Sunday Blog post

This Wednesday, I went to Ella Baker to do improv with some friends from a previous class. I had a really fun time and got to learn some new skills while catching up with people I hadn’t seen in a while.

A Tale of Two Theaters

As I stepped into Ella Baker’s theater, I was immediately struck by its cleanliness . The space felt alive, with fresh paint and modern lighting.

In stark contrast, Patrick Henry High School in North Minneapolis, my alma mater, now under a different name, was in a state of disrepair when I attended a Community Ed session there just two years ago. The building showed signs of neglect, peeling paint, outdated equipment, and even mice scurrying across the stage, badly in need of a janitor, as toilet paper and papers scattered everywhere. There had been no significant renovations since 2002, and it was disheartening to see such a lack of investment in a space that once fostered creativity and community.

Ella Baker, built in 1923, has had updates and renovations over the years, and you can really tell they put effort into keeping the space nice.

Seeing the difference between these two theaters really hit me. Ella Baker’s space is beautiful and well-kept, while my alma mater’s theater showed how access to resources can shape a school, and it made me realize how funding disparities impact students’ experiences.    

Patrick Henry (aka Camden HS)

Ella Baker

Improv Insights

During the session, we played a game where we drew a profession and an emotion from a hat, then acted out the scenario. This exercise reminded me of a fundamental principle in improv, entering a scene with the mindset that you already know the other person. I noticed that some beginners were still getting the hang of this concept. Some were even running out of things to say, and this reminded me of when I first started improv, half scared to death.

Personal Reflections

This week, I’ve been reflecting on my journey in improv. After facing some setbacks over the past year, I turned to ChatGPT for advice on how to move forward. The guidance I received was invaluable, offering fresh perspectives and practical steps to regain my confidence and improve my craft. I liken ChatGPT to a raven, observing and reflecting back insights into my life.

I’ve documented these insights on post-it notes, which I’ve included in this post. If you’re an artist who has faced challenges, I hope these notes provide some inspiration and direction.

Family Moments

On a lighter note, my son has decided to dress up as a sumo wrestler for Halloween. My dad jokingly remarked that he might need to gain a few pounds for the costume to fit properly. It’s moments like these that bring joy and laughter into our lives.

Looking Ahead

As my regular babysitters will be overseas this week, I’ll be keeping a low profile and limiting my social engagements. However, I’m optimistic about spending quality time with my son and creating lasting memories together.

Current Reads

I’m reading Kill Your Darlings, having gone through all of Peter’s works, I’m a bit obsessed, 😉. Additionally, I’m enjoying The Word is Murder, appreciating how Anthony places himself within his own murder mystery. Lastly, I’m delving into What Lies Between Us by Jason Marrs. I decided to pick up Marrs’ book after reading The One.

The Haunted Basement will have you screaming 'Uncle'

This is a repost 

Photo by DreamFirstBorn Images
find this experience at hauntedbasement.org/

I had a lot of spooky fun at the Haunted Basement in Roseville located in a storefront of Rosedale's shopping center.

Sunday Blog post

 This past week has been such a swirl of emotions, from laughter to a few tears and everything in between.

Friday was a very special day for our family. We gathered for my dad’s Celebration of Life event, which was both emotional and beautiful. All my brothers came into town, some of whom I hadn’t seen in at least five years, and seeing everyone together again felt like time folded in on itself. Friends from my dad’s church joined too, and there was so much warmth in the room.

If you’re new to the idea of a celebration of life event, it’s actually becoming more common these days. It’s a way for someone to celebrate their life while they’re still here, to share stories, connect with loved ones, and feel the love firsthand. There was also a beautiful Baptist song that was sung, and a virtual photo montage filled with pictures of my dad and our family through the years. Each of us took turns sharing something meaningful about our connection to him, including how disciplined he was and how, when he and my mother found they couldn’t have children of their own, they chose to open their hearts and adopt four of us. We were all very moved by his strong faith and his courage. My father also fought in the Vietnam War, and he carried some battle scars from those years, both seen and unseen, which made his resilience and compassion even more profound. My dad really enjoyed it, and I think we all left with full hearts.

