The beautiful weather stopped. When I woke up it was freezing and raining. I also finally woke up anxious. I looked to the A-Z Fish On Fridays poster for guidance.
Oh, here’s what the daily routine looked like.
Later in the day, the sun peeked through. I had a break and kicked it in the Director’s Cabin. I found this baby bird.
It was trying so hard to get out of the cabin but would consistently fly right into a closed window. It was heartwrenching. At one point we got it all the way to the front door, freedom just a mere inch away and the bird – rather than going out into the wide open door – flew all the way back to the back of the cabin and smacked into the window. Katie finally managed to catch it and release it outside.
I’m in Toronto.
I was flown up here to perform a run of my improvised cartoon.
Rather than hang out after the shows, I’ve taken to hauling ass back to Curt and Katie’s (my hosts) for late night Catan.
Mostly because they rule and hanging out with them is a blast. But also because i have social anxieties that get worse every day.
Last night after the show, I took a cab back to the apartment because the 12 tall boys i was lugging around were getting unruly. The cabbie dropped me off and I made my way home. Curt and Katie lovingly greeted me and I began to put the beers away in the fridge. At some point in the next 30 seconds, I realized my phone was missing…I left it in the cab. After a mild panic (relative), Katie suggested calling the local cab companies to find the cab that picked me up. She asked me what color the cab was to help narrow down the choices. Orange. Definitely had orange in it. Awesome, we were down to a handful of companies. So she started to call them. We quickly learned by the first call that it was near impossible that we’d find it soon. 1. Lost and found items make their way to the police station at some point. and 2. Since I was a street pickup, there was no way to find out WHO icked me up. Curt had his wits about him and called the phone. Why didn’t I think of that? Dammit, why do I always have it on vibrate? Miraculously though, someone picked up! The cabbie! I agreed to pay his fare and he came back to the neighborhood in order for us to make the exchange. We reunited 10 minutes later and I got my phone back. The fare was only 11 dollars – a small price to pay.
Day 3 at camp featured the first of my two 3-hour workshop blocks. I thought I wouldn’t have enough to do for 3 hours, but before I knew it it was almost over. It was the block right before lunch and when we got close to the end, I asked the kids I could keep them a few minutes longer. They all in unison shouted “YES!” After 10 minutes I let them know they could leave and again in unison they shouted “NO!” It was also the workshop where I experienced one of the most crazy surreal things (at least for me) – I was speaking and at some point, they all ran and grabbed their notebooks and began writing down the things I was saying! That was so insane to me.
That night was the campfire. Al Conners dressed like Tampa Bay Florida’s public access/WTOG-44 afternoon horror host Dr. Paul Bearer and hosted the evening.
The night was filled with presentations from the different ensemble groups. All spooky campfire themed. One was a genuinely creepy soundscape inspired by the “Ring Around The Rosy” song.
The evening began with a reading from the Book Of George by The Mayor.
The Reading Of George
I learned on the second day that the first day is actually called Day 0. Then the next day Day 2. We traveled through time and space right past Day 1.
After morning workshops, I remember walking across the field and hearing my set from the night before playing. Oh yeh, there’s always music playing outside. Hippest Camp Ever.
I spent the afternoon reading the Andy Kaufman biography while nervously awaiting my first workshop. Dave Morris gave me some words of wisdom that boosted my confidence a bit. It must have worked because I remember someone coming up to me later in the day and telling me they heard how awesome my workshop was.
Rene:1, Anxieties:0.
That night was a Camper Talent Show. Talent is an understatement when describing what these kids did. Ukuleles, Dulcimers, clowning, beat poetry, virtuoso guitar playing, and even an ironic parody song called ANGST.
That night I signed up for my Night Watch and Kitchen duties. 2 days down. So far so great.
Katie informed me of the rules at camp.
NO FRONT HUGS
NO F-BOMBS
NO SHOWERING WHEN CAMPERS ARE SHOWERING
NO GOING OFF TO TALK IN PRIVATE
My first day at camp went off without a hitch.
No anxiety attacks. No accidental F-bombs. I only fell twice. Only one car door closed on my leg. I got to DJ the opening night dance party.
Watching 87 14-17 year old kids all dancing and singing is pretty awesome. It was a feeling that was only a fraction of what was to come.
I promise Camp updates are coming. I still have 8 days of being away to catch up to.
In other news, I went and got my motorcycle license today. So, hop-ons and night driving are now totally legal on the scooter. At the DMV there was a lady full on sucking her thumb.
Priceless.
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