Kara and Kevin = Engaged as of last week.

They are also moving into a condo in May.

Me: So you have a lot to do.

Kara: Oh yeah. The other day I called a business meeting with him. I told him he was having a meeting with 'Business Kara' not 'Fiance Kara.' I had him meet me at a coffee shop but it was too busy so we went to my place. I set up chairs and got down to business. At one point my phone rang and I said 'I'm sorry I kept my phone on during our meeting, I'm expecting a very important call but that was not it, continue.' After 10 minutes he said 'Business Kara SUCKS!'

Congratulations.

I recently got a pass to try out a gym for free, which is great, but I also had to have that weird meeting with a sales rep before I worked out.

Sales Guy: We have discounted packages for students and actors.

Me: Well, I'm an actor.

Sales Guy: Oh really? I tried to be an actor in college, but it didn't take. I just wasn't very good at it.

And later he asked me about my work out habits and goals.

Sales Guy: So basically it looks like you're just looking to maintain.

Me: Yeah, pretty much.

Sales Guy: But...uh...didn't you say you were an actress?

Me: (what I wanted to say) First of all, I'm an actor. I wasn't made out of the rib on an actor, asshole. Second of all, you're a douche bag. Not every actor wants to be stick thin, stop perpetuating stereotypes, this is the reason I gave up rag mags, douche bag. Did I mention you're a douche bag? Cause you are.

Me: (what I did say)....I'm doing ok for myself. Thanks.

A recent text message from Doug:

In St. Martin for the day. Left early for the ship because the other singers were fired for doing coke. Miss you. Tan and drinking a pina colada. Smooches.

It feels wrong to be eating clam chowder here.

Yesterday was Stacey's birthday too.

Not only are they looking more like eachother as time passes they have started wearing matching outfits. You can't see it well, but there is a little red monkey on Bob's (Oak Forest, IL to Layton, UT to Chicago) tie and he'e wearing a red undershirt to match Stacey's red headband, shoes and purse.

Tonight Mary Beth had a birthday dinner at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, a tapas place. Her dad, step mom, and grandma came in town to celebrate.

I didn't know her grandma's name because she introduced herself as 'Grandma.' When introduced, I didn't shake her hand because she grabbed me and gave me a big grandma hug and kiss. I didn't arm wrestle Grandma because Lauren (Chicago native) mistakenly challeneged her first.

Watching an 80 year old woman clear tapas plates off a table with one swipe of her hand to make room for arm wreslting is pretty great. Watching her arm wrestle and beat a 21 year old girl is amazing.

After dinner and drinks, and more drinks at a bar, I was exhausted and had to call it a night. Grandma was still going strong when I left.

Spring has sprung! Let's go outside! Let's put on shorts! Let's open the windows! Let's get pedicures! Let's drink iced tea! Let's get a spray tan! Let's buy a puppy and walk down Southport! Let's start feeling less gloomy!

Besides opening the windows and feeling less gloomy, we did none of these things today. Instead Arnie and I stayed in, watched TV, and played 'Cooking Mama' on his Wii. It's a game where you prepare food and then cook it. This is Arnie trying to peel a carrot. We made mochi, pasta in squid ink, and shrimp in a chili sauce.

For real life dinner Arnie made pork chops on the Foreman.

Hooray for spring!

Sean (Boston to Chicago): It's weird that you now have a frame of reference for things in Massachusetts. Like, if I say something like "My Dad works off of 128 near the Burlington Mall", or "Do you think anybody has ever told Tom Menino that he sounds like his mouth is full of marbles and chalk when he talks?" you might know what I'm talking about.

Sean is not actually from Boston, he's from a town just outside the city, but I can't remember the name. I know he'll correct me and then give me directions there. Just in case.

Tonight Arnie's i.O. team, Otis, had their last show. Otis performed for five years so unlike Psychoplasmics, who only lasted a bit over a year, they knew when their last show would be and lots of friends came out to support them.

Here they are dancing to an Otis Redding song at the beginning of the show.

Bob: Did you get to see Arnie dance?

Me: Not really, I was too busy taking pictures.

Bob: There was a lot of Bill Cosby dancing going on.

I mentioned this to Arnie.

Arnie: That's the only way I know how to dance.

The show was very good, Arnie was especially funny, and the audience left happy. It's hard to acurately describe an improv show besides mentioning if it was good or bad, it's just one of those things you have to see in person. But this one was good. Very good. Otis good...and that's very good.

A picture from the road.

Scarf: $10 at Boston Logan Airport

Sunglasses: $7 at gas station in Lafayette, Indiana

Bedhead: Free, courtesy of the hotel pillow and my laziness.

This is a list of the Past Performing Groups at the Chicago Sketchfest (yes, I took this picture months ago).

The first show I ever did in Chicago was with The Beavers, with Kara, at Sketchfest, but I couldn't for the life of me remember how long ago that was. For some reason the Beavers weren't on the list. Was it three years ago? Four years? It's certainly wasn't five...right?

