Welcome Aboard!

Have you ever seen something so frightening you wanted to puke? Well if not, I guarantee I can grant you that feeling if you opened the door to your shared room and found out it was a closet with bunk beds. Well hello there Ralph, Roy and Huey!

The best part of the room is the “bathroom.” I say “bathroom” because, let’s be honest, it’s not a room. You can’t take a shower without your back being completely engulfed by the shower curtain. Let’s not even get into trying to shave your legs...seriously, let’s just not.

By 5pm we already had our first Muster Drill and I found out that sometimes foreign guests are especially hard to understand when trying to locate their room number on a clip board...

Me: Room number please?

GUEST: Seen fourtew.

M: I’m sorry. Can you repeat that for me?

G: Seen fourtew.

M: No ma’am your room number?

G: I say Seen fourTeeew. You not have it?

M: Oh ok 742? Yes ma’am I just don’t have very good hearing. Please go right ahead and you will be informed of exactly where you need to go.

...Was the excuse I used since I felt like a butthead for not understanding her.

Music Notes

Alright peeps! This was the last day of rehearsal! =O Sunday is final dress and then I board the ship to sail away. I cannot believe how fast this rehearsal process went. There is still a lot to memorize, but hopefully it will sink in tomorrow during my day off. Here are a couple of random pics that really have nothing to do with anything:

cheering on the penguins from afar

rehearsing while running errands

Miceli's: Italian restaurant where the waiters sang

The Electric Bar and Grille

dress up in a wig store

rehearsing in the motel

self explanitory

I'm Going on an Adventure!

And so it begins...

In North Hollywood just chillin' like a villain at this semi-ghetto motel referred to as the "Colony Inn." The weather is not sunny California, but it beats horrid 13 degrees that was NYC. Tomorrow begins the rehearsal process, which should be interesting considering I'm one of two people who needs to learn 900 sheets of music ASAP! The little voice in my head keeps saying, "aaaahhhhhhhh!" But God made me and I am who I am...a big ole procrastinator.

I'm currently headed to bed, so naturally I paint my nails because they won't have time to dry. I've time traveled 3 hours back in time and somehow I still manage to not get any extra sleep. I'm running on 44 hours of no sleep. I think they call this military mode. Anxious, annoyed and I can't even finish this though because I'm too tired. Good night everyone!
<<< this is most definitely what I felt like today trying to catch a cab at 4 a.m., but then add over 200 lbs of luggage! yikes!

I'm Leaving on a Jetplane

I do know when I'll be back again, but now I finally know when I'm departing from NYC! When the dawn breaks, early morn, on February 19th I will be making my way to LA! I feel some major jet lag coming on already...

Leaving on a Jet Plane>>>I love this song!

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

It's far beyond a star
It's near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt my heart will lead me there soon
We'll meet beyond the shore
We'll kiss just as before
Happy we'll be beyond the sea and never again I'll go sailing
---Frank Sinatra


Here's my Cruise Schedule! Click the images to enlarge them =)

March-April 

April-May

May-July

July-August

August-September

September-November

sticks and stones may break my bones, but needles hurt like hell...

As I prepare for this epic journey to L.A. for training I find myself pondering...How the heck do elderly people do it? Needles. Getting pricked, poked, and stuck are among some of my least favorite pass times. My last visit to urgent care ended with a popped vein. OUCH.Me: Just to let you know in advance, I really, REALLY hate getting blood taken. I'm just gonna turn away.

Man Nurse: Don't worry, you won't feel this at all.
Me: Okie dokie. Oooooooooowwwwwwww...
MN: Oh umm, I'm sorry. I'm having trouble getting into your vein. Let me bring in (insert Nurse's name). She's a pro at this.

I'm sorry what? You're not? Oh, well that's comforting considering you just STUCK ME WITH A NEEDLE!

Anyways, twas not a fun experience, but when is Urgent Care ever a fun experience? I'm praying I don't see another needle for a very long time.

The Prologue

Long before iPods, DVD players, and cell phones there was born a girl. She was called Jennifer. Part Irish and part Native American this toeheaded child was raised among the Texan and West Virginian folk. Since she walked she danced. Her strenuous training through her youthful years kept her ambitious. After experiencing her first encounter with a musical she began to realize...she was made to perform. And perform she did.

This story follows her adventures as she conquers the many troubles this hard world brings as well as the  greatness which can become. But seriously, she is traveling around the world on a cruise ship performing for 9 months without family and friends. Not only does she leave behind family and friends, she leaves behind her love for whom she cares dearly and wishes him well as he ventures through the hardships of being a man nurse. Do not fret: though she may be traveling through Europe, this is an American story...and we Americans enjoy happy endings.