The Evergreen State:)

This last week we went to a couple cities in the gorgeous state of Washington! The cast flew from Detroit to Seattle on Monday, went straight to Yakima via bus after they landed and then had two days off... in Yakima... I said no thank you!!! So my mom and dad (love them) flew me home on Sunday night right after the shows, the flight went by so quick, I'm reading a book called "A Density of Souls" by Christopher Rice... Its kind of amazing! Right when we landed things in the book got really intense!!! I kind of wanted to stay on the plain and read... and then I realized I was home!!!!!!!!!!! YaaaaaaaaYYYYYYYY!

So the next day Stephanie and I spent the hole day together:)

We did some sensible shopping, she got some really cute shoes for her Halloween Costume. Later we went over to Nicks espresso stand on Mercer Island and distracted him while on the job... haha when he started getting busy we decided to go home, get some movies, wine and enjoy an amazing home cooked meal by my mother:)

Tuesday was jam packed with excitement! I had to get up way to early to get a dentist apt. I was a little worried cause I've been experiencing some sensitivity, but it turned out that some of my roots are starting to be exposed... anyway all is good in the mouth department. After dentist, I dropped off some tickets at Cascade to Darcy Cooper, it was so much fun seeing my faves at school again. After that met my mom at Costco to look at eye glasses, it was a bust! Before my eye apt. I met up with Diana at my favorite Sub place "Tubs Gourmet Subs" it was amazing as usual! However my time at the eye doctor was little to be desired! My eye's have doubled in badness... I know - grammar is my strong point! My left eye is 1.0 with a small stigma, and my right is a little better at .50... not too bad but just enough to not see. When I was dilated, I picked out my glasses with the help of mom and the doctor, surprisingly my glasses were ready really quick. What do you think?

I just took that pic now. The reason for the sheet is I took a nap and my hair is standing straight up! lol but there they are... people say they look like Sarah Palin glasses... so I punch them in the face... only kidding:)

After eyes... mom and I went up to Bellingham to have dinner with my Grandpa. He couldn't come to the show on Saturday cause his white blood cells count was too low... and the last thing he needs to be in a room full of germ carying kids! But dinner was great, it was really nice to visit with him:) I don't remember what we did once we got home. I know that the next day was going to be a really long day so I think we just talked a bit and then went to bed!

The next morning I got up really early again because I had a long drive. I met back up with the cast in Yakima Wa. It's about a 3 hour drive over the mountains. I broke it up a little bit and had lunch with my cousin Amy in Ellensburg.

Finnaly I arrived in Yakima did two shows and slept very well that night! The next day Dorian rode with me to Kennewick, and the hole ride we talked about our significent others... hahaha who knew it was possible to talk about two people for 2 hours straight? But we had lunch, did a show and then I was off to Ellensburg again! I was so ready to leave the cast, everyone was really tense for some reason... However the drive to E-town was a little spookie, the Garmin took me on back roads the hole time. I kept having visions of the guy from gypers creapers landing on the roof of the car, braking the sunroof, pulling me through it... well you get the picture.

When I arrived in E-town Amy finished her homework and we went out! Well you know it's Ellensburg... so... anyways our first stop was a Truck Stop... litteraly a truck stop! It was cute though they gave you free pee nuts, and you tho the shells on the floor!

Our next stop was a place that was so dead... there was only 3 people on the dance floor. A coupld was doing the sterio tipicle swing dance partnering move, when the guy swings the girl to the left then to the right and then she strattles the guy... well when the girl strattled the guy he completly lost his ballance and she fell head first to the ground, and didn't move! The bartender called 911 and everything... aparently it was her 21st B-Day, I was thinking that she's going to be feeling all sorts of pain tomorrow. when we left she was at the bar holding her head up not making any sence of things!

The next place we went to was a lot more hoppin:)

This is all of Amy's friends slash roommates... they were all very nice and welcoming. It was a really fun night! Amy and I always have fun whenever we're together. The next moring was another early morning, she had class and I had to get home to help mom with the Party:)

Yes, it was our turn to host the hometown get together! We had a bunch of people in and out of the house helping get everything ready:) The most entertaining guests were Aunt Verginia, her sister Helen, cousin Nicole, her oldest dauter Hannah, and last but not least her two twin girls Aubrie and Mahayla

Nichole's girls are amazingly adorable!

By the time everyone got to the house the twins were in bed, but Hannah was up and getting to know everyone at the party:) She was hilarious!

She was running around having everyone from the cast sign a piece of paper... she was the hit of the party... here she is on the bus in my bunk...

