CHRISTMAS IN THE MOUNTAINS

The quick three weeks back before the holiday break were a beautiful winter wonderland in the Mountain and Pacific time zones. We started back in Colorado. The highlights of Colorado, other than the wonderful audience response, were our choreographer, James Gray, visiting and this delicious Mexican restaurant we ate at before the show. The view of the mountains was also stunning.

I miss the mountains

Chris and I also met up with Chris's friend, Jesse, for brunch where I had a delicious quiche. Although the food was quite good, and the service prompt, the journey there was similar to journey that Catherine Martin takes in Silence of the Lambs. For those who need a refresher, “Catherine Martin” is the chunky character who is kidnapped by Buffalo Bill and thrown into a white van. In the movie Catherine Martin is played by Brooke Martin, more commonly known as the chunky lesbian doctor cut from Grey's Anatomy. Jesse, who was working in the Colorado Springs area, picked us up in their “company car” AKA Buffalo Bill's van. For those of you who are not scary movie fanatics like us, picture a white van that you would view as your stereotypical rape van with no seats in the back, just a hard, cold, metal bottom of the van. Yes, that was our ride to a delicious quiche brunch. Exciting and delicious.

After Colorado, we headed to Montana and Wyoming. Highlights of our time in Montana and Wyoming definitely include the world premier of Young Frankenstein in an ARENA. It was an arena spectacular. Our audience members chomped on popcorn and shoved hotdogs down their throats while we put on the Ritz. RICH. Definitely not what you are used to when looking out into an audience, but they enjoyed it none the less, and I got some delicious arena popcorn at intermission. WIN WIN.

After our trips to Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, we left the high elevations behind and put some oxygen back in our lungs in Wichita, KS. Wichita was a blast. We stayed at a gorgeous Hyatt Hotel with an awesome bar and half price appetizer menu. Their spinach artichoke dip was pure crack and we had it pre AND post show most nights we were there. The YF cast also had our first holiday party! One of our cast members is from Wichita and invited us to her house for holiday music, games, and delicious booze. There were plenty of photo opts including this lovely family picture by the Christmas tree.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

After Wichita, we had a 4:30 AM bus call to catch a plane to Seattle for a GOLDEN DAY(a day with no show and no day of travel). Our day and a half in Seattle was nothing short of incredible. We landed in Seattle around noon and we hit the ground running trying to fit in as much tourist activity as possible for our first night. We visited the Public Fish Market for lunch and shopped until we dropped around the Market.

After a quick nap at the hotel, we gathered for a late night dinner in downtown at a restaurant called McCormicks. Don't worry, we are not talking about the chain McCormick and Schmidts. This place was absolutely incredible and we did not hold back. We had wine, cocktails, several appetizers to share, entrees, and dessert. We highly suggest this restaurant to anyone visiting in the the Seattle area. My rainbow trout was like crunchy heaven on a plate.

Golden Day Delights

The next full day in Seattle we went to the Space Needle for a lunch reservation at the SkyCity Restaurant. We splurged on delicious crab mac-n-cheese and fish and chips while the restaurant slowly rotated allowing us to see all of the beautiful Seattle skyline.

This was truly one of the best days yet of tour. The view was stunning and after a leisurely lunch we headed a few stairs up to the observation deck to soak in some more of the view.

SPACE NEEDLE

After lunch, we jumped on the monorail and headed to the downtown area to the Seattle aquarium. Upon walking into the aquarium there were plenty of photo ops with the touch tank of starfish.

We also got to see a octopus feeding. While at the octopus feeding the following happened:

blue-haired hip marine lady who was also the octopus feeder: “Octopus are gooey, fleshy creatures. However, there is one part of the octopus that is hard. Does anybody know what body part that is?”

little kid: “rocks.”

blue-haired hip marine lady: “nooo, not rocks. But yes hard like rocks.”

RICH. Rocks.

MAYHEM and Kevin...lovahs

After Seattle, the tour ventured to Yakima and Spokane. It was beautiful and nice to have some of our days free to eat at various restaurants in the Spokane area. We found a delicious french restaurant that we ventured to on two separate occasions...I just realized that we talk about food a lot. You see, when we are not traveling to do a show, or performing a show, we have just enough time to find somewhere to eat before the show...or we are starving after the show and looking for someplace to feed the monster in our stomachs. AND I think Chris and myself are little fatties at heart. I sometimes can't remember where we were a week ago, but I can recall a delicious meal wayyy to quickly for it to be normal. Fatty mc Fat Fats. Always blogging about our meals.

We also did a fun game of secret Santa amongst the cast and crew and had a small Christmas party at the hotel. Santa this year gave a lot of alcohol. That was the number one gift from Santas. What does that say about this tour? We like to eat AND drink.

The three weeks were a whirlwind of shows and fun, but I think it is safe to say that everyone was ready to go home to their families for the holidays on December 19 when we left.