This evening was my birthday... according to Aeris. The original intent for my birthday, back on the 25th, was to play some epic Minecraft lan (which we did), get some pizza (which we did, but you'll hear more that of later), and head over to WSU's Nuthouse improv comedy show. I'll suspend some tension over the results of that last point (I'll also point out that this may very well be the first time I've ever celebrated my birthday in the same month, let alone on or about my day of birth). The Minecraft lan party went amazingly well. We played Minecraft, and really that's all there is to it (or, indeed, to Minecraft). So here's all of us, sitting around our various computers, focused intently on the construction of each of our parts of this truly swinging bachelor's pad, every so often lifting our heads slightly from the monitor to mumble something like: "Should we get the pizza? Anybody hungry yet?"
And this was how it went. It sounds truly invigorating and ruckus-raising, I'm sure, but this was entirely pleasing to me, and I was not just content, but genuinely happy. At some point, several hours into the 'party,' we actually called the pizza place. About an hour after that, we sent Thor to pick the pizzas up. Not too long after this, we realized that we were going to be late to Nuthouse, and Thor hadn't gotten back with the pizzas yet. So when they DID arrive, we decided that we barely had time to grab slices, and rush out the door and across campus to the theatre. When we got to the doors, we were informed that it was completely sold out. Lisa, whom we had agreed to meet at the theatre, left her seat momentarily, and informed us that it was some important weekend (either a game weekend or a parent's night or something not even half remembered), and we should have made sure to get there half an hour early. So, apologetically, we had to leave, and head back.
Not too sadly, mind you, because though it may sound unenthusing, I got to go back and play more Minecraft with my friends.
I told you that story so I could tell you this one.
This week, incidentally while everybody was sitting around the table playing GURPS, Cole, Aeris and I made to meet one of Cole's theatre friends for Nuthouse. Aeris, was disappointed that on the 25th she couldn't be here for my party, as she had to go to an event for her bird group (I call it a "bird group" as I cannot remember what it is actually called), so she pointed out that I was FINALLY getting to Nuthouse, and that this was the extended conclusion of my birthday (or something vaguely similar).
So ends, in the fashion of my long-winded, self-indulging, rants, the introduction. This next bit is the part with the REASON why I am telling you all this.
My vest almost... ALMOST, won 15 points. Not me. The vest.
Nuthouse improv was, as usual, very good. I enjoyed it immensely. I'm terrible of thinking of suggestions fast enough, so I cannot say I got many witty ones, or bad ones, or any ones used, but I can say that the suggestions that did get taken were very good, and much better than any I could think up. One of the sketches they did that I particularly liked was called something like "human puppet." The premise was that two players would each pick someone from the audience, and while the players acted out the scene to the best of their abilities, the chosen audience members would act as puppeteers for the players, moving their arms and legs and heads for every step, arm movement, etc.
Points to those who guessed why I liked this one particularly well before this point. I was sitting on the edge, up front, and I was one of the first to raise my hand. I made a bit of a funny face when the player noticed me and passed me up at first, and she chose me right after. Walking up, I figured that my black Skunkworks coat (which I was still wearing at that point) would get me hot under the lights, and I preferred to move around encumbered only by my vest, so very quickly I took my coat off and dropped it off at my chair. The MC, noticing my vest, made some sort of comment like "good choice sir! It's Safari Time!"
To say I could not let this pass does not do the situation justice. There really was no other option left to me. I returned once more to my chair, this time to fetch my remarkably awesome brown wool fedora (with a fake gator-skin hat-band, adding to the image neatly), which, walking back on stage, I donned with a flourish, to the approval of the rest of the theatre, and particularly of the players.
I cannot say much for the rest of the evening, which is, by no stretch, to say that it was not incredibly fun, just that my memory contains no specifics. The entire night was wonderful, and the sketch I participated in I performed to the best of my abilities, but with no particular skill. I worry a little, that I might have been somewhat rough with my player, but looking back I cannot see any thing I could have done differently (she was a bit unresponsive to what I was trying to do, I think). But after the sketch was done, and the points were getting produced, on a whim by the MC (as is traditional with improv comedy), one of the players suggested that fifteen points be awarded "to the vest." Sadly this was not made official, but I was... touched, I guess, by the suggestion.
I worry about my appearance to others, particularly right now. Not even my physical appearance, but how I come off to people in general. One of the things I've been thinking about changing, was my vest. It is bulky, and cumbersome and makes me look somewhat foolish, and while I do value everything in it, very few of the things I keep in it are necessary for everyday use. Envious of Cole, I sometimes think of ways I might move toward a more suave mode of dress, that would still allow me to carry a good deal of the things in my vest. Additionally, I've been feeling a number of attacks to my personality recently, nothing important, but still it makes me unhappy. But in opposition to this, it is overwhelmingly validating, and encouraging, to have something so integral to my personality and self, justified by a crowd of laughing people, and a thumbs up from one of the genius performers on stage.