With all the interviews I've had to answer the question 'where do you see yourself in five years?' a lot. I don't think I've given the same answer once. Why? Simple. I have no clue. What if something in the next five years pops up that I never thought of? For now, keeping my eyes open and meandering is working out just fine.

If, maybe a week from now, I'm crying on the train about what I'm going to do I'll feel differently. That's the thing about making two cross country moves in seven months. As Stacey pointed out, the first six months of a move are filled with crazy, I moved as the crazy part was ending and reset for another six months of crazy. I think she's right but I'm hoping her numbers are off.

But today is a good day.

On our way home we stopped by a different Cracker Barrel to use the washroom.

Natalie (Daytona Beach, FL to Chicago): No matter where you go Cracker Barrel always smells the same.

On a side note: While living in Boston I got crap from a lot of people for not calling a washroom a bathroom. 'Bathroom' said in a Boston accent sounds horrible, and said with a Chicago accent sounds even worse, but at least I don't get corrected here.

Anyway...Cracker Barrel. It would be an understatement to say that I love this place. Homemade Fudge? Check. Sweet Old Lady Behind Counter? Check. Plaster snail lawn ornaments that doubles as a hiding place for a key? Check. I could stay there for hours.

So I picked up some candy sticks and a Magic Loop Toy for Arnie, malt balls for myself, and Mad Libs for the car ride home. Oh, and I didn't forget the shiny silver pen with an angel on top.

Later I told Arnie about my new love.

Arnie: I feel like if you grew up in a town with a Cracker Barrel you'd feel differently.

Firecracker Road Trip.

Stacey(Boston to Chicago to Eugene, OR to Chicago) booked a show for us at the Cincinnati Playhouse as part of their alternative theater series. So we hopped in the car and drove 5 hours to Ohio. Here we are at the Cracker Barrel. It was my first time ever visiting a Cracker Barrel. It was awesome.

The show went very well and the audience was a diverse group of theater supporters who hadn't seen a lot of improv. We found out from the stage manager that a lot of the Playhouse actors came to see the show as well. When I got on stage I could immediately tell who they were, just like at i.O., they were the ones comfortably standing at the back of the bar.

We also found out that in the late 60's the Beatles stayed at the hotel where we were staying. As homage to Beatles most bands will stay at that hotel if they are performing in Cincinnati. There is also a hospital nearby.

Stacey: So a lot of rock stars here huh?

Housekeeper: Oh yeah, but mostly businessmen and sick people.

Stacey: A lot of sick people huh?

Housekeeper: A lot of sick people.

Stacey: Any sick rock stars?

Housekeeper: (laughs) I don't know about that.

Then there was a sushi dinner, and talking, and lying around the hotel, and talking, and reading magazines to each other, and talking. I'm convinced if we didn't fall asleep so early we would have ended up braiding each other's hair.

After Balderdash last night I met Arnie (Ohio to Tuscon, AZ to Chicago to Tuscon, AZ to Chicago) at his friend's St. Patrick's Day party. I noticed the host had a glass from the Theater. For a second I thought I was in Boston again and the rest of the night it kept catching my eye, almost taunting me, as if to ask 'What would you be doing right now?'

Instead of fighting the crowds at the bars, Cowlick decided to go over to BJ's (Chicago native) and play Balderdash after our show.

Here we are at Target trying to find it. They don't carry it. Neither does Border, Barnes & Noble, or Gamer's Paradise. After all the searching we found out Tim actually owned it.

In Balderdash a word is given and everyone has to write down a fake definition, these are put in a pile along with the real definition and everyone has to guess which is the real definition. Here are a few of the fake definitions we came up with.

Mycraner - What an elderly person says after they hurt their head. (Tim)

Finundate- To involve a domesticated animal in the solving of a crime. (Me)

Abelmosk- Weiner, weiner, weiner, big gay beaners. (Scott)

Did I mention that I'm staying at Jana's until I move in with Tim (Sumter, SC to Chicago)? I'm staying with Jana until I move in with Tim.

This afternoon I had interview number 4 with the California Company. Beforehand I lazily drank coffee, went grocery shopping, came back and made food, showered, dressed, and put myself back into interview mode.

Later I got a call from Jana. Someone had broken into and robbed the apartment downstairs. In fact they broke into Kevin's(Chicago native), Kara's boyfriend's, apartment. According to the police the person did it between 10am and 2pm while I was lazily drinking coffee upstairs.

Yikes.

Holy crap.

While walking over the bridge on Ashland (the Ashland Bridge?) I found a homeless person's make shift home, similar to the bed I found on the pier in Boston, but this one was much less tidy. There were blankets, loaves of bread, a potted plant, and some scattered papers. I couldn't help but imagine that it was the same homeless person from Boston. That they had made the trip to Chicago around the same time I did and were just having a harder time making it work.

