I Have Cash...

Today I went to lunch with my friend Johanna. I hadn't really talked with her in almost a month so we had a lot to catch up on. Mainly with me because the last month has started this snowball effect in my life...stuff just keeps happening. It's all good, so it's fun to share. When it came time to pay I realized that for the first time since I moved to Chicago, I had cash on me. I never have cash. Ever. Johanna also had cash. It was truly exciting.


I do need to remind myself of one thing: to quit planning shopping trips so that when I'm all done I have to ride the train in rush hour with bags. I always do that...such an inconvenience.

When I Retire...

I will be living here:



With two of these:



Who's with me?

Hope You Had Fun...

This time my parents visit felt really short. I usually am okay when they leave, but today I was a little sad. I think it's because I know I probably won't get to go home for awhile unless I decide to say, "Screw you job, improv, music, class, and internship..." I might just do that now that I think about it...at least for a weekend.

We had fun. They got to meet Tahnee, which was a big deal. They met some other people too. They always like my friends...I don't know why. I barely like them.

Oh I jest. :)

They came to see the final night of All the Way to Chicago. They loved it. They haven't seen a lot of longform improv so the fact that they got what we were doing was cool. While we were on stage I could hear my dad laugh and it kept making me smile. A lot of my friends came to the show which was nice.

My parents stayed for the musical improv show and, as always with my family (including me), we seem to be the kind of people screaming to be picked on by the performers. They pulled my dad on stage and asked why he was here, and he said to see me. They asked if I was funny. He said, "She's the funniest one I've seen all night." Good dad. Very good. :) They proceeded to sing a song about my dad and me. I missed the entire thing. Heard it was fun though...

I will say one thing about my parents visits, they always leave me with stuff. They bought me a new shower head, did the dishes and cooking all weekend, and my mother left me with tons more gift cards. I should say that her speech and debate team sells gift cards for a fund raiser. Walgreen's, Gap, Barnes & Noble and Starbucks are going to see me soon. One of them sees me a lot anyway...wonder which one?

Welcome to Chicago...Again...

My parents got here today. I cleaned. And cleaned for them. It got to where late last night, I hated cleanliness. So, I left dirty dishes in the sink.


I figure my parents need to feel wanted so I'll let them do some dishes.

It occurred to me today that this is the fourth time my parents have come to visit me since I moved here 6 or so months ago. My mom has actually been here five times, once was for a school trip (she's a teacher). That is the same amount of trips they took to visit me while I lived in LA. I lived in LA for almost two years. Even my parents like it better here.

The last time my parents were here was Christmas. My mom made the comment this morning, "Her apartment looks exactly the same, except for the Christmas tree." My dad politely told her to turn the corner and look down to where my Christmas tree is still proudly displayed. One of these days I'm going to pack it up. And pack the stockings hanging on the wall too. And the wrapping paper lying on the floor. Maybe I'll pack it away when it comes time to pack my coat away. If the weather stays like this that will be soon. Yipee.

Cleaning Day...

I have been cleaning ever since I got home from work today. My parents are coming to visit for the weekend and I want everything to look nice and cleanly. I'm currently washing all of my towels and my sheets. It feels so good to clean, or is it just me?

I had to work this morning for nine hours. Working nine hours at a coffee shop is torture. Seriously. I will say one thing though, the time passed so quickly. And what a beautiful day it turned out to be! I woke up this morning to a horrible rainstorm...and now it's so nice and sunny.

Have you seen these two people?


If not, you're sure to see them this weekend if you run into me.

Happy Cleaning Day.

Here's to making your parents believe you keep a well organized apartment when they're not around.

Who am I kidding? They know I'm scrambling to make this place look good.

Dear Me,

Please stop reading this book before bed:


It only freaks you out and gives you nightmares.

Sincerely,
Yourself.

P.S. You can blame Louie for the desire to read this book in the first place.

Freakin' Tinseltown...

This is Hollywood.
This is uncomfortable.
Hollywood is uncomfortable.



I love you Chicago. Have I said that enough lately?

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow...

Tonight My Project Writing class had a farewell dinner. Because I am tired, lazy, and need to save some time to clean my apartment since my parents are visiting this weekend, I will let you read all about it here.


We've now celebrated our end with a party, a last reading, and a dinner. That's a true Midwestern goodbye folks.

Come See Our Show!!

Tonight was the next to last performance of All the Way to Chicago aka: best show ever. (Sunday 8pm Donny's Skybox) You'll learn in time that I say a lot of things are the, "best ____ ever." This one really is though.


We're sweet, kind, and can't wait to get to prom.

In the show last night people laughed more than they have been. James and I both assumed that maybe all these friends we have been pestering to come had shown up and they were laughing at us being idiots. Not true. Only two of my dear lovely friends had shown up. Thank you Michael and Alissa. :) Maybe we're actually funny. Or, more likely, we look like big dorks. But we're having fun guys, and that's all that matters.