Watch out Hannah Montana the other Hannah is gonna be sweeping the nation soon!

So at like 8:07 PM the cast arrived, it was kind of funny cause Hank missed the turn into my culdesac and ended up just reversing the bus all the way back down the hill and in front of the house. The neighbors were coming out of there houses to see what was going on... one guy just came out to check to see if his car was ok... hahaha Once parked the party started it was so much fun.

Before we surved the food we had a little veiwing of a preshes jem that we like to call "The Shark Attack" It's kind of the most amazing thing that i've done... or will do in my entire carreer... hahaha this is everyones reaction to the vid:

I would like to point out Dorian in these pictures ... red and white stipped, his reaction is pricesless.

The food was a hit! We had Flank Stake, Shrimp Pasta, Cheesy Roles, Strawbary & Fetta Sallad with my moms favmouse Garlic Mashed Potatos. For Disert we had an amazing 7 layer mud cake... aka we ate like rock starts! Speeking of Rock Stars all of my family really wanted to see the bus so I gave like 10 tours ... lol

After some redonkulouse food, some classic entertainment, it was time to go... before they left we had to take a sensible pic of everyone that came from the tour:

Notice Hannah, front and center... yeah watch out she's the next replacement for the Flighty Fairy:)

The nest day was one of the biggest/most important days of this tour! A - We were performing at the Paramount:

B - I was going on as Pablo. And C I had 120 people coming to see me... Anxcioty had been plaguing me the whole week before. I was so nervous! The morning started out with Sound check at 9:30 AM, then a 9:45 flight call. At 10:00 I did a meet and greet for 75 people, It was pandemonium, they had to bring everyone into the house cause there wasn't a room big enough to hold everyone!

Even my 4th 5th grade teacher came... Mrs. Husker:

Nanny was the funniest tho.

She wheeled herself up to the front of the line and says to me "wow you look, different. So what ells do you play in the show?" I say "Well Pablo and a Flower" She says "What? A Flower? You mean F-L-O-W-E-R?" "Yeah Nanny" "Oh I don't get it!!!" and she wheels away... Dorian and I died with laughter!

There's more to come about Nanny... but the best thing about the meet and greet was the kids:

And then there's the Nordtvedt family... this was suppose to be there Christmas card pic... needless to say I hope they don't use it!

the babies kept slipping on our fleece... I was so thankful when Nellie called last pic and then grabbed our hands and pulled us out of the house! My mouth was hurting so bad from smiling!

Amazingly the show went really well! It was quite fun actually! The audience was amazing!!! It was one of the best. After the show I ran out to say hi to everyone, I was a sweaty mess!!!

I loved seeing everyone, it's been way to long!!! Thank you to everyone who came and supported me... I wish I wasn't a fat penguin but you know, you can't have it all:)

and yes ... the day keeps going! After the 3 shows I did a quick little rince off, so that I wouldn't smell like 3 show day and then went to my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Scotts 25th year wedding Anniversery Dinner:

The Drinks, Food, Cake, Companie it was such a good night! Libby and David took care of everything, they are so generouse! Here's a pic of Nanny and the grandkids:

Nanny was pretty funny! She had had a glass or two of wine... and when you mix that with an already overtly blunt old lady the combination is priceless! She thought it would be a really good idea to wait till a lull in the convorsation to ask me why I don't have a girlfriend... Everyone just got bug eyed and looked down, then she called me an alcaholic cause I drink in general. And then she tried to tell Mom and Dad, that no one thought that there marage would last... she was on role! I can't wait till i'm old and can say whatever I want and get away with it! It's going to be so much fun!

After the dinner we went home and passed out! The next day we had a morning show, and then had to leave an hour and a half after our show was over, witch sucked but Mom and Dad took Christie and I out to lunch. Witch was really nice... we joked about showing Nanny a pic of the too of us so that she will get off my back:)

Ok i've been blogging for the past 5 hours... Oh boy! I love you all Talk to you later:)

Bad news Bares...

Last Saturday Lane and Stacy (our producers) came and paid us a little visit. They informed us that due to our current economy crises the show can not be sustained. We've broken even witch was totally unexpected and a blessing, but now we're loosing money. Unfortunately The Backyardigans Live is closing. Our last show will be on Sunday the 16th of November in Grand Pierre Texas.

That night they told us that they would be at the hotel bar and would be buying drinks all night long... hahaha

This was taken at the bar... yes we are very excited about the free drinks ... to be quite honest, the majority of people, in the cast at least, were ready for an end date. When November 16th comes around we will have done 248 shows... or something like that. As Walter would say, "I'm ready for a new chapter:)"

On a lighter note, I stopped my diet. Do to the bomb they dropped on us about the show and a horrendous performance as Pablo! I needed some comport food!

