Long strange trip it's been

"I was this close to Jerry...as close to him as you are to me right now"

Paul Gilbert, talking to Kitty about seeing The Jerry Garcia Band in SF in the 90s.

"I'm Mister Heat Miser, because I'm more little then Noah."

Simon Dover, telling me how he and his brother have split up the roles of the feuding Miser brothers from "A Year without a Santa Claus"

"That not the real Santa.  He's a cartoon."

Noah Edward, explaining that the Rankin-Bass Santa was an entertaining imposter

"Oh.  They don't know who the father is because both of the brothers donated sperm.  So I guess we'll find out."

My mom, as we watched previews for "Brothers and Sisters" on ABC.

"You know who your dad likes."

"Gabby?"

"Yes.  But I guess we all like Gabby the best"

Watching "Desperate Housewives"

"I don't want to committ to anymore tv."

"Oh.  Why not?  Your sister Beth watches it too"

And my mom has a point.  It's not like I'm working or anything.

One more day.

Wide awake in Ohio, the state that made it all ok

At midway airport, I perfectly timed it out so that I could enjoy a nice Potbelly's dinner, ideally pre-flight.  Thankfully, after navigating my way through the "expert" traveller line of security, and being hampered only by my large earrings and not by the unrevealed liquids in my carry-on...I arrived at Potbelly's, ordered (skinny turkey, with mushroom and provolone, on wheat), had them doctor it up (yes, everything except hot peppers. I had them add the mayo, and man, it's really a different sandwich with the mayo. It's so so so good) and then went to head to the gate. And jumping jackpot--I was at gate B-1, right across from Potbelly's!  I knew it was going to be a good flight.

I opted to save my cookie and enjoy it with my cup of coffee on the plane. That coffee I had planned on in my caffeine intake.

Then, I landed in Ohio, and was delighted to see Vanessa Bayer as I bustled my way out of Cleveland Hopkins.  She's a Chicago improviser, and I think, early on when we first met, we talked about both being from the Cleveland area.  Anyway, she was on her way home, so was I, but it was a delight to see her.

But then, no Eldridge of any kind to be seen at our secret Eldridge pick-up spot (departures, directly under the Southwest Air sign, shhh..don't tell anyone...but it's been our spot for at least 20 years).

Turns out, my mom thought I was coming in tomorrow morning. And she was correct. At one point in my thanksgiving travel plans, I did consider coming in on Tuesday morning.  What a dumbass move that would have been!  I would have had to get up at 4 for a 6:30 am flight..probably even sooner then 4. No way Jose. So, I changed it to the night before, and here I was.

Thankfully, my dad hopped into the car, and I had a nice long article to read in newsweek (they had a dedicated staff who did all this behind-the-scenes reporting that they are only now writing about after the election--it's fascinating), so waiting was no trouble.

Which brings me to my point---there was a Starbucks kiosk right there--and at my dad's suggestion "Get a coffee, or better yet, a bourbon"  I decided to get a decaf coffee.  But now, I am wide awake in sleeptown, so I'm thinking, the bourbon would have been the better choice.  I think they served me decaf. I wasn't paying much attention, and in a burst of holiday spirit, I was very enthusiastic with the tired, dragging worker, despite the fact that she took a while to wait on me because she was refilling coffee grinders, and jawing away with her Hopkins co-workers.  So, she may have made me a caff instead of decaff out of spite or in despite of her completely unmasked annoyance at my cheerful chirp of a greeting/order.

So, I'm home, in my sister's bedroom (it's technically know the guest room, but I always think of it as Kitty's room from High School), and am pretty awake.

I did enjoy an Edmund Fitzgerald's with my mom as we watched House Hunters, International.  They always buy the place, and then the gal gets pregnant and they want to add on to the terrace.

Anyway, even after reading the paper, I am still wide awake.

And I am in Ohio.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Out of work

So, I don't have a job right now.  I've had a few money-generating here and there jobs (babysitting, sub teaching at Second City), but no real, pay the mortgage, job job comes in until February.

Which means, that right now, I can fill my time however I chose to fill it.  This week, I babysat twice, I did laundry and chores all day on Tuesday, and tomorrow, I'm going on a lunch with an advertising friend, to visit, and see about jobs.

I am at a point where I am starting to think about how can I get the cool jobs I've always thought about?  Something in tv production?  That was my major.

Or, a freelance writer?

How about working for NPR?

Or, maybe on an EXCITING movie set!

I like libraries, coffee shops and walking, what job can I get that involves those things?

I am information-interviewing, deck-researching, sleeping-in fool who is experiencing a high level of idea generation, but a low level of actual doing it.

