Caribbean update

Friday, 15 March 2013 As I write this, I am on my way back to Galveston, TX, from the Caribbean - on this 7-day cruise, we spend a total of 3 days at sea, a day in Roatan, Honduras, a day in Belize, and a day in Cozumel, Mexico. I admit, I haven't seen a whole lot yet, but I'm hoping to get to go to they Mayan ruins before we leave this part of the world. I don't regret what I have done (which is sleep and talk with my man via internet), but I don't want to feel like I didn't take advantage of the situation and see things I may never get a chance to see again. So we've talked briefly before about the job situation, and the fact that it isn't quite what I thought it would be, so I won't belabor that point here. Just suffice to say that I am working hard to up my game, be a "team player", and have asked the lighting director to include me in any maintenance calls he has so I can become intimate with the intelligent lighting systems. So I know a lot of folks are curious about life onboard a cruise ship. Many have taken cruises with Princess, and I can honestly say, I would totally be a passenger on a Princess ship - they really know how to do it right. They have a mission statement of being the "consummate host" - both to passengers and to each other. That really resonates with me - to be the best you can be to both the people you serve, and the people with whom you work. Overall, it seems to be something fairly well implemented - my particular department seems to want to be a world unto itself, but I still strive to keep a positive attitude and model the mission statement, regardless of the attitude of those around me. The crew with whom I work is comprised of 7 or 8 different nationalities - primarily Philipino, we are losing our one guy from Mexico tomorrow (he's rotating home), with a Brit, a Canadian, a South African, a couple Indians, and an American (that's me!). Probably the most challenging thing is the language issues - many of my crewmates (especially the Philipinos) are VERY soft spoken, and tend not to enunciate very well. Last night, working on the followspot, the LD (lighting director) said he wished he could use some of my volume. It is frustrating on both sides that I have to constantly ask them to repeat things, but it is getting better. I'm starting to get it by the 2nd or 3rd time rather than the 5th or 6th. The heavy physical work is still heavy, and I'm still experiencing a great deal of frustration in that I get yelled at and told not to touch things when I take initiative and try to plug myself in, and I get yelled at if I stand back for a moment to assess what is going on and see where I can fit in. That is one of the most frustrating parts to me. That said, the running of the actual shows is finally going a lot more smoothly, and within the next round of performances I think I will feel fairly confident about almost all of it. We're also finding our way around fitting me into the changeover tasks, because I don't have the physical strength of my predecessor. Food-wise, things are challenging as well. I have found that the more I stay gluten-free, the better I feel and the more energy I have. It is challenging, though, because I seem to be the only crew member who is willing to speak up and say that I do have dietary issues. Fortunately, I am still eating fish and eggs, so I'm not quite as limited as I would be otherwise with regard to actual choices. Lets just say I eat a LOT of salad these days. I also walk and climb stairs CONSTANTLY. Yesterday in Cozumel I was on duty (that meant I couldn't leave the ship) and logged over 15,000 steps - just over 7.5 miles over the course of the day. That's a lot of running around for work! Fortunately for me, I also have what is called "deck priviledges" - this means I can go out and be where the passengers are. Almost every day at least once a day, I get assigned to either set up or tear down (or both) a band setup in one of the upper deck pool areas, and/or to run the "movies under the stars" - I love doing all of these because it means I'm up on deck and out in the fresh air for a few minutes. Often it is a beautiful day, warm, breezy, and a delight to be outside. The performers are also a joy. Many are Australian or Italian, and the greatest concentration of Americans are in the performers. Believe it or not, the first American I met onboard is actually from the town I grew up in! I also seem to be settling in with them, and becoming part of the crowd - which always makes me feel really good. They seem to know I am looking out for them, and are very sweet to me. My cabin is very small, with two bunk beds, a desk, a bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink, closet and one small set of drawers (pictures will be posted). Oddly, this is probably the easiest transition I've had to living with someone - it's maybe twice the size of the trailer bunk I shared in the Smirkus, although the bathroom is actually smaller than the trailer shower. The bed is surprisingly comfortable, and I sleep very well. I am delighted that there is a curtain I can draw and be private, and I am glad I had the forethought to bring some decorative pashmina-type things with me - I was able to attach them to the curtains, and it makes it a nice, comfortable, hidey-hole for me at night in my bunk. I don't have internet at the moment (only when I am in port) because it is wicked expensive onboard ($40 for 6 hours). I can get calling cards ($10 for 1 hour 15 min), but am working on getting a "global" plan for my phone - I think it is about $30 a month, and will be more cost effective than the calling cards (and hopefully better service). The hardest thing about this whole experience is being apart from my family - Paul and I have become incredibly close over the past months, as well as his son and I. I miss them every moment of every day, and wish I knew a better way to handle all of this. I know my mom misses being able to pick up the phone and ring me - hopefully when I get the extra plan on my phone, we can talk more.