My first meal back was a Chicken Caesar Salad wrap, my favorite in the world! I was sure that after doing the diet for so long it would really mess me up... but surprisingly it made me feel really good!

"Gateway City"

Yep The Backyardigans went to St. Louis!!!!!!!!! (Do you want to me meat me there? - sorry I couldn't resist, you know I love my Judy:)

We had quite a fun day... It started out with a photo shoot cause our hotel was Gorges!

I'm sure you all are so sick of the photo shoot pics ... but I'm tellin ya, we have nothing ells to do! It's not going to end, so embrace it... hahaha

Once we headed out the door we were stopped by this Kodak moment.

You know it's the car that they got for us to drive around the city in... HA that's funny!

Ok enough couture:) Our first thing on the agenda was the Arch! Here's another pic:

It's huge! We just had to go up in it... we paid the $12, and enjoyed a lovely video about it's purpose, who built it and all this really important stuff that I didn't really pay attention too. Finally, it was our turn... we got in this tinny elevator and prayed for our lives!

I was so nervous, I was sweating... Dorian must think he's in GQ or something... We finally got to the top looked out of the windows on both sides, and then we were like... ok time to go back down ... I mean once you're up there there's not really much to do! haha

here's a pic of one of the sides... the other side was of the dirty river and filth!

When we were waiting for the elevator to go back down I took this amazing pic!

I think with some photo shop and cropping these could be amazing head shots!

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By this time in the day we were starving!!! So we suck out some St. Louis Goodness! We ended up at an amazing place. They had $ on the wall... no joke:

It was rip off of Hooters I think ... I can't remember the name. But the food was really unhealthy and really good! Dorian was starving:

Yes that was all for him... He may be 4 foot 11 but let me tell you the boy can eat! So by this time in the afternoon we had had two Hurricanes and we were feeling pretty good...

lol... with our bellies full, we set off to explore. We first started walking around our hotel and quickly realized that there was nothing there so we asked some very nice girls what to do, without hesitation they said the Loop. So we, without hesitation hopped on the train and went there to check it out.

Aperently Christie is just way to buisy to get up on it! ...I had to lift Dorian up onto his... hahahahaha I have no clue why those are there? Just some sensible decoration for the street I guess:)

The loop was so cute! It was full of little boutics and shops there are a lot of really good resturants and amazing vintage stores! I got a really nice leather jacket:

We ate dinner at this really nice Tye place and then went home. we were kind of pooped from all the walking.

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So Christie, Creighton, Jiney and I are all doing this thing called the Perfect Cleans:

It's similer to the master cleanse exect with this one you can actually eat! It's not much but you can eat. In the morning you can have friut. For lunch, salads, vegies, nuts, tofu and white fish. Then for dinner, you take the first pill wait 30 mins, have some soup, wait another 30 mins drink and discusting shake that taste's like cardboard, then before you go to bed you take the last pill.

I did it partly cause it sounded like a good idea, and other people were doing it... but it's good to always do a little restart with your dygestive siystem. And it's broadened my palat! before I hated white fish, brokoly, vigies really... it's been really good for me! I'm on day 8. The first two days were horrible!!!! but after that it was doable! Now I feel really week and brittle, but other than that I highly suggest it:)

I love you all and will talk to you later:)

Chicago 2:)

2 city's ago we were in Chicago IL again:) The first time we were there just for the day but this time we actually performed! We played the Chicago Theater! It was stunning!

The Theater is so ornate and beautiful! The dressing room area is like a museum! Everyone that has performed at the theater since it's opening in 1926 has signed the wall! here's a small list of names that I found from the website: Allman Brothers Band, Arcade Fire, Blues Traveler, Kelly Clarkson, Harry Connick Jr, Ellen DeGeneres, Aretha Franklin, Kathy Griffin, , Gipsy Kings, Indigo Girls, Alicia Keys, David Letterman, Lyle Lovett, Oasis, Dolly Parton, Prince, Diana Ross, Van Morrison, Widespread Panic, Robin Williams, Julie Andrews, David Copperfield, Sammy Davis Jr., John Denver, Joel Grey, cast of The Family Guy, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Jones, Diana Krall, Annie Lennox, Dean Martin, Liza Minnelli, Bob Newhart, Olivia Newton-John, Conan O'Brien, Frank Sinatra and Neil Young! Oh and the Backyardigans!

