former graphic designer & advertising person turned writer with a day job. lover of film & television. comedy nerd. eater. exerciser. friend to all cats.
Itās that time again. I fell off journaling the last couple of weeks, so letās make this quick.
This year started with all my Christmas presents (and one vintage Astros sweater) being stolen.
I gained weight. I lost weight. I gained it again. I lost it again.
I worked from home. I bought a car. I worked in the office. I made more money. I made a little more money. I made a little extra money after that.
I bought 2 plants.
I started running. I stopped running. I did not learn how to do push ups.
I did not meditate but did walk on the sand & into the ocean at the beach a couple times, so itās a draw.
I continued to see oncologists. My primary tumor got smaller & no additional ones showed up, so I ate a tres leches.
Penelope is on meds & fluids but still seems to enjoy her pampered life, so that makes me happy.
Covid was bad, got better, then got worse again. I got 3 shots to protect myself from it, plus an extra one for the flu.
The middle of the year added more unexpected loss & near loss. My panic attacks came back worse. Recently got back on meds for that.
I saw 3 movies in theaters - The Bob, A Musical & An Almodovar with Almodovar in the building. Watched a lot of TV. Got really into a guy named Reviewbrah on YouTube.
I read some old stuff & didnāt hate it, submitted a packet for an actual TV show that I was proud of, and got rejected from a website. I had some new ideas Iāve been kicking around. I started writing a book, then stopped, but am going to revisit.
I took a vacation with Penelope & my parents. I spent a morning roller skating along the beach in Santa Monica that cost almost as much as going on vacation.
I was supposed to read 36 books. I read 44. I want to read more next year. 45?
Anyway, I guess thatās about it because itās already too much.
Be kind to each other. Weāre all having a tough time, so try to be considerate & patient.
Six years ago, I had a good year and wrote my first last minute, grammatically not the best year in review full of hope for the future. Remember last year when I said 2018 and 2019 were rough? And that I didnāt feel like writing this? Ha! Hahaha! I promise barely any optimism below, but feel free to continue...
This year started out for me with the highest highs and the lowest lows. My first journal entry was talking about seeing my family more, which ended up being a mixed bag due to circumstances out of our control. But better than that bullet journal I forgot I started. I did a lot of walking and biking. I randomly took the bus up to the Observatory and hiked home. On the way to a further away hike, I was sitting in my friendās passenger seat when The Bob zoomed up on his bike. And less than a week later, I walked out of my apartment, thought someone was about to murder me, realized it was a jogger, and moved off the sidewalk for The Bob to run past me. Then, later I paid money to see The Bob. One day on my bus to work, the driver mentioned it was her birthday and we sang happy birthday, and an older man pulled out a harmonica - LA magic, baby! Went with a group to tour Dodger stadium, and Kobe died, and then it felt weird. Had an amazing multi-course dinner at a restaurant that doesnāt exist anymore. I ended January being officially diagnosed with ocular melanoma. Earthquakes are my favorite palate cleansers, and this month there were two: one beautiful, gentle roller, and one real shit-bag of an earthquake that sucked. Applied for 3 jobs; interviewed for 2; and didnāt get hired by any.
