Sunset over The St. Lawrence Seaway

Once again...  Gotta run to a show, but here are some shots from our arrival into Ogdensburg, New York, just across the river from Canada...

Some shots from the theater located within a high school.  Ah, the back walls of a high school theater...

A matinee this morning for students and then a long drive to Concord, New Hampshire to spend the night en route to Maine!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Roseburg,+OR&daddr=Longview,+WA+to:Portland,+OR+to:Butte,+MT+to:Gillette,+WY+to:Blue+Earth,+MN+to:Dubuque,+IA+to:Chicago,+IL+to:Atlanta,+GA+to:Valdosta,+GA+to:Hazard,+KY+to:Charlottesville,+VA+to:Morganton,+NC+to:Harrisburg,+PA+to:Union,+NJ+to:Ogdensburg,+St.+Lawrence,+New+York+to:Concord,+NH&hl=en&geocode=FXlukwIdVvSl-CnNWVlLxSLEVDGR_cLXFl6kXw%3BFTgDwAIdyRys-CkXDWkdFHOUVDG5Zn--ibNYxg%3BFfyhtgIdERyw-CkndKl9CwuVVDGRhdH25rk2HA%3BFc32vQIdUtxK-SnRPO_QNj9aUzGZl09NHWjNtQ%3BFRTUowId9Cm2-SkfvKwtI5Q0UzFLmMn0MSwgxw%3BFc_amQIdWh1k-inVv-Z_fovzhzGEO66FG9e-Pg%3BFc6BiAIdhJGY-inThorAhCvjhzFHcaMmxh6-tA%3BFbGUfgId_JDG-inty_TQPCwOiDEAwMAJrabgrw%3BFQP4AgIdclf4-imNCZNpXQT1iDELYwuZL97-Zg%3BFT541gEda0UJ-ym9Qz_6_WbuiDF2P1Lj0-cLFw%3BFQRiOAIddJIK-yknu-1bjMhEiDEjFmRhnc9eSA%3BFfpHRAIdeopS-ymPpFDqLYaziTH8dIvDlvCGkA%3BFX9uIQIdrZYh-ym9xFJ6J85QiDGDhgHkohNn3Q%3BFSSHZgIdPtZq-ymXnge4FsHIiTHVRo0SyEJuuw%3BFQL_bAIdXtWS-ykHemsooK3DiTHLb2wKHHD7Yw%3BFdX6qQIdgCuA-ymjB8GuTKrNTDHroqpzbV-PMw%3B&mra=ls&sll=38.548165,-98.789062&sspn=41.019537,79.804688&ie=UTF8&ll=39.232253,-97.470703&spn=40.658692,79.804688&z=4

Have good days!
Mike

Korean BBQ and Irish Coffee

O.K.  Got into New Jersey and checked into the Hilton Newark Airport hotel.  After a short break, we got back on the bus and headed to Kean University for a 3pm matinee.  Afterwards, Robin, Ben, and I walked to a nearby New Jersey Transit station and took a train into Manhattan.

Betsy met us at Penn Station.  Robin and Ben went off to see Avenue Q and Betsy and I went in search of Korean BBQ.  It was wonderful.  If you've never had it, you must!

Afterwards we were looking for a coffee shop of some kind and right before defaulting to Starbucks, we decided to check out a rooftop bar that Betsy had heard of.

And on the 14th floor of a nearby La Quinta, we walked out and looked up to see...

The Empire State Building!   So we spent the rest of the evening sipping Irish Coffee...

And wine in what could have been a neighborhood pub back deck...

Only it was 14 stories above a bustling 33rd street and below Ms. Empire all dressed in blue.

