pictures and post them. I could totally see myself living there at some point in my life.
I also have come to the realization that I need to crochet another blanket or scarf. It's been MONTHS!!! I miss it terribly and need to get back to it. Our props guy is a crocheting genius!!! He wants to teach me how to crochet something more than totally tweaked out blankets and scarves but I refuse. I love my wonky masterpieces!
Ok, time to finish packing, watch a docu film to get me motivated to be a vegan again, bed, then back to tour!!!!! Yay! I miss my CATS family! xo
Love and peace,
Kim
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The ups and downs of touring.
Today is one of those days where it seems nothing is going to get me out of the grumpy funk that I am in. I woke up and considered eating my instant oatmeal for breakfast and it sounded like torture. How many times a week can one girl eat oatmeal for breakfast? The answer is: too many! Then I thought I would just head to the fitness center and let a good jog lift my spirits. Well...the hotel I am in has a brand of cardio machines that do not agree with my body type. The treadmill has a weird lagging thing. The Elliptical machine is made for someone who is at LEAST 6 feet tall, and both stationary bikes are not plugged in, or missing the cord, or trying to make me crazy. UGH.
I walk on the treadmill for 5 1/2 minutes when I finally give up because the ever now and again jerking motion is beginning to make me contemplate returning to the life that trades exercise for chocolate cake WITH vanilla ice cream for every meal. This won't do.
I get on the elliptical machine and do my best to get motivated to work up a sweat and 2 minutes into it get off because having my hands above my head for 20 minutes sounds like something out of a SAW movie. Goodbye fitness room. I will not be returning for anymore of your aggravating punishment.
To the lobby, pour a cup of coffee and into the elevator to head back to my room and hopefully shake the funk in solitude.
The grumpies never stay with me for very long. Even now I feel the chipperness creeping back into my soul and will once again go on to have a great day with only mild bumps and bruises. It's times like this where I have to take the time to reflect on all the good that is in my life. It's hard to stay negative when you practice gratitude. So in order to get myself back to being myself here is what I am grateful for at the moment.
I am grateful that I woke up this morning.
I am grateful for my body who has taken me to so many places and has not given up on me even though I treated it badly for so many years.
I am grateful for my family and friends who love me and support me in everything I do.
I am grateful for my job because it challenges me everyday.
I am grateful for the free lobby coffee that will hopefully kick start my day.
I am grateful for my faith because without it I wouldn't be alive and would not find the strength to try over and over again.
It looks like it's going to be a gorgeous day and I am thankful to be here to enjoy it.
Love and peace,
Kim
I walk on the treadmill for 5 1/2 minutes when I finally give up because the ever now and again jerking motion is beginning to make me contemplate returning to the life that trades exercise for chocolate cake WITH vanilla ice cream for every meal. This won't do.
I get on the elliptical machine and do my best to get motivated to work up a sweat and 2 minutes into it get off because having my hands above my head for 20 minutes sounds like something out of a SAW movie. Goodbye fitness room. I will not be returning for anymore of your aggravating punishment.
To the lobby, pour a cup of coffee and into the elevator to head back to my room and hopefully shake the funk in solitude.
The grumpies never stay with me for very long. Even now I feel the chipperness creeping back into my soul and will once again go on to have a great day with only mild bumps and bruises. It's times like this where I have to take the time to reflect on all the good that is in my life. It's hard to stay negative when you practice gratitude. So in order to get myself back to being myself here is what I am grateful for at the moment.
I am grateful that I woke up this morning.
I am grateful for my body who has taken me to so many places and has not given up on me even though I treated it badly for so many years.
I am grateful for my family and friends who love me and support me in everything I do.
I am grateful for my job because it challenges me everyday.
I am grateful for the free lobby coffee that will hopefully kick start my day.
I am grateful for my faith because without it I wouldn't be alive and would not find the strength to try over and over again.
It looks like it's going to be a gorgeous day and I am thankful to be here to enjoy it.
Love and peace,
Kim
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Day 93 - 108...It's been wayyyyyy toooooo looooooong.
