Let Me Clear My Throat

Not only is this a "hit" song (according to my husband) from the late 90's, but it's a problem that most singers encounter.  As a singer, I seem to have a knack for catching any throat related virus, bacteria or controversy that circulates within 1000 yards of me.  I guess it's a gift.  Some people catch butterflies, I catch strep.  

This recent bout of throat-itis is puzzling.  My throat doesn't hurt per say, but I feel like my voice could go at any moment.  I don't know where my voice box would travel too, but it would surely leave me in a bind as it's the reason I'm employed at the moment.  I think it's every singers worst nightmare to lose their voice.  I need not bring up the Julie Andrews story.  Just goes to show that it could happen to anyone.

Living on a ship, the air conditions are less then lovely sometimes.  My room at one moment can smell like citrus and green tea, (thanks to my Febreeze flame-less candle) and then gasoline and bacon the next.  Paint fumes are my second favourite, and then the illusive mystery smell that emanates every once and a while.  I steer clear of the smoke soaked crew bar as much as possible, but living in such a confined environment creates for a serious bacteria pool that I don't want to think a lot about.  I'm actually surprised I don't have more problems then what I'm facing at the moment.

Regardless, I have enough herbal cough drops, throat syrups and sprays to start a store in my cabin, but this one issue doesn't want to seem to budge.  I am so immune to Buckley's cough syrup, I can actually take a shot of it in-between songs without wincing.  I attempted to douse my throat in garlic hummus yesterday, hoping it would if not kill the bacteria, create such a horrible smell my throat would have no choice but return to it's normal state of health out of disgust.  We'll see how it goes.  I've also tried my sister-in-laws favourite remedy- soaking my throat in beer.  But alas, no matter how hard I try I am still not at 100%.

So, let's hope that I get through tonight's shows without squeaking or cracking.  If anyone has any other remedies that can be accessed while in Alaska, I'm all ears.  Until then, it's back to beer, hummus and my paint fumes.

A Day In the Life

My beyond talented college friend Michael Hughes (check out his CD!) has put out a request that I not only write blogs more often because he’s so bored, (thank you Toronto theatre scene!) but to basically give a run down of my day-in-the-life as a cruise ship performer.  He himself is about to embark on an ocean liner for an extended period of time for the first time (to my knowledge), and perhaps I can impart some words of wisdom as he sees a rundown of the daily events of life onboard. 

I am fortunate to be able to wake up later than most 9-5 employees.  (Cue several of my family members rolling their eyes.)  Because the majority of our work takes place in the evening, as long as I'm up before breakfast ends upstairs, I'm good.  Adam & I usually brew a pot of coffee (currently we are blessed with Tim Hortons thanks to our home port of Vancouver) and watch an episode of Life, from the Planet Earth series.

The TV situation on ships is abysmal.  CNN, BBC & Headline News confiscate three of the channels, and we currently have ESPN, TCM,TNT, a cartoon sort of channel and TruTV, which are quite special.  Any and all of these stations can go out at a moments notice if the weather is bad, the ship is surrounded by mountains, or the cosmos are out of alignment.  It seems that just as the verdict on Law & Order is about to be announced, the screen goes black and  reads "No Signal".  Oddly enough, it comes back on in time for me to hear the closing theme.  We also have Princess TV, which are basically 6 or so channels filled with safety information, general promotions and other useless broadcasting that is on a continual 24 hour loop.  I never thought I would miss simple things like the Shopping Channel or infomercials, but I do.

So, lesson #1 Michael: Bring lots of DVD's, or even better, fill up an external hard drive to keep luggage light.

We then have breakfast, which this week has been one of three options.  The buffet upstairs actually does a decent breakfast, so we go there a few times a week, we have cereal or yogurt in our cabin, or we have recently taken to making pancakes and omelettes on our flat griddle.  The one bonus of being in Alaska is the access to grocery stores.  I currently have bacon, cream, cheese and egg beaters (thanks Eric) along with pancake mix and syrup.  It makes a huge difference being able to cook for yourself when you're away for this long.  So...

Lesson #2: Bring contraband electronic appliances into your cabin.  Just make sure you hide them for any inspections that may take place.  (Who doesn't have a hot pot, coffee make, popcorn maker, toaster oven or other things in their cabin anyway?)

On a show day (which is often) we usually are free until sound check.  I've been occupying my time recording videos for my niece Emilie, reading and I have also purchased a piano book to get back to playing.  Getting out of the cabin is essential to ones sanity so a mini lesson is to make sure you have a few projects going while you're onboard.  It helps a lot.

