Hi All,
I got here from Wayne's without any trouble, which is certainly more than I can say for my trip to Wayne's... lets just say I'm not really fond of border lines, Sea-Tac traffic, or construction. Anyway, I got here about 4pm and checked in to my hotel in Medford. I'm staying at the Windmill Inn and so far it's great. That may change after breakfast tomorrow, but it sounds good:-) It's a pet friendly hotel and the American Kennel Club has some folks... and dogs staying here as they're performing/showing at the county fair or something like that, but I haven't really heard any of them, so it shouldn't be a problem. The pet-friendly thing is obviously a big seller for the chain. They have doggie biscuits at the front desk and everyroom has two door signs: one is the standard "do not disturb"/"make up room" sign while the other is "pet in room". Kinda funny walking down the halls to see all these pet signs, but I guess then housekeeping, etc. won't let them escape if they come to deliver/clean. The whole place is also smoke-free. They even have a declaration on the check-in card about it. Cool. A definite change from Europe. They also have a computer, upon which I'm typing this, in the lobby. And it's free. Another improvement on Europe:-)
After dinner (left over Alfy's from lunch yesterday :-) and left over salad from lunch today ... I LOVE my cooler bags and those ice packs!) I went to Ashland. I drove down I-5 to get there. It's really only a 15 minute drive as it's only 12-miles to the south end of town (that's the end where the Univ. is so I drove past to scope it out a bit). Then I drove over to the Shakespeare Festival and parked in the public parkade there. Okay, so parking doesn't sound exciting, but it's $3 for the whole day! Ah! B-lot memories ;-) Anyway, I walked the few metres to the festival and the "Green Show" was on. It's a dance/music performance they have in the 'courtyard' between the theatre entrances each night at 7pm (shows start at 8.30). It was pretty neat, but I couldn't resist scoping out the gift shop before the show. There is WAAAYY too much stuff for me to buy here. I think the only things I didn't want were the Shakespeare bobblehead and the action figures... cause I already have them! Sooo annoying to know I only have $300 duty free... and that doesn't go as far when our dollar is doing well. Any chance it'll tank on Monday after I've paid my hotel??? Nah, I didn't really think so either.
Yes, I did actually get to the show. Tonight I say "Two Gentlemen of Verona" and it was very good, but I have to say the dog really stole the show. Maybe that's why Shakespeare never wrote another play with a dog as a main player? The entire production was very well done. Laura would've loved it too. Verona as Amish-ish country, Milan looked like a fashion catalogue (you know, polo shirts and argyle sweaters... and tennis whites), and the exiles in the forest were full-on punk. I'm absolutely convinced that some of the costumes either came from Hot Topic or are already in Laur's closet;-) I have to see if they have any pictures of them in the gift shop... maybe a postcard:-) The theatre itself is really cool too... nope, I take that back... it's in Ashland so it's really very hot and stuffy. But I'm pretty sure that's why the shows start so late. This one was in the outdoor theatre that looks an awful lot like the Globe. I had a 'cheap' seat at the back of the main floor, but it was a great seat. Maybe not as cool as the ones without the balcony overhang, but a terrific view. The seats for Cyrano next week (for the AP course)will probably be the 'better' ones though... they charged us enough for them.
Well, I've rambed enough and it's 12.25 so I better go crash. Gotta be in Ashland for the folio by 11.30 so I may get to sleep in a bit. TTFN.
