I just found a great site for keeping online todo list. It is called Remember the Milk. I like having a list available online so that I have access to it anywhere. They even have it set up to accept Jott messages. So I can call Jott and have it transcribe the voice memo and then post to my list. They also have a nice interface optimized for the iphone. Seems like it is exactly what I am looking for.

All of this is important because I have a lot to do if I want to get my life on the fast track in the next couple of months. Time is quickly passing, and becoming all that more precious.

The C and D level students put on their final shows today. It was a lot of fun. I went to one of each level and the turnout was amazing. There were about 100 people at each performance. It was interesting to see some of the same exercises that I have done in my classes. Just keeping things going, keeping them quick was the real secret to the comedy. Even if something wasn’t going well, if you could get through it quickly and move onto something else, then the next thing had the possibility of being funny. Also the best stuff was when people took on a character and played it real. There was no need to go for one liners or anything. Looking forward to my shows when they happen, but a little nervous.

There are 5 levels (levels A-E) of classes in the beginning improv program at Second City. I just finished the second level (B) and will start the third (C) in January. At the end of the C-E levels the classes put on a performance on the main stage. Today the classes from the last level (level E) put on their performances. I was really interested to see what these classes would be like. That is where I am going to be in a few months, a little glimpse into the future. I was pretty impressed by the shows. There were some really good performers and some not so great ones, but everyone seemed to support the group and that is all you can ask.

I learned a few things during the performance. One is that there are a lot of seats in the main stage theater. One of the classes did a lot of work getting people there, and it was nice to have a big audience. The other group didn’t have that many people in the audience. It was a little sad, but everyone who was there had fun. I will have to do a lot to get people to come to our show. The other thing I learned was to look at the audience. When you work in your classes you are alone. On stage you have to remember the audience.

Went to iO for an improv set tonight. They were doing it in a Shakespearean style. It was quite funny. I was impressed to see them build so many characters and have them all pay off by the end. I would have found it hard just to keep all of that stuff in my head. I would like to go again just to see how it is different each time.

A few people came over for drinks afterwards. Actually saw one of my music improv classmates on the bus and invited him in for a drink. It was nice to see him again.

There is a bunch of student improv at Second City this weekend. I will have to see how much I can get to. It will be interesting to see how people going through the same classes that I am are able to do in an audience setting.

Finished off classes at Second City for the year. I am really going to miss Judy from improv class. She was a great teacher. It was fun going each week and I think that I learned a lot. I am not sure how next term is going to go. We didn’t have enough people to continue on at the same time, but we are all trying to move to together for next term. It looks like most of us can make Thursday nights. I do know Ped from that class (he is in my writing class). He is a great improv-er and a fun guy. If the rest of the class is like him, it should be lots of fun.

So here is the class list in case I forget in later years: Ashley, Dan, Judd, Orin, and Shawn. Paul started but didn’t make it until the end.

Can’t say much about the writing class. I am glad that it is over and hope that the next is better. We shall see.

I’ve been icing down my shoulder all day. It is feeling better, but it still has problems. As long as it is making progress I am happy with it. Doesn’t look like I will have to see a doc about it.

It was pretty icy outside earlier. I think that I hate ice more than snow. Actually I kind of like snow. The ice just makes it dangerous though.

Since I have a baby coming soon, and I was down with the injury today, I decided to type up my children’s book. I have been working on it for awhile. Writing children’s books seems to be a good way to make money to support a kid. I still have a lot of rewriting to do with it, but it should be fun. It is an alphabet book so it isn’t too long. If nothing comes of it, at least I’ll have one kid that I can read it too.

I said that I was hurting earlier, but now I really am.

I was standing on some furniture to hang a light when I took a tumble. It all seemed like slow motion. I could see myself falling and everything else falling on top of me, but I couldn’t do anything to stop any of it. Broke a lot of stuff on the way down (hopefully not any bones).

I just laid there for a moment wondering if everything was OK. That is always a weird moment. I got up and my ankle and leg hurt a bit (some scratches and scrapes), but everything else seemed to be OK. As time went by though, I started to stiffen up a lot. My shoulder/collar bone area is hurting like hell right now. I can’t remember the last time that I hurt myself so badly. I don’t think that anything is broken, but it is pretty hard to pick things up with my left arm. If it still hurts tomorrow I might go in and have it checked out. Right now just aspirin and some rest and hopes that it will feel better.

Why did I have to do something so stupid? I can’t even blame it on being drunk. I was sober as hell.

Drank a little too much last night. I need to give it a little break for a while. So I probably won’t drink for a few hours. 🙂

I think that things went well last night. It was just a small get together, with good people. I don’t think that anyone get too messed up. I like it when everyone is drunk enough to have a good time, but not so drunk that they regret it.

I seem to remember telling Valerie that I would mention her long leather gloves. They were nice; maybe a little too nice. Tina Fey might have to watch out. 🙂

Cooper was the lone straggler. We sat up and talked until well after 4:00. It was good to get to know him a little better.

Janine Turner, who played Maggie O’connell on Northern Exposure, turns 45 today. Always thought that she was one of the most beautiful women on TV. Got to love the short haired brunettes. Doesn’t hurt that she dated Mark Grace, the Cubs first basemen during my formative years.

Happy Birthday Janine.

Getting ready to watch the Bears. Don’t really like football on Thursday night, but I hope the Bears win.

I have always wanted to write a sequel to my one hit song, “Hot Girl.” It was going to be called “Smart Girl,” but it looks like the original beach boy himself, Brian Wilson, already beat me to it back in the 80’s.

You can listen to the song and read a little about it at WRFU’s blog.

Of course mine was was going to be a tribute to Tina Fey, so I guess I could still do that.