I hope everyone had a marvelous Christmas!! Mine was fabulous. I got to celebrate with my amazing family & hilarious cast. It was a wild week! & I promise to catch up on blogging about weeks 7-10...It's never boring around here!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Safety thought of the day.
Please enjoy installment number two of the best safety thoughts aboard the Norwegian Star.
I hope everyone had a marvelous Christmas!! Mine was fabulous. I got to celebrate with my amazing family & hilarious cast. It was a wild week! & I promise to catch up on blogging about weeks 7-10...It's never boring around here!
I hope everyone had a marvelous Christmas!! Mine was fabulous. I got to celebrate with my amazing family & hilarious cast. It was a wild week! & I promise to catch up on blogging about weeks 7-10...It's never boring around here!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Week Six.
November 25. Sunday.
A family friend had told me about this amazing church i just had to visit called Franklin Avenue Baptist. So Jessica, Martina & I decides to check it out that morning! It's a mega church full of friendly Jesus loving, soul singing, Saints fans. Seriously, every one in a male choir had a football jersey on. Franklin Ave is exactly what you'd imagine a wild African-American Baptist church to be like. I loved it. Plus I was one of only four Caucasians in the entire crowd. Too good. The pastor was so vivacious and loud, along with the rest of the congregation, that it made me feel like the Holy Spirt was sitting on my head.
After the service we took a cab back to the French Quarter & had a delicious lunch. Then window shopped a little before heading back to the ship. I love getting to have long phone calls with my parents on Sundays. Its the best part. Back on board we had techs rehearsals & dinner & four performances.
November 26. Monday.
Sea day.
Jessica & I got breakfast together that morning and then headed to the theater to work at the port shopping informational talk. Afterwards I booked to over to the art auction to work there. The auctioneer blindsided me by making me auction off a piece of art during the middle if the auction! It was tacky & no one bid but I got a loud round of applause.
Then I went to the dressing room for the rest of the afternoon to get everything ready for that nights show, Band on the Run!
November 27. Tuesday.
Costa Maya!
It was the morning we'd been dreading. It was time for the Safety examination. The test wasn't too bad & later that day Sophie delivered the news that we had all passed! We were screaming and jumping around the hallway like Buddy the Elf on Christmas Day.
Jessica had lost her room key the day before & wasn't allowed to disembark for seven days. So sad. But me, being the good roommate that I am, brought her back a magnet each day I'd get off the ship without her.
As I was walking off the gangway to meet up with my friends already on the beach I struck up a conversation with a cute older couple from Arkansas & as we parted ways the husband prayed over me. I love when Jesus randomly puts people in your path to touch your heart.
Back on board my friend Rich from The Second City surprised Jessica & I by serenading us on his guitar with the song "love story" by Taylor Swifty. He knew I was a fan so he learned the song. Too cute. We died.
That night James & Rosie invited Sophie & I to dinner to thank us for all of our hard work on the Christmas show! (Shopie choreographed the whole show.) We went to my favorite Italian restaurant. It was a fabulous night & I just adore them.
November 28. Wednesday.
Belize.
We slept all day & then had two Shout shows that night. Jessica took over for Sophie as one of my quick change helpers & has also been helping me with the Christmas costumes.
We didn't realize it that night but while we were backstage a male crew member snuck into the dressing room & stole Jessica's iPad. She didn't notice it was missing until the next morning. It was terrible & she was already having a bad week since she had lost her room key. The cast searched everywhere for it & security even searched everyone's rooms. Drama. Eventually a computer tech guy was able to track down who had it & security finally found the iPad after a week.
November 29. Thursday.
Roatan.
Safety Paul chose me to be a passenger casualty during that mornings boat drill. I had to go wander around the front of deck 12 and just be very lost. So basically what I do every day. Eventually a crew member found me and I was guided to the correct evacuation station. Silliness.
Everyone had Christmas show rehearsal so I got off alone & went to the restaurant we always go to for some free wifi. The only thing more frustrating that having no wifi is having really bad wifi. I did eat a great shrimp taco though!
Back on board I went to the gym & later got some blogging done. That night, with out even planning it, the cast all showed up the crew bar exhausted and loaded down with junk food. It was so much fun just being silly & unwinding. I adore these people.
November 30. Friday.
Cozumel.