And I'm finishing this entry in Odgensburg on the banks of the St. Lawrence Seaway, having just watched the sun set over Canada.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Roseburg,+OR&daddr=Longview,+WA+to:Portland,+OR+to:Butte,+MT+to:Gillette,+WY+to:Blue+Earth,+MN+to:Dubuque,+IA+to:Chicago,+IL+to:Atlanta,+GA+to:Valdosta,+GA+to:Hazard,+KY+to:Charlottesville,+VA+to:Morganton,+NC+to:Harrisburg,+PA+to:Union,+NJ+to:Ogdensburg,+St.+Lawrence,+New+York&geocode=FXlukwIdVvSl-CnNWVlLxSLEVDGR_cLXFl6kXw%3BFTgDwAIdyRys-CkXDWkdFHOUVDG5Zn--ibNYxg%3BFfyhtgIdERyw-CkndKl9CwuVVDGRhdH25rk2HA%3BFc32vQIdUtxK-SnRPO_QNj9aUzGZl09NHWjNtQ%3BFRTUowId9Cm2-SkfvKwtI5Q0UzFLmMn0MSwgxw%3BFc_amQIdWh1k-inVv-Z_fovzhzGEO66FG9e-Pg%3BFc6BiAIdhJGY-inThorAhCvjhzFHcaMmxh6-tA%3BFbGUfgId_JDG-inty_TQPCwOiDEAwMAJrabgrw%3BFQP4AgIdclf4-imNCZNpXQT1iDELYwuZL97-Zg%3BFT541gEda0UJ-ym9Qz_6_WbuiDF2P1Lj0-cLFw%3BFQRiOAIddJIK-yknu-1bjMhEiDEjFmRhnc9eSA%3BFfpHRAIdeopS-ymPpFDqLYaziTH8dIvDlvCGkA%3BFX9uIQIdrZYh-ym9xFJ6J85QiDGDhgHkohNn3Q%3BFSSHZgIdPtZq-ymXnge4FsHIiTHVRo0SyEJuuw%3BFQL_bAIdXtWS-ykHemsooK3DiTHLb2wKHHD7Yw%3BFdX6qQIdgCuA-ymjB8GuTKrNTDHroqpzbV-PMw&hl=en&mra=pe&mrcr=14&sll=38.548165,-98.789062&sspn=41.019537,79.804688&ie=UTF8&z=4

Off to do an evening show.

Hope all are well...

O.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Got into Harrisburg mid to late evening last night.  Woke up to a clear day, blue skies and clean slates.  Took a short walk with the camera.

Our hotel was right along the Susquehanna River next to one of the many bridges that cross it.

There was an Indian restaurant right next to the hotel.  After getting off the bus last night and checking in, Robin, Vince, and I ran over to get some food.  It was a great meal.

I walked by the place this morning.

There's something about a beautiful restaurant ready for the day, quiet and as of yet unbustled...

Their entrance door was embossed metal, but huge like the beginning of a vault.

The bridge stretched across the street on the other side of the hotel.  The street was lined with historic homes.

When we got off the bus last night, the first thing we saw were the two houses below, both nationally registered.  The smaller one was the home of a Union general.

A plaque sits on the sidewalk...  (click to on the photos to see larger versions)

A close up between the homes...

We boarded the bus at 9:30 and took off soon thereafter for Union, New Jersey.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Roseburg,+OR&daddr=Longview,+WA+to:Portland,+OR+to:Butte,+MT+to:Gillette,+WY+to:Blue+Earth,+MN+to:Dubuque,+IA+to:Chicago,+IL+to:Atlanta,+GA+to:Valdosta,+GA+to:Hazard,+KY+to:Charlottesville,+VA+to:Morganton,+NC+to:Harrisburg,+PA+to:Union,+NJ&hl=en&geocode=FXlukwIdVvSl-CnNWVlLxSLEVDGR_cLXFl6kXw%3BFTgDwAIdyRys-CkXDWkdFHOUVDG5Zn--ibNYxg%3BFfyhtgIdERyw-CkndKl9CwuVVDGRhdH25rk2HA%3BFc32vQIdUtxK-SnRPO_QNj9aUzGZl09NHWjNtQ%3BFRTUowId9Cm2-SkfvKwtI5Q0UzFLmMn0MSwgxw%3BFc_amQIdWh1k-inVv-Z_fovzhzGEO66FG9e-Pg%3BFc6BiAIdhJGY-inThorAhCvjhzFHcaMmxh6-tA%3BFbGUfgId_JDG-inty_TQPCwOiDEAwMAJrabgrw%3BFQP4AgIdclf4-imNCZNpXQT1iDELYwuZL97-Zg%3BFT541gEda0UJ-ym9Qz_6_WbuiDF2P1Lj0-cLFw%3BFQRiOAIddJIK-yknu-1bjMhEiDEjFmRhnc9eSA%3BFfpHRAIdeopS-ymPpFDqLYaziTH8dIvDlvCGkA%3BFX9uIQIdrZYh-ym9xFJ6J85QiDGDhgHkohNn3Q%3BFSSHZgIdPtZq-ymXnge4FsHIiTHVRo0SyEJuuw%3B&mra=ls&sll=39.232253,-100.107422&sspn=40.658692,79.804688&ie=UTF8&ll=39.232253,-98.789062&spn=40.658692,79.804688&z=4

We check into the Hilton Newark Airport and then have a 3PM show.  Afterwards I'm planning to head into Manhattan for dinner with Betsy!  Looking forward to it.

We just did a little math here on the bus.  So far, taking the routes from city to city as we have, we've traveled half way across the globe...  13,000 miles and 8.5 days on the bus, not counting stops for meals. Just driving from one venue to the next.

Amazing...

Have good days...
O.

Morganton, North Carolina

We've been chasing the changing leaves around the country these past seven weeks, but we crested the wave of fall in Morganton, the colors taking us all off guard by moment.

A couple shots from sound check and just before half hour before the show last night...

