Climb aboard, we're on our way to magic destinations.
Time to taste, to touch and feel a world of new sensations.
Experiences that are sure to please.
Embrace the endless possibilities.
So take the plunge and sail away on a wondrous exploration,
Anticipate, no time to way, you'll find the inspiration
On our Voyage to Adventure,
Where every dream comes true.
You'll see new sights and hit new heights,
We're waiting here for you.
On our Voyage to Adventure
You're sure to find your way.
From here to there it's time to share
This perfect holiday.
DANCE BREAK! :D
(repeat above chorus)
CRUISE DIRECTOR SPEECH!
On our Voyage to Adventure
Your journey is complete.
Good time never end, so come on friend
There's dancing in the streets.
On our Voyage to Adventure
No dream's to big or small.
You must admin, it's a perfect trip
That's made for one and all.
On our Voyage to Adventure.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
A special treat (delicious cheese :D)
THIS IS NOT MY GROUP, but this is a the song we do for the farewell show. I'll get the lyrics for you another time. I think you will all be amazed!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
PICTUARES
I'd like to draw your attention to the Divorced Eggs.
This is me and Carlos. He is the lead trumpet player and assistant musical director. He's done some amazing gigs, and has TONS of stories. Super cool to hang out with.
This is most of the band (at the time of the picture). It was crew show night, and we were doing our disco show (Boogie Wonderland). Just about everybody but me is wasted in this picture, haha.
Me and Dan. He is my British friend. He actually just went home on sunday. Everybody is super sad about it.
Cabo being beautiful
More Cabo being beautiful.
The port in Cabo. It is beautiful.
Here is a picture in Cabo San Lucas. It is beautiful.
Here is some water and some rocks and a boat in Cabo. They are beautiful.
This is John and Tilly. They are super awesome! That have been on close to a billion cruises. I have a feeling they are loaded. They love our big band set more than we do!
This is a part of the mall I'm at right now. I'm actually just to the right of this picture at the moment.
Kaferine said...Aaah that made me really hungry eating this..
.. Shrimps.. ;____;
I laughed really hard when I read that for some reason. Something about Kate eating one of my posts just made me happy.
- Emily A. W. said...
Scott, I didn't know you were such a great writer. Wow. Everthing you wrote sounds so natural. :)
Well, it sounds like you are learning a lot and improving more and more at trombone. Will you be ready for that solo career when you get home?
Maybe you can be the Gordon Goodwin of your own big band.
I love reading the details. Thanks for writing it all down. Keep up the good work. Oh, and I want to hear you play Chicago and Neil Diamond when you get home. Sounds interesting.
- Jonah said...
Sounds pretty repetitive, but I'm sure you get to improve and do other stuff enough to make up for it. Glad to hear your chops are improving. Western is trying to make me learn instruments. I had an alto sax for the first half of the quarter and now they stuck me with a clarinet. I liked the sax, but the clarinet makes me unhappy. WHY CAN'T THESE INSTRUMENTS JUST CALL A NOTE WHAT IT IS!!!!!! grr. anyway, glad to here that you're having a good experience and can't wait to hear how much more bad-ass you are now! take it easy, bro.
Okay, no more copy and pasting. Mom and Emily, I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to refuse on the Neil Diamond. I want to get a VHS of the shows though if I can, so I can show you the dance moves us musicians do during. I miss you all to!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Music
Time to talk about why I'm here! For those of you who don't know, I'm playing in what's called the production orchestra. We play whatever is required for anything that happens in the auditorium (play ons for comedians, backing guest vocalists). On Sunday and Monday we do the farewell and welcome shows, which consist of pep-band-like tunes (Chicago, mambo #5, Neil Diamond) and some kind of cheesy number that includes the singers and dancers. 2 days out of the week we do a shows with the singers and dancers. One is called Boogie Wonderland (disco!), and the other is kind of a modern take on classic Broadway tunes called Rhythm and Rhyme. A couple other nights we back guest vocalists or entertainers who need us (the ventriloquist for example). We also do Big Band on Friday nights after whichever production show is that night. Talk about a chop busting day! I'm always grateful for it though, because it's my one chance to do what I'm really good at (improvise)! On top of the shows, we have a mini-rehearsal/sound check which is usually at 5:30. It's usually quick and painless. That leaves us 1 or 2 nights a week off.
The music really isn't as hard as I expected. There are definitely things here and there that are really difficult. Some of the arrangers seem to forget that I actually have to move my arm to play, and what range my instrument is in. They often put me up an octave from the recordings for no apparent reason. “trombone is sorta like trumpet, let's just put him up there with them!”. I find myself taking things down pretty often, not for my chops sake, but because it actually sounds better (and it's how it was originally done). For those of you who understand, my parts range from the low E two octaves below the just above middle C to about...high D (an octave up from middle C).
