A Bunch of Stuff Smeared into One Post

Okay, what to start with.  How about being a man?  Sounds good.  

I have blogged in the past here and here about my manliness.  I own tools and a book on how to use them.  Yesterday I replaced an old faucet in the bathroom.  We've had the new faucet for a while, but I needed a special wrench that could fit up there behind the sink.  It was either that or I needed a normal wrench with midget hands.  The job took most of the afternoon with only one trip to the hardware store to purchase WD-40.  It was frustrating to say the least.  Three hours were spent trying to take off the old pipe directly connected to the sink.  The base of the stopper was suppose to just twist off.  But it didn't, hence the WD-40.  Once that was accomplished everything else seemed like a piece of cake.  I cursed at the little stopper-handle-thingy that connects under the sink, but that was expected. Then came an hour of just tightening screws to avoid any more leaking and the project was done. 

Looking back on this chore and the others I have done (two sinks and a toilet) it hasn't been the actual task that is frustrating, but the moments when I am at a stand still and realize that the water in the house is turned off, and that I won't be able to turn it back on until I am finished.  I get the most worked up when I start thinking ahead. Like always though, now that I am done I am very happy.   

Next on the list (there really isn't a list) is an Improv Thunderdome Season 2 review.

I had blogged about Season One (here, here, here & here) after each show, but I didn't this time.  No reason more than I am just lazy.  It takes a lot of thought and energy for me to put an improv show into words.  I have no problem talking about it, but to write it out is just more difficult for me.  Anywho...

Round One was great.  I felt that we had a strong threesome to start off a new season.  A high school group (Some Technical Difficulties), a college group (Makeshift Militia), and talented troupe that is rising fast in popularity (Babel Fish).  The high school kids brought the crowd and ended up winning the match.  Their set was solid.  Strong scenes, strong characters and strong edits.  Their win was well deserved.  Both Babel Fish & Makeshift Militia were performing in their second Thunderdome.  Babel Fish's season one loss was probably the most controversial (yes, I am being dramatic for effect) and Makeshift Militia made it to the finals, placing 3rd.  For season two however, both gave, in my opinion, performances of a lifetime.  But it just wasn't enough to steal any votes away from the sold out bias crowd.  That's Thunderdome though.

Round Two was great as well.  We had Scriptease vs. CounterClockwise Comedy vs. Death Rattle.  What I liked about this show was the different elements of the teams.  Scriptease performs as "Fakers" up in Liberty.  In season one they placed 2nd, so they felt as if they had something to prove this time around (again, dramatic effect).  CounterClockwise Comedy is a seasoned troupe in Kansas City, but it was their stint at Thunderdome.  Death Rattle was a mix of talented improvisers who performed in season one, but not together.  All three teams each had strong experimental sets, and Scriptease walked away the winner becoming the first 2-time chmapionship finalists.  

Round three was probably my favorite of all, only because all three teams were complied solely to compete in Thunderdome.  It was the Burnin' Sternums vs. Fluffer Nutter vs. Type O Positive.  In the beginning stages of Thunderdome, my thoughts were to have a random drawing of teams.  Forcing people to get out of their comfort level and perform with people that they have never played with, or at least played with very little.  The lack of enthusiasm amongst the little improv community pushed me in the direction of simple letting people choose their own teams.  So this night was special for me. Burnin' Sternums had a challenging set that consisted of  one long continuous scene.  Fluffer Nutter wowed the crowd with smart and funny 2-woman show.  Type O Positive, to be honest, blew everyone away with non-stop laughs and an inspiring sense of play.  For that, they moved on to the finals.

The Championship Match was crazy awesome.  From my point of view, I was just happy with the way Ed and I have tightened up all the loose ends from season one.  There are still some little tiny kinks that need to be worked out, but I believe from a production stand point the show itself went really smooth.  As for the outcome, Some Technical Difficulties took 1st, Scriptease took 2nd (becoming the first 2-time 2nd place finishers), and Type O Positive took 3rd. Because this was only last weekend, my thoughts of the performances are still up in the air.  Only meaning what I said earlier, that it is hard for me to write about an improv performance that just happened.  I will say that everyone did a great job.  The main goal of a show is to entertain the audience, and that is definitely what the three teams did.  What I like most about the Thunderdome format is that no matter whether or not you win or lose, you just performed for a crowd that was two-thirds there NOT there to see you.  That is not too shabby. 

Season three will be starting up next January 2009.  And season four will be starting up in July 2009.  Not to take away from the excitement of number three, but number four will be the first attempt of an all-team random draft.  I can't wait.

And lastly but definitely not leastly, this past weekend was Lisa and I's sixth year anniversary.  And because I love her so much, I will post a non-embarrassing picture of the two of us.

Love you, Leese!!!!!!!