Whirlwind Wisconsin!

What a whirlwind stay in Wisconsin we are having! I sit down and try to sort out where we've been and when we were there, and things that happened this morning seemed to be 2 days ago, and things that happened 2 days ago seemed to be in August. So far, we've been in Wisconsin 9 days, we've been in 5 cities and I'm PRETTY sure we've done somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000 shows. The last you read, we were in Whitewater (following Green Bay and La Crosse).
We left Whitewater, traveled further Southeast to the Racine/Kenosha area for 3 shows. We left that area Sunday morning and drove Northwest, to just about the center of the state, to Wausau. We have 3 shows tomorrow and then head to Cedarburg (Milwaukee) for 2 shows on Wednesday and after those shows, to Madison - for some well-deserved time off and Thanksgiving!
So anyway - the entry today is going to be a photo recap of our past few days. Some are just pictures - some are coupled some of my pithy comments...because they seemed to fit! We are on a mad dash through Wisconsin, and it's tiring and maddening and exciting and challenging and over all, fun. And luckily, we have a crazy collection of pictures to prove it!
Have a GREAT short week...and we'll catch you after our 3-show-day tomorrow.
Ciao!
G


This one goes out to DARLENE and BRIAN ASH! I was sitting in the green room in Whitewater (UW-Whitewater Campus) and looked up and THERE was one of the Steps signs! It's fun following your show around!


Call it more MATT ART SHOTS. Just one of the lights in the lobby in Whitewater.


L: The girls dressing room...um...not quite sure what I walked in on there... R: I catch Elisa peeking around the corner. Kind of self-explanatory, actually.


L: Eric and Torg discussing travel routes in the Whitewater green room. R: Emily and Elisa cheese it up for the camera.


L: This day proved to be TOO much for the TWO Chris'. R: Elisa tries to explain to Eric how he did the 'teetering' arms wrong...but Eric just looks on, laughing...because his iPod ear phones are in and the music is CRANKED!


Gotta love the Midwest. Where else could a GREEN ROOM in a theater double as a TORNADO SHELTER? Eric shows us the sign - and the proper procedure for when you know a twister is heading towards the theater.

Upper L: Chris. Whitewater green room. A Pile of pillows. Lots of free time. Upper R: Everytime I turn around, someone NEW in the cast is trying out the new squatting Pilates. It scares me so. Bottom: Andrew in the Whitewater dressing room...doing his pre-show thing.


L: Fun at a Denny's in Racine, WI. Puppetmaster Chris shows off his amazing (hidden until NOW) talent of balancing. R: Jen and Chris try and help create a picture diversion...as I try to CAPTURE a true 'Case Of The Unfortunates' at Denny's. ALAS - she moved too fast - with catlike reflexes, and I missed her. ALTHOUGH, in reviewing the picture, BOTH classy gals in the back probably qualified. SO CLOSE! Thanks Jen and Chris, for taking one for the team.


L: Ah...the silly games that Designated Drivers play at local bars! I don't know if you can see it, but SOMEONE got the high score. R: The high score, a little more 'Up Close'! Hooray, AUGUSTUS!


L: So I beat Eric at TV Trivia, and he decides to turn around and win $51 (on 2 different lotto tickets) and tell me to SHOVE my 33,000+ trivia points. R: And THEN he waved the actual CASH around in my face. Happy Winnings, Eric!


L: Me, Emily and Torg...just HAPPY to be in Racine! R: Torg and Elisa on the ride home from the bar. I have learned not to ask questions sometimes....


A drive-by shot of the WELCOME HOME sign in Wausau! A bit blurry, sure...but the HEART is still there! (Photo credit to Tara!)


L: Tara, Jen and Andrew outside the venue in Wausau, WI. R: Andrew shows off the Wonka display the venue has in their front window.


So PEOPLE! We found a TREASURE of a popcorn shop in downtown Wausau. It's called Miocqua Gourmet Popcorn Company, and we just happened to stop in and get a full run down from the owners! They let us sample everything - from the jalapeno cheddar popcorn to the green apple...and EVERYTHING else that lies inbetween. Their shop is full of great tins - and they ship nationwide, if you are looking for a great holiday gift! Seriously people, the Wisconsin Cheddar Popcorn...LIFE ALTERING! Click on their name above for their website!


HOOOOORAY FOR WAUSAU! I finally ate Chinese food today with Andrew, Tara and Jen. And here we are, outside the joint, pulling our crazy antics on this Gold-plated Chinese lion. We are CRAZY!


After Chinese, heading back to the van, we noticed they had put WONKA up on the marquee at the theater.


AND FINALLY...for the completely INSANE. So we pull up to our hotel in Wausau...the Best Western Midway..and for SOME reason beyond all of us, they have this big front display window in their hotel and they have this strange SCENE set up in it. I got the best pictures I could...but I don't know if it conveys it. W E I R D...