Yes, and...ROCKETSHIP!

It's Sunday, 5 Am. A good day indeed. Let's go back a few hours.

Today was gorgeous. Weather. Amazing. More like that please, God? Cool. Thanks. I however worked all day, which is fine. I made some good money. I also was told by many of my tables that I was a good waiter. AWESOME! One person stuck out in particular. This girl asked me if I had ever heard of this one author and a book. I said no, to which she replied, "I think you would like it." Pretty bold, considering the basis of our knowledge of each other is "Hi, welcome to Chili's. My name is Colin and I will be serving you a steak." I asked her why she thought I'd like it and she said it was because I was good at my job, and that's what the book is about. I don't get it, but I'm pretty sure there was a compliment in there. I thanked her and asked her to write the book on the check so I can look it up. She did, with a note that said, "Good luck in your career." MY CAREER?!?! Um...no! I will never have being a waiter be my career. EVER!

Tonight was great. I got home from work a little after midnight. After being on my feet for 12 straight hours I decided to go over to my friend Tara's house, because she was having a party. I went, and had so much fun. She is in a show called Frat which has come out of improv workshops. A lot of the cast and crew and directors and producers were there, and it was great meeting them and chatting it up. It felt great to be at a party where there were so many awesome people with great stories about why they were there. It is always inspiring when I meet people like that who have the same aspirations and such great back stories. It was one of those moments where I knew that this is what I want to do. These are my people. These are the creators of art. The backbone of the theatre, in all aspects. Time flew, and I walked home on a beautiful, cool Chicago night happy listening to music. A great feeling.

Now I must sleep. Katy's Ma and Sis are here and we are exploring Chicago tomorrow (I think). I need my beauty sleep. Also, I get to see Haley in like 30 something hours. I am so excited.

From my cozy apartment,
CB

She Was a Working Girl...

A confession: I have a problem. I don't think I'm the only one in America who has it, but I admit that I have a problem. Here I go (deep breathe...)

When I go grocery shopping, I always want to go out for food immediately after.

Wow, feels good to get that off my chest. It must be from exhaustion of shopping, but there is nothing more I want than to enjoy a burger from Salt and Pepper, or a Jimmy John sandwich, or (in yesterday's case) a Chipotle burrito. As I went into the Chipotle, I was greeted by a short, middle age hispanic woman who asked what type of burrito I wanted. Now I am usually a creature of habit, so immediately said steak, but as she was about to put it on, my inner dialogue said, "TRY SOMETHING NEW! BE SPONTANEOUS! QUICK!" So I shouted, "CHICKEN!" She kind of laughed and looked at me, and I reassured her by nodding and saying (this time for calmly), "Chicken." As she's putting on the chicken she asks, "Would you like to have both?" I thought this was brilliant! Best of both worlds. I knew I was about to eat the best burrito EVER! I nodded for it, and as she's putting on the steak she says, "It'll only be 2 dollars extra." I was shocked, this lady played me....good. I had no choice but to pay, because I'm not going to yell at a middle-aged woman for upselling a burrito.

Moral of the story:
Make a burrito at home, and if you must go out, beware of being taken advantage of by short, middle-aged hispanic women.

From my cozy apartment,
CB

You Put the "Rat" in Pirate.

What what?!  Two updates in a week!?  Impossible, you say?! Nay, tis true.  

So as I mentioned in the last post, work is going...well, bad.  I'm not getting scheduled as often, and have more time to do more leisurely things with my time.  Unfortunately, that has meant laying in bed until sun down watching TV shows on hulu.com and abusing facebook.  No more.  After laying in bed rewatching Weeds online, I have decided to start doing more constructive things.  For example, I am in the first steps of writing a show with a high school friend in New York (she's a friend from high school, not a person who is still in high school).  After weeks of procrastination, I have sent her the e-mail that will start this beautiful process called "being funny on paper" (technical term). 