We had already taken the test, but that morning we had our last safety training class...in the pool. We had to jump into the pool wearing a life jacket, swim up to the giant raft in the middle of the pool & get inside. Passengers, some even with cameras, were all gathered around watching the bizarre hilarity ensue. I asked a cute old lady to take pictures with my camera. Then we each took turns flipping the capsized raft back over. Don't worry, there are videos.
After successfully surviving that the girls & I booked it off the ship & to the No Name Bar. We spent the afternoon lounging in the sun, taking silly pictures, & eating large amounts of guacamole.
December 1. Saturday.
Sea Day.
That morning our entire safety class had to meet individually with the Staff Captain because we all scored below a 90% on our exams. He called us into his office one by one and went over the answers we got wrong. His name is Ingar, he is from Norway, & looks like he could kill a polar bear with his bare hands. So intimidating. But he laughed at my charming jokes & all was well.
I worked at the art auction for the rest of the morning & spent the afternoon tackling the challenge that is Elements. After the performances that night everyone collapsed into their beds. We survived another crazy week!
A family friend had told me about this amazing church i just had to visit called Franklin Avenue Baptist. So Jessica, Martina & I decides to check it out that morning! It's a mega church full of friendly Jesus loving, soul singing, Saints fans. Seriously, every one in a male choir had a football jersey on. Franklin Ave is exactly what you'd imagine a wild African-American Baptist church to be like. I loved it. Plus I was one of only four Caucasians in the entire crowd. Too good. The pastor was so vivacious and loud, along with the rest of the congregation, that it made me feel like the Holy Spirt was sitting on my head.
After the service we took a cab back to the French Quarter & had a delicious lunch. Then window shopped a little before heading back to the ship. I love getting to have long phone calls with my parents on Sundays. Its the best part. Back on board we had techs rehearsals & dinner & four performances.
November 26. Monday.
Sea day.
Jessica & I got breakfast together that morning and then headed to the theater to work at the port shopping informational talk. Afterwards I booked to over to the art auction to work there. The auctioneer blindsided me by making me auction off a piece of art during the middle if the auction! It was tacky & no one bid but I got a loud round of applause.
Then I went to the dressing room for the rest of the afternoon to get everything ready for that nights show, Band on the Run!
November 27. Tuesday.
Costa Maya!
It was the morning we'd been dreading. It was time for the Safety examination. The test wasn't too bad & later that day Sophie delivered the news that we had all passed! We were screaming and jumping around the hallway like Buddy the Elf on Christmas Day.
Jessica had lost her room key the day before & wasn't allowed to disembark for seven days. So sad. But me, being the good roommate that I am, brought her back a magnet each day I'd get off the ship without her.
As I was walking off the gangway to meet up with my friends already on the beach I struck up a conversation with a cute older couple from Arkansas & as we parted ways the husband prayed over me. I love when Jesus randomly puts people in your path to touch your heart.
Back on board my friend Rich from The Second City surprised Jessica & I by serenading us on his guitar with the song "love story" by Taylor Swifty. He knew I was a fan so he learned the song. Too cute. We died.
That night James & Rosie invited Sophie & I to dinner to thank us for all of our hard work on the Christmas show! (Shopie choreographed the whole show.) We went to my favorite Italian restaurant. It was a fabulous night & I just adore them.
November 28. Wednesday.
Belize.
We slept all day & then had two Shout shows that night. Jessica took over for Sophie as one of my quick change helpers & has also been helping me with the Christmas costumes.
We didn't realize it that night but while we were backstage a male crew member snuck into the dressing room & stole Jessica's iPad. She didn't notice it was missing until the next morning. It was terrible & she was already having a bad week since she had lost her room key. The cast searched everywhere for it & security even searched everyone's rooms. Drama. Eventually a computer tech guy was able to track down who had it & security finally found the iPad after a week.
November 29. Thursday.
Roatan.
Safety Paul chose me to be a passenger casualty during that mornings boat drill. I had to go wander around the front of deck 12 and just be very lost. So basically what I do every day. Eventually a crew member found me and I was guided to the correct evacuation station. Silliness.
Everyone had Christmas show rehearsal so I got off alone & went to the restaurant we always go to for some free wifi. The only thing more frustrating that having no wifi is having really bad wifi. I did eat a great shrimp taco though!
Back on board I went to the gym & later got some blogging done. That night, with out even planning it, the cast all showed up the crew bar exhausted and loaded down with junk food. It was so much fun just being silly & unwinding. I adore these people.
November 30. Friday.
Cozumel.
