I don’t remember how I found them, but I have two new favorite websites: Defamer and Stereogum. They touch my sense of humor in a way that, if Loretta touched Cleveland that way, he’d say, “Oh, Loretta, that tickles me.”
There will probably be light blogging for the next week or so. I think the problem with my neck, the cold that I’m barely holding at bay, and about two weeks of really restless sleep are symptoms of trying to do too goddamn much stuff all at once.

I missed the ACME show on Saturday night, because I hurt my neck so badly on Friday, I couldn’t even stand up Saturday morning. More on that later.
As if the pain in my neck and shoulders wasn’t bad enough, I’m trying my best not to get sick, now. I think it’s just the dry air from my heater and the weather the last few days, but my throat is sore and scratchy, and my sinuses are all dry and ouchy . . . so I’m just going to put up this quick reminder and get back into bed:

1. I’ll be reading and signing Just A Geek on Tuesday November 30th down in Huntington Beach, at Barnes & Noble. I have rehearsal that night, so the event will go from 7 until 8:30. Watch for me doing Warp 11 up the 405 to get back to Hollywood by 9!
2. What’s My Line? The show starts at 8. More details can be found at j.keith.net, including a two-for-one discount.
3. I’ll be at ACME this Saturday, December 4th, for a preview show of ACME Love Machine. The show starts at 8.

Details:

WHAT: Signing and Reading of Just A Geek
WHERE: Barnes & Noble Bookstore
7881 Edinger Avenue #110
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(714) 897-6201
WHEN: Tuesday, November 30, 2004. 7 – 8:30 pm.
WHAT: What’s My Line? Live On Stage
WHERE: Acme Comedy Theatre
135 N. La Brea
Hollywood, CA 90036
(323) 525-0202
WHEN: Wednesday, December 1, 2004. 8 pm.
WHAT: ACME Love Machine Preview Show — tickets half price.
WHERE: Acme Comedy Theatre
135 N. La Brea
Hollywood, CA 90036
(323) 525-0202
WHEN: Saturday, December 4, 2004. 8 pm.

Last night at dinner, my dad’s cousin (who we all adore, but only get to see once a year, at Thanksgiving) asked us all to say one thing we’re thankful for.
Have you ever tried to do that? Come up with just one thing that you’re thankful for? It was really hard for me to do. I have so much to be thankful for, I didn’t know where to begin.
So I said, “I’m thankful that I’m able to be here with everyone tonight.”
In my mind, that encapsulated many things: I’m thankful that l live in a place that’s safe and comfortable. I’m thankful that I can afford to drive my car 100 miles to my great uncle’s house for dinner. I’m thankful that I love my family, and they love me, so I actually wanted to make the drive. I’m thankful that I’m having success in my creative work, from acting on stage to voice acting in games and on TV, to writing all the things I’m writing. I’m thankful for my wife and stepchildren, and my dogs and my cats, and my friends, and my blog and . . . .
See what I mean?
My cousin Dustin, who has overcome one of the biggest obstacles anyone could ever face, and has a lot to be thankful for himself, had simple but powerful insight. He said, “I’m thankful for my family. Because friends will come and go, but your family is there forever, no matter what.”
I know it’s not like that in all families, but it sure is in ours, and for that, well, I’m thankful.
I hope everyone gets to spend at least a little time this weekend with someone they love.

I am so freakin’ tired, I can hardly see.
Last night we rehearsed “ACME Love Machine” until almost midnight, and I didn’t fall asleep until around two. We’re having work done on our house, so I was up at 8 enjoying the sound of sawing and breaking glass. If I was eating better and exercising more, six hours would be plenty of sleep . . . but I’ve let myself get overwhelmed with work and travel in the last two months, so it’s been a horrible fast food life. Things should slow down at the end of next week, and I can start putting my body back together. I didn’t realize how much time it takes to exercise daily and prepare my own food . . . I’m going to appreciate it more when I have that kind of time. (And I can start running again. I plan on doing the San Diego marathon again this year, and maybe Los Angeles, too, if I can train in time.)
Tonight, I’m back at ACME for another rehearsal and a complete show tech. I think I’ll be there until at least two. We have a preview show on Saturday, and it’s going to require a lot of focus and professionalism to be ready for that show. Normally, I’d be freaking out about how soon we are taking this show in front of an audience . . . but I’m so excited to perform it, I’m actually anxious to get our funny up on the stage.
Yeah. This is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever been a part of, and I can’t wait to perform it. I’ve done a ton of sketch and improv shows over the years, and I can honestly say this show will rank in the top three best shows of all time.
Most of it is the writing, which is really funny and solid, but the cast is phenomenal. It’s one of those “lightning in a bottle” things, like the cast of TNG, where we all like each other, we all love the show, and the energy backstage is so positive and so supportive, it carries over into the audience. I know there are some other actors and musicians who read WWdN, and I’m sure you’ll back me up on this: when you’re in a show with a cast you love, and when that cast is supportive and enthusiastic about the show and each other, you could do the show for an audience of one and it wouldn’t matter.
Some of us are in EarnestBorg9 together, and many of us went through the ACME school together, so it’s not surprising that we all get on so well, but there’s always a chance that something weird can come up, some stupid personality conflict or something that can happen, but we’re already like a family . . . or maybe a group of inmates who’ve just escaped from an asylum. I’ll bring fruit cups tonight, and see what happens.
Our first show is December 11th, and we run every Saturday at 8 until Christmas, take a break, and then we’re back through all of January and February. Please come out and see us. I promise you’ll like it.

Some places you can see me do my thing in the next week:

1. I’ll be at ACME this Saturday, November 27, for a preview show of ACME Love Machine. The show starts at 8.
2. I’ll be reading and signing Just A Geek on Tuesday November 30th down in Huntington Beach, at Barnes & Noble. I have rehearsal that night, so the event will go from 7 until 8:30. Watch for me doing Warp 11 up the 405 to get back to Hollywood by 9!
3. Complete the trifecta at ACME on Wednesday, December 1, for What’s My Line? The show starts at 8. More details can be found at j.keith.net, including a two-for-one discount.

Details:

WHAT: ACME Love Machine Preview Show — tickets half price.
WHERE: Acme Comedy Theatre
135 N. La Brea
Hollywood, CA 90036
(323) 525-0202
WHEN: Saturday, November 27, 2004. 8 pm.
WHAT: Signing and Reading of Just A Geek
WHERE: Barnes & Noble Bookstore
7881 Edinger Avenue #110
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(714) 897-6201
WHEN: Tuesday, November 30, 2004. 7 – 8:30 pm.
WHAT: What’s My Line? Live On Stage
WHERE: Acme Comedy Theatre
135 N. La Brea
Hollywood, CA 90036
(323) 525-0202
WHEN: Wednesday, December 1, 2004. 8 pm.

So now you know, and knowing is half the battle.