A Ghost, A "Q" And A Place Called Keene

So...if you noticed, I missed a day. BUT - I'm here to tell you that I didn't WANT to miss a day. It just happened. Yesterday, Tuesday, after our shows in MAHWAH, NEW JERSEY, most of the cast headed North to Keene, New Hampshire while Jackie and I hopped a train into New York City. We were both bound for some auditions. It all came about pretty last minute, so Monday night, I hopped on Priceline and I found a hotel room at the Millennium Broadway New York Hotel...basically right on Time Square - 2 blocks from the Actor's Equity Building - perfect location. The price was right - the room was great - but the internet service was TERRIBLE. I tried and tried and tried to first of all make it pick up a wireless signal, but never for more than a couple of minutes. Then I plugged in to use the ethernet - but it was having SERIOUS connection issues. I finally spent about an hour on the phone with technical support and they couldn't figure it out either...so I finally threw my hands up and went to BED! I figured you could all be strong without an entry. And I am happy to report that everyone seems to have pulled through pretty dern well.

So - I went into the city for the Avenue Q auditions...and they were doing some auditions basically just for future replacements. What this means is that Avenue Q doesn't really NEED anyone right now, but they are required by Actor's Equity every 6 month to hold these auditions. The good thing is, you get seen, and if they like you, they put you in their file for future contact...so when they ARE casting, they can go to that file and remember you. BUT - it's good to be seen, and it was a really good audition - they were very cool to me. So I had fun.

I do have to tell you that Jackie and I shared a room at the Millennium Hotel - and we had a HAUNTED TELEVISION SET! It's true. Listen to THIS! So we both decided it was time to hit the sack, so I turned the TV off with the remote, and then I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth. As I walked past the end of my bed, the TV turned back on. Jackie was already laying down and didn't have the remote! So we both jumped - freaked out a little...and then I sat down on the bed, and turned it off again. As I got up to walk into the bathroom again, I walked by the TV and said something smart like, 'I dare you' or something like that...and it FLICKERED AT ME! Like it was ANGRY at me for challenging it. Anyway...it stayed off, and we both lay down in our beds to go to sleep and are chatting and what...and about 30 minutes later, with the lights off, Jackie said, 'Let's hope the haunted TV doesn't start up again.' And NO SOONER did she say that did the blasted thing START UP AGAIN! F R E A K Y ! ! ! ! !
So we got it turned off, and it turned itself on ONE more time, and then it was good for the night. But I'm telling you what...it was pretty creepy.
So the trip to NYC was quick but fun - I got to see fun-friend-Joey again...and it's always a delight to hang out with her. We went to some crappy diner where all these people climb on the tables, dressed in 50's garb, and sing hits from B'way musicals and famous movies. And they were all pretty annoying. And it was pretty scary...once we found out that ALL of them are aspiring actors...and many of them are actually card-carrying members of Actor's Equity. Started to make this Augustus-Gloop-For-Life option start to look pretty nice. BUT - I did get a cheesecake to add to the list. See below.

This was the Chocolate Chip Cheesecake from Stardust Cafe. Looks nice, right? Overall, it was fine. I'd give it a low 7. Nothing to write home about. And NOT worth sitting in Stardust listening to the servers....wail....on hits from WICKED for at all.

L: Joey silently mocks the singer...as she shrieks 'The Wizard and I' from Wicked. Idinia you are not, girl. R: Post-Stardust...Joey and I show our disdain for the place and experience. Poor, poor Stardust servers. And yet...you applied....

Today was a day off for the cast here in Keene - and it was a big travel day for Jackie and I. After the auditions, we packed up and headed for Penn Station, to try and catch the 11:30am Vermonter Train - as to avoid the Greyhound Bus. Well, we avoided the Greyhound, but the train was delayed because, evidently the engine, in Baltimore, just started smoking profusely and as one train-worker put it, 'pretty much blew up a little.' (WHAT? How can something like a train engine blow up...a little? People are weird.)

Jackie and the boys kickin' it at Penn Station in NYC...waiting for the Vermonter to get in.

But we finally made it up North. The train actually got us in to Brattleboro, VT - which is 15 miles West of Keene, NH - but Andrew, being the saint that he is, came to pick us up. We were pretty stoked that there was basically NO ONE on the train today, so Jackie and I sprawled out all over our train car. Hoops and Yoyo were happy to have some space to run around, too!

L: Hoops and Yoyo enjoy the extra space in the train car to Keene. R: Jackie enjoys that same space. I took this picture as she finished running from end to end of the train car 6 times, singing, 'I've Got A Golden Ticket' at the top of her lungs.

So that's it. Tomorrow, we're off again...and then we have shows Friday and Saturday here in New Hampshire, and on Sunday in Maine. I'm just warning you now....tomorrow's entry may consist of the following: woke up at 4pm...ate dinner...fell back asleep. I'm feeling VERY unmotivate to wake up tomorrow....I'll let you know how it actually turns out.
Ciao!
G