We had already taken the test, but that morning we had our last safety training class...in the pool. We had to jump into the pool wearing a life jacket, swim up to the giant raft in the middle of the pool & get inside. Passengers, some even with cameras, were all gathered around watching the bizarre hilarity ensue. I asked a cute old lady to take pictures with my camera. Then we each took turns flipping the capsized raft back over. Don't worry, there are videos.
After successfully surviving that the girls & I booked it off the ship & to the No Name Bar. We spent the afternoon lounging in the sun, taking silly pictures, & eating large amounts of guacamole.
December 1. Saturday.
Sea Day.
That morning our entire safety class had to meet individually with the Staff Captain because we all scored below a 90% on our exams. He called us into his office one by one and went over the answers we got wrong. His name is Ingar, he is from Norway, & looks like he could kill a polar bear with his bare hands. So intimidating. But he laughed at my charming jokes & all was well.
I worked at the art auction for the rest of the morning & spent the afternoon tackling the challenge that is Elements. After the performances that night everyone collapsed into their beds. We survived another crazy week!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Random thoughts.
1. Some of the crew from Central America can't pronounce my name so I just tell them to call me Jane.
2. A few weeks ago during a performance of Shout I decided to order a pizza. We have a lot of down time in between quick changes so my dressers and I sit up in the dressing room while we wait. I specifically told the room service person to deliver to the dressing room. So naturally, they delivered the pizza backstage during the middle of the show. Perfect. & The girls mics are live the entire show because they have to sing harmonies backstage during a few of the numbers. So the pizza man tried to give Rosie the pizza while she was offstage singing. She had no idea what was going on & attempted a weird version of sign language to send the guy away and discourage him from leaving the pizza on a set piece. Finally a tech guy radioed up to me to ask if I knew why there was a pizza man backstage. Oops!
3. Our cabin bathrooms are so small that in order to successfully shave your legs you have to stand in the shower and prop you leg up on the sink.
4. During the art auctions I always feel like the Wheel of Fortune lady. & I always wear heels because it makes me taller than the auctioneer. Sucker.
5. The Elements costumes are so delicate after two years of wear and tear that I have to hand wash everything. It's a long process. I have three little plastic tubs that I fill with hot water & detergent and let the costumes soak first. Then I hand wash each costume, let them soak again in clean warm water, rinse them & hang them on a line. I always feel like a pioneer lady.
6. At the end of Band On The Run after the cast bows they run to the back of the theater and do a meet & greet as the passengers exit. Most of them are sweating their brains out since they just danced so hard. So after I finish the last quick change backstage I grab towels for each of them and run underneath the theater & pop out at the exit. I've never been a towel girl before! & I would hate it except for I love them so much & I like for them to always look their best. It's my job!
2. A few weeks ago during a performance of Shout I decided to order a pizza. We have a lot of down time in between quick changes so my dressers and I sit up in the dressing room while we wait. I specifically told the room service person to deliver to the dressing room. So naturally, they delivered the pizza backstage during the middle of the show. Perfect. & The girls mics are live the entire show because they have to sing harmonies backstage during a few of the numbers. So the pizza man tried to give Rosie the pizza while she was offstage singing. She had no idea what was going on & attempted a weird version of sign language to send the guy away and discourage him from leaving the pizza on a set piece. Finally a tech guy radioed up to me to ask if I knew why there was a pizza man backstage. Oops!
3. Our cabin bathrooms are so small that in order to successfully shave your legs you have to stand in the shower and prop you leg up on the sink.
4. During the art auctions I always feel like the Wheel of Fortune lady. & I always wear heels because it makes me taller than the auctioneer. Sucker.
5. The Elements costumes are so delicate after two years of wear and tear that I have to hand wash everything. It's a long process. I have three little plastic tubs that I fill with hot water & detergent and let the costumes soak first. Then I hand wash each costume, let them soak again in clean warm water, rinse them & hang them on a line. I always feel like a pioneer lady.
6. At the end of Band On The Run after the cast bows they run to the back of the theater and do a meet & greet as the passengers exit. Most of them are sweating their brains out since they just danced so hard. So after I finish the last quick change backstage I grab towels for each of them and run underneath the theater & pop out at the exit. I've never been a towel girl before! & I would hate it except for I love them so much & I like for them to always look their best. It's my job!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Safety thought of the day.
I recently discovered an unintentionally hilarious little treat called the "safety thought of the day". On the I-95 there are a bunch of different bulletin boards where various information is posted for the crew. Even though i hate safety class I am obsessed with this bulletin board & deeply regret not discovering this diamond in the rough sooner.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Week Five.
