Sunday Blog Post

improv at “The Others Collective”

my friend Reese” Stand up show

looking at books at Barnes and Noble

 This past week felt like a collection of moments where different parts of my life connected—my past, my creativity, my community, and the stories that continue to shape me.

Last Saturday, I took my son to a gathering at a friend's house. One of the unexpected highlights of the day was reconnecting with a woman I had known in my early twenties. I had met her oldest daughter when she was just a baby, and we had since lost touch. I realized that our sons have become friends, and we now cross paths at the same gatherings. As we caught up, we talked about the different directions our lives had taken since we last knew each other. I shared how much my life had changed, especially my spiritual journey. She smiled and said, "Of course our lives can take different paths."

On Monday, I performed musical improv with my troupe Waxy Conedy at a jam at The Other's Workshop Collective in Minneapolis. This was our team’s second time performing musical improv, and everyone did a great job. 🎭🎶 It was exciting to see how much we’ve grown and how the group continues to build confidence together. During one of the scenes, I was able to make a callback to an earlier moment in the performance, and hearing the audience respond reminded me why I enjoy live improv.

Exciting show to be held at The Fringe Festival 2026

Later in the week, I continued building those creative connections through improv rehearsal. We welcomed a new member to the group, explored new scene ideas together, and our instrumentalist joined us on keyboard, adding another layer of creativity to the rehearsal. It was exciting to see new ideas begin to take shape as we worked together.

This week included reconnecting with someone from my past, performing with my improv team, and returning to stories I enjoyed years ago. I’d love to hear about the moments that shaped your week as well.

A Woman’s Place is in the House” by David Alan Berger playing at the Minnesota Fringe Festival

Sunday blog post

 Wednesday, I took my son to Highland indoor pool. I expected it to be a normal afternoon of swimming, but instead I found myself overhearing a conversation that stayed with me long after we left.

The conversation was between foster parents who were talking about the foster children who were also at the pool. Thankfully, the kids were not present during the conversation, but I was honestly taken aback by what I was hearing. Having spent many years in the foster care system myself, I have seen firsthand how much toxicity can exist in situations where children are already vulnerable. Hearing these children being described mostly through their behaviors and defense mechanisms was difficult because I know there is usually so much more happening beneath the surface.

It was hard for me not to feel protective of these kids. I know that behaviors often come from somewhere, and behind every child is a story that most people never see. At the same time, I also reminded myself that I was only hearing one small piece of a much larger story.

Thankfully, this week has also had plenty of positive moments. 😊

I recently started a new job, so a lot of my time has been spent learning the ropes and figuring out a new routine. It’s always a strange adjustment period being the new person, but I’m slowly getting there.

On Monday, my son and I went to his swimming lesson, only to discover that open swim matter his short lesson was closed. Instead of giving up, we went to another YMCA nearby and made the best of the situation. . 🏊

We’ve also been continuing rehearsals with Waxy Comedy as we prepare for upcoming performances and I plan to go to the Fringe Festival in August. There is something exciting about watching ideas come together through theater—the unexpected moments are often the best ones. 🎭

Also I’ve been having a hard time posting pics on blogger even copying and pasting from my iPhone seems difficult so if anyone has tips let me know.

Sunday Blog post

 

Weekly Recap

This week was filled with family adventures, improv, and a few preparations for the week ahead.

One of the highlights was taking my son to Cascade Bay Waterpark on Thursday. We had a wonderful time floating together down the lazy river 🏊‍♀️🌊. On Friday, we headed to another pool for even more summer fun. Earlier in the week, we also discovered a pickup soccer group for my son through the OpenSports app, which has been a great way to keep him active and meeting other kids ⚽️🥅.

On the creative side, I continued exploring improv in several different ways. I attended a character-focused workshop at the Gamezenter 🎭🎲, where we practiced creating and sustaining characters on stage. I also participated in an online Meisner improv exercise for the first time and really enjoyed it. One thing I love about online improv is that it gives me the flexibility to participate while driving rideshare or traveling between activities.

I've also been making plans for upcoming musical improv rehearsals with a friend, which I'm looking forward to. Today, I'll be heading to Root Lab, an intimate music venue that hosts indie bands in a garage setting 🎵🎸.

Outside of performing, I spent some time researching a new iPad for my son, since his current device is running low on storage. He's getting increasingly excited about the possibility of an upgrade. I also managed to pick up a few treasures at the thrift store and brought home the next book in the Millennium series, The Girl Who Played with Fire. I'm hoping to make some time for reading in the coming weeks.

Overall, it was a full week of creativity, family time, and summer adventures.

Sunday Blog post

 This past week felt a bit like a roller coaster. My energy levels seemed to swing back and forth between excitement and exhaustion, but there were still plenty of bright moments along the way.

Last Saturday turned into a busy day, we headed to the Father Hennepin Festival carnival in Champlain. The weather was absolutely beautiful, which made the experience even better. We brought our bicycles along, which turned out to be a great decision because it made it much easier to get around the festival grounds and move quickly from one area to 

last Sunday, my son and I drove to a hotel in ostego, minnesota and spent some time swimming in their lazy river. It was a nice way to wrap up the weekend and enjoy some time together before the week began.

Wednesday turned into a busy day. After work, we headed to the Father Hennepin Festival carnival. The weather was absolutely beautiful, which made the experience even better. We brought our bicycles along, which turned out to be a great decision because it made it much easier to get around the festival grounds and move quickly from one area to another.

Most of the evening was spent letting my son go on rides, including the Scrambler, which quickly became one of his favorites.

After the carnival, we stopped by Sky Zone so my son could burn off even more energy. By the end of the day, we were both ready to head home.

Thursday was another workday, but it also included an unexpected visit with an old friend. She happened to be only ten minutes away at a soccer field while three of her children were participating in soccer tournaments, so we met up and spent some time catching up. It felt just like old times, and it was nice to reconnect.

Friday was another workday, and by the time the weekend arrived, I was ready for some quieter time.

On Saturday, my son left for a camping trip with friends. Originally, they had planned to stay at a particular campsite, but after discovering that many people were using the area as transitional housing, they decided to stay at a different campground that offered more amenities, including bathrooms, showers, and a fire pit.

With my son away, I suddenly found myself with something I haven't had much of lately: uninterrupted time. I spent much of Saturday researching books and trying to rediscover my reading life.

I sampled several titles that only halfway captured my interest. I picked up a novel by Ken Follett, and I also started a Matt Haig novel that immediately pulled me in. On the other hand, I attempted Kate Morton's Homecoming but struggled to connect with it and eventually set it aside.

Overall, it was a week filled with work, family activities, reconnecting with friends, and a renewed interest in reading.