Time zone shifting – you know that great feeling you get from gaining an extra hour of sleep in the fall, and the complete opposite dread when you lose it again in the spring? But you deal with it because, after all, it’s only once a year, right?
Imagine trying to deal with it two or three times EVERY week, and you’ll understand a bit of what life is like on the ms Veendam. On my first ship, we only crossed into the Central Time Zone once a week, and it was consistent – every Wednesday. Then we’d come right back to the Eastern Time Zone, so we never bothered to change clocks, we just called it “ship time” to follow Eastern Time even if we were presently in the Central Time Zone.
Well, the ms Veendam does not follow a regular schedule. Six weeks ago it was in Alaska, and over the next month or so, it traveled down the West coast all the way down to the Panama Canal. So every two or three days they kept crossing into eastern-more time zones – which means that every two or three days, they’d lose ANOTHER hour of sleep. Yikes!
Luckily, my contract here will not be that bad. We’ll remain in the Eastern and Western Caribbean until I leave in mid-January, but we’ll still change clocks every time we come back and forth between the Eastern and Central Time Zones.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Sunday, October 29th – Key West
The Veendam’s first port after leaving Tampa this weekend was Key West, Florida. After a whirlwind first day onboard, I couldn’t wait to get my feet back on dry land – and especially in a place so familiar (the Fascination would port here once a week). With five hours at my leisure, I packed up my iPod with all the tunes I needed to learn, my shopping list for Walgreen’s, and made a beeline for Starbucks!
Once I had all my errands taken care of, I still had plenty of time to spare. My feet, now blistered from the sandals I haven’t worn all summer, were begging for the feel of sand and saltwater, so I trekked the rest of the way down Duval Street to the pier at the southernmost point of the island, which is also the very southernmost point of the continental United States. And there, God taught me an unexpected and important lesson: Dive In!
>another cool movie is going to go right HERE soon!<
This dog, Max, a red-nosed pitbull, was having a blast as his owner would run to the end of the pier, throw a coral stone, and Max would chase him, leap off the pier and dive in after it! Of course, the coral would sink, and Max would return to the shore, where his master was waiting to run again and repeat the whole circuit a few times. He never seemed to tire of the game, and was always ready for another go.
But Max was clearly not afraid. What Max knows, and you can’t see in the video, is that his master is walking right beside him as he swims along the pier. Also, there is a pipeline just beneath the surface that Max can barely reach with his toes, so every once in a while he jumps on it until he gets all the way back to the shore, where his master is always waiting with another rock, ready to go again.
And later, the pelicans sitting on the posts of the broken down pier next to us were diving for their supper. I don’t know how they knew where to find the fish, but they would swing up in the air, just skimming the surface, and once they spotted a fish just under the water, they would DIVE and scoop it up! The littlest seagulls were pestering them, hoping to scavenge some leftover bits. But the pelicans would shoo them away, carefully hold the fish in their throat and filter all the seawater out of their beaks, then tilt their head back and – down the hatch!
God is all around us, especially in nature. Why should we fear? If He leads you to it, He will lead you through it. Max was never afraid to jump off the pier, because he knew the pipe was there to help him if he needed it, and that his master always had a watchful eye on him. The pelicans dive despite the pesky seagulls. So too should we dive without fear. When God invites us to take on a task that we think might be too big for our abilities, it is then that we must trust Him the most.
It’s a lesson I needed right at that moment. Here I am, petrified of being thrown to the wolves, of being asked to perform 45 songs I’ve only barely just learned on the first day. And yet, I get here and the band has been terrific, only asking me to sing the four or five songs I’ve already conquered, and giving me plenty of rehearsal time to learn more before they’ll ask me to perform them in front of an audience. The Lord has led me to this, and now He’s quietly giving me all I need and leading me through this. Why should I fear?
Watch the video again and see what the Lord reveals to you! Dive in!
Once I had all my errands taken care of, I still had plenty of time to spare. My feet, now blistered from the sandals I haven’t worn all summer, were begging for the feel of sand and saltwater, so I trekked the rest of the way down Duval Street to the pier at the southernmost point of the island, which is also the very southernmost point of the continental United States. And there, God taught me an unexpected and important lesson: Dive In!