I guess it's similar to the cruise--with the option of all day to do something, what do you get done?

Anyway, at least here, I can do laundry, cook, clean, go on walks in the real outdoors, and get some stuff done.  Though, at times, it feels like I'm re-arranging deck chairs instead of focussing on the big goals.

But what are the big goals?  Writing? Acting?  Sales?  Money?  Creativity?

That is the question.....

Dirty weekday

Andy's just slipped out the door to head to a gig...and now it's my special time in the condo, all alone.  I close the blinds to block out the burning glare of the midday sun...I sneak into my room, and quickly get dressed.  If I wear a bra, I feel like at least I'm capable of leaving the house.

I have nothing today---no work, no job, no obligations.

I check my email, I throw some laundry in and start some handwashing.

I turn on NPR and half-listen to Terry Gross as I do dishes (why does Andy leave the dirtiest of dishes---a pan with dried up omelet residue--a perfect tissue thin egg crepe that sticks in the middle--why his pot full of steel cut oatmeal--why is that dish the one he doesn't clean?).

I make a fresh pot of coffee as I can not tolerate old coffee on a day like this.

I slowly peel my grapefruit as the coffee brews, the smell slowly released as I peel the thin skin and then the inner white layer, making sure not to marr the perfect pink segments.

I prep my special coffee and put my grapefruit on my favorite little plate, turn off Terry and ease myself into the living room.

I switch the cables on the TV to make the VCR go away and the cable start....I see the snow fall in Indy and try to pretend that I am snow-bound to justify this naughty naughtiness.

Andy doesn't like the TV on in the day, and neither do I, usually.

But today, on a Tuesday, when I have no job and no plans...I am going to watch last week's episode of Amazing Race.  Oh so dirty!  And I may throw in The Office!  Or even, a random sex and the city!

I'll do laundry, I'll sort mail and do some household chores...but TV during the day?

I better close all the blinds or someone will see!!!!

Dirty dirty dirty.

I'm so hungry!

I think, that after all the ape-dom (you can see the final shows soon on www.impresstheseapes.com), the visit from Phil from the ships, and my mom and dad, I haven't eaten at home in what seems like months.

And I'm so so hungry right now, that I am going to write this very fast, then go cook eggs, with goat cheese and maybe some pasta and tomato sauce and combine it all.

In reality, it's only been a few days...but today, I am doing LAUNDRY!  Cooking a CHICKEN!  Watching GREY's ANATOMY!  Fielding CONTRACTORS!  Finding a DOCTOR!

Or, just sipping coffee and looking at the leaves fall.

I'm so so so so happy to have some downtime.

I don't have a job, so if you have one for me, let me know and i will take it!

Other then that, it's a bit rainy...my parents left this morning and I'm in sweats inside on a Wednesday.

All is good.

Becky

Last night of Apes!

Tonight's the final night of Impress These Apes.

I'm at home, because I don't have a job right now.  I just finished up my final piece and am ready to go.

I'm really happy with my finale...it's something I've been working hard on and enjoyed more then other challenges so far.

Doing this show has been great, and I'm so excited to get some brain time back.

Time to work on the musical with Amy, time to look for a new job, time to figure out what else would be fun to do right now.

And, to be honest, time to watch some tv.

Andy really helped me with this last challenge.  I like to collaborate with him.  We work well together and have a way of knowing what the other person is trying to do and making it a million times better.  Well, that's mostly him for me...but it is fun to have him come in and make things awesome.

And my parents are driving in from Ohio to visit for a power visit!  It'll be a quicky one-day--come see the show, hang out at party, hang out tomorrow---but it'll be great.

Then, life starts again!

Happy Monday world....I'm so happy and hopeful and excited to be in it today.

Pagaent!

For Apes tonight, I really phoned it in. I didn't give much effort to my three areas of evaluation (it was a Beauty Pageant) and I pulled out an old bit from Band Geeks for the talent portion.

One of my goals with Apes has been to create new material each week...but tonight, it just wasn't happening.

My apes experience has been really wonderful---and I wish I could re-do all the challenges.

I'm definitely not an outside-of-the box thinker for these--I think I've done everyone very literally, and by the rules (if the video is supposed to be 3 minutes, then, by god, I'm not going to go over).

It's not really about the judging (well, you can pretend it's not, but it is) but it's also about putting stuff up every week.

And I realize, my ha ha area is really more in writing in an ensemble.

I really enjoyed doing stand-up, I LOVED the pageant tonight because I felt like utter crap and I still did the handstand in the baton section.  On no food!

I have to say, I'm looking forward to the show being over.  

And not having it hanging on my brain ALL the time.

So, one more week, I've got my thing figured out.  I just need to do it now for the finale.