A day with Mark

Hello my suckas! Well yesterday I helped my good friend Mark Minnick with auditions he was holding in Rockville for his company, Phoenix productions. I was the monitor, which means I signed people in and got their audition info, and took them into the audition room. Mark told me I had to be nice, and I was. From 10:30-12:00 was children. There were about 10 girls and 2 boys who showed up. They were all cute, polite, no real stage moms there thank god. I think it went pretty smoothly and Mark got to see what he needed from each of the kids. At about 11:40 people started coming in for the adult auditions. It was very busy until about 12:15, just getting people signed in, there audition card filled out, and making sure I kept everyone's forms together. I'm not known for my organization. Then we had to switch rooms because there was going to be a rehearsal in the studio we were in in the morning. So across the hall we go and get started just a little after 12. Mark talked to both the parents/kids group and the adult group before the auditions started about Phoenix and the shows and why they were in Rockville this weekend. Phoenix usually has auditions in New York, but is based in Frederick. The owners and Mark have worked in the area and know there is alot of talent here, but some people can't get to NY to sit around for 8 hours waiting to be seen. So they thought they'd give this area a shot. I think Mark was hoping for a better turnout, about 45 people auditioned. Just about everyone was pretty cool. A few people kind of kept hounding me because they had a class, or rehearsal or something and couldn't stay long. Fine, but don't pester the monitor! I remember you, I know you have to go, but I can't make the auditions go faster. Plus, as I expected, none of these people were called back anyway. Don't act like you are so in demand and I am wasting your time. Lesson, always be nice or just invisible to the monitor, you never know if they are reporting to the people casting you or not. Well, Jeffrey and I were getting hungry, so I told Mark the since Doug is equity he has to have a meal. Mark sent me to Boston Market to get lunch for us. I screwed up and didn't get cornbread with his and Jeffrey's 1/4 white meat chicken meals. I don't know, I don't go to Boston Market! The only really difficult auditionee was this older woman who showed up at about 2 or 2:30 and kept asking why there was no information about the shows, the pay, the tour itinerary, just on and on! Then that old bitch gets in there and can't sing a note! Jesus lady shut up! We were there until almost 6pm doing call backs. I think Mark was very thorough and got what he needed to see and hear from everyone. I'll say, I like working with Mark. When he auditions, he really tries to keep the mood light and fun, he wants everyone to do well, so he has good people to pick from. When he directs and choreagraphs he expects you to work, but it's still fun. He is always prepared, has every dance and everyone's place written down, doesn't just make it up as he goes along. But he'll be teaching and loses his place a lot and says fuck me alot. It's funny. I think the day went well and except for the cornbread incident, I did a good job. We'll see what Mark has to say.
Later suckas!

Something Different

This is what a load out of our show looks like in fast motion. A local crew guy in Portland, Maine did this and I think it's pretty interesting, they do this 2, 3, even 4 times a week!! And we thought acting was difficult! Enjoy . . .

Oh Canada, eh!

So, it has been a while since my last post - sorry about that!! We have been in Canada for the past few weeks and internet access is very limited. But here we are in Saskatoon where the internet is more reliable. So, a couple of weeks ago we were in Edmonton, Alberta, home of the West Edmonton Mall, the largest mall in North America and maybe even the world. The mall was pretty fantastic with a theme park, water park, and live animals. There was a glass encased exhibit of flamingos that was pretty cool!! It was also amusing to walk around in coat and scarf and see people coming from the water park in their swimsuits - those crazy Canadians!! We also taught 5 master classes in Edmonton, so we were pretty busy!!

Stanley Park, with a gorgeous dark sky ready to open up

Next we spent a week in Vancouver, a really fantastic city. So many sights to see, but probably my favorite was Stanley Park, a rainforest within walking distance of the downtown. The park had an aquarium, totem poles, and really beautiful views!!

totem poles at Stanley Park, Statue of "The Girl in the Wetsuit" at Stanley Park, Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden

Also, I have this book called "1000 Places To See Before You Die", I know it sounds pretty morbid. Anyway, Vancouver had a few things in the book. One of which was the Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first and most authentic Chinese Garden to be built outside of China. Well, I decided to take the guided tour and came to find out I was the only one on it. So the tour guide (an 80 year old woman who sounded like Katherine Hepburn) gave the tour and didn't change anything for a one person tour, so she would say things like "If you'll all follow me" or "Can anyone tell me something about such and such?", it was quite amusing, but very informative!!

Children's entrance and exit to a toy store on Granville Island, where they sell Knotty Things!!

Also, I went to Granville Island where they have a Public Market and shops and things. The book suggested a sushi restaurant as well, so when we found the place where it was supposed to be - it had moved. Still ready for some excellent sushi, we went to the new location only to find that it was closed - ugh!!

