Motown, Mafia, and More...

March 8, 2013
At Sea

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, our Motown show, gets a new look.  The guys get golden jackets and golden bow ties, and the girls get...pant suits.

The producer sent some of their own people along to "help" us install the shows.  Here they are with us.  Someone suggested we do a silly picture.  This is what happened.

Truthfully, this silly picture is a more accurate representation of life.

After a show, we get room service in the conference room.  Here we are having our first post show snack with our stage manager, Angel.

When I said we get room service, I didn't mean that we get to pick from a menu.  We're served random sandwiches.  I'm not complaining.  I might complain later (in fact, I do complain later.  It was the night that the bread was stale and you could break your teeth on it.  That was just ridiculous).  Anyway, this spread is better than anything I was ever served on the Silver Whisper, so things are starting off well.

What we're served after every show.

Things are probably so good here for the crew because the Filipino Mafia has a strong presence on our ship, and they take care of their friends.  We, may or may not have a strong connection to this group.

It's top secret.

Saturday, March 9, 2013
Acapulco, Mexico

The day before, we were scheduled to get into Acapulco at 1pm, but a bizarre occurrence delayed us.  And for you to best understand this situation, a little explanation is necessary.  Cruise ships only come in and out of ports by being guided by local pilots.  These people speedboat out to the ship and drive along side our ship while we open up a side door, and then the pilot jumps on.  Similarly, when we leave, the pilot guides the ship out, and then jumps from our ship to his.  So, now that I've explained it...the pilot missed his jump, and the captain had to quickly turn the ship so that he didn't get chopped up in the propellers.  I'm sure that maneuver cost the kitchens many plates and glasses, but the pilot lived!  Anyway, we ended up docking much later, but the captain let us stay until 10pm instead of having us leave at 6pm which was the original plan.  You know something, I don't have any pictures this time.  I probably didn't get off the boat.  Oh yeah, I had IPM!

Sunday, March 10, 2013
Huatulco, Mexico

I'm back at my favorite place to eat out of all of these Mexican ports!

Best Restaurant in Mexico.  I'm not kidding.

They even recognized me from when I was here two months ago.  Well, I don't blame them.  Not many gringo looking people make it past all the tourist traps.

And they still had my favorite Coconut Horchata in a bag!

Found Marcy, and we found some wifi.  Oh, and she got caramel coffee with ice cream.

Monday, March 11, 2013
Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

Sometimes, it's nice to go back to a place and see that nothing has changed.  Puerto Chiapas is still a nothing port for the guests, and a never ending pool party for the crew.

Marcy shows us all her moves:

While the Filipino Mafia takes over the pool.

Puerto Chiapas, a good day of nothing.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Puntarenas, Costa Rica

I thought it would be fun for us all to do something together, so we all hopped in a cab and took it to a local beach where we did what we are best at: Food and Wifi.

At one point in the middle of our lunch, the waiter came over to us and called us out onto the beach and told us to look up into the tree where a Macaw had just landed to eat.

I'll let you play Find the Macaw:

Friday, March 15, 2013
Panama Canal

Yep, crossed through there again.

Rebecca and I were looking off the side of the ship when we saw some local guys on a truck nearly spill its cargo.  There was this red stuff all over the ground!  It's funny how your attention is drawn towards other things when you're on your second time through.

Here's what I was talking about:

The Locks

Oooh!  A Jacaranda.  Just like home.

Saturday, March 16, 2013
Cartagena, Colombia

This time, I told myself no taxis!  In fact, I didn't even leave the cruise ship terminal?  There really isn't any reason to leave the cruise area in Cartagena.  Why take a risk in a dangerous city when they bring the best of it to you?

Like, Flamingos!

and parrots

 and more parrots

 And a really awesome Toucan

 ...that likes to go shopping.

Supposedly, this is one of the best places to get coffee in the world.

So, we got some.

 And then we did what we do best, again.

I'm in good company.

Next post: Illegal Downloading from Ft. Lauderdale to Barbados makes me a Pirate of the Caribbean.

Leaving Los Angeles and Starting Over!

March 4th, 2013
Los Angeles, California

It's the beginning of another beautiful contract, and I am so lucky because the Silver Spirit is picking me up in my home port, the port of Los Angeles (which is really Long Beach, or San Pedro, or something...bottom line: it's closer to my home in Irvine than most places in LA.)

