Sunday, November 25, 2007
More pictures
So a couple more of new york and then we look at st. John's in Canada. A lot of the people on the boat complained how little there was to do there but I disagree. It was a great little town with lots of interesting architetecture, churches, and some of the best used record stores, book shops, and women with punk haircuts I've ever seen. You should go for the Tim Horton's donuts alone. Although this ugly american was surprised by the fact a small coffee in canada is less than 32oz? What gives Canada? Why the sensible portions?
While I'm waiting for pictures to upload it might be good to talk about the tour we did of the northeast coast line. The scenery for the most part was beautiful. Living in LA you forget how amazing the season of fall can be. So places like Bar Harbor, Martha's Vineyard, and parts of Boston were absolutley fantastic. The only down side is that for a month we were going to each of these places every week. Now as lovely as Halifax canada is, the only thing to do there is whale watch or take a look at an old Garrison. So it became our port of internet. Not that you would know that by how infrequently I post on this.
Bar Harbor's foliage pretty much kicked any foliage's ass I've ever seen before. Plus, they work hard to maintain the ideal of small town life, even though they're are huge cruise ships full of cranky old people pulling in every week. While there they had a Halloween parade made up of all the school children. It was something that made me nostalgic for my youth, since my school did something similar although all we did was march around a parking lot while these kids got to tour the town square.
Bar Harbor and Martha's Vineyard were the two ports where we had to take tender boats into port (smaller boats attached to the main cruise ship) For the most part these boats are always kind of fun. There was one instance though as my castmate Natalie and I were leaving Martha's Vineyard when the boat was caught in rough seas and we were trapped for about forty minutes in a floating box. it is the only time I came close to sea sickness. They passed out barf bags and all I could imagine was eighty people stuck in this boat furiously puking all over each other, and that it would become such a mess they would have to burn our clothes and sink the boat. I guess some dreams just don't come true.
Martha's Vineyard works its ass off to look quaint and idyllic, to the point of unreality. They have a place called dollhouse square, made up of all these small rental houses that look like...well...fucking dollhouses. It's a very peaceful place though and you can rent a scooter for forty bucks and tour around.
Next up on the itinerary was boston. I've always loved this city. Boston is like that cousin you love but sometimes gets a little too drunk and starts spewing obscenities. The town has such a rich history and things like the freedom trail are totally worth doing. it's just funny, because you'll be sitting there reading some plaque about some moment in the formation of our country's history, and then from behind you you'll overhear "Go FACK your Mudder. Get in the cah and shut the fack up." Of course there was a lot going on the weeks we were there, what with the playoffs and the world series. This was the one city on this tour where I wished we didn't have to be back on the boat until midnight.
Finally we would always spend our saturdays and sundays in new york. Upside: We were in New York. Downside: We had to be back on the boat by 3:30 pm. Now that is not to say, you couldn't make arrangments to spend the night in New York. I just didn't have the oppritunity. Also we had the booze cruise saturday night where the boat would just go out into the middle of nowhere and people would get drunk and gamble. I'm not sure why if you're living in new york you would want to go out on a boat to get drunk but these people were always good for a laugh.
While I'm waiting for pictures to upload it might be good to talk about the tour we did of the northeast coast line. The scenery for the most part was beautiful. Living in LA you forget how amazing the season of fall can be. So places like Bar Harbor, Martha's Vineyard, and parts of Boston were absolutley fantastic. The only down side is that for a month we were going to each of these places every week. Now as lovely as Halifax canada is, the only thing to do there is whale watch or take a look at an old Garrison. So it became our port of internet. Not that you would know that by how infrequently I post on this.
Bar Harbor's foliage pretty much kicked any foliage's ass I've ever seen before. Plus, they work hard to maintain the ideal of small town life, even though they're are huge cruise ships full of cranky old people pulling in every week. While there they had a Halloween parade made up of all the school children. It was something that made me nostalgic for my youth, since my school did something similar although all we did was march around a parking lot while these kids got to tour the town square.
