My first glacier!
Piano Man Finale
Pure Country Opening
Pure Country Finale
Our gorgeous view 24/7.
Piano Man Opener
Did I say gorgeous? I mean wow...Well, things are getting better everyday. We opened Pure Country last night and it went GREAT! One more show to go and install will be OVER!!! YES! I'm still exhausted, but we do get the day off in Seattle tomorrow, so I'm very thankful for that.
I get seasick about every couple of days now...which is better than all the time I guess. :) I just end up sleeping a lot which is definitely not a bad thing!
It looks like we'll be doing 3 shows a week once things get up and running. I'm kind of excited about that even though everyone else feels like that's too many for 7 day cruises because it will keep us busier and make the time pass quicker for me. I'm already missing everyone like CRAZY and I can't wait to come home...I guess I'd better not hold my breath huh! hahaha I'm still having fun, so don't let that sound discouraging. It's just very very different than what I'm used to...you know like cars, land, and a room bigger than a closet! hahahaha
I'm going to bed so I can get up early and head out. I'll write more when I get the chance. Please keep praying for me - I feel 'em! Thank you for them. :)
A thousand miles away,
Kristian
11 comments:
Kristian,
The costumes are great!! I can tell by the costume, you're PawPaw would love Pure Country!!!! They got their post card and you'll never believe it Granny cried(haha)We are missing the heck out of you especially when all the fam is togeteher chowing!! I'm a little worried about the sea sickness especially knowing you are not prone to motion sickness although Dad is reminding me now about you in a back seat of a car. I had forgotten. Maybe that will get better. I'm definitely going to call us in some patches before we leave. I can't wait to see you. We are so excited about seeing Alaska and you all at the same time. I will admit we are ready for installs to be over so we can talk to you more often. But for now, we will continue to pray for you!!!!! We love you!!!! Dad, Robin and Kaleb
Hey Baby Girl,
I think your costumes look great! You're a pretty good look'n blonde. I know everyone loved the show, you guys were awesome in Florida. Have you received your packaqge yet? Enjoy your day off! What a beautiful place..
Hey Kristian!!!!
THANK YOU for the pictures! Alaska is AMAZING isn't it? The glaciers are a bit shorter than I remember, which is a little scary with global warming going on these days. It has been over 20 years since I saw them, but from the looks of it, the picture you sent looked just like the glaciers I saw at Glacier National Park. Don't know if thats where you were or not.
The costumes are wonderful and I know your shows are fabulous! I also know that you are dead tired on your feet. It will be a good thing I think to go to three shows a week. It will keep y'all from getting bored in the long run!!! I am proud of you! You look like a real entertainer! You've got the right kind of stage makeup on, you've got the stance! That shy little girl I worked with in high school who went to Las Vegas to compete in International Cinderella has grown up! You are a full-blown entertainer now! I am PROUD of you!!! Just one question - what's up with the hair? Are you really blond now, or are those just wigs?????????? I guess if that is really your hair color, now is the time to stretch your wings and take a few chances. Just don't jump off the deep end - and - if you do, don't tell me about it until its over and you are back to your roots! (No pun intended)
An update on Miss Alabama - Haley did not make top ten, but she was fine with it and is at peace. I am pleased that she is in a good place. She is now faced with the same choice that you had to make your last year. She has passed Sophomore Barrier and is ready to get on recital track. She has really become hooked on the operas and I think prefers them to Miss Alabama, which is totally understandable. I've told her that she will either need to focus on recital or Miss Alabama. If she tries to do both, she won't do either well. You know how that goes.
Jamie was a FABULOUS Miss Alabama. She was radiant all week and her voice just soared! She, too, is at peace with giving up her reign. Of course, having Tyson waiting in the wings didn't hurt, either!
Just thought you'd like to know that your USO group, "The Bama Girls", won a national award for your performances to the military. Congressman Spencer Bacchus presented the award to Debra Talley on stage Saturday night. How I wished you could have been there on stage with your troupe! Haley has been going along with your group and I missed her standing on stage. Ryan Omenski, Allison Wilkes, Kelly Carr, Leigh Sherer, Jana Sanderson and another former Miss Alabama (I'm having a senior moment) were on stage with Debra along with Billy, Kevin, and 2 people I didn't know. Despite the fact that I needed a hook to pull Congressman Bacchus off the stage because he droned on for 15 minutes or more, it was a wonderful moment, especially when it ended!
