Aventuras: A Cross Country Adventure With Two White Vans and a handful of Actors.: February 2006

Puppy Love

Today was just a normal, boring travel day...until we stopped for lunch and there was a pick-up truck full of beautiful puppies in the parking lot! We're all a little puppy crazy, so we ran over to get some puppy love before we had to hit the road again.

THIS IS A SPECIAL FEATURE to my blog...called WHAT NOT TO WEAR ON TOUR. Thank you, Patrick A. Elliot, for giving me the material to work with for this special feature. I couldn't have done it without you. Perhaps we will see this feature again, that is if you wear something else crinkle crunkle.

um...no.

Fort Worth/Dallas/Richardson, TX

On Saturday I rented a car in San Antonio and drove apart from the group to catch an audition in Fort Worth about 4 and a half hours away, conveniently on the way to Richardson which was our next stop on the tour. So I did the audition, and then hit the road to see my cousin, Scott who lives in Dallas. I had dinner with him and his friend's parents at Blue Fish, a delicious sushi place. I went back to Scott's apartment to see his place and watch the UT basketball game. Very fun! Hanging out in an apartment is sooooo much better than a hotel room. Today I had two shows and then dinner with Scott and a friend. It's been a wild weekend, and we're about to go from Texas to Louisiana and back to Texas again. Gotta love this "Star of David" tour! Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Posted at the Eismann Center in Richardson...what a great reminder for the divas of the world!

Scott and me in front of my hotel.

College Station and San Antonio, TX

A couple of days ago we rolled up to College Station, TX, home of the A & M Aggies. We did two days of shows there, although it really all seems like a blur cause I've been fighting off a wicked cold for the past few days. But that didn't stop us from having fun as always. Here are some pictures from the campus of A & M:

Patrick and I had some fun in the school bookstore.

Patty liked this bag a lot.

Work out the A & M gear.

Apparently, the students at A & M like riding bikes!

Okay, so. Let me explain this picture. You know how on college campuses there are tables set up for different organizations..."Sign up for Ultimate Frisbee!" "Join the Math Club!" Well, there were a few of these tables set up around the courtyard offering free snacks and pens and such. I spotted these guys across the courtyard and HAD to go and get a free hug. After I got my free hug and this picture I turned to the guy on the left and asked, "So what organization are you with?" "Oh," he said, "not with any organization. This is just my third Wednsday out here giving out free hugs." I didn't really know what to say. This dude was just out there to get some hugs. I guess there ain't nothing wrong with that. Good for you, hug man!

After our second show on our second day at College Station, we hit the road to San Antonio! Today was a day off, and it was finally...GORGEOUS! 75 and sunny was a perfect day for seeing the Alamo and walking the River Walk. Beautiful...

San Antonio's River Walk is lined with restaurants and shops, and is a perfect place to walk on a sunny day like today!

Some shadows provided by the high San Antonio sun. Mike, Jordan, me, and Caitlin.

Caitlin and me outside the Alamo.

It's always polite for gentlemen to remove their hats! This sign outside the Alamo reminds us of that.

In the courtyard at the Alamo.

BARRY is back.

Barry poses with the Alamo is the distance. It makes him feel heroic and proud. "Remember the Alamo." --Direct, and original quote from Barry D. Gnome.

Although Mike wears black...he's on our side. He's a good cowboy.

Shows in San Antonio tomorrow! Then it's off to Richardson on Saturday...

When I think about...(computer chair required)--Abilene Cont'd.

We had two whole days off in Abilene, and y'all know how rare two whole days of is! Friday night, Caitlin, Joe and I headed to a bar called "Cowboys" to check out the free admission for ladies, 75 cent longnecks, and singing contest. Well, the website was wrong, so we shelled out $3 bucks each and started a tab instead. The bar was pretty dead, and we found out this was due to the "monster truck show" in town that night. People watching was hilarious. We got to know the people in the bar by the nicknames we had created for them: vest guy, hand man (a guy who danced the two step with a very spastic leading hand), red shirt guy, etc. Joe and I got up and danced a little two-step (he taught me, and it was a blast).

