Typical Day on the Road

March 2003

<- February 03 - March 03 - April 03 ->

 

3/1/03

9:00 AM Good Morning! Mesa, AZ
12:00 PM Yippee! picking up our mail from General Delivery, Mesa, AZ (to give you an idea of how often we met up with our mail: there were Christmas Cards in this batch.)
3:00 PM arriving Flagstaff, AZ
6:00 PM 9:00 PM reading in our Barnes and Noble "living room" - basically killing time because we don't want to start out at night in the snow and get stuck on the Flagstaff pass like last time. No, Thank You! Once was enough.

3/2/03

9:00 AM Flagstaff, AZ
12:00 PM chatting about life on the road with a lady who is just beginning her own travel adventure - Kinkos, Flagstaff
3:00 PM roads are clear and the snow fall has let up - leaving Flagstaff, AZ
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM made it over the pass! Camping in Williams, AZ

3/3/03

9:00 AM finally getting our van rolling after being iced in - thanks to the guys in the pick-up who towed us out! We've got a train to catch in 30 minutes!
12:00 PM arriving at the Grand Canyon station chug-a-chug-a-chug-a-whooo-whooo!!
3:00 PM 3 hours at the Grand Canyon is not enough time even if it is our 3rd trip (making plans to hike down to the bottom next year!) Ah well, the train ride saved wear and tear on the van.
6:00 PM arriving Williams, AZ via train (just got "robbed" by a bunch of bandits) it was fun!
9:00 PM (switched to Pacific Time Zone) heading north on highway 95, Nevada

3/4/03

9:00 AM waking up in Boulder, NV
12:00 PM shopping at Trader Joe's in Las Vegas, NV
3:00 PM doing Kinkos in Las Vegas (just ran into the lady we met at Kinkos back in Flagstaff, AZ - small world huh?) -see 3/2/03
6:00 PM running errands in Las Vegas, NV
9:00 PM winning stuffed animals at Circus-Circus, Las Vegas, NV

3/5/03

9:00 AM dropping off mail in Las Vegas, NV
12:00 PM Zephyr riding the rollercoaster at Sahara, Las Vegas, NV
3:00 PM Zephyr still riding the rollercoaster at Sahara
6:00 PM Zephyr still riding the rollercoaster at Sahara (ok he stopped for lunch and to go swimming, but he did log 24 rides today, guess he got his $11 worth)
9:00 PM playing pool (we each won a game) and doing laundry at Circus-Circus RV, Las Vegas, NV

3/6/03

9:00 AM Las Vegas, NV
12:00 PM Eating at Circus-Circus buffet, Las Vegas, NV
3:00 PM Zephyr practicing his Japanese with a lady in a kimono at Starbucks, Las Vegas, NV
6:00 PM performing our first of 2 Family Night shows at Orr Middle School
9:00 PM stuck at a stop light in Las Vegas - we could be here a while!

3/7/03

9:00 AM PHEW! Didn't have to spend the night at the stop light! We're setting up for our first of two shows at Pat Diskin Elementary
12:00 PM rushing to get our props, sets and costumes out of the cafeteria in time for the students to have lunch
3:00 PM returning to Pat Diskin, cuz we left behind some props!
6:00 PM watching the "Mechanical Man" at Excalibur - first saw him about 10 years ago
9:00 PM watching a comedian in Las Vegas (in the audience for a change)

3/8/03

9:00 AM Dennis and Zephyr heading toward Circus-Circus
12:00 PM D and Z playing in the pool, Kimberly playing pool (billiards)
3:00 PM shopping at Trader Joe's in Las Vegas. Thank heavens we're back in TJ territory!

6:00 PM Dennis and Zephyr headed to Treasure Island, to watch the pirate show for the umpteenth time--but the first time in 3 or 4 years.
9:00 PM decided to spend the night in Primm (Cal-Nev. state line) so Zephyr can ride the Desperado (an incredibly high, steep, fast, inhuman rollercoaster) in the morning.

3/9/03

9:00 AM Dennis retrieving his keys from the security desk at Buffalo Bill's hotel/casino, where he lost them last night. Maybe now he'll stop teasing Kimberly about losing her keys all the time.
12:00 PM Zephyr rode the Desperado and was ecstatic. He can't wait to do it again. But we have to be on our way.
3:00 PM On the side of the road somewhere in the middle of the desert between Barstow and Mohave, waiting for a tow truck. The van is exhibiting very ominous behavior.
6:00 PM Leaving the van at a garage in Barstow. Taking a tour of the city by shoe-leather express.
9:00 PM Wrapping up our grand tour of Barstow. We had a long walk, examined potential new vehicles at closed dealerships, and played billiards. We wanted to go bowling, but the bowling alley closed just in time to avoid us.

