the curtains

Guys! Happy 2012! It still counts, January isn’t over.

I have now stayed up way too late making some long overdue changes to the blog. But I’m excited, because I love how it’s turned out. I wrote a lot of new copy for the About Me page, and other new pages you can find in the header. It’s basically like I took the curtains down and gave them a good wash. (We don’t have curtains, and I don’t see myself being someone who would wash them if we did have them, so maybe I need to rethink this analogy.)

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to sip some Mexican hot chocolate and go to bed.

turning 31 + The MONSTER Show

Another post! I know, I’m surprised too!

I’m doing a fun new show and I wanted to tell you guys. Since Harvard Sailing Team has started doing more shows nationwide, and fewer shows in New York City, I knew I wouldn’t last long without another live comedy venture to put my energy into. I still perform every Saturday night at the PIT with my improv group The Baldwins, and now I’m also working on a new monthly variety show called The MONSTER Show. Our first show last month was a great success – such a fun crowd, fantastic guests, and my co-hosts Clayton Early and Chris Roberti and I had a blast entertaining everyone. Kevin produced, co-directed and co-wrote the show and that was awesome too. I’m lucky to get to work with such talented, smart people.

Our next show is this Friday, November 11 at 9:30pm at the PIT. We have another exciting line-up: the beloved sketch duo Chris & Paul, Last Comic Standing’s Adrienne Iapalucci, Jack Dishel in Only Son (he’s the lead guitarist of The Moldy Peaches and toured with The Strokes and Regina Spektor!), plus Harvard Sailing Team will appear via Skype from LA! And other fun stuff will happen too. 🙂 I love it.

This has been an exciting, interesting year for me. There have certainly been ups and downs, but overall, I feel like a lot of wonderful things have happened this year that have forced me to pause, look around, and feel grateful for what I’ve accomplished. My job at the PIT is fulfilling, I am more at home performing comedy than I ever have been before, I’ve made my health and mental wellness more of a priority than I have in years, and I’m about to turn 31 on Monday.

It’s a birthday that’s crept up on me. 30 was such a milestone, and it took a while to get used to the idea that I was no longer a 20-something, I guess I forgot that other ages would follow once 30 was said and done. We’re just doing low-key stuff this year – dinner with friends, a fun day together as a couple, I have to teach on the actual night of my birthday – very…adult, I suppose.

It’s all good stuff.

waving hello

Oh hi guys!

So, it’s been a while, I know. Let’s not deny it. I’ve owed this blog a post for quite some time.

Where have I been? I’ve been busy, I guess. Every time I sit down to write a post, that’s all it ends up being about. How I’m busy. That’s no fun, right?

I’m not really sure what else to tell you. It’s interesting how much I once had the drive to write about everything I was thinking and feeling, and how I just don’t feel the pull to do that so much anymore.

I guess I express myself in other ways lately – on stage, in the classroom, on twitter. Work at the PIT is busy and fun and has its ups and downs, but it’s a great place for me to be in my life right now. We were voted Best Comedy Venue in New York City in the Village Voice this year and we keep growing and growing. It’s super exciting. I also get along with my coworkers, who make me laugh, so that doesn’t hurt.

some I statements

I have a new job! It’s good. I like where I work and who I work with.

I pulled a muscle in my hamstring while I was stretching this weekend. It popped so loudly you could hear it across the room. I screamed. My ass hurt for two days. It’s on the mend now.

I have been really tired. I’m working 12 hour days most days. None of it’s hard or stressful – and I really do love a lot of the stuff I get to do right now! – but I’m tired.

I’ve been having writer’s block.

Shows and rehearsals and classes are my evening life. It’s great – fun, easy, fulfilling. I’m lucky. I know I’ve said this before, but I always marvel at it: I get to perform to two sold-out New York City audiences every Friday and Saturday night and I’m so lucky to get to do that. I don’t take that for granted.

HST has a new video. And we shot another one last night. It was a blast, as it always is. My friends are brilliantly funny and I adore them.

Super looking forward to the summer, guys. Let’s lay by the pool.

another last day

Last day at the ol’ law firm job.

Not my first law firm job. My second. The one I had to take after I made a big fanfare about quitting my first law firm job and spent a year figuring out who I am and what I want to do with myself.

Well, I think I’ve got it figured out. For now, anyway.

Life, right?

Can’t wait for 5:30pm tomorrow. New chapter! Spring.

what I’m leaving behind

Only FIVE MORE DAYS at this law firm job! I can’t wait to get out of here.

I’ve been at this job for six months, perhaps the shortest amount of time I’ve ever spent in any permanent position. (Except for the few weeks in 2007 during which I was an executive assistant to the red-faced Napoleonic owner of a very wealthy construction company who closed his door each day and figuratively castrated all the grown men he could fit inside his office, but I’ve tucked that month away into the dark recesses of my mind only to be revisited when I finally write my book entitled “Crazy People: New York City Bosses and Why You Might Be Better Off Looking Into Unemployment or Developing a Street Drug Addiction”).

