Well Played Mayans

This is a combination of mandarin orange and animal cracker chewed together and spat out, courtesy of our girl Yuula

Our router committed suicide last night. Really couldn't have been worse timing. But I did get a free day in the yard to start the white rock removal process. Got about 13/15 thru the one side. Didn't touch the others. Dirty work that makes the shower gritty. 

I talked with Curtis today, back and forth between his customer base. We made some ambitious plans for end of July. Let's see what happens. 

We've been drinking white because our reserves are low.

This happened...

...and this will never get old...

And Dick Clark dies the same year the world is predicted to end. Well played Mayans.

Fountain Poses

While we waited for everyone to arrive to banquet the other day the boys and I had the great opportunity for a little photo shoot in front of the hotel fountain so naturally we dove right in. Not into the fountain... into the opportunity... is where we dove... dove into the oppor... not wet.


I call this one Four Boys & A Fountain.


GRAND


MIGHTY


STOIC


MISGUIDED

Allentown & 1st Guests

This weekend was the Allentown show. We went. Not so much as to see the show (I think we watched the corps) but to eat funnel cake and of course see some friends before the summer was out. And we did. It was weird. The most removed I've ever felt being at a show in over a decade, probably ever, and it was nice.


1999 ageouts reunited (and it felt so good)


Demands were made for a funnel cake and I delivered


Fran & Curtis reminisce about a big blue van and paying tolls with a check

Eric was there with his gang, Bunky, I haven't seen in years, and two young ladies Eric knows from some random endeavor in the New England area, Megan & Alexis. We decided to go back to our house afterward, since we were so close and they had to drive down 80 to get home, so just like that we had our first house guests. Of course we weren't nearly ready for such an event, but it went off without a hitch and I think it was an enjoyable evening of Ellio's, Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss and the everyone's favorite glitch opera, Dirty Projector's Getty Address.


The only place where everyone would fit was the patio & it was chilly


Fran conjuring fire


One of the best things about being back up north is Ellio's


Relocating to a warmer climate and watching Jaws


As close as Eric & Bunky will ever get to bunk beds

4 Grown Men In Disney

The corp had an off-day, really an off-evening, at Disney last Sunday. We assembled a nice round number of four and headed off into the magical kingdom, our hearts eager with the possibilties that lay at hand.

But first we were hungry. The first place we saw, Pecos Bills, had deliciously greased up burgers. Devoured.


Right across te way was Pirates of the Caribbean with only a 10 minute wait, which in actuality we were on and off that thing in less than 10 minutes, so.... Good times. Curtis was in awe of the 1970's animatronics. I think his mommy & daddy never brought him to Disney when he was a wee boy. That's why he's so weird.


From there we hit the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, a personal favorite of mine, one I'm willing to overcome my intense fear of heights to explore.
Proof:



From there it began to rain a little, so we hid in a small cabin type thing, managed to be perfectly placed for one of those random creepy parades that showcase grown men dressed as princes with bad wigs and the ugliest princesses you ever did see. The rain didn't let up but we had to move, we were on a deadline. We searched out the nearest indoor attraction, The Haunted Mansion, and hopped on line. The pictures didn't turn out too well, but I'm telling ya, there were ghosts.



On over to Tomorrowland where we ran into some old Cadets from the area. We rode alongside in the teacups with Caroline, Justin, Marissa & Monica. Curtis, Rory, Brian & myself jammed into one teacup.


This must've looked completely ridiculous, but we had that puppy spinning so fast that Brian went crosseyed.


Let's see what was next. From there it started to pour. We had to make a mad dash from the shelter of the teacups into what turned out to be an ice cream stand. Coincidence? No. After that Brian insisted we ride the "people mover" as it was his favorite ride as a youngen. Luckily the "people mover", more commonly known as the Tomorrowland® Transit Authority, was completely empty. We walked right on and Brian could not have been happier.


The people mover travels around Tomorrowland® and shows you all the attractions there, and even goes inside Space Mountain, but since it was broke down at the moment the tracks were lit up and we got a peak at what Disney doesn't want you to see. That Space Mountain kinda looks like those cheap, scary rollercoasters along the Jersey shore that you won't let your kids go on. Just saying.