Salt & Straw: Almond Brittle With Salted Ganache
Books: Tales from the Script by Peter Hanson, Burn It Down edited by Lilly Dancyger, The Hidden Tools of Comedy by Steve Kaplan, Cruel Shoes by Steve Martin
FEBRUARY
Started off having a big, lazy pity party for myself. For some reason, a lady with crutches who was always on the bus the same time as me started openly recording me. Iām not that exciting, so I donāt know what her deal was, but it became a daily occurrence, and Iām not confrontational so just tried to avoid it. One time, I heard her telling another passenger very loudly something about Scientologists on the bus. Ā Iām just a person, reading a book, dealing with some heavy stuff, and trying to get to my job and back home, so I have no idea. I tried to find a therapist, but I never was able to connect with one. Paid to see The Bob again... this time, a cat was there! He asked me what I was up to, and the only thing I could think was donāt mention your cancer, so... um, nothing. I told the person who is 1/3 of the reason why Iām poor in LA that I was doing nothing. Which wasnāt true because this month, I got a character sketch into The Night Cap AND came full circle by filling in to tech the show! What canāt I do?! (According to me, a lot.) Started my own little make-a-wish (so dramatic, I know) and hiked to the Hollywood sign, rode a horse (who was friends with Chris Pratt, in honor of Lindsey who got me the gift card for the trail ride š§”), two final visits to Universal for the Harry Potter ride and butter beer, decided to visit Forest Lawn Burbank but didnāt because I just felt too much at the time but went to Knottās Berry farm and found a little cemetery there and also rode all the rides that werenāt absolutely terrifying, met up with friends on a roof with a cat, went to see my friendās improv group for a surprise but he was out of town that week, the beach ā my favorite thing to do, attended only screening this year for Kidding (RIP), and completed a Better Call Saul re-watch just in time to slide into season 5. Otherwise, this month was a lot of coordinating with multiple medical offices and seeing multiple doctors with multiple specialties. Got my first CT scan with contrast and it was not fun, but all clear for any other cancer, so thumbs up. In hindsight, I should have asked for more help with rides and such when that was a thing you could do. Dropped on my primary ballot, but the guy I wanted had already dropped out, the woman I voted for was the next to go. I also got a weird cold that wasnāt that bad, but lasted FOREVER, and went around my friend group.
Salt & Straw: Twenty-Four Blackbirds' Cardamom Black Pepper & Port Truffle
Books: Me by Elton John, Elephant Shoes, (started) Elephant Bucks by Sheldon Bull, A Load of Hooey by Bob Odenkirk
MARCH
Started off watching all of Derry Girls. Mom flew in to stay with me for my surgeries and radiation. We were looking forward to doing a few things in the week after my radiation was done. I was scared about surgery, but on the day of, I felt strangely calm. I donāt like to taking medications, but they gave me all the drugs and I even asked for more. I had my left eye taken out two times to put on the radiation plaque, then take it off after a week where I wore a heavy iron pirate patch and took pills that the pharmacist had a lot of questions about, but donāt worry ā I came full circle and, after that week, Iām scared to take them again. Mom and I stuck to our sides of the apartment because I was radioactive and played Scrabble on our phones while watching the Covid-19 crisis/toilet paper panic unfold. Mom ended up changing her flight to leave the Friday after my plaque came out. Margot was nice enough to send us some Postmates bucks, so we could have a nice dinner before Mom left. I was blind in one eye, scared to go outside, and had to go back to the office on Monday. I cried in my bossās office for the second time in 2020 because I had been locked inside while this went from 0-100, but luckily, we only had a couple of days before everyone was set up to work from home. Shout out to Hunter who sent me some Uber bucks, so I didnāt have to contend with public transportation ā especially because the lady taping me would have gone nuts when I showed up after an absence with a pirate patch. The second half of March was work from home, eat chocolate donuts, and listen to books. I bought a bike trainer, but havenāt used it much.
Salt & Straw: Wild Foraged Berry Slab Pie (Bonus Content: There were no restrictions yet, so they were still giving out samples, and I had just had a radioactive plaque removed from my eye, had double vision and zero depth perception, and every sample he handed me, I touched his hand, then the ice cream, then finally grabbed the spoon. And then, like the next day, no more samples. So I donāt know if it was Covid or me that pushed that policy change through. Also, I havenāt had Salt & Straw since.)
Books: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (RIP), Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness (I love this for me!), Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (I donāt love this for me!)
APRIL
I did a #CampNaNoWriMo where I used all Instagrams from March as prompts for mini-memoirs since I neglected to journal all of March. I also combined Fresca with some old tequila I had lying around, and the Wednesday night Fresca Marg was born. Mom sent me some masks that were all the rage at the time, but that faded pretty quickly for some people. Penelope went to the vet, but they said she was fine. Since I had to rent a car for that, got a blueberry iced coffee, then drove to the beach. Everything was fenced up, but somewhere near Malibu I found a spot to pull off and just look at the waves over some rocks. At least it was something. I watched Schittās Creek and loved it. Better Call Saul ended its magnificent season, and I was sad. Did 3-month Peloton app trial and got really into their yoga videos. A cat that wasnāt mine entered my apartment. Penelope didnāt like it. Had a memorably strong panic attack. I started re-watching True Blood. There was/is a Fresca shortage.
