So, the trip to Chicago and Second City re-lit the fire to go after this crazy comedy-writing dream of mine which I both love and am freaking out over. However, neither of those emotions matter in the simple fact that I have no power to hurl myself into the dream at the moment. I can’t just pack a bag, move to a giant city and live in squalor while I make the dream happen given that I have a child and hubs to think about. However, in my parallel universe, I’ve already done that and been waiting tables while writing and taking classes.

What I do have the power to do right now is get back in the swing of comedy writing and buff up my techniques and skills. Hell, I don’t even know if it’s something I’d be any good at anymore so I think that’s a logical first step anyway. So, I’ve signed on for the Second City Online Writing I course for this semester, which I’m really excited about. I didn’t have the funding for it at the moment and I was touched when Greg agreed to pay for it without waiting until the end of my pitch. (Again, it’s wonderful to have someone backing up my dreams, no matter how far-fetched they actually are.)

I’ve been really frustrated because of the way our life has just been hanging in limbo recently. I can’t go into detail at the moment but I’ve been kind of hanging around wondering if I should go ahead with grad school apps or if I should start looking for work or what… it’s nice to have at least some direction for the time being, even if it’s something that has no immediate payoff at all and won’t really change our lives when it’s over, anyway. Feeling like I’m finally doing something tangible to move toward anything is a relief and a powerful motivator in and of itself.

Now I’m scribbling sketches and character ideas like a crazy woman and randomly calling people to ask things like, “Hey, do you think the idea of a newly divorced polygamous cult refugee out for her first night on the town is funny at all?”

Should make for interesting stuff.

Also, I’m planning to attend one of the company’s Weekend Intensives in Chicago next spring for networking purposes that I’m really really excited about. (They actually offer whole semesters or camps for writing and improv but, again, I’m doing what I can at the moment since my options are rather limited.) This may turn into nothing at all but at least I’m trying to the best of my ability and that feels good.