I’m off to New York for 10 days. It’s 3:30 a.m. and I’ve been up packing. I’m not sure why, but if I have a flight the following day that takes off before 11am, I won’t go to bed the night before. I don’t think I’ve ever gone to sleep with a packed suitcase in the house. It just doesn’t feel right.

The Manhattan Monologue Slam was fun. This is my fifth or sixth time being a judge (here and in New York). Once again, the performer to whom I gave the highest score was the ultimate winner. The performers in L.A. are very gracious. Many came up to me afterwards and thanked me for being a judge, giving them feedback, etc. One even said it was an honor to perform for me. I’m pretty sure she had confused me for someone else, but it was still a nice sentiment.

I also ended up running into a bunch of folks I know and saw some really good work on stage. The venue, Safari Sam’s, is incredible. My friend Julia does their promotions and booking, and I can see why she’s so excited about it. It worked well as a theatre stage; it looks killer as a rock club.

While in New York, I’ll be producing and reading in a storytelling show on Wednesday, October 3rd. More details to come. My friend Ophira and I are putting it together right now. If all goes well, we’ll try to make it a regular thing.

I’ll have plenty to document from the family, friends, and meetings I’ll have. What I think will be most interesting is my first visit back to my college campus in over a dozen years. I somehow got nominated and then elected to my school’s alumni board, and I’ll be there for my first meeting. The school is also inaugurating a new president, and as a new alumni board member, I get to go to the celebratory dinner. Finally, this liberal arts education is paying off. I wonder if I can get some extra food to go.

Yikes… One of my cats has peed on my carry-on bag. Good thing I hadn’t packed anything in it yet.

Categories: Los Angeles, New York, Personal
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