Here's links to a few great sites...
Mental Floss magazine...a time waster that also makes you feel smart.
An endlessly informative site about my neighborhood Uptown Update They always let me know when there's been a car set on fire down the street, things like that.
Nerd out to TV at TV Squad, then go to the always reliable Futon Critic
Buy me something at Deals of America or...you know...your loved ones
Laugh at Wainy Days
And see what's good and what sucks at Metacritic
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
poor choices
Hey all.
I was a guest today on Matt Owens and Mark Colomb's great Poor Choices Show Podcast...available on iTunes...
or http://poorchoicesshow.podbean.com/
become their facebook friend here
or twitter here
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sundays
Somehow things have worked their way out to give me a solid run of no-plan-nothing-to-do-lazy-as-can-be Sundays.
I don't remember the last time Sundays were my day off.
Back in college and right after...for several years I worked at GKC theaters (both the Country Fair and Co-Ed theaters, both of which are no longer) and would work all three weekend days. (Yes, I said Co-ed Theater. That meant both boys and girls could go.)
Then for a bunch of years I worked the Sunday noon shift at a radio station in Champaign...mostly carrying pre-taped religious programs and St. Louis Cardinals games.
Then even when I got hired on full time at WDWS (News-Talk radio) I worked the midnight shift, which meant I worked Sunday NIGHT at midnight. So technically I guess I didn't work Sunday day. You got me.
I had Second City writing classes on Sundays. I had iO Theater classes on Sundays for quite a while. I had rehearsals on Sundays for Grandma June's for a year or so. We had Sam Hill (current Playground team) rehearsals for a while on Sundays too.
But now, whatever all I had going has cleared off Sundays, and I'm left to lazy about half watching NFC football (since I can't get channel 2 in), maybe cleaning a little, and catching up on online episodes of Greek (I know).
Actually, that sounds kind of nice, huh.
I don't remember the last time Sundays were my day off.
Back in college and right after...for several years I worked at GKC theaters (both the Country Fair and Co-Ed theaters, both of which are no longer) and would work all three weekend days. (Yes, I said Co-ed Theater. That meant both boys and girls could go.)
Then for a bunch of years I worked the Sunday noon shift at a radio station in Champaign...mostly carrying pre-taped religious programs and St. Louis Cardinals games.
Then even when I got hired on full time at WDWS (News-Talk radio) I worked the midnight shift, which meant I worked Sunday NIGHT at midnight. So technically I guess I didn't work Sunday day. You got me.
I had Second City writing classes on Sundays. I had iO Theater classes on Sundays for quite a while. I had rehearsals on Sundays for Grandma June's for a year or so. We had Sam Hill (current Playground team) rehearsals for a while on Sundays too.
But now, whatever all I had going has cleared off Sundays, and I'm left to lazy about half watching NFC football (since I can't get channel 2 in), maybe cleaning a little, and catching up on online episodes of Greek (I know).
Actually, that sounds kind of nice, huh.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
no, I haven't quit posting either
Sorry it's been a while on the blog postings. Been very busy.
I've heard a lot of stories about people almost quitting something, then something makes them not quit, then that's when they have some success.
Well it kind of feels like that these days with myself and improv.
Not that I would've quit comedy all together (I had been working on the Adults sketch show at the time), but around the time that Hunter Family Crest had our last show, I was feeling very much like maybe I'd stop doing improv for a while..."take a break" (which is almost always bullshit anytime you hear it).
Anyway, I was feeling down about it, but some good friends and a few former teammates encouraged me to keep going. I auditioned for the Playground incubator program and got on Sam Hill, which has turned out to be a great group with great people and a really supportive atmosphere. A few months later my friend Matt Owens asked me to be a part of what's become the uber-fun Gypsy Fuck Fight (currently performing at the Improv Gladiators Saturday night shows). I was also asked to be in another group with Adal (see one of the first posts on this blog) and some people called The Scaleri Brothers. And I was also cast (as a replacement when someone dropped out) in an improvised film called Welcome to the Gentle Waters which is filming in a couple of weeks.