Currently I'm sitting in the dark in a freezing lounge watching a dress rehearsal. & I just ate some cold popcorn for lunch. Glamorous.
For thanksgiving week I made every cast member a glittery turkey for their dressing room spot! I am the cutest.
November 18. Sunday.
We hit the Mississippi River at about 11pm & get cell reception by midnight. It's always exciting. & Cruising up the River is a little creepy because its pitch black out but all the shining lights from the oil rigs and industrial factories make it feel like you're entering a post-apocalyptic world.
Sunday morning Rosie, Dana, & I headed to one of the most famous shopping establishments in America: Walmart. What a treat. I really do wish there had been a camera crew recording the three of us pushing all our bags through the ships security station at the gangway. Disaster. It was hilarious trying to maneuver down the crowded hallways with a million bags and two big plastic storage containers.
We dropped our bags and headed to meet James for lunch in the French quarter. I devoured a delicious pulled pork po-boy. I just love the South. Anyways, we shopped all day for more Christmas show stuff & then headed back to the ship for rehearsal & three bumper performances.
November 19. Monday.
Sea day! I worked at the art auction that morning. An adorable old man asked if he could bid on me. Hilarious. That afternoon I had fittings with the new magician & his assistant for their Elements costumes. They're a hilarious duo from England & will be with us through January. Then later that night we had two performances of Band on the Run! Busy day.
November 20. Tuesday.
Costa maya! We had safety class that morning & it was firefighting training day. Oh yes. Get ready to chuckle. First, Safety Officer Paul & two firemen took us down to deck 3 and informed us we'd be doing a simulation as if we were entering a smoke filled room. They walked us down these steep stairs and into an industrial looking room full of scrap metal and shelves of machine parts. It was straight out of a horror movie where the blonde girl always gets killed. AND THEN they informed us we would be wearing blacked out masks as we maneuvered our way around the room. Awesome.
The dancer girls & I were less than thrilled. They took our class back up the lawsuit worthy stairs & split us into groups of four. First you put on an air tank like a backpack & strap it on tight. Next you check the air gage & put in the mouth piece so you can breathe. Then they put a blacked out mask on my face. I literally couldn't see anything and with a thick hood thing covering my head, along with the fact that I sounded like Darth Vader because i was breathing through the gross mouth piece I couldn't hear anything either. To put it nicely, I was not a happy camper. Luckily we all make it safely through the maze.
Of course the joy of surviving the metal labyrinth was short lived. We moved up to the bow of the ship to learn how to use a fire extinguisher. That was pretty amusing. & Don't worry, there's a video.
After class we finally made it to the beach! This was my favorite Costa Maya day. Practically the entire cast was there & it was just a gorgeous day! That night we went to watch The Second City comedy troupe perform. I've been obsessed with The Second City for years & now I'm friends with some of their members! Thumbs up.
November 21. Wednesday.
We were in Belize and Jessica & I got to sleep in. I went to the gym & got some work done before Shout. Backstage during the show Sophie & I did our make up really silly. Yes, I am a professional.
November 22. Thursday.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so this day was hard. We were in Roatan. I got to start off the day to the a blaring alarm & men pounding in all the doors in our hallway while yelling "fire"!! I really hate boat drill. Then I worked for a little & Martina, Jess & I got off the ship to find free Wifi. I got to call my family & was super homesick hearing my parents & Carter's voices. If people didn't already know this was my first ship contract I'm sure the mascara streaked down my face gave me away as I walked up the gangway. Then the girls & I laid out on the top deck. I blogged & they napped. We weren't allowed to make reservations in any of the specialty restaurants as a cast, so we improvised & had a big family dinner in the buffet. It was cute & made everyone happy. & That night we all hung out in the lounge after the singers performed their broadway cabaret. The poster board pumpkins & turkeys taped to the walls were terribly depressing.
November 23. Friday.
Cozumel! Safety class that morning. Fun. Then we booked it over to the No Name Bar that we always go to & laid out all afternoon. Back on the boat we napped, I worked a little, we grabbed dinner & got ready for the White Hot party. Afterwards jessica & I went to Martina's room, ate pizza, & cuddled while watching "Dolphin Tale". I cry every time. Anyways, this week was fun because there were so many families on board & kids running around all the time!
November 24. Saturday.