An e-mail from Will(Chicago to Boston):

P.S. I just found out that I had the highest testosterone dose in my testosterone study.

Does that explain all the crying?

This is me on a phone interview and this is my 'I'm listening but I know you can't see me' face AND this is the third phone interview I've had with this company. It went very well, so well that I'm on to interview number four where I actually get to meet someone in person.

If I do get this job my boss(es) will be in California so I can look forward to another long distance relationship of a different sort.

More temp work today. This one came with an amazing view of downtown.

As a kid I used to think that the triangular building to the left was a tube of lipstick for a giant.

That is all.

Eggs and bacon and potatoes and orange juice and coffee and toast taste better in Chicago. Maybe they use ingredients that are closer to the earth or maybe Sundays remind me why I'm happy to be home.

Today Cowlick had rehearsal for our upcoming musical and then we went to lunch for Scott's (Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago) birthday. At 2:30pm we decided it would be a good idea to do an impromptu pub crawl. We ended up going to about 5 bars and singing 'Happy Birthday' at every one. Once in a while it's fun to be obnoxious...within reason.

Scott was as happy as this picture suggests. I've never seem him this happy...or this tan. He has been going to a doctor for 'sun bed treatments' to help with a skin problem. I wouldn't doubt that the sun exposure in these gray Chicago months helps wash away the winter blues. Note to self: Go Tanning.

Mary Beth (Norwalk, OH to Chicago) has been picking up some acting jobs recently. One included playing a witness at a mock trial for law students.

Mary Beth: So they sent me this big packet about the backround of my character. I had to play a woman who adopted a baby, and some of the adoption process was not legal but she didn't know it, and now the birth mother wanted the baby back. When I was on the stand and didn't know the answer to a question I would just scream 'GIVE ME MY BABY BACK! I WANT MY BAAAAAAABYYY!!!' and flail around. No one told me it was a problem the first time, so I did it in the other two trials that day.

Tonight Kara (Erie, PA to Los Angeles, CA to Chicago) and I went over to Jana's (Rockford, IL to Santa Barbara, CA to Chicago) for much over due haircuts and highlights. In return we brought lots of wine and cooked taco salads.

Later Kara tried to describe my show she saw while in Boston. Did I mention Kara hates improv?

Kara: It was....ok. But seriously you and that other guy were the best. Jana you would have thought so too.

Jana: I've never seen you perform. With this one (Kara) I keep hearing how great you are. It's like going out for a drink with a guy that's a really good tax accountant. Everyone's like 'this guy is a really good accountant!' but you don't give a shit. He's just your friend you have drinks with.

Fun night.

It's fun to go out for ice cream while it's snowing outside. It's also fun when you take a picture of your ice cream while you're in the snowstorm and the guy walking next to you stops and says 'That's good!'

Doug left for his cruise today.

Doug(via text): I had a nice last show but Dance Team wasn't the same without you.

Bye bye Doug.

Temp work today. What a surprise.

After getting coffee for the office my supervisor mentioned that she had seen me in a show before I left. In fact she was a student at i.O. at the time and her teacher was Joe B. He had Psychoplasmics come into the class to talk to them about acting and then they watched us perform.

Being recognized in Chicago never happened. Being recognized in Boston happened fairly often. Being recognized today made the awkward ritual of getting my time sheet signed much more pleasant.

Nerdy, yes; but sometimes when I blog I can't help but get the song 'Changes' by David Bowie stuck in my head; and then I can't help but think to myself, is he saying 'change' or strain' at the end of the chorus.

So I looked it up. It is 'strain.' Upon further reading I noticed that it's actually a very sad and incredibly pessimistic song; dead end streets, warm impermanence, children being spit on, you get the idea.

I suppose it's natural to feel a certain amount of sadness about change. There is always the possibility things could have worked out better, or just differently, and not have changed. Maybe I could have been more adaptable. Maybe things in Boston could have been more open and accepting. Maybe we just weren't right for each other all along but kept holding onto the idea of being in love. Yes, this is officially a break up. I've been fighting using the analogy for various reasons but today I concede.

Changing the name on the blog came with its' own feeling of defeating permanence (like giving back the last of his stuff from your apartment. His CD's, that beer bottle opener he brought to your house and you can't remember why, his t-shirts that you wore to bed), so I suppose today 'strain' is fitting.

Me: I like your hat. At first glance it looks like your a Bears fan, but no, you are just a fan of Chicago.

BJ: It was $2.50 at the gas station.

It feels good to be home.

10 years ago today Young moved from a small town in Illinois to Chicago.

Young: 10 years...jeez.

Me: So what's your favorite Chicago memory?

Young: I don't know but I do remember my first time taking the train. The Sunday before I started my job I had no clue where I was going so I rode the train to my job just to make sure I could get there. But then...the next morning while riding the train I remember looking around and thinking (in hushed and higher pitch tone)...I'm made it! I'm doing it!