JEERK - The Swedish Sensation in Branson, Mo!

Last Friday, we took the kids to see a new show in Branson called JEERK. Funny name, I know. They are a group of extremely talented guys from Sweden who rock the stage with their tap dancing and rhythm. They perform at the Hughes Brothers Theatre on the strip.

If I had to sum up the experience in one word, it would be "unbelievable". If you get a chance to read their brochure, each of these young men has been highly successful. They are dancers, musicians, actors and singers. The show is not only a tribute to the famous tap dancers like Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Gregory Hines, but also something new and fresh in America. They use hardware items that you might find in your local hardware store to make incredible rhythms all while tapping in their high tops. They look and dress like rock stars and their music is very much Rock and Roll.

Non-stop action and entertainment. These guys never stopped tapping! And they were creative and innovative with their stage props. Did I mention that they were funny? We gave them a standing ovation twice because the audience wanted more! During the show, I peeked at my 8 year old to see if he was enjoying it. I could see his wheels turning. This show made a huge impression on him. He saw "cool", "hip" guys with punk rock hair playing instruments, dancing, and performing. This show inspired him.

After the show, all five performers came out so that we could meet them. I would like to mention that a lady, who was in her 70's, came up already dressed in her JEERK t-shirt, and hugged each and every one of them. She loved it! My kids couldn't wait to get autographs. They too wanted t-shirts, necklaces, posters, bumper stickers, etc. Truly, a show for all ages.

To me, this show represents the NEW Branson. The Branson that will attract young families like ours to vacation and live and yet will still impress our senior crowd that we love and cherish. If you haven't seen this "Rhythm Artist Group" yet, you must make plans. They are only performing through the end of October, so make it part of your Fall Fun in the Ozarks!

FLUFFY SHEEP!

Our Lady of the Lake

Yesterday evening, my family enjoyed a dinner cruise onboard the Showboat Branson Belle. Our Lady of the Lake has been entertaining passengers for 16+ years. When we first arrived, we walked a path through the most beautiful grounds that I have seen in this area. The landscaping is pristine and there were many photo opportunities along the way. The path lead us to the White River Landing where there was shopping, restrooms, and a box office. And in the background was the Lady herself docked on the most beautiful lake I have ever known, Table Rock Lake.

As we boarded the Belle, our boys stopped to feed some giant Carp that had been patiently waiting for our arrival. Then we were off to get our souvenir picture taken. At this point we were hot and ready to go inside for reprieve. We entered the ship and were directed to our seats, but in typical Wicker fashion, we went to the restrooms instead. When we finally found our seats in the dining hall, we were amazed at the size. We learned that the Belle can accomodate 700 guests and I believe that it was about 95% full.

There was no idle time when we sat down. The Emcee, a seasoned comedian, began telling us about the paddle boat. The boat was constructed at its port at White River Landing and was launched into Table Rock Lake on August 12, 1994. What we found to be facinating was the fact that in order to get the boat into the water after construction, they used "Launching Rails" that were covered in bananas to "Slip" the huge paddleboat into the water. I thought that slipping on banana peels was something of a cartoon myth, but no. It actually worked and the boat slipped at 14 miles per hour into Table Rock Lake, which the Emcee mentioned was the fastest the boat has ever traveled.

During the introduction, one of the audience members asked the Emcee if Nickel City was a fun place to go in Branson. She meant, Silver Dollar City, but the Emcee was relentless in teasing her throughout the show. It was pretty funny. While the Emcee gave us a history lesson, the first course of our meal was being served. The Dinner consisted of salad and bread, Beef and Chicken with Vegetables, a yummy ice cream pie dessert, iced tea, water, and coffee. The kids devoured chicken strips, veggies, and macaroni and cheese. Their dessert was ice cream and gummy bears. Perfect.

The Show was entertaining and high energy, but my favorite part was going up on the decks of the boat and peering out on the landscape of the Ozarks. I never pass up the opportunity to go to the lake. I love seeing the sun sparkle off of the gentle waves and I am one of those people that believe that the lake gives off positive ions that make you feel relaxed! We saw a few tubers going by so we waved. The boys were asking a lot of questions - How does a paddle boat work? How much does this boat weigh? When are we going tubing? Why are we on the lake and not in the water? That is why we took a picture of the "PLANK"....wink, wink.

