No Place Like Home

***EDITORS NOTE: Please be aware that the Craters of the Moon entry, this entry and the following entry are all what we like to call 'CATCHING UP' entries in the world of blogging. Or in MY world of blogging. I am not back in Boise...we are continuing our tour of terror south through Oregon. I am sorry for the confusion this may have caused any readers. Please know that as much as I try to keep it current...as a human, I'm going to get behind. So lay off me, RACHEL OLIPHANT! :)

A couple of shots of the cast on the Morrison Center Stage.

This is the story of our time in Boise. Les Bois. The City of Trees. Our time was very VERY limited...but we made the most of it. Already you've heard about our trip to Old Chicago. And that was a blast. Our 2 shows in Boise were awesome! We performed at the Velma Morrison Center on the Boise State University campus. It was a coming-home, of sorts, for me to the Morrison Center, because I've had the chance to do a few shows there in the past!
The greatest part of our trip to Boise was the chance that I had to get back in touch with so many friends from the area! And to have SO many people take the morning off work or school to come see the show! Even with NO night show, we had 2 VERY full audiences (the 2nd show was sold out!) and I had a great time catching up with friends and family!

Here I am with my friends, Jeni and Amy and their kids and moms and sisters and inlaws and others.

L-R: Rhonda Holland, me, Phyllis Peninger and Cheryl Wees...my DirecTV Ladies! SO great to have you all there! Thanks!

Family Lunch at Red Robin! Here, my niece, Samantha, and my nephews, Austin and Tyler, pose for the camera. R: Samantha shows off her amazing artistic skills!

My cousin, Brenda's son, Kent...who at 6 1/2 is QUITE the artist. He gave me this drawing after we took the picture.

A section of the Anderson Clan at lunch, post-show! HUGE THANKS to my Aunt Carol, Cousin Brenda, Aunt Willie and Uncle Jim for coming to the show and hanging out aftewards! MUCHO love.

A lunch-time disaster. I spilled Roe's ice tea on the seat...and my butt ended up soaking it all up. Karma.

Our second night in Boise we headed out to my brother, Jeremy's house, and we had a HUGE feast of Korean food...prepared by Jeremy's wife, Christy! Sadly, Christy had to be out of town, but she prepared an amazing meal....and between Jeremy's flawless skills as host, and my dad's amazing bbq-skills, we had a great night! (I'm pretty sure my other sister-in-law's taco dip and my mom's amazing peanut butter brownies factored in there, too!) There was ping-pong, air hockey, swings and a lot of storytelling and laughing. Hopefully, for everyone, it was a little slice of home! (For me, it was a big slice of home AND a big chance for FREE LAUNDRY! Thanks Jer!)

The crew chows down on their Korean Feast!

Roe and Rachel sneak away from dinner to SWING!

Roe and Craig play a mean game of ping pong, while Tara watches.

The whole group on our way out. Brother Jeremy is in the center. You can find him because he looks a LITTLE bit like me. Father Anderson is in the mustard-colored shirt. Everyone else is a Wonkerer.

Post-dinner, Jeffrey, Eric and I headed to my dear friend, Natalie's house. Natalie does hair and she has a mini-salon in her house...and she took the evening to take care of our hair needs! We had a great time with her...and like all chances to hang out with Natalie, it was a laugh a minute. If you ever find yourself in Boise and need a haircut, let me know. Natalie is your gal!

Here is the Salon Night at Natalie's Salon! Everyone was happy with the outcome.

The next morning, we sadly checked out of the Best Western Northwestern Lodge, packed up the van and headed down the Interstate. My chance to return to Boise with the show? No real way to describe it. I was humbled...to have the support and friendship of so many good friends there. I was excited....to be able to share my life, family and friends with my cast of friends. I was relieved....that everything happened with little-to-no trouble and that Boise was a great venue and audience. But more than anything, I realized how BLESSED I am...to be doing what I love doing and to be sharing it around the country...and specifically at the place where I got my start.
Idaho is in the record books...and as soon as I report on Oregon, we'll be caught up. So there!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!
G

So this has nothing to really do with our time in Boise...except that we came home one night and this dude was all sprawled out by the pool. Rachel and I thought it was funny...so I snapped a picture. I sure hope he wasn't dead...or hurt. Enjoy.

The Long Road Home

So...leaving Idaho Falls...before we got to Boise, we took a detour through Craters of the Moon National Monument. It sits about 80 miles West of Idaho Falls...and the morning we were driving through, Eastern Idaho was hit with a snow storm. We woke up to a blanket of snow and it followed us through Craters. The nice thing is that about 20 miles west of Craters, the snow was GONE - the sky was clear - and we had a beautiful drive. The not-so-nice thing is that, due to bad weather, the drive through Craters of the Moon was closed. We walked to the first stop - checked things out and then headed back. It was cold and we were wet and ready to head out. It was a fun stop, though...and I ended up getting some fun shots. So enjoy the pictures and the snow.
And know that we made it to Boise safe and sound.
Cheers!
G

Everyone spends some time learning the history of the Craters of the Moon monument.