What else shall I do?  Well, I am glad you asked.  I next will need to write a letter to my student loan people saying, "Hey!  I'm poor!  Please let me pay in July, not now!"  Hopefully it will go through.  The thing I am most excited about is starting to get my lesson plan together.  Wait a minute, I'm a waiter, not a teacher!  Oh, but how lucky am I?  My high school is flying me out to Tulsa for a few days to teach an improv workshop with the high school students, hopefully planting a seed in them that I was lucky enough to receive there, and they will get up and start a team.  I am so excited to do this, since improv is a passion, nay, calling of mine, and I can't wait to spread it to others.  I have been paying attention and keeping note of what I have learned here, as well as asked my amigo Collin A. (that's Mr. A for anyone at Cooper Middle School) to help me come up with a list of games.  I have been looking forward to this for months.

So as I lay on my bed, drinking my cup of coffee and brainstorming games I will teach these kids, I am thinking of how lucky I am.  Even though I complain about my job, I am very lucky to have the people I do in my life.  Talking on the phone to my Mr. A., coming up with silly movie ideas with Katy, playing guitar over aim to my amazing girlfriend Haley, ahh, I am so lucky!

Tonight I have class.  I get to learn and do what I am put on this earth to do.  I am drinking coffee and listening to music.  I am wearing wool socks.  I am texting Haley.  I am writing a lesson plan.   Sundays are my favorite days...

From my cozy apartment,

CB

Sorry for neglecting you, can we still be friends?

Happy New Year...a month late.  Sorry about that.  I also think this is the first blog I have written not in the wee hours of the morning.   So I'll try to make this a very special blog.  We'll start with a list I am making up OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD (improv, fools).  

TOP THINGS OF 2008

CDs:  Punch- Punch Brothers

Punch was the debut album for Chris Thile's (of Nickel Creek fame) new band Punch Brothers.  These guys really know how to push music to the edge.  Also, it's got a four part movement on here, and it's just a long story about his divorce.  Hardcore.  Listen to it.  I love these guys.

Juno- Various Artists

Alright folks, this album is not for everyone.  Most of the songs are by Kimya Dawson, who Ellen Page said she thought Juno would listen to her.  Kimya has an interesting voice, with basic chords and goofy lyrics.  However, if she is not your style, there are a lot of really good songs on here.  Sonic Youth (who I am not a fan of) does a fantastic cover of Superstar, and Cat Power's Sea of Love makes it hard for me to breathe it is so beautiful.  I'm listening to this soundtrack now because I forgot how amazing it is!

Books:  Born Standing Up- Steve Martin

If you don't like Steve Martin, get out.  He is brilliant.  Amazing read.  He tells the story of how he got into comedy, his method of approaching it, and why he stopped doing stand up.  He is also a great writer and I will say one of my favorite biographies I've ever read!

The Chris Farley Show- Tom Farley Jr.

This book was so interesting.  A biography written through interviews.  Tom Farley starts off every chapter by describing what was going on in Chris's life and then the rest of the chapters are pieces of interviews from people who were there with Chris and tell first hand how they saw him destroying himself.   Really sad, but great read.

Movies:  Wall-E

I'm only going to do one movie.  This is it.  Wall-E.  I don't even remember other films this year.  Yeah, The Dark Knight wins too.  But honestly?  Come on people.  I have never wanted to cry in a movie like I did when I saw Wall-E.  Thinking about it makes me feel my heart.  This movie should win every award ever.  Sorry, Heath.

Now that's all the listing I'm going to do, but I'm sure if you ask me about certain things that happened or other favorite things, I will gladly tell you.  

Haley Jane told me to write my blog again, because she recently discovered she has internet in her house, so now she's always online!  That's a really good thing, because it's nice to see her online and get to say a little hello message.  She is the greatest thing that's happened to me, and I miss her incredibly.  She's one of the few people I know who can just make me laugh.  I mean, I laugh a lot, but she really makes me laugh.  At myself, at her, at life.  She really understands me.  I am blessed to have found her.