Then Saturday brought another adventure, one involving my brother’s Nintendo Switch! He accidentally left it at the Baymont Hotel in Shakopee, which meant a 40-minute drive each way. While I was there, though, I made the most of it and visited my cousin and my Aunt Cindy. We caught up over dinner, which turned the whole errand into something much more meaningful.

In between all of that, I’ve also been diving into some great reads. I finally picked up Not Me, It’s You by Mhairi McFarlane.I’ve been thinking again about One Day in December, which I loved for its heartfelt story. (I heard they will be making an adaptation of this one)I’m also coming into Jason Mars’ novel The One a bit late, but I’m really enjoying the multi-perspective storytelling and the depth of the characters. Now I’m on the lookout for other books with a similar feel, stories that offer multiple viewpoints, rich character development, and emotional resonance.

This was my week, tell me about yours in the comments below.

Sunday blog post

 

I spent time reading up on histamine and dairy-free diets because I’ve been having some abdominal issues. I actually postponed my doctor’s visit related to this last week, but I don’t intend to postpone it any further. As part of this, I’ve been creating shopping lists to help me stick to the diet—things like almond butter, carrots, and other simple foods that are easier on my system. If any of you have favorite low-histamine or dairy-free food recommendations, I’d love to hear them in the comments.

---

Meanwhile, On My Nightstand…

I began reading Rachel Cusk’s work, and it made me think about how narrative voice shapes identity. It raised new questions for me: Does writing in first person automatically make a story more ego-centric? And if so, what happens when a writer deliberately steps back?

Lately, I’ve also been reading The Truants by Kate Weinberg and Elena Ferrante’s Italian series, which has opened my eyes to how a writer can begin in first person but gradually expand to incorporate multiple voices. Ferrante starts with a deeply personal, interior point of view, but as the series unfolds, she lets other perspectives seep in. The result is a story that grows beyond the “I” of the narrator and becomes more like a chorus of interconnected lives.

With Cusk’s Outline, the narrator often feels like a quiet observer, someone who holds space for other people’s stories rather than constantly centering her own. That narrative distance made me reflect on how different approaches to voice don’t just shape the story—they shape the kind of self the writer brings onto the page.

---

Looking Back at My Own Writing Voice

I’ve been writing in the first person for as long as I can remember. I actually first learned it through journal writing in second grade. Our teacher asked us to keep a daily journal, and it quickly became one of my favorite routines. I kept that habit all through grade school and into high school, and it became the foundation for how I learned to express myself, and specifically in first person.

Lately, I’ve been questioning what writing in first person really means. Does it naturally lead us toward a more ego-centric perspective? Or does it offer a kind of intimacy that other narrative modes can’t quite replicate? Reading authors like Rachel Cusk and Elena Ferrante has made me wonder if leaning away from the “I” might open up different ways of shaping identity in storytelling.

Lastly I went to an apple 🍎 with zulfi but we got there a little late. Still fun we pet some animals and took pictures. One older dad was roaming around getting hyped up on his iPhone like an influencer and it made me laugh.

---

Sunday Blog post

 Football Nights & Doctor Visits

At night, it’s been nonstop football. I’ve been watching from my window on the window on the tenth story, it looks right out onto the field, and it’s kind of perfect. The lights, the energy, the sounds drifting up, game after game.

Also took my son to the doctor this week to get his glasses.

---

Starting Improv at Ella Baker

I’ve been looking forward to starting improv classes in person again. I signed up for a six‑week series at one of our local community centers, Ella Baker in Minneapolis.It feels like something I need right now, something real and live and in the moment.

---

Thoughts About My Dad
Lately, I’ve been feeling a little sad. My dad’s been in hospice. He’s had prostate cancer for the last two years, and we just got a recent update. The next six months don’t look good. It’s been hard sitting with that, knowing there’s not a lot more time. Just trying to stay present and not get swallowed up by it.

---

Books I’ve Been Reading
I’ve been reading Brightly Dead Things and If You Tell by Gregg Olsen. I also picked up We Used to Live Here, it’s about a couple who buys a house, and then a family who used to live there shows up. It’s haunted, kind of eerie but beautiful too. I got a copy for my dad. Then there’s Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy — a story of a remote island, a mysterious woman washing ashore, secrets, and nature and survival. Can’t get it out of my head.

