Sick as a dog.

But if I were a dog, I woudn't have to do six shows this weekend.

I wish I was a dog.

I am pleased.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=428682

And...I'm alive.

Some of you may read this twice...I'm going to send a mass email to people as well as making a blog because my communication skills are SERIOUSLY bad and for all many of you know, I'm dead.  But I'm not, unless this is like Ghost and I haven't figured out I'm dead yet.  It's possible.

Let's see...the show opens tomorrow, and we're really ready for it.  This is the kind of show where you need an audience so badly just to confirm that you're actually funny to other people than your director and stage manager.  I'm happy with the show for the most part; my costume leaves a lot to be desired, but what can you do?  All I know is I'm getting paid to run around, swing and slide on a play set, and act like a child.  I do that every day, so it's nice to make some money off it. 

I have "real" job as well, waiting tables at a restaurant/bar called Flannery's.  I forgot how much I love serving - I know a lot of people think I'm crazy for that, but I really do enjoy it.  And I can make some kickass cash at this place.  Also this summer I'm going to be teaching "Acting Theory" for four weeks at First Stage Milwaukee.  I'm so terrified about this that I'm already waking up in the middle of the night in a blind panic.  I barely feel competent enough to use my own acting skills - now I have to teach them to kids?  GAH!  But I took the job, so now I'd better figure something out.  My friend Todd says I should just take the title of the class very literally and let the kids sit around all day theorizing about acting while I go drink gin and tonics at the bar across the street.  I say, good plan.

I had a little bit of medical trouble once I got out here - I started being bitten at night by something, leaving nasty itchy welts all over the place - my final count of bites was 63.  We couldn't really find anything in my apartment nor any bite pictures online that really matched what I had, so we decided to go ahead and bug bomb the entire place.  While that worked and I didn't get any new bites, some of the ones I had suddenly flared up and I ended up in urgent care.  The final theory (of course I never got a definitive answer - this is medicine, after all) was that whatever bit me probably injected a fair amount of venom into my blood stream, causing the bites to flare and itch like CRAZY.  I ended up on steroids for a week and everything calmed back down and I no longer feel completely diseased.  And I haven't seen as much as a Japanese beetle in my apartment for a week and a half, and that ROCKS.

Let's see...what else?  I think I'm about getting to the end of it.  I'm doing well, settling in nicely, and that makes me happy.  I'm WAY busier than I thought I'd be, since they're giving me tons of shifts at the restaurant and the show is about to open.  I'd like to make a public apology about my phone communication - I went so far over on my minutes while moving and settling in that my cell phone bill was double this month.  In my financial situation, that's no good.  Once the show opens I will have evenings free again to call people, and hopefully some weekend time too.  I miss each and everyone of you in Minnesota and think about you all the time.  All my Milwaukee friends are getting to know you because of the myriad of photos I have hanging all about my walls.  So even if I can't see you, I'm surrounded by you, and that makes me smile everyday.

So that's that.  I'll let you know how the show goes and whether or not we're a success.  Keep your fingers crossed!!!

I echo Emily:  If you don't like surveys, skip this blog.  I'm just at my parents house doing laundry, and as much as I love "The Price is Right" it is not completely ridding me of my boredom. 

I'm alive!  I'M ALIVE!!

But just barely.

So, here I am in my parent's house doing laundry, a clear indication that moving in by yourself does not necessarily mean you are an adult.  Or maybe it's just me; that's a possibility too.  But why would I waste quarters on coin laundry when free machines are just a quick drive away?  I mean, come on.

I'm doing alright here in Milwaukee so far.  Living alone is kind of nice, and I'm not lonely at all...but I can't say the same for Pippin.  He practically attaches himself to me whenever I get home, and he's taken to sleeping on my pillow at night.  Now, if my cat were normal sized, this would be ok, but since Pips is roughly the size of a small aircraft carrier I usually end up sleeping directly on the mattress.  I take it though - he didn't get any say about moving, so I guess I can sacrafice my pillow in return.

I don't yet have employment, which is not to say that I haven't been looking.  I have been offered a job at a very new, very upscale restaurant, but the "new" part introduces the problem; business is still picking up, and there's no way I'd be able to make my rent working there.  It's a shame because I think it would be excellent training to get another high-line serving position once the show closes and make some serious bank....but for now, I just need to pay for my new pad.  It would be tragic to be kicked out after one month.

Last night I had my first ever small party at my house - a post-rehearsal gathering of the cast to watch "Adventures in Babysitting."  (Why?  Because Anthony Rapp played Charlie Brown on Broadway, and Anthony Rapp is about 17 in that movie, and who doesn't have a little soft spot for Anthony Rapp?)  We had a bottle of wine and some popcorn, and it was almost a dignified occasion if it weren't for our entertainment of choice.  Oh, and the fact that we went to the beach afterwards.  Oops.

And rehearsal is going swimmingly - the show is very well cast, and everyone gets along really well.  The girl who plays Lucy is such a fucking riot; it's going to be worth seeing the show just for her. 

So that's a bit of an update, albeit brief.  Really, nothing that exciting has really happened yet.  I'll let you know if it does.  I miss my pals up there, but I've spoken with many of you and that makes me happy.  Hooray for telephones!

Ok, I have to do laundry now.