Books: Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick, Era of Ignition by Amber Tamblyn, Flipping the Script by AJ Gibson
MAY
Watched probably the last episode ever of Better Things and itās so sad because itās so good. Did a zoom Q & A with The Bob about writing comedy and cried because there were things I needed to hear from someone in my comedy trinity, and WHY didnāt UCB record and provide to people who paid $20 for it?! Flooded my bathroom. Was able to go from plank to chaturanga with control! Apparently, roasted a lot of cauliflower. Rediscovered OneSpace because when you work from home in a studio apartment, there is no work-life balance. Might as well make money. Bob & David & Friends was a thing I streamed ā probably while I ate a plate piled high with roasted cauliflower. Used my depression to make a video that I submitted to Go Sketch Yourself. Finished True Blood. Ā Watched What We Do in the Shadows. Started watching the Twilight movies because... vampires? Wrote this nugget in my journal: āNo purpose in life today. Find purpose in life tomorrow and keep finding it the rest of the days.ā The next day, I had a lovely conversation with a gentleman who called into my job. There were chuckles from both sides, then when we got to business, and I asked his name, he said [redacted], and thank the heavens he continued by spelling his name because I had to compose myself because every time they rolled that TV cart out in elementary school, we were about to watch my favorite show about books and colorful weather phenomena and that guy from that TV in Mauriceville-frigginā-nowhere-Texas was on the phone with me and I was deceased for several moments BEFORE he even finished our call by saying, āI appreciate ya!ā Did a fun little streaming Night Cap, then the show went on hiatus.
It was hard to focus on anything. Penelope got a cold and went off her prescription diet, then got better while eating Fancy Feast. Saw my ocular oncologist for follow up and she was very happy with tumor shrinkage, but my eye got wonky vision-wise this month. Started Sketch Fridays where I just watched sketch shows on Fridays while snacking on chocolate-covered blueberries delivered by a person checked my ID first. Tried Wednesday Diet Squirt Marg and no thank you. Decided to revisit all the AlmodĆ³var films Iāve seen with the ones I missed in order of release. Watched Chinatown and some other movies, too. I watched so much stuff this month. Rented a car to for my first MRI, and everything checked out okay, but not a fan of being shoved in tiny tubes, especially while wearing a flannel facemask. Since I had a car, I tried to find a beach, but why were there so many people packing the beaches from Long Beach all the way to the upper reaches of Malibu during a pandemic... and where were their masks?! So, I just drove back home. Had to rent a car again for my results appointment. I try to stack these appointments because of the car issue, but they rescheduled, and there goes the stack.
Books: The Body Double by Emily Beyda (See? I watched to much TV.)
JULY
Itās never-ending fireworks season. Penelope was acting odd, and my vet was not helpful, so I found a new vet. My friend gave me a ride and they said her kidney values were much worse than in April, so they put us back on the prescription food and I watched some YouTube videos to learn how to give her sub-q fluids. I am the vet now! Finally paid my taxes by giving them back the $1200 they gave me. Started going on long walks. Watched a bunch of Italian films from the 60s because I did the Criterion trial for a couple AlmodĆ³vars and I cried because Iāve never been to Italy. Just like I cried with the early AlmodĆ³vars because Iāve never been to Spain. Will I ever? Two more earthquakes, and one of them was the good kind. Started really getting into Jeopardy again.
Salt & Straw: Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero (Had it delivered ā Surprise!)
