Sunday Blog Post

Beautiful 😍 Days in Minnesota

 This week was filled with a mix of appointments and small tasks. By the time Friday arrived, I was ready for something different — a change of pace to mark the end of the week.

On Friday, I went to see Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, hoping for a clever magic-heist story. I wanted the twists, the illusions, the big reveals. But it didn’t land the way I hoped. Some of the sound mixing felt off, and a few of the plot beats felt too familiar, like the film was leaning heavily on older heist movies without adding anything new.

The moment that stood out most was when one of the key players calls the group out for not inviting her. She already knows she was excluded, so she asks, “So how come I didn’t get an invite?” Another character replies, “Oh… uh… you know what, I barely had a chance to join myself. You know how the babysitter is. I guess I just didn’t think to invite you.”It felt awkward. Then the script tossed in a comment about how there are only three women magicians, and they’re “probably the top three in the world.” It was meant to feel empowering, but instead it felt a little forced — like the movie wanted credit for representation without actually earning it.

On Saturday, I went to watch my son at his swimming lessons. It’s fun to see him learning backstroke and getting stronger with each lap. Between everything else, I’ve been reading two thrillers: Too Old for This, a dark, funny story about a retired serial killer who's not quite done (I’ll definitely be buying a copy of this for my dad), and The Woman in the Library, a layered, meta mystery about strangers connected by a crime in a Boston library, with the author appearing in the story. 

After the lessons, I went somewhere just to reset and recharge. I’ve shared the 10,000 Laughs improv fundraiser on social media, and now we’ll start inviting people. I also finished organizing roles and placements for the event, which is coming up soon. I had written an essay about my improv journey, The Courage in Saying Yes (Medium.com), which reminded me how showing up and saying yes, even when unsure, can make the whole process more rewarding.

After the lessons and organizing the fundraiser, I finally had a moment to step outside and just notice the day. The weekend weather was mild enough that I didn’t need a jacket (at this time of year at least), which almost never happens here in Minnesota.

Sunday Blog Post

 Friday started

At the pool with my son’s swimming lesson. The smell of chlorine and the sound of splashing made it easy to focus on something simple for a while.

On Thursday, I went to an improv workshop and talked with a few people. It reminded me how good it feels to be around others who like to create and try new things.

Saturday was family time. I met up with my brother to give him back his Nintendo Switch after he accident lo left it at a hotel on his last, for which I instantly regretted,my son and I had so much fun playing Super Mario bros The upside was that he got motivated to help me clean and declutter. We took a couple of bags out to the dumpster, and it actually felt good to make some space.

I also started driving for Uber again. One of my passengers and I ended up talking about weed. It wasn’t what I expected, but it turned into a thoughtful conversation.

I’ve been reading The Woman in the Library this week. I like that the writer is also a character in her own story, trying to understand things as they happen.

Sometimes changing the routine is what helps me move forward again.

Sunday blog post

 

My son (we went without sumo inflatable 2nd night)

This week was a whirlwind of improv, school festivals, and video games with my son. At improv, I’m gearing up to participate in 10,000 Laughs improv fundraiser on November 20th with my group — it feels good to have something big to aim for, a goal that’s all about creativity and timing.

My son’s October festival at school was pure chaos — kids and parents in costumes everywhere, standing in lines to get into the school gym for an obstacle course with a bean bag toss and, of course, pizza. I ran into his previous teacher and we chatted about my son’s inflatable sumo wrestler costume, which definitely stole the show.

A lot of my week was spent on the Nintendo Switch with my son. There were moments I felt like I was inside a video game myself — where the people who “win” in life move fast, dodge obstacles, and have help navigating tricky challenges. That feeling stuck with me after talking with my tax attorney, who mentioned her thesis project about how taxes affect different people. Basically, the rich often get “discounts” on taxes, while the poor face penalties — not because of the numbers themselves, but because the poor don’t have lawyers or planners to navigate the

Near Guthrie theater

On top of all that, I spent a fair share of time setting up our HP computer. First, the internal mic didn’t work, and then I hit another setup challenge with the mouse. It reminded me that even outside of games, life can throw unexpected obstacles at you — and sometimes you just have to troubleshoot, step by step.

Lastly we went trick o’ treating around our neighborhood and we saw Demon slayers and pichachu and avacados and baby shark and lots of Mario’s.

This week made me think about how life sometimes feels like a game with invisible power-ups: some people are born with them, while others have to figure out the rules as they go — all while running a race that never pauses.