Exit 410 on 1-80 NV

West Wendover, NV
Hello Friends,

Last Sunday we took exit 410 to arrive in West Wendover and we have yet to get back on the interstate though from my window here at the Rainbow Hotel & Casino I can see the interestate and that offramp that brings seniors in by the bus load for their first taste of gambling. Since the town is right on the Utah border and is on the interestate it makes perfect sense for there to be a large gaming establishment here. The funny thing is, if you take away the five large casinos here there would be no town at all. Everyone in town some how is conected to the casinos and if you turn away from them you are surrond by some of the most lonesome and spectaular high desert views I have ever seen. It is quite a contrast.

The week is done and the performance went well. It was hard to hear over the army of small screaming children we had in the audience. I don't blame them, if I had to watch my acting I am sure I would be crying too. Due to schedule SNAFUs we had a Tuesday start Friday show this week - which means putting the show up with about 8 hours less of rehearsal. We modified the show heavily so the kids could succeed and succeed they did. We were very proud of them for accomplishing such a feat.

Since we had such a small cast Shawna and I both performed on stage. I as Buck and Shawna as one of the daughters Donna Rae. Its very rare we get to do that and it was fun to share the stage together though we had to keep our focus as to not crack each other up on stage.

At the end of West Wendover is a giant statue of a cowboy named Wendover Will who strangely resembles our costume in the show. Of course we had to take a picture. Best part were all the cars going by - good times!

Tomorrow we head to VEGAS! We will be there with two other MCT teams and lots of friends - it is gonna be great!

The Adventure Continues - ML
The

Newman Moonshine

West Wendover, NV
Hello Friends,

After a long drive of about 10 hours from Newman we made it to West Wendover, NV Sunday night. If I walk a half a mile I am in Utah. The week so far here in Nevada has been crazy and when all is said and done will make for an interesting post.

Our week in Newman was wonderful. Good people, good kids, great shows. After our shows on Saturday we were treated to a spectacular dinner made by the lovely Farris Larsen, Bacon wrapped fillet, stuffed mushrooms, asparagus with a mother sauce, and a home made potato dish with cheese and bacon. It. Was. Diving.

One of the guests at dinner, Mary, was talking about some moon shine she was given not too long ago by one of the long standing Portuguese families in Newman. Of course we had to try it. Her house was also used as a speak-easy back in the day and she still has the original bar in her basement that served homemade gin to the depraved of Newman in the 20's.

The moonshine did not make me blind or gag, it was more like a sherry. In fact I think mulled strawberries were the main ingredient. It tasted like alcoholic pancake syrup. The best part was that it came in an old pasta sauce jar. Nothing says home made like a re-used jar.

The internet is costing me $7.95 so I am not sure how much posting I will be able to do this week. This look promising for next week.

Something new every week...

The Adventure Continues - ML

Once again to Newman

Newman, CA
Hello Friends-

And here I am again in the quaint valley town of Newman, CA. Though this time it is for business and not SPRING BREAK! As was the case last time I do not have the inter-webs at home and am using the office computer so I won't be able to upload pictures, but a lot has happened the last week so let me fill you in.

Last Sunday Shawna and I went to Alcatraz for a wonderful night tour. The cruise at sunset was amazing and while we didn't see any ghosts on the island (I tried) the smaller tour was very intimate and well worth the price. Pictures are on facebook and I will post some here as well.

Last week was also our last of three weeks in a row in Sacramento. We were at a wonderful Catholic School in the heart of East Sac known for its gorgeous houses and quaint shops. It had a very Portland feel and I was at home. Last week our time at the school was built up as THEATRE WEEK and it was a big deal for the kids. It was a very rewarding week and I am so glad to have been a part of it.

I also found out my summer plans and couldn't be happier. I will be touring with long time friend Calida Davis. She is amazing and she is probably going to kill me for putting this picture up (I can hear her screams from Germany now where she is currently touring), but fear not Calida, we will put lots of awesome pictures on this blog in the future. We are touring up and down the west coast (no official schedule yet, rumor has it we are going to McMinnville, OR!) and we will be touring.... The Secret Garden. This is the brand new tour show and I feel honored that I am being sent out on in to make sure all the kinks are worked out.

Things are going well in Newman. We have a lot of older kids in the cast which is good and challenging, now if we can just get them to stop canoodling with each other!

The Adventure Continues - ML

Double Daring Dining!

El Dorado Hills, CA
Hello Friends,

Last week we were able to take in not one but two wonderful dining institutions of Sacramento. One a local dive and one a culinary destination.

For breakfast one morning Shawna and I took in the Waffle Barn. If the name alone doesn't make you want to stop in then the decore won't hook you either. From the outside it is not much to look at: the paint is chipping, the sign is dated, and it is located in the parking lot of an abandon strip mall. However the parking spots were far from abandoned and the place was hopping.

It is no secret that breakfast is my favorite meal and this place is happy to abide my morning munchies in spades. The first page of the menu is littered with many waffle options, more then your typical ma and pa joint. However waffles have never really been my thing. I am more of an egg man. So the plethora of omelets was joy to my eyes and tummy. I opted for the Barns Omelet. It was a meat lovers dream. In my three egg pocket of love was - bacon, sausage, ham, linguica, mushrooms, green chilis, and two types of cheese. It was divine and a mid morning food coma ensued not long after. My omelet is pictured in the foreground with Shawna's mighty veggie and chicken in the back.