Bar Harbor and Martha's Vineyard were the two ports where we had to take tender boats into port (smaller boats attached to the main cruise ship) For the most part these boats are always kind of fun. There was one instance though as my castmate Natalie and I were leaving Martha's Vineyard when the boat was caught in rough seas and we were trapped for about forty minutes in a floating box. it is the only time I came close to sea sickness. They passed out barf bags and all I could imagine was eighty people stuck in this boat furiously puking all over each other, and that it would become such a mess they would have to burn our clothes and sink the boat. I guess some dreams just don't come true.
Martha's Vineyard works its ass off to look quaint and idyllic, to the point of unreality. They have a place called dollhouse square, made up of all these small rental houses that look like...well...fucking dollhouses. It's a very peaceful place though and you can rent a scooter for forty bucks and tour around.
Next up on the itinerary was boston. I've always loved this city. Boston is like that cousin you love but sometimes gets a little too drunk and starts spewing obscenities. The town has such a rich history and things like the freedom trail are totally worth doing. it's just funny, because you'll be sitting there reading some plaque about some moment in the formation of our country's history, and then from behind you you'll overhear "Go FACK your Mudder. Get in the cah and shut the fack up." Of course there was a lot going on the weeks we were there, what with the playoffs and the world series. This was the one city on this tour where I wished we didn't have to be back on the boat until midnight.
Finally we would always spend our saturdays and sundays in new york. Upside: We were in New York. Downside: We had to be back on the boat by 3:30 pm. Now that is not to say, you couldn't make arrangments to spend the night in New York. I just didn't have the oppritunity. Also we had the booze cruise saturday night where the boat would just go out into the middle of nowhere and people would get drunk and gamble. I'm not sure why if you're living in new york you would want to go out on a boat to get drunk but these people were always good for a laugh.
New Orleans=Internet
Let's face it this blog is a disaster so lets hope the pictures make up for it. First up New York
It's pretty much everything, everybody says it is. It's beautiful, its dirty, its noisy, its alive and i mean all of these things as tremdous compliments.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
A PICTURE
I'm in honduras right now in a tiny room with a lousy internet connection so while my hope was to have hundreds of pictures up today I'l guess I'l just have to settle for the one of the ladies. Natalie and Tabetha. They are enjoying the beerfest on the boat. Like most beerfests it includes line dancing, pinatas, and people dressed like racecar drivers. Things on the boat are pretty weird.
So tommorrow we'll meet our piano player Katy, we'll discuss inside jokes and talk more about the northeast leg of the tour. Damn, this picture is taking forever. I guess we won't see pictures till sunday. Sorry.
So tommorrow we'll meet our piano player Katy, we'll discuss inside jokes and talk more about the northeast leg of the tour. Damn, this picture is taking forever. I guess we won't see pictures till sunday. Sorry.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Trying to become more regular
A LOT TO COVER
First off I realize that my work on this blog could be called inconsistent at best, dreadful mismanagment of time at worst. Looking back on the narrative it’s hard to believe I have yet to tell of our adventures on the boat. So to move things along let me say that for the rest of week in Chicago was a delightful routine of going to bars in the evening and rehearsels during the day.
The cubs got swept (big surprise) but the Saturday before we left Chicago was exciting as the chaos of Wrigleyville during a cubs game was just as I remembered it. I saw my younger brother and his girlfriend one last time before leaving and then packed my stuff to leave Chicago again. (Hopefully I won’t wait another seven years before visiting it again)
We were all up at about 5am except for Shawn who was running behind as he had not gotten in until about 4:30 and decided to take a quick cat nap. We met with our director, our producer, and Natalie at the airport and soon we were off to New York City and the beginning of our four and half month journey.
PROFILES
After covering the guys in the cast so extensively, it’s time that I give you some information on the girls. I will be doing it in the format made famous by Marvel Comic’s Handbook to the Marvel Universe.
NAME: Tabetha Wells
ALIAS: Maple Leaf
KNOWN RELATIVES: A sister, and I think she mentioned parents.
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Canada, Toronto although she was born in America and has dual citizenship. Not that you would know that by the way she says about.