I've really already improved like crazy. I've done a lot of work with our lead trumpet/assistant musical director Carlos. He's given me tons of good advice. I do a good deal of long tones daily. My tone, endurance, and control have improved drastically. I've made some real improvements in my improvisation as well. I'm really getting some cool things under my fingers, and feel like I sound more and more like a professional (improviser) all the time.
The music really isn't as hard as I expected. There are definitely things here and there that are really difficult. Some of the arrangers seem to forget that I actually have to move my arm to play, and what range my instrument is in. They often put me up an octave from the recordings for no apparent reason. “trombone is sorta like trumpet, let's just put him up there with them!”. I find myself taking things down pretty often, not for my chops sake, but because it actually sounds better (and it's how it was originally done). For those of you who understand, my parts range from the low E two octaves below the just above middle C to about...high D (an octave up from middle C).
I've really already improved like crazy. I've done a lot of work with our lead trumpet/assistant musical director Carlos. He's given me tons of good advice. I do a good deal of long tones daily. My tone, endurance, and control have improved drastically. I've made some real improvements in my improvisation as well. I'm really getting some cool things under my fingers, and feel like I sound more and more like a professional (improviser) all the time.
FOOD
Some have heard me complain, some have heard me rave. I'm beyond tired of most of the mess food, but I still general eat there. I usually just have whatever the best meat they are serving is and rice, cereal, or a banana with peanut butter. There is a lot of roast beef, chicken, pork chops...stuff like that.
If I'm not eating dinner in the mess, I'm probably in the Viking Crown. It's a guest buffet that I'm allowed to eat at because musicians automatically have a stripe and a half (go me!) for just tip money (3$). I have mashed potatoes, roast beef/turkey, stuffing, pineapple, and cake for just about every meal I eat there. It's good quality food. They also have sushi and pasta and stuff. I would happily pay $10 for a meal there.
Since I usually wake up at about noon, I don't know what to call my first meal. Whatever it is, if I'm staying on the ship, it's usually a cliff bar, flak seed chips, and trail mix. In LA I eat a lot of subway. I never thought I'd be one of those to keep coming back to it after I quit like so many people do, but I am! I just can't seem to quit it. I also find myself eating a lot of seafood. There is a really good sushi place in Cabo people go to every week. It's generally about $20 a plate, but I get away with $7 getting 4 crab servings. I've had lots of good sea food. It's always cheap and almost always good. Shrimp and crab are both dirt cheap here.
Having said all that, I've spent a good amount of money on mediocre food. I'm learning quickly what to avoid. Chicken is the same everywhere! Whether you pay $20 or $4 for chicken breast it's still chicken breast.
Anyways, overall I've been eating really healthy. I've actually lost weight since I got here, even though I'm eating as much as I ever have. I really don't eat junk often at all.
If I'm not eating dinner in the mess, I'm probably in the Viking Crown. It's a guest buffet that I'm allowed to eat at because musicians automatically have a stripe and a half (go me!) for just tip money (3$). I have mashed potatoes, roast beef/turkey, stuffing, pineapple, and cake for just about every meal I eat there. It's good quality food. They also have sushi and pasta and stuff. I would happily pay $10 for a meal there.
Since I usually wake up at about noon, I don't know what to call my first meal. Whatever it is, if I'm staying on the ship, it's usually a cliff bar, flak seed chips, and trail mix. In LA I eat a lot of subway. I never thought I'd be one of those to keep coming back to it after I quit like so many people do, but I am! I just can't seem to quit it. I also find myself eating a lot of seafood. There is a really good sushi place in Cabo people go to every week. It's generally about $20 a plate, but I get away with $7 getting 4 crab servings. I've had lots of good sea food. It's always cheap and almost always good. Shrimp and crab are both dirt cheap here.
Having said all that, I've spent a good amount of money on mediocre food. I'm learning quickly what to avoid. Chicken is the same everywhere! Whether you pay $20 or $4 for chicken breast it's still chicken breast.
Anyways, overall I've been eating really healthy. I've actually lost weight since I got here, even though I'm eating as much as I ever have. I really don't eat junk often at all.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Peurto Vallarta
Here are a few random pictures I took from the back deck in PV.
---
This is not my ship, but it was in port next to us. So big! If people care I have a much bigger version of the picture where you get a better idea of the scope.
Random picture of PV
The wal mart in PV. I hate to say it, but it's been a blessing. Didn't pack enough undershirts! I can't believe how expensive things are in mexico btw. Food and like, service are cheap, but things like clothes are super expensive.
He is a bird :D
More coming soon for sure! I actually got a little video of some lightning. I need to clip it first. Anyways, that might be all for now. I'm starting to take my camera more and more places. I'll start taking pictures of food and all soon.
-Scott
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)