I was coersed into singing my talent from Miss America onstage Friday night. Thursday night, the judges requested to hear it. Jo Lynn Burks, one of the judges, who also competed with me in Miss Alabama, knew about it and asked to play it for me on stage if I would sing it. It was an unbelieveable moment! She now works on Broadway in orchestra pits playing piano and conducting. I gave her the chordal structure and in 30 minutes she put together an accompaniment for me that sounded like full orchestra. It was an experience I will NEVER forget! After we took our 3rd or 4th bow together, my former local pageant director, Walt James, surprised me with a bouquet of 30 roses on stage! I almost died on the spot!
This year was my 30 year anniversary. None of this was planned until Thursday night after the pageant. I have decided that I am going to quit while I am ahead and go out with a bang! I plan to retire back to the Scholarship Panel only. I don't think that anything could top this week! It was so great being on stage with Jamie and Haley. I loved it!
Everybody is excited about you on your cruise. Debra and I talked about it and you are obviously in touch with her, because she knew where you were and all about it! In fact, she made the comment "the sweetest girls come from JSU - wouldn't it be fun if we had another JSU Miss Alabama back to back?" referring to you, Haley and Jamie.
Oh, I guess I should tell you who won, in case you know them - 2 new girls won 4th and 3rd alternates, 1st alternate was Katie Boyd (also her last year to compete), 2nd alternate was Colene Burns from UNA (who has 1 more year to compete). The new Miss Alabama is Amanda Tapley, from Samford. She is brilliant! She won interview and talent. She is a flawless concert pianist and is highly intelligent when interviewed. This is her first time to compete in Miss Alabama (!) and is 20 years old. She is clueless about the Miss America system. She's a breath of fresh air and doesn't have any idea of how amazing she really is. People were shocked. It was an unbelievable top ten. I have never seen so many professionally trained, intelligent girls with perfect bodies in my entire life! Each time another girl would come out and perform, speak or do swimsuit, my breath was taken away. I hate it for Katie, but she is in Pharmacy School and I hope ready to move on with her life.
It was a great week and I am exhausted, but not too tired to write a novel on your blog! I can't wait to hear about your experience in Seattle and Alaska! Tell us what all you did, where you went, what you saw, what neat restuarants you experienced, etc. I kept thinking about you while I was emceeing Miss Alabama - right there on stage - especially when Jamie would come out and sing. I wish you could have been in two places at once. I can't wait until one day you DO come back to Miss Alabama and tell everyone that you are a professional performer on a cruise ship!!!!!!!!! The only thing is - if you are a blond, they may not recognize you! Well, you can think about that later. For now, have a wonderful time and work hard! Seasickness will improve with time, I think. When your family comes on the cruise, I want to see pictures!!! I want to see pictures of all of you in front of Glaciers!!!!!
Take care and I anxiously await the next blog!!!!
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
It's truly awesome. By the way, you look good as a blonde; but I really like you better the "Crowe" way, as a gorgeous brunette, HA!
Hope you are over your seasickness. Still jealous that we can't see your show. Talk your Uncle Larry into coming along on the cruise with your folks.
Keep sending those pictures. We're going to see your grandmother tomorrow. She will surely ask about you!!
Love you lots, Aunt Margaret
PS, Kristian, I agree with your Aunt Margaret - you look good as a blonde, but I prefer you the "Crowe" way - as a gorgeous brunette!!! But, you know, you are an entertainer and blond is a good thing for stage, especially for a country singer. Its just another pretty part of a great costume design. While you are at it, now is a great time to try other colors, like red. Just, please no green, blue or purple. Now is the time to do what you want to that is funky with your hair. All I ask is that you don't damage it permanently. Color away and have fun!
Speaking of fun, have fun on your cruise and keep enjoying Alaska! I keep hearing about local people who are going on cruises to Alaska and I can't ever get people to stop talking long enough to find out what cruise line they are going on. I want everyone from here who goes on a cruise to Alaska to catch your show if they are on the same ship as you. Just wish I could catch your show!
OK. Enough for today. Gotta go unpack. Have fun for me and blog when you can!
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
Hey, Kris-
Are you updating your facebook and MySpace regularly and are people bloging you there, too? Or are you just using this blog? You had said that you would primarily use this blog, but if you are trying to keep up 3 websites, that takes a lot of time. Are you still emailing? I know phone calls are roaming and expensive. I was just wondering how much you are able to sit down and write. I know how busy you have to be. I just don't know how difficult it is for you to keep up with us at home on this blog. Give me some idea of what your time is like. Don't want to tax you when you don't have enough time to answer.
