London - Wicked

London was so different than being in the United States. We saw Wicked 4 times and I enjoyed it just as much each time! Idina Menzel, Helen Dallimore, Martin Ball, Miriam Margoyles, Katie Rowley Jones, James Gillan, Nigel Planer and Adam Garcia was amazing! I think they are some of the best actors and actresses that I have ever seen. I loved it. It was so heartbreaking watching Idina and Helen interact. It was not just them saying goodbye to each other as Elphaba and Galinda, but as two real good friends. When Helen was up in her bubble sobbing, your heart went out to her and we cried with her.

We also met some great people while we were there. We are going to try to keep in touch with them throughout the year, maybe even meet them in LA or New York this year. Who knows!

All I know is that the people in London move fast and are in great shape. They walk everywhere and have the best transportation! They walk up and down stairs all day and barely ever eat! I will admit that the food in the United States appeals to me more. And everything is expensive there. There is a pretty poor exchange rate right now. It did not stop us from doing anything though.

One sore spot, I did lose my camera and we had to buy a new one. I was so sad because it had my first two days in London on there. Many great Wicked pictures on it. Gone!

Customs

I never thought about how long we would be at the airport when we go. I really did not think about coming back to the United States. I have to work the next day at 7:45 a.m. and the flight gets in around 8:00 p.m. I think it is going to be an hour wait through customs. We will see. Chris' aunt just got back from Italy and she had a 45minute to an hour wait, so I guess that is a good bet. All I know is that it is going to be rough the next day at school.

Adam Garcia

I wanted to say that Adam Garcia is the Fieryo in the play Wicked that I will be seeing in London. He was the main guy in Coyote Ugly. My sister is very excited, as am I. Not too much is new with the London experience. But I did get an email that said that I could get 200 dollars off my ticket to London. But I have already booked it so I am wondering if I can still get that discount. I will have to look into it.

Aunt Mary

I called my aunt today to see if she and my grandma were coming for the weekend. They were supposed to come this past weekend, but did not come because my cousin was working or some other poor excuse. So I talked my aunt about coming for this next weekend. She was saying that she had no money and that she was interviewing for a new job. I told her that I started back at school on Wednesday of next week and that I have to work to pay for my trip. She flipped out. She was like you have to sell your tickets because it is too dangerous. Then she says what did your mother say. I told her that I was 31 years old and that my mother did not have a say in what I do. I am a big girl now. So she is afraid that terriosts will harm my sister and I while in London. Let's hope she is wrong! I watched the news and saw that they were searching the residences of some of the terror plot suspects. Scary!

Luggage

I went to Target today and saw some luggage that I wanted to buy. It was Eddie Bauer. I thought it was on sale but it was not. It was a duffle bag type of luggage. There were wheels on it that were easy to manuever. The luggage cost $44.95. I really did not want to spend it on it. So I did not get it and I left without it. I am still thinking of it, and I am considering going back for it. I talk with a friend and he said that when he worked for the airline that people would go through the bags and steal things out of them and keep them. I don't want that to happen to my baggage. I work too hard for my money to get anything just taken from me. I don't like that.

Hostel

I watched the movie Hostel yesterday. I am deeply disturbed by it. It makes me a little nervous to be an American traveling to another country. I know it is just a movie and we are not even staying at a hostel, but it is still scary to me. I do not like the kind of thing that can happen when no know know where you are or where you are supposed to be. It just does not seem pleasant to me. Yuck! I talk with my sister about it and she was not disturbed in the least. I have a feeling that this is going to be a real adventure!

The Wicked Set in London

Well, I entered my information from my passport today for my airline ticket. You have to enter the information to go to London otherwise you will not be able to board. So I am just waiting for my sister's civilian passport to come in the mail. Mine is ready to go. I just need all of her numbers and such. Then we are set to fly. Yeah! I do wake up in the middle of the night very nervous though, like I cannot breathe. I may try the pills for flying ahead of time just to see if they have any affect.

I got an email today called the ozmoploition. It is a newsleter describing what is happening with the cast, crew and the set of Wicked. Today there was a picture of the Time Dragon and a look at the stage. I am eager in anticipation for the play. I almost want to get another set of tickets. We already have two, but I think it is going to be so worthwhile that we may want to see it one more time. I don't think I can talk my sister into it though, so we will see.

No More Billboard

Well, I went to the zoo today with my friend and her children. On the way to the zoo, I looked and the Wicked billboard was up and of course I smiled as I looked at it. On the way back, I looked and it is now a beer advertisment. It seems to me that it did not have a very long life there. I am saddened by that, because it was cool and I wanted to take a picture of it. Oh well, maybe they moved it to another location. I will keep my eye out for it.