With it still raining we decided to ride the people mover again, which of course delighted Brian, but this time we saw that Space Mountain was up and running, so we bolted off, ran thru puddles and got online. It was the longest wait of the day, about 45 minutes, but c'mon, it's Space Mountain.


We left Tomorrowland® to get the obligatory photo in front of the castle.


Whoever we got to take it I guess didn't understand the assignment. Not the best photo taken there I'm guessing, but we move on.

We saw cranes. They was neat-O. I got close to this guy.


With about an hour & a half to kill we were gonna jam as much as we could into this day. We skipped back to Frontierland to hit some of the big rides there. First, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I managed to snap off a few shots to capture our emotions as we whipped around the crags and crevasses which ranged from excitement...


to lunacy...


lethargy...


and finally, extreme boredom...


Splash Mountain was next...


...and again the wait was short so we couldn't resist and even tho I didn't wanna get wet (I always get the seat that has the puddle in it) we hopped on in hopes to get a good shot to buy of us going over the falls.

We did.


And yes I did get the seat with the puddle in it.

We headed back to Main Street, grabbed some seafood at Columbia Harbour House, and Brian had to make a stop to buy some souvenirs, a stuffed Mickey he would carry like a woobie the remainder of the summer. A quick stop to pick up some oversize lollies and we were on the monorail.


Good day. As good a day as 4 grown men can have in Disney while it seemed all of Brazil was watching us. Not sure when I'll be back again, but I can be pretty sure that it won't be with those guys.

Touring The Southern States

Here's some photos from the Atlanta thru Houston leg of the tour.

I caught up with some old friends in Atlanta; Erica Abello, Lauren Harper, and managed to spend some quality time with the crazy as ever Christian.


Look at that hair.


April popped in, ready to pop, in Orlando and managed to do some damage in the flag ensemble. The woman never ceases to amaze.


Walking on the field at the Orlando regional.


We spent an evening with the Pittman's in their RV and doing some fine dining. This photo says it all.


Greg & Daniel perform "Birds of Paradise: The Mating Rituals of the Emu"


"Bring it in kids"


Sometimes we can't find Curtis but he always turns up, either up a tree or behind a very large stump like this one.


We all shop at the same stores.

That's it for me as far as tour goes this year. Popping in when the corp is in Allentown and going to finals. I'm free.

Clifton Thru Columbia

5 days down. 8 to go. I finally wrote a few counts yesterday. Just some layerings for the ensemble phrase in Round 4 and a quick fix for the end of Nitro to avoid "definite bracelets". I know that most of you who read this, that will make no sense. It's ok. It doesn't make any sense to me either.

Here's a collection of a few select moments from the past few days, edited and organized for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to comment to yourself quietly and have pity on us from the air conditioned room you're viewing this from.


On my first day back. Don't I look like I'm having fun?


Me & a Great Dane in Clifton. See hun, too big. And this is a puppy.


I'm glad I got to watch Jeff get entered into the Hall of Fame. That was a touching moment for a dreary day.


Curtis & I found ourselves underground in a tunnel that greatly resembled the halls of Willy Wonkas factory, but a chance lick tasted less schnozberry and more of gutter rat hair.


The upper quarter of our tech team


One of many slightly creepy moments on the bus


Rory cut my hair and now we look like brothers


Proof that bus hijinks can turn ugly


Doing my part at warmup in Virginia


Daniel doing his part


Daniel doesn't like when he can't get involved in every photo


We were at David Wrights highschool, home of the Hickory Hawks


Curtis does his best John Lennon


Mike was in mortal danger but rather than warn him I chose to snap a photo


The staff gathered at Bar Louis in Columbia on a night off. I had andouille jambalaya

So we are in Columbia. Been mostly rainy days with soggy socks, but today there is sun, and breeze. Heading down to Atlanta tomorrow and Orlando for the weekend, followed by a quick Monday/Tuesday stint in Mississippi and Wednesday in Lafayette Louisiana, then Thursday an early flight home from Houston. And that's pretty much it for me this summer. Having fun with the staff and kids and all. Just ready for my other life.