My Time Away From Chocolate...

Hello again true believers! It's that time of year again. The time of painted eggs, bunnies that sound like chickens, and, for those who practice various religions, a time of celebration. And it's in that spirit that I join my mom in giving up something for Lent. Last year, it was Facebook, and I still feel that was a success as today, even though Carolyn will tell you differently, I'm not checking my phone/computer as much and have not gone back to my near obsessive levels. I've done alcohol for six months before (that included Lent). If the picture hasn't given it away, this year was chocolate.

Giving up chocolate was harder than I thought it would be. I guess you don't realize how many tasty treats contain some type of chocolate. Obviously, Hershey bars and chocolate chip cookies will contain the sweet confection, but in attempts to find alternatives, I would run into issues. I was enjoying a tootsie pop once and totally spaced that, inside the "fruit" flavored outside, there was a chewy chocolate center... I threw that out right away. I actually have had multiple dreams where I was eating something either that I wanted or out of habit, and would then realize there was chocolate inside. Then there was my "stock pile". In addition to the tasty chocolate treats Carolyn had gotten for Valentine's Day, and the left over bag of Snickers from Poker, there was my usual stock pile of chocolate I have from various place and have received from others (including my mom from her trip to the Debrand Chocolate Factor while in Indiana). I never realized how much chocolate there was around until I gave it up.

So what's the outcome of all of this? Well, I like to think I've actually slowed down on my sugar/sweet intake. Something I hope I can carry with me after Easter. And I feel that the alternative I have found to satisfy my sweet tooth will be around for a while as well. I really took a liking to my old friend Reese's Pieces during my chocolate sabbatical. I keep telling myself there are benefits to eating PB (doesn't it make you feel more full than you actually are?), but I think I'm just leading myself on (kinda like the whole "dark chocolate has antioxidants so it's good for you" mentality). I've always enjoyed Teddy Grahams, but the honey flavored has found a new place in my heart (they're packed with calcium and zinc, so they're good too, right? ;) It's funny though, I haven't really done a whole lot of ice cream/frozen yogurt, cupcakes, or anything of the sort to try those out... I think I'm okay with that.

I have to admit to everyone... My mom and I did cheat, and it was pre planned. You see, before lent, I made reservations at the Melting Pot for Denver Restaurant Week/5280. I dunno about you, but I think it's a bigger sin to to go the Melting Pot and not eat the Chocolate Fondue that it is to avoid chocolate all together... The good news is, because I knew this was coming, I planned ahead and gave up something else for Lent... I feel like I watch a lot of TV, but 75% of that watching comes after 10:00, when I like to unwind and let my mind "chillax". Most the time, I would fall asleep if watching past 10:00, which isn't great since I would wake up at 3:00 in the morning, brush my teeth, then finally go to bed. So, in an attempt to remedy that, I gave up watching TV past 10:00. The results have been "semi sweet" (sorry about the chocolate pun). I have been more productive after 10:00, but I still fall asleep on the couch and go to bed at 2:00 in the morning. I have also missed some great live television, including Elton John the Foo Fighters on SNL... I guess that's why it's a sacrifice huh?

So all in all, this has been an interesting Lent season that I think can be classified as a success. I hope I take some of the adjusted behaviors with me... But, you can count on me sitting in front of the TV watching something like South Park at 10:00 on April 25th, 2011 with a chocolate chip cookie and a glass of chocolate almond milk... that just won't happen as often ;).

Some Scripted Story about Improv...

That's right boys and girls. Unless you missed all my facebook posts and general ramblings, then you already knew I was in my first improv show the first Sunday in April of 2011. Now with the show in the history books, I thought I would share my story of how this came to be, my thoughts, and what the future holds.

I know some of you know this, but I actually had a big push getting into improv. I had gone to a couple shows at the Madcap Theater in Westminster, Colorado (http://madcapimprov.com/), but never really thought about doing it. That's where Carolyn Brug comes in. For Christmas 2010, she bought me the first set of lessons as a gift.,.. and what a gift! Started my first set of four classes in January 2011. The first set of classes went well. It wasn't focused so much on the games or even the comedy, but more establishing "a story" between characters, including relationship/status and conflict. It was a twelve person class, yet all the exercises were two people or less... And totally done the right way. Lots of focus on actual acting in addition to the focus on the miming of objects to make them look real/have the audience understand what you are doing (with that object). Also focused on non verbal cue's of emotion, in posture, pace, and so on. With all that in mind, THEN you could exaggerate everything you learned and find a very real and natural comedy... think about it...

Since I enjoyed the first set of classes so much (thank you again Care!), I decided it was time to do class #2. This is the class that introduced the games, 3rd person entrances, and the fun little tricks to make the shows the best possible... but all of that only works if you apply the lessons from the first set of classes. I learned a lot here... But there was so much information, I feel like I have to go at it again. Either way, this class was even more fun then the first, with longer scenes and a chance to really let them develop. This class started in early March and went through early April 2011 (4 classes again).

Sunday, April 4th, 2011, 6:00 was the first show for most of the six actors on stage (Chrissy had performed on the MadCap stage previously). It was a free show that the six of us could invite anyone to attend... and did we. Bottom section full, seats used in the raise level, and all the support for all the actors was greatly appreciated. We did a number of scenes, some a lot of fun to perform and fun for the audience ("Dialogue Papers" and "Forward/Reverse" specifically), and some I hope we change for the next time around ("Story" comes to mind). Either way, the show was great. I was the 3rd entrance on both scenes I was a part of, something I didn't protest for the sake of time, but something I hope doesn't happen next time (I can never get a enough face time, but limiting it hurt :). That's not say that I can't improve, there are a lot of things I want to do differently (asking for suggestions, making stories/scene's bigger, spelling ;)

In case you haven't gathered, there will be a next time. Due to how busy this summer is looking with birthdays, weddings, bachelor parties, and other events, I think it'll have to happen in the fall. I hope the actors from this show are serious when they say they want to do it again because I really enjoyed working with them. I hope I can remember a lot and go in to the second set of classes for the second time with lots of knowledge... and don't worry, I'll let you know when the show will happen again... I/we will need and appreciate all the support we can get. So until then, enjoy the show via , YouTube on the "mercury26" channel and I'll keep you all in the loop. Clint Crockett, signing off.