Getting Ready...
My vacation is almost finished and it's almost time to head into the fire again. Literally. California is burning. I hope it clears up soon for the sake of the people I know there who have been going through this since Sunday. The Santa Ana Winds generally come over from the desert this time of year bringing warm and dry air to the coast. This was great when I lived in San Diego since we had 90º temps in October and November. This is not good when it dries up the land making it prime condition for massive fires. Evidently there are oils in the plant life around Southern California that the plants produce to protect themselves from insects. These oils have the same composition as petroleum and create a deadly mixture with the dried up brush, intense heat, and high winds from the desert. One spark from friction or an electrical line can cause major destruction, which it has in the past week. The air quality is already horrible over there and my friends tell me they brush ashes off their cars everyday. So far there are few casualties, just millions of displaced people. The breezes have shifted though and they are now coming off the coast creating moisture in the air, which should make these fires easier to extinguish. I hope it blows over by tomorrow.
I have been home in Ohio now for the past week after just leaving New York. Mostly I've been getting ready for the upcoming trip, which at this point will take me into May of next year. I'll be on board the Westerdam with Holland America and it will also be the first time I'm going to get my parents on board. I believe this to be my last cruise adventure and cannot wait to get back to New York again. My last week there was action packed. I was seeing friends for lunches and dinners and even friends from out of state. A lot of the time I met friends unexpectedly. That happens in New York. I got to see 3 Broadway shows, 2 off Broadway shows, and a burlesque show hosted by Margaret Cho. I went to a séance, a few parties, and even stayed in New Jersey. I got to see almost everyone in my friends circle. There were only a few I missed for lack of time. Who knew two weeks wouldn't be enough time. Some highlights were seeing my friends again from the past cruise. I think after seeing my friend Dan, the only people I hadn't seen since the cruise were Nathan and Bex. I saw some folks in Ohio, one in London, and the rest in New York. I saw my friend Niffer and we saw Spring Awakening. It was a fabulous show of performers. I wasn't crazy about the story line, but the singers were amazing. They were only 16-20!! I couldn't believe it. When they sang it sounded like a CD recording was happening. It was full studio sound and on hand held microphone. It was a unique experience and the music was phenomenal. Duncan Sheik was the writer and his music is definitely inspiring to me. I saw a cute little musical of 2 people with my friend Phil and his partner Shawn called Greetings from Yorkville about 2 songwriters from out of town moving into the upper east side and dealing with New York while striving to perform and write. It hit close to home and it was an autobiographical project of these two performers. A delight. I also saw a corny piece called Three 'Mo Tenors on Theatre Row on 42nd Street. This was exactly what I expected after seeing a similar show on the Amsterdam called Three 'Mo Divas. The one on the ship were obviously women, but it was the same show for the most part with the men on 42nd Street. I got to see Margaret Cho's Sensual Woman that night and it was Hi-larious. Then came the crème de la crème of Xanadu. I had my Broadway debut!!! Yes!! I made it to the Broadway stages… as … an audience member. Hey, small steps. There's a new trend happening where for a small price YOU become part of the set. The actors interact with you and you sit right in the heart of the action. Most are rear view sight lines or side view, but you are as close as can be and right there ON the stage. Xanadu was such an experience. The show was at 7pm and we had to be there right on time or we would miss our Broadway debuts. We got to the stage door and got the run down of what was expected and how we had to make our way to the restrooms now. Once we passed the door, we could not leave the stage. All our belongings had to be under the seat during the show in a bag that was provided. We walked onto the stage through the backstage area. It was my first glimpse at my future. We walked around on the set and got to our seats. The show started and there we were in the midst of it all. I saw entrances and exits. Cues being given from the stage manager and music director. We had special speakers on the backs of the seats in front of us so we could get the audience mix. The actors sat with us at times and interacted with us as a chorus. At the end of it all we were asked to get up and dance. It was fabulous. The whole show was tongue and cheek and totally made fun of the movie from the 80s. That's what made it fun. All the music was by Electric Light Orchestra including all the additional songs. The story was done in the style of Greek theatre with a chorus. I would recommend it for an evening of fun. Plot? What plot? It was just a hilarious adventure with fun music. More like watching a cartoon. I also saw The Ritz at Studio 54 with my friend Scott. That was a hilarious play. Yes, a play and with Rosie Perez playing the stereotypical Hispanic woman. She pulled out all the stereotypes in her choice for the character. The whole play was a hilarious piece written by Terrance McNally and taking place in a gay bathhouse. It was mishap after mishap as a farce is. I was laughing all over the place and it was a great end to my trip in New York besides all the gatherings and events I took part. I will miss New York for now and can't wait to get back in 2008.
