2009: The Fastest Year in the Entire History of Forever

I still have to make the conscious effort to write '09 on checks, etc and it's July! Holy F.

So I've taken a real summer vacay in a lot of ways. Literal ones...

Portland! Sarah really was having the best time ever. Bob and Stacey hosted us at their theatre, and we held an official Firecracker reunion.

Oh man, I'm having so much fun!

Portland led to Sun City, AZ.

Uncle Pete: Here, Nat, take this. In my chair with a right wing book and a remote. This is me.

Back to my days of liesure...Uncle Carl visits! A pic of him taking a pic on the lakefront Loyola campus.



These kids got married! The wedding was a great time. Thanks and congrats, John and Tracey!

And speaking of lovely couples...in the tent backstage of the CSz Taste of Chicago shows.

Happy 4th! At Tamara's annual bbq. Matt and I are strategically placed in front of a box of Twinkies. Pure coincidence.

CSz Chicago represents at Tournament in Milwaukee! A few of us dropped in the last night and hit up some shows and partying.

So Chicago didn't win tourney, but man look at these prizes!

In addition to the literal vacation, I've clearly taken some mental time off. It's a bad sign when blogging is a chore. Or a good one? I've been busy with travelling and shows and preparing for the trip to Washington DC for the Fringe Fest. After that, I start rehearsal for Girls' Night Out in Arlington Heights. That's mostly what I have to report.

I hope the 8 of you are happy for the update.

mom and dad

My parents celebrated 37 years of marriage this past week. I am proud of them. Two more reasons they are the greatest:

Me: I have enough money not to work, but I may be broke at the end of summer.
Mom: You know you can always come here. You know, if you had to.

Me: Hey dad. Are you busy?
Dad: I'm always busy. But never too busy for you.

Both true stories. I love you, mom and dad. Thank you for returning the favor to Amy and me and each other.

What's the Buzz

Tell me what's happening...

I have some great pictures. But my incidental internet connection is uncooperative. A recap:

I attended my second conference for work. Hollywood, FL!!! What a delight.

Visited Danny and Honit. They have a family. How crazy and wonderful. It was so fun to see them and their boys.

Lost my day job. Well, that sounds dramatic. I'm just on hiatus for the summer, which is actually a pretty good time. I've become a poster-child for daytime buyouts at CSz. Happy graduation all you middle schools!!

Speaking of CSz, I've adopted a Rec League team. What a kickass group of improvisors. Come see District 9 if you're in Chicago!

I'm on the verge of a trip to Portland, OR to see Bob and Stacey. YAY!!!! That trip will be followed by a trip to DC for the Fringe Fest. Vinnie and I are digging Hopelessly Devoted out of the old hope chest and shaking the dust off it. Yay for a bi-coastal summer!

John and Tracey had their respective bachelor/bachelorette parties and their wedding is approaching. It's been a long time since I've seen friends get married. Nice work, you two.

So...things are good.

Mom.

Last night I performed in the first show I've ever produced on my own. I had an idea, I talked to people about being in it, I secured a space and a music director, and I wrote something. It only took 5 years to get to this. And the show came together in three weeks.

I took for granted how frantic and scared and scattered this would make me. I didn't take my camera to the show, which I'm still sad about, but despite my willingness to blog, I take some delight in having things that will always stay in my head and not on a memory card. Or that's how I will comfort myself anyway.

The show was great. Really great. I was amazed watching 9 women whom I really respect and enjoy create original work, and I was honored that I got to do it alongside them. Some of them I've been friends with since I got to Chicago, some I've only watched and looked up to. All I regard among the best performers in the city or in all of comedy. Not hyperbole. They are that good. I'm so grateful to know them and to be able to do this thing I love. Thank you, ladies. And thank you to everyone who helped make it possible.

I did manage a few pics with my phone when a few of us went to Cesar's afterward...

Tamara, what's with your hand? I don't know.

TD and KD have a lot of business on their phones.

Katie, Tam's roommate, showed us her "dad dollar." This inspired talk of a Father's Day show. Oh boy.

Huge thanks of course to my mom. If not for her, I wouldn't have been motivated to put this show together. I would maybe not be in Chicago, not performing, well of course, I wouldn't be in this world when it comes down to it. But logistics aside, she is nuts, and I love her. She's done everything for me, and I hope that I can be the same kind of mother one day. Well, minus a few things. Thanks, mom.

Off to Florida tomorrow for the office's annual conference. And, speaking of moms, to see Danny and Honit. YAY!!

KNIFE FIGHT DANCE PARTY

We're really doing it. Timmy, John and I enjoy Micou's dance at Potbelly's. His dance that might be in response to his 2 year-old daughter psychotically screaming DANCE PARTY!!!!!!! It will all make sense when our videos hit the internet.

Starting next week, I might not blink until after Lollapalooza. I'm going to Miami, Portland, Phoenix, DC and...Lollapalooza. Summer in Chicago really is the best. Even in other places.

What I do for a Living

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

I missed these Macy's jobs. I get to do another one this weekend. If you're in downtown Chicago Saturday from 1-3, stop by the kids dept. You can get your face painted too.

The Daddy Tomato Squished the Baby Tomato...

Almost a week ago, I was doing this.... Shamrock Shuffle! Megan, Timmy and I braved the Chicago spring and walked 5k through slush and snow with squishy shoes. In the end, we had our pride, accomplishment and whole wheat bagels provided by Whole Foods.

Today, I did this. We filmed some promo videos for CSz at the Intercontinental. He's blurry, but that's Brian about to pull a Looney Tunes on the inexplicable subway staircase painted on the wall. Good bit.

And the day just gets better. Mom sent me this novelty card and a kick ass recipe for brownies. Between this, yoga and Buffy, it's really shaped up to be the best Saturday on record.

So what has been happening since I've been blog-absent...well, not a lot. It's the eve of my favorite mass of the year, not counting Easter Vigil. I'm all giddy for Palm Sunday tomorrow. And how has Lent been? Well, every year I have pretty grand designs on how my Lent will unfold...how many rosaries I will say, how many volunteer hours I will accrue. And I tend to reach Holy Week with an unchecked spiritual to-do list and an intent to cram for the final. This year is no different, except that it's very different. Unchecked list, check. Unchecked Catholic guilt, uncheck.

Holy Weeeeeeeeeeeeeek!