All of that culminated in a run of 7 shows (plus 1 rehearsal and a birthday karaoke event) in one week last week...about the most fun week I can remember having.
I'm not writing this to say "hey look how great I am" or anything of that sort. But I'd like to say that if you're doing something you love to do and it gets shitty for a while and you think you're done and maybe you'll give up...don't give up.
To take the edge off that sappiness...that reminds me of a memory.
Coach Jim Valvano once made a famous cancer-ridden speech at the ESPY's where he said "never give up".
They used to play this clip over and over again at least once a year on ESPN. My friend George saw this once and quipped "yeah you gave up...you gave up on life!" Which is both awful and hilarious for him to have said.
Then George himself died a few years later so that serves him. Who's with me?
(George would have liked being made fun of for being dead.)
Sam Hill - at the Playground click here and here
Gypsy Fuck Fight - Saturdays 8pm Cornservatory click here
Welcome to Gentle Waters movie here and here
I've heard a lot of stories about people almost quitting something, then something makes them not quit, then that's when they have some success.
Well it kind of feels like that these days with myself and improv.
Not that I would've quit comedy all together (I had been working on the Adults sketch show at the time), but around the time that Hunter Family Crest had our last show, I was feeling very much like maybe I'd stop doing improv for a while..."take a break" (which is almost always bullshit anytime you hear it).
Anyway, I was feeling down about it, but some good friends and a few former teammates encouraged me to keep going. I auditioned for the Playground incubator program and got on Sam Hill, which has turned out to be a great group with great people and a really supportive atmosphere. A few months later my friend Matt Owens asked me to be a part of what's become the uber-fun Gypsy Fuck Fight (currently performing at the Improv Gladiators Saturday night shows). I was also asked to be in another group with Adal (see one of the first posts on this blog) and some people called The Scaleri Brothers. And I was also cast (as a replacement when someone dropped out) in an improvised film called Welcome to the Gentle Waters which is filming in a couple of weeks.
All of that culminated in a run of 7 shows (plus 1 rehearsal and a birthday karaoke event) in one week last week...about the most fun week I can remember having.
I'm not writing this to say "hey look how great I am" or anything of that sort. But I'd like to say that if you're doing something you love to do and it gets shitty for a while and you think you're done and maybe you'll give up...don't give up.
To take the edge off that sappiness...that reminds me of a memory.
Coach Jim Valvano once made a famous cancer-ridden speech at the ESPY's where he said "never give up".
They used to play this clip over and over again at least once a year on ESPN. My friend George saw this once and quipped "yeah you gave up...you gave up on life!" Which is both awful and hilarious for him to have said.
Then George himself died a few years later so that serves him. Who's with me?
(George would have liked being made fun of for being dead.)
Sam Hill - at the Playground click here and here
Gypsy Fuck Fight - Saturdays 8pm Cornservatory click here
Welcome to Gentle Waters movie here and here
Sunday, June 28, 2009
starting today...
It's officially over starting today.
October 15th, 2007 was my final day working full time. Since then, I had been unemployed, underemployed, or temping for low wages.
But today it's June 29th, 2009, my first day as an official full-time employee.
It was a very long, very hard 20 + months, and to everyone who supported me and helped me out from time to time with advice, leads, sympathy, money, etc. I will be eternally grateful.
A special thanks to Addison Search, the temp agency who placed me with my current employer, and to Standard Parking for hiring me.
My thoughts now turn to the many more people who I know and who I am close with who, over this lousy couple of years, continue to lose their jobs and search for work. If any of you need my sympathy, advice, etc. you have it.
October 15th, 2007 was my final day working full time. Since then, I had been unemployed, underemployed, or temping for low wages.
But today it's June 29th, 2009, my first day as an official full-time employee.
It was a very long, very hard 20 + months, and to everyone who supported me and helped me out from time to time with advice, leads, sympathy, money, etc. I will be eternally grateful.