>another cool movie is going to go right HERE soon!<
This dog, Max, a red-nosed pitbull, was having a blast as his owner would run to the end of the pier, throw a coral stone, and Max would chase him, leap off the pier and dive in after it! Of course, the coral would sink, and Max would return to the shore, where his master was waiting to run again and repeat the whole circuit a few times. He never seemed to tire of the game, and was always ready for another go.
But Max was clearly not afraid. What Max knows, and you can’t see in the video, is that his master is walking right beside him as he swims along the pier. Also, there is a pipeline just beneath the surface that Max can barely reach with his toes, so every once in a while he jumps on it until he gets all the way back to the shore, where his master is always waiting with another rock, ready to go again.
And later, the pelicans sitting on the posts of the broken down pier next to us were diving for their supper. I don’t know how they knew where to find the fish, but they would swing up in the air, just skimming the surface, and once they spotted a fish just under the water, they would DIVE and scoop it up! The littlest seagulls were pestering them, hoping to scavenge some leftover bits. But the pelicans would shoo them away, carefully hold the fish in their throat and filter all the seawater out of their beaks, then tilt their head back and – down the hatch!
God is all around us, especially in nature. Why should we fear? If He leads you to it, He will lead you through it. Max was never afraid to jump off the pier, because he knew the pipe was there to help him if he needed it, and that his master always had a watchful eye on him. The pelicans dive despite the pesky seagulls. So too should we dive without fear. When God invites us to take on a task that we think might be too big for our abilities, it is then that we must trust Him the most.
It’s a lesson I needed right at that moment. Here I am, petrified of being thrown to the wolves, of being asked to perform 45 songs I’ve only barely just learned on the first day. And yet, I get here and the band has been terrific, only asking me to sing the four or five songs I’ve already conquered, and giving me plenty of rehearsal time to learn more before they’ll ask me to perform them in front of an audience. The Lord has led me to this, and now He’s quietly giving me all I need and leading me through this. Why should I fear?
Watch the video again and see what the Lord reveals to you! Dive in!
Monday, October 30, 2006
The first 24 hours...
...have been great!
Well… I made it! And within just a few short hours of my arrival, I was in rehearsal with my new Music Director, Daniel (go ahead, “Dan and Dani”, it’s worth a chuckle). Together we picked out a song for me to sing at the first night’s show, “Let Us Entertain You” – a sort of introductions show, a chance for each entertainer on board to show the passengers a sneak preview of what they’ll be in store for in the coming week.
I boarded the ship at 10 am, got my initial safety training and lifejacket issued at 1 pm, rehearsed at 2 pm, sailed at 4 pm, and sang my first song, “Strangers in the Night,” at 8 pm. What a day!
Now that the initial buzz is over, it’s time to get down to WORK. I’ve got quite a few songs to cover with these guys, but so far they’ve all been super-supportive easing me into the group, called “Dani and the HALCats.” (HAL = Holland America Lines)
When we’re not in rehearsals, here’s the port itinerary for the coming week.
Sunday – Key West, Florida
Monday – at sea
Tuesday – Belize City, Belize
Wednesday – Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala
Thursday – Costa Maya, Mexico
Friday – at sea
Saturday – Tampa, Florida
…not that I’ll get to see many of those ports, because I’ll be working my tail off to learn all these songs! Pray for me! :)
Well… I made it! And within just a few short hours of my arrival, I was in rehearsal with my new Music Director, Daniel (go ahead, “Dan and Dani”, it’s worth a chuckle). Together we picked out a song for me to sing at the first night’s show, “Let Us Entertain You” – a sort of introductions show, a chance for each entertainer on board to show the passengers a sneak preview of what they’ll be in store for in the coming week.
I boarded the ship at 10 am, got my initial safety training and lifejacket issued at 1 pm, rehearsed at 2 pm, sailed at 4 pm, and sang my first song, “Strangers in the Night,” at 8 pm. What a day!
Now that the initial buzz is over, it’s time to get down to WORK. I’ve got quite a few songs to cover with these guys, but so far they’ve all been super-supportive easing me into the group, called “Dani and the HALCats.” (HAL = Holland America Lines)
When we’re not in rehearsals, here’s the port itinerary for the coming week.
