Today was the perfect day. The sun was shining over the beautiful private island, Ilha Grande, and the weather was PERFECT. Sean and I ventured off the ship to the beach, ate frozen treats that were AMAZING, and ran into the water. This island, I kid you not, is like a painting. The water is beautiful blue and the mountains are all green and Amazon-like. What you picture Brazil to be, this is it and more :D We swam and laid in the sun before we rented a kayak and braved the open water. Needless to say, we are experts. Despite the waves from several ships coming and leaving the port, never once did we tip. We paddled out a ways then stopped and drifted, spinning around and viewing paradise. And we just talked. I miss that. About anything and everything. And we both knew how crazy this was, here we are sitting in a kayak, in Brazil. So hardcore. Unbelievable. I'm not going to lie, there was discussion on how we can move and live here....so Mom- you'll know where we are when we aren't on our planes back. I spent a lot of today reflecting on how I have gotten here and remembering last year. I remembered my struggles, my triumphs, my depression and heartache, my homesickness, my shreaded confidence, my constant ups and downs. And now here I am. I am finally myself again. God had laid out a path and this is where it has lead me and I am so grateful. I didn't understand then, but as I trace back my decisions, I see it all so clearly. I am growing from this experience and coming into who I am supposed to be for life. I am loving everyday and I am so happy that things are finally, falling into place. Who knows what the future holds for me but now, I'm looking forward to it. I hope everyone reviews their life last year and sees the beauty in the breakdown. I do.
Love always
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
2010.....here we come!!!!!!!!
Happy New Year!!!!! Hope everyone had a good 2009, mine was life changing without a doubt. Looking back I see how much I have grown and how decisions I have made have lead me to where I am now. I’m still working on my resolutions but I want to start this new year off with a thank you to my family. Mom and dad- you mean everything to me and I wouldn’t have this incredible experience if I didn’t have you. My dreams are unfolding as I am dancing around the world, soaking in new cultures, meeting the most amazing people, and loving life. Thank you for always believing in me and pushing me to be the best I can be. Sean, Ryan, Mel-what can I say except that you guys are the best. Not many people I have met are as close to their siblings or put in as much effort to keep in touch let alone spend time together. I will always have our memories of LA, it meant so much to me to show my new life and bring some of home into it. Now, it’s a new life and I’m ready for the adventures that are to come when you sail with me. Family- thank you for all the support over the years, not just for the stage, but in life. I was spoiled having you in the audience throughout my early career and each time I take the stage on this ship, I picture everyone smiling back at me. And to my friends- I love you guys so much. I know that I am missing so much of your lives this year and I desperately wish I could be with you for it all. But, I know that we are all meant to grow in this time and maybe by being far away from each other, we will learn to cherish the time we will have together even more. I hope 2010 brings everyone their heart’s desires. My heart is bursting with joy and my only wish is to spread the happiness I have to you all.
As for an update, Sean has a room!!!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!! Even though this cruise was booked solid, they had a couple no shows so Sean has a cabin on the second floor with a window and all :D He is very happy to have a bed. Ha oh the simple pleasures of life! We are having a lot of fun, the first few days of his arrival were a bit rough; lost luggage, rioting passengers, and some issues with me getting off the ship in two ports :/ But now things seem to be running much more smoothly, knock on wood. However, my cast is kind of falling apart! Maude, my roomie, hurt her back and has been “unfit for duty” for about a week and a half now :/ We have had to reblock our shows and we were stressing they were going to send her home and fly in a replacement. She visited a specialist in Santos yesterday and seems to be doing better. The doctor gave her a shot, medication, and recommended physical therapy. She should be able to dance for the next cruise. But now there is an outbreak of GI!!!!!! AH!!!! Stephany has it already and Jade’s husband (in the band) has it. So, as of now, our performance of Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme is cancelled for tomorrow, pending the recovery of either Maude or Stephany. Keep me in your prayers that I don’t catch the nasty, NASTY bug.
Tomorrow, we will be in Buzios and hopefully we will be able to find a place to jetski. If not, I for sure want to swim with dolphins. Our list of things we want to do while we are here keeps growing, we need more time!!!! Sean is already talking about coming back to cruise while we are in Norway. :D Within the next month I should be able to email my bosses and start discussing future contracts! It’s very exciting thinking about all the possibilities that I have, if they want me back that is… Pray for that too, please! Brian and I are eager to do another contract together, imagine the damage we could do in Asia and Australia!!!!!!