The boys enjoyed Todd Oliver and his talking dogs. When they performed, every member of the audience was laughing. Mr. Oliver is a famous ventriloquist and he controlled masks that were attached to the dogs' muzzles to make them appear to be talking. He made the dogs have personalities which made it funny. The Bull Dog, Irving, was very sarcastic and lazy and his nemisis, Lucy was shy and matter of fact. This was a huge hit with the kids especially.

When the show was over, we left the ship and walked ashore. The boys thanked us for taking them and told us that they had a great time! Our final thoughts were that the Showboat Branson Belle is a must see in Branson and definitely is entertaining for all ages. The show was high energy, the staff was friendly, and the scenery was breathtaking. I encourage Branson visitors to check out the deals on their website http://www.showboatbransonbelle.com/. They have a first time ever combo offer with the Titanic and when the 2 attractions are purchased together, adults save up to $13.83 per ticket.

Back to School Bash

This past Sunday, my boys and I attended the 4th annual Back to School Bash at the Branson Rec Plex. What a blessing it was to see hundreds of local children receive free school supplies and backpacks. I would like to thank the First Baptist Church in Branson for putting on such an amazing event.

When we arrived, my boys hit the ground running. They could see from a distance a stunt bike flying through the air. Sure enough, a stunt team from Springfield was at the event ministering to the kids and showing off their talents! There were 2 BMX bikers who raced up and down a half pipe doing flips and landing on one tire. There was a fantastic skate boarder who actually did a hand stand on the edge of his board. Last but certainly not least was a young man on a dirt bike. He actually jumped the motorcycle over 9 people. I have to admit that I was nervous about that stunt, but the boys loved it and couldn't stop smiling.

Next stop was the climbing wall. Each kid was hooked to a safety line and could climb the wall up about 20 feet in the air. And after we got extremely hot waiting in line, there were water slides and bouncy houses to cool us off. Did I mention that admission into the Aqua Plex was free? Kids also enjoyed face painting and crafts, but my boys skipped these areas to focus on the more physical activities. Fun, fun, fun.

This event was complete with a firetruck, D.A.R.E. and an ambulance. Not only was this an outreach to children that needed extra financial support in the community, but the event also supported fire safety, drug abuse resistance, and fellowship. It truly is a blessing to be a part of this community.

P.S. My photos were taken from my phone so I apologize for the quality. Thanks for reading!

Jaynee’s Life in a day

On July 24, 2010, Kevin McDonald, a Hollywood film maker for Sundance, asked the World to video a portion of what their lives were like that day, mundane or exciting, and upload it to YouTube to be used in a movie called, LIFE IN A DAY. Jaynee, the famous 1st Class Maid of the Titanic Museum Attraction, wanted to share her daily “behind the scenes” life with the world and I was picked to film it.

Jaynee is the “personality” that the Titanic Museum Attraction uses for commercials, billboards, print ads, etc. She is like the “Mickey Mouse” of the Titanic Museum Attraction. I frequently get asked a lot of questions about her. “Is Jaynee real?” “Does Jaynee fake an accent for her job?” “Where is she from?” I have now learned the answers to these questions first hand and will share them with you. Jaynee is real of course. She is one of the most passionate ladies that I have ever met. If you have ever been lucky enough to meet her at one of the Titanic Museum Attractions and have seen her “in character”, what I want you to know is that she is not acting; that is Jaynee’s actual personality. She is British which explains the accent, she is full of life, and she genuinely LOVES the Titanic.

During our LIFE IN A DAY filming, we had to answer four questions. The first was, “What does Jaynee love?” Jaynee’s LOVE for the Titanic is GRAND. She knows every passenger and their story. She knows every detail of the construction of the RMS Titanic. She cares for every crewmember at the Titanic Museum Attraction and they care for her.