Why is this super cool?  Because look who gets to see me off!

From Left to Right: Dad, Mom, Ninja.

 It was really something special for my parents to be there to see the ship I will be living on for eight months.  Of course, the goodbye was more difficult, but that's life.  Another perk about taking off from your home port is that you can bring as much stuff with you as you can carry!  Here I am with 8 months of toiletries and video games packed into boxes.

My two new best friends are excited about the journey.

Jennifer and Rebecca...get used to seeing these faces.

The Silver Spirit is the largest ship in the SilverSea fleet.  But it's still smaller than most other cruise lines.  Our guest limit caps out around 500, and we have less than 300 crew.

Yes, I'm that guy who showed up in uniform.

Marcy's ready for round two.

This time she's legally blonde.

So far, things are off to a great start because who do I run into on my way onto the ship, but none other that the great Hyperion Knight!  This man is the highest rated guest artist to perform on the Silversea ships.  He's an incredible pianist, and a great showman.  AND, he's my friend.

I know this is kind of like cheating, but let's call it efficiency.  This 16 day cruise that I'm kicking things off with on the Silver Spirit on March 4th, is the exact itinerary as the last one I ended with on the whisper.  So, here's that same video from last time, only now I'm playing it backwards for you.

Since, I just did this cruise two months earlier, and you just read about all these ports, let's just go ahead and start to knock them out quickly:

March 7, 2013
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Hey!  This time I can get off the ship!  I don't have IPM (In port manning...which, by the way IS a punishment, no matter how much they try to dress it up by saying it's maritime law...more on that later).

So...

Hmm...

 I got off the ship in Cabo, and um...

A golden Jack Sparrow?

Is it worth it man?

Anyway, stick with me because my adventures get better.  Every once in a while though, there comes a day like today where the most exciting thing in port in the decor inside the Señor Frogs.  So, here's an unedited, un-cropped picture of just that.

My favorite part: the people floating in tubes above your head.

I eventually found another restaurant down the street, and made my first attempt at wifi.  From what I remember, I was somewhat successful and managed to upload a blog or two about my time in the Baltic (Funny how I'm still playing catch up.  I'm actually writing this blog from Cannes, France.  One day, I'll be current).

I will say this: When you're in Baja, get fish tacos! These were tuna, and they were amazing.

Yum.

Why is it in Mexico, people think they can dress up and bang on sticks with no rhyme, reason, or even rhythm, and expect to have money thrown at them?  Well, I take it back a little: rhythm seems to be the only thing they have going for them.  Maybe they're playing the, "Feed my little kids!" card?  I don't know.  The more I watch this, the cuter and funnier it becomes, but I will never forget my initial WTF reaction.  See for yourself!

Next post: Our first Motown show, the Filipino Mafia, and perhaps a few ports!

May I return, to the beginning...

End of February and the beginning of March, 2013
Los Angeles, California

Contract 2
The Rehearsals

It's getting towards the end of February, and I have about 10 days to meet my new cast, and learn all the shows with them.  We rent out the Madeline Clark studios in North Hollywood every day, and there we split up all the parts, rehearse them, and then put them to choreography.  Afterwards, most of us split up to go to various stores to prepare for our upcoming eight month contract!  Oh, did I forget to mention that?  Right, we all just singed up for eight months on board the Silver Spirit, with the 6-star luxury cruise line Silver Sea.

Anyway, back to my story: with all there is to do, there isn't much time for bonding, which is what every cast needs.  So, eventually, some of us get together so I can share with them the absolute best thing that California has to offer...

One of our happiest moments.

After a long strenuous rehearsal period, it's finally time to put on a sort of dress rehearsal for the producers and friends and family, should any wish to attend.  My mom, grandma, and uncle all came over to watch.

Here's the end of our Motown Show: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

High C's, our opera show.

Pop version of the Flower Duet from Lakme.

Nella Fantasia, from the movie The Mission, made famous by Il Divo.

The following is a true story that occurs just about every time Marcy and I stand in the back while the others sing The Prayer.

Two shows down, time to greet the family.

Me and my uncle Dusan.

The best for last!  fABBAlicious!

Money, Money, Money

Money, Money, Money

I Do, I Do, I Do

Souper Trouper (a la The Matrix)

Mamma Mia

Dancing Queen

I'm about to spend eight months of my life living with these guys, and what I have to say at this point is that I'm actually looking forward to it.  I don't imagine any problems with these people.  Then again, I'm not a very good judge of character, and I often give people the benefit of the doubt, so who knows what's really going to happen.