Well, I think that’s all that I have for now, more to come as Sean and I explore all Brazil has to offer. We already have matching sunburns, who knows, maybe matching tattoos next…..
LOL.
LOVE LOVE LOVE <3
As for an update, Sean has a room!!!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!! Even though this cruise was booked solid, they had a couple no shows so Sean has a cabin on the second floor with a window and all :D He is very happy to have a bed. Ha oh the simple pleasures of life! We are having a lot of fun, the first few days of his arrival were a bit rough; lost luggage, rioting passengers, and some issues with me getting off the ship in two ports :/ But now things seem to be running much more smoothly, knock on wood. However, my cast is kind of falling apart! Maude, my roomie, hurt her back and has been “unfit for duty” for about a week and a half now :/ We have had to reblock our shows and we were stressing they were going to send her home and fly in a replacement. She visited a specialist in Santos yesterday and seems to be doing better. The doctor gave her a shot, medication, and recommended physical therapy. She should be able to dance for the next cruise. But now there is an outbreak of GI!!!!!! AH!!!! Stephany has it already and Jade’s husband (in the band) has it. So, as of now, our performance of Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme is cancelled for tomorrow, pending the recovery of either Maude or Stephany. Keep me in your prayers that I don’t catch the nasty, NASTY bug.
Tomorrow, we will be in Buzios and hopefully we will be able to find a place to jetski. If not, I for sure want to swim with dolphins. Our list of things we want to do while we are here keeps growing, we need more time!!!! Sean is already talking about coming back to cruise while we are in Norway. :D Within the next month I should be able to email my bosses and start discussing future contracts! It’s very exciting thinking about all the possibilities that I have, if they want me back that is… Pray for that too, please! Brian and I are eager to do another contract together, imagine the damage we could do in Asia and Australia!!!!!!
Well, I think that’s all that I have for now, more to come as Sean and I explore all Brazil has to offer. We already have matching sunburns, who knows, maybe matching tattoos next…..
LOL.
LOVE LOVE LOVE <3
Friday, December 18, 2009
Just Hear Those Sleigh Bells Ringing.....
Happy Holiday wishes to everyone!!!!! It's almost Christmas and I am in a cheerful mood :D Our Christmas show is nearly complete, just got to finish the choreography for my duet with Christian.
I was laughing so hard in rehearsals for the Christmas show because Christian, being from Argentina, has never seen snow and therefore doesn't know what a sleigh is. He has been learning our show off a video and he told us to come up to the front of the stage, get in a clump, and bounce around. He said "I have no idea what they are doing, but we have to do it!" HAHA we explained that they were showing the audience a "sleigh ride" and bouncing along the snowy hills. Not sure if he can picture it, he might have to come to Colorado for a winter season :D
My newest obsession is Acai. It is a berry found in the Amazon and they make it into like a smoothie type concoction. You top it with granola and banana slices and OMG you're in HEAVEN!!!!!!!! It's a ton of calories but TOTALLY WORTH IT :D I was telling the Brazilian cast that in America, they are marketing Acai as a weight loss supplement, a super food that burns fat right off you! But people... I am in Brazil, where the berries come from, and I am telling you that this is not true. Acai is healthy because its fruit, just like any other berries in its family. But it is high in calories so I try to eat it as a meal rather than just for desert :)
Well, I should run and start getting ready; we are preforming ABBA in the Viking Crown tonight and I have to make my hair look 70's....HA.
<3 shannon="">
I was laughing so hard in rehearsals for the Christmas show because Christian, being from Argentina, has never seen snow and therefore doesn't know what a sleigh is. He has been learning our show off a video and he told us to come up to the front of the stage, get in a clump, and bounce around. He said "I have no idea what they are doing, but we have to do it!" HAHA we explained that they were showing the audience a "sleigh ride" and bouncing along the snowy hills. Not sure if he can picture it, he might have to come to Colorado for a winter season :D
My newest obsession is Acai. It is a berry found in the Amazon and they make it into like a smoothie type concoction. You top it with granola and banana slices and OMG you're in HEAVEN!!!!!!!! It's a ton of calories but TOTALLY WORTH IT :D I was telling the Brazilian cast that in America, they are marketing Acai as a weight loss supplement, a super food that burns fat right off you! But people... I am in Brazil, where the berries come from, and I am telling you that this is not true. Acai is healthy because its fruit, just like any other berries in its family. But it is high in calories so I try to eat it as a meal rather than just for desert :)
Well, I should run and start getting ready; we are preforming ABBA in the Viking Crown tonight and I have to make my hair look 70's....HA.