Sea day. Yet another safety class. & Then I worked at the art auction & got ready for elements that night. That show will never stop being challenging. The costumes are disintegrating. Five months left.
For thanksgiving week I made every cast member a glittery turkey for their dressing room spot! I am the cutest.
November 18. Sunday.
We hit the Mississippi River at about 11pm & get cell reception by midnight. It's always exciting. & Cruising up the River is a little creepy because its pitch black out but all the shining lights from the oil rigs and industrial factories make it feel like you're entering a post-apocalyptic world.
Sunday morning Rosie, Dana, & I headed to one of the most famous shopping establishments in America: Walmart. What a treat. I really do wish there had been a camera crew recording the three of us pushing all our bags through the ships security station at the gangway. Disaster. It was hilarious trying to maneuver down the crowded hallways with a million bags and two big plastic storage containers.
We dropped our bags and headed to meet James for lunch in the French quarter. I devoured a delicious pulled pork po-boy. I just love the South. Anyways, we shopped all day for more Christmas show stuff & then headed back to the ship for rehearsal & three bumper performances.
November 19. Monday.
Sea day! I worked at the art auction that morning. An adorable old man asked if he could bid on me. Hilarious. That afternoon I had fittings with the new magician & his assistant for their Elements costumes. They're a hilarious duo from England & will be with us through January. Then later that night we had two performances of Band on the Run! Busy day.
November 20. Tuesday.
Costa maya! We had safety class that morning & it was firefighting training day. Oh yes. Get ready to chuckle. First, Safety Officer Paul & two firemen took us down to deck 3 and informed us we'd be doing a simulation as if we were entering a smoke filled room. They walked us down these steep stairs and into an industrial looking room full of scrap metal and shelves of machine parts. It was straight out of a horror movie where the blonde girl always gets killed. AND THEN they informed us we would be wearing blacked out masks as we maneuvered our way around the room. Awesome.
The dancer girls & I were less than thrilled. They took our class back up the lawsuit worthy stairs & split us into groups of four. First you put on an air tank like a backpack & strap it on tight. Next you check the air gage & put in the mouth piece so you can breathe. Then they put a blacked out mask on my face. I literally couldn't see anything and with a thick hood thing covering my head, along with the fact that I sounded like Darth Vader because i was breathing through the gross mouth piece I couldn't hear anything either. To put it nicely, I was not a happy camper. Luckily we all make it safely through the maze.
Of course the joy of surviving the metal labyrinth was short lived. We moved up to the bow of the ship to learn how to use a fire extinguisher. That was pretty amusing. & Don't worry, there's a video.
After class we finally made it to the beach! This was my favorite Costa Maya day. Practically the entire cast was there & it was just a gorgeous day! That night we went to watch The Second City comedy troupe perform. I've been obsessed with The Second City for years & now I'm friends with some of their members! Thumbs up.
November 21. Wednesday.
We were in Belize and Jessica & I got to sleep in. I went to the gym & got some work done before Shout. Backstage during the show Sophie & I did our make up really silly. Yes, I am a professional.
November 22. Thursday.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so this day was hard. We were in Roatan. I got to start off the day to the a blaring alarm & men pounding in all the doors in our hallway while yelling "fire"!! I really hate boat drill. Then I worked for a little & Martina, Jess & I got off the ship to find free Wifi. I got to call my family & was super homesick hearing my parents & Carter's voices. If people didn't already know this was my first ship contract I'm sure the mascara streaked down my face gave me away as I walked up the gangway. Then the girls & I laid out on the top deck. I blogged & they napped. We weren't allowed to make reservations in any of the specialty restaurants as a cast, so we improvised & had a big family dinner in the buffet. It was cute & made everyone happy. & That night we all hung out in the lounge after the singers performed their broadway cabaret. The poster board pumpkins & turkeys taped to the walls were terribly depressing.
November 23. Friday.
Cozumel! Safety class that morning. Fun. Then we booked it over to the No Name Bar that we always go to & laid out all afternoon. Back on the boat we napped, I worked a little, we grabbed dinner & got ready for the White Hot party. Afterwards jessica & I went to Martina's room, ate pizza, & cuddled while watching "Dolphin Tale". I cry every time. Anyways, this week was fun because there were so many families on board & kids running around all the time!
November 24. Saturday.
Sea day. Yet another safety class. & Then I worked at the art auction & got ready for elements that night. That show will never stop being challenging. The costumes are disintegrating. Five months left.
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