dwayne blogged

Being in Auburn has taken me away from the busy and congested city living in Manhattan and Singapore (and recently, the hundreds of Junie B. Jones fans). I have almost forgotten what jostling through crowds every day is like. Someone needs to remind me why I am going back to that. The weather here is so ideal. It’s summer but the day brings a comfortable warmth and the night are cool enough to snuggle under a blanket.

There are no distractions here either. It’s perfect for learning the show. And it helps that I love the script, the music, the comedy, the choreography, the direction and the cast! My co-actors are extremely good at what they do and are so generous, enthusiastic and professional. The team is top notch… musicians, wardrobe, hair, housing, stage management, you name it. This is the kind of production I gave up thinking existed. Can you tell I’m delighted?

I lied. So maybe there are some distractions. Actually, a good one. I strolled into the 24/7 supermarket at 11:45pm and there were only about 15 people in line for Harry Potter book 7. No such thing in Singapore or Manhattan, I bet. So now, there’s a new script at rehearsals. Thoroughly Auburn Harry anyone?

Warning. This is a very pink entry. Please stay clear if you may develop adverse reactions to pinkness. The Stupid Smelly Bus pulled into its final stop in Chicago on July 11th. Junie B. Jones and Mr. Woo performed in the outdoors to an audience of hundreds. Prior to the performance, customers were involved in Junie B activities which included games and workshops.

It was a unique event because most of the performances were mostly in bookstores or theatre spaces. We also probably had more people attend than any show before. What an end to the 4th year of the Stupid Smelly Bus Tour! It was fun you guys… and that’s everyone who was involved with the show in any way. Thank you for coming to watch, taking pictures with us, interviewing us, following us, laughing at us and taking care of us. And as Junie B. would say.. "I’ll never forget you!" Goodbye Junie B.

I spent 14 hours at Cedar Point on the 4th of July. If you click on many of the links (followed by video links) from this entry, you will experience at least 50% of what I did without having to leave your seat at home. Here are some of my favourites! First ride was the Top Thrill Dragster. I was in fear just looking at it. But that didn’t even prepare me for the shock when it accelerated up to 120 miles an hour within 4 seconds and shot me up 450 feet.

The fun rides for me were the Wicked Twister and the Maverick (which is my favourite roller coaster of all). They were both fun because of the element of surprise in the sudden drops and twists. Yet there was just enough breathing space for one to savour the moments in between. Both rides were smooth and didn’t shake you up too badly or poison you with fear like some other rides did.

There were also the non rollercoaster rides which were equally scary… the maXair and Skyhawk. Both operate like a pendulum. They swings you around with such force at such great heights, it’s frightening! The day ended with lovely fireworks for the 4th of July celebrations. I didn’t expect to see anything different from normal firework displays, but they really shot more fireworks into the sky at a time than I have ever seen in my life. It was a grand spectacle.

Annapolis, Maryland is one of the few spots on the tour I found extremely unique. It’s got a quaint old town feel but with a modern twist. Cars are allowed to drive through but there are no traffic lights downtown. It is law to stop for pedestrians. There are also horses around. And that’s not forgetting the boats all docked by the bay. Unlike Times Square, locals and tourists enjoy Annapolis. The locals seem very at home on their boats playing board games, sunbathing or having a light aperitif, undisturbed by the milling crowds.

I had a lovely seafood gumbo at Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs, then a drink at Marriott Hotel’s Pusser’s Landing by the water. I suddenly remembered there was a movie released not to long ago about Annapolis, starring James Franco. I just might catch it just to find out more about this lovely city.