Tomorrow I turn 33. 1
If you search 33, youāll see the phrase āJesus Yearā, then you can scroll to read about transformationchangerebirth (one word) in an infinite number of blogs; one million SEO optimized posts written by legions of freshly minted 33s. On the one hand, I donāt want to add to this digital cacophony, but on the other hand, Iām a real sucker for reflection.
In preparation for transformation, I scheduled a dentist appointment for THE FUTURE, bought three pristine notebooks, and received a 3/5 star haircut from my local Great Clips.
Birthdays or New Years or even just mornings can radiate this pressure to reinvent. Tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow Iāll be different. Time or the planets or this Buzzfeed listicle ordain it, and so it shall be. Surely, Iāll outgrow the things that are giving me grief, my bones just needed to orbit the sun one more time. Tomorrow Iāll get my act together. Self-acceptance is beautiful but I actually have a couple notes first? Can we workshop this, Self? Change is possible, probable, constant even, but I actually had an arbitrary timeline I was hoping to stick toā¦?
Today Iām dreaming about projects and pies in skies and processes built of immaculate routines, Iām skimming the cliff notes of The Artistās Way, and, also, if itās relevant, I just got one of those canvas closet organizers that hangs from the door without a clue of what Iām going to put insideā¦kind of a Field of Dreams meets Marie Kondo approach? The year is a blank canvas and I can imagine a full gallery of perfect paintings but Iām afraid to make the first mark.
All that to say, it was from within the eye of this manic pre-birthday hurricane that I texted my friend, Jimmy.
And now, just like that, Iām breathing a little easier. Iām less interested in popping the hood and more interested in getting behind the wheel and going somewhere. Tonight, in about an hour, Iāll go to LOGAN SQUARE IMPROV to do a show. Improv! I love improv. Iām not alone up there, and thatās true out here too. Letās get together and make something new together, even if it doesnāt last.
Any other thoughts for the day? Thereās a button for that!
A PERFECT PAIR
Hannah Rehak wrote and directed a beautiful short film a couple weeks ago that I got to Assistant Direct and am now buckling down to edit. Itās an all-star cast & crew and I hope to share it with you soon!
ITāS FINALS WEEK
Did some primordial gurgle in your stomach tip you off? Itās grading season! I taught two classes at Northwestern this quarter and today is always one of my favorite days. After weeks of learning the basics of video journalism, today the class gathers and screens all of their final story projects. Itās a home cooked meal of local reporting from a great crop of graduate students covering neighborhood haunts, protests, queer rock climbing groups, and everything in between. The room feels different on the other side and I feel lucky to be there.
UPCOMING-ings
Tomorrow! 12/5! I plan on ending my evening rocking out to the Swearwords show at Beat Kitchen. Iād love to see you there.
PROM, a sketch I directed/edited written by and starring Jenelle Cheyne is going to be released this Sunday over on
!
COLLABORATE & LISTEN, a web-series I edited about the drama of corporate improv is having a private screening on 12/13 with public screenings and offerings soon to follow!
And then on 12/14 & 12/15 Iāll be doing some bits in a holiday show called RATS!
Tis the season! Iām not a part of it this year but Iād be remiss not to mention THE ADVENT PROJECT. Fresh, bite-sized art every Sunday in December from some of my favorite artists. A character study/song from Ollie Hobson? A transcendent childrenās book from Miden Wood? Upcoming offerings and collabs from Hannah Rehak and Abby Pajakowski? Itās too good to miss and every penny goes towards the Palestine Childrenās Relief Fund. Do it!
Writing this sentence means I have to send the email tonight. Sometimes itās healthy to set little booby traps for yourself to get things done!
happy bday