Puppet Mania

Sorry I wasn't able to get online last night. We didn't get in from Mohegan Sun until 3:30AM!

Thankfully, after the deluge on Wednesday and the slightly iffy weather on Thursday, Friday was drop-dead gorgeous, 85 degrees, sunny, no humidity. It was too nice to hang around inside as we originally planned, so we made up for the mess on Wednesday and went for a walk in historic downtown Pittsfield instead. We browsed in a bookstore and a junk shop not unlike the big antique store in Barrington. Lauren bought a cookbook and an RL Stine novel from the junk shop. I found two 70s vintage books, a hardback adaptation of the 1977 Annie musical and a Buck Rogers novel from two years later.

We bought fat pannini sandwiches at one of Lauren's favorite coffee shops, Juice and Java, and ate them on her patio. She has a huge backyard and a lovely view of the mountain overlooking Pittsfield, Mount Greylock.

After lunch, we picked up her friend Heather from the bank where they work and headed off to Mohegan Sun. I had no idea Mohegan Sun is a huge Indian casino in Connecticut, just outside New York City. The only casinos I've ever been to were in Atlantic City. It was gorgeous and elaborate, with lots of rock "waterfalls" and fancy restaurants and shops.

We met Lauren's manager Tony and his wife there. (Actually, they passed us on the Interstate just as we arrived.) We'd hit mega traffic around Springfield and New London, allowing us just enough time to eat a very quick dinner at the Summer Shack before rushing to the show.

I'd only heard of Jeff Dunham through his Broadway show, but everyone I'd talked to who have seen his show (including Mom and Keefe, who saw it on cable) said he's a riot. They're right. He's a hilarious ventriloquist and stand-up comedian with a stable of weird, wacky puppet characters. The skeleton terrorist seemed to get the most laughs (maybe it was those eyebrows), but my favorite was the old man. I think I've had him in line at the Acme.

After the show, Heather played the slot machines a little, but Lauren and I were just bored. We wanted to save our money for our Vermont trip and weren't up to gambling. It was 10:30 before the show let out, and we were all tired. We had a quick meal at a deli near the Casino of the Sky, then picked up Lauren's van from valet parking and made the long (and traffic-free this time) ride home.

After sleeping in, we're going to head into Vermont to hit the Vermont Country Store. Look for more on our trip later tonight!