Height: She’s tall
Weight: Completley inappropriate thing to ever talk about.
AGE: Is awesome an age?
KNOWN ASSOCIATES: Dave from daveonactruise,com check it out its awesome, the one guy who got kicked off one of these cruises, Dave’s wife, Greg her fiancé (probably should have mentioned him first)
FIRST APPEARANCE: Strange Tales of Chicago #2
ORIGIN: (Taken from Second City Program) An old salt already. Tabetha is please to be joining her third Second City cast on NCL. Previously she has set sail on the NCL Spirit and the NCL Jewel. Hailing from Toronto Tabetha is a founding member of Canadian Comedy Award winning improv troupe “Slap Happy Improv) and former member of Second City’s National touring company (Toronto). Tabeltha is looking forward to avoiding the Canadian winter, but even more grateful of the support of her amazing fiancée Greg.
POWERS/ABILITIES: Tabetha as company manager keeps straight our schedules for rehersals and pefromances. She is our liason to the management of the ship as well as the second city management. She has the ardourous tas k of informing Peter what time it is in different countries, what day it is on a regular basis, and to keep him from hitting people. When she sees Peter’s wife she is going to hug her for being so brave as to marry a person like Peter.
Can create a buffer between the cast and “that guy.”
Reminding us to give up on the whole crew bar situation. It’ll get figured out eventually.
Tabetha is also a level ten improviser with special attack capabilities in games like Letters, and Sing it.
Tabetha has the ability to make Peter start to break every time we do Pictionary.
Makes the stoner character interesting again.
She is an extremely skilled writer with level nine editing skills.
WEAPONS/PARAPHENILIA
She has this phone thing that also has e-mail stuff on it. She uses it a lot but I really don’t know much about that tech stuff.
WEAKNESSES:
Greg (if weaknesses are also a source of strength), anything with blueberries in it, a hike that ends with the observation of monkeys.
QUOTES:
What did James/Peter do? We would appreciate not getting notes during a show. I think there is meat in this vegetarian meal. Brrrt, Brrrt! TJ be quiet! (Sigh) Peter its Tuesday and its three o’clock, you’re in Guatemala and you don’t have a roommate this week.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Big sister I never had, Has already saved my job at least once. For my friends from the La Connection she is the anti-Stephaine. Love this lady.
NAME: Natalie Sullivan
ALIAS: None (Nicknames have to happen organically)
ALIAS I WISH SHE HAD: In-Nat-culous, or Sheronda
KNOWN RELATIVES: A mom and a Dad who moved around a lot, a sister (?)
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Florida, but she also spent a year on an island as a little girl. I think it was the island of Dr. Moreau but it might have been St. Thomas or Barbados. If it was the first one she made friends with a Minotaur named Corky. Corky died in a drunk driving accident after the Island was burned down. If it was one of the others I should really start listening to what people say so I get my facts straight.
HEIGHT: She’s short, about yay high.
WEIGHT: I guess she was heavier but now she is not. You know what? Once again none of your business.
AGE: 26 (Soul Age: Pretty old)
KNOWN ASSOCIATES: Aaron (boyfriend), Meredith, everyone in the Chicago improv scene. Don’t believe me? Ask her. Or go on the Chicago Improv Message boards, be warned some areas are “Bit free” I’m looking at you Melissa Sorentino and Brent Gordon.
FRIST APPEARANCE: Strange Tales of Chicago #1
ORIGIN: (Taken from Second City Program): Natalie Sullivan (Ensemble) is a proud alum of the University of Florida. Since her graduation she has braved Chicago winters to train and perform at IO Theatre and as an ensemble member of comedy sportz Chicago. Her sketch ensemble, Johnny’s Regret, has written and performed four original sketch revues, notably TimeOut Chicago’s Critic’s Pick (see Daddy Naked in fall 2006. Huge thanks to her parents for never staying in one place too long and to Meredith and Erin for always being around.
