The ride to Long Island was really nice because we went through tunnels under Manhatten. It was a Monday morning and I was drinking my morning coffee on the vestibule as we rolled through Penn. Station. I took some pictures but they're not with me just now.
One of our dare-devil acts was out with an injury in Long Island and a poodle on a motorcycle filled in for him. And the other keyboardist was out for surgery and a buddy of mine who is the arranger and sometimes composer on the show came from Chicago to fill in for him. That was great. I don't actually have many close friends here.
I went to visit Amity on Big Apple circus for my day off.
On Long Island we were basically parked in a college campus and it reminded me of my Ex who went to college on Long Island. That made me feel kind of miserable. But I did see a space capsule, a missile and a navy jet in a lot outside of an old airplane hangar.
Then our train moved to Long Island City and our show moved into Madison Sqare Garden in New York City.
I had a couple of days to visit friends and my sister in Boston. I visited my things at my storage space and took a few of them back with me. I have my iron and some more musical equipment which I think I should insure.
I got my teeth cleaned for the first time in 20 years. I've been afraid to go to the dentist. But one of the center teeth on the bottom looked like it was rotting so I caved in and made an appoinment with my sister's dentist. Turns out the tooth wasn't rotten at all. It just had 20 years of mineral build-up on it which she had to chisel off. I was quite relieved. My teeth feel very smooth.
Then I went to visit the Big Apple Circus again, this time I sat on the band-stand during the show. The guys made me feel very welcome and I envied them for being on such a beautiful old fashioned circus. They sounded great. They are perhaps one of the last real circus bands in this country. 8 pieces; bandleader (trumpet, horn), high brass, low brass, reed, violin, piano, bass, drum. And the sound was rich and full and there was a lot of improvisation. Nice music too. A buddy of mine plays the violin in the show and he just had a baby. I saw another friend in the audience.
They're moving to Boston by the way next week so go and see them. There is a talking dog.
I've been listening to Jenifer Kimbal's new CD lately.
We opened in new York last night. There was a big party after.
We have tonight off and I'm going to see Bindlestiff Circus in Brooklyn.
The CD people teel me that the Pinocchio CD will be done a week from today.

We're in New Jersey. Earlier this week I went into Manhatten to mail something and get on the net. I felt really at home, like I just returned to the planet. I guess I was in the south too long. Sheesh. Just nice to see tall buildings and good public transportation. I just like to know where to look for things.
Today I had a nice long talk with Ruthie. She used to be a clown on the show back in the day. Now she works for the publicity dept. We talked about the old days in the circus and Lou Jacobs and her old dog Joko. And the old musicians and the old clowns. And the ones who still keep in touch and who have husbands and wives and kids in the normal world.
The train run tomorrow will bring us right through Penn Station!
But we've had a long week and I only have one day off. sheesh. I'm going to try get away from the show. It's funny that whenever I get away from the show it's only to visit friends on another circus. So it seems my only escape is to run away with the circus. sheesh!

Circus Logistics 101:

These are the flatbed cars. They're empty in this picture. They go last on the train. If the train has to change directions they pull the flat beds off and put them on the tail end. The tail end is the bumpiest ride. Sometimes we get knocked around quite a bit when the train is slowing down or speeding up.
The wagons and the bus, all of the props and equipment and tractors, and forklifts, and generators go on the flats. Everything gets chained down. They drive them across town on Sunday night after the last show back here to the train.

The elephants walk here at that time too. They load the flats all night. Usually around 5am I'm awakened by the bump of the flats getting connected to the coaches. And then we're on our way. It's very slow because whenever another train is coming along we pull onto a side rail and let them pass. It can take all day just go to a town an hour away. Sheesh!

When we get there, they unload the flats and start hauling everything over to the building. They walk the elephants over there too. Then they start to rig the show. They have to put rubber on the floor, suspend the truss, lights, sound, props, etc. And they lay out the dressing rooms and put our wardrobes in there. By Wednesday we're ready to open the show.