On our way out, I turned to Caitlin and said "Boy, I'm hungry" and sure enough a couple of guys came up to talk to us while we waited for our cab. They were about to go to IHOP right by our restaurant, and why don't we join them. We met up with them at IHOP about 20 minutes later, and the place was PACKED. Since the bars close at 12 midnight in Abilene on Friday nights (I KNOW...DISGUSTING!) people need a place to go! It was wild. I think we waited in line for about 30 minutes just to pay, at 2:30 in the morning mind you!

This is Carl (Prince William for short)...Abilene tour guide, theater-goer, ranch lover, hat wearer, sentimental, goofy...well, I could go on and on...

Carl loves his ranch dressing. Really, this was to prove a point to me and Caitlin, and it ruined his meal. Sorry, darlin!

IHOP fun :). Does everyone see Billy Bob Thorton!? (Here's your picture, Dave!)

Cover band love at "The Zone". Why were they singing "Hotel California" when I walked in...I miss my band!

These guys rocked.

Today in College Station. What a sign.

These Texans are NOT playing around. Can you picture a Virginia shaped stepping stone, or a New York shaped stepping stone? Naaaaah. Texas is serious.

"The Actors" in College Station, TX.

So, yeah, we're in College Station now. Today we performed two shows at Texas A & M. Apparently, the A and the M stood for Agriculture and Mechanical, but hasn't stood for that since the 60's. Now it's just the letters. But, come on now...that's sort of silly. It's not like people will forget what they stood for. Initials without a word. Like Harry S Truman or something. Okay, I'm going to go to bed now.

Abilene, TX

Texas is a proud state. Everything is labeled "Texas". Everything is stamped with a Texas star. We have only just arrived to this special state, but I have a funny feeling if we're not careful we'll all be stamped with a little star somewhere by the time we leave in March.

Everything's bigger in Texas.

Making our way to Texas...

Alrighty, I promise more fun pictures to come, because I'm currently writing from Texas. It's warm: my flip-flops are on, and I've been running outside. Brilliant! Here are some pictures from the road to Texas:

Tiffin, Ohio had these squirrel mascots. Caitlin doesn't like squirrels. They got in a fight.

Tax time equals fun hats.

In Alma, Arkansas we performed at a high school/performing arts center and got to eat in the high school cafeteria. We GORGED ourselves.

mmm...Patrick thinks this bandana/ascot is cute. Yeah. Look at Ashley's face in the background...I agree, girl.

We are in Texarkana, TX currently, right on the border of Arkansas and Texas. Tomorrow we travel to Abilene, TX and have a couple of days off, so you know there are going to be some adventures!

Visiting with Aunt Debbie...first time since 1994!

Today, my lovely Aunt Debbie of Minneapolis, Minnesota traveled through sleet and rain and tornados to see my show. Okay, maybe there weren't any tornados, or sleet or rain for that matter...but it's cold here in Minnesota! It was wonderful to see, you, Aunt Debbie! Thank you for coming, and thank you for spending the afternoon with me! I hope you like the Wallace and Gromit DVD :).

Me and Aunt Debbie after the show. See where I get my theatrical flair?

Enjoying a microbrew at Granite City for lunch. Woo, we stuffed ourselves!

Awww...feel the love in the Valentine's Day section in Target. My aunt is as obsessed with taking pictures as I am!

Super day, super fun...let's not wait another 10 years until we meet again!!!!

Madison, WI and the Superbowl in room 305 (St. Cloud, Minnesota)

What a disappointment. To spend only 12 hours in a town as cute at Madison, WI! We were only there for the night, just passing through, but from what I saw, I'd like to go back. So far, Wisconsin has impressed me all around for friendly people, clean urban areas, and neat shopping and restaurants. Oh, one downside however...IT'S SO FREAKIN COLD! We ventured out to a couple of bars...not too many pictures...here are two

Me and Moria

These girls can touch their noses with their tongues. So weird.

Sadly, we left Madison the next morning and mosied on to Minnesota. Even colder. Greeeeeat. Last night was the Superbowl, and we had a lovely party in room 305 (Patty and Santi's room).