Applications

Applications

I'm in the process of filling out an 8 page application. They emailed it to me a while ago, but it went to junk mail and I didn't catch it. So here I am writing two essays and filling out pages and pages of personal information. One whole page says "Answer the following doctrinal questions. Do not use your Bible." Almost done.

Hot tubs and orange blossoms

Hot Tubs and Orange Blossoms

Yesterday we drove from the east side of the bay to Exeter, halfway between Fresno and Bakersfield. As soon as we arrived at the church, our homestays combined forces and treated half of us to dinner at Baker's Square. The drive over was disorienting. I've noticed it before, but the eastern half of California looks a lot like Oklahoma, minus the palm trees and orange groves. But down here there's cotton and tomatoes, oranges, walnuts, strawberries, and almonds. Little squat brick houses, and mom and pop stores. The biggest excitement in three towns is to go ride the escalator at Gottschalks.

Last night Vanessa and I spent an hour and a half in the hot tub, smelling 30 acres of orange blossoms wafting on the breeze. What a wonderful smell.

And yesterday I got nostalgic for home. For dark cozy winters where the sun sets before 4 and there's nothing to do but cook soup and read. And ski. For late spring where the days lengthen, and snow crocus, tulips and daffodils pop up just in time for Easter pictures. The rare rainy days where you can smell the mountains, 45 miles away for the first half hour after sunrise. And the summer days, where the sun rises at 4 and sets after 10. Blazing hot days and chilly nights once the sun sets. Fresh corn on the cob, as much as you can eat from the farmers market. And crisp fall days. Where it's cold enough at night to change the colors of the leaves. And I'm going home!

Fremont

Pressing on Towards the Goal to Win the Prize

We're in Fremont, CA. As near as I can tell without actually consulting a map we're somewhere near Sacramento -- within two hours. Tomorrow we'll be in Exeter, which is between Fresno and Bakersfield. Then Sacramento, Los Altos, Walnut Creek and Watsonville. And then we'll be done. Six shows left.

I haven't coined a term for week two. Last week was Nostalgia Week. This week is spent looking ahead to the finish line. We're down to single digits. One more food order. Tasha is making a list of roommates so that everyone gets to stay with everyone at least once, except for the guys.

It looks like I have a job for the next year. I put my requests on the table and prayed. I learned my lesson about planning, and told God I'd do whatever, but here were some things I'd kind of like. And he answered all of them. I've decided that God will answer any request you bring as long as you aren't too picky about how he brings it about. For example: one time I prayed that sometime I'd get to live above a shop downtown in a city. I didn't specify which city. And now I get to. In downtown Yakima.

I spent last night and this morning patching my jeans again. I think they'll hold it together for another 13 days...

Pismo Beach

We've got three days off..

We had a four day run, ending with a difficult show. Out stage left blue light went out, which is the only lighting for the scenes with the Ichaw bird. So all of the possession scenes were done in the dark. One actor forgot to put his mic on, and as a result of a backstage consultation about changing blocking to the lit side of the stage, entrances were missed. It was a very responsive audience. They laughed at things no other audience has laughed at. Even the crash scene...When Jo realizes that she prayed for it. And speaking of which, it was an especially bloody crash this time. I found fake blood clots on the back of my neck after the show. And I got blood all over two other people. Since I'm on the floor, they really can't see it on me, so if I get it on other people, maybe they'll notice...

Arroyo Grande

Arroyo Grande

Today we drive to Arroyo Grande to do a show. We'll be back to Paso tomorrow for a second show. I'm still chopping copious amounts of raw chicken. My best guess puts us with nearly enough chicken for the rest of tour. And the food order came yesterday and left the food without my signing the invoice. And they substituted liquid creamer bubbles for powdered creamer packets. Which I now have to return. And the mugs they sent us are twice as big as will fit in our tupperware bins. What I wouldn't give for a -- well at this rate -- an abnormal order. Since normal means something gone awry.

Last night the *real* Doming came to the show. He is currently translating the Old Testament into Balangao. He stood up and gave a speech in Balangao -- of which I understood at least one word, and maybe two -- about how much it meant to his people to have a Bible in there language, and to keep praying because there are other tribal groups that need to be released from darkness. It's strange performing here. A lot of my lines are letters that Jo writes to her home church, which in this case, is truly our audience. And Tasha changed her speech from "when Joann's church began to pray" to "when you all began to pray." Neat stuff. And when I address "Jo's church" with "The victories we've had here thanks to your prayers..." It's really and truly them out there.

And my time is nearly up on this computer.

It's finally happened

It's Finally Happened

My dad used to tell me stories of being in the pit playing for musicals. The orchestra was so accustomed to the show, they would balance their checkbooks, bring things to do, and somehow never miss a cue.