<3 shannon="">
Friday, December 4, 2009
The Hunt for Jesus.....Rio de Janeiro
Rio was hands down a LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE. I am the luckiest person EVER. I saw one of the seven wonders of the world....for free. While on the ship, I can sign up to be a tour escort for the tours they provide the guests. All I have to do is make sure everyone gets on and off the bus ok and then I am free to enjoy the tour like everyone else! UNREAL.
Our day started off in the city. We drove around and stopped at a large cathedral where our tour guide, Fernando, said thousands gather for mass. Fernando said that Brazil is mostly Catholic so there were beautiful churches everywhere. I fell in love with the buildings, the Opera house, the political houses, everything was so detailed and amazing. After the church we drove up to Sugarloaf Mountain, named because of its shapely resemblance to a sugarloaf. (Fernando's words because I have NO IDEA what a sugarloaf is ;) On the way we passed a gorgeous house, well mansion, that used to be home to Princess Isabel. Brazil was the last country to free its slaves and Princess Isabel was the saint who freed them. There were statues all around the city in her honor. WOMAN POWER!!!!! We also passed stadiums that were home to the professional soccer (or football) teams. I wish I could see a game while I'm here but they are usually at night and by then we are sailing away. We headed along Copacabana beach, and of course I sang the song the whole way :D. One of my Brazilian friends told me that Madonna will be playing a free concert there for New Years! Wish we were there for that lol! Finally, we reached Sugaloaf Mountain and rode several cable cars to reach the top. It was so misty that you couldn't see the end of your cable or the ground! Very scary experience!
After Sugarloaf we went to lunch at a popular Brazilian BBQ/ steakhouse. I enjoyed the salad bar :D. I had a fruity ice cream for desert that was AMAZING!!!!!!! Ugh, I will miss that!!!! I was talking to one of the guests on the tour and we came to find out that we were both from Colorado! In fact, he lived on 64th and Sheridan and moved to Oregon ten years before I was even born! What are the chances!?!?! I think I will forever remember that I met a fellow Colorado-ian in Brazil. WOW.
Then it was time for the highlight of the tour. The trek up the mountain to Jesus included a steep train ride and multiple stairs, we were that high up. It was huge, I literally had to lay on the ground to see the whole thing! We were told that it was sculpted all over the world, the head alone came in 124 pieces from France. That is one big puzzle! :o The mist was beginning to clear as we got up there and I got some incredible pictures :D I started playing with my panoramic mode on my camera which is so freakin SWEET!!!!! The view below was breathtaking. My friend Brian had to hold my hand because he is afraid of heights and his knees became weak as we were looking down. We were on top of the world, at Jesus's feet. Unbelievable.
So I can now officially cross off one of the wonders of the world, and start on getting to the next one! My bucket list seems to grow the more I learn about other cultures and the entire world that I still have to see!!!!!!!!!! I am so blessed to have this opportunity. I am trying my best to soak in everyday and not take anything for granted because even though I am in the tourist areas that are really nice and everthing is awesome, we still see the poverty and the beggars along the street. I know that I have a wonderful life and I hope that one day, I can help people have a better life too.
I hope everyone is enjoying themselves, its nearly Christmas time and I wish I could be home for the holidays!
Love you all,
Shannon <3
Our day started off in the city. We drove around and stopped at a large cathedral where our tour guide, Fernando, said thousands gather for mass. Fernando said that Brazil is mostly Catholic so there were beautiful churches everywhere. I fell in love with the buildings, the Opera house, the political houses, everything was so detailed and amazing. After the church we drove up to Sugarloaf Mountain, named because of its shapely resemblance to a sugarloaf. (Fernando's words because I have NO IDEA what a sugarloaf is ;) On the way we passed a gorgeous house, well mansion, that used to be home to Princess Isabel. Brazil was the last country to free its slaves and Princess Isabel was the saint who freed them. There were statues all around the city in her honor. WOMAN POWER!!!!! We also passed stadiums that were home to the professional soccer (or football) teams. I wish I could see a game while I'm here but they are usually at night and by then we are sailing away. We headed along Copacabana beach, and of course I sang the song the whole way :D. One of my Brazilian friends told me that Madonna will be playing a free concert there for New Years! Wish we were there for that lol! Finally, we reached Sugaloaf Mountain and rode several cable cars to reach the top. It was so misty that you couldn't see the end of your cable or the ground! Very scary experience!