I can’t decide if my stint here has felt longer or shorter than the six months it’s been, so I’ll just say it feels like it’s been exactly six months. It’s no secret that I haven’t loved this job. That’s not why I’m moving over to my new position at the PIT (yay! can’t wait!) – I would have been interested in the PIT job regardless, but I’m still ready to get outta here.

I’ve spent these six months wondering if I’m just a broken employee – someone who never grew the right kind of spine to quietly tolerate a paycheck job that she’s not particularly into, since I seem to have such a hard time keeping my mouth shut when I don’t like where I’m working. I marvel at some of my friends who have paycheck jobs, don’t really care for those jobs, but continue to power through everyday without complaint.

Well, I’m not quite so valiant. I’ve mostly bitched and moaned since day one at this place. At age 30 I certainly wish I was more mature, but I guess I’m not. It’s a personal reality I’ve accepted.

I’m excited about a lot of things related to this transition.  One small but very lovely aspect of my new job is that I won’t be an assistant any more. As much as I’m still happily pursuing comedy, acting and writing, I’ve had a little voice in the back of my mind since I turned 30 that’s been saying, “If this acting stuff doesn’t work out, what “career” will you have to fall back on? Assistantship? You’re gonna be a 40-year-old assistant some day? LOSER!”

And even though I know that kind of negative chatter isn’t good for much, and even though I’m also well aware that to have any kind of stable career at age 40 or any other age is a wonderful thing, I’m pleased to finally have an answer for the judgmental part of my brain who likes to pose those rude, cynical questions. “I’m NOT going to be an assistant any more, you cruel, jealous bitch.” That’s what I’ll say to that bitch. And maybe I’ll add, “I also had a giant cookie this weekend. AND I ATE THE WHOLE THING. What do you think of me now?” She’s gonna be so pissed.

Anyway, all this is to say that I feel lucky to have such professional good fortune right now. I’m grateful to get to leave behind what I’m leaving behind, to get to move on to something I’m really looking forward to, and to have a whole week off in between to get pedicures and eat chocolates (or giant cookies!).

new orleans!

the psychic

When we were in New Orleans I went to see a psychic! The meeting was a gift from my aunt. She and her best friend had had their cards and auras read when they’d visited before and I loved listening to their experiences, so we decided to find someone to read me.  Plus, it sounded like a fun way to kill a little time between daiquiris.

So we found a little voodoo shop where they offered readings and I sat down with ________. I can’t remember her name. Can you believe it? That’s either a really bad sign or a really good sign.

Either way, I spent half an hour with this friendly older lady who closed her eyes tightly and tried to “feel my energy.” I like astrology and will happily read about it from time to time, and I can suspend my disbelief with things like ghosts and mediums and the existence of auras. I’m not a believer nor a detractor. I’m just along for the ride and happy to participate and explore.

So it was fun to watch this sweet woman try to pick up clues about me, either from my tone of voice or the information I was giving her, or because of her innate ability to read my energy. I don’t really care which it was, and perhaps they’re one in the same. Regardless, it was a fun self-indulgence to have someone talk to me about myself for 30 minutes straight.

my big news

We just got back from a long weekend trip to New Orleans with family which was fantastic. We were celebrating my stepdad’s 50th birthday and I’d like to think we did so in style. I’d never been to New Orleans before and I can’t believe I hadn’t been – it was incredible. I loved the weather, the vibe, the flowing daiquiris, the amazing live music and the whole culture. We stayed in a big, old stunning vacation home and I’ll share pictures soon. All in all, it was a great trip and the perfect indulgent refresher from crazy city life.

Then, yesterday, I gave my two weeks notice to my boss at the music law firm. (On a Sunday because he left for a week-long business trip to London last night.)

When I started this job I didn’t expect to stay here for a very long time, but I also wasn’t sure what was in store. Maybe I’d get used to the comfortable salary and the free metrocard and stick around for a year or more. But it seems that wasn’t in the cards.

i’ll be patient

I have been on the brink of sneezing for the last two days. It’s torturous. Every once in a blue moon, I will sneeze, but as soon as it’s over, I immediately have to sneeze again and it stays like that for the next couple hours.

Been busy, been sick, looking forward to spring. My days consist of sleeping, commuting and working with some evening obligation most weeknights. But tonight Kevin and I went to see a show, something I bought tickets for in February, and we had a lovely time together. Mike Birbiglia is a favorite comedian of ours and neither of us had ever seen him live – it was a great show. We braved hail on the way home but it was worth it.

Some big changes are coming to my life pretty soon. I’m not exactly sure what direction they’ll take yet, but changes nonetheless and I’m excited and grateful.