...and a happy new year!

Only one more week, people. One week. What the huh?? When did THAT happen?

Everything is winding down. The attendance at the park is dwindling, though I hear that Labor Day is still a big draw, and that's our last day of work! I have two swing-out days this week and a day off tomorrow, so I'll have lots of time to finish up all the packing and cleaning and organizing and using-up-of-whatever's-in-the-fridge before John and I drive back down to NYC. I can't believe that it's been 12 weeks already, and we're almost through! Unfortunately, I discovered recently that the six months of Equity health coverage I earned from this contract won't go into effect until January, and my current coverage runs out on October 1. So I guess I'll have to be extra careful until then....but that won't be too much of a problem because

I'LL BE ON A SHIP!!!

SUBTLE SEGUE!

That's right!!! I BOOKED THE ZUIDERDAM, BABY! I found out last week that I will be the lead female singer ("F1") on the Zuiderdam for Holland America Line from December 10 until at least April 19th, and possibly into August. This is the same company I worked for when I performed on the Maasdam, and I'm so excited to travel and sing again! I'm so incredibly grateful for the opportunity, and I think it comes at a really opportune time...I really think I need some big and shiny and wonderful to distract me for a while, and endless smoked salmon buffets, Costa Rican rainforests, and belting Tina Turner sounds like just the ticket.And not only that, but I'll be joined by the beautiful and talented Miss Charlotte Skilling, who was my F2 (female singer-dancer) on the Maasdam!

that's my girl.

I'm so excited to be reunited with this sassy Scottish lassie.
Rehearsals will start on November 4th in Los Angeles, so I will have a bit of down time between the end of Santa's Village and the start of rehearsals. I'll be returning to my fabulous roommates in NYC for the month of September. As soon as I get back, I'm going to ride the subways as much as I can and revel in all the freedom of travel, order sushi delivery, and watch the sunset behind the George Washington Bridge. Uuuuuungh, I can't WAIT!! After that, it's all shows, appointments, a few auditions, and hopefully picking up a few shifts at Ellen's for some extra moola (and to share the stage/diner again with some fabulous people!), and generally reveling in all that my favorite place in the world has to offer.

Come October, I'll be flown out to LA early so I can spend some time with my parents, then it's up to Sacramento to live with my brother David and my nephews Ben and Will for a few weeks!! We've been talking about this for almost a year now, and now the timing is perfect! I'm so excited to cook for my boys (especially since I'll be kitchen-less on the Zuiderdam!), see their soccer/baseball games, and be the Hot Auntie picking them up from school! Maybe do a Tahoe trip, maybe a little San Fran...who knows! I'm just so happy!!!

Then back to LA...if you want to check out my ship, you can take a virtual tour here, and you can check out my itinerary on the same website or look at the calendar at the bottom of the "News" page here.

Oh, I almost forgot!! In addition to the cruise gig, I also got hired through the same company to perform in a one-night show at Revel casino resort in Atlantic City on September 7! I'll be playing the role of Conchita singing "Ay Caramba-- in what i can only hope is a ridiculous Cuban accent-- from the West End musical of "Copacabana", based on the Barry Manilow song of the same name. I'll be backed by two dancer girls. Three other singers will be performing the song "Copacabana" as Lola, Tony, and Rico. I'm not 100% what this performance is, other than it is for a private party, but beyond that... What I do know is that Mr. Manilow himself is performing at that same casino the next night, so I'm wondering/hoping that I will actually get to meet the man in person! Barry meeting Barrie!!! THE COSMOS WOULD EXPLODE.

How YOU doin'?

Meanwhile, back in New Hampshire...

On my day off last week, Dan and I took the biodeisel-fueled cog railway up to the summit of Mt. Washington, the highest peak in New England. The view was incredible, and we got very very lucky with the visibility. Mt. W is known for its extremely bad weather (they once recorded wind speeds at 241 mph!), but we were below the clouds and in 50 degree weather. We could see as far as the Atlantic, Vermont, Maine, and southern new Hampshire. It was really incredible, and I'm so glad we got to do it (for free! Yay, employee discount!)

Attitude at high altitude.

We also had out end-of-the-year employee pizza party and raffle last week. I won a $10 Wal Mart gift card! Which I used to buy a pie plate and champagne! The pie plate is for the apple-pear-bourbon plumped golden raisin pie I'm entering in the Lancaster Fair this Friday. First prize is $100..and PRIDE. :-D I can't enter the L.A. County Fair this year, but as soon as I found out I could enter the fair just down the road...i couldn't resist. We're going to go to the fair as a cast on Friday, and since it's open until 11pm, we'll actually get to be out together longer than most of the bars and restaurants in the area close down! That's New Hampshire for ya...