Sunday – Key West, Florida
Monday – at sea
Tuesday – Belize City, Belize
Wednesday – Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala
Thursday – Costa Maya, Mexico
Friday – at sea
Saturday – Tampa, Florida
…not that I’ll get to see many of those ports, because I’ll be working my tail off to learn all these songs! Pray for me! :)
Thursday, October 26, 2006
My new Stiletto family
It's still incredibly surreal to be standing in the "La Cienega" building to which I've sent countless headshots, resumes, videos, and other promotional materials. Now, I'm actually here, a part of the team! Somebody pinch me!
Here's just a few of the people who are making my quick transition to the Veendam just a little bit quicker and smoother - thank you all for your hard work!
Create Your Own!
Here's just a few of the people who are making my quick transition to the Veendam just a little bit quicker and smoother - thank you all for your hard work!
Create Your Own!
Rehearsals in Los Angeles
So, what have I been doing for the past three days in Los Angeles? Well, a lot of my hours have been spent cooped up in a little closet-sized room with a piano, a whole lot of music, and a vocal coach trying to cram all of that music into my head! This is all the homework that never gets seen, all the hard work we do ahead of time so that when you finally see a showgirl on stage, she looks stunningly fabulous, like her artwork is effortless.
Two of my vocal coaches at Stiletto - Doug H and Jubel - have been IMMENSELY helpful in getting my new sets up and running in such a short amount of time! I applaud their efforts, and thank them for their patience and tenacity with me. :)
Putting some final touches on "It Had To Be You" this morning:
Two of my vocal coaches at Stiletto - Doug H and Jubel - have been IMMENSELY helpful in getting my new sets up and running in such a short amount of time! I applaud their efforts, and thank them for their patience and tenacity with me. :)
Putting some final touches on "It Had To Be You" this morning:
Hollywood tour with Vitti!
After a long day of rehearsal on Wednesday in Los Angeles, my good friend Vitti took me out for a real Hollywood dinner and tour!
We started at In'N'Out burger, where I ordered the famous Double Double and fresh Fries, "animal style" (topped with thousand island and chopped onions). What an awesome meal!
Then we took the long way to get to the other side of town, driving the length of Sunset Blvd. We passed through Beverly Hills and Bel-air, seeing some HUGE, majorly expensive realty, and almost reached Malibu before we returned back into town. I did keep an eye out for 10086, and though it wasn't marked, the property where it would have set was a full city block by itself! Surely this is where Norma Desmond would have resided!
When we got to Hollywood, the fog and smog were just too thick to be able to see the Hollywood sign on the side of the hill, no matter how close we got. But we parked and walked around to see all the legendary theatres along the Hollywood Walk of Fame: Pantages, Stella Adler, El Capitan, Kodak (where the Oscars are held annually) and the mecca of Hollywood - Graumann's Chinese!
We saw loads of legendary names on their stars, and took our pictures with the ones for whom we were willing to lay on a dirty sidewalk. ;) It's an incredible and surreal experience to place your hands in the same place those legends have laid theirs.
Thanks, Vitti, for my personal tour of Hollywood! I had a blast!
Create Your Own!
We started at In'N'Out burger, where I ordered the famous Double Double and fresh Fries, "animal style" (topped with thousand island and chopped onions). What an awesome meal!
Then we took the long way to get to the other side of town, driving the length of Sunset Blvd. We passed through Beverly Hills and Bel-air, seeing some HUGE, majorly expensive realty, and almost reached Malibu before we returned back into town. I did keep an eye out for 10086, and though it wasn't marked, the property where it would have set was a full city block by itself! Surely this is where Norma Desmond would have resided!
When we got to Hollywood, the fog and smog were just too thick to be able to see the Hollywood sign on the side of the hill, no matter how close we got. But we parked and walked around to see all the legendary theatres along the Hollywood Walk of Fame: Pantages, Stella Adler, El Capitan, Kodak (where the Oscars are held annually) and the mecca of Hollywood - Graumann's Chinese!
We saw loads of legendary names on their stars, and took our pictures with the ones for whom we were willing to lay on a dirty sidewalk. ;) It's an incredible and surreal experience to place your hands in the same place those legends have laid theirs.
Thanks, Vitti, for my personal tour of Hollywood! I had a blast!
Create Your Own!
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Humor in the layover
Can I take a minute to just tell you how God keeps me in check?
