June 10, 2008 - Los Angeles, CA USA

Hey Everyone!  I am doing great here at home in Los Angeles!  Sorry I haven’t wrote in a few weeks but I took a much needed vacation before my summer production opens this weekend!  I am skating in a theater show this summer right outside Los Angeles called “Snoopy’s Big Bow Wow” at the Charles M. Shultz Theater from June 14th through August 24th!  The show is being directed and choreographed by Karen Kresge who also choreographed Holiday On Ice’s new production Spirit which I just finished in May.

   We started rehearsal on this summer show last week and we are starting our dress rehearsals today.  Everything has been going very smoothly and I am very excited to open the show to the public this weekend.  The show features many well known skaters plus a lot of excellent local figure skaters, many of them I have known since I started skating.  I have either worked with or skated with everyone in the cast except  for one person so it has been great to be able to see everyone again!

  Other then rehearsing the show, I have moved to the beach for the summer which is VERY nice!  The cool ocean breeze makes everything much more relaxed and I don’t even feel like I am in the city anymore.  I have started a new training regimen which has been difficult to start but now I am starting to see the improvements in my skating.  I hope to continue this workout for the entire summer! Well I just wanted to give you all a quick update on what I have been doing but I have some BIG news to announce soon!  Make sure to check back here to hear all about what is happening next season!  Take care!

 -Michael

May 16, 2008 - Malibu, California USA

Hey!

  Well I wanted to let you all know that I am now back home in Los Angeles!! YAY!  I had a very easy travel back to the states!  I went out for dinner tonight to a very “famous” sushi restaraunt with my parents to celebrate my return home plus my birthday and looked who showed up…the infamous CHER! :-) 

-Michael

May 14, 2008 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Hey!

  I am here in Amsterdam for a few days visiting my friends at Cirque Du Soleil production Varakei!  I have some friends that I toured with for many years and it just so happened we were in the same city at the same time!  We were able to go on a canal cruise, have some great thai food in the city center plus I was able to go visit the show!

  I saw Varakei a few years ago when they were in Los Angeles on their first year tour.  I really enjoyed watching it for a second time since I knew more people in the production plus I had my great friend Marni watch the show with me this time.  Marni use to be one of my tour coordinator’s on the road when I was with Disney On Ice and now she is the travel coordinator for Cirque Du Soleil.  I took a few pictures of backstage that I have posted plus a picture with the infamous “Cirque Twins” Kevin and Andrew who are amazing aerialists in the show!

  Tomorrow I am traveling back to Los Angeles!! I can’t wait to be back home to see my family and friends!  I have been overseas for over 9 months which I think is the longest I have ever been completely away from them!  With my extremely hectic schedule this tour there was no time for me to go home to visit so this will be very exciting to see them all! Thanks Europe for a great trip!!

 -Michael

May 11, 2008 - Dijon, France

Hi!

  Sorry I haven’t written in a few days but it has been a very busy week!  We are now in THE LAST CITY ON “Spirit” 2007 - 2008 European Tour!!  I cannot believe that I have been to over 40 cities and I have skated more then 200 shows this tour!  The tour went by very fast and it was such a great experience.  I was able to work some of the world’s most talented athletes and artists from around the world plus I was able to meet some great friends along the way! 

  The city of Dijon is home to the world famous Dijon Mustard!  They sell every kind of mustard you could possibly think of here!  This city was also the host to my birthday party this week!  We were able to have a great party at a local lounge and most of the cast came to celebrate!  I had a great birthday and it was a great time to start celebrating the end of the tour as well.

  We closed the show this afternoon with a standing oviation and it was a very emotional show for some of the skaters because some of them are not returning next season.  The cast really pulled together this year and I think all in all it was a great group of people!  I wouldn’t have changed anything!  I hope I am fortunate in the future to work with these athletes again! 

  Tomorrow, I am off to Paris and then Amsterdam for a few days.  I will be coming back to the USA later on next week and then I will be having a 2 week vacation period at home.  I will be skating this summer in an ice show outside Los Angeles until the end of August.  I start rehearsal on  May 31st for this production and we will have our opening June 14!  I will be working with Karen Kresge again on this production, who I just worked with on Spirit.  I have worked with most of the cast in this production so it should be a great summer!  I will keep you all updated!

  I am off to go pack my very LARGE suitcases and get ready for my trip tomorrow!  I will write again soon!  Take care!

 -Michael

April 29, 2008 - Monaco, Monte Carlo

Hey!

  Today I am in Monaco which is a just a short trip by train from Cannes to the east.  Monaco is home to the Formula 1 racing, Princess Grace plus Monaco is the main vacation destination for millionaires!  Monte Carlo is one of the more expensive countries I have visited but is also one of the prettiest.  I walked around the entire city all day long and stumbled upon a very nice beach by the main resort.  I took walks through the beautiful gardens on the cliffs, up to the palace and around the shopping area.  The city was full of very fast expensive cars and even more expensive yachts!  It was a great place to visit and I would definitely like to go back there for a few more days in the future!

-Michael