And no I did not add the Backyardigans to the end of that list ;) I took a pic of some of the signatures...

Yes that is the spice girls... hahahaha I laughed so hard when I saw that! This next one if my favorate of all time! I almost died when I saw this... I can't even handle it!

IT'S LIZA!!! I have performed on the same stage as Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews and kelly Clarkson... hahahaha now if only I can be on that stage when they are on it... who knows? It could happen!

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We got to the windy city at like 1 AM on Friday. For some stupid reason I was still awake so I went to the room and then couldn't sleep, at 6 AM I decided to give up and just start my day. I opened the door to leave to find Christie fumbling with her room key, aperently she couldn't sleep aether so we enjoyed a lovely continental b-fast from the hotel. We didn't end up leaving until 10 ... yeah it took a while for us to get our buts in gear! And because our hotel was an hour away from the city via train we didn't get down town untill 11:( Our first stop was Starbucks!!! Then Millennium Park, were we found a ridiculous exhibit. It's called experience the future, heres the website: http://www.wirednextfest.com/ they had some amazing stuff: a car for 4 people that you drove Fred Flinstone style, and sheep lawn moeer:

One of the things Christie and I did was ride the car of the future. I don't know the name but it's pretty amazing / horrible at the same time!

This would totally replace the purpose of walking! It goes up 30 miles an hour I think ... you're going to have to get all the details from the website. But have you guys seen Wall-E? If this takes off in 100 years we're going to be just like all those people on the spaceship:

HUGE!!!!!!!!!! and lazy! I'm not about it! I will not spend the $10,000,000 for this little gagit! haha But for real go to the website and look at all the other stuff and then come back!

Amazing right! You know the brain game, I totally beat Christie! haha

So after that we got some food at this Italian place that was good but really expensive. Then we went up to Boys Town... witch if you're ever in the mood for some really good vintage shopping... go there! They have them all over the place! Eventually LaRaisha met up with us and we eat at this very swanky tie place. With Kareoke on our minds we went back down town to this place called the Blue Frog... it was 21 and over so we went to a movie instead... lol but on our way to the movie, witch we got so lost trying to find! We stumbled upton a very interesting McDanalds... they had these staues out front of the resturant, of course we just couldn't pass up the opertunitie:
I got really therstie from all the walking around that we did that day!

What, What is it Christie what do you see?

LaRaisha was just getting beat up, pickin fights with everyone! I was like really girl? Leave the little boy alone!
After our improptu photoshoot, feeling so jollie! we started singing Moon River while walking down the street. Oh, speeking of Moon River, how crazy is this: We were walking around the magnifisint mile, we came acrost Tiffanie's and had to go in for Christie, just for a look, on our way out we started remenicing about Breakfast at Tifanies. When we got to the subway a guy started singing Moon River! I'm not joking it was totally perfect!

Anyways with the help of a couple Chicagoights telling us witch way to go we finally found the movie Theater and saw:
It was really cute! However by the time the movie got out it was like 12 - 1ish and because the trains we all messed up, and our hotel was in East Egypt! We didn't get home until 4:00 in the AM kind of a frustrated end to a really good day...

We had a successful but long weekend of shows, it was Dorians first venue and he did wonderful! feeling ready to go out and still craving some Kareoke, we asked around for a place and ended going back up to Boys Town. Not realizing the time we opended the bar... haha

We each got a song in and then the people started showing up! Well the people happened to be the Chicago cast of Wicked! It was such a fun night!!!! Our new Wicked friends were amazing! They were so excited about us being there it was so funny! Towards the end of the night we came together and started doing some amazing stereotypical musical theater songs... lol LaRaisha did Summer Lovin with the Stage Manager:)

And Alicia, the dance captain and I did Sudenly Semore... hahahahaha

She was amazing! Just belting her face off!!! The night was so unexpectedly fun! If I couldn't have NY I would most definatly choose Chicago:)

Love you all! Talk to you later:)

Goodbye Walter :(

So yes it is true. Walter Kemp has left:( Just like the other too he's going on to bigger and better things! He booked Aida at a theater somewhere in middle America... I can't really remember were, I even made up middle America, I don't even know?

Creighton, Jarvise and Kandace are in morning right now. The 4 of them were inseparable!

However as we say in show biz "The show must go on" Dorian Shorts is Walters replacement... and that's what he is... SHORT!!!!

Hahahaha he's really good tho he did his first show in Chicago of all places!

Well Walter, know that you are loved and missed! I can't wait to be back in NY so we can all be fabulous together again!