All posts by Brian Paris

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Baby Middle Name

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Virginia and I decided on a middle name for the new baby when it comes. We were thinking about it for quite a while, and in the end it just seemed right.

Her name will be Joy Alison.

Alison Davis Wood was a co-worker/friend with both of us at WILL. She was always great to work with and taught me a lot along the way. She is also one of the nicest people that I have ever known. It was such a pleasure to work in the cubical across from her. She brought a good energy to the work place. It is one of the things that I miss the most about working at WILL.

Virginia and I met at WILL, and we really got to know each other working on Prairie Fire, which was the show Alison produced. I still think that we should name her Joy Prairie Fire, but Virginia doesn’t like that one as well. 🙂 It was on that show that both Virginia and I got experience in producing stories for television. The short (3-7 minute) stories were a great training ground for video production, and Alison’s teaching, advice, and example made both Virginia and I into better shooters, lighters, editors, and producers.

Alison is also raising three amazing children. It was watching her with her children that made me think that I wanted to have a kid some day. (That day is coming pretty soon.)

If Joy Alison grows up to be anything like Alison or her children I will be very happy.

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Ricky Bobby

Funniest shit I ever seen.

Not really, but I thought that sounded funny. Just watched the movie and it was funny. It was between that and About a Boy. I keep telling people that you can’t go wrong with Will Ferrell or Hugh Grant.

Shake and Bake, Baby!

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Improv Show

My Second City Level D improv show was on Sunday. I think that it went really well. I messed up a little in the beginning and that threw me off a little. The rest of the class was great though. They were all very supportive of each other and we got a lot of laughs.

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Pow Wow

Went to Starved Rock on Saturday to see the Pow Wow out there. Last year I was shooting video of the event so I didn’t really get to see much. It was good to see Joseph, Bill, Kathy and the others. Something special about drumming. I even got out and danced a little. Virginia did a lot more of that. I think that she wanted to do even more, but her body just wouldn’t let her.

It was a very beautiful day. The temperature was nice and the rain held off until eight. Looked like there were a lot of people there, so I hope that it was a successful event.

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Where ya been?

Sorry for the blog neglect. Here is a post of all the crazy things that have been happening in my life.

Virginia moved up here. Some of her friends and Felper helped out. It wasn’t too bad, but I was glad to have help.

I had a weekend of work down in Champaign. It went really well. I like working with an organization that is doing great things.

Some of Virginia’s (and my) work friends threw her a baby shower. It was so great. There were so many good people there. I am glad that she has so many great friends. Also got a lot of useful stuff (and cute outfits) for when the baby comes.

While my mom was at the baby shower, I spent time with my dad. It was nice to talk to him for a while. We went for a walk around Meadowbrook. It was good to get out and walk.

Continued with writing sketches and getting ready for my improv class performance. It is going to be fun. It just feels better than last one. It is on Sunday if anyone wants to see me on the Second City stage.

Virginia found a great health care place. I am very relieved that she is at a quality place with nice people.

Still have more painting, moving, and unpacking to do. I’ll post more later.

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The Shopping Cart

Has to be one of the best inventions out there. The lowly shopping cart. Especially for a guy without a car. I had to buy some paint at Home Depot today, but I don’t have a car so it is kind of hard to carry all that stuff back to the new place. I asked about delivery, but it was $60. I tried to rent a truck from them for an hour (only $20), but I don’t have car insurance (because I don’t have a car). This lead me to ponder how to get all this stuff home. Thought about calling a cab which would have worked but not my favorite idea. Instead the counter lady said I was welcome to use a shopping cart to walk the stuff back as long as I returned it. Since the store isn’t that far from the new place, that is the option I went with. It was kind of fun walking down the sidewalk with a cart full of stuff from the Home Depot.

There was a time when I was living in Champaign that I use a cart to move from one apartment to another. They really work well. I understand why homeless people always have them. Writing that makes me think that they are in between apartments also, but they just have a longer wait for the new one. That is kind of sad. Not the way I wanted to end this. How about you picture me walking down the street pushing a shopping cart. It had to be a funny sight.

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10,000

The Cubs came from behind in the 9th to take the lead. Wood gives up a run in the bottom half and then the Cubs win it in the 10th. Six wins in a row and 15-6 this season. And the bigger milestone was the 10,000th win in franchise history. Good milestone, good game, and good win.

Go Cubs!

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Happy Birthday

Another year gone by. I am a year older and wiser(?).

Looking back, it seems that it was a big year of change for me. I left my job, moved to Chicago, started doing freelance work, took classes at Second City, worked on a sketch show, saw Cubs games and concerts, met lots of good people, and conceived a child. That has to go down as one of my best years so far.

Looking forward, I see a lot of positives. Virginia is moving up here, the baby is due in June, more freelance work lined up, a new apartment, creative projects, and new adventures.

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New Place

Been looking all around for a place for Virginia and I. I finally found something new where I live now. I have got to sign the lease tomorrow. I think it is going to be a great apartment. It is really large. Two floors, Four Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms, Living Room and a Wide Hall (narrow room?) in the back that can be used for something.

Really looking forward to getting in there and cleaning, painting and setting things up for move in. I think that Virginia is planning on moving on the 28th. Can’t wait to get her up here and settled.

It is definitely a relief to have found some place that both of us agree on. I looked around a lot and found one that I liked, and then she was able to come up for a day to check it out and liked it a lot.

Just a word to the cat lovers out there: Virginia is trying to find a good home for her cat before she moves up here. If you like cats, and would like another, contact me and I’ll have her get in touch.