Also, one of my best friends is now engaged!  GO LIZA!!!  I couldn't be happier for her.  Tucker and Elizabeth and Haley and I all started dating on the same day.  I feel especially close to them, especially her.  She has been one of my best friends through college, and I hope forever.  I know I can talk to her about everything.  I can't wait to see that rock.

Finally, I hate my job.  I am looking for a new one, but am terrible about getting out and looking.  Also, I don't really have a resume.  If anyone reads this and has a good template let me know.  I'd love to check it out.  

Speaking of work, one final story.  Yesterday, I waited on a table of some punk looking kids who must have been about 17.  Don't get me wrong, just because they looked punky, does not mean they were mean.  They were actually really fun.  I had a good time joking around with them.  Anywho, I was passing out their food, the tray flipped and one of the girl's food flew everywhere.  I was very apologetic and told her I'd get out another one asap.  They were real chill about it, and after they finished they left.  As I was cashing out the checks (server talk) one of the girls came up to me and said, "Hey, you know that girl who's food you dropped?"  I got worried for a second and responded, "Yeah.  What's up?"  She said, "She wants your number."  It totally caught me off guard because I thought she was going to say something like "She's mad her meal wasn't comped."  I said, "I have a girlfriend...and I'm 22."  The girl said, "Oh, ok," and walked away.  It was probably the most adorable thing ever.  

I promise not to neglect you again avid readers (Chelsea?).  Have a great weekend.

From my cozy apartment,

CB 

Insight to Me

I was thinking about this blog a little bit while I was at work (since apparently a restaurant downtown on one of the busiest shopping days gets NO business) and I was realizing a few things.  All of which, as I think about it more, gives insight to me as a person.  First of all, I use ellipses a lot.  I have tried to use them not as much on here, but it is something I like to use.  I think I use it to show when I am thinking or take a break from typing.  I like reading this as though it is a conversation...as if I was reading it aloud and you could see the parts where I stop to think and then carry on.  

The second thing I notice (and this one I do do in the blog quite frequently) is that I use parenthesis.  Have you read Stephen Colbert's "I Am America...and So Can You"?  I use the parenthesis in the same way he uses footnotes and sidebar notes.  As I type, I think about what I'm saying and if I want to make a comment about it or explain it further, I use the parenthesis.  I like parenthesis.  Another tool I use to allow you further into my brain.

The last thing I think about a lot when I think of this blog is the fact that no one really knows about it.  It is a very strange concept to me.  I have told my girlfriend about it, but don't think she has read it yet.  Chelsea reads it (I think...) but I have actually not even told anyone else.  I almost said something, but decided against it.  Not that I don't want people to know, but there is something beautiful about writing my feelings and thoughts of my world and publishing them for the anyone and everyone to see, while at the same time those who are closest have no idea it's even happening.  There's something about that I like.  One day, I will tell more people.  Right now, though, this is for me.

Today while I was waiting for the train I told Haley (my amazing girlfriend who I'm sure I will talk about in a future blog one day) that I decided I was going to write in my blog more...that I found it very therapeutic.  She asked me what the name of it was, and when I told her "my cozy apartment" she asked why I had named it that.  Just as I mentioned in the last entry, it was as if the name had always been there but it was for me to discover.  When I first moved to Chicago, I felt very uncomfortable.  Work, big city, trains, bars open til 4 am...nothing felt like home.  Except one place.  My extremely small room.  Barely big enough to fit my bed.  The most common reaction when people walk in:  "Wow.  This is small."  It's not much, but there is a feeling I get when I am lying under the covers, leaning against the wall, looking at the albums of Monty Python, Steve Martin, Gilda Radner, and Bill Cosby hanging on the wall.  The countless cds, books and movies on the shelves hanging on the wall.  The two large windows on the opposite side of the room.  The guitar and mandolin on the wall.  The sound of the red line going by every 15 to 30 minutes.  That feeling: cozy.  I feel comfortable, I feel at home.  It was (and I use was, because I really do love living here) the only place I could be safe and comfortable.  Like this blog, it is something that holds a very special place in my heart, yet none (or very few) of the people who mean most to me in my life have seen it, or know of its importance.  And since "my comfortable bedroom" sounds...eh...not very good...I decided "my cozy apartment" had a better ring to it.  Hope you agree (or don't...I'm not changing it).