Here is the gang on our way to the first stop of the Walk.

A selection 0f photos from our snowy trip to the Craters,

A couple of shots from Roe's determination to climb to the top.

P-R-O-C-R-A-S-T-I-N-A-T-I-O-N

So we are in Salem, Oregon and have had the past 2 days off. In those 2 days, I have slept a lot, ate a fair amount, and seen 4 movies in the theater. I have also tried to tell myself that I need to pull myself together and BLOG the Boise stop! I try...and I get sidetracked. (Another movie anyone?) I try again....and I get sidetracked again. (Flavor Of Love Reunion show, anyone?) And I try AGAIN...and find myself far too tired and dreading waking up for our 10am show tomorrow!
Now....I know it's Monday morning and you are all logging in to see WHAT the Wonkerers have been up to the past few days. But you're going to have wait a LITTLE longer! Once we get our show out of the way tomorrow morning, I'll be revved up and ready to blog.
But there is ONE thing I have to report before falling to sleep. Yesterday, when Craig handed me my stack of mail, I received a very unxpected and VERY welcome surprise package! It was a manila envelope from MOM SIZEMORE!

The Sizemore's in Dayton last year. Mom Sizemore is in the middle!

In the envelope...one of the most exciting things I've received in a LONG TIME! A t-shirt for the new movie 'We Are Marshall' - about the Marshall University Football Team in 1970! While we were performing in Huntington last year, they were filming portions of this movie. And now it's almost time for it to come out! And now, because of the kindness of Mom Sizemore, I'm a SMALL part of the W.A.M. movement! You can bet your bottom dollar I put the shirt on immediately and wore it all day Saturday around Salem. No one said anything...but I'm PRETTY sure, from the looks, that I was the envy of all who laid eyes on me.
To show my appreciation, I immediately picked up the phone to call and thank Mom Sizemore! I didn't get to talk to her...but I left her a message...and while I was leaving the message, I snapped some pictures with my camera to post on here! I wanted you all to feel like you were there with me at this exciting moment!

Here are a couple shots of me wearing the shirt and leaving the message. Can't even believe how cool the shirt is!

This is the point in the call when I am explaining to Mom Sizemore, on the messaeg machine, that the shirt will be my halloween costume.

So that's it. I promise the report on Boise and the surrounding activities as soon as I can tomorow. Until then, watch the Marshall trailer a few times...talk about the Flavor of Love 2 Reunion show around the water cooler...and have a GREAT Monday!

Later.

G

The Perfect BOISE Welcome

So...I thought LONG and HARD of the perfect place to take the Wonka Cast as a small WELCOME to Boise and my history. And in the end, the answer was simple: Old Chicago at the mall. It worked there for 2 1/2 years - I've always loved their food - and the manager from when I started in 1998 is STILL there today and is a good friend...Mr. Brent Giroux! Brent is, hands down, one of the nicest guys I've ever met...and he's always such a champion of what I'm doing in my life. Whenever I make it back to Boise, I stop in to see Brent and the Old Chicago crew. Tonight...he treated our group like ROYALTY. And although I have talked them all into dining at Old Chicago's we've seen along the way....I think they came away from our dinner TONIGHT with a new appreciation for the magic of Old Chicago Boise Towne Square! So THANKS, Brent, for making our first meal in Boise an awesome one!

Tomorrow, shows, friends and packing the fun of Boise into a few short hours. Oh yeah - and an amazing dinner of Korean food at my brothers house. This tour gig is TOUGH! There will be mores stories and pictures from our drive today (Craters of the Snowy Moon anyone?) and a complete re-cap of our full day and our shows in Boise. Don't miss it!

See you at the Morrison Center!

Welcome to Idaho....finally.....

Today....we drove a really, really, REALLY long ways. And it took a really, REALLY long time. We started in Wyoming...we drove through Montana...we went back in to Wyoming only to go BACK into Montana before we finally....FINALLY...arrived in the beautiful state of IDAHO!

I am home. Sort of. Tonight we are in Idaho Falls, Idaho....which is actually the city of my birth. And tomorrow we head to Boise. Which is where the rest of the clan will see the show.

For those of you who have been looking....our 2006-2007 schedule is FINALLY available to you on the Kennedy Center's website. As always, before you do anything drastic, just check with me on dates and times of shows. You can see the schedule simply by clicking HERE......or if it makes you feel better, you can also click HERE.

And now I'm going to bed.