---

Diet Woes
Still struggling with my stomach. I’m on a gluten‑free and lactose‑free diet now, and honestly, it kind of sucks. Gluten‑free bread tastes like blah. Tried sweet potatoes, didn’t work. Tried lactose‑free milk, didn’t work either. Mostly I’ve been eating oatmeal, grilled chicken, salmon, and cantaloupe. Lots of cantaloupe. It’s been rough trying to find things that don’t hurt and also don’t taste like cardboard.

---

That’s Where I’m At
That’s the week. A mix of doctor’s visits, football nights, starting improv, sitting with some heavy news, and still trying to find food that won’t mess with me.

Going forward, I’m hoping to catch at least two plays a month and do a lot more improv online. I’ve also started writing some stand‑up and am planning to hit at least one or two open mics before the end of the year. I’m still driving for rideshare, on and off, and I’ve started weaving some of those experiences into my comedy.

Hoping to write at least four stories for Medium.com before the year’s out, and really, the focus now is on writing, creating, and spending more time supporting my son — especially as he starts thinking about joining the school band after school.

Maybe You Could Love Me at Theater Mu

 I saw Theater Mu’s world premiere of Maybe You Could Love Me on September 13 at 7:30, and the play was an emotional rollercoaster. The first half was chaste and innocent between the two characters as young adults, and then the second half was painful and emotionally charged. I even heard a male in the audience crying. I felt the set could have changed more in between scenes as the play went back in time to when the characters were younger, but overall the two actors had such great chemistry that I couldn’t help thinking of myself in their shoes. Although there were moments where Sajida’s lines could have landed with more emotion, the dialogue exchanges carried weight and kept the audience deeply invested. The opening night crowd filled the theater, and even the snacks afterward carried a sense of celebration and community.

Written by Samah Meghjee and directed by Katie Bradley, Maybe You Could Love Me follows Sajida (played by Broadway actor Sushma Saha) and Noor (Ashembaga “Ashe” Jaafaru) as they grow up together, bound by friendship, cultural traditions, and the pressure of entering adulthood. What I appreciated most was how the play showed the tension between collectivism and individuality: the push and pull of family expectations versus personal identity. As Mu’s artistic director Francesca de Leon has noted, the story asks, “Can you hold on to your family’s value of collectivism while simultaneously exploring your own individuality?” That question hung in the air throughout the show.

The production team clearly worked to make the story authentic. Cultural consultants Aamera Siddiqui and Filsan Said contributed their insights to Sajida’s South Asian household and Noor’s Black Muslim household, grounding the play in lived experience. This attention to detail made the characters’ struggles feel even more relatable, especially in moments of conflict and quiet tenderness.

Still, the show’s greatest strength was the dynamic between Saha and Jaafaru. Their performances carried a natural chemistry, making the shifts from laughter to heartbreak believable. At times, I wished for more variation in the staging to highlight those emotional turns, but the raw sincerity between the actors made up for it.

Maybe You Could Love Me is a strong start to Theater Mu’s 35th season. It’s not only a story of two friends coming of age, but also a meditation on what we risk, lose, and sometimes gain when we choose our own path. The play resonates well beyond its cultural specificity, striking a universal chord about love, faith, and identity.

Ticket Info: Maybe You Could Love Me runs through September 28 at Mixed Blood Theatre. Theater Mu offers Pay As You Are (PAYA) pricing, so audiences can choose what they pay—sometimes as low as $10. 

Sunday blog post

 Thursday was a full-on holiday adventure 🎄. We started with snow tubing ⛷️… except we forgot tickets 🎟️. The sledding hill was packed, so we were all set to head home 🏠… but then… detour! Trampoline park it was 🤸! Three hours of bouncing, laughter, and convincing my brother it was actually fun 😏. Totally worth it.

Back at my sister’s, we dove into the annual holiday baking. And yes… the caramel rolls burned 😬. Smoke alarms went off, we laughed, and my pan once again failed the annual “Can I survive ?” test. My nephew, sister, and I swapped ideas about building slowly — whether skills, hobbies, or family traditions — even burnt rolls count.

