I got my back to the sun cuz the light is too intense, I can't see what everyone in the world is up against

Recovering bloggery, then back on the road -

this weekend was the final installment of the Nerd Parade and, like most people I know at the show, it's the best thing possible and a huge downer. I never want the show to end but I could not take another weekend - which tells me I ended just right.

The show is one of those fantastic things that provides some of the best and funniest moments I have ever seen and walking to the car at the end of the night Sunday I was struck by the sudden end to all the madness and the rapid onset of quiet and fatigue.

There are so many people I owe thanks to for so many laughs and moments but I'll keep it short, as I only have a few minutes to myself before a different kind of madness starts all over and I start packing for my trip tomorrow morning.

George (and Two Children Left Behind) -
The strange part is that I never had aspirations of doing a stage show, never thought it was for me and I just wanted to keep it on the street. George always wanted to get to the stage and somehow we've created something that is a terrific and unique mix of both.
I fucking love our show. I love it, it is so much fun to do, the one time of the day I know I'm going to work and laugh harder than any other and one of the things I am proudest of being a part of. I wrote earlier in the year about how I always joke about seeing George and I doing "bad improv" and how it really makes it sound like I'm not a huge fan of what we do but the total opposite is true - our show will kick your ass, we make new fans at almost every performance and I'll be the first one to tell you to come see us if you want to learn a thing or two and see how much fun it can be.

Like almost everything I've done at the Festival, I'm doing it because of George.
He's always pushing me to try new stuff, doesn't pause a second to tell me what I need to work on and even though I'm bright as a road flare and get the majority of the attention out on site he never gets tired of making me look funnier. the two of us together on a good day will destroy you.

Thanks for many, many great years.
Next year you get to be the clown.

Mark -
Yes, I refused to do a lot of the things we've done before out of my stubborn insistence that we not lean on the old bits and give him time to find some on his own as well. Sure, we could have spent every day throwing things at Mark and he would've taken it because it was damn funny and he'd let me hit him with a car if it got a big enough laugh. You'd never know it because he plays the guy walking into the trap so well but the guy spends a great deal of time working hard to be a funny motherfucker and I hope he knows the value of what he does.

Only someone with complete trust or a major mental illness would just play the straight man for some of the ideas that spring to life out there.
Thanks for being a great straight man.

Laszlo and Jim, Tawn and Andy (and Mathias) -
Rockstars running an arena rock show that don't mind letting us throw wrenches in the works for a good time. The kind of pros that I want to be and I'd trust not to leave me hangin' on stage or take my goddamn eye out with a bullwhip. Both are important.

Johnny -
I finally accomplished one of my goals as this stupid character and made him laugh for real.

Linda and Peggy -
Just a huge tornado of weird and funny.
Neither of them get enough credit for being as awesome as they are.

There are so many more people I had a blast with and so many small things that stuck with me that I owe people thanks for. I love the show, love the audience (see an earlier entry on how kick-ass our audience is. they are.) love performing with all of you and even though I'd gouge your eyes out if you told me I had to do an encore next week I can't wait for next year.

Thank you. It's too quiet and orderly out here and even though nobody laughs at the suit and tie costume I still feel silly by comparison.

in the most jarring segue into reality possible, I followed Sunday night at Festival with 5:30am at Target Corporate Headquarters running a charity silent auction and tomorrow I fly out to Orlando (and then onto Atlanta) for the longest stretch away from home in a very very long time. I had been telling myself I just needed to get through Festival to back to Sunday improv, seeing the wife and kids enough and getting the occasional good nights' sleep.
That'll have to wait after all.

Spending time with the kids, packing and catching up on the 47 emails in my inbox that I told people I would see to when October hit.