Ok...I have to just throw some info up here to catch up quickly so we can mooooove along.
March 6-7, 2010 Day 93 - 94 Buffalo, NY
This was the message that was displayed on the marquee as we were leaving load out. It read:
Thank you Riverdance Cast and Crew for a wonderful run.
March 8 - 9, 2010 Day 95 - 96 Manchester, NH
Our one and only...one night only. It was nice enough...arena style..it was fine.
March 10 - 14 Day 97-101 Wallingford, CT
We had a few rehearsals for our upcoming week at Radio City Music Hall.
March 15 - 21 Day 102 - 108 New York, NY
I could hardly believe that I was working at Radio City Music Hall...it was a dream come true. We loaded in on Monday, Tech Tuesday with some Rehearsal and Press calls, Wednesday 2 shows, Thursday walked from 52nd to 14th street and back again before 1 show, Friday walked from 52nd to 150th to meet up with Brionne, took the subway down to 17th for lunch, walked back up to 52nd then time for a show, Saturday 2 shows, Sunday met up with Katie's mom and had a lovely bike ride in the park with her in between two shows.
This is a picture of the smoothie cart I would go to every morning for a delicious breakfasty smoothieeeee! 
My first glimpse of Radio City on load in morning!! 
My desk after two days of pure awesome madness. 
The RCMH Rehearsal Room.
I sat here for a few minutes on my 100 block walk to see Bri.
Mom Jan bought us a bike ride through Central Park...What a great memory!!!
I'll update again soon. xo
Love and peace, Kim
Friday, March 5, 2010
Day 89-92 Unpack, pack, drag suitcase to car, unpack, pack, drag suitcase to car...
Day 89 - March 2 - Tuesday - Load in and show in Rochester, NY
It's a nice theatre with plenty of room in the dressing rooms and plenty of room on dcck...this makes for a nice load in. I spent some extra time today making some dressing room number signs for the doors because the dressing rooms aren't numbered...this tends to make me a little crazy. The signs turned out lovely and I was off to put up the name plates and move along my day.
Within the hour I had been attacked by whatever illness had been taking out our cast, crew, and band. I had been fighting it off for the past two months and this morning it body slammed me. I threw down some cold and flu medicine hoping to catch it early and by evening started feeling a little more alive.
The show seemed to go by pretty quickly then it was off to sleep and kick the rest of this cold.
Day 90 - March 3 - Wednesday - 1 show
I spent the entire day drinking water and napping and successfully won the fight!!! Woo Hooo!!!! I'm BACK!
Day 91 - March 4 - Thursday - 1 show and load out, travel to Buffalo, NY
Today I wrote a letter of reference for one of my cast members from the Disney Wonder and it was so nice to revisit the memories of working with her. I packed up again and got ready to drag my suitcases down to the car. When you are on tour for 8 months it takes a lot to live day by day out of your suitcase. I officially have too much stuff now. I have a big suitcase full of clothes, a big suitcase full of kitchen supplies, a small suitcase full of books and a duffle bag I use for laundry. I need to send stuff home...soon....before my back breaks.
Day 92 - March 5 - Friday - Load in and show in Buffalo, NY
I'm up at 7am and would normally go for a jog on a load in morning, but yesterday I moved onto my 3rd week of my 10 week plan and my legs are needing a recovery day. The pain is a good pain...I've grown to love it. xo
Love and peace,
Kim
It's a nice theatre with plenty of room in the dressing rooms and plenty of room on dcck...this makes for a nice load in. I spent some extra time today making some dressing room number signs for the doors because the dressing rooms aren't numbered...this tends to make me a little crazy. The signs turned out lovely and I was off to put up the name plates and move along my day.
Within the hour I had been attacked by whatever illness had been taking out our cast, crew, and band. I had been fighting it off for the past two months and this morning it body slammed me. I threw down some cold and flu medicine hoping to catch it early and by evening started feeling a little more alive.