After Sugarloaf we went to lunch at a popular Brazilian BBQ/ steakhouse. I enjoyed the salad bar :D. I had a fruity ice cream for desert that was AMAZING!!!!!!! Ugh, I will miss that!!!! I was talking to one of the guests on the tour and we came to find out that we were both from Colorado! In fact, he lived on 64th and Sheridan and moved to Oregon ten years before I was even born! What are the chances!?!?! I think I will forever remember that I met a fellow Colorado-ian in Brazil. WOW.
Then it was time for the highlight of the tour. The trek up the mountain to Jesus included a steep train ride and multiple stairs, we were that high up. It was huge, I literally had to lay on the ground to see the whole thing! We were told that it was sculpted all over the world, the head alone came in 124 pieces from France. That is one big puzzle! :o The mist was beginning to clear as we got up there and I got some incredible pictures :D I started playing with my panoramic mode on my camera which is so freakin SWEET!!!!! The view below was breathtaking. My friend Brian had to hold my hand because he is afraid of heights and his knees became weak as we were looking down. We were on top of the world, at Jesus's feet. Unbelievable.
So I can now officially cross off one of the wonders of the world, and start on getting to the next one! My bucket list seems to grow the more I learn about other cultures and the entire world that I still have to see!!!!!!!!!! I am so blessed to have this opportunity. I am trying my best to soak in everyday and not take anything for granted because even though I am in the tourist areas that are really nice and everthing is awesome, we still see the poverty and the beggars along the street. I know that I have a wonderful life and I hope that one day, I can help people have a better life too.
I hope everyone is enjoying themselves, its nearly Christmas time and I wish I could be home for the holidays!
Love you all,
Shannon <3
Saturday, November 28, 2009
LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After five LONG days at sea, we touched land today!!!!!!!! I felt like I was slowly going crazy with cabin fever!
Brazil is HOT!!!!!!!! I applied 50 spf (that's right mommy, 50) because we have our show tomorrow and there is nothing worse than dancing with your sunburns :/ We made camp at the beach and then proceeded into the water for an intense seaweed fight!!! There was so much seaweed and we couldn't venture too far out because they were shark infested waters. I still have yet to see a fin.....one of these days hopefully. The beaches there are very hectic and lots of people are trying to sell you things. They push carts around all day selling anything from movies and cds to pineapple on a stick. I had fried cheese on a stick and it was very yummy. Thank goodness I have made friends with Brazilians on board because NO ONE SPOKE ENGLISH!!!!!!! We had the most difficult time trying to catch a taxi because you don't hail them the same way you do in America and each driver has their own rules about how much it will cost and how many people they want to take. This is a very confusing process when you aren't speaking the same language:/ But we made it back to the port and no one was mugged so the day was a good one lol.
We have a show of Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme tomorrow night followed by a mini show (just one dance) in the Viking Crown. I think everyone is happy to be productive again, we were grateful for our vacation but its time to get active. Especially me because I hate the gym and I really should be going on my days off BUT I choose to play games instead lol. Oh well, I will dedicate time to the gym in the future. HA HA that's so bad I'm totally saying that everyday and not following thru...... :D
I'm looking forward to Rio in a few days because I will hopefully be going on the tour that takes you all over! And then I will have my friend Paulo (the one who danced the samba with me :o) be my tour guide everywhere else. It's nice they take care of us, warning us what areas to stay clear of and translating everything because we are pretty obvious looking tourists.
Hope all is well back home! It's weird to be out in beach wear this close to Christmas but as the Brazilians like to remind me, Santa wears shorts and sandals ;)
Love,
Brazil is HOT!!!!!!!! I applied 50 spf (that's right mommy, 50) because we have our show tomorrow and there is nothing worse than dancing with your sunburns :/ We made camp at the beach and then proceeded into the water for an intense seaweed fight!!! There was so much seaweed and we couldn't venture too far out because they were shark infested waters. I still have yet to see a fin.....one of these days hopefully. The beaches there are very hectic and lots of people are trying to sell you things. They push carts around all day selling anything from movies and cds to pineapple on a stick. I had fried cheese on a stick and it was very yummy. Thank goodness I have made friends with Brazilians on board because NO ONE SPOKE ENGLISH!!!!!!! We had the most difficult time trying to catch a taxi because you don't hail them the same way you do in America and each driver has their own rules about how much it will cost and how many people they want to take. This is a very confusing process when you aren't speaking the same language:/ But we made it back to the port and no one was mugged so the day was a good one lol.