I Had No Idea Today Was So Special...

I really didn't realize St. Patrick's Day was such a big deal. Not only in Chicago either. Apparently my parents were surrounded by lots of drunken people in large green hats while on the train down in Texas. Dallas is far from Irish my friends...

It was a fun day. I went with my Stop Rubbing girls to see the river get dyed green. Unfortunately I can't get those pictures off of my camera. I can't find my USB cable and the one Tahnee gave me to use isn't working.

Someday, long after St. Pat's has left your thoughts, the pictures will appear on this blog. And you'll be happy about it.

Laundry Day Fools...

I'm doing laundry today. I actually just realized that I usually do laundry on Fridays. I have a habit! I was on the phone with my dad this morning and he is also doing laundry today. He made me a little sad:

Dad: Hey wait a minute, wait a minute...listen to this (dad holds the phone up to some unknown object, silence ensues) Can you hear that?
Me: No, what is it?
Dad: That's the sounds of a washing machine running in my own house that I don't have to pay to use.

That was mean. He was kidding of course. If you know me and know anything about my family, you know that we kid most of the time. All the time actually. We like to tease each other. Because we like each other. Speaking of, a week from today my parents will be visiting. I like it when they visit because we usually go shopping. And they pay. And of course I like their company as well.

I'm still pissed that I have to walk down two flights of stairs to a crappy washing machine that sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. When I first moved into my apartment I saw this sign on the laundry room door:


I've never told my dad about this sign because I don't want him to worry about me. Of course he probably does anyway. That's what dads are good for.

I'm Learning New Things Dad...

Learned a new word today:

vexatious /vɛkˈseɪʃəs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciati[vek-sey-shuhs]

–adjective

1.	causing vexation; troublesome; annoying: a vexatious situation.

2.	Law. (of legal actions) instituted without sufficient grounds and serving only to cause annoyance to the defendant.

3.	disorderly; confused; troubled.

---

—Related forms

vex·a·tious·ly, adverb

vex·a·tious·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. disturbing, provoking, irritating.

—Antonyms 1. delightful.

Thought you should learn it to. Who needs a degree when you have Schott's?

Sweet Sweet Endings...

Tonight was our last read through for Project Writing Reader's Theater. Friday is our last reading. :(. I'm pretty sad guys. I love this class. I really lucked out with this one. Everyone in the class is so funny and talented. Seriously. Every person in the class is great.

After the read through, Greg drove a gaggle of us to our respective places of dwelling. I think it might have been the most fun car ride I've had in a long time. Greg really showed off his amazing driving skills. He's a bit of a daredevil. I thought we were going to crash several times. Right as Louie was about to get dropped off, we almost did crash. Into another car. But we didn't. We all made it home in one piece.


We all got kind of sad that this was our last read through. Last Saturday was a celebration of our six or so months together. I think we're also going to have a dinner next week to say goodbye. Again. Maybe we'll just keep saying goodbye to each other forever. There's this great song that says, "If you never stop when you wave goodbye, you just might find if you give it time you will wave hello again..." I'm so sappy.

Beano.

Screw Daylight Savings Time...It's a Partyyyyy!!!!

My Project Writing Class had a party last night to celebrate the end of our 8 months together...and Louie's Birthday. It 'twas fun. There was a lot of karaoke. I think some people drank, some people ate pizza, and some people...well, hung out with an old man in a vintage, red Hugo Boss sweatshirt.

Louie really enjoyed the music. He should have. After all, it was his birthday.

Curt really doesn't want you to cry for Argentina.

Jeannie really wants you to know that Texas was not part of the Lousiana Purchase.

Griggs gave some "superlatives." Trey and I won the Most Likely to Play a Couple in a Movie title because we very frequently get cast as love interests in our readings. Except for in my script where Trey played my dad. Hmmm... I also won for Most Southern. Not Trey. Even though he is from Georgia. The Texas gal took it.

These guys are fun.

Future screenwriter's of America ya'll. For real. Pardon my red scary eyes. Believe it or not, they looked scarier with the red-eye reduction.

It was the second week for All the Way to Chicago tonight
(8pm everysundayinmarchdonny'sskybox$8).
Come see it next week. Please.
The first week felt like recess...last night was, let's say "abstract."
You never know what you're going to get with us.
For serious.
It's a fun time.
For serious.

Sunshine...

It's a beautiful day in the city ya'll. Enjoy.

This Weekend is Starting Off Nicely...

So I count Friday as my favorite day. I like it because it has the anticipation of the weekend being so close but not there quite yet. It's freeing or something. I don't know.

I went to lunch with my friend Alexandra today. I had an interview for an internship near her office. If I ever find myself near her work (or not near it actually...) I try and have lunch with her.

Today I brought her a little gift. Alexandra can't have gluten or lactose so it's fun to try and find desserts she can eat. Tahnee and I found a gummy make-your-own-ice-cream-cone kit at Walgreens last night. The A-lady was very excited about her gift.


