So