Our Midwest Romp

Wow. So a lot has happened since last we spoke...so naturally that means there is a lot to report to you! And what BETTER way to report it all than through the magic of PHOTO-JOURNALISM...or the crap that I provide here as a healthy alternative. Anway...so the past few days have been a whirlwind of fun. We did our 2 shows in Ames, we did our 2 shows in Mason City, we visited a musical theater historical site (INTRIGUING, right? That outta keep you reading....), we packed up and cruised through the better part of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, we took some time doing some 'roadtrip-tourist-stops' along the way, and I don't want to give TOO much away, but a couple of us even danced a jig at a polka festival.
So let's take a look at the fun that Wonka has been dishin' out the past few days...and get this Monday started on a rockin' note!
Next stop: Billings, Montana.

AMES, IOWA

So, Ames was interesting for ME because I was invited in to a session of Roe and Rachel's YOGA BOOTY BALLET. (Even sitting here typing it out makes me giggle a little....) These girls went through a couple of setbacks trying to find a place to do their YBB at the hotel - and finally had to settle with making their own hotel room a work0ut studio, as well. It was an interesting 'initiation' to YBB - but I was quickly excused because...well, because I kept laughing. But as I left, they both bowed down to me. HAHA. Not really.

Here are a couple of looks at the venue we performed at in Ames. HUGE! And what was really funny was after our 2nd show, as the curtain went down and the lights went up, we saw that there were probably the front 6 rows full of kids....and nothing else. Um...that was weird. But funny.

Craig shows off the 100% TAPE BALL that is a prize showpiece backstage at Ames. And it was actually very heavy upon picking it up. I'm sure you were wondering.

So...right off the bat, I don't know who these women are. BUT - after our shows in Ames, we made some stops around the area, and I ran in to Target. upon entering, these 4 ladies were sitting in the little cafeteria, looking at me, LAUGHING! So I said, "HELLO LADIES!" And they said hello, and then one of them asked if I could take their picture. So I took one with their camera, one with mine, and then I jumped in and had Eric take one of all of us. They were a DELIGHTFUL crew of friends!

MASON CITY, IOWA

So...welcome to Mason City.

OK...what?

and WHAT again?

So Puppetmaster Katie's family came up to Mason City (from Iowa City) to see the show! It was so nice to meet them! PLUS...Katie's mom baked. She brought some delicious cookies....BUT....

...she ALSO brought a chocolate chip cheesecake! Thank you SO much, Katie's Mom! On the MASE, I have to tell you...this cheesecake was VERY good. I am going to give it a 9 on the MASE...and I think I am only doing that because Katie was bragging about how when her mom makes them in a BIGGER cheesecake pan, they are even BETTER! But this one was amazing. It was creamy - the crust was perfect - and the chocolate chips were little bursts of smooth chocolate...instead of crunchy little chips. Get it? But seriously...it was AMAZING and pretty much GONE when we left.

Craig makes the first cut into the cheesecake.

Roe ended up sleeping through all the cookie/cheesecake excitement. Concrete has never looked more comfortable.

On our way back to our hotel, the cast decided to pull over and have a 'Children Of The Corn' moment. Not as creepy as the movie, though...and this version came with a musical number. It was a pretty corny stop. BAHAHAHA.

From the Matt Anderson B&W Collection.

So...Mason City, Iowa is the childhood home of Meredith Wilson. WHO? Well, he is the man who wrote the musical, THE MUSIC MAN. And he set it in Mason City, but changed the name of it to River City in the show. But the spirit of Harold Hill is alive and well in Mason City today...complete with museum, a replica of 1912 Main Street, and his boyhood home. All of which were closed by the time arrived. But - we saw it all and got pictures...so that was fun.

Scenes from Music Man Square...which made us ALL break out into 'Seventy-Six Trombones....'

Before leaving Mason City, I stopped at Best Buy and picked up a new computer....thanks to the amazing help of Tara! It's amazing. And while I was getting a computer, Rachel was getting corn chips. A good day for everyone.

RURAL SOUTH DAKOTA

So this is what the WELCOME TO SOUTH DAKOTA sign looks like from the inside of a van, going 90mph.

Just a couple more scenic shots from inside the van...looking at the South Dakota sky.

MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA

When in Mitchell, be sure and stop to see the CORN PALACE. Which is pretty much what is ounds like.

A couple more shots...to show you...um....the corn....

And...still more corn.

WAIT a minute! The ONLY one in the world? NO!

And GUESS WHAT? Not only did we see the Corn Palace, but we were here the LAST day of the 26th annual POLKA FESTIVAL! I mean HONESTLY! You can't MAKE this stuff up. It was MAD-polka up in that piece.

Not a great picture, true. BUT - it shows the madness on the floor once the polka band started playing. Roe and i even took a spin on the floor. We got some crazy looks though...but I think because we didn't have the participant wrist-bands on. They knew we were outsiders. Well, no wrist-band AND under....80 years old.

One of the dancers agreed to stop for a picture with me. Her friend, who was atleast 90, took the picture...which explains a bit of the blur. But they were VERY excited and VERY nice.

A couple more friends that agreed to a picture. Don't worry, I thanked them for the Doublemint Gum.

WALL, SOUTH DAKOTA

So yeah...what do you do in Wall...but go to Wall Drug?

BUT FIRST...on our walk to Wall Drug, Rachel, Roe and I found this wonderland of...animal statues. Best part - this is someone's front yard. Lucky.

Upon our arrival, we all quickly met up with a local for a little fun. Very nice folks here.

Roe and Rachel try their hand at driving the covered wagon...

...and then at taming a wild stallion.

Just Rachel and I playing Cowboys and Indians.

Roe and I wave goodbye to Wall Drug from the caboose of our train out of town.

The girls discover the ferocious jackalope.

I tried to tell Roe that 'Mining for nuggets' was NOT a cute way of saying 'Taking a dump'. But she had to check in the 'mine' just to be sure I was right.

Roe kicks back and enjoys a margarita at Wall Drug, while reflecting on the past few days.