Last night I did my weekly spending report at the makeup cart.

Paso Robles

Paso Robles

I'm in Paso. We drove up yesterday. I got to co-pilot for Austen for a change, and he seemed to want some quiet time on the drive, so I quilted and sang a little to amuse myself. Softly.

Today we begin a four show run. And our food order is coming in. It was supposed to show up yesterday, but got sent to Bakersfield. We haven't had a routine order in quite some time.

Copeland in Concert

House of Blues

Yesterday we drove to Anaheim to see four bands in concert at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney. Lovedrug and Copeland were playing with Acceptance and Eager Seas. Eager Seas opened. They're new. They stood up at the end of their set and said, "Our stuff is out there with the rest of them. We're new. We're poor."

Lovedrug was second. I really liked them. A lot. They looked smart -- all in jeans, brown dress shirts and ties. Even their movements were coordinated (but not choreographed), and the lead singer switched back from guitar to keyboard. They played a lot of songs I knew from listening to CD's while co-piloting -- even my two favorites.

Acceptance was good too. I'd like to get their CD. And find out if they are a Christian band or not. Aaron thinks that all four might have been, but only one was definite. But with a name like Acceptance, and lyrics like "you took the fall" it kind of sounded like it. Adam asked, "Was he singing about God or a girl." The question I ask about a LOT of praise and worship music. But that's another rant for another time. One audience member tried to crowd surf, but the bouncers got him right away. A guy from the band who appeared to have no purpose but sit with a laptop also surfed. He made it a little farther into the audience.

And finally Copeland. They were good. I thought I knew their songs better than that, but I didn't. They played the "fireflies in a jar" song, which I sang the line I knew with them. The crowd sang along the whole concert. I could see other people like me taking videos and pictures with their cameraphones. They didn't move as much as the other three bands, but I enjoyed watching it. Lovedrug was my favorite all night.

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Yelling my head off on the X

Monday morning the whole crew minus two got up at the crack of dawn and drove to Six Flags Magic Mountain to spend the day. (We got a discount)

The second ride we went on was one that dangled your feet, took you up a tower and dropped you into a loop, then you repeated it all backwards. Deja Vu. So we did the first half of the ride, raced back to the top, prepared for the big drop, and started inching slowly back down. A voice over the intercom told those waiting in line that we were experiencing "technical difficulties" and those wishing to leave the line now could exit. Those of us on the ride wanted to know why we weren't being given that option. We hung there for a few minutes. Tasha began offering salvation to the masses. A few rows back Jonathan was preaching "If any of you don't know Jesus, now would be a good time!"

The ride started up again, and instead of backing us back to the loading area, it took us up to the top and dropped us into the ride. I could have done without being the guinea pig. From the next ride we saw them run it empty a few times with the maintenance man looking worried.

But after that we rode every coaster. We went on the Riddler -- my favorite ride that morning -- and the Batman ride, which was much better than the one in Dallas. Mainly because I didn't have to wait in line for three hours to get on it.

For lunch we went back to the vehicles. Two guys in front of us didn't want to spend oodles of money on food either, so had gone to Burger King and spread the feast on the trunk of their car. About halfway through lunch he dropped some fries. We noticed, and began taking bets on whether or not he would eat them off the ground. That's when we saw it. A seagull had noticed, and was moving in to check things out. And he brought friends. Lots of them. They began inching closer, taking over neighboring cars. The ones flying overhead began circling closer. Soon they were within inches of his head. The guys finally noticed and threw their shirts over their heads and ran.

So, the married couple were by themselves in the truck, and someone got the bright idea to run over, sprinkle a bran muffin on the hood, and watch the seagulls swarm. Aaron was the brave one who ran through the flock with the muffin. And the whole truck was covered. From underneath we heard the horn honk. Then we decided that such a great photo opportunity shouldn't be passed up, so we put one on our own hood. And Jonathan threw out half a sandwich. One grabbed the whole thing and flew off with others in pursuit. "Mine!"

So really, the best entertainment that day was free.

After lunch I rode the Goliath twice in a row. And we went up the hill to the Superman ride -- overrated except that if you hold a penny in your hand at the top it hovers. And then we hit The X. Suspended in the air on a track that throws you around as you loop and twist. The people behind you are suddenly in front. And you go backwards over the first drop. I went on it twice.

We rode a few more rides before the park closed. Then Austen and I got in the front car on Goliath. That was a great way to end the day.

Thinkgs to blog about

I have several things to blog about, none of which I'll have time to do today. But to give you a little taste:

1. Stuff. How to use it. And how much to have.
2. Going to Six Flags Magic Mountain.
3.Tomorrow's Lovedrug/Copeland Concert.
4.After Tour.
5.And other various musings.

So that's what I'm thinking. Only time is lacking.