3/10/03

9:00 AM biting our nails in Barstow, and calling to reschedule a show scheduled for this afternoon.
12:00 PM Got the word on our van, and it's the worst imaginable. The engine is shot, and the overhaul would cost at least $3300---and who knows how many days. We ask about a lead on vans for sale, and they say they have one.
3:00 PM Scrubbing out the van we're buying, and transferring our belongings.
6:00 PM They finally installed a trailer hitch on the new van, but we notice it has no wiring harness for lights. So they start working on that, even though the garage is officially closed.
9:00 PM Leave the garage lot in our new van, and make it two blocks before the thing dies and won't restart. We've already rescheduled a show slated for tomorrow morning in the Bay Area.

3/11/03

9:00 AM another glorious day in Barstow. Dennis tried replacing some computer relays first thing this morning, but no go-- literally. Tow truck taking us back to garage.
12:00 PM They're still working on the van's wiring. We had to cancel yet another show in the Bay Area. We are not happy campers.
3:00 PM On the road to Northern California. The new van works!
6:00 PM Still on the road.
9:00 PM Ditto. Dennis has taken over the driving in Manteca, as Kimberly has had it.

3/12/03

9:00 AM setting up for a show at Habitot Children's Museum in Berkeley. We made it! And how wonderful to be back in the Bay Area again.
12:00 PM packing up after our show at Habitot.
3:00 PM on the way to Stockton for tomorrow's show
6:00 PM settling into Kinko's in Stockton to catch up on our email
9:00 PM Stockton, CA

3/13/03

9:00 AM Stockton, CA
12:00 PM Laundry in Stockton, CA
3:00 PM Recruiting kids to be "tough guys" in the Iron Dragon Story in our show for Maya Angelou Library, Stockton, CA
6:00 PM eating dinner, Stockton, CA
9:00 PM passing through Livermore en route to Fremont, CA

3/14/03

9:00 AM Show time at Hirsch Elementary, Fremont, CA
12:00 PM leaving Fremont
3:00 PM paying our annual visit to Lakeshore Learning Store in San Leandro, CA - love the discount room!
6:00 PM rehearsing with more guest stars at Roosevelt Elementary, San Leandro, CA
9:00 PM San Leandro, CA

3/15/03

9:00 AM San Leandro, CA
12:00 PM playing with our computers at Kinkos - San Leandro, CA
3:00 PM Show time at Manor Branch Library in San Leandro, CA
6:00 PM Striking the set and being invited to perform at the Main San Leandro Library on May 10th
9:00 PM Visiting with our friends (Sue Ellen, Ron and family) in San Leandro. Sue Ellen's the one to blame for Dennis and Kimberly meeting in the first place.

3/16/03

9:00 AM driving through beautiful Napa Valley
12:00 PM arriving Bothe-Napa State Park
3:00 PM Bothe-Napa State Park, CA
6:00 PM Arriving Santa Rosa, CA
9:00 PM Borders Bookstore, Santa Rosa

3/17/03

9:00 AM Show time at Hidden Valley Satellite School in Santa Rosa
12:00 PM Chasing leprechauns and leaving Hidden Valley School
3:00 PM Playing billiards (guess we found a new hobby), Santa Rosa
6:00 PM Didn't catch the leprechaun, but he left Zephyr some new books!
9:00 PM Borders Bookstore is delighted by our presence

3/18/03

9:00 AM Show time at Spring Creek School in Santa Rosa
12:00 PM Leaving Spring Creek School, Santa Rosa
3:00 PM Driving 120 miles to San Jose - with a pit stop in San Leandro to pick up mail
6:00 PM Setting up for a show at the Evergreen Library, San Jose
9:00 PM Leaving the library - driving 130 miles to Sacramento

3/19/03

9:00 AM Setting up for our Woodbridge School shows in Roseville, CA
12:00 PM Finishing our 2nd show at Woodbridge
3:00 PM time to catch up on email, Zephyr is doing math - Roseville, CA

3/20/03

9:00 AM Sacramento, CA
12:00 PM Laundry (whoopee!) - Sacramento, CA
3:00 PM Setting up for a show at one of our favorite libraries for one of our favorite librarians and audiences (someone even made us cookies!). Rancho Cordova, CA
6:00 PM visiting with Kimberly's brother and his kids Joey and Jenny at the library, Rancho Cordova, CA
9:00 PM ahhh! Reading books in Citrus Heights, CA

