Home again, home again
Just got back from our trip down to Richmond for the gloriously pregnant Lauren's baby shower. The shower went well--Blake and Lauren hauled in quite a few things they'd needed to be ready for the incoming banana-peapod (Lauren's term). It was nice to meet some of the friends I didn't already know and hang out with some people that I only see once every year or two. All in all, quite lovely.
Blake's 40th birthday is in a couple weeks and the baby is due at about the same time. Since that's the case, Blake didn't think that they were celebrating this year. However, since a bunch of us were in town for the shower ~anyway~, Lauren arranged a surprise party for Blake in the evening. We all got together for dinner at a WONDERFUL Ethiopian restaurant called Nile. If you happen to live around Richmond or pass through, I HIGHLY recommend the place. They made the best Yebega Tibs I've ever had.
After dinner we went to an improv comedy club called Comedy Sportz. Basically, a team of performers do different improv-based games for the audience with audience suggestion for subject matter, objects to incorporate, etc. Those of you who did drama in high school would have recognized several of the games. It was fun, although something of a mixed bag. It's difficult to be successfully funny with no notice constantly. The good thing was that the team seemed to recognize when a sequence wasn't working and would quickly move on to the next one. There were a couple moments that made me cry with laughter, so it was totally worth the $10 entry fee.
At the very end of the show, the cast dragged Blake up on stage and played very loud dance music and untz-untz-ed all over him. It was truly excellent--they really threw themselves into it. That whole sequence will be one of my new 'happy thoughts' for days when I'm feeling blue. Along with the Marcel Marceau-inspired sequence about hiring a prostitute.... ;)
Practice begins in another hour. Keith and Jeremy are coming by tonight to help us get three more songs into shape for the album. It's quite lovely to be back to work :)
Blake's 40th birthday is in a couple weeks and the baby is due at about the same time. Since that's the case, Blake didn't think that they were celebrating this year. However, since a bunch of us were in town for the shower ~anyway~, Lauren arranged a surprise party for Blake in the evening. We all got together for dinner at a WONDERFUL Ethiopian restaurant called Nile. If you happen to live around Richmond or pass through, I HIGHLY recommend the place. They made the best Yebega Tibs I've ever had.
After dinner we went to an improv comedy club called Comedy Sportz. Basically, a team of performers do different improv-based games for the audience with audience suggestion for subject matter, objects to incorporate, etc. Those of you who did drama in high school would have recognized several of the games. It was fun, although something of a mixed bag. It's difficult to be successfully funny with no notice constantly. The good thing was that the team seemed to recognize when a sequence wasn't working and would quickly move on to the next one. There were a couple moments that made me cry with laughter, so it was totally worth the $10 entry fee.
At the very end of the show, the cast dragged Blake up on stage and played very loud dance music and untz-untz-ed all over him. It was truly excellent--they really threw themselves into it. That whole sequence will be one of my new 'happy thoughts' for days when I'm feeling blue. Along with the Marcel Marceau-inspired sequence about hiring a prostitute.... ;)
Practice begins in another hour. Keith and Jeremy are coming by tonight to help us get three more songs into shape for the album. It's quite lovely to be back to work :)