And this was how it went. It sounds truly invigorating and ruckus-raising, I'm sure, but this was entirely pleasing to me, and I was not just content, but genuinely happy. At some point, several hours into the 'party,' we actually called the pizza place. About an hour after that, we sent Thor to pick the pizzas up. Not too long after this, we realized that we were going to be late to Nuthouse, and Thor hadn't gotten back with the pizzas yet. So when they DID arrive, we decided that we barely had time to grab slices, and rush out the door and across campus to the theatre. When we got to the doors, we were informed that it was completely sold out. Lisa, whom we had agreed to meet at the theatre, left her seat momentarily, and informed us that it was some important weekend (either a game weekend or a parent's night or something not even half remembered), and we should have made sure to get there half an hour early. So, apologetically, we had to leave, and head back.
Not too sadly, mind you, because though it may sound unenthusing, I got to go back and play more Minecraft with my friends.
I told you that story so I could tell you this one.
This week, incidentally while everybody was sitting around the table playing GURPS, Cole, Aeris and I made to meet one of Cole's theatre friends for Nuthouse. Aeris, was disappointed that on the 25th she couldn't be here for my party, as she had to go to an event for her bird group (I call it a "bird group" as I cannot remember what it is actually called), so she pointed out that I was FINALLY getting to Nuthouse, and that this was the extended conclusion of my birthday (or something vaguely similar).
So ends, in the fashion of my long-winded, self-indulging, rants, the introduction. This next bit is the part with the REASON why I am telling you all this.
My vest almost... ALMOST, won 15 points. Not me. The vest.
Nuthouse improv was, as usual, very good. I enjoyed it immensely. I'm terrible of thinking of suggestions fast enough, so I cannot say I got many witty ones, or bad ones, or any ones used, but I can say that the suggestions that did get taken were very good, and much better than any I could think up. One of the sketches they did that I particularly liked was called something like "human puppet." The premise was that two players would each pick someone from the audience, and while the players acted out the scene to the best of their abilities, the chosen audience members would act as puppeteers for the players, moving their arms and legs and heads for every step, arm movement, etc.
Points to those who guessed why I liked this one particularly well before this point. I was sitting on the edge, up front, and I was one of the first to raise my hand. I made a bit of a funny face when the player noticed me and passed me up at first, and she chose me right after. Walking up, I figured that my black Skunkworks coat (which I was still wearing at that point) would get me hot under the lights, and I preferred to move around encumbered only by my vest, so very quickly I took my coat off and dropped it off at my chair. The MC, noticing my vest, made some sort of comment like "good choice sir! It's Safari Time!"
To say I could not let this pass does not do the situation justice. There really was no other option left to me. I returned once more to my chair, this time to fetch my remarkably awesome brown wool fedora (with a fake gator-skin hat-band, adding to the image neatly), which, walking back on stage, I donned with a flourish, to the approval of the rest of the theatre, and particularly of the players.
I cannot say much for the rest of the evening, which is, by no stretch, to say that it was not incredibly fun, just that my memory contains no specifics. The entire night was wonderful, and the sketch I participated in I performed to the best of my abilities, but with no particular skill. I worry a little, that I might have been somewhat rough with my player, but looking back I cannot see any thing I could have done differently (she was a bit unresponsive to what I was trying to do, I think). But after the sketch was done, and the points were getting produced, on a whim by the MC (as is traditional with improv comedy), one of the players suggested that fifteen points be awarded "to the vest." Sadly this was not made official, but I was... touched, I guess, by the suggestion.
I worry about my appearance to others, particularly right now. Not even my physical appearance, but how I come off to people in general. One of the things I've been thinking about changing, was my vest. It is bulky, and cumbersome and makes me look somewhat foolish, and while I do value everything in it, very few of the things I keep in it are necessary for everyday use. Envious of Cole, I sometimes think of ways I might move toward a more suave mode of dress, that would still allow me to carry a good deal of the things in my vest. Additionally, I've been feeling a number of attacks to my personality recently, nothing important, but still it makes me unhappy. But in opposition to this, it is overwhelmingly validating, and encouraging, to have something so integral to my personality and self, justified by a crowd of laughing people, and a thumbs up from one of the genius performers on stage.
Happy Birthday! As for the vest, I'm afraid you'll need to choose: lots of stuff in a vest, lots of stuff in some other means of conveyance (see my purse), or not lots of stuff. Ask Cole, for example, how much 'stuff' he carries.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I know. He actually has a vest I rather like. Not NEARLY enough pockets, but that's besides the point. He keeps approximately one thumb drive in it, and one thing of non-descript-description. I'm just pondering looking for or making a vest that looks good AND can carry everything I want. But for now the fishing vest serves me well.
ReplyDelete