The Tale of A Day in Nowhere, Bus Nights, Eighteen Year Olds And Drugs, and Working The Dells...

Larry.

September 29, 2011

It all started out as a typical show day in Branson... Except there were a few extra things I had to do- go drop my dog (Danny) off at the Pet Resort and finish packing. We had only been back in Branson for a week; and during that week I got really sick. (Sinus, allergy, cold- I don't know what it was, but it kicked my butt!) So I actually never really unpacked my suitcase from the trip before, which made packing for the upcoming trip a bit easier!

Where the owl hit.

I went to our theater like I normally do- but still feeling a bit under the weather, which wasn't helping me feel great emotionally... (Ever notice how when you are sick your emotions go kind of crazy? Weird how that happens! I blame the cold medication I was taking all week! Although I'm sure the band just figured it was PMS...) The show went off as planned and then I jumped in my car and got back to my house to grab my things. 

On the bus.

By the time I got organized, our tour bus was waiting out on the street; so I gathered my things together and walked out to meet it. I climbed aboard and was ready for the weekend tour. Sadly, the windshield was shattered pretty good. On the way out to Branson, our driver hit an owl. Yes, an owl! And it did a number to the windshield- but the driver insisted it was ok to drive with it like that; and he seemed very cautious in general, so we trusted him! (And no, I do not know the condition of the owl that hit the bus... But we liked to think of the owl as sitting at a bar somewhere that night telling his owl friends that they wouldn't believe what just happened to him!) 

On the bus.

We left Branson right on cue at midnight, and we were on our way to Lima, Ohio. All of us stayed up for a while- long enough for us to get past Springfield, Missouri; but then we all started to retire to our bunks. I was one of the top bunks, (and I love the top bunks!) but they are a bit more difficult to get into! You just have to be good at climbing! It was a bit of a bumpy road every once and a while, but the driver did a great job all through the night.

September 30, 2011

I woke up to find that we were about to stop at a Cracker Barrel for breakfast. It was a yummy start to our day! But soon we were back on the bus, and back on our way. We still had two hours to go until we got to Lima, Ohio. We passed time by watching a couple episodes of Criminal Minds, and then we were pulling up to our Howard Johnson's hotel right around 2pm. 

Myself walking in what felt like the middle of nowhere.

Having fun!

Tim got us all checked in, and I have to say it was an interesting place. One of those kind of strange setups (pool inside and looked like they meant for it to be outside but threw a roof over it)- but we are starting to dig that kind of thing! I think strange works for us! But I wasn't in my room very long at all before I became extremely bored. (And sadly I have a girlfriend who lives two and a half hours from there, but I had no car, so I couldn't go visit- which was a bummer!) 

Howard Johnson's in Lima.

So Gabe and I decided we would go for a walk. We saw on the map that there was a mall not too far away- basically a couple blocks away, so we thought we might as well check it out. But it was rather cold outside, so that wasn't helping! And we had to walk around a field to get there. Not great! Once we got there we realized it was not a mall. It was basically a Big Lots and a Kmart. And right wrong or indifferent, him and I are both from Newport Beach and Laguna Beach- needless to say, a Big Lots and a Kmart would not be our definition of a mall! 

Gabe got stuck going through the little pink tube...

Eventually after wandering for a bit we walked back to the hotel. This time we cut through the field. I wasn't about to walk around it again! I was ready to face whatever critters happened to be living in the area! Once we made it back to the hotel, we went on the bus for a bit, and met Bob there too. Then it was just about time to meet everyone in the lobby for dinner at 5:30pm. But as we were waiting for everyone, we found a toddler jungle gym thing in the lobby of the hotel and decided to play on it. I have to say, sadly, it was the highlight of our day! 

I crawled through the little pink tube!

We all walked a couple blocks to a place called Texas Roadhouse for dinner. It was pretty good too! Then we walked back when we were finished- however, on the walk back it wasn't just cold it was sprinkling too! It was raining on and off all night! Luckily when we were ready to walk back it wasn't in the middle of a downpour! That would have been a major bummer. 

Once I got back to my room I just spent some time catching up on things. I actually managed to get some stuff done- which is always a bonus. But I also managed to get to sleep semi early; which was good news too!

October 1, 2011

I woke up, but was in no hurry. Eventually I did start to get dressed and ready though. At 2:45pm I met Dad down in the lobby and we found our driver and started our trip to the theater- it was about a twenty minute drive to Ada, Ohio. But Ada was a very cute little college town, and we were working at the Ohio Northern University. It was a really great looking campus. 

Dad next to his sign.

We got to the theater and started to sound check. Luckily, it didn't take too long! By the time we were done, it was about 4pm, and we were right on time to head over to our dinner. Dad went back to the hotel, but Larry, Bob, Tim, Gabe, Jeff and I were escorted over to The Inn on the campus, which had a great dining room! Dinner was delicious! And as some added excitement, just as we were starting dinner, the college's football game was finishing. But not only was it a football game, it was their homecoming game! So it was rather festive! (I wish I could have found a homecoming dance to crash! I would have been all over that!) 

After we finished eating, we were taken back to the hotel. And I have to say that the drive was rather scenic- we were basically driving through the middle of nowhere, but there were these beautiful farms everywhere! It was gorgeous! Made you want to stay a while. 

Beautiful driving around Ada.