More later - Mrs. Stricklin
PS - I would also love for you to send a photo of you in costume to Dr. Corbin for the August Choral newsletter. Everybody will want to know about you. But-if everyone already is conversing daily with you on your Facebook and My Space,and seeing your pictures, then it would be old information. Help me figure out what to do. If I need to send the photo, give me an idea of how to do it from this blog. If you need to do it, then you can just email pcorbin@jsu.edu. Maybe that will work.
Hey Kristian! I forgot to ask you how you liked Seattle? What did you do on your first day off? Did you go to wonderful restuarants? Seattle is known for them. Did you try food you'd never had before or did you worry about seasickness? I hope that is going better. Did you see anything neat and if so, what did you think about it? When you get a chance, let us know!
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
P.S. Before long, you are going to wish that I would hurry up and get back into school and teach so I won't ask you so many questions!
Hi Kristian!
I was unpacking and doing my usual marking of the top ten in my program, when VOILA!-there you were with the Bama girls on a full length ad! You are pictured 6 times in the ad, once singing by yourself! They are great pictures of you! There is one big one of all of you and 6 little ones, I think and you are in all but 1 of them. When you come home the next time, let me know and I'll bring the program book to show you! If I knew how to email you a copy, I would. Just thought you'd like to know!
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
OK, Miss Kristian, I am beginning to fill up this blog completely - I just can't help it! How many computer bytes does this thing have?
Anyway, I was just cleaning the carpets (ooh, don't you wish you were doing what I am doing?!!!)~ anyway, I just got excited all over again that you are a cruise ship performer!!!! WHEEE!!! Just remember that I said this when you are on your last leg and you want to go home.
Pam Shirley Lawrence called today and she thinks that she didn't get the job at Disney. They haven't called yet and she said that they told her they would call her the first of June if she got the job. She is in good spirits and is looking on the bright side. "Well, at least I can finish my degree." she said. "Yes - and then go back and audition again. They told you that they wanted you to come back and audition if you didn't get the job this time." was my reply. She agreed and is at peace with it. We will work (just as you and I did) this summer and I'll get her ready for her recital in September.
On a different note, TJ called from basketball camp last night. His roommate bailed on him. The roommate got homesick and TJ said he was coming home today. TJ called to say that he was "bored". We all know that means he is homesick, too. Chuck told him to enjoy the rest of the week and he would pick him up on Friday after the camp was over. Only, he said it in a mushy way. TJ has never been this far away from us for this long. He is going into 7th grade. I didn't do a camp for a week away from home until I was going into 11th grade. Of course, that was in the dark ages.
Just thought I'd share with you that you are not the only one who misses home. At least you are not "bored"!
Just another note as I had thoughts about you. Thought I'd share them with you. Keep up the good work and knock 'em dead with you show!
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
Hi Kristian!
I STILL want to know what you thought of Seattle. When you get a moment, let us know!
Just went on your MySpaceMusic website and checked everything out! Wow! You have some good stuff on your videos!
I'm curious - was the fire to perform lit when you did your first USO show? I seem to remember that you were particularly excited about it when you returned. OR- was the fire lit much earlier than that? Your natural gift is evident in each performance you give. Your rapport with your audience is natural and easy. I can easily see why Debra wanted you to go. She knows a good singer when she hears one. Oh, and the WarLetters video is wonderful! It was fun to see the "Gadsden (State?) girls all together. Were you four going to a performance or rehearsal? I loved the way you did the video. It was fun to see Haley and you singing together.
I hope that you can eventually answer all of my questions! Just save all this and when you are stuck on a wave, start answering my questions!
Does anyone else write you this much? If so, no wonder you don't have time to write!
Seriously, I am playing. I know how busy you are.
I also want to know about how the "meet and greet" part is going. Have you met anyone interesting??????(grin)
OK, enough for tonight. Still excited about your new profession! I'm serious - I want to see pictures of the Crowe crew in Alaska in front of a glacier! I know that they are coming soon to see you! What fun you will have!
(I bet you'll think twice before you write again that you want to see the messages keep coming!!!!!)
Have a great night and have fun! I want to know details!!!!!!
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
YEEEEEE Hawwwww!Luv the blonde wigs and the cowboy suits!! Looks like youre havin a great time. Luv the picture of the big glacier too, Lord I feel like I know someone that is on the Titanic!HAHAHAHA! Luv all the pics, keep it up. Still praying for ya! We love you sis! Ging & Larry
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