The horrible wall of gum on the outside of Unexpected Productions theater space, 2006

So, I’m full of all sorts of emotions as I anticipate my return to the International Festival of Improvisation in Seattle in two short weeks — eeeks!

There’s a heavy feeling of significance surrounding the whole deal, even though it’s not a big deal, really. Memories of the last time I attended, in 2006, are flooding back like bats pouring out of a cave at dusk.

To be more precise: memories of that whole time period. I hate to admit it but I don’t have a lot of precise recollections of the actual festival. I have a good excuse.

The human with whom I fell in love, and for whom I moved to Ventura, broke up with me six days before I left for Seattle. A few weeks after I got back, my father got sick. He died at the end of the summer. These were only two awful events in a string of awful events, making 2006 the year by which I measure all other years by their shit content.

But hey! It’s 2009! It’s like a do-over. I get to go up to Seattle, with very little on my mind this time! Let’s make a list!

• I get to meet Cloudy up close and personal! It’s an exciting prospect, bringing an electronic friendship to a new, face-to-face level! I assured her that, if we feel awkward at the start, that I’ll be sure to say something wildly inappropriate that will make a cocktail shoot out of her nose. Then we’ll be just fine.
• It’s a blog birthday of sorts; I fired up the hamblog for real (after being a sporadic poster for years) because of the ’06 Festival, and I’m grateful for that.
• It does appear that I did get a lot out of the ’06 Fest; rereading the entries from that time certainly seem that way (you can read the ’06 Fest entries here).
• The pictures are pretty cool, too.
• I get to take a Virgin America airplane for the first time. Virgin virgin!
• Archie McPhee!

Since I am a single, employed, healthy orphan, there is little chance that I will face any exciting, growth-experience opportunities this summer. Please take this opportunity to rap quickly on a piece of lumber.

Oh, and the theme for the Festival this year is “Zen.” Kapow!