Books: Swearing Is Good for You by Emma Byrne, Born Standing Up by Steve Martin, My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams, The Big Goodbye by Sam Wasson
AUGUST
My family dug around their junk drawers and sent me a bunch of quarters, so I can wash the leggings, shirt, and 623 pairs of underwear I go through in a week. I think my brother may be the reason thereās a quarter shortage, but itās a win for me. Spent a whole day cataloging regrets. Got a vegan pizza from Deadline. Tried a Wednesday Regular Squirt Marg and NO! My neighborhood devolved into an absolute shit-show, or at least I noticed it more, so I ended up going to Texas for a while. Being out in the middle of nowhere actually sounded good for once, but, like, not forever. I had this plan of running and walking multiple times a day, but it was mostly just waking up, clocking into work, staying up too late, and repeat. Started re-watching Mr. Robot, but got distracted by Monty Python.
Who needs Salt & Straw when thereās Blue Bell: Homemade Vanilla
Books:
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, How to Be Fine by Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer, Pretty Bitches ed. By Lizzie Skurnick, Stealing Home by Eric Nusbaum (Dodgers bad! This book good!)
SEPTEMBER
I spent a lot of time beating myself up for sleeping too much and not exercising. I really just bottomed out on the having faith in humanity thing. No justice for Breonna Taylor. RBG died, and that was a whole thing. California was on fire, so I was glad to be in Texas. Became an AlmodĆ³var almost-Completist, but totally forgot to get a ticket for an online screening of The Human Voice. Mom helped me dye my hair from a box ā itās been, like, 20+ years since I did that. Got a flu shot. Watched and loved Lovecraft Country and hated myself for watching The Vow. Watched the Emmys, which made me very happy but also very angry. Started a 6-week Whole Life Challenge. Visited a cemetery and did some flower arranging and cleaning.
Books: You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero, So, Anyway... by John Cleese
OCTOBER
Became one of those people who watch British Bake Off. Exercised for at least 10 minutes every day. Came back to LA and started running again. A lady in Trader Joeās yelled at me for not making my own coconut milk. Bought a Kindle so I can use the library and not kill my eye-and-a-half trying to read on my phone and I love it. Rented a car for ultrasound & results appointment (all clear), so I finally visited Forest Lawn Burbank ā mostly because some guy broke down in my driveway and parking is terrible in my neighborhood ā and did some tidying for some folks and searched in vain for Judith Barsi. Drove up the coast, walked on the beach, then drove back home though Malibu Canyon. Shopped the Robert Evans auction, forgot about the Robert Evans auction, and then saw the things I liked were way out of my range. Went to the office to clean my old desk and move to a new one ā at least I had the rental to get me there and back safely. Spent Halloween - and the rest of that weekend ā on my couch.
Books: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, What To Say When You Talk To Your Self by Shad Helmstetter
NOVEMBER
Back pain necessitated the purchase of new running shoes. Election finally happened and I dropped my ballot at the Pantages because I miss theaters. Watched the coverage with Margot and Five Guys and Mescal, but it would be days before a call was made and people celebrated in the streets, but my neighborhood was disappointingly quiet. Texas stayed red. Alex Trebek died, I cried, and Penelope comforted me but after a minute started to bite me because that was enough of that already. Got hooked on La Croix after they sent me a free 8-pack. Decided to go back to Texas, then work got a new policy, and I had to ask permission and got permission. Did a few hikes, ran a lot, walked very far very often. Watched a Q&A about writing and had a cry and an epiphany and felt a little twinge of motivation again. Rediscovered Gogglebox and that led me to the horror that is Naked Attraction. Personal thing only a few people know that I still havenāt figured out. Penelope went to the vet again and her kidney numbers were back to being only slightly elevated again ā damn you, Fancy Feast! ā but they pushed the dental I canāt afford again. Got the worst hangover of my entire life from 2 drinks. Ate some Trader Joeās appetizer snacks for Thanksgiving. Earlier in the day, a maskless lady at Griffith Park yelled at me to get out of her way while I was moving out of her way. I called her a name, but then I sat on the hill at Fern Dell and cried for a bit. Humanity! More good news from ocular oncologist at follow-up. My last free day in LA was spent hiking and wandering the neighborhood.