Once we got back to the hotel, we had about an hour or two before we were meeting back down in the lobby at 7:45pm. I just got some work done, and then all of a sudden it was time to head that way. We were all taken back to the theater- I was in a car with Dad and Tim; and we had a student of the college driving us. He was eighteen years old and a freshman- his name was Levi, very nice kid. For some reason, Dad started talking about smoking, (how he used to smoke as a kid, etc...) then he asked Levi if he smoked, Levi said no. Then Dad went into talking about drugs. How he didn't get all these kinds of drugs and things they do, and why people would take them, but also went into talking about weed, and how he did smoke that for a minute years ago... And all I could think was- this poor kid! Levi seemed like such a nice boy, I don't think he was expecting a drug conversation on his drive that night! Hopefully he will recover!

Theater in Ada.

Then when we got to the theater, Dad had some pictures to take and an interview to do. Gabe came and informed us that the bus was smelling something fierce! We called the driver- Kevin, and he had an idea of what it might be, so he was heading to the theater right away. Our show started just after 8:30pm. And it went pretty great! I was having a few issues because I couldn't hear the band very well- the front monitors were a bit more quiet than usual! But I survived! (It just makes the show more work than fun when it is like that!)

Crawling into my bunk...

On the bus.

Afterwards, Dad and I went out to the lobby to sign, and that went great too. Lots of younger kids- college kids, at the show... More than usual anyway! So that was cool. Always nice to see some people my age out there! But by the time we were done, it was time to get on the bus and head back to the hotel. The bus was smelling a bit still, but we were informed it was the battery or something like that, and that it would go away once we were driving for a few minutes. 

In my bunk...

First, we headed back to the hotel to grab all our stuff. I ran up to my room and changed into my sweats, washed my face, and closed up my suitcase. We were all back on the bus and ready to start our journey by midnight as planned. Then Kevin started down the road towards Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. 

All of us stayed up for a while hanging out and snacking on whatever we could find in the bus... Plus watching some of Saturday Night Live- lots of laughing! But eventually, I retired to my bunk and got ready to pass out.

My room at the Kalahari Resort.

October 2, 2011

I woke up as we were pulling into Wisconsin Dells at 8am. We went to the hotel to get our rooms. It was an awesome resort! Kalahari Resort. It had lots of fun things to do- including and indoor amusement park and water park! But of course, we were only going to be there twelve hours! (Yeah, we stay at the Howard Johnson in the middle of nowhere for two days, but we only get to stay at the awesome resort for twelve hours- and most of those hours we were working... It figures!) 

I got into my room, and it was great! Very nice place! Then I ordered some room service... I wasn't going to, but they had a Swiss Corn Beef Hash Omelet that sounded really good for some reason! Then I just got a few things done and started getting ready for work. Since I was ready about an hour early, I decided to wander around the resort for a bit and check it out... And it was awesome! Very cool place, so much to do- if only I had time to do it! But I was very impressed! 

Kalahari Resort.

Kalahari Resort

At 12pm, I met my driver downstairs and they took me over to the Crystal Grand Music Theatre. Sound check went very smoothly- even though I got there a bit early. After that, we went to the green room to get our food- it was rather tasty. But there wasn't much time to go back to the hotel, so I just stayed at the theater- it was a 3pm show. I was starting to get pretty tired though, but I did my best to get amped up for work. 

Theater in Wisconsin Dells.

Dad and Tim on the bus.

The show went great; it was a wonderful audience. After we got off stage, signing went great too! Lots of cool people to meet and talk to. Then we got back on the bus and our driver took us to a restaurant at our resort. We all grabbed some food (in a sports pub type place- which was not ideal because Dad had bet on a lot of the football games, and he didn't want to know the scores, because he had them all being recorded at home! So it was funny watching him try to avoid the huge TV screens!).

After dinner, we all walked back to our rooms- which was a bit of a hike and it actually proved to be pretty entertaining! Bob and Gabe started knocking on hotel room doors as we walked by them... Yep, these are the stupid things I deal with everyday on the road! We all just grabbed our bags and got into our comfy clothes, then ventured out to the bus. 

Gabe and I on the bus.

We actually managed to leave Wisconsin Dells by 7:30pm or 8pm. Sadly- for me, it was Sunday night football on the TV... Not exactly my thing. I don't mind a little football, but you know! However, I was pretty exhausted anyway. So I mostly spent my time catching up on things I needed to, and people I needed to call back. I have to say, everyone on the bus was starting to get a bit delirious too! You know we are in trouble when we start laughing at things that just shouldn't be funny. I know at one point- out of nowhere, Gabe announced, "I like to wear a jacket." Bob, Dad and I all just turned and looked at him. After a good pregnant pause, we all started laughing hysterically! Leaving Gabe feeling a bit out of the loop. But it was just so funny and random to us... And you know we didn't leave it there. There were jacket and coat comments made all night long! But it was time to crash after a while. I needed some rest!

Dad signing checks on the bus.

October 3, 2011

I woke up to find us pulling into Branson at 7:15am. I stumbled out of the bus with all of my stuff and walked down to my house. Once I got there, I got straight into my own bed and went back to sleep for a few hours. I need them! But when I woke up at noon, it felt like no time had passed! I still wanted to just go back to sleep again, but instead I knew I should get up and moving. I went down to the Pet Resort to pick up my dog Danny, and then I had an errand or two to run. But I was back at my house getting ready for the show by 5pm. 

Once 7pm rolled around, I headed on my way to the Starlite Theatre. We had a great first show back in Branson, and we were all back in the typical grind. Dad and I signed after the show, and then went on our way home. I finally found my way back to that bed of mine, and I got as much sleep as I could! We still had three more weeks of shows in Branson left ahead of us! 

The whole gang.