The kit included sprinkles, tart sugary delights, and chocolate sauce that looked like gel and tasted a little like vanilla.

Yum.

P.S. I got the internship. I'm officially an "intern" guys.

P.P.S. There is a fire alarm in someone's apartment in my building that has been going off for three days straight. I'm not kidding. I'm not exaggerating. Three. Days.

A Wee Bit Strange...

So...I'm at work at the coffee shop this morning when my supervisor comes in and tells me I have a phone call.

I go to the back room to answer and it was a woman. This woman claims to have been in a class at iO with me for only a couple of weeks and mentioned the name of another girl in the class. I sort of recognized this woman's, mainly because I think my friends mother-in-law shares the same name, but I didn't recognize the name of the other woman we were supposedly friends with. The woman knew my full name though.

Even stranger, she was at another branch of my coffee shop and had the manager there find my name, what store I work at, and then had him call my store to see if I was there...hence receiving the call at work.

I didn't have the heart to tell her I couldn't remember who she was or what class she was referring to. I also couldn't think fast enough to get more info from her without making her feel bad. She was really excited to have found me.

I gave her my e-mail address. We'll see what happens...maybe I have some crazy identity stealing stalker or something. Or there is another Molly Wilbanks running around doing improv in Chicago who also works at my coffee shop. Creeeeeepy.....

Rushing Water Rodger...

This creek is in Richardson, TX where my parents live, but it's known as Rowlett Creek. Rowlett,TX is where I grew up.

Parallels, Parallels, PARALLELS!

Okay...I'm fully aware that's not quite an example of a parallel, but I just really wanted to type it.

This post might make you have to pee. Promise.

Morning at the Oasis...

I'm cheesy before I've had my morning coffee.

Sometimes I forget how great this album is:



Then, something always reminds me. At the piano bar lat night, one of the pianists (is that what you call them?) played an incredibly sped up horrible version of Wonderwall. They speed every slow song up in those places. Except for Karma Police, which Brian requested. They played that surprisingly well.

There was also a very high birthday girl named Anna who got on stage and sang. I was in heaven. I love it when people sing bad live. That might be mean...I swear I'm not mean. I just love it when people think they're really good and they're not...well, actually, I start to feel bad for them after awhile. The thing was, Anna knew she was bad. She gave up after awhile and just sat at the piano while they pianist sang a song about her "boobies."

I think I need some morning music to get me going. I'm off to my Oasis...get it? I need some breakfast...

Welcome Back Weekdays...

In an attempt to up the quality of my web page browsing, along with trying to inflate my knowledge of current events, I've set up Slate.com as my new homepage. It's a three day old experiment that already isn't working. The minute Slate comes up I immediately switch to MySpace, then Perez Hilton and then Arnie's blog. What? You read it too. Don't lie. Some habits die hard.

I've gotten into a lot of habits since I've moved to Chicago...the best one is...being really busy. Is that even a habit? I don't know. I've never in my life had so much going on...and it feels great.

Back in L.A. I attempted to make myself busy. I had no job and went on auditions once a week. I would make lists of things I needed to get done daily. I've reverted back to that because I have a lot going on improv/writingwise that requires outside work...and since I'm scheduled an average of two days a week at the coffee shop...I need to manage my time wisely. I made a list for today and though it had to be tweaked slightly, I'm sticking to it pretty well. I'm proud of myself.

I also had my first slip-and-fall-on-ice-on-the-sidewalk-in-front-of-that-stupid-building
-who-never-salts-it's-sidewalk experience. I don't even have a bruise. Awesome.

Also,

Last night was All the Way to Chicago's first show.

So.

Much.

Freakin'.

Fun.

Those people are the best. We played hard and it was good times. Thank you if you came...if you didn't...come next time. You don't want to miss the fun. I know it. Because I know you. Maybe.

Good Morning...

I woke up to find white "something" flowing from the trees visible from my kitchen window.

What is it?

If you say giant jellyfish you'd be so wrong. I'm sure.

Thunder and Lightning and Grandmas...Oh Yeah!

Aren't those the three coolest ladies you've ever seen?

Yep.

They are.

Last night I was sitting in Starbucks and a man walked up to me and said, "You make those glasses look smart."

So do my glasses look dumb on their own? What does that mean?

This morning at around 5am I was awoken by a thunder crash so loud that it shook my bed. At first I got a little freaked out which is a little odd because thunderstorms are my favorite thing. For the next thirty minutes I laid there counting the seconds between the lightning and thunder. It was like I was 10 years old again. It was fun.

I talked to my Grandmother for 30 minutes today. I love her. She is amazing. Simply amazing. I also like talking to her because somewhere the conversations always turns to, "I remember the day you were born..." It turns into a little ego-boost session where she tells me how proud of me she is. Always a nice thing to hear.

I'm watching The Hills right now. Spencer is a tool. A jerky tool.