But hey, here's hoping for the best!

Next post, the journey begins...again.

Vacation! At Home? (What I did during my break.)

January-February 2013


How cool is it that I get to vacation at home?  What a concept!  Work all over the world and then vacation at home.  I was ready for the task.  So, what did I do?

In-N-Out Burger!

Oh yeah!

While on vacation, I went to In-N-Out Burger EVERYDAY.  Every, freaking, day.  (And by day, I mean night, and by night, I mean morning, right before closing.)

My order was this: 2 Hamb No Salt WhGr Mf P K M inst XT

which translates into: Two hamburgers, no salt, whole grilled onions, mustard fried, pickles, ketchup and mustard instead of spread, and extra tomatoes.  Try it.

Over the course of my vacation, I ate over 100 In-N-Out Burgers.  Yes, this is one of the things I am most proud of in my life.

Dates!

No really, dates.

If you live in California, and you don't take advantage of the fact that the best dates in the world grow right next to you, then you're missing out.  Whenever I'm back in California, I order a large box of the chewiest medjool dates from Shield's Date Garden.

I put them in ziplock bags, and then into the freezer (except for the ones I'm eating that day).  I never lack for energy when I have dates.  Yeah, it's pure sugar, but it's plant sugar so your body knows what to do with it.  My favorite thing to do with these dates is to blend them with pineapple juice and a fresh young Thai coconut.  Here's a link to this box: My Order.

-Gifts-

One of the first places I went when I got home was straight to my grandma's house to drop off some gifts.  My grandma is simple: she likes rocks.  So, what did I do?  I brought her coral (yeah, that might be illegal) and then through in some bells.  And you can't go wrong with a box of Caribbean Rum Cake!

The best thing about gifting rum cake is that nine times out of ten the person will open it up right away and share it with you.  (I don't like Indian givers...oh wait- I take that back).

My dad got Marzipan from Germany, my mom got her collectors spoons, and Jason got some gargoyles from Notre Dame.  Before leaving the ship, I stocked up on lots of Rum Cake and Rum Chocolate just in case I forgot anyone.  So, if you didn't get a gift from me, come by my house sometime, when I'm home, and I'll pretend to have thought of you when I bought the rum chocolate that I pull out from my stash and hand it to you.  And then you can pretend to be oh so grateful!

~ Piano Tuning ~

The insides of my piano.

I had been greatly looking forward to being able to play piano again whenever I wanted, for as long as I wanted.  But as soon as I got home and hit the keys, I realized I needed to call Bruce Heying, my long time piano tuner, and make an appointment.

Bruce Heying hard at work.

Bruce had to come by twice because my piano was so neglected in my absence.  He did amazing work though, and the thing was sounding good again.  What I was most impressed with though was his ability to fix the action, the sticky notes, and the dampers.  This is why you hire a piano technician instead of just a tuner.  If you're in Southern California, and you're piano's giving you trouble: Call Bruce.

The New WiiU!

In the background: My super awesome Dragon Mask and a signed Collectors Edition of Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty.

 I bought a WiiU.

And Nintendo sent me three posters just for being awesome.

Actually, it's because I spent too much money in their rewards program.

Starcraft II

Now I can computer while I computer!

Let me introduce you to my favorite thing to do in the world: PWN NOOBS.  Since the coolest people in the world already know what that means, and the people who don't know usually end up thinking it's retarded when I explain it to them, let's move on.

ABBA

Can't kick the habbit

I know, I'm on vacation, but I just didn't feel good about going two months without putting on any ABBA shows.  So, I got this awesome ABBA dance game for my Wii.  It did the job.

Oh yeah!  I almost forgot, Grant Gershon, hired me into the L.A. Master Chorale for the 2012-2013 season, but I had already signed my cruise contract while I was waiting to hear back from the Chorale.  But Grant was awesome and he let me perform with them while I was on my break.  We did the Brahms's Requiem at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  It was pretty epic.

Well, that's my break in a nutshell.  Next post: back to work!

Oh! P.S.

Paul Mason Got Married!

He totally got married by that Asian guy from the Hangover.

Way to go Paul and Elaine!

It's totally that guy...and Zach Galifianakis too!