February 6- Ft Lauderdale
Oi, how today became so much less than expected. For the past ten days we have been looking forward to arriving back in the good ol’ US of A and making the great journey to my mothership, TARGET. One never realizes how dependant they become on the basic necessities of everyday life (ya know, toothpaste, facewash, Orbitz Whitening gum), until they are stranded on a floating hunk of metal for weeks on end. SO you can imagine how terribly distraught us singers were to learn that instead of jumping ship at 7 AM and power walking to our rental car, our chariot, our only means of escape, we had to wait…. And wait…. And wait… to go through immigration. By the time that was over, we pretty much had enough time for a breeze through of the nearby Walgreens and a scarfed down sandwhich at the local deli. Not exactly the dream day we had planned. But fortunately I got my basic necessities. And the box me mum and dad sent me today arrived! Mostly excited about the piano books they packed, as my cabin’s previous tenant left a keyboard in the room. Therefore, I will be able to bang away on those (plastic) ivories whenever the mood strikes. Hopefully that will pass some of the down time. If not, there is always a deck chair calling my name for nap time!
February 7- At sea
SO I have serious issues with sea days. I function completely if I know there is a port to visit, some sort of daily activity to break up the monotony. But there is only so long that I can stare out my portholes as the water rushes by before I contemplate jumping ship. Fortunately, we have created daily rituals, which, although mundane, help pass the time immensely. Today for instance: Wake up around eight (the latest I can ever sleep in on here, thanks to the aforementioned portholes), and begin by making approximately 6 cups of coffee…. Thank Jesus for my French press! Breakfast with CNN headline news, which is truly our only window in to what in the world is happening outside the ship bubble. Then its time for the deck walk. I got over the ship’s gym after about the first cruise (me and a treadmill are not BFF) and therefore have taken to power walking on deck seven, which is much more interesting since you can people watch at the same time. Power walking is followed by pilates, which is followed by me realizing I’ve only killed about three hours of my day. Tanning time begins, though on sea days, tis more like tanning in a tornado with the insane amount of wind that surrounds you. As I lay out, deck chair cushions rush past my head, but I am determined to keep this bronzy glow! Then lunch at HoCo (Horizon Court) with Jim and Lelani, two of the other singers, which we are determined to stretch out for the maximum amount of time. Trust me, it is a true task to sea how long I can stretch out my salad and whatever other mystery food I have plopped onto my plate from the buffet. By now it is three PM, and time for afternoon coffee at the Pattiserie (which includes mini cookies, my favorite ship treat!). By now it is apparent that I have become a caffeine junkie, but I suppose there could be worse vices, eh? When coffee time is over, I play on my rinky dink keyboard for about an hour, till finally it is sound check time! Tonight’s show is “Piano Man”, but its all interchangeable as these days are pretty much carbon copies of each other. Then off to my room to prep, warm-up, slap on some lashes and lippie, and I am ready to sing me some Elton John!
February 8- Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Do not eat a vegetarian burger in Jamaica. You will get sick. That’s all I have to say.
February 9- Sea Day
See above Sea Day. I swear, it never changes!
February 10- Aruba
I bought a camera, I bought a camera, I bought a camera, hey hey hey hey!
A good ol’ Canon, just like the one my rents got me for Christmas two years ago which somehow ended up in the bathtub and subsequently was completely trashed. So once again I will be able to actually capture some of these experiences that I am terrible at relating through my words.
February 11- Catragena, Columbia
I never thought I would say this, but I absolutely LOVE Columbia.
February 18- At Sea
Yet another in a string of Sea Days. Starting to really appreciate the downtime and am nearly irritated when I actually have to do work. Fortunately, today was 100% downtime, and I took full advantage. Morning walk on the deck, mid day meal with the singers, including my favorite mini cookies from the Patisserie, and laying on a deck chair doing exactly nothing. I’m getting fairly good at doing nothing. But the highlight of the evening was our singers’ night out. (Well, as far out as you can go when you are stuck on a ship). The great thing about nights off here is whenever we do not have a production, someone else is bound to have a show, be it a cabaret act, a comedian, juggler, even banjo player. Last evening’s show completely takes the cake. After getting all dolled up and having a nice relaxing meal at the dining room, it was off to see Miss Joni Butler. A Grammy nominated singer, I was absolutely blown away by her presence, talent, but mostly her spirit. This girl has range for days, like Linda Eder with about three more octaves, and yet she is completely humble about it, knowing all her gifts come from God and thanking him expressly. It is just so rare and refreshing in this business to find someone with such genuine gratitude, minus the attitude. I know I have always looked up to my sister as one of said performers, and now I have another entertainer to emulate. Plus, everyone calls her my mom as she does look eerily like me a few years down the line. It’s a major compliment which I will gladly accept. All I know is that it is seeing her in action really inspired me to get my booty in gear, to keep trying to better myself as a performer and a person, and I know I’m not the only one in the audience who felt that. Really, that’s what putting on a show is all about.
