Back in Montreal

Time to catch up here. I just didn't have the energy to type following the 2nd Toronto show. The audience was much better the 2nd night, we got great reviews from the opening night, but the audience was participating the second evening. Load out following the show went well and speedily, even if we did have to haul costumes a half mile back to the wardrobe room.

We departed Toronto this morning and headed back to Montreal on the train. VIA train (that's the name of the regional Canadian train company). We were greeted at the station and escorted to a club room (with coffee and breakfast) and then preboarded before the general seating commenced. We were upgraded on our trip back, it was first class, they fed us (decent) food, not as good as our own catering, it was still travel food, but they wined and dined us for the 6 hour trip back. The car was nicer and I was exhausted and sure I would sleep... but that didn't happen. Crappy florescent lighting that I couldn't get away from; it kept waking me up. So it was a fitful and uncomfortable ride back to Montreal. All good though, I made great progress in my book, in fact, an hour outside of Montreal, I had to put the book down, cause I didn't want to finish it on the train. I wanted to say it for tonight...

My boss and I wondered out into Montreal and went dining at a French restaurant that was recommended by her Friend. It was a bit on the pricey side, but that is what per diem is for, and I had a GREAT gaspatcho made from cucumber/avocado with little baby shrimp. Delicious. The scallops weren't bad either. We had a great french wine (my first booze of this tour believe it or not) although the name alludes me right now, and NO, I only had one glass. After dinner we wondered and wondered around, arriving back at the hotel much later than anticipated, almost 11pm.

A great finish to the day, although I will admit that now I'm a bit peck-ish and I'll have to see what treats I've secreted away in my travel bag for emergancy snacks.

Our crew was all surprised in the last 48 hours. We thought we had Saturday off this week but Nope, we are loading into the venue tomorrow. No show, just loadin and everyone out of the building at 5pm. I think they want everything set up and flawless for Sunday and Monday, as we are doing the final(?) close-ups for the tour dvd. Perhaps then we will level out a bit... HA good luck with that.

We get a new dancer in NYC to replace a gal who is retiring from the tour. I may have mentioned that, so again, new clothes, new people and new tracks. As well as all the insanity that goes along with it. Rolling with it, cause there isn't anything we can do but be fabulous and make it happen. Which we do with flair, in case you were wondering...

I'm looking forward to an easier day tomorrow. Hopefully my old crew is back and we can just breeze through the day. They have all done this repeatedly and should remember their jobs/tasks/assignments. They are a great crew so it should be painless, until the certain someone arrives with changes and gets in our hair about existing costumes... We have a couple of serious repairs and replacements to do. One of the band blew out the entire ass of their pants in Toronto. The runner will be buying a new pair because I don't think it's fixable without being noticable. I just hope he had on black underwear when he did it, cause he blew them out from scrotum to the back of the waistband. Wide Open!! He didn't tell anyone either, we 'discovered' it as we were packing out. Some people's kids.... Job security though!!!

I'm going to make it an early night and finish up my book this evening, if I stay awake long enough. It's only 80 pages so I should be done in an hour if I don't pass out on it first. hehehe

Say a special prayer for a dear friend of mine. He's been having health issues and I just found out he was back in the hospital again this week. I love him like my own brother and I don't know what I would do without him. It bothers me that I'm not home to be able to help look after him (not that he would allow much of that, but still...) Say a prayer if you will for his complete recovery. We've shared a lot of things since we met and he's very dear to me, and I'm worried.

Love and Light to you all!