Sound check is usually 15-20 minutes long, and is just before dinner.  Princess does give us the pleasure of not doing tech runs on a show day.  Other companies make the cast run the entire show for technical purposes the morning of a show day, and it makes for a really long day.  Once sound check is over, I usually have something small to eat (again, thanks to my food cupboard filled with chips, granola bars and other delicacies) and then begin to get ready for the show.  45 minutes for hair and make-up, (Mike I hope you don't take as long!) and then we have a half hour call backstage to pre-set our costumes, and to get into "show mode".  Usually I'm doing a crossword puzzle, or butting in to help Eric with his.  Two shows later, I'm back home ready to either order room service or make something (again, God bless the person who invented the hot pot) and then perhaps enjoy a libation or two with Adam.

Lesson #3: Enjoy libations.  Find the crew bar.

So that's my day.  I hope it exceeded your expectations and answered and questions you may have had.  "Do I get to sleep in like a teenager?"  You sure do!  "Is the internet connection dial-up slow but twice the price of land charges?"  It sure is!   I know you'll have a blast. 

Just remember to pack your hot pot.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michaelhughes

 

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Oh, it's been a tough day!  First, I went to Wal-mart and both the hummus, and nintendo wii remote attachments I was looking for were out of stock!  I then attempted to purchase an external hard drive at Costco...boom, unavailable.  Aren't these the two stores in the world that have everything you need and more at all times?!!  I guess not.

I was also hoping to have a small break during dry dock to go home, terrorize my niece and new nephew and then head back to the ship to commence the magic that is cruise ship singing.  But no, it appears I will be in the clutches of Princess' talons for the entire 12 days learning one show, no doubt spending more time at Chipotle then is humanly possible.  I do love that Barbacoa flavour, but I don't need 12 days of it!  (Somewhere, my brother is shaking his head is disagreement.)

When you are away from home, things like hummus and electronic devices keep you happy, keep you entertained and focused, and when these things become unavailable on your one shopping day a week, it is heart breaking.  I know, you are all thinking "come on Andrea, let's put it into perspective!"  But with only 4 weeks to go in Alaska, my perspective is this...I have no perspective.  It's too foggy and cold here to see clearly right now, but at the end of the day, I have to be thankful I have a job, and my husband with me. 

I have to keep reminding myself that everything happens for a reason, and so perhaps the hummus was rancid, the wii remotes are defective and laden with lead paint, and that Celine Dion is looking for a fierce petite brunette back up singer in LA from September 20th to the 2nd of October.

It could happen, right?

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Hip

Another quick one today from an uncharacteristically sunny Juneau, AK. 

Tomorrow morning, my Dad will be receiving a new hip.  (Cue all jokes involving how hip my Dad will be.)  I have been through surgery, and I'm still the record holder in my family for longest scar, and most stitches.  (Thank you Ben for adding to the already over 100 I had in my back.)  My Dad was boasting about coming out of his hip replacement with some 3 or 4 incher, and I merely laughed.  Nice try, but not even close.  Anyway, once again my job has taken me away from a family event that I would like to be around for.  

It's not a big secret, and a lot of people have this same feeling, but my Dad does not like hospitals at all, so this will not be easy for him in a lot of ways.  It has been difficult watching my Dad's hip deteriorate so rapidly the past year.  The wedding couldn't have been more perfectly timed last year, as we danced around in both Canada and England, and then he toured the Czech Republic with my Mom.  To see someone whose first love is walking not be able to do that, is beyond painful for all involved.  This surgery has been a long time coming, so we are all glad for it.

For someone who doesn't like hospitals, my Dad had to spend a good chunk of time in one when I had my surgery, and his main job was to keep a cool cloth on my face.  It think it was one of those moments that he felt a tad helpless around the tubes and machines,  so the least he could do was that, and I loved it.  It was as important for him to do that for me as it was for me to have him do it.  

So my thoughts and prayers are with the surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologist & anyone else responsible for my Dad tomorrow.  I pray they all sleep well tonight, and that everything goes as planned tomorrow.  Most importantly, I hope that the cloths I sent to my Dad are waiting for him when he wakes up, cool & ready to make him feel a little more comfortable.

Start stretching Dad, we have a lot of tennis matches to catch up on.  The Tatranki open doesn't win itself!