3/21/03

9:00 AM standing in line at DMV to get Kimberly's license renewed and trying to get the new van registered so we can sell it next week.
12:00 - 3:00 PM taking care of business - Auburn, CA
6:00 PM getting ready for our show at Nevada County Library
9:00 PM still talking to some audience members and the librarian after the show - heading to Reno, NV soon

3/22/03

9:00 AM made it to Reno last night, getting ready to set up for a show at Sierra View Library
12:00 PM just finished the show, Zephyr is exchanging emails with his new friend - who is sitting at a computer next to him while Dennis and Kimberly are packing up
3:00 PM visiting Kimberly's family Reno, NV
6:00 - 9:00 PM working - Reno, NV

3/23/03

9:00 AM running errands Reno, NV
12:00 - 9:00 PM visiting family, having a birthday party for Zephyr's soon-to-be 9-year-old cousin Joey (who is visiting from Sacramento with his family) and watching the Oscars, Reno, NV

3/24/03

9:00 AM performing "Act!vated Poetry" for students at Our Lady of Snows, Reno, NV
12:00 PM going to the bank
3:00 - 9:00 PM office type work

3/25/03

9:00 AM preparing mail for the NAESP Convention
12:00 PM still preparing mail - Zephyr is studying Japanese
3:00 PM there is a lot of mail to prepare
6:00 PM taking a break from all of those envelopes by performing at the North Valleys Library
9:00 PM more envelopes to prepare - Zephyr is playing songs on the keyboard, Reno, NV

3/26/03

9:00 AM updating Web site - Zephyr is doing his English
12:00 PM loading Web site
3:00 PM Setting up for our show at Mendive Library in Sparks, NV
6:00 PM chatting with young audience members as we strike the set and load out - the show ended an hour ago
9:00 PM Reno, NV at Grandma's house

3/27/03

9:00 AM visiting with Grandma and Grandpa and reviewing the vans available to buy - the grand total is zero
12:00 PM greeting Yukari, and her son Keisuke (13) and daughter Ayaka (9) who have come to visit us from Japan! Yukari lived with Kimberly's family for 3 weeks as an exchange student 22 years ago.
3:00 PM performing for local kids and our friends from Japan (they win the prize for traveling the farthest to see one of our shows) at Duncan-Traner Library, Reno, NV
6:00 PM playing games like toss the paper ball (a gift from Japan) with Ayaka and discussing Anime with Keisuke, learning Japanese and teaching English to our friends from Japan
9:00 PM can't believe that Yukari, Keisuke and Ayaka are not yet tired after a 17 hour flight and such a long day in America

3/28/03

9:00 AM Sight-seeing with our Japanese relatives and Kimberly's parents
12:00 PM Everyone is playing carnival type games at Circus-Circus, Reno, NV
3:00 PM Visiting Kimberly's Grandma at her ultra-modern retirement home, Reno, NV
6:00 PM Picking up the van that we are stuck with for the time being from the mechanic (Pro-1 Automotive in Reno---we highly recommend them.)
9:00 PM Yukari, Ayaka, Grandma and Grandpa are helping Dennis and Kimberly fold fliers and stuff envelopes. Zephyr and Keisuke are building rollercoasters on the computer and assembling robotic dinosaurs.

3/29/03

9:00 AM Setting up for a show at the Northwestern Library, Reno, NV
12:00 PM Loading props (what a wonderful audience we had---wish we could take them with us!) and heading to our storage unit to dump some stuff off until May
3:00 PM finishing up at storage and making a mad dash to Sacramento to meet Kimberly's family for dinner at 5:00, Reno, NV
6:00 PM made it to dinner - an hour late, but we made it and are squeezing 13 people at a table for 9. Sacramento, CA
9:00 PM saying sayonara to Yukari and her kids and making plans to visit Japan in a couple of years. Goodbye as well to Kimberly's family until May.

3/30/03

9:00 AM - 9:00 PM playing catch-up on 3 weeks worth of work in Ripon, CA

3/31/03

9:00 AM heading to Ceasar Chavez library to perform, Stockton, CA
12:00 PM catching up with a family we met at one of our shows in Stockton last year - exchanging tips on how to learn ASL and braille, and computer game programming
3:00 PM checking into the Stockton/Lodi KOA for a night, but we didn't stay that long. What a horrible place---don't ever go there!
6:00 PM Eating at a Mexican restaurant in Stockton, CA
9:00 PM Barnes & Noble, Stockton, CA

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