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Elf on Tour: Red Bank, NJ part 1
Although the bus load wasn't until 11, I was up around 7 because I'd gotten a new transcription project.
Remembering how stressed I'd gotten over the previous one, I wanted to get this one started ASAP.
Breakfast and worked on it from 8am-11am. The problem this week is going to be audio distortion, apparently. Sigh. At least there's nothing I can do about that except notate it.
We loaded onto the bus and drove to a shopping mall in New Jersey, and because I'm not a herd animal I did not go inside but instead took "the road less traveled" to a Wegmans just a few blocks over.
I didn't want to get much here, not knowing the hotel fridge situation, but did find some of my favorite nonperishables and enjoyed the time there much more than I would have at a mall. Back on the bus and we were at the hotel very quickly. I'm on the first floor which is rare.
Took an Uber to a Green's Natural Market, which I think is a NJ/NY-only store. They did indeed have lots of interesting things for sale, plus they were next to a World Market so I got to pop in there too (could have done SO much Christmas shopping but will just have to wait.) I wanted many things, but in the end walked out with these:
Blackbird seitan: I've had this many times and it's delicious, I always keep an eye out for it.
Drybox Turkish figs: from World Market, they have a lot of travel-sized snack foods and this was one. Haven't tried it yet.
Surfsnax salmon jerky: The only salmon jerky I've had is the Epic brand strips, and some refrigerated "salmon candy" that I got in Wisconsin once. By comparison, this one was unfortunately very stinky and also too oily to handle with one's hands, unless one wanted to smell like stinky fish all day. So I used a fork to eat it, and it was tasty, but because of the smell and messiness, would not buy again.
Righteous Felon Basil-Infused turkey jerky: small package + interesting. Haven't tried it yet.
Gopel's cheesy sprouted pumpkin seeds: Vegan, using the flavor of nutritional yeast to simulate cheese. They're quite good though a bit stinky :p
Sail Away nitro Maple Vanilla coffee: A coffee shop out of NY, and this is their seasonal flavor. Haven't tried it yet.
Salysol "Gomitas": gummy candy in a can! From World Market, bought this solely because it's in a can lol. They also had peanuts, pickles, and other "airplane snacks" in cans like this.
Culina dairy-free Bourbon Vanilla yogurt: I've actually never had dairy-free yogurt. This flavor called to me. Haven't tried it yet.
Dijas Pumpkin Spice biscotti: Not real biscotti, this has a texture like Melba toast and is quite delicious for being a low-calorie food. They had a banana bread flavor as well that I'd love to try. Not very nutritious but good for killing a snack craving without ruining your dinner.
I don't expect to enjoy much exploration time here in New Jersey due to transcription, practicing for Disney rehearsal, and the 20-minute commute to and from the theatre (sigh.) So I figured to get myself nice groceries, at least.
My evening ended with unpacking, eating a tempeh BLT wrap for dinner, and doing a few hours of transcription with a cup of tea.
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I accidentally slept an hour later than planned (8 instead of 7) because I'd put earplugs in and hadn't heard my alarm.
Ah well, I had breakfast and got to work on transcription, pretty much doing that all day with only a few breaks for lunch, packing dinner, getting ready for work, and establishing a carpool time with the guys.
It took 30 minutes to fight rush hour traffic to the theatre, find the garage and park, and then find the stage door (there isn't one and I still don't know how we're supposed to enter the building.) This is the Count Basie Center for the Arts, and it's TINY and cramped so much that we cannot use half the set pieces and the actors are having to make lots of changes to how they enter and exit so they don't collide backstage.
The pit is no better unfortunately. Incredibly cramped and basically a hole in the ground complete with plaster dust, chipping paint, and dangling wires. The glamorous lifestyle of a tour musician, folks! Here is my spot. I'm like the Trombone Troll under the bridge...er, stage.
Notice the halogen bulb in a cage over my head. Crawling into that corner packed with equipment and mutes is easier said than done, and after the second time that I whacked the bulb cage it broke off and came down onto my head. Luckily some stagehands were able to remove both cage and bulb, so now it's a DARK corner but at least I won't accidentally cause a ruckus during a show.
My slide also extends a good 1/3rd of the way across the pit stairwell. I joked with the guys that my slide is the pit toll gate, and you gotta pay to get in or out :p
The show was supposed to start at 7, but "for reasons" including the cramped space and a slow/incomplete load in, we were rescheduled to 7:30, and then to 7:45. This was annoying, but imagine how the audience feels. The show did go pretty well with only some minor hitches due to the huge list of changes that the actors and crew have to remember. It seemed like the audience had fun, and that was the goal.
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Wednesday I was up early to review one transcription job and start another.
During a break I cracked open the can of gummy candies.
They are very cute! I love the itty bitty egg. The little teeth are a weird addition, though...
They mostly taste the same regardless of shape/color, but the banana one did taste like banana!
After lunch I practiced trombone, went for a short no-reason walk to a dollar store just to get out of the hotel room, then buckled down to more transcription. Later on the evening show went well, our Director was there and had nice things to say so that was rewarding.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday: It's supposed to rain all day (NJ has been in a drought so I'm happy for them!) We have a mandatory HR meeting via Zoom, and I'll be doing transcription, and the evening show.
Friday: Hopefully finishing transcription, doing laundry, and taking a walk somewhere.