Monday, Houston International Airport… I had a 3-hour layover, so I planned to do some work on the computer while sitting at the gate waiting for my plane to arrive. You know… multi-tasking, using my time wisely. My addiction to Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte is so bad that when terminal B’s Starbucks told me they were out of that flavor, I actually opted to walk all the way to terminal E’s Starbucks rather than choose another flavor at terminal B. (Somebody… stage an intervention! This Pumpkin Spice Latte addiction is out of hand!)
So I got my pumpkin spice latte and I’m settled in to wait for my flight at gate C-43. My plane isn’t due to start boarding until 11:30, so when there are no other passengers at the gate by 10 am, I’m still not too worried. Megan calls, and we spend at least an hour catching up. Well, I thought it was at least an hour… did I cross a time zone? How come no one is coming to this gate?
Finally, nature calls, I pack up my computer, and gather up all my things, all the while listening to Megan’s conversation on my hands-free cell phone, about to take this conversation with me into the restroom. But as I pass by the departures board on the way, I happen to glance at the clock… 12:02. Doesn’t my flight leave at 12:10? Wouldn’t it have started boarding at 11:30? I glance back at the gate, which is still completely devoid of any passengers. Someone’s clock must be wrong…? “Megan,” I interrupt her mid-sentence, “What time is it?”
“Um….” She looks for a clock where she is, but doesn’t see one. “I don’t…. know.”
Just at that very moment, I hear a lady’s voice on the airport intercom paging me urgently, “Passenger Garza, please report to gate C-34 immediately.” As in, if you don’t get here like YESTERDAY, you are gonna miss your flight!!!
“Megan! I’ve gotta RUN!”
And that’s exactly what I did. Fully loaded with my computer bag, backpack, and empty Starbucks cup in hand, I bolted around the corner to gate C-34, every worst-case scenario possible running through my head faster than I could run through the airport. People are staring as this lunatic lumbers down the corridor, clearly panicked. Huffing and puffing, I arrived to gate C-34 and announced myself to be the missing Passenger Garza. They didn’t check my ID or my ticket, they simply yanked open the door to the gate chute and urged me to run! So I ran a little more. Finally seated in 26D on my flight, I breathed and went back over the situation in my head….
I was sitting alone at gate C-43 for over two hours. I don’t have a watch – a situation I must remedy as soon as possible. But my flight pulled away from gate C-34…. 43….. 34….. I check my ticket to see whose mistake this was.
The ticket says C-34. And I can hear God chuckling at my bone-head confusion. And as I sit there in 26D, I just laugh with him, just Praising Him that I made it on this flight, that I won’t have to explain to my new bosses how I missed the flight they bought me just because I was on the phone and chasing coffee. Praise the Lord, I am on my way to Los Angeles!
God is good. And yes, He has a sense of humor.
Monday, Houston International Airport… I had a 3-hour layover, so I planned to do some work on the computer while sitting at the gate waiting for my plane to arrive. You know… multi-tasking, using my time wisely. My addiction to Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte is so bad that when terminal B’s Starbucks told me they were out of that flavor, I actually opted to walk all the way to terminal E’s Starbucks rather than choose another flavor at terminal B. (Somebody… stage an intervention! This Pumpkin Spice Latte addiction is out of hand!)
So I got my pumpkin spice latte and I’m settled in to wait for my flight at gate C-43. My plane isn’t due to start boarding until 11:30, so when there are no other passengers at the gate by 10 am, I’m still not too worried. Megan calls, and we spend at least an hour catching up. Well, I thought it was at least an hour… did I cross a time zone? How come no one is coming to this gate?
Finally, nature calls, I pack up my computer, and gather up all my things, all the while listening to Megan’s conversation on my hands-free cell phone, about to take this conversation with me into the restroom. But as I pass by the departures board on the way, I happen to glance at the clock… 12:02. Doesn’t my flight leave at 12:10? Wouldn’t it have started boarding at 11:30? I glance back at the gate, which is still completely devoid of any passengers. Someone’s clock must be wrong…? “Megan,” I interrupt her mid-sentence, “What time is it?”
“Um….” She looks for a clock where she is, but doesn’t see one. “I don’t…. know.”
Just at that very moment, I hear a lady’s voice on the airport intercom paging me urgently, “Passenger Garza, please report to gate C-34 immediately.” As in, if you don’t get here like YESTERDAY, you are gonna miss your flight!!!
“Megan! I’ve gotta RUN!”
