For Posterity

Texted with Ru today to pay homage to a party we went to just about four years ago. It was at Bug's house. Skars showed up as if they weren't broken up. My gang gossiped in the garage. The night ended when this group of three girls who had all taken turns making out were rolling in the gravel outside the front door. One was crying and couldn't stand. One was wearing a skirt with no underwear--flashing to goods to everyone. One whimpered, "This always happens to us." Yikes.

At the time I felt pretty busy working full time and going to school full time, but in hindsight all I remember is pulling up to the party on my brand new scooter, reading in the condo hot tub, dusting my glass desk, and over-wearing my brown floral dress. I know one day I will look back on these early Chicago years and feel just as rosy. For myself on that day, for posterity, an outline of October 1st:

8 - wake up and finish/revise a piece for my sketch class

9:30 - advanced aerobic step class followed by steam room

11 - shower and race around packing my backpack with show clothes and scripts

11: 30 - take $4 Lyft to theatre for sketch class

11:55 - run through Whole Foods across from theatre buying fast lunch/breakfast ($9)

12 - unapologetically eat chili throughout first twenty minutes of class

1:30 - on a break from class buy and consume spinach smoothie and Cliff bar ($10)

2:55 - run out of class

3 - check-in to an audition for a new show at same theatre

4:40 - dash out of the audition and once again into WF for a sushi roll ($8)

4:45 - Uber to SC ($3), scarf wasabi

5 - rapid-fire rehearsal of archived sketch show

7:10 - run to the bathroom, lock the door, flat iron my hair and throw on a dress

7:30 - perform sketch show

8:10 - get notes from director

8:20 - take the train home while answering student emails

9:05 - eat pretzels and hummus, change into casual performance attire

9:15 - Uber to comedy theatre ($4)

9:35 - orchestrate a brief hangout with and old friend from the scene in STL

10:10 - call time for improv show downstairs

10:30 - perform my first sit-in show for WNT

12 - show's over, sit in the greenroom

12:10 - walk to the train

12:40 - arrive home, exhausted but heart still pounding

1 - try to read, pass out

In summation: I spent truly all day yesterday doing comedy. I got paid zero dollars. I spent $46. I should buy stock in Whole Foods. For my first two hours of consciousness today, I stayed in bed.

Perfection: Part IV

Sushi remains. The Loop. March 2011.

In Dramaturgy we were discussing how we can go forward as the next generation of theatre with good marketing plans. Theatre is so important to society, but it will vanish if we can't get more money! We agreed big time. We nodded.

Then, Brunnel laughed. Brunnel is from Brazil. She explained, "This is all we ever talk about in Brazil. This exact same conversation. 'How do we get more money? We have no money. What are we going to do?' I was excited to come here to hear a new conversation. But, no, it is the same."

Spring Break 2002

Just spent an hour poolside with Atlas Shrugged. I swear to all trains everywhere, if Ayn gets more long-winded in Part Three, I am chucking her brick into the hot tub and not giving a HOOT about who John Galt is!

Laying on the pool recliner, soaking up rays, I thought of 8th grade Spring Break.

The trip's circumstances were pretty magical. My friend Peppermint belonged to an affluent family, and they owned a condo in Florida. Her parents wanted to golf and go out and have fun, so Peppermint and her sister each got to bring travel companions. I just had to pay for the plane ticket--stay, food, and activities were on the family.

Reflecting back on it, now almost a decade later, I realize A LOT of cool things about that trip:

-It was the first time I sun-tanned. Peppermint announced the first day we were there, "Let's go to the pool." I got on my suit and was confused when my friend left the bedroom with arms full of stuff. I inquired about her need for magazines and a Discman, and she said, "For laying out!" I had no idea what that meant, but I got my Discman (with a Britney Spears sticker on the case). I felt weird at first just laying in the sun listening to music, but after five minutes, I got it. I was so relaxed--warm, digging the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack, looking out at the ocean. I consider it my first experience of reverie.

-First time I ate sushi! And black beans! Still two of my favorite foods!

-I think Peppermint was the first person to make fun of how I dressed to my face. She found a stupid blue duck in hot pink and orange swim trunks in some store. She said, "He has your fashion sense." Because the context was me enjoying a free vacation, I kinda didn't care. Precedent much?

-We went parasailing. It's one of those things you really only have to do once, and, I've done it.

-I almost microwaved foil, but sister's companion stopped me in the nick of time. I had never heard that rule and probably would have ruined my family's kitchen later that year had I not learned then.

-It was the first time I had to politely say no to an adult--the context being a nice dinner when Peppermint's parents offered all of us alcohol. I was 13. Boop!

-We watched American Pie 2--MANY times. Not sure why, but I think seeing that movie at that time of life helped brace me for high school romance and expectations.

-While swimming, a dolphin jumped right in front of us.

So, yeah, you don't usually think of anything in middle school being phenomenal, but this is probably still one of my top-five vacations.