We also had a White Party with the international employees a couple of nights ago, and I have to say, the cast look SMASHING.

right?

We also had one of our last family meals this week, and it was a combined effort between Rebecca and Dan. It was delish! Stuffed shells with homemade bolognese. Yum yum yum!

So that's the news from Jefferson. This will likely be my last post. Thanks for following me on this journey, and I hope you've enjoyed the ride. I'll definitely be keeping a blog for my contract on the Zuiderdam, so I'll update when that starts up. In the meantime, as always, please follow me on my Facebook Artist page and check out the new media and news page on my website.

Until next time...Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Baby, all I want for Christmas...

10 Mistletails + 30 The Christmas That Almost Wasn't + 7 Storytime With Candy Cane and Peppermint Twist = 2 WEEKS LEFT!!!

I can't believe it!

I've actually had a pretty eventful week, though nothing has really changed at the park. They repainted the Elf University..?

Anyway,

Dan and I went to Whale's Tale Water Park last Tuesday and had a blast and a half! I've clearly been spoiled by the epic greatness that is Raging Waters, but Whale's Tale was cute, and we had a nice time. And pizza and beer for lunch! SCORE!








Then I helped Corey learn how to bake blondies, and we had such a fun time. Then again, like I really needed an excuse to bake... He did such a great job, and OH MY GOODNESS those blondies were good!

champ.

There was a costume party over at the international house a few nights ago, snd the cast got decked out and had a fun time. I think all told there were about 35 of us all dressed up. I love a good costume party consisting entirely of found objects and clothes you already own. Valentina took the cake by wearing nothing but curtains from her bedroom. Very Scarlett O'Hara 2012! 

Bruce

The best thing about last week was the plane ride I took with Corey and Haley, piloted by Bruce, who works at the park. He's been flying for 30-some years, and has had his own plane for the last 13 years. He volunteers with Angel Flight and has been giving rides to a lot of the internationals here, giving them a once-in-a-liftime view of the White Mountains for free. His generosity is incredible! And not only that, but he let me pilot for a few minutes while we were up there!! I have honestly never felt exhilaration like that in all my life. I literally piloted a plane at 6,000 feet!! Me!! Me, who is scared of flying!! I'm so grateful to Bruce for giving me and my cast mates this opportunity. 

in the clouds

I put together a little video of our trip, you can see it here:

John made Family Meal on Sunday night. He made ham, spinach, and cheese quiche with a delicious salad of apples, almonds, and Gorgonzola on the side.  I think next week, Dan is going to make pasta sauce, and Rebecca is going to use it on stuffed shells!! It's a double-dip Family Meal! I'm saving my paella for the last Sunday before our contract is over.

chef!

And then finally, this morning, big news for Rebecca and Corey...they became Equity! As part of their contract, they received Equity status during the last two week sof their contract, and today was Day 0!! I wrote a little ditty for them and baked them a special cake, and we all got together as a cast and celebrated them this morning.

Here's a video of the event!

Lots more in store for these last two weeks, and hopefully some big news in the future...!


Until next time...!

How'd ya like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?

I meant to post here last weekend, but Oli and I had The Inevitable Talk and we are no more. It's been a very difficult road this last week, but I know in my heart of hearts that it's for the best. The strangest things will set me off, but I'm blessed to be distracted by work.

Speaking of which..
3 1/2 weeks left.
It's about that time where I start to be legitimately concerned about what I'm going to do when the contract ends. As of right now, my only solid plan is to move back in to my friends's apartment in Harlem and go back to serving at Ellen's (assuming they allow me to come back, which I don't forsee being a problem) and jumping right back into auditioning. Not that that's a bad plan, but it is the curse of the performer that we live gig to gig, and not having a booking to look forward to is a little like jumping into a murky lake. At night. And you've only had a couple of swimming lessons. And you're almost positive you saw something moving down there...

IT'S NESSIE!

On a positive note, however, I am still in the running to be the F1 (lead female singer) on the Zuiderdam for Holland America Line. Final casting should be done sometime in the very near future, so I'm thinking as many positive thoughts as possible, and I hope you can join me in that.

I also am in the process of working with Landau Music for possible bookings on cruise ships, but as the band singer, a job I've wanted to explore since I worked on the Maasdam. Not a whole lot of news on that yet, but it's another pot on the fire.

But for now...
Mr. RWS himself, Ryan Stana, is visiting the park today, and I'm excited to meet him. We got gift baskets from our lead director, Amy Cannon, a few days ago, and now we get to meet The Boss Man! Let's hope for good weather and clear voices today.

That's all for now.
Staying positive,
Barrie