The rest of my (and yours too, I presume) summer happened since the last time I typed words into this rectangle and pressed "Publish Post", and it was 90% glorious and wonderful. 10% everything else that isn't those two things. Highlights include;
1. Comic Con. Comic Con was epic on every level. I spent a week in San Diego with one of my best friends, without my parents (not that I would have had a problem with my parents presence, I've just never taken a trip without them that wasn't school sponsored and therefore, chaperoned (not that I did anything that would have warranted me slipping away from a chaperone, it was just nice to feel so independent, you know?)). A. I just used a double parentheses, is that what that's called? B. How does one punctuate a double parentheses? (I should probably know these things if I'm thinking of majoring in English).
I felt independent, you get it. I got my own plane ticket and stayed in a hostel and navigated a bus system in a different city. Shout out to San Diego bus system, btdubs, it was really nice and easy to use.
Back to Comic Con though. If you're not familiar with Comic Con, you should really check it out. It's this four day convention that happens every july in San Diego where a lot of people get together in the ginormously massive convention center and appreciate/geek out/have a blast about comics, tv shows, movies, video games, etc. I feel like at it's inception (speaking of Inception, greatest movie ever, right?!) it was MUCH more about the comic books than it is now, and for some people it's probably still that way, but it's very pop culture-y. Which I am really okay with. I might feel differently if I had been going there for 40 years but, this year was my first.
The main events that I was interested in were the movie/tv show panels (because who doesn't want to see movie stars? And because my newest aspiration is to write for television). I went to a bunch of panels and saw a bunch of famous people, which was very exciting and if you'd like me to list them for you, I can (I have a list saved as a draft of a text message on my phone for just such occasions, because I am that awesome.) but, I don't think it's necessary to recount all that right now.
One of the greatest panels I saw though was Joss Whedon and J. J. Abrams. (!) So brilliant. These men are responsible for some of the greatest television to ever happen. I don't know if I mentioned anything about Lost ever... The conversation was wonderful and inspiring. I know some people are very skeptical of television and it's legitimacy as an art form, granted some television is terrible, but, sometimes it's magic. I think it's just that I've always loved being told a good story, no matter what the medium. So the long and short of it is, the conversation was riveting, thus I want to write for television. Or write at all for anyone, even if it's just me.
I also went to the San Diego Zoo, wondered around downtown San Diego, wondered what the hell a "Tracy Morgan's Imagination Salad" could be, met people from Canada, Austrailia, Germany, and Holland, saw David Wain (if you don't know who he is, look him up for real.), met Daniel Dae Kim, saw Inception, discovered a crazy semi outdoor mall (what do they do when it rains?), discovered pinkberry (greatest fro yo I've ever had), and basically had a wonderful week with my buddy.
That was a pretty loaded number one.
2. This didn't really happen this summer but, it's noteworthy and ongoing. I started an improv class two weeks ago and I absolutely love it. My friend and former french teacher posted some info and a link (and I am a sucker for links) about an improv 101 class on her blog. So, I thought to myself, "Tianna, haven't you been thinking that it would be a good idea to try something new? And maybe this is exactly what you're looking for." And it was. So, thank you very much madame for being so enthusiastic about improv and sending this opportunity my way.
I started two weeks ago and I was really nervous and really excited. There was no need to have been nervous, everyone was so nice and supportive. The class itself is filled with all these exercises that help you to push away your insecurities and inhibitions and just say or do whatever feels right. It's brilliant. I can't exactly say I've been a person who has let life pass them by, (especially not at only 19), but I can say that there have been things, certain instances where I thought about doing something and I didn't. The cons outweighed the pros in my mind, and I look back and am unhappy that I didn't try. I don't want to feel that way and improv is helping. This whole year I think I've changed a lot, come out of my shell, gained a bit of confidence, and tried new things and I want to continue.
Improv allows you to be whoever you want, say whatever you think, and be supported all the way through. Which in real life translates to not being afraid/apprehensive/worried about taking a chance, or over thinking it until the moment's passed you by, and just doing it. I love that.
This is not to say that now I think I should act on every whim or that everything that comes into my mind should come out of my mouth (although, I think, 70% of it already does, (un)fortunately?), but it's a good feeling, to be up for it.
These were only two things and one of them didn't even happen this summer, but I'm tired and I should probably get some sleep. Maybe, I'll leave you with a fun fact to make up for not recounting more of the past 3 months of my life. And when I say maybe, I mean, I have every intention of doing just that; Did you know that a group of parrots is called a pandemonium? And a group of ravens is an unkindness or a storytelling? AND my personal favorite, a smack of jelly fish.
ps I will write more here. It's a promise.
pps Here's more animal group names, I know, you're welcome.