We have a show of Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme tomorrow night followed by a mini show (just one dance) in the Viking Crown. I think everyone is happy to be productive again, we were grateful for our vacation but its time to get active. Especially me because I hate the gym and I really should be going on my days off BUT I choose to play games instead lol. Oh well, I will dedicate time to the gym in the future. HA HA that's so bad I'm totally saying that everyday and not following thru...... :D
I'm looking forward to Rio in a few days because I will hopefully be going on the tour that takes you all over! And then I will have my friend Paulo (the one who danced the samba with me :o) be my tour guide everywhere else. It's nice they take care of us, warning us what areas to stay clear of and translating everything because we are pretty obvious looking tourists.
Hope all is well back home! It's weird to be out in beach wear this close to Christmas but as the Brazilians like to remind me, Santa wears shorts and sandals ;)
Love,
Thursday, November 26, 2009
A Day of Thanks :D
Welp, today was my first Thanksgiving away from home :( It really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. They had cocktails in the Viking Crown for the American guests and crew. They had mini burgers and mini hotdogs lol. Of course, I went straight to the mini pizzas :D And since it was one of our cast members' birthday as well, the Hotel Director gave us permission to dine in the restaurant. (Don't tell anyone but I had THREE deserts because it was free) :o hahahhaa. I got to Skype my family today which made me so so so happy. I had been looking forward to today for a long time and I'm so glad it worked out perfectly!!!!!! I got to see my PUPPY OZZY BOY!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay I miss that little rascal even tho he has eaten pretty much every shoe I own :/ Let's see, SO MUCH has happened since I was on last I don't even know where to begin!!!!! I guess I need to update this more often!!!!!!! LOL.
We successfully opened both shows and our director left very pleased with us :D Our first official day off was in Lisbon, Portugal. I spent the day wandering the streets with some of my friends that are in the band. We found the embassies (is that even a word?) and made a game to find the American embassy. We found it but got in a little trouble with the Policia for trying to take a picture! WOOPS!!!! Silly tourists!!!!! It was such peaceful place, I was so content just walking up and down the alleyways. However, when we boarded the ship we learned we had a show that night!!!!!!!! The guest entertainer had some issues getting on the ship (it was rumored he was hospitalized but that was never confirmed) so we needed to fill in for him. The only problem was, we were starting to hit the high seas that night and my oh my were we rocking!!!!!!! Our first show was a hot, hot mess and our second show was done in our flat shoes and we took out a lot of lifts and turns for our safety. It's a really funny experience when you are trying to move to one side and the whole ship shifts the other way because you feel the pressure!!!!!! We would leap and land way, way far over because the stage had shifted beneath us!!!!!! So that was interesting to cope with!!!!! I have never had to dance on a moving stage lol.
Our next stop was Spain and when we entered, we went under a mini Golden Gate Bridge! We were dancing underneath the stars on the back deck and we watched the top of the ship pass beneath it. From our spot it looked like we wouldn't fit but of course, we were fine haha. Seems they like to copy San Francisco because they also had the steep hills and trolleys. They had a mini Jesus statue that sat on a distant hill and I can't wait to see the real one in Brazil!!!!!!!
Today I took a tour of the bridge. I sat in the captain's chair and wore his hat but I was careful not to touch anything!!!!!!! It's a lot of buttons and machines and I am really happy that my job is to dance and not drive the massive ship with all the people on board!! The tour guide thought it was really funny when I asked if he could see whales on the radar. I can't help it, I love the ocean!!!! LOL :D
We crossed the equator tonight!!!!!!!!!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!! Only one more sea day til we reach the beautiful beaches in BRAZIL!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to get MY TAN ON!!!!!!! Although, I will def. wear sunscreen because Robert, one of my fellow dance mates, was outside for 10 mins. before it started raining and he got BURNT!!!!!!!!!!!! 10 MINS!!!!!!!!!!! That is one POWERFUL SUN!!!!!!!!!! So basically, I need to be careful.