The North Carolina School for the Deaf was a few blocks down the street from our auditorium.  We had a signer for our show.  She was amazing.

Headed to Harrisburg, PA today.  487 miles.  8 hours or so.  No show tonight.  A travel day off.  Email and reading and the sipping of coffee...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Roseburg,+OR&daddr=Longview,+WA+to:Portland,+OR+to:Butte,+MT+to:Gillette,+WY+to:Blue+Earth,+MN+to:Dubuque,+IA+to:Chicago,+IL+to:Atlanta,+GA+to:Valdosta,+GA+to:Hazard,+KY+to:Charlottesville,+VA+to:Morganton,+NC+to:Harrisburg,+PA&hl=en&geocode=FXlukwIdVvSl-CnNWVlLxSLEVDGR_cLXFl6kXw%3BFTgDwAIdyRys-CkXDWkdFHOUVDG5Zn--ibNYxg%3BFfyhtgIdERyw-CkndKl9CwuVVDGRhdH25rk2HA%3BFc32vQIdUtxK-SnRPO_QNj9aUzGZl09NHWjNtQ%3BFRTUowId9Cm2-SkfvKwtI5Q0UzFLmMn0MSwgxw%3BFc_amQIdWh1k-inVv-Z_fovzhzGEO66FG9e-Pg%3BFc6BiAIdhJGY-inThorAhCvjhzFHcaMmxh6-tA%3BFbGUfgId_JDG-inty_TQPCwOiDEAwMAJrabgrw%3BFQP4AgIdclf4-imNCZNpXQT1iDELYwuZL97-Zg%3BFT541gEda0UJ-ym9Qz_6_WbuiDF2P1Lj0-cLFw%3BFQRiOAIddJIK-yknu-1bjMhEiDEjFmRhnc9eSA%3BFfpHRAIdeopS-ymPpFDqLYaziTH8dIvDlvCGkA%3BFX9uIQIdrZYh-ym9xFJ6J85QiDGDhgHkohNn3Q%3B&mra=ls&sll=39.265735,-100.917725&sspn=40.658692,79.804688&ie=UTF8&ll=39.232253,-100.107422&spn=40.658692,79.804688&z=4

Have good days, all...
O.

Charlottesville

Woke up yesterday to cold foggy rain.

Like I wrote in the previous entry, we had a great show in the morning for about 1,000 students.  A few of us headed back to the hotel to chill out for the afternoon.  Others stayed near the theater to explore the area.  That night, before dinner, we reunited at the theater.  Vince, Rick, and I took a stroll around outside to take a few shots.

The front of the theater faces a pedestrian street filled with cafes, restaurants, bars, and shops of all kinds.

Looking one way...

And the other...

Behind the theater, an early holiday decoration sprouts between building and touring caravan.

The Paramount...

Headed up the elevator to dinner.  Sean and Ashley.  Beauty incarnate.

Someone from the theater put out a few copies of a local newspaper on each of the dinner tables.  They wanted us to see the ad for the show tonight...  (double click to see it more clearly)

Yeah.  A-mazing.

And the evening just got better and better with the entrance of Sheri Pilcher!  It was so great to see her.

Dinner was one of the best on the tour.  The cookies!  The cookies!  Oh!  I yearn...

The General Manager of the theater chatted with us for a bit at dinner.  She said that refugees from Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, and Pakistan rescued by the International Rescue Committee (http://www.theirc.org/) would be in the audience that night.  She had met a few of them previously and shared some of their stories of how war in their respective homelands had torn their families apart, both through forced relocation and murder.  They were brought to the US to help them restart their lives.  In addition to the refugees, there would be service men and women on R&R from Iraq in the audience.  All performances are important and somehow cathartic for all those involved.  We were reminded of the potential for healing to which we have a great responsibility.

Another happening...  Gannon spent the afternoon walking around the area near the theater.  He walked into a bookstore to do a little shopping.  And who walks in?  John Grisham.  Yeah.  Just a little cool.

Charlottesville is a special place.

Downstairs in the basement were photos of the theater pre-restoration - which I believe took place only a few years ago.

The hallway walls in the basement that led to dressing rooms and the like were lined with signatures of shows past....

