Another Week of Classes: Brian Posen was filling in for Andy my usual improv teacher. It was great seeing how he works. I feel like I am gaining so much from the improv class. The writing class is a struggle. I like that I am writing again. Yesterday I started my hour a day of writing. When I was taking writing classes in the past this was a great thing. Since it has been so long, I am having trouble physically writing that much. My hands were all cramped up and achy. I need to get back into practice. Or I could work on typing out my stuff. I have always been a longhand kind of guy, but that might have to change.

Barry Bonds hit the record breaking home run tonight. I was still coming home from class, but I got to see a lot of replays. Looks like I was just a few minutes late. Don’t really think that Bonds has much class. I can’t wait until someone breaks this record again. Maybe A-Rod.

Tom Glavine just beet the Cubs for his 300th win. That aint a bad way to lose a game for the Cubbies. Glavine might be the last 300 game winner that we see. Yesterday Bonds ties Hank Aaron, and Alex Rodriguez hits his 500th home run. Not a bad time for baseball stats (if you ignore the steroids thing).

I was going to go out to Wrigley tonight to watch Glavine, but I thought that it would be hard to get a ticket. Turns out that it was good to stay at home. WTTW was running a documentary about The Second City. I am liking what I have seen from that place. Looks like it is a place that I can learn a lot from. I was also inspired by its beginnings. They were just a bunch of people who got together and started something that they didn’t have. Most of the cast members launched from there to something else also. It makes me realize that it will be a good place to start, but I have to make my own opportunities. I need to get out there and do it on my own. I don’t think that anyone will cast me in anything, so I guess that I will have to write my own material. That really isn’t such a bad idea.

Bonds ties Hank Aaron for the home run lead. Don’t know what to think about that. I guess that it is a big record so I am happy that I am a witness to it, but it does feel kind of cheapened. Maybe I shouldn’t be watching so much baseball. Ha.

Cubs went into a tie for first place last night, so I thought that I would go out to Wrigley to watch them today. They didn’t win, but it was a fun time. There was a group of people with Down’s Syndrome in front of me. It was great to see how excited they were by everything. There were clapping and cheering at all the right times. When YMCA came on they were up on their feet and dancing like wild. There is something special about not being being concerned with what other people are thinking. It is something that we are striving to learn in our improv class, but these people had it down to perfection.

Here is a picture of Wrigley:

I am reading The Comics Toolbox. Great resource on writing. I would recommend it to anyone, even those who aren’t writing comedy. Seems like a good formula to find out how to get started and where to go from character to full stories. I think that I want to write some shorts to get started in production.

Just got back from my first class day at Second City. I am very anxious to get going. We are taking baby steps now, but I want to move fast. I know that I must be patient, but it is hard.

Improv Class: We just got use to movement, not thinking, and working on trusting each other. We did a couple of exercises to help us work on relating to each other and anticipating what we are doing.

Writing: We did some free writing to start out the day. It was nice to get back to pen to paper. It is amazing how good just that action feels. Then we did some introductions and interviewed each other and introduced our partners to the class. It is interesting how much just talking to some one for five minutes, just focused on who they are, really creates a bond.

I have been having a difficult time about not working. I keep getting drawn back into the idea that I need to do some projects. Things need to get done so that I can say that I have accomplished something. What I realized today was that it just doesn’t make sense to move just for the sake of action. Until I know what direction I am going, it is better to not waste the effort.

Went out to the street fest at Wicker Park today. They closed down the street and put up a couple of stages with music and lots of booths. Walked around Wicker Park, watched some softball, and then met up with Meg back at the fest. Meg and Bill road their bikes. Here’s a picture:

They were there to hand out fliers for Estrojam. Can’t wait for that festival. There are going to be so many good bands there.

Went to the Art and saw Once. It was a quirky good movie. Features music from an Irish band, I think it is the Frames. I have a few videos from them, but I never thought that they were great. Good band but not great. But this movie is so good that I think I might have to see it again. I would recommend it anyone who likes music, indie films, or love stories.