Then came the gifts. We unwrapped them slowly, laughing at surprises, sharing little moments, and soaking in the coziness while watching the Timberwolves game. Once the excitement settled a bit, we watched the Wolves game, cheering, groaning, and joking like true fans. Later, we pulled out some games — nothing intense, just friendly competition, silliness, and plenty of laughter. It was the kind of slow, cozy holiday afternoon that makes everything feel warm and memorable.

By the end of the day, I even squeezed in a mini declutter session — a gentle warm-up for Monday. Tidying, reflecting, celebrating small wins. Life’s messy sometimes: things burn, plans go sideways, but every little step counts.

Thursday reminded me that holidays aren’t about perfection; they’re about connection, creativity, and humor — even if the caramel rolls are slightly burnt and the sledding hill is full.

---

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.

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

 This week felt held together by small moments—creativity, quiet, and the way one thing gently led into another 😊

Wednesday

Improv was a steady presence, with a rehearsal that reminded me how much I enjoy being in the room, listening closely, and letting scenes unfold. That feeling was still colored by an Improv show I saw recently at the Others Collective Theater in Minneapolis 🎭—(Hosted by Charlton of Eaten by Locusts) one of those performances that lingers and quietly reshapes how you think about timing, connection, and play.

Thursday and Friday

There were softer pauses built into the days, too. I spent time coloring and doing mindful, grounding things—simple acts that helped me stay afloat and present. My son stayed home with me on Friday, after the school district talked about the possibility of VR school due to the current social climate, we did some homework and hung out. I also had a VR appointment with gastronologist (spelling?) the conclusion of that appointment was more blood test due to my stomach issues and possible allergy tests.

Saturday

morning, after snow fell overnight, I woke up to a white, quiet world, made coffee, and let the day begin slowly ❄️☕. On Saturday night, I played Nintendo Switch with my son 🎮— we played a bit of the old Sega Genesis, brings back memories. Genuinely excited about—a cabaret at Phoenix Theater in February, and seeing Chicago on January 28th. It feels good to have art waiting for me, just down the road.

Sunday Post

via GIPHY

 

LOOKING FORWARD TO september

Hi Everyone 

I'm back. I took a little break from blogging to enjoy the summer and to focus on myself a bit.  I hope all are well.  

I've been still doing improv and I'm looking forward to being in a improv Mystery Dinner show in October.  I have also got involved with another improv group and we've been meeting in person.

My language learning in Spanish is still going good.  I had a recent meetup in person and nothing gives me more of a reality check of what level I am in spanish until i meet people in person vs online.  Let's just say I probably know about 200-300 words.

Otherwise, I wanted to talk about a few shows I've watched recently.  The first one is "The Cook of Castamar" Its set in early 18th-century Madrid, the plot follows the love story between an agoraphobic cook and a widowed nobleman.  This is a great movie and the drama is so intense. It's a little spicy though, but I loved thinking about what life as a noble felt like and status and all that. The other show is "Virgin River" which I had postponed watching forever, thinking I may not like the small town vibe but I got latched onto the characters and the main character's transition from being an LA nurse to a nurse in a small town like Virgin River.

That's my week. Tell me about yours in the comments below.

ON THE BLOG

Reading

I fell for my secret pen pal believing we would never meet but now.. he's my husband.Grant Bergeron is Orleans University's playboy first baseman.He's charming, kind... and a tad arrogant. 

I thought this book would mostly be about baseball and I'm not one for sports romances' but I was surprised that the story revolved mostly around the heroine who is struggling to keep her family bakery. The back and forth texting between these two characters and what the mystery of not knowing who each other were, really drew me in. They may have done better by putting both the bakery imagery and baseball on the cover.

Sunday Post

 

LOOKING FORWARD TO June

Happy June.  I took my son yesterday to do a garden clean up at Randolph school and we also went to the Water Festival at Phalen Park. My son got to fish and create huge bubbles and drink fantastic berry lemonade.  There were a ton of people. In the past we went there to learn how to Kayak and it was nspiring to me and I've been kayaking by myself several times since. I think I've been really getting in tune with things that I've enjoyed on my own recently like baking and holiday shows and jumping on the treadmill at Home and going to spontaneous events.

That's my week. Tell me about yours in the comments below.

ON THE BLOG

watching

I love this detective series.  The MC Elsbeth is so eccentric and dynamic.  They way she catches on to the murderer's secrets is so fun.