That same day our wonderful home stay mom Lisa Phenix took us to the world famous Tower Cafe. Opened (though I am not sure if it is still owned) by the folks of the Tower Record fame, this funky little cafe offered a very unique atmosphere and menu. Based more on global cuisine with a dash of Sacramento flair then typical diner food, their menu offers a wide international variety of items ranging from Japanese salads, to Jerk Chicken, to even Irish Stew. There is something for everyone from anywhere. The whole restaurant is designed with arts and fine crafts from around the world and was a visual treat for the eyes.

I opted for the nightly special of Katsu Chicken (think Japanese chicken fingers, only healthier) and it was a mighty tasty meal. With lots of steamed rice and veggies, it was very well made and tasty.

Both places live on the very opposite spectrum of Sacramento Dining and it was a great pleasure to enjoy both fine establishments!

The Adventure Continues - ML

Good Times in Carmichael

El Dorado Hills, CA
Hello Friends!

Our first of four weeks in the Sacramento area has come to an end (but you said you had only three in Sac? Well our last week in May is also in Sacramento). The shows went wonderfully and the rain even let off for us to pack up the truck dryly. We had a wonderful time with our home stay Mom and her kids - Lisa Phenix. Being a local musician she knows all the great singers and band members through out Sacramento.

One night she wanted to take us to Winko Acoustic Sanctuary. Our interest perked and we asked what it was and simply put it is a piano bar in the back of a guys van.

Yes, yes we would go.

After a quick bite at the famous Tower Cafe (run by the same people of the Tower Record Fame) we sought out Winko's van which moves from night to night. We found it parked in a oil change station off of a main drag in downtown Sacramento. The outside of the van is amazing. It looks like a UPS truck but with neon lights and a great purple exterior.

I must admit if I wasn't with Lisa who knew the guy I may have been a little heistant to go in, but Lisa led the charge and in we went. The space is not big. You walk in and are met by a grand piano facade that seperate you from Winko. He sits behind the piano much like an old fortune teller machine. He is surronded by about 30 instruments that he can play.

His gig is a lot of fun. He chats you up for a bit and then asks you for a random topic and he will then play a song about that topic. Some songs are main stream and some he makes up on the spot. He does not take requests for songs as he feels that would interfere with the natural order of storytelling and song creating.

He sang to us about fishing and then did a rendition of Jumping Jack Flash. It was great! This video does it justice a bit, except we were not loud and drunk, but you can see him play none the less.

While at Lisa's I got to stay in here backyard cabin and LOVED IT! It was a little sanctuary that I was cozy and warm in while many storms blew through. It Christmas lights lining the walls and I burned incense every night. It was blissfull!

Now we are in a very nice neighborhood in El Dorado Hills. The stairway when you walk in the house reminds me of Tara from "Gone with the Wind" and they even have a water slide in the backyard, though it may be a touch chilly to use it. Or is it...

The Adventure Continues - ML

Leggett in Pictures

Carmichael, CA
Hello Friends!

The rains and wind have subsided for now which gives me a chance to pause and share my pictures from the week we had in Leggett, CA. Leggett is a tiny town in NE California on Highway 101. Nestled at the beginning of the Redwood Forest, Leggett isn't really known for much other then nice folk and gorgeous scenery. Shawna and I each stayed in a fifth wheel trailer and we had a cast of 37 kids that week. We even took in the amazing drive thru-tree that makes Leggett a must see stop on your Highway 101 tour. Our shows were scheduled for Friday and Saturday however the county lost power on Saturday we had to cancel our second show. It was a rewarding week and gorgeous area... So - on to the pictures!

Bustling Downtown Leggett

My Trailer!

MY Guard Dogs Rosie and Chocolate

Tourist Trap!

Don't think we are going to fit...

Matt in a tree!

Almost...

My Precious Tree

The Adventure Continues - ML

The Nipomo Yeti

Carmichael, CA
Hello Friends -

The wind and rain continue to blow sideways here in the capital of the Golden State. Two weeks ago we were in the lovely town Nipomo, CA. Never heard of it, well neither had I. Well have you heard of San Luis Obispo? Well I really hadn't until we started touring in California, but San Luis Obispo (or SanLo) is an amazing college town home of Cal Poly and Nipomo is just about 20 miles south of it.

Our week in Nipomo was grand. It was a K-5 week and Shawna did this residency last year and was super excited to be back. Rightfully so. We stayed with a wonderful family in the country who had four daughters! They were a lot of fun and took us out to SanLo one night.

On the night I was me, Shawna, our home stay mom and one of her close friends. We went to a couple of local hot spots (it is a college town after all) and at one place we met Yeti. Not a Yeti, but a girl named Yeti. I am not making this up. We found out she was with the Army Reserve and there with some of her buddies for a little R&R. Yeti was very much in her cups and after barking up my tree unsuccesfully for awhile she tried grind dancing with Shawna. Clearly Yeti worked both sides of the buffet. It was a very memorable experince.

Shawna got to stay in the house while I stayed in a bunk house across the driveway. To get to my room I had to walk through a gym and then through a closet and then into my bedroom. While it sounds iffy it really wasn't and my room was rad. It could have slept like 6 but it was just me and nature. I have a video of this but I can't seem to get the to work on blogspot, if you know how please let me know.

Another great thing about Nipomo was that one of my dear friends Molly Stoddard lives in SanLo. I met Molly in Portland while I was working at NWCT. She is a super rad person and we were able to have a grand night on the town Saturday night as I joined her girl entourage.

I have been so lucky to see so many old friends and meet new ones on this tour!

The Adventure Continues - ML