I'm a terrible blogger...

I'm sorry. It's been nearly a month an no updates. What the crap is my problem?

I guess I've just been really busy. With what? Well, work, Max, improv...the whole lot. I'm about to finish level D at Second City. Our show is this coming Sunday the 11th at 2:30pm in the e.t.c. Theater at Second City. Should be a good time. I know I'm excited. Only catch is that it's the same day as the Chicago Marathon, so traffic and parking will be horrendous. Ick.

I'm 2 classes away from finishing level 1 at iO, all signed up for level 2. Brilliant news: I got the internship at iO. I'm so super excited about it it's ridiculous. I mean seriously...incontinent with excitement.

I'm also planning to audition for the Incubator program in a couple weeks. Things are going to get busy, right? But I figure, I worked 3 jobs, went to school full time, and raised a kid...so this should be easy.

I feel like everything I'm writing is terribly lame. I think it's because it's more stream of consciousness than well-thought-out blog entry. Plus I'm catching you all up on things that have happened over the course of nearly an entire month. (This is why we start improv scenes AFTER the "Hey how are you" moment.)

What else? Well, my birthday is this month. October 23rd I'll be 29. That's crazy. I mean, seriously weird. The last year of my 20s? Are you kidding? Where the heck did the time go? I'm not saying that I'm old (although, some might argue that I am...) nor do I feel old (although this time of year the cold weather makes my joints hurt...and recently if I eat anything after 8pm I get heartburn...) but it just feels like the last 4 or 5 years just flew the eff by. Like I blinked and bam...I've time travelled to age 29.

It's been making me really introspective...and also, a little be more willing to take risks, I guess? I'm not sure how to explain it.

Last week was busy at work, so I only caught the jam and Blackout, in terms of improv. Saw a really fun Halloween Burlesque show Saturday. I recommend you check it out if you're a fan of hilarity and burlesque dancing. Risque, but classy.

This week I'm crammin' in more improv...Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Break Saturday to chill with Max, and cap the weekend off with my Level D show.

It's gonna be a wild ride. Hang on tight.

Friday...(I couldn't come up with a catchier title...)

Soooooooo looking forward to the Jam tonight. After this week, man...I need to laugh at life a little. Going for sushi before the show. I'm addicted. So delicious.

What else? Oh...ROCKIN' class last night. Absolutely. And the funniest moments were when we were strictly playing reality. Even though deep down I know playing reality is key, sometimes it's so hard to jump out of your mind and just let things happen naturally. There's sometimes this pressure to get a scene started. And you know what? There really doesn't need to be.

Last night's class just reinforced that. And hopefully I can put it into practice tonight. Or sometime soon.

On another note, I have a monologue workshop tomorrow afternoon. Actually really excited about it. It's to help you prepare for auditions and whatnot. Who knows if I'll ever even have the opportunity to actually audition for anything...but, might as well keep that in my back pocket, right? I mean honestly, the more tools in my belt, the more...well, i don't know. I think it's nice to learn what I can...and the workshop is free.

I'm rambling now. To be quite honest, I'm killing time before I can leave and meet up with B for sushi. I'd really rather not stand alone in Wrigleyville, but, it's lookin that way. Oh well.

This entry was so lame. I apologize.

Elephant farts and rat gonads.

There. Non-sequitur.

anticipation has a purpose

In this case, that purpose was the fact that plans have changed...slightly...since my last post in which I mentioned that there would be big news.

So, here it is: I'm NOT dropping out of Second City...instead I'm going to continue through the program AND start at iO. So, double the improv until January. Which is awesome by me!

It's been a while since I've written anything of any real note, hasn't it? Sorry about that. I've been really focused on work these days. Lots of deadlines and writing, etc. Sometimes writing for myself gets pushed to the wayside.

As I'm typing this, I'm realizing how much I actually LIKE to type. I can see my fingers moving out of my peripheral vision. I didn't realize how accustomed I've gotten to the keyboard *lol*

Lame. I'm sorry. Let's see...what else?

Oh yes, I was thinking earlier today how much I enjoy my trips on the red line while listening to my iPod. Music makes the whole world a completely different place. I also enjoy my 20 minute walk to Piper's Alley on Thursdays. I crank up my music and just enjoy everything. It's like the world is going on around me and I've just added my own soundtrack. Sometimes there's an inner monologue going on in my head. Weird, I know. But hey...it makes me smile.

I realize this all has nothing to do with my improv journey. Sorry. But if you think about it, everything I notice wherever I go has the potential to influence my improvisation, right?

I guess I should mention one snafu I experienced at the Jam on Friday night. I was in a scene with a really nice guy. I don't think he had any experience, but man was he an awesome sport. We were playing Take That Back, and had established a scene where he owed me some money. At one point, the jam masters cornered me with taking my sentences back, and I ended up drawing a blank. So I ended up saying the first thing to pop into my head, which just so happened to be "Let's go to Kentucky Fried Chicken."

Now...normally this wouldn't even have been something that contributed to the scene...however, my scene partner was African-American and the audience suddenly started making that collective "Oooh" noise that signifies that someone has just crossed a line.

Problem is, I would NEVER cross a line purposely like that. So there I was, ignoring the audience and trying to get through the rest of the scene, thinking that I have just offended my partner and the audience. It was a HORRIBLE feeling. Luckily, it was soon forgotten, but still...to think that your partner thinks you've just disrespected him or her is a terrible feeling.

It's those damn Kentucky Grilled Chicken commercials all over the place. They're stuck in my brain.

Anyways, so yeah...that sucked. But, like I said, my scene partner was totally cool about it. I think he knew it wasn't intentional.

The rest of the night I only played one game of Pillars (as the Pillar...AGAIN...) and a couple line games. Then I headed home for the night.

But I guess that moment taught me to REALLY pay attention to what's going on around me more than I was already. I always listen, but I guess sometimes that's not enough.

Anyhow, that's my update for now. I could keep typing just because I like it, but that would be boring...because there's really nothing left to say at this point.

But I could keep rambling...and I bet you'd keep reading.

Right?

See?

It's like I have you at the mercy of my fingertips...literally.

There you go again.

Haha. Sorry. I couldn't help myself.