OOOH do I have the HOOK UP!!!!!! So, this very gay boy swept me off my feet and led me in a samba dance (so smooth I thought I was going to melt on the dance floor!) He is from Brazil and he is going to be my tour guide while we are there :D Now I don't have to wander around aimlessly because I will have someone who knows what's up!!!!!!
I have new hire training tomorrow!!!!! YAY!!!!!!! And then we have rehearsals because we are learning a Christmas show!!! I like it because it will put me in a bit of Christmas spirit even tho I am far away from home. I love you all so much and I'm happy I got to see some of you on skype today!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully sometime I will be able to call all of you and get updates but for now I promise to update my blog more often!!!!!! Happy Thanksgiving from almost Brasil!!!!!!!!!!! :D
LOVE ALWAYS AND FOREVER,
We successfully opened both shows and our director left very pleased with us :D Our first official day off was in Lisbon, Portugal. I spent the day wandering the streets with some of my friends that are in the band. We found the embassies (is that even a word?) and made a game to find the American embassy. We found it but got in a little trouble with the Policia for trying to take a picture! WOOPS!!!! Silly tourists!!!!! It was such peaceful place, I was so content just walking up and down the alleyways. However, when we boarded the ship we learned we had a show that night!!!!!!!! The guest entertainer had some issues getting on the ship (it was rumored he was hospitalized but that was never confirmed) so we needed to fill in for him. The only problem was, we were starting to hit the high seas that night and my oh my were we rocking!!!!!!! Our first show was a hot, hot mess and our second show was done in our flat shoes and we took out a lot of lifts and turns for our safety. It's a really funny experience when you are trying to move to one side and the whole ship shifts the other way because you feel the pressure!!!!!! We would leap and land way, way far over because the stage had shifted beneath us!!!!!! So that was interesting to cope with!!!!! I have never had to dance on a moving stage lol.
Our next stop was Spain and when we entered, we went under a mini Golden Gate Bridge! We were dancing underneath the stars on the back deck and we watched the top of the ship pass beneath it. From our spot it looked like we wouldn't fit but of course, we were fine haha. Seems they like to copy San Francisco because they also had the steep hills and trolleys. They had a mini Jesus statue that sat on a distant hill and I can't wait to see the real one in Brazil!!!!!!!
Today I took a tour of the bridge. I sat in the captain's chair and wore his hat but I was careful not to touch anything!!!!!!! It's a lot of buttons and machines and I am really happy that my job is to dance and not drive the massive ship with all the people on board!! The tour guide thought it was really funny when I asked if he could see whales on the radar. I can't help it, I love the ocean!!!! LOL :D
We crossed the equator tonight!!!!!!!!!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!! Only one more sea day til we reach the beautiful beaches in BRAZIL!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to get MY TAN ON!!!!!!! Although, I will def. wear sunscreen because Robert, one of my fellow dance mates, was outside for 10 mins. before it started raining and he got BURNT!!!!!!!!!!!! 10 MINS!!!!!!!!!!! That is one POWERFUL SUN!!!!!!!!!! So basically, I need to be careful.
OOOH do I have the HOOK UP!!!!!! So, this very gay boy swept me off my feet and led me in a samba dance (so smooth I thought I was going to melt on the dance floor!) He is from Brazil and he is going to be my tour guide while we are there :D Now I don't have to wander around aimlessly because I will have someone who knows what's up!!!!!!
I have new hire training tomorrow!!!!! YAY!!!!!!! And then we have rehearsals because we are learning a Christmas show!!! I like it because it will put me in a bit of Christmas spirit even tho I am far away from home. I love you all so much and I'm happy I got to see some of you on skype today!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully sometime I will be able to call all of you and get updates but for now I promise to update my blog more often!!!!!! Happy Thanksgiving from almost Brasil!!!!!!!!!!! :D
LOVE ALWAYS AND FOREVER,
Friday, November 13, 2009
Opening Night- Boogie Wonderland
Boogie Wonderland opens tonight!!!!! We are all so excited (and a little nervous!) We have been having a lot of technical issues- our sound guy has NO idea what he is doing and our Production Manager had issues with his visa so he cant join the ship til week 2. This means we are opening both shows without a boss and all our cues (lights, sound, stage staff) are led by him. So right now, its all a guessing game about what will work and what won't.....we are praying it all pulls together for tonight!!!!! Our director is very happy with our cast though, she says we look amazing and are ready for an audience. So no matter what is going on behind us or around us, at least the singers and dancers will be giving a good show!!!!