POWERS/ABILITIES:
Natalie as the other female cast member has incredible strength. She can press approximately 100 tons of scenes, bits, and games. (Get it? She carries the scenes and games she’s in! Get it? Yeah, Dad was right I need to edit more.) She has the ability to create a look of mock surprise, shock, and outrage faster than a normal human can create an authentic look of surprise, shock and outrage.
She is a level eight singer, but level nine musical improviser. She has double attack points when given the suggestion of prostitute.
She is a master of improv games and openings. Have you heard of the improv game giraffe versus tank? Guess what, she does. It requires four audience members, it revolves around a panel of experts that translate gibberish, and ends with a pretend orgy. Pretty simple stuff.
She keeps up with her blog, which makes her my hero.
A high retention for all bits and inside jokes made in her presence and she can project a “yes and” field around all bits making their funny levels rise by ten points.
Keeps up with her workout program, again my hero.
Excellent comedic song writer.
WEAPONS/PARAPHENALIA
A crab hat and a lap top. What else do you need?
WEAKNESSES
Her boyfriend (once again the whole weakness is a strength schtick) , bits involving cast members of Happy Days and seeing the bravery in other people, NBC’s the office, John Hughes movies and the characters that inhabit them.
QUOTES
Look at her she’s soooo brave! Oh God, did I just say that? At what point do you stop calling yourself fat? Okay lets drop the bit. All right, I might have had too much to drink. Going to the gym. You know in Chicago, we do it this way….but however you guys want to do it. Watch Aaron make cricket noises.
First off I realize that my work on this blog could be called inconsistent at best, dreadful mismanagment of time at worst. Looking back on the narrative it’s hard to believe I have yet to tell of our adventures on the boat. So to move things along let me say that for the rest of week in Chicago was a delightful routine of going to bars in the evening and rehearsels during the day.
The cubs got swept (big surprise) but the Saturday before we left Chicago was exciting as the chaos of Wrigleyville during a cubs game was just as I remembered it. I saw my younger brother and his girlfriend one last time before leaving and then packed my stuff to leave Chicago again. (Hopefully I won’t wait another seven years before visiting it again)
We were all up at about 5am except for Shawn who was running behind as he had not gotten in until about 4:30 and decided to take a quick cat nap. We met with our director, our producer, and Natalie at the airport and soon we were off to New York City and the beginning of our four and half month journey.
PROFILES
After covering the guys in the cast so extensively, it’s time that I give you some information on the girls. I will be doing it in the format made famous by Marvel Comic’s Handbook to the Marvel Universe.
NAME: Tabetha Wells
ALIAS: Maple Leaf
KNOWN RELATIVES: A sister, and I think she mentioned parents.
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Canada, Toronto although she was born in America and has dual citizenship. Not that you would know that by the way she says about.
Height: She’s tall
Weight: Completley inappropriate thing to ever talk about.
AGE: Is awesome an age?
KNOWN ASSOCIATES: Dave from daveonactruise,com check it out its awesome, the one guy who got kicked off one of these cruises, Dave’s wife, Greg her fiancé (probably should have mentioned him first)
FIRST APPEARANCE: Strange Tales of Chicago #2
ORIGIN: (Taken from Second City Program) An old salt already. Tabetha is please to be joining her third Second City cast on NCL. Previously she has set sail on the NCL Spirit and the NCL Jewel. Hailing from Toronto Tabetha is a founding member of Canadian Comedy Award winning improv troupe “Slap Happy Improv) and former member of Second City’s National touring company (Toronto). Tabeltha is looking forward to avoiding the Canadian winter, but even more grateful of the support of her amazing fiancée Greg.
POWERS/ABILITIES: Tabetha as company manager keeps straight our schedules for rehersals and pefromances. She is our liason to the management of the ship as well as the second city management. She has the ardourous tas k of informing Peter what time it is in different countries, what day it is on a regular basis, and to keep him from hitting people. When she sees Peter’s wife she is going to hug her for being so brave as to marry a person like Peter.
Can create a buffer between the cast and “that guy.”
Reminding us to give up on the whole crew bar situation. It’ll get figured out eventually.