The show seemed to go by pretty quickly then it was off to sleep and kick the rest of this cold.
Day 90 - March 3 - Wednesday - 1 show
I spent the entire day drinking water and napping and successfully won the fight!!! Woo Hooo!!!! I'm BACK!
Day 91 - March 4 - Thursday - 1 show and load out, travel to Buffalo, NY
Today I wrote a letter of reference for one of my cast members from the Disney Wonder and it was so nice to revisit the memories of working with her. I packed up again and got ready to drag my suitcases down to the car. When you are on tour for 8 months it takes a lot to live day by day out of your suitcase. I officially have too much stuff now. I have a big suitcase full of clothes, a big suitcase full of kitchen supplies, a small suitcase full of books and a duffle bag I use for laundry. I need to send stuff home...soon....before my back breaks.
Day 92 - March 5 - Friday - Load in and show in Buffalo, NY
I'm up at 7am and would normally go for a jog on a load in morning, but yesterday I moved onto my 3rd week of my 10 week plan and my legs are needing a recovery day. The pain is a good pain...I've grown to love it. xo
Love and peace,
Kim
Monday, March 1, 2010
Day 70 - 88 Thank you Linz for guilting me into updating this thing. xo
Day 70 - Feb. 11 Thursday - Travel to El Paso, TX
We stayed at the Camino Real Hotel and all I could think of is my friend Brionne and how he let me borrow his Tennessee Williams "Camino Real" script and how I still haven't returned it....sorry Bri!!! xo
Day 71 - Feb. 12 Friday - Load in and show
The hotel was just across the street from the theatre which is always awesome! The load in wasn't anything special, just the usual. We went for lunch at the hotel and it was fine. Back to the theatre, sound check, troupe checks, and show.
Day 72 - Feb 13 Saturday - 2 shows
It was a normal 2 show day for us.
Day 73 - Feb. 14 Sunday - 2 shows and load out
The 1st show was great as usual. As we were waiting for the time to start troupe checks the fire alarm started going off...REALLLLLLLY??? We filed outside and we took a roll call of everyone to make sure we had all cast and crew out of the building....All those Crew Evacuation Drills on the ship really paid off...Dario our Safety Officer would be so proud. We did troupe checks outside in the parking lot and still pulled off a good show. The audience loved getting everyone's autographs before the show. Load out went quickly and then time to pack.
Day 74 - Feb. 15 Monday - Travel to Lubbock, TX....LAST TEXAS CITY OF THIS TOUR!!!!
My friend Steve warned me well before getting to Lubbock about how bad it was going to be. It was such a bizarre town...very brown without any architecture. Very strange.
Day 75 - Feb. 16 Tuesday - Load in and show
Load in went quickly, lunch at Chili's, sound check, troupe checks, show, sleep.
Day 76 - Feb. 17 Wednesday - show
The weather is very cold here so I wasn't able to go walking around....boring. I worked on my Niece's blanket that I am crocheting for her 1st birthday. The colors are really bright and I think she will just love it!! It's 100% cotton and it's the easiest to crochet with so far.
Day 77 - Feb. 18 Thursday - show then load out.
Good show...quick load out. Pack. Sleep.
Day 78 - Feb. 19 Friday - Travel to Independence, MO
Another flight...it never gets easier...I always hope and pray that one day I will get over my fear of flying. I have been on more flights than I can count so I figure if I haven't gotten over the fear by now it's probably not going to go away. So I will keep up my mid flight prayers and promises to God that if he gets me on the ground safely I will be really, really, really good. Amen.
Day 79 - Feb. 20 Saturday - 3am Load in....and 2 shows
We had a super early load in because we had our first show at 4pm. It was a very, very, very long day, but we all made it through. We were playing in a hockey arena and arenas are nearly always a challenge. This was no exception. We thought everything was going to be great until we turned off the lights and saw the awful houselights spilling allllllllll over the preset look from all angles because the lights were for the entire arena not just the half we were using....we did what we could with what we had...sigh.