My feet have returned to their normal state...THANK GOODNESS!!!!!! My show shoes couldn't fit over my swollen marshmallows!!!!!!! And my blisters have hardened but they will prolly scar because, lets face it, they won't get a decent rest from the heels lol.
I'm still adjusting into the life on board a ship. It's been really rocky and will only get worse when we are crossing the Atlantic :/ Brian (one of our singers) is going to lend me a pair of ear plugs that he swears will help but I think I am so sensitive to it all and just need to take my Dramamine. During the days its not so bad, we are sailing now and I feel we are pretty solid, but at night when the winds pick up, woof. My first night I did throw up.....gross. And since then I take my pills regularly. And its funny because even when we are docked, I still feel like we are swaying. Everyone else laughs at me cause I'm also saying "are we moving!?!?" No one else feels like that but maybe its just another adjustment for me that will come with time lol. It's that feeling after you have been in the ocean all day and then you are laying in bed and you still feel like you are in the water! Mel, do you remember that time in Florida when we were boogie boarding ALL day and it took us FOREVER to fall asleep cause we couldn't shake that sway feeling. That was also the time when I got really, really burnt which then blistered my shoulders and I cried when I was partnering with Justin for our duet the next day....good times. HA HA.
Today we had ice cream!!!!!! :o AND they sell chocolate milk in the slop chest (which is a little goodies shop for crew and staff members) so I am very content right now :) Luckily they serve cereal at all meals so I won't starve!!!!!!!!!
Tomorrow we will start working on Rhythm and Rhyme, which is an easier and shorter show :) Then its only a few more days til we reach Lisbon, the first port we can get off!!!!!!! And since they are adding in a Brazilian cast, I really won't be working very much :o Lots of time to explore and memorize the ship and see the world :D
Well, I should go get ready for the show!!! I need to preset my costumes cause I have SUPER DOOPER quick changes and I need all my costumes, and wigs ;) to be set up a certain way or I won't make it on stage on time! I hope the seas are calm tonight or I will be falling over trying to pull my pants on (which I have done several times in rehearsals already!!!!!) You would think, as a dancer, that I am in control of my body but I am very much a klutz. :D
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!! <3
My feet have returned to their normal state...THANK GOODNESS!!!!!! My show shoes couldn't fit over my swollen marshmallows!!!!!!! And my blisters have hardened but they will prolly scar because, lets face it, they won't get a decent rest from the heels lol.
I'm still adjusting into the life on board a ship. It's been really rocky and will only get worse when we are crossing the Atlantic :/ Brian (one of our singers) is going to lend me a pair of ear plugs that he swears will help but I think I am so sensitive to it all and just need to take my Dramamine. During the days its not so bad, we are sailing now and I feel we are pretty solid, but at night when the winds pick up, woof. My first night I did throw up.....gross. And since then I take my pills regularly. And its funny because even when we are docked, I still feel like we are swaying. Everyone else laughs at me cause I'm also saying "are we moving!?!?" No one else feels like that but maybe its just another adjustment for me that will come with time lol. It's that feeling after you have been in the ocean all day and then you are laying in bed and you still feel like you are in the water! Mel, do you remember that time in Florida when we were boogie boarding ALL day and it took us FOREVER to fall asleep cause we couldn't shake that sway feeling. That was also the time when I got really, really burnt which then blistered my shoulders and I cried when I was partnering with Justin for our duet the next day....good times. HA HA.
Today we had ice cream!!!!!! :o AND they sell chocolate milk in the slop chest (which is a little goodies shop for crew and staff members) so I am very content right now :) Luckily they serve cereal at all meals so I won't starve!!!!!!!!!
Tomorrow we will start working on Rhythm and Rhyme, which is an easier and shorter show :) Then its only a few more days til we reach Lisbon, the first port we can get off!!!!!!! And since they are adding in a Brazilian cast, I really won't be working very much :o Lots of time to explore and memorize the ship and see the world :D
Well, I should go get ready for the show!!! I need to preset my costumes cause I have SUPER DOOPER quick changes and I need all my costumes, and wigs ;) to be set up a certain way or I won't make it on stage on time! I hope the seas are calm tonight or I will be falling over trying to pull my pants on (which I have done several times in rehearsals already!!!!!) You would think, as a dancer, that I am in control of my body but I am very much a klutz. :D
LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!! <3
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