Tabetha is also a level ten improviser with special attack capabilities in games like Letters, and Sing it.
Tabetha has the ability to make Peter start to break every time we do Pictionary.
Makes the stoner character interesting again.
She is an extremely skilled writer with level nine editing skills.
WEAPONS/PARAPHENILIA
She has this phone thing that also has e-mail stuff on it. She uses it a lot but I really don’t know much about that tech stuff.
WEAKNESSES:
Greg (if weaknesses are also a source of strength), anything with blueberries in it, a hike that ends with the observation of monkeys.
QUOTES:
What did James/Peter do? We would appreciate not getting notes during a show. I think there is meat in this vegetarian meal. Brrrt, Brrrt! TJ be quiet! (Sigh) Peter its Tuesday and its three o’clock, you’re in Guatemala and you don’t have a roommate this week.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Big sister I never had, Has already saved my job at least once. For my friends from the La Connection she is the anti-Stephaine. Love this lady.
NAME: Natalie Sullivan
ALIAS: None (Nicknames have to happen organically)
ALIAS I WISH SHE HAD: In-Nat-culous, or Sheronda
KNOWN RELATIVES: A mom and a Dad who moved around a lot, a sister (?)
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Florida, but she also spent a year on an island as a little girl. I think it was the island of Dr. Moreau but it might have been St. Thomas or Barbados. If it was the first one she made friends with a Minotaur named Corky. Corky died in a drunk driving accident after the Island was burned down. If it was one of the others I should really start listening to what people say so I get my facts straight.
HEIGHT: She’s short, about yay high.
WEIGHT: I guess she was heavier but now she is not. You know what? Once again none of your business.
AGE: 26 (Soul Age: Pretty old)
KNOWN ASSOCIATES: Aaron (boyfriend), Meredith, everyone in the Chicago improv scene. Don’t believe me? Ask her. Or go on the Chicago Improv Message boards, be warned some areas are “Bit free” I’m looking at you Melissa Sorentino and Brent Gordon.
FRIST APPEARANCE: Strange Tales of Chicago #1
ORIGIN: (Taken from Second City Program): Natalie Sullivan (Ensemble) is a proud alum of the University of Florida. Since her graduation she has braved Chicago winters to train and perform at IO Theatre and as an ensemble member of comedy sportz Chicago. Her sketch ensemble, Johnny’s Regret, has written and performed four original sketch revues, notably TimeOut Chicago’s Critic’s Pick (see Daddy Naked in fall 2006. Huge thanks to her parents for never staying in one place too long and to Meredith and Erin for always being around.
POWERS/ABILITIES:
Natalie as the other female cast member has incredible strength. She can press approximately 100 tons of scenes, bits, and games. (Get it? She carries the scenes and games she’s in! Get it? Yeah, Dad was right I need to edit more.) She has the ability to create a look of mock surprise, shock, and outrage faster than a normal human can create an authentic look of surprise, shock and outrage.
She is a level eight singer, but level nine musical improviser. She has double attack points when given the suggestion of prostitute.
She is a master of improv games and openings. Have you heard of the improv game giraffe versus tank? Guess what, she does. It requires four audience members, it revolves around a panel of experts that translate gibberish, and ends with a pretend orgy. Pretty simple stuff.
She keeps up with her blog, which makes her my hero.
A high retention for all bits and inside jokes made in her presence and she can project a “yes and” field around all bits making their funny levels rise by ten points.
Keeps up with her workout program, again my hero.
Excellent comedic song writer.
WEAPONS/PARAPHENALIA
A crab hat and a lap top. What else do you need?
WEAKNESSES
Her boyfriend (once again the whole weakness is a strength schtick) , bits involving cast members of Happy Days and seeing the bravery in other people, NBC’s the office, John Hughes movies and the characters that inhabit them.
QUOTES
Look at her she’s soooo brave! Oh God, did I just say that? At what point do you stop calling yourself fat? Okay lets drop the bit. All right, I might have had too much to drink. Going to the gym. You know in Chicago, we do it this way….but however you guys want to do it. Watch Aaron make cricket noises.
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