Day 80 - Feb. 21 Sunday - 2 shows then load out.
2 shows went by quickly, load out was super fast because we were all down one corridor, pack. Sleep.
Day 81 - Feb. 22 Monday - Travel to Youngstown, OH
I was in 4 states today...barely. We started off in Texas, flew to Milwaukee, where we barely missed our connection, but the connecting plane was also delayed so we made it on, touched down in Pennsylvania, then a drive to Ohio....the snow tried to slow us down all the way from Texas to Ohio, but we made it.
Here's the weather above the snow....
And a picture of what was under those fluffy clouds...
Day 82 - Feb. 23 Tuesday - load in and show
It was nice to be back in a real theatre... Load in went well, quick lunch, sound check, troupe checks, show. sleep.
Day 83 - Feb. 24 Wednesday - show
Nothing out of the ordinary today....we love that on the stage management team!
Day 84 - Feb. 25 Thursday - show, load out, sleeper bus to York, PA
Another good show, load out, change into comfy clothes, climb into sleeper bus bunk and try to get to sleep before we start moving. Mission accomplished.
Day 85 - Feb. 26 Friday - load in and show
Deja Vu... I was at this same theatre last year with Altar Boyz and it brought back so many memories of the Boyz. What a crazy tour.... I miss them very much and still so thankful that I got to know each of them and see through many challenges together. We were quite the little family.
Day 86 - Feb. 27 Saturday - 2 shows
Coffee, coffee, coffee....somehow I slipped back into being a full time coffee drinker again. I just love it! Black of course..unless it's a soy latte.
Day 87 - Feb. 28 Sunday - 2 shows, load out, sleeper bus to Rochester, NY
2 shows couldn't go quick enough today...it seems like the last day in a city makes everyone antsy...we are all ready to get back on the road and move along down the line. I'm not sure why the temperature on the bus fluctuates so much but I have adapted a well known childhood song for your enjoyment...sing with me:
The temp on the bus goes up and down
up and down
up and down
The temp on the bus goes up and down
all through the night....
Day 88 - Mar. 1 Monday - Day off in Rochester, NY
We got in to the hotel just after 4am and it was one of those toss ups of whether to try and go back to sleep or stay up and face the day. I stayed up until 7am watching "Go Further" (one of my fave films) then went for a quick shower hoping to relax and fall back asleep. I was able to sleep until about 9:15am and then I contemplated going to the gym until about 4pm and then decided to wait until the morning. I normally like to go to the gym before load in because it puts me in a good mood and I feel very awake. I spent the day crocheting, watching law and order, flipping through magazines, reading, and watching movies....I love a monday off!!!
Love and peace,
Kimmy
We stayed at the Camino Real Hotel and all I could think of is my friend Brionne and how he let me borrow his Tennessee Williams "Camino Real" script and how I still haven't returned it....sorry Bri!!! xo
Day 71 - Feb. 12 Friday - Load in and show
The hotel was just across the street from the theatre which is always awesome! The load in wasn't anything special, just the usual. We went for lunch at the hotel and it was fine. Back to the theatre, sound check, troupe checks, and show.
Day 72 - Feb 13 Saturday - 2 shows
It was a normal 2 show day for us.
Day 73 - Feb. 14 Sunday - 2 shows and load out
The 1st show was great as usual. As we were waiting for the time to start troupe checks the fire alarm started going off...REALLLLLLLY??? We filed outside and we took a roll call of everyone to make sure we had all cast and crew out of the building....All those Crew Evacuation Drills on the ship really paid off...Dario our Safety Officer would be so proud. We did troupe checks outside in the parking lot and still pulled off a good show. The audience loved getting everyone's autographs before the show. Load out went quickly and then time to pack.
Day 74 - Feb. 15 Monday - Travel to Lubbock, TX....LAST TEXAS CITY OF THIS TOUR!!!!
My friend Steve warned me well before getting to Lubbock about how bad it was going to be. It was such a bizarre town...very brown without any architecture. Very strange.