Princess Update 1

As I type this, I am sitting in a cafe in Cozumel, Mexico, and it is a gorgeous day. The long and the short of the situation is that I was given to understand that I was being hired as Stage Crew to train and "fast track" into a Lighting position within 2-3 months. Apparently that wasn't communicated to the ship I am on, and I am now "general stage crew" - which means a LOT of heavy lifting, late nights, early mornings, and overall general exhaustion. I was also told that there would be plenty for me to eat (I am mostly vegetarian and gluten free), as there are crew members from around the world who have specific diet issues as well. Mostly I eat salad, and 1-2 out of 10 times, there isn't salad dressing I can eat. I get salmon almost every night, but some days they don't really even schedule us time to eat. I'm working on things, but I am really beginning to feel like I was hired under false pretenses, and that I'm either going to be stuck doing this job (I would have turned them down if I knew this what what I would be doing), or will have to pay my own airfare home. I won't say there aren't some good moments, but they tend to be few and far between. More late.

The New Big Leap

Wow, I am waaaaayyyy overdue for a blog update! Since we last met, I have met an amazing guy and am in a wonderful, loving, supportive relationship - yay for love! I am in a hotel room in North Houston as I write this, preparing to go to Galveston in the morning to board the Crown Princess, and become one of the newest stagehands for Princess Cruise Lines. I won't say I'm not nervous, for several reasons. Not the least is it means being at sea without a day off for 6 months. It means being away from my new beau for 6 months (we've been together for just over 5 months), and being back in that place of "I hope I can do this. I hope they like me. I hope I like them" and so on and so on. There are many things I'm excited about with regard to this job - I've always wanted to work on a cruise line, and it is exciting. I'll get to learn a light board (Whole Hog III in case you are wondering) that I've wanted to get to know, as many touring companies use them. I'll get much more in-depth knowledge about moving lights, which will be invaluable. And not least, I'll be having a regular paycheck for a while, and the opportunity to move up into a management/officer position, and will literally be making money hand-over-fist as I really don't have any expenses while I am at sea. Know that I am so very grateful for all the wonderful support I've had over the past few weeks getting ready for this leap. I love that so many are asking about Paul (my guy), and how he is handling it all. I know you will be keeping both of us in your thoughts and prayers as he keeps the home fires burning while I'm gone. For those who know him and are connected to him on Facebook, I know he'll appreciate you touching base and saying you're thinking of him. We've been fairly inseparable the past 5 months, and I know it will be a huge adjustment for him to have me gone. Amusingly, when I was in the baggage claim area today, I met 2 couples who will be on my first cruise! :) If you are interested, here is a website of a cruise line that books the ship I will be on - first stop, Honduras, Belize, and Mexico!! http://www.cruisecheap.com/ships/princess-cruises-crown-princess-cruise-itineraries.html