Throughout the day, Jaynee recited poem after poem about the Titanic. She engaged visitors and told them stories about the passengers on their boarding passes. What I noticed, following her around the ship, was that she captivates guests. Not only is her accent perfectly fitting for a first class maid aboard the Titanic, but also her knowledge and emotional connection draws people in. AND, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the dogs. The Titanic Museum Attraction is now paying tribute to the dogs that were onboard the Titanic. They have 2 King Charles spaniels named Molly and Carter who “work” at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Mo. each day. When I saw Jaynee interacting with these two, I knew she was completely “head over heels” for them.

Ergo, my next question got answered without even asking. “What is in Jaynee’s pockets?” Well, what I saw were treats for the dogs in a red velvet bag. I witnessed her rewarding each of the special mascots treat upon treat. They greeted her; she gave them a treat. They barked; she gave them a treat. They rang a bell; she gave them a treat. I now know that those dogs are highly intelligent and they expect Jaynee to have “full pockets”.

The next question to answer on my mission was “What do you fear”? I was taken back by Jaynee’s honesty and intelligence. Jaynee explained that the oil spill in the Gulf was her biggest fear at present. She explained that BP represents Britain and because she is British, it embarrasses her to think that she might be associated with such a disaster. Her vast amount of knowledge on the environment and the eco-system were surprising and her genuine care for animals shone through as she talked about the tragedy.

There was one last question that our video had to answer. “What makes Jaynee laugh?” That was apparent throughout the day. Jaynee enjoys making others laugh. She had a witty remark for every occasion. Her light-hearted nature was contagious and everyone seemed to enjoy making her laugh too.

This experience drew me in to the Titanic Museum Attraction on an entirely new level. It is not just a museum. There is a family that works together there and they are passionate about each of their positions. They are passionate about paying tribute every day to the 2,208 passengers and crew that were aboard the Titanic and they all work together to make the visitor’s experience personal and exceptional. Yes, I accomplished my goal of producing a “behind the scenes” look at Jaynee’s Life in a Day, but I gained so much more.

Life in a day

Titanic Museum Attraction News and Events: July Art Exhibit at the Titanic in Branson, MO

Titanic Museum Attraction News and Events: July Art Exhibit at the Titanic in Branson, MO: "They're here and yes I almost missed the light trying to rubber-neck.... The entire month of July, The Titanic Museum Attract..."

July Art Exhibit at the Titanic in Branson, MO

They're here and yes I almost missed the light trying to rubber-neck....

The entire month of July, The Titanic Museum Attraction is paying tribute to the artists that were onboard the Titanic. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, "art" is the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.

I had the absolute pleasure this morning of meeting the famous, most talented Missouri Artist, Rachel Wilson. She has used her creative imagination to transform hedge wood into life-size, life-like horse sculptures and they are now on display in the grassy knoll of the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Mo. These creations are magnificent! I thought I knew what to expect before I arrived at the ship this morning, but nothing can prepare you for the stunning beauty of this art form.

Rachel got into working with Hedge Wood during a time on her farm when cut-backs were necessary and oil paint and canvas (her usual) were expensive. She said she had PLENTY of fallen hedge wood and decided that she would make something of it. Recycle it. When Rachel starts a new "piece", she explained, she goes out on her farm in Avilla, Mo and gathers the wood. Then, in her shop she sculpts the pieces together to create these majestic figures.

Weighing in at over 500 pounds is the largest horse sculpture on display. "His" name is Country Knight and required over 2 months to complete. Country Knight's Grand Stature reminds me of the Titanic. According to Wikipedia, RMS Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world when she set off on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, on 10 April 1912. Country Knight is valued at $8,000. All of the horse sculptures on display are for sale. They range anywhere from $1500-$8000, depending on size.

I find it fitting for our museum to pay tribute to the artists that were onboard the Titanic. After all, there were two world renowned artists documented to have been 1912 RMS Titanic passengers; Paul Chevre was a French sculptor and Francis Millet was an American painter. And...what about Jack Dawson? He was an aspiring sketch artist! The Titanic Museum Attraction continues to celebrate ALL of the passengers that traveled on the 1912 voyage and draws us in emotionally to their lives.

Voted by 417's Branson Vacation Magazine as one of the top things to do this summer, Rachel Wilson’s Horse Sculptures will be on display the entire month of July 2010 on the lawn of the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri. This is a MUST SEE in Branson, Mo.