Saturday and Sunday: Double shows both days. And on Sunday night I'll have to head over to the airport for my crazy Disney Candlelight rehearsal escapade!
Remembering how stressed I'd gotten over the previous one, I wanted to get this one started ASAP.
Breakfast and worked on it from 8am-11am. The problem this week is going to be audio distortion, apparently. Sigh. At least there's nothing I can do about that except notate it.
We loaded onto the bus and drove to a shopping mall in New Jersey, and because I'm not a herd animal I did not go inside but instead took "the road less traveled" to a Wegmans just a few blocks over.
I didn't want to get much here, not knowing the hotel fridge situation, but did find some of my favorite nonperishables and enjoyed the time there much more than I would have at a mall. Back on the bus and we were at the hotel very quickly. I'm on the first floor which is rare.
Took an Uber to a Green's Natural Market, which I think is a NJ/NY-only store. They did indeed have lots of interesting things for sale, plus they were next to a World Market so I got to pop in there too (could have done SO much Christmas shopping but will just have to wait.) I wanted many things, but in the end walked out with these:
Blackbird seitan: I've had this many times and it's delicious, I always keep an eye out for it.
Drybox Turkish figs: from World Market, they have a lot of travel-sized snack foods and this was one. Haven't tried it yet.
Surfsnax salmon jerky: The only salmon jerky I've had is the Epic brand strips, and some refrigerated "salmon candy" that I got in Wisconsin once. By comparison, this one was unfortunately very stinky and also too oily to handle with one's hands, unless one wanted to smell like stinky fish all day. So I used a fork to eat it, and it was tasty, but because of the smell and messiness, would not buy again.
Righteous Felon Basil-Infused turkey jerky: small package + interesting. Haven't tried it yet.
Gopel's cheesy sprouted pumpkin seeds: Vegan, using the flavor of nutritional yeast to simulate cheese. They're quite good though a bit stinky :p
Sail Away nitro Maple Vanilla coffee: A coffee shop out of NY, and this is their seasonal flavor. Haven't tried it yet.
Salysol "Gomitas": gummy candy in a can! From World Market, bought this solely because it's in a can lol. They also had peanuts, pickles, and other "airplane snacks" in cans like this.
Culina dairy-free Bourbon Vanilla yogurt: I've actually never had dairy-free yogurt. This flavor called to me. Haven't tried it yet.
Dijas Pumpkin Spice biscotti: Not real biscotti, this has a texture like Melba toast and is quite delicious for being a low-calorie food. They had a banana bread flavor as well that I'd love to try. Not very nutritious but good for killing a snack craving without ruining your dinner.
I don't expect to enjoy much exploration time here in New Jersey due to transcription, practicing for Disney rehearsal, and the 20-minute commute to and from the theatre (sigh.) So I figured to get myself nice groceries, at least.
My evening ended with unpacking, eating a tempeh BLT wrap for dinner, and doing a few hours of transcription with a cup of tea.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I accidentally slept an hour later than planned (8 instead of 7) because I'd put earplugs in and hadn't heard my alarm.
Ah well, I had breakfast and got to work on transcription, pretty much doing that all day with only a few breaks for lunch, packing dinner, getting ready for work, and establishing a carpool time with the guys.
It took 30 minutes to fight rush hour traffic to the theatre, find the garage and park, and then find the stage door (there isn't one and I still don't know how we're supposed to enter the building.) This is the Count Basie Center for the Arts, and it's TINY and cramped so much that we cannot use half the set pieces and the actors are having to make lots of changes to how they enter and exit so they don't collide backstage.
The pit is no better unfortunately. Incredibly cramped and basically a hole in the ground complete with plaster dust, chipping paint, and dangling wires. The glamorous lifestyle of a tour musician, folks! Here is my spot. I'm like the Trombone Troll under the bridge...er, stage.
Notice the halogen bulb in a cage over my head. Crawling into that corner packed with equipment and mutes is easier said than done, and after the second time that I whacked the bulb cage it broke off and came down onto my head. Luckily some stagehands were able to remove both cage and bulb, so now it's a DARK corner but at least I won't accidentally cause a ruckus during a show.
My slide also extends a good 1/3rd of the way across the pit stairwell. I joked with the guys that my slide is the pit toll gate, and you gotta pay to get in or out :p
The show was supposed to start at 7, but "for reasons" including the cramped space and a slow/incomplete load in, we were rescheduled to 7:30, and then to 7:45. This was annoying, but imagine how the audience feels. The show did go pretty well with only some minor hitches due to the huge list of changes that the actors and crew have to remember. It seemed like the audience had fun, and that was the goal.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday I was up early to review one transcription job and start another.
During a break I cracked open the can of gummy candies.
They are very cute! I love the itty bitty egg. The little teeth are a weird addition, though...
They mostly taste the same regardless of shape/color, but the banana one did taste like banana!
After lunch I practiced trombone, went for a short no-reason walk to a dollar store just to get out of the hotel room, then buckled down to more transcription. Later on the evening show went well, our Director was there and had nice things to say so that was rewarding.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday: It's supposed to rain all day (NJ has been in a drought so I'm happy for them!) We have a mandatory HR meeting via Zoom, and I'll be doing transcription, and the evening show.
Friday: Hopefully finishing transcription, doing laundry, and taking a walk somewhere.
Saturday and Sunday: Double shows both days. And on Sunday night I'll have to head over to the airport for my crazy Disney Candlelight rehearsal escapade!