High School Musical - Get in the Picture

Ok - I know pregnancy reeks havoc on my hormones and this crying crap is all related, but just hear me out...

Kay, I am watching this new abc show High School Musical: Get in the Picture. They are auditioning young talent from across America. First they have these open casting calls. What I love about it, is the auditioners are so respectful of everyone who auditions - whether they suck or not. If they don't pass into the semi finals, the judges are so kind and helpful and positive with their advice, and when the kids walk out, even if they did not pass they audition, they feel really good about it.

It made me think about how that compares to American Idol. I mean, I'll admit, there are some really funny auditions - I've laughed at really unbelievable performances, but still, I am not crazy about how mean the judges can be.

This show is interesting - and yet the judges don't put anyone down. I really like it!

Something I like about the show - is the alternative way kids can make it to the semi finals. Parents and teachers were bale to send in videos - and then the auditioners went out to watch them perform and then, if they pass their "secret" audition, they auditioners announce it in front of the school, friends and family. So cool!!!

I like it. I like it, I like it a lot.

The two extremes of life - birth and death...

Yesterday, Grant and I went to my first ultrasound. I got to see my little baby - the heart beat... the movement - it was so amazing to see. I am keeping a pregnancy blog at 0urbabyblog.blogspot.com

On a down note, yesterday, we had to put our dog, 13 year old dog, Kanga, to sleep. How much does that suck? Seriously - it happened so fast. A few days after we got back from Europe, she started peeing in the house - After a few days, with it starting so suddenly, we thought maybe she had a bladder infection. We took her to the vet and she got an antibiotic but after a few days, things didn't seem to be getting better. She stopped peeing in the house - she stopped peeing at all. She would squat and strain but nothing would come out. She also wasn't eating very much. We called the vet again, and they thought maybe she had kidney stones. I dropped her off yesterday to get x-rays. Well, the xrays showed no stones, so the vet suspected a tumor or bladder cancer. She put Kanga out to do the test and found that her bladdar was so blocked she couldn't get a catheter up, and the urine was very, very dark. Essentially, there was nothing they could do, and they suggested just letting her go at that point - since she was already underanesthetic for the test, it just seemed easier for her than reviving her so we could all say goodbye - it would have been selfish to put her through that pain.

Oasis of the Seas

Awhile back, I shared with you the "Central Park," neighborhood on the new Project Genesis ship that Royal Caribbean is building. Well, the ship is officially named the Oasis of the Seas (with its sister ship being named the Allure of the Seas.) Oasis will begin booking this September, and sail in December of 2009.

They are designing Oasis around the concept of neighborhoods - seven in all. The first that they revealed was the Central Park Neighborhood. The next one was the Royal Promenade, already a familiar concept to the Royal Caribbean Fleet. They just recently revealed the third neighborhood, and the will continue revealing information about the rest of the ship throughout the summer.

The most recent neighborhood is the Boardwalk. This neighborhood is adjacent to Central Park, above the Royal Promenade, on the back of the ship. It, too, opens to the sky, and recalls the feel of historic boardwalks - it will include an airbrush "tatoo" parlor, candy shop, fortune telling, Johnny Rockets, and the first ever at sea amusement ride - an old fashioned carosel! In addition, there is a zip line that travels across the Boardwalk Area that decends something like 9 decks.

The Boardwalk exits onto an ampitheater pool deck known as the AquaTheater. During the day, terraced decks filled with lounge chairs surround this aft pool, while two movie screens can, at time, offer entertainment to the sun batehrs and swimmers. Behind these decks are two rock climbing walls. At night, these lounge hairs convert into stadium seating, while the pool transforms into an aqua theater - complete with a suitable depth for high diving, synchronized swimming, and water ballet and acrobatics.

Can you even imagine?

Here, you can go to the official website. There is a photo gallery, a video with all sort of concept art, and all sorts of neat info.

Here are some interesting quotes from the recent chat event:
Foffie232: How will the space in the AquaTheater transform at night? Specifically, if the area is a public pool area during the day, with lounge chairs, what kind of seating will there be at night for the shows performed there?
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: You'll find this very interesting. We will have very unique chairs which can convert from reclining sun lounge chairs by day, to fully upright stadium seating by night. Other "transformations" include: water show programming (day = passive; night = active), plus large screen tv programming, in-water lifting platforms which convert from standard pool bottom depth during day, to become ultra deep diving pool at night (17.9 ft), night lighting and sound, etc

Roe: What is a zip line?
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: A zip line is best described as a pulley suspended on a cable. The zip line is designed to allow the guest to propell by gravity nine decks across the top of the Boardwalk. This is for those that are looking for an adventure.

dogloverCalifornia: what kind of shows are going to be in the aquatheater? the stage seems awfully small for any kind of real entertainment.
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: The AquaTheater is the first of its kind at sea. At night the space will be transformed into a performance venue which feature dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet and professional high-diving performances. There is ample space to execute wonderful performances.

patswife: WILL THERE BE INSIDE CABINS
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: Yes, there will be inside, outside, and balcony staterooms. Actually, there will be a total of 37 stateroom categories to choose from.

BEACHCAT: ARE ALL THE TREES AND GRASS REAL?
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: Yes, Central Park features real grass, foliage, shrubs, trees and flowers. It's going to be so neat!

Wicked

On Tuesday, we went up to see Wicked in LA. We took the train and spent the night at the Marriott at Hollywood and Highland!

Wicked really is a good play - and I loved the casting - Elphaba and Galinda were perfect in their roles! It seems like such a fun play to be in!