Closed sushi restaurant :(

There was so much to see and do in Vancouver, it was exhausting!! The shows went great - some of the best audiences we have had all tour!! Now, we are in lovely Sasketoon, Saskatchewan (do you believe such a place exists?) It is by far the coldest place we have been or will be on tour!! Anyway, Canada is good, but I miss the US and paper currency - Loonies and Twonies can drive you crazy - you look through your change and see you have $15 worth - crazy!! Anyway, until next time . . .

When to quit

Hello my suckas! I know, I said I would be better about posting, well I lied. But this week at work was frustrating and I thought I would share my woes. So Monday I was in ICU which is taking care of any patients in the hospital and any coming out of surgery that day. Well we had no surgeries scheduled, so those techs left at about 4pm, but I had to stay until 6 to round over to the night er tech. No big deal. Tuesday I think we got out about a half hour early, although the person in charge who was scheduled until 5 left at 4. Now this happens alot, GRRR. So Wednesday we are finished early again, and the same person tells me at 4 that she is leaving, but I have to stay and help in receiving and finish paperwork and stuff for tomorrow. Well, I think if they are really that far behind, it wouldn't killl her to stay for a half hour or so and help, instead of leaving an hour early, again! So I end up there until 7. So going back, my friend Helen was in a bad mood Tuesday, so we made plans with another delightful coworker to go out Thursday night because we were all off Friday. So Wednesday night I'm in a bad mood and tell Doug I want to quit. When I tell people what I do, they say that's so cool. The actual surgery part is cool, but all the crap and personalities make it a drag, and there are about 3 or 4 of us that feel like we are always the ones that have to stay late. We are also the ones that never call in sick. That is seriously a problem, I can't believe some of these people are sick so often. In two years I've used 2 sick days. And honestly, both times I was hungover! So when do you decide you can't be there anymore? I mean there is piddly crap with any job isn't there? And for a tech job, this is pretty good and pays comparatively well. Oh well. I'm done complaining. See ya suckas!

Finally

Hello my suckas! First of all I have to thank Antonio and the other Sucka for my picture. Except for my red eyes, it's not bad. Just kidding, thanks guys. I have been so bad about posting, but we finally had an interesting surgery today. There was a 12(?) year old shepherd mix who had presented for incontinence and an ultrasound showed she had a pretty large mass. So we get into the surgery and this thing is big and attached in many places! I spent alot of time just holding stuff out of the way, then once the surgeon starting cutting the tumor out, just holding the tumor. This thing was about the size of a WNBA basketball, lots of blood vessels in it, other little growths on it, nasty stuff. It was firmly attached to the spleen and the pancreas, but the doctor said it was probably a splenic tumor. Well that didn't look good, and the dog's liver was a mess. Even if that wasn't from the tumor, this dog was looking at liver failure in a few weeks or months. The surgeon spoke with the owner and they decided to euthanize. We reccommend doing it while the animal is still under anesthesia, it's tough to recover an animal, especially an older one, to give the family time to get there. It's pain free to do it while they are still out. So although the ending was sad, it was a good surgery to see, people kept coming in to see the tumor and the liver and stuff.

Now I will try to be better about posting, I know what is a "routine" surgery for us may be interesting to you all. I'll let you know about this past weekend sometime this week too. No strip clubs this time.

See ya suckas!

Springfield, IL

So, we are in Springfield, IL, where Barack Obama just gave his presidential candidacy speech last weekend! He delivered it just 2 blocks away from where we are staying in Lincoln's birthplace. We had a blizzard come throught the city yesterday and we cancelled the show!! Everyone was pretty thrilled to have a snow day and basically celebrated by drinking!! I started at about 5:30 and went to sleep/passed out about 10:00! We are headed into Canada next week and hopefully I will get my cell phone working there!! We will be hearing ehs and don't ya knows for the next three weeks - ugh!! Anyway - Tamarin's picture is up (Thank you Antonio) and we'll talk again soon!

Peoria, IL

Well, everyone, I have heard there is confusion about who is writing the blogs, so, I have a solution. Since more than one Sucka live in this world and have equal blogging rights, I (Chris) will start blogging in blue type, since Tamarin probably can't figure out how to change the color anyhow - (just kidding Sucka!) This way you will be reminded by my startlingly, brilliant blue eyes that the blue typed blogs are from me!! So - in Peoria, and it's COLD!! Oh my God!! I had a meet and greet with some of the patrons before the show tonight and that was fun!! You feel like such a celebrity. Well, then, I was hungry and looking for dinner. It was close to showtime, and we are connected to an arena where there are lots of concessions and things. Well, we were escorted over there (Cause we didn't have tickets) and they were having a Monster Truck Rally. I know what you're thinking - white trash. But the guy let us watch for a second and - wow - it looked like so much fun!! A huge pit of dirt with wrecked cars and a big ramp - what could be better? I was shocked at my own excitement by it and I HIGHLY recommend checking it out! I think I've crossed over into White Trashdom, oh well!! Until the next blue blog!!