Went to Texas in a cocoon of masks and face shields and hoodies fully engaged. Did Candle Day online even though BBW pulled a lot of stock down just for the sale. Parentsā neighbor dropped off an ube pie. Ran a couple days, but mostly slept in and stayed up too late around working. Had a long night of doubt about writing that Iāve been trying to work myself back from. Got excited about an action movie for the first time ever. Ate a lot of Hello Fresh. Ate a lot of cookies. My jeans got tight, so I ordered a new pair in the next size up, and they were also tight. Had a long night of travel sadness, so started researching Peru for a few years in the future and that seemed to help. Tried to make a croquembouche and did in my own imperfect way. Had a week off work that wasnāt enough and visited Big Sam Houston and some Houston parks. Did some socially distanced catching up with Tex Mex and frozen margs on the back porch. Did Christmas. Got a haircut. Working on a packet.
And thatās it. I had to edit a lot of that because no one cares what I watched on TV the whole time I was locked in my apartment, not wearing pants, and only brushing my teeth once a day. Iām about to go back to California and that is very scary, but also, I can just stay in my apartment and not be around people ā kind of a blessing and a curse. We knew it was going to get really bad the rest of the year. No one in a position of power cares about people who are suffering. Itās not a surprise but a super shitty confirmation. But there is nothing I can really do about that.
Going through my journal this year, I realized how much I beat myself up. I really should stop doing that, and I have a couple ideas to address it. I have no expectations for next year. I just want to do more things, and I hope that the world gets better. Just be kind to each other. Please.
I did not feel like writing this, but itās a tradition now, so for the fifth year in a row, hereās what I did all year with some of the crappy crap that made it not the greatest. I canāt promise an unwavering sense of optimism, but itās okay. Iām okay. Here we go!
JANUARY
Went to The Not Inappropriate Show at UCB curated by the Odenkirks, then Spent New Years Eve at Dynasty Typewriter with Ian & Emily. It was fun, but... eh. Home is better, yāall. Home is always better. Did a couple performances of a show at Second City ā A Fonzie Scheme. It was fun. I was in an improv class at The Pack. I think it was Improv 4. The last weekend of January, Very Famous went to Sketchfest, which was super amazing. Thatās, like, a goal. And even though it had pretty much nothing to do with anything I did, it was cool. And it was fun. And I was at a party with Neil Patrick Harris and I was SUPER cool about it.
Went to stuff: LA Times screening of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. It was free, and I would have never seen it otherwise. I enjoyed it. It was good.
Salt & Straw Flavor: Toasted Coconut Milk & Cookies (V)
FEBRUARY
Made a return trip with Ian & Emily to San Francisco. Well, Oakland with an SF jaunt. I donāt have any cool stories, but Emily fought a seagull for her cookie and won, and that was pretty badass. On the drive back, there was a ton of snow just on the other side of the Angeles National Forest. I wasnāt excited enough to get out of the car, but snow is nice to look at. Oh, I had lunch with one of the head writers on my dream show that my old roommate met at the gym. I am terrible at networking.
Went to stuff: LA Times screening of VICE. It was free, and I would have seen it... eventually. It was... a bit... self-indulgent.
MARCH
Auditioned for a house improv team at The Pack. I didnāt mention working with a practice group all of February & March to prep for that. The biggest bummer about not getting on a team may have been the loss of that practice group. It was fun while it lasted.
Went to stuff: Saw comedy dads, Bob & David, at Largo. They asked for volunteers, and I almost passed just thinking about it. Ian & Emily jumped up there. Good for them!
Salt & Straw Flavor: Smoked Sea Salt & Chocolate Crack
APRIL
Interviewed for a new job at one of the guilds. HEY! I owe the government $3700. Thatās fun! I went ahead and added a good purse to my new 0 APR card.
Went to stuff: Dana Gould Podcast at Dynasty Typewriter. Panel with Conan Writers at Lyric Hyperion. For some reason, I saw Avengers: Endgame. I dunno. I feel like I should see it through for some reason. Deadline did their day-long FYC event, The Contenders, at Paramount, so I spent all day seeing so many people from TV and eating so much yummy food in between. Amazon FYC at Hollywood Athletic Club ā went mostly for the building. Prime seat at Conan taping.