Now it is off to the Caribbean (with a detour through L.A. for 3 weeks) for sun and fun. Relaxation and savings. Saving is the main reason I took this one. I plan to save loads to come back to New York strong and ready. I have a lot to accomplish before coming back to the hectic life of New York. After these next 4 weeks are finished, I will start actively getting myself prepared. It's time to leave the seas and get on land.
I have been home in Ohio now for the past week after just leaving New York. Mostly I've been getting ready for the upcoming trip, which at this point will take me into May of next year. I'll be on board the Westerdam with Holland America and it will also be the first time I'm going to get my parents on board. I believe this to be my last cruise adventure and cannot wait to get back to New York again. My last week there was action packed. I was seeing friends for lunches and dinners and even friends from out of state. A lot of the time I met friends unexpectedly. That happens in New York. I got to see 3 Broadway shows, 2 off Broadway shows, and a burlesque show hosted by Margaret Cho. I went to a séance, a few parties, and even stayed in New Jersey. I got to see almost everyone in my friends circle. There were only a few I missed for lack of time. Who knew two weeks wouldn't be enough time. Some highlights were seeing my friends again from the past cruise. I think after seeing my friend Dan, the only people I hadn't seen since the cruise were Nathan and Bex. I saw some folks in Ohio, one in London, and the rest in New York. I saw my friend Niffer and we saw Spring Awakening. It was a fabulous show of performers. I wasn't crazy about the story line, but the singers were amazing. They were only 16-20!! I couldn't believe it. When they sang it sounded like a CD recording was happening. It was full studio sound and on hand held microphone. It was a unique experience and the music was phenomenal. Duncan Sheik was the writer and his music is definitely inspiring to me. I saw a cute little musical of 2 people with my friend Phil and his partner Shawn called Greetings from Yorkville about 2 songwriters from out of town moving into the upper east side and dealing with New York while striving to perform and write. It hit close to home and it was an autobiographical project of these two performers. A delight. I also saw a corny piece called Three 'Mo Tenors on Theatre Row on 42nd Street. This was exactly what I expected after seeing a similar show on the Amsterdam called Three 'Mo Divas. The one on the ship were obviously women, but it was the same show for the most part with the men on 42nd Street. I got to see Margaret Cho's Sensual Woman that night and it was Hi-larious. Then came the crème de la crème of Xanadu. I had my Broadway debut!!! Yes!! I made it to the Broadway stages… as … an audience member. Hey, small steps. There's a new trend happening where for a small price YOU become part of the set. The actors interact with you and you sit right in the heart of the action. Most are rear view sight lines or side view, but you are as close as can be and right there ON the stage. Xanadu was such an experience. The show was at 7pm and we had to be there right on time or we would miss our Broadway debuts. We got to the stage door and got the run down of what was expected and how we had to make our way to the restrooms now. Once we passed the door, we could not leave the stage. All our belongings had to be under the seat during the show in a bag that was provided. We walked onto the stage through the backstage area. It was my first glimpse at my future. We walked around on the set and got to our seats. The show started and there we were in the midst of it all. I saw entrances and exits. Cues being given from the stage manager and music director. We had special speakers on the backs of the seats in front of us so we could get the audience mix. The actors sat with us at times and interacted with us as a chorus. At the end of it all we were asked to get up and dance. It was fabulous. The whole show was tongue and cheek and totally made fun of the movie from the 80s. That's what made it fun. All the music was by Electric Light Orchestra including all the additional songs. The story was done in the style of Greek theatre with a chorus. I would recommend it for an evening of fun. Plot? What plot? It was just a hilarious adventure with fun music. More like watching a cartoon. I also saw The Ritz at Studio 54 with my friend Scott. That was a hilarious play. Yes, a play and with Rosie Perez playing the stereotypical Hispanic woman. She pulled out all the stereotypes in her choice for the character. The whole play was a hilarious piece written by Terrance McNally and taking place in a gay bathhouse. It was mishap after mishap as a farce is. I was laughing all over the place and it was a great end to my trip in New York besides all the gatherings and events I took part. I will miss New York for now and can't wait to get back in 2008.
Now it is off to the Caribbean (with a detour through L.A. for 3 weeks) for sun and fun. Relaxation and savings. Saving is the main reason I took this one. I plan to save loads to come back to New York strong and ready. I have a lot to accomplish before coming back to the hectic life of New York. After these next 4 weeks are finished, I will start actively getting myself prepared. It's time to leave the seas and get on land.
posted by Chris | 10:30 PM
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