From my cozy apartment,

CB

Go. Do. Now.

The title of this entry or post or whatever is called is something that means a great deal to me.  It was a message from an improviser in Chicago named Jake Schneider.  It was his advice to me after I got the opportunity to improvise with him, pretty much saying I need to go out and do as much as I can.  I think about this a lot, and think it is a great saying to apply to everything I do.  I feel like when I first moved here I had it in my head that I would eventually move back.  As I have taken classes and met some great people, I have realized that improv is what I am here for; it is what I want to do (did i use that semi-colon correctly?  I was never sure).  

I had a discussion with a longtime friend of mine named Lauren who also moved out here recently.  She is not, what she calls, a "theatre kid" and does not always understand why there are guys in their 50s who have been performing improv for 20 something years.  *DISCLAIMER, in case Lauren ever reads this, I know she was just trying to get under my skin, a beautiful privilege of life long friends.  What Lauren was saying was not all completely her belief, but it did make me defend what I am doing, which I appreciate*  She said people who do this are trying to work themselves up to be rich and famous.  It is hard to argue this, because often the result of a great performer is being rich and famous.  But that is not the motive.  A high school teacher of mine once said, "If you want to be famous, move to LA and get a show on the WB.  If you want to be an actor, study from the best."  I think, rather know, that's why I'm here.  I'm in the heart of the premier place for improv.  For that, I am eternally grateful.  

If you would have told me a year ago that a year from now (rather then...you get it) I would be taking classes in one session with the woman who founded iO, the next with a Sonic commercial girl (sorry if you ever read this Katie, but that's how I knew you a year ago) and getting a drink with a man who can tell you what it was like the day when John Belushi died, I would of laughed and said, "Uh-huh." (not very climatic...sorry)  I feel bad that I'm rambling, but what I am trying to say is that in my improv life I have read and been taught all these great lessons that I feel like I never had heard but have always known.  That they've always been there, I just needed someone to put them into words.  It was Michelangelo (not the turtle) who said, "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."  That is how I feel about these lessons, just like Shneider's, "Go.  Do.  Now."  It is something in all of us.  I recommend you find it within yourself.  It makes life exciting.

Things I love that lead to other things:  

1) I love coffee.  Since I am in Chicago, there is only Starbucks.  Local coffee shops do not exist, or I am yet to find one.  This leads me to...

2) Starbucks' pick of the week.  A free download of a song of their choosing off iTunes.  This is great, because I love new music.  Speaking of iTunes...

3) have you tried the Genius playlist on your iTunes?  It's relatively new, and finds similar songs of the one you're listening to and creates a whole playlist based on music you have.  It's a great way to listen to music on your computer.

From my cozy apartment,

CB

Fast Forward 2 months later...

Hello all,

I realize that not many people read this, but I think that is fine.  I feel like I need to be writing down what is going on in my life, so that I can one day go back and read how I started in this beautiful city.  I have just finished my level one class at iO and LOVED IT!  I realized very quickly this is what I want to do in life.  Improv is such an amazing tool for me in my life, and it has brought me to meet some pretty amazing people with whom I hope I become lifelong friends with.  

I get to go home this Tuesday!  I am so excited about this.  I haven't been home in a long time, and I really miss everyone.  It'll be nice to get away from 18 degree days for a bit.  

It's 4:22 am and I am going to keep this one short because, well, it's 4:22 am.  However, I will be back, and I will be rested and have more details.  I will leave you with no song, instead a podcast.  This is by a performer at iO named Seth Weitberg.  The podcast is called The Chicago Sessions and I believe the website is www.thechicagosessions.com.  Very good podcast interviewing performers of improv in Chicago and their takes on various things.  2 shows a week, one interview and one improvised set.  GENIUS!  Thanks Seth (if you ever read this).

From my cozy apartment,

CB