Salt & Straw Flavor: Wildflower Honey with Ricotta Walnut Lace Cookies ā I wait all year for this to roll around again!
MAY
We were supposed to have a call for a travel show on Buzzfeed, but they ghosted us. I went camping with a huge group at Idyllwild, which would have been fun, but it was FREEZING and I got SUPER sick on the second day. After a few days, I got better and got the guild job. Free insurance, baby! (More on that later.) Bought a Universal pass.
Went to stuff: A UCB show with people from Chicago. Free Booksmart screening with Q&A. Such a good movie! LA Times panel for Broad City. I never really watched it, but I would love to have a partnership like that! Netflix FYSee for Nanette. Guys, people are like vultures for the passed trays. Adam Sandler at Dynasty Typewriter. Attended the actual red carpet, fancy-pants premiere of Amazonās Late Night. It was enjoyable and not at all realistic, and I could not stop staring at John Early in the theater. He glows!
Salt & Straw Flavor: Pear & Blue Cheese
JUNE
Went to stuff: FYSee for Dead To Me. I had not seen it yet, but then I watched it and itās good. JV show at UCB with Paul F Tompkins. Did a lap at the AT&T Shape event that is always free. I only go to be on the WB lot where I would like to be more often. Like, 40+ hours a week more often. Thatās it. I just went to stuff.
Salt & Straw Flavor: Campfire Sāmores (with Brian)
JULY
SO. MANY. EARTHQUAKES. After the third one, it stopped being cute. Went for a drive to the Angeles Forest and hiked to a waterfall. Did a sketch with Very Famous at Packcon. It was a small group, so I got a part! Huzzah!
Went to stuff: Saw Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at the Cinerama dome. (First visit!) Not a great idea because I kept trying to pick out the scenery and got a bit of motion sickness. Shirtless Brad Pitt on a roof in the ā70s is nice.
Salt & Straw Flavor: Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero (2x)
AUGUST
Went on a random overnight to San Jose. Time to get panicky about Pack Sketch Teams! I did what I should have done last year and requested to be moved. I loved the people on my team, but I wasnāt getting a return on investment for myself. And thatās no fun. Did a show called Gibberish with Duckboi as Sharon Osborne and wore a great wig. Sketch is fun. Fell off my bike & got bruised legs.
Went to stuff: Mike OāBrien & Friends at Lyric Hyperion. Saw some Pack shows to be a supportive. Put up a sketch at GSY.
Salt & Straw Flavor: Green Fennel & Maple
SEPTEMBER
Started working tech at UCB. Itās pretty easy. I get to see new faces... and old faces, too. I have no more comedy theaters to work at. Well, unless someone is going to pay me real money. My vision has been getting blurrier, so I went to the eye doctor to get new glasses. Ended up getting referred to a specialist for a āfreckleā in my eyeball, but had to wait a month to go. Submitted a character video for Pack Sketch performer auditions. Got a callback! Thatās one step further than last years attempt, and I actually came up with characters and I was pretty proud of it. Came up with more characters, then faced the fear of being on a stage all by myself while trying to be funny. I felt good about it. It used to take a day to find out, but not this time...
Link to Character Audition Video
Went to stuff: Got an AMAZING ticket (location & price) to see Skintight at the Geffen with frigginā Idina Menzel. She is a queen! Itās a cute theater I should go to more stuff at. Saw Scott Thompson as Buddy Cole at the Lyric Hyperion. So good! I think Iāve seen the evolving show every year Iāve lived here. My face hurts for several days after. Lyndsey got a fancy job and invited me to the Dreamworks Friends & Family screening of Abominable. Would not have seen it. It was cute. Thanks, Lyndsey!
