Off to Texas

Ok. 5 minutes and then we're off for the airport to go to Texas. It's 5:45 in the morning AND it's my birthday. I got 3 hours sleep. BUT I've already gotten a number of terrific birthday gifts!!!

1) My grandmother is getting out of the hospital today AND it looks like she may very well go on the cruise! Even though negligence abounds in what happened to her with the biopsy, it will really all have to be addressed later on. The great thing is she wants to go, is feeling better (I talked to Mom from the hospital yesterday and she said Nana was sitting up and looked great), and it may all work out after all! A true miracle after how she was feeling just 2 days ago! And she's still got 6 days before we all get on a plane together for New York.

2) Ok. I don't really mention celebrities or Broadway people a lot on here because I don't want to seem like I'm boasting, but today's my birthday so I'm giving myself permission! So, reader, beware! :) I ran into the amazing Broadway actress Carolee Carmello on Tuesday at Starbucks. Seth had talked a while back about her coming on the cruise and then he completely forgot to ask her. I called Seth real fast when she was in there and he said to run and catch her to ask. I introduced myself, asked her, she asked Mamma Mia management that night (she was on her way to the theater), and now she's going with her 7-year-old son! (her daughter and husband can't go). She can't stay for the whole cruise but Seth is having her sing Woman in the Moon from Star is Born. The first night is Barbra Streisand night. I'm singing Piece of Sky from Yentl. I got to hear her rehearse is a bit on Friday and she sounds incredible. That was a gift!

3) Seth and I went last night to the first preview of [title of show] at the Lyceum on Broadway. The cast have become friends of mine over the past year (and one guy, Hunter, I've known for over 10 years from my previous life in NYC). It was a show they created and believed in and worked really hard for and they made it to Broadway. They were so great, it was so inspirational, everyone stood and screamed--it was like a rock concert. We went backstage with Stephanie Block (whom Juli and I saw star in Wicked when we lived in Dallas), Donna Murphy, and my friends Jennifer Prescott and Brian d'arcy James. Seth took a picture of me and Jennier and Susan Blackwell, one of the stars of the show, because they're both helping me with my book by reading what I've written and giving me feedback. I'll try to post it when we're at...

4) We're on our way to Betty's ranch for two days and then we're gonna be staying in Irving, where Juli and I lived before moving back to NYC. Irving is where Seth and Betty are gonna be performing. I'm hoping to get a lot of writing done! I'm also hoping I can sneak in a voice lesson of some sort with Betty while we're at her ranch! It's still incredible to me to be able to know Betty and be able to just chat with her about whatever and for her to know me and a bit about my life after growing up listening to her and watching her as a kid on 8 is Enough. It never gets old.

and

5) We get in Dallas at 10:15 and I'm gonna be able to spend my birthday morning with my whole family! Juli, Mom, my sister, and Seth!!! How lucky can a guy get?!

Ok, we're out of here! Here we come!

Seth is playing for Betty Buckley.