G

The Cutting Room Floor

So I take a lot of pictures. LOTS of pictures. And I love it. But for as many pictures as I take and post on the blog, there are just as many that I take and don't make it on to the blog...for a variety of different reasons. Sometimes I forget....sometimes the picture/story just doesn't go with what I'm writing about...and sometimes, I just decide the time isn't right. Basically, I take creative liberties because...I can. My blog, my rules.
Anyway - so this entry today is a random splattering of some of the pics and stories from the 'cutting room floor', as it were. There is no sequence to what you are about to see...just put them together as they were loaded. Enjoy some of these 'loose ends' from our journey out West!
Next time you hear from me....I will be reporting from the GREAT STATE of IDAHO! The Gem State! Get ready for the fun.
Ciao!
G

L: The Wonka Girls outside the Pikes Peak Performing Arts Center in Colorado Springs. R: Me and the Freeman sisters and some of their husbands, ALSO at Pikes Peak Center.

L: Still in Colorado Springs. Post show we had a reception with some contest winners...and Roe found her look-alike! (NOT PLANNED, the girl said....) R: One of the contest winners really got into the Wonka Spirit!

The girls in Beaver Creek. These are more ICE SKATING pics. These 3 didn't make the initial report...and now I have NO idea why. The world needs to SEE these beauties!

So this is my new friend, Joan Russel, from Boulder, Colorado. Joan's car was parked next to ours at our hotel in Idaho Springs (Snow Storm Stop) and as she left the hotel, to get in her car, I commented on her University of Colorado Buffaloes fleece by saying, 'GO BUFFS!' Well - that started a conversation - and we became fast friends! I told her of my families history with CU - and she told me HER families history with CU - and the rest, as they say, is history! As she was getting ready to leave, she said she had a copy of a book for me about the recent NCAA "Scandal" the CU Buffalo Football Program has endured. It was a fascinating read. It's called BUFFALOED: How Race and Media Bias Fueled a Season of Scandal. It was good reading...and pretty interesting in its arguements. I'm a fan - of CU, of Joan and the book! Thanks JOAN! GO BUFFS!

So...speaking of my families history in Boulder...here is the first house my parents ever owned! While I was with the Horsleys, Scott and I ran out to Boulder to find the ORIGINAL Anderson Family dwelling. There were some other homes and apartments in Boulder they lived in...but this was the first REAL house! And that's the backyard....um...to look at.

One of our mornings in Denver, Craig, Jodi, Roe and I went to Einstein's Bagel for breakfast. Evidently, I needed my picture taken with my breakfast bagel. And WHY NOT, I say. When you look THIS good......

On that SAME Breakfast trip...we stopped at Jamba Juice...and Craig talked Roe into trying some of that putrid Wheat Grass crap. And from the looks of things, Roe NO LIKEY!

This is a big bear sculpture downtown Denver. HOW BIG? Please notice ROE below the bear, striking the SAME pose as the bear. Now THAT is a big bear.

Roe and I went to see THE LION KING - on tour in Denver - at the Denver Performing Arts Center. It was fun to see again...and just as visually stunning...but a couple of the undrestudies were on the show we saw...and they were NO BUENO.

So Katie is modeling the cubes of AMAZING GOODNESS that her mom sent to us! OH MAN are they amazing. I DARE anyone out there to just TRY and surpass the amazingness of these squares. Go ahead....make something delicious and send it to me and we, as a cast, will decide. I dare you.

I am embarassed by this picture....because I hate being photographed...but you HAD to see the delight on my face that these cubes of amazing goodness BRINGS to me. Unbelievable.

Eric in the lobby of our RANDOM hotel in Gillette, WY...praising....

And LOOK....just LOOK who is back with us for a week or so while Mike goes to Scotland! PUPPETMASTER CHRIS from Wonka Tour last year! SO good to have him back. He is our sound guy while he is with us...and it's great to see him again. More pics of Chris to come....

SOOOOO....here is what happens when you combine ALCOHOL with an EMPTY airport in a tiny, rural US city. Basically, Chris flew in on Sunday...but his luggage didn't make his flight...so we had to go back later to get the bag. (WHICH actually never showed up...but I digress....) So we got to the airport, and there was NO ONE there. But - we did see some crazy things....like the ONE (count it: ONE) ticket counter to check in. ONE. Eric, Tara and Rachel create some travel scenes for us.

Next thing I knew, people were checking themselves through the security checkpoint. And why not...since we were the only people in the airport.

And this....well.....this is just unclear. (Remember - there was alcohol consumed with these kids earlier in the night....so that might shed some light on it.....)

And finally, we have Rachel. Who, on a dare, flopped ON to the moving luggage conveyor belt and rode ONE COMPLETE REVOLUTION of the luggage conveyor. Yes.....this is NOT a posed picture. Rachel had JUST made her victorious appearance through the black flappy things. We were all DULY impressed with her finesse in the situation. But....Chris' bag still didn't show up that night. (He has since received it, though...so stop worrying.....)

And last but CERTAINLY not least....don't foret the decorations you are met with when you step foot in the Gillette Airport. I mean OF COURSE...I would be surprised if there WASN'T a 'buffalo being hunted' display...OR a 'deer licking it's hind quarters' display. Pretty impressive stuff, if you ask me....