Reconnections and moving forward

I apologize in advance if this ends up being a bit of a long post - it is way overdue, and will take a bit to catch up. I think when we left off, I was finishing up my summer at Castleton Music Festival. From there, I went to "Walton's Mountain" to see the museum of the television show. It was great! I also visited my old friend, Hiawatha Johnson, at Randolph college in Lynchburg, VA. From there, on to Knoxville, TN to see another friend, and then to Lafayette, LA to visit old friends - and see how her kids have grown (now they're a foot taller than me!). From Louisiana it was to Houston, TX, to visit friends, then an afternoon in Roswell, NM and the alien museum (sooo cool!!). I spent a couple days with one of my best friends, Jen, in Albuquerque, NM. It was wonderful to see her doing so well in her veterinary internship. I then took my mom to Utah for a week. It was the first time I'd been back in probably 7 or 8 years. It was amazing to reconnect with all my cousins - we had a "hen night" with my female cousins on my mom's side, and it was the first time we'd all been together in many years. The night included new daughters-in-law and daughters with small children running about. We had a ball and just couldn't stop talking. We went to the family reunion on my dad's side - the first one I'd been to in almost 20 years. It was incredible to see family I haven't seen in so long, and how the families have grown. I saw cousins that I grew up with, with children of their own, some on the verge of becoming grandparents. That same afternoon, mom and I went to join her side of the family to bury the ashes of my uncle, who passed away a year and a half before. I saw family that I literally haven't seen in 30 years, and met some that I have only known via Facebook. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to take my mom to visit our extended family, and to reconnect with so many wonderful people that are not just family, but friends. I got to see my great aunt, and hear some fascinating family history. I spent a lovely evening with my first "real" boyfriend, Jon, catching up after not seeing each other for about 23 years. I had coffee with Tony, a dear friend from High School, that I haven't seen since I graduated. In the middle of all this, I had a job interview with a college in Ocala, FL. It was a great interview, and they invited me to come down (on my dime) for an interview. After I dropped mom back in Santa Fe, I flew from Albuquerque to Orlando for the interview. After many misadventures with the hotel situation, I had a fantastic interview. I wasn't interested in the beginning, but as I got to know the situation, I realized it was one version of my "dream job." While waiting to hear about the job, I continued my cross-country drive, and got to spend 2 weeks in Las Vegas, with my dear friends, Scott and Marissa. It is always a delight to see them and my other friends in Vegas. I had planned to continue to California and go to Los Angeles and San Francisco, but decided to head back to Massachusetts in case I did get the job and needed to get my stuff together to head to Florida. I stopped in Indiana to visit my good friends from my brief stint there in 2011, then pushed on to Massachusetts. Oh - I also got to drive Route 66 in 4 states - and saw the world's largest rocking chair! :) On the way home, I stopped in Niagra Falls. I almost didn't, but am SO glad I did! I took a ride on the "Maid of the Mist" boat, and had one of the closest things to a spiritual experience you can have - going into the falls was like touching the face of God. So beautiful, so powerful. From Niagra Falls, I spent a week on Cape Cod at my timeshare. While on the Cape, I got the call that the job in FL went with the other candidate. Needless to say, I was VERY disappointed. I did get offered a position as the Master Electrician with the national tour of "A Chorus Line". I was excited about it, but when I really got thinking about it, I realized it was a situation much like the one I had in Indiana, and felt exactly the same to me. It was an extremely difficult decision to make, but I decided to let it go. My wallet has been significantly leaner for the choice, but my heart and "gut" feel much better. Shortly after returning to Western MA, I had the rare opportunity to spend the day with my best girlfriend, Brenda. We spent time with her grandkids, and I did some shopping for tour (thinking I was still going with "Chorus Line"), then went to pick up some salmon to make for our dinner. When I walked into the fish department at my local Stop & Shop, little did I know how much my life would change. I got to talking to the "fish guy," and ended up standing there for about 20 min talking with him. He was cute, with big brown eyes, a lovely smile, and an Australian accent that just hooked me. I remember walking into the frozen food section and calling Brenda and telling her, "I'm not sure, but I think I just met a guy!" Meeting someone was the last thing I ever expected to happen in my life - in fact, I had pretty much given up on the idea, which was one of the reasons I had no qualms about touring - I could pick up and go anywhere, without worrying about leaving someone behind. But on September 16, 2012, that all changed. I now have someone to come home to. In October I interviewed with Princess Cruise Lines. On February 23rd, 2013, I join the crew of the Crown Princess as a Stagehand. The idea is to "fast track" me in to the equivalent of a Production Manager/Lighting Director position as soon as I learn to program the lightboards and repair/maintain the moving lights. With luck, that promotion will happen within 3 months, giving my bank account a much-needed boost. I won't say it isn't going to be difficult keeping the bills paid between now and the end of February, but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 2012 was a year of great learning, and 2013 is off to a more than interesting start...

Home for the moment

It feels good to be back in Western MA after having been gone for so long (3 1/2 months is a long time!). I'm still waiting on the paperwork, but I have taken a position as the Head Electrician for the national tour of "A Chorus Line". I'm very excited and, as always, a little nervous about this new adventure. I will be living on a bus with 6 other crew people and the driver. I don't know yet if I'll be the only girl on the bus. Occasionally we'll have hotel rooms, but more than not will be on the bus - this should be interesting. I've been getting some great advice from friends in the industry who have toured, and one gave me a heads-up on some of the more challenging venues. I'm doing everything I can think of to prepare for this both mentally and professionally. For the folks looking for housing for me in NYC - thank you. I'm now not sure if I'll be going to the City - I may end up just flying to the shop, then joining the tour in Tacoma from there. So here's the first part of the schedule: Tech at shop Oct 9-20. Tacoma, WA Oct 21-27. Portland, OR Oct 28, Abbottsford, BC (yes, I get to go to CANADA!!) Oct 30. And for those of you in Western MA, if you want to get together, call me SOON. Time is slipping away, and I'll only be home for 2.5 weeks at Christmas before I'm off on the road again.