The show went well.  Headed to Morganton, North Carolina at the moment.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Roseburg,+OR&daddr=Longview,+WA+to:Portland,+OR+to:Butte,+MT+to:Gillette,+WY+to:Blue+Earth,+MN+to:Dubuque,+IA+to:Chicago,+IL+to:Atlanta,+GA+to:Valdosta,+GA+to:Hazard,+KY+to:Charlottesville,+VA+to:Morganton,+NC&hl=en&geocode=FXlukwIdVvSl-CnNWVlLxSLEVDGR_cLXFl6kXw%3BFTgDwAIdyRys-CkXDWkdFHOUVDG5Zn--ibNYxg%3BFfyhtgIdERyw-CkndKl9CwuVVDGRhdH25rk2HA%3BFc32vQIdUtxK-SnRPO_QNj9aUzGZl09NHWjNtQ%3BFRTUowId9Cm2-SkfvKwtI5Q0UzFLmMn0MSwgxw%3BFc_amQIdWh1k-inVv-Z_fovzhzGEO66FG9e-Pg%3BFc6BiAIdhJGY-inThorAhCvjhzFHcaMmxh6-tA%3BFbGUfgId_JDG-inty_TQPCwOiDEAwMAJrabgrw%3BFQP4AgIdclf4-imNCZNpXQT1iDELYwuZL97-Zg%3BFT541gEda0UJ-ym9Qz_6_WbuiDF2P1Lj0-cLFw%3BFQRiOAIddJIK-yknu-1bjMhEiDEjFmRhnc9eSA%3BFfpHRAIdeopS-ymPpFDqLYaziTH8dIvDlvCGkA%3B&mra=ls&sll=39.232253,-100.898437&sspn=40.658692,79.804688&ie=UTF8&z=4

We have a show tonight at 7:30PM.

Gonna have a reading in the front of the bus of Rick and John's new film script after lunch.  (I'm grateful to have the chance to write that last sentence.)

Swaying slightly through the foggy fall...

O.

A long drive to Charlottesville...

Hey there...

Yesterday was a long, but good day.  We got up, boarded the bus, and at 9:30am, started to drive out of the parking lot of the Super 8 in Hazard, Kentucky when the bus stalled.  And then upon starting, stalling again.  And again.  And again.  So our amazing driver, Scott, got out and gazed into the engine in the back of the bus...

In his attempts to fix the problem, he ended up having to "call the cavalry" as he put it and in a few minutes, a mechanic down the road showed up with his truck o'tools.  Long story short, they had to fix a sensor that had gone bad.  Normally a 15 minute job, but a piece of the old sensor fell into somewhere it shouldn't have fallen (can you tell I don't know too much about engines) and they had to open the oil pan to get it out.  Which meant draining the bus's 10 gallons of oil, retrieving the little rogue, replacing the pan, refilling the oil, and getting rolling again...6 hours later.

:)

But we all made the best of it.  Chatting and internetting and cell phoning.  The time actually flew by.  And then poor Scott had to drive through the east Kentucky and West Virginia mountains in the dark and rain.  But he was a champ and got us to Charlottesville safe and sound by 11:00PM.

We slept quickly and got up and did a school matinee for about 1,000 students at The Paramount Theater  in the historic downtown area.  It's so beautiful.  Looking forward to checking it out some more before tonight's show.

Hope all are well!
O.

Hazard, a twirling...

Good morning!

I stood in the venue in Hazard last night and took some photos in a circle to try to get a really rough 360 degree view...

Above: the back of the house, with the booth above the exit.

Below: a close-up on Holley and Matthew in the booth working really hard.

John Hardy yawping.

Last night's show was great.

This morning we head out to Charlottesville, VA.  Headed through northern Kentucky and West Virginia to get there...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Roseburg,+OR&daddr=Longview,+WA+to:Portland,+OR+to:Butte,+MT+to:Gillette,+WY+to:Blue+Earth,+MN+to:Dubuque,+IA+to:Chicago,+IL+to:Atlanta,+GA+to:Valdosta,+GA+to:Hazard,+KY+to:Charlottesville,+VA&hl=en&geocode=FXlukwIdVvSl-CnNWVlLxSLEVDGR_cLXFl6kXw%3BFTgDwAIdyRys-CkXDWkdFHOUVDG5Zn--ibNYxg%3BFfyhtgIdERyw-CkndKl9CwuVVDGRhdH25rk2HA%3BFc32vQIdUtxK-SnRPO_QNj9aUzGZl09NHWjNtQ%3BFRTUowId9Cm2-SkfvKwtI5Q0UzFLmMn0MSwgxw%3BFc_amQIdWh1k-inVv-Z_fovzhzGEO66FG9e-Pg%3BFc6BiAIdhJGY-inThorAhCvjhzFHcaMmxh6-tA%3BFbGUfgId_JDG-inty_TQPCwOiDEAwMAJrabgrw%3BFQP4AgIdclf4-imNCZNpXQT1iDELYwuZL97-Zg%3BFT541gEda0UJ-ym9Qz_6_WbuiDF2P1Lj0-cLFw%3BFQRiOAIddJIK-yknu-1bjMhEiDEjFmRhnc9eSA%3B&mra=ls&sll=39.232253,-103.271484&sspn=40.658692,79.804688&ie=UTF8&ll=39.232253,-100.898437&spn=40.658692,79.804688&z=4

Have great days!

O.