Chicago

So, we're rehearsing for our trek up to Chicago and our performance at SNUBFEST Friday, Jan. 21. It's going to be fun, after the vaguely odd disconnection with nearly 200 people in a huge theater on New Year's Eve in Austin, to get up-close and personal with around 60 comedy fans in a tiny venue in the Windy City.

We're excited about seeing other groups perform and making new friends. Some of us have family up there and we're all thrilled about seeing our old friends from the Chicago group.

It should be a great, gusting whirlwind of a trip and a source of renewal for GRA. And when I say that, I mean I'm going to pass time on the flight up there by renewing a bunch of magazine subscriptions.

I chatted with a reporter from the Chicago Tribune several times this week. The last time, he wanted to know (for a sidebar to an article on the festival that's running either Sunday, Jan. 16, Thursday, Jan. 20 or Friday, Jan. 21) what festival we were snubbed from last year and why. I told him we were most disappointed to be snubbed fom WaffleFest '04, the annual Austin improv (and some sketch) festival where they have comedy and all you can eat waffles. I gave him three reasons we were snubbed, and told him he could pick his favorite:

1. That embarrasing "syrup incident" at WaffleFest '03
2. Organizers found out we were slated to perform at competing "Pigs-in-a-Blanket Fest."
3. They discovered we thought the festival was a rally for John Kerry.

Let's see which one they print. :-)

See you in Chitown!