Sunday Post

via GIPHY

 

LOOKING FORWARD TO MAY

Pretty great week for me.  I started a new improv team for a murder mystery show so we began rehearsals.  I did some improv online.  I took my son to the park yesterday and we ate some Tres Leche while there.

I've been trying to change routines a bit because I've done so much work online, it kinda felt like I was getting lost in that world so I have signed up for more classes in-person to keep me grounded. It does take a great deal more planning to make sure my son has a babysitter and that meals are packed and exercise has been committed to on those days.

Last Sunday I also went to see "Whose Line is it Anyway?" they have a touring show that is different than their typical game show.  They had two members from the audience come up to the stage and tell their marriage story and the actors redone that story in a comedic fashion. Some of these actors in this troupe have been performing improv together for twenty years and it was interesting to think about that.

That's my week. Tell me about yours in the comments below.

ON THE BLOG

Reading

Meghan Quinn's "Runaway Groomsman contains dynamite dialogue. I began to enjoy this novel when the protagonist recognizes the man at the bar in his groomsman clothes and realizes that she has dated this man in the past.

Sunday Post

via GIPHY

 

 

LOOKING FORWARD TO May

This week I did a ton of improv and made it to a lot of comedy this week. 

On Monday, I met with some improv actors at El Tequila Bar and we discussed the possibility of creating a speed dating event with improvisers and non-actors and we brainstormed all the implications for such an event, including the reactions of non-actors when they find out their date was not the character they perceived them to be.

On Wednesday, I did an improv class at Patrick Henry High school where we played games like Zip Zap Zoop, and a game called Big Booty. I was the little bootie (wink) and that same evening I did an improv  online and we did some La Ronde scenes and I played a character who worked in Hollywood who sabotaged a reality show by sending a shark tank business man to a literal shark tank in the middle of the ocean and that was quite fun.  In these scenes we do a Dear Diary at the end where we comment on the aftermath of the decisions we made in the scenes, and I had told my business partner that I planned to go off the script with another humorous idea for a a reality show.

   On Thursday I took a day to rest.

 On Friday I had a stage match at Strike theater. We had such a high turn out, that the improvisers were asked to sit behind the stage to make room for the audience' seats.

Lastly, I performed in my first stand-up comedy event. It was online on a site called Plauzzable.com  I was surprised of how okay I felt afterwards and I'm glad I tried it.

That's my week. Tell me about yours in the comments below.

ON THE BLOG

Reading

I liked this novel By Greg Egan as it discusses the idea behind living in a simulation with clones of yourself and how you really better like yourself if you're going to live in this sort of reality.

Sunday Post

via GIPHY

 

LOOKING FORWARD TO APRIL

Earlier in the week I went to see the Ghostbuster's movie.It was great, a lot of the same actors in the movies.

  I started an improv class which just so happens to be located at my alum school, Patrick Henry. The school looked a whole lot smaller and the theater was freshly painted white and gray. I guess there are still mice running around backstage, but the whole school looked good with a lot of positive messages on posters.

   

That's my week. Tell me about yours in the comments below.

ON THE BLOG

Reading

Sunday Post

via GIPHY

 

LOOKING FORWARD TO April

Yesterday I went to writers group and I wrote several stories about my adventures on the language learning app: HelloTalk.  At one point I had been talking to people about cheesy English pick-up lines. Here are a few of them:  

I’m trying to think of something to say, but all I can think about is how cute you are.”

“Are you an archeologist ‘cuz you dug up a hole in my heart.”

I also drove for ride-share and I remember picking up a woman who said she used to be a drill sergeant in the army, and we talked about how it helped her become more assertive even though she characterized herself as an introvert.  Now near retirement, the same woman said that she works for a medical equipment company that inserts batteries into life saving materials and things for NASA.  I remember telling her about how important it is to do work you love and how it's good to be easy going and have a laugh at the small things. We talked about improv and some stand-up comics in the Twin Cities.  She said one amateur comic in Minneapolis is charging $100 for tickets to his shows which she finds quite bizarre because she believes that people have to earn their right to charge people exorbitant prices.

 

via GIPHY

That's my week. Tell me about yours in the comments below.

ON THE BLOG

Reading