Salt & Straw Flavor: Forgettable
OCTOBER
Flew to Denver for my cousinās wedding. I almost typed, āweeding.ā Thatās Colorado for you. It was my first time to see my family all year. The time just got away from me. I got a late flight out and spent the day walking around Denver on my own. Went to a good bookstore. Ate some Giordanoās. Left my luggage in a van. Found out I got cut from Very Famous ā also, Very Famous got cut from sketch night ā and I didnāt make a new team. Started watching new season of Mr. Robot and felt so lost, so started it from the beginning. The new AlmodĆ³var came out, so I bought one of those expensive Arclight tickets. It was very, very good. Maybe my favorite AlmodĆ³var film. Worth it! Saw the specialist about my eye. They dilated it, took a bunch of pictures, did a closed-eye ultrasound (Yeah, they use jelly for that!), and refereed me to another specialist. Hunter picked me up, and I ate at Canterās for the first time. The specialistās office made the appointment for me at an oncologist. Guys, I just wanted new glasses and now canāt stop Googling some pretty scary stuff! Lyndsey took me to USC & hung out with me for a while. They dilated my eye, took a bunch of pictures of it with a bunch of different machines, performed an OPEN EYE ultrasound, saw two trainees and then the doctor. She said she is not diagnosing me with melanoma. BUT it has the orange color and a sliver of the fluid that are āconcerning.ā The pictures of the tumor werenāt as large at the ophthalmologistās pictures made it look. So... bright side, I guess. I go back in January to check for changes. Margot scooped me up and brought me home. Babyās first root canal!Ā
For our very last Very Famous show, everyone got to put up a sketch they wrote. My favorite had too much production, so I did a black out. It turned out great, and I felt loved.Ā It was a very nice way to go out.
Went to stuff: Two weeks after the Arclight screening, the LA Times invited me to see Pain & Glory with a Q&A, so I finally got to be in a room with my favorite director. I may have cried... slightly more than I did just seeing the film.
Salt & Straw Flavor: Black Cat Licorice & Lavender (2 cones, 1 pint)
NOVEMBER
It was time for Penelopeās annual visit to the vet, so I rented a car for the weekend and took her. She had lost quite a bit of weight. I sprung for all the tests, and she has kidney disease. Her numbers arenāt terrible, but thereās not really treatment for it. We switched to a new kind of prescription food. All I can do is be good to her and try to keep her hydrated & happy. So... yeah... September ā November have been... uh... not so great. On the bright side, I got invited to be in the Night Cap with Stacy Rumaker show as a character! I love this show so much - and when you read a thing in December, this show is the exception to that. I was so nervous, but I pulled it together and think it went very well. It felt good! Also, I am so emotionally invested in Mr. Robot! Mom & Dad came to visit for Thanksgiving and that was a nice relief. It rained most of the time, but we got out at about a bit.
Went to stuff: Vulture Fest screening of MacGruber with Will Forte & John Solomon.
Salt & Straw Flavor: Spiced Goat Cheese & Pumpkin Pie (with Mom & Dad)
DECEMBER
Fell off my bike, bruised my legs, and scraped a chunk of skin off my hand. Finally: I left my mark on this town! I was not in the mood to plan a birthday thing, but rented a car to take Penelope for her health certificate she might need to fly home with me, then went on a showtune-belting drive on my birthday. Not the best drive ever, but it was nice to just drive aimlessly. Margot went with me to dinner at an Italian place in Los Feliz. In other news, Penelope gained some weight. Then I flew home for Christmas. Iāve just been sitting around with Mom & Dad, and it has been great. I had lunch with Justin & traditional margaritas & Tex-Mex with Lindsey. I finally did an entire month of morning pages after 4 years, so I may be done with that. Oh, and I (temporarily) quit comedy.
Went to stuff: Saw CATS (canāt hate on a bad movie with bad source material) & Little Women (I cried so much!)
Salt & Straw Flavor: Apple Brandy & Pecan Pie (with Brian), but Iām in Texas now, so Iām ending the year with some Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla. Do better, Tyler!
So, thatās it. I was not looking forward to this, but it did make me feel a little better since the crap at the end has just felt like it has beaten me down. Iām not a quitter, but a breaker is maybe a good idea for a bit. I donāt have any resolutions for 2020.
If youāre still here, THANK YOU for reading my yearly download. I hope that you are doing well.
And with this, I bid hotel front desk life adieu. #tourcommission #makingmoneyofftourists https://www.instagram.com/p/ByL8R8Epd01/?igshid=1ra9ou4tv3qu3
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