And that’s exactly what I did. Fully loaded with my computer bag, backpack, and empty Starbucks cup in hand, I bolted around the corner to gate C-34, every worst-case scenario possible running through my head faster than I could run through the airport. People are staring as this lunatic lumbers down the corridor, clearly panicked. Huffing and puffing, I arrived to gate C-34 and announced myself to be the missing Passenger Garza. They didn’t check my ID or my ticket, they simply yanked open the door to the gate chute and urged me to run! So I ran a little more. Finally seated in 26D on my flight, I breathed and went back over the situation in my head….
I was sitting alone at gate C-43 for over two hours. I don’t have a watch – a situation I must remedy as soon as possible. But my flight pulled away from gate C-34…. 43….. 34….. I check my ticket to see whose mistake this was.
The ticket says C-34. And I can hear God chuckling at my bone-head confusion. And as I sit there in 26D, I just laugh with him, just Praising Him that I made it on this flight, that I won’t have to explain to my new bosses how I missed the flight they bought me just because I was on the phone and chasing coffee. Praise the Lord, I am on my way to Los Angeles!
God is good. And yes, He has a sense of humor.
Monday, October 23, 2006
First day on the road
I was so overwhelmed by the beautiful panorama of vivid colors in the fall foliage as I left Pennsylvania and traveled along the Appalachians mountain range south through Virginia. I couldn't help but ooh and aah at the colors and the majestic mountains and valleys, and the video just doesn't do justice to the magnificent grandeur laid out by God.
You'll hear me comment a couple of times about, "I don't know where I'm going." Trust me, it's just that my poor head is swimming with how fast this whole move is happening... I actually have a four-page list of detailed directions for the 1400-mile trip in the passenger seat.
P.S. The song you hear in the background of the second half of the video is coincidentally a band from Virginia, called Six Chasing Seven.
You'll hear me comment a couple of times about, "I don't know where I'm going." Trust me, it's just that my poor head is swimming with how fast this whole move is happening... I actually have a four-page list of detailed directions for the 1400-mile trip in the passenger seat.
P.S. The song you hear in the background of the second half of the video is coincidentally a band from Virginia, called Six Chasing Seven.
FINAL Tuesdays' Friday (again...)
So after a full day of frantic packing on Friday, I finally arrived at my shindig. I am learning that if I have a "FINAL" Tuesdays' Friday every time I leave Lancaster (which is up to 3 now, for those of you counting), pretty soon no one will believe I'm really leaving anymore! Can I help it if I love this town?
Here's some pictures from that night:
Create Your Own!
Here's some pictures from that night:
Create Your Own!
Finally!
Here's how it all started...
Wednesday, October the 18th - I get the phone call I've been praying for for three years, "Dani, this is Stiletto Entertainment... how soon can you start?" After I stammered incoherently for a couple of minutes, I finally admitted that I was of course, available immediately. "Good, because we need you immediately."
HOOOOORRRRAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday and Friday were spent taking care of business, packing up my apartment and making last minute arrangements to get the heck out of Dodge. Saturday, I drove the southbound stretch to Tennessee, and Sunday I drove the westbound stretch to get home. Monday, I flew to L.A. and here I am!!!!
A week ago I was shooting a film in Collegeville, PA, thinking I'd be there until December 1st, if not longer, as I'd just been cast in a production of The Last Five Years. Now, I'm 4 days away from sailing again... proof positive that God does indeed have a sense of humor.....
Next, I'll post a few fun stories about the trip to get here...
Wednesday, October the 18th - I get the phone call I've been praying for for three years, "Dani, this is Stiletto Entertainment... how soon can you start?" After I stammered incoherently for a couple of minutes, I finally admitted that I was of course, available immediately. "Good, because we need you immediately."
HOOOOORRRRAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday and Friday were spent taking care of business, packing up my apartment and making last minute arrangements to get the heck out of Dodge. Saturday, I drove the southbound stretch to Tennessee, and Sunday I drove the westbound stretch to get home. Monday, I flew to L.A. and here I am!!!!
A week ago I was shooting a film in Collegeville, PA, thinking I'd be there until December 1st, if not longer, as I'd just been cast in a production of The Last Five Years. Now, I'm 4 days away from sailing again... proof positive that God does indeed have a sense of humor.....
Next, I'll post a few fun stories about the trip to get here...
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