A special thanks to Addison Search, the temp agency who placed me with my current employer, and to Standard Parking for hiring me.
My thoughts now turn to the many more people who I know and who I am close with who, over this lousy couple of years, continue to lose their jobs and search for work. If any of you need my sympathy, advice, etc. you have it.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
update
Seems like a "things beginning, things ending" time...
Within the week I expect an offer sheet for a full time position after a long, painful 19 months of unemployment or underemployment. It's not stuff I want to do all my life, but it will be a load off to not constantly sweat every bill that comes along. Not that that long of unemployment doesn't spike one's debt sky-high. But, hey, one thing at a time.
The Adults run only has two shows left...so please if you get a chance come and see it. It's been a tough pull to get audiences but people who have come to see it have been speaking highly about it, so that's encouraging.
Check out our website at www.adultscomedy.com for more info. Thursdays 10:30, $10.
I'm on this new Playground team called Sam Hill. GREAT people. Rehearsals have been good but we've only had one show so far.
Within the week I expect an offer sheet for a full time position after a long, painful 19 months of unemployment or underemployment. It's not stuff I want to do all my life, but it will be a load off to not constantly sweat every bill that comes along. Not that that long of unemployment doesn't spike one's debt sky-high. But, hey, one thing at a time.
The Adults run only has two shows left...so please if you get a chance come and see it. It's been a tough pull to get audiences but people who have come to see it have been speaking highly about it, so that's encouraging.
Check out our website at www.adultscomedy.com for more info. Thursdays 10:30, $10.
I'm on this new Playground team called Sam Hill. GREAT people. Rehearsals have been good but we've only had one show so far.
Monday, May 11, 2009
podcasts and radio shows.
Guys,
Here's a couple awesome shows to check out...
The Sound of Young America
The self-described "public radio show about things that are awesome." Great guests,including Sarah Vowell, Jaffery Tambor, Ben Folds, David Mitchell of Mitchell and Webb. Comedy, music, acting, writing. Great stuff.
here and also on itunes
The Age of Persuasion
This Canadian show is really interesting. The latest show is about myths in advertising. Smart stuff. Link right below.
here
We'll be Right Back! with Ruby Streak
Hosted by the musical director of the Second City mainstage. Second City members past present and future. I particularly liked the Keegan Michael Key episode, where he did the only good Obama impersonation I've ever heard.
here and itunes.
Morning Becomes Eclectic
Way way awesome live music and interview show from KCRW. Check out the deep archive for amazing shows from Blonde Redhead, PJ Harvey, many others.
here
Others (all at itunes)
The Chicago Sessions - great improv and interviews from Seth Weitberg and local Chicago guests
Hey, We're Back! - Johnathan Katz - short and funny stories from Dr. Katz. Did he steal the show name idea from Ruby?
The Interface - Live music
NPR - All Songs Considered podcast - indie stuff
Here's a couple awesome shows to check out...
The Sound of Young America
The self-described "public radio show about things that are awesome." Great guests,including Sarah Vowell, Jaffery Tambor, Ben Folds, David Mitchell of Mitchell and Webb. Comedy, music, acting, writing. Great stuff.
here and also on itunes
The Age of Persuasion
This Canadian show is really interesting. The latest show is about myths in advertising. Smart stuff. Link right below.
here
We'll be Right Back! with Ruby Streak
Hosted by the musical director of the Second City mainstage. Second City members past present and future. I particularly liked the Keegan Michael Key episode, where he did the only good Obama impersonation I've ever heard.
here and itunes.
Morning Becomes Eclectic
Way way awesome live music and interview show from KCRW. Check out the deep archive for amazing shows from Blonde Redhead, PJ Harvey, many others.
here
Others (all at itunes)
The Chicago Sessions - great improv and interviews from Seth Weitberg and local Chicago guests
Hey, We're Back! - Johnathan Katz - short and funny stories from Dr. Katz. Did he steal the show name idea from Ruby?
The Interface - Live music
NPR - All Songs Considered podcast - indie stuff
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