Day 75 - Feb. 16 Tuesday - Load in and show
Load in went quickly, lunch at Chili's, sound check, troupe checks, show, sleep.
Day 76 - Feb. 17 Wednesday - show
The weather is very cold here so I wasn't able to go walking around....boring. I worked on my Niece's blanket that I am crocheting for her 1st birthday. The colors are really bright and I think she will just love it!! It's 100% cotton and it's the easiest to crochet with so far.
Day 77 - Feb. 18 Thursday - show then load out.
Good show...quick load out. Pack. Sleep.
Day 78 - Feb. 19 Friday - Travel to Independence, MO
Another flight...it never gets easier...I always hope and pray that one day I will get over my fear of flying. I have been on more flights than I can count so I figure if I haven't gotten over the fear by now it's probably not going to go away. So I will keep up my mid flight prayers and promises to God that if he gets me on the ground safely I will be really, really, really good. Amen.
Day 79 - Feb. 20 Saturday - 3am Load in....and 2 shows
We had a super early load in because we had our first show at 4pm. It was a very, very, very long day, but we all made it through. We were playing in a hockey arena and arenas are nearly always a challenge. This was no exception. We thought everything was going to be great until we turned off the lights and saw the awful houselights spilling allllllllll over the preset look from all angles because the lights were for the entire arena not just the half we were using....we did what we could with what we had...sigh.
Day 80 - Feb. 21 Sunday - 2 shows then load out.
2 shows went by quickly, load out was super fast because we were all down one corridor, pack. Sleep.
Day 81 - Feb. 22 Monday - Travel to Youngstown, OH
I was in 4 states today...barely. We started off in Texas, flew to Milwaukee, where we barely missed our connection, but the connecting plane was also delayed so we made it on, touched down in Pennsylvania, then a drive to Ohio....the snow tried to slow us down all the way from Texas to Ohio, but we made it.
Here's the weather above the snow....
And a picture of what was under those fluffy clouds...
Day 82 - Feb. 23 Tuesday - load in and show
It was nice to be back in a real theatre... Load in went well, quick lunch, sound check, troupe checks, show. sleep.
Day 83 - Feb. 24 Wednesday - show
Nothing out of the ordinary today....we love that on the stage management team!
Day 84 - Feb. 25 Thursday - show, load out, sleeper bus to York, PA
Another good show, load out, change into comfy clothes, climb into sleeper bus bunk and try to get to sleep before we start moving. Mission accomplished.
Day 85 - Feb. 26 Friday - load in and show
Deja Vu... I was at this same theatre last year with Altar Boyz and it brought back so many memories of the Boyz. What a crazy tour.... I miss them very much and still so thankful that I got to know each of them and see through many challenges together. We were quite the little family.
Day 86 - Feb. 27 Saturday - 2 shows
Coffee, coffee, coffee....somehow I slipped back into being a full time coffee drinker again. I just love it! Black of course..unless it's a soy latte.
Day 87 - Feb. 28 Sunday - 2 shows, load out, sleeper bus to Rochester, NY
2 shows couldn't go quick enough today...it seems like the last day in a city makes everyone antsy...we are all ready to get back on the road and move along down the line. I'm not sure why the temperature on the bus fluctuates so much but I have adapted a well known childhood song for your enjoyment...sing with me:
The temp on the bus goes up and down
up and down
up and down
The temp on the bus goes up and down
all through the night....
Day 88 - Mar. 1 Monday - Day off in Rochester, NY
We got in to the hotel just after 4am and it was one of those toss ups of whether to try and go back to sleep or stay up and face the day. I stayed up until 7am watching "Go Further" (one of my fave films) then went for a quick shower hoping to relax and fall back asleep. I was able to sleep until about 9:15am and then I contemplated going to the gym until about 4pm and then decided to wait until the morning. I normally like to go to the gym before load in because it puts me in a good mood and I feel very awake. I spent the day crocheting, watching law and order, flipping through magazines, reading, and watching movies....I love a monday off!!!
Love and peace,
Kimmy
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