Dear residents of Chicago,

Life is short. Slow down.

Love,
Your Neighbor Ryan

My first day of school

Yesterday was my first day of Level 1 at iO. My teacher was doing something for Second City so we had Craig Uhler as a sub. He was absolutely incredible though. All my fears were quelled very quickly.

Those fears were fears I was afraid to admit because I knew they were cocky. My fears were basically that I wasn't going to learn anything new and that I would be bored. Well, the first day of class I can't say that I really learned anything new. But, something happened to me, and I did the best scene work of my improv career. We were doing the excercise, the argument. To the uninitiated, basically these are scenes where the scenarios are meant to lead to arguments. The idea of the scene is to not argue, but instead to be supportive of your scene partner how ever you can. Both of the scenes I did, I felt better about than anything I've done scenically in a long time.

I really look forward to going back next Sunday.

PS
I'm alone all next week, July 4th-12th, if anyone has anything fun to do, let me know.

A Weekend at Home

This weekend I went back to Detroit to spend some time with family and friends.

It was not relaxing to say the least, but in a great way. I was going non-stop seeing people and doing things. Got to see all my nearest and dearest friends and all of the local family. It was really a great time. It was like living a mini version of my life in four days.

I got to have friends cry on my shoulder. I got to play Magic the Gathering. I got to drink coffee and laugh with friends until 3 am. I got to hang out with my family. I got to watch cable TV and eat Jet's pizza. I even found time to go see Rilo Kiley which was great.

It was hard to turn my back on all of that and come back to Chicago. I love this city so much, but no city can compare to the one where your friends live. Unfortunately, I don't have much in the way of friends here. Marc and Alicia are the only ones I really hang out with. No one else ever calls me and I don't know why, but I always feel awkward calling them. But I know that as I meet more people, this will change and soon I'll have a social life in Chicago.

The people will never compare though. They can try all they want, I'll never find another Dale, Joe, Katie, Sides, Matt, Jerry, Nikki, Corrina, Tim, Will, Voldo, etc.

what a night

Last night I go to the Lakeshore Theatre for some free stand up with my lady and our friends. So the comics perform, everyone was hilarious and a good time was had.

And then it happened, the owner came out on stage with tears in his eyes. He was choked up. He said "Things like this are why we're the best place to see comedy in Chicago. So promise, no flash photography, have a good time. Ladies and Gentleman......."

"ROBIN WILLIAMS"

And it was really him. He did a half hour stand up set! For free! That's what I love about living here, anything can happen.
__________________

Today I Cold Called.........

The Alternative Pop Rock Band The Dandy Warhols.

and

A Strip Club.


Man I love my job.

Something that's been bothering me

That should probably be the title of every entry. This is going to become a chronicle of the random neurotic bits of minutia that haunt my days. I need answers though.

Last night as I lie in bed, I was watching Toy Story 2. My choices were limited due to a broken DVD player but let it be known, I do not apologize for this choice. I feel the Toy Story series was a beautifully animated, very smartly written peice of cinema. There is one thing that I was bothered by and it really doesn't even have anything to do with Toy Story 2, but seeing Buzz Lightyear made me think about it.

In the first movie, Buzz is not self aware. He really believes he is a space ranger out to destroy the evil Zurg. He does not know he is a mass produced peice of plastic with some working parts and flashing lights.

Given this fact, why did he stay frozen in his box at the toy store until he was purchased. Why did he freeze and drop lifelessly to the ground with the other toys whenever a human entered a room? Why, when Andy first unwrapped his present and open the box did Buzz not spring to life and begin searching tirelessly for Zurg.

None of this is explained and I WANT ANSWERS.

x-posted to Livejournal in order to get the answers I seek.

Commercial Pilots.

This is something I think about on an almost daily basis. I work two stops away from O'Hare airport, in the same office park as a hotel, so needless to say, I see alot of pilots when I'm going home from work. I've always wondered what it's like to have a job that requires that much travel.

Are you able to have a family. Do you bother with an apartment or just stay in a hotel the one or two days a week that you're home. I guess you wouldn't need much of a wardrobe if you have to be in a pilots uniform so often, just some PJ's for lounging in hotels, a pair of jeans for when you go out with stewardesses, a couple of t-shirts. Maybe a suit coat that doesn't have wings on it so that you can go to funerals and weddings. I guess they really could fit your whole life in a suitcase and live out of it. What a life though. I don't think I could do it. I thought about some possible promotion paths at work that would require me to travel, but I don't know if I could leave my life behind for more than 2 or 3 days a month.

Any pilots, if you come across this, how do you do it? Also, do you get lots of stewardess ass.