Kelly Bell Band

Third day equals Kelly Bell Band concert. This was a very varied day of work and I loved it! The band played two concerts (12 and 6) with a cookout in between. In the morning, I was on green room duty. Basically, I hung out in the green room and made sure the band had everything they needed and helped them get to where they needed to be when they needed to be there (I'm referring to the sound check, during which I actually had a long conversation about Broadway with the lady left in the green room. Man, I can discuss Broadway like most boys do sports!). After the first concert started, I helped set up for the cookout. At the cookout, I played bouncer at the entrance (like I did for the AU suites--Why I was the bouncer for drunk people trying to sneak into the suites at football games is beyond me, but hey, I got some stories from it, eh? Side note, I know, but no worries. No one tried to crash this party). During the second concert, I helped clean up the cookout (I was one of the magicians who made all the tables and chairs disappear between the show--poof!). All week we were excited about one song in particular (we had their set list in order to set lights and for this song it was yellow floor, like sand, blue top, like water, and bubbles on the side walls)... I knew it was down the set list and hoped to make it into the theatre to see it. I walked backstage, sat in the wings, and heard the prep being given for the next song. Sure enough, I had made it just in time for, drum-roll please, Sponge Bob! But Kerri, this was a blues concert right? Nah, it was a "Phat Blues" concert! They played a pretty good mix of stuff and sounded great. After the show (I saw, hmm, maybe the last third?), the band went out to mingle with the audience and to sign cds (they were also sweet enough to sign posters for all of the crew-- see mine in the photo above!). After helping them pack, carry, and load their stuff, it was time to call it a night. Guess I've got my first concert under my belt!

First and Second Days

This is a combo post of my first and second days at--wait for it--my new job! I am now a crew member for the Doudna Fine Arts Center. Exciting stuff, eh? My first day involved running forms around campus (so that I could work) and then learning my way about the theatre (serious stuff, it is very easy to get lost/turned around!). Up on the catwalk, I learned how to hang lights and helped with changing light gels and positioning the lights for the blues concert this weekend. I started work on day two at noon. When I showed up, my boss asked me to hang some lights, put the right gel/filter in, wire them, and position them to shine on the right spots (with an "I'll be back later- I'm going to lunch"). Whoa buddies! But no worries girl, you can totally do this! I went to collect the wires, filters, and tools for the job and got to work. Right after I started, a tour group appeared on the catwalk over looking the stage. The professor started his tour monologue, but all eyes were on the girl working on the stage. No pressure, eh? But you know, I knew what I was doing (well, at least I think I do). And, I could see myself from their viewpoint and I know they were thinking: Man, that girl knows how to hang lights! (That's what I would've been thinking if I was up there!). Impressive, no? What is actually very impressive is my ability to quickly climb the ladders backstage. And I mean quickly-- like Spiderman! (who is hoping to make his own theatre start soon...)

 

Adventures in Cooking: Tollhouse Pie Edition

I had an extra pie crust, so let's try another pie! This time I went for a Tollhouse pie. According to the recipe, "the sweet, creamy richness of a brown sugar base makes this chocolate chip pie a perfect foil for chopped nuts and whipped or ice cream." It did have a creamy, rich, sugary base. But as for perfect foil? I dunno. Don't get me wrong! Everyone who tried a piece loved it. Personally, I don't care for nuts. If I made it again, I'd probably leave the nuts out and then the chocolaty-ness of the pie would be perfect with some vanilla ice-cream! 

Recipe:

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, melted and cooled
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 9 inch deep dish crust pie shell

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs until foamy. Add the flour, white sugar and brown sugar; beat until well blended. Blend in the melted butter. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour batter into one unbaked 9 inch pie shell.
3. Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.

 
 

(un)Fair (Weather)

Friday morning woke up like an excited little kid. Why? 'Cause we're going to the fair! And not just any fair, the Illinois State Fair. This fair is supposed to be awesome and I can't wait. Well, we drive to Springfield and everything seems ok, we drive to the fair and the sky seems to be graying, we get to the tent where the event is being held and freight-train-like wind roared all around us. A man, whose house happened to be located next to our tent, yelled for everyone to get in his basement. We ran in and waited (for only a little bit- no worries!). Back outside, three guys working at our tent were pointing out to everyone where they saw the tornado. I know it's better to be safe, but a little part of me wished that I would've stayed outside and seen it too. I mean, how often do you get the chance to see a tornado in person? It wasn't long though before the rain hit (and I mean hit). It was raining and pouring and showed no chance of going away (two little kid songs smushed together? Kerri, how dare you cross references!), so we sat outside under a metal braced tent eating chicken breasts with lemonade (what can you do?). After finishing dinner, I made quite an impressive tower out of the goodies strewn on the table (at right).  Eventually, we decided to walk around the fair to see the animals and find some funnel cake despite the drizzle. Unfortunately, the rides were all shut down and the concert (Lady Antebellum) was canceled. I did try some chocolate covered bacon though (and it was gross!). Now I know what you all are wondering, because of the weather and all the closings/cancellations, but don't worry, your mind can rest--I managed to see the butter cow.

