Bring on the men..

Well, I am back at Starbucks, in Puerto Rico. It tends to be one of my favourite places, very relaxing, and feels like home! I am drinking my latte, and downloading music. Today I purchased 'Songs for Japan' from iTunes, and I highly recommend it! A benefit album including Lady Gaga, John Lennon, and Katie Perry..and it's for Japan? How could I resist!

All of us on Serenade of the Seas have a very big week ahead of us. Because this week it is an Atlantis cruise,which is a gay charter cruise. It will be crazy!(and I mean that in a good way!) But I am so excited! So our week is quite a bit different than the regular week. 2 sea days, and very late all aboard times. We have no Welcome Aboard show, and no Farewell show. But we will be doing lots of greetings at doors. It is going to be a week long party, or so I hear. And so far Jordan and I have signed ourselves up for a pool side fashion show!! We will see how that goes, pictures could possibly come later.

Wish us luck for this crazy week. And bring on the gays!!

Sincerely,

B.

In the Caribbeannnnnnnn.

I am enjoying a sunny day in St. Kitts today. I am not at the beach, but instead using the internet! Things are still going good, and I am having a great time. On Saturday we went to old San Juan. There was good shopping there, and lots of restaurants. Of all the places to go, we chose Subway! We couldn't fight the craving. We then sat in Starbucks using the internet, and drank Coconut Mocha frappachinos! They were delicious!! On our way walking back to the ship Jordan got shit on by a bird!!! It was awesome. On his shoulder, head and back. But that is supposed to be good luck! On Sunday in Tortola, we went swimming with the dolphins! It was so much fun, and I am happy I finally had the opportunity to swimwith dolphins. On Monday, we enjoyed the beach at St. Maarten. It was a gorgeous day, and the water was SO blue there. And for dinner we were celebrating a cast members birthday, so we ate at the steakhouse onboard called Chops. The food was unreal! You get about 9 different sides for your whole table to share. I really like that concept!

I know it seems like I am just going to the beach, but we are also working!!! We are currently working on Murder Mystery, which will be open next week! There are seven of us doing it, and there are lots of lines to memorize! But it will be fun to do. We also get a free dinner at the italian restaurant Portifino's every week when we do Murder Mystery.

Well, I am back to the ship now!

Sincerely,

B.

With our life Jackets on, ready to swim with Dolphins!!!

It's Smooth Sailing from here!

Our shows are installed! We made it! It took 14days of work in a row, but we finally have some time off. I am on the internet at some taco place in Puerto Rico... but I'll take it! The shows are a blast to do in front of an audience! We spent the first week installing our first show, Stage to Screen, and our second week for Vibeology, and ontop of that, also trying to find our way around the ship, new hire training, and unpacking our bags in a shoebox of a room. But life is good!! We are planning on going to the beach this week, which will be wonderful! It is nice to get on land. I have not been seasick yet, I actually adjusted pretty well to the ship - but not so well to the dust on the ship, as I am severely allergic to it!! I almost coughed up a lung, but I survived! I am proud to say I lasted a whole week before I met the doctor onboard...that's pretty good! The food is good on board. We have only eaten in the crew mess so far, but it's great. Wonderful desserts I say! We have started to decorate our room, and make it more like home, and a picture collage will be going up very soon!! Right now we are doing some shopping, and enjoy some fresh air. Sending my love to everyone back at home. I hope you aren't too cold in the snow. It's beautifully sunny here!!!

Just a little preview of our shows...

Jordan and I partnering in West Side Story. I love this shot!

Daryl, Lucky, Me, and Jordan in the Sweet Charity Section of the show.

Jordan in All that Jazz!!

And then there were some mishaps.....

Like when your heel gets caught in your dress, and you physically have to stop and unhook it...

Or when your wig strap is across your forehead instead of under you chin!

Sincerely,

B.

Off to Puerto Rico!

After nearly 6 weeks, we are done rehearsals. We are now ready to install our 2 shows on the ship. Rehearsals were very demanding, but also a lot of fun to live in Miami for a month. We only had 1 day off a week, but we tried to venture out as much as we could. We spent 1 night in Hallandale, 1 night at Ft.Lauderdale beach at the W hotel, and one night in Orlando before we went to Disney World! We rented a car for our last week here, which was awesome! One of my favourite things to do in Miami is going to the Aventura mall!! I do not think Jordan agrees, but we spent some quality time there, and I purchased many wonderful things, not to mention there is a cheesecake factory!! I am really looking forward to the ship! From what I gather, the first 2 weeks are going to be very overwhelming, but at least I have been warned! We will have to do costume runs, training, trying the numbers with the props/sets, and we also have to re-block both of our shows! On top of that, I will also have training to be the wig and wardrobe supervisor. Not quite sure how I got myself into this job, but I am in charge of maintaining the wigs, and fixing/cleaning the costumes. But it's more money in my pocket at the end of the day!

We have a great cast, and I am so excited to perform these shows with them! I think it is going to be a great contract with (hopefully) no drama! We will be getting picked up tomorrow at the ass crack of dawn, flying to Puerto Rico, and getting right onto the ship! Wish me luck!!

Here are some photo's from the rehearsal process...

The cast on Taco Night!

Our Serenade sweatshirts!

On the balcony of the W Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale beach.

Disney World!!

After the office run!

Jordan and I after the run.

Alison and I at Mamma Mia's celebrating the completion of rehearsals!

Cheers - To a great 7 months!!

Sincerely,

B.

Rehearse, Eat, Sleep and Repeat.

We are now in Miami! We have been here for almost 2 weeks, and I am loving it! Currently we are learning 1 of our 2 shows "Vibe*ology". It consists of all pop songs with Michael Jackson, Cher, Paula Abdul and more. It's been a great work out so far, and it will be a blast to perform! One of my favourite sections is the 'Cold Hearted Snake' number, where I get to do some partner work with Jordan. It's an all around high energy show. Our second show is "Stage to Screen", we will start to learn that next week.

There are 11 people in our cast so far. From the Philippines, the US and Canada. Ranging in age from 20 up to 40+. (Again, I am the baby of the cast!) I am currently sharing an apartment with 5 other girls, which is fun. And Jord is sharing an apartment with 4 other guys. The apartments are very nice. 2 pools, and a hot tub. I am dying to go swimming! Maybe tomorrow on our day off!

The weather in Miami as been very nice so far! For the last couple of days it hasn't been so incredibly hot, so we got a little break from the heat. No snow here!!! We haven't really been out much yet. Just to Target.. and I am not complaining!! We have mostly been trying to spend time at Starbucks, using the internet, and bonding with our new cast-mates at the apartments. Tonight we are finally going out! To a restaurant that used to be called Cancun's, where they have fishbowls margarita's! I can assure you that Jordan is very excited about it, and has been talking about this place for months!! (I will have my camera ready!)

I am off to rehearsal now! Just a short note, so you know what's going on!

Lots of love,

Sincerely,

B.

My life in Japan.

Quote of the day.

"When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them."

- Marilyn Monroe.