all roads lead to NYC

A more complete update will be coming soon, but for now, I need help. It looks like I will be working with the tour of Chorus Line, and need a place to stay in NYC (rehearsals are at Chelsea Studios)from Oct 7 - Oct 20, 2012. If you know of someone who might be willing to put me up or a safe, clean, inexpensive place to stay, I would really appreciate the help. Thanks! Kat :)

The great roadtrip of 2012

Okay, apologies for the fact that this will likely be a long post - well, no - not apologies in that I have been out living rather than reporting... So when we left off, I was heading out from Castleton, in Central Virginia on a major roadtrip. What a trip it has been thus far! The first stop was just outside of Lynchburg, VA, where I went to the "Walton's Mountain Museum" - if you are a fan of the tv show, you'd love it here. I saw the house where Earl Hamner was born, and learned a ton about him. It is beautiful and peaceful there - just what you would think it would be. It really amused me that the museum is in the senior center! :) I also had a great phone interview for a tour of "Clifford the Big Red Dog" - it was nice to be back in the land of cell service! I didn't ultimately get the tour, but it was a good interview. I then spent the evening in Lynchburg with a magician friend, Hiawatha. We haven't seen each other in nigh on 15 years, and it was good to catch up. From Lynchburg, I drove to Knoxville, TN, and saw my friend, William, who I have known for about a year through working some shows together. We had a great time making homeade pizza (complete with white heirloom tomatoes from the community garden) and just catching up. I also saw a remnant from the world's fair on my way out - would have also seen the world's largest rubik cube, but it seems to have been taken down. From Knoxville, I had a marathon 13-hour driving day to Lafayette, LA (just outside of New Orleans). I spent 2 days in Lafayette with some very dear friends that I haven't seen in 7 or 8 years. I also discovered that I have become one of those women who sees kids and the first thing she says is "My, you're all grown up!" I never understood why they do that - but you just can't help yourself... The last time I saw the boys, they came up to my waist - now they tower over me at 6'2" and 6'4"! And one is starting college this month - oh my, where does the time go? Then it was on to Houston for a night. I saw my good friend, Trixie Bond for lunch, and spent the night with one of my few friends from Indiana (yes, she escaped too!), Sarah. I got to see Sarah rehearse a new show, and play with the 8 month old pit/lab foster puppies. :) Sometimes I feel like I am still driving in Texas, and it never ends. I did have the unique experience of having my "need gas" light come on, without a town in sight. Fortunately, I did finally find Ft. Stockton, with about a half gallon remaining. Needless to say, I gassed up and found a motel for the night. :) I took a detour and spent about 3 hours in Roswell, NM. I had lunch at a lovely place (nowhere near as vegan-friendly as I was told at the Chamber of Commerce), and went to the alien museum. It was very interesting, and well worth the trip. I also discovered that Roswell itself is a lovely town, with a lot to offer beyond the obvious "incident". I then spent a couple of days in Albuquerque with my friend, Jen, who just relocated to Albuquerque for her veterinary internship. I spent a day kicking around Santa Fe while she worked (totally worth it to get to spend the drive with her) - had a skype interview (follow up for Clifford), bought some cool clothes on sale, and saw the new "Batman" movie (pretty good!). From there I picked up mom and we traded the stuff in my car for her and her stuff with my brother, and I took her to Utah for a week. There we visited family, went to my dad's family reunion, and finally buried her brother's ashes (he died 2 years ago this coming Thanksgiving). I met new family that I didn't know I had, saw some that I haven't seen in 30 years, and did a lot of reconnecting. It was wonderful to visit the house I grew up in that is now owned by my cousin and his family. It is definitely and wonderfully their home, but you still see small traces of my family that creates a nice continuity. I met my cousin and his wife that I have only known via Facebook, and it was wonderful to really reconnect with my cousins that I was close to growing up. One of the absolute highlights for me was spending a really lovely evening with Jon, my first boyfriend from when I was 19 years old. We hadn't seen each other in about 21 years, and it was beyond wonderful to get to catch up with him. I am so grateful he was able to make time to see me. :) After dropping Mom back in Los Alamos, I headed back to Albuquerque and flew out the next day to Orlando, FL, for a job interview in Ocala at the College of Central Florida. The interview went really well, and I am extremely hopeful that I will get an offer. It was then back to Albuquerque for a couple nights, then driving to Las Vegas. I am here for a few days visiting some dear friends, catching up with some folks I haven't seen in ages, and basically enjoying myself until I hear about the job on August 28th. Keep your fingers crossed for me!