Adventures in Cooking: Chess Pie Edition

Let me start this post with a little story. Several weeks ago, when out on one of our adventures in tiny towns, we found a very dumpy, albeit delicious barbecue restaurant. Now, I'm not that big a fan of barbecue, but they had mini-baby pies that were so cute I just had to try one. I picked (can you guess?) a mini chess pie and have wanted to make one ever since (a full sized one though- why make a mini? It just has more crust!). Tonight I finally did- it was scrumptious and everybody loved it! Yum!

For those who would like a taste, try it out for yourself:

Old-Fashioned Chess Pie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 c. sugar
• 2 tbsp. (heaping) flour
• 1 tbsp. (heaping) cornmeal
• 1/2 c. butter, melted
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 c. buttermilk
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 10-in. unbaked pie shell (I used a 9-in pie shell and just didn't pour all the mix in)
  

1. Mix sugar, flour and cornmeal; stir in butter, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla.
2. Mix well; pour into pie shell.
3. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.
4. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees; bake for 30 minutes longer. Cover pie with foil, if necessary, to prevent burning. (I actually baked it for 40 minutes longer- it got a nice flaky crust on top!)

Bon appetit!

Everyday's a Holiday...

at Holiday World that is. Holiday World is a small theme park located in Santa Claus, Indiana. Yes, the town is actually named Santa Claus. And, while that may seem silly, I think it is actually a brilliant marketing move. How so, you ask? Well, I did drive three hours to a small Indiana town that is, quite literally, in the middle of nowhere, and so did several other people. According to Santa Claus himself, (yes, I discussed the nature of his town with him upon running into him at a Christmas store in town), this weekend could be record breaking (last weekend was recording break with an estimated 24,000 people in the park). All those people came here, to a Christmas themed town with a holiday themed theme park all because someone named the town Santa Claus several years ago. Again, brilliant move. As for the park itself? Fine. Maybe best described as a step below Disney and step above Lake Winnepesaukah. The best thing about the park is that it has a water park inside it, which I could have stayed in the whole time (didn't though, wanted to explore the whole park on the first trip-plus it was very, and I repeat, very crowded). We had a great time at the park, and, if you ever find yourself in Santa Claus, Indiana, it is worth a visit (and, if you do, you should go to Santa's Candy Castle and try a frozen hot chocolate- it was delish!)!

Train's A Comin'

This past weekend marked my first trip by train. Yes, you read that correctly. Train. And let me tell you, it was exactly as I hoped: as the train approaches your station, a man is leaning out from one of the doors and is wearing a conductors hat. He then leaps down and says "All aboard!" Perfect, right? So the train trip was three hours long and took me from Mattoon to Chicago (2nd trip to Chi-town this summer!). In Chicago, we sampled two new places' deep dish pizzas (one each night and both were delicious), explored Millennium and Grant Park (flowers and fountains galore!), and went out on the glass sky deck at Willis Tower (don't look down!). For the train trip back, our seats were on the second level of a double-decker train (fancy!).

Hmm... is it bad that the majority of this post was about the transportation to the vacation?

...I think not.

Trains are awesome.

Sometimes, Good Deeds Go Rewarded

Last night, my parents and I ventured out to visit Sullivan, Il, which is known for its live production theatre, Little Theatre On the Square. The theatre, in fact, has been written up in USA Today as one of the top ten best places to see theatre off-off Broadway (way off-off Broadway!). I had heard two ladies in town talking about the production they saw last weekend of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," and thought, man, that was one play that I had wanted my parents to see (myself having seen a college production of it last spring at Auburn). I looked up the theatre and, to my glee, they still had one weekend left of shows. We called and managed to get tickets on the second row (close enough for you?). Not knowing exactly where the theatre was, we left early and got into the town at 5:30. With lots of time to kill (curtain was at 8), we looked around for dinner. Just off the square, we found a place called Jibby's and walked in. The hostess asked if we had reservations. Really? I thought. For this small of a town? Turns out, they only had two empty slots for the whole night and we could take one of them right then (everyone going to the play must eat there!). And no wonder the place was booked—it was delicious! After dinner, with still plenty of time to kill, we walked causally around the square. We then got our tickets (still early) and waited in the lobby. I wanted to be in the lobby to try to find the guy who was looking for audience spellers. Having seen the show before, I knew he would be out there and I thought it would be funny if I could get Daddy into the show. Finally, the man came out. I went over to talk to him but, before I could, Daddy pushed me forward saying "She'd love to spell!" Ha. Ha. No. I wouldn't. Spelling is the only subject in school that I was bad at. Seriously. Besides, I had already seen the show and knew what would be coming (part of the funniness of the onstage spellers is that they have no idea what to expect). I told the man I had seen the show before. Now, hopefully, he wouldn't pick me. Show started and, to my relief, I was not called up to be a speller (Mental Yay!). During Pandemonium, a song rant about how the element of luck makes the bee unfair after the word "cow" was given to an audience member, Olive threw a lot of index cards that landed in the house covering the aisle and 1^st and 2^nd row. A bunch landed on me, so I read them (they had one word on them each- words for the bee). At intermission, I collected the cards from the floor and aisle way, making a nice stack, and placed them on the corner of the stage. Why? Well, I thought it would be nice. Plus, actors were going up and down the stage there (one on skates too) and they didn't need to slide on the cards. As intermission was coming to a close, a stagehand walked out of a side door and said, "I heard that someone cleaned up my cards for me, thank you." He then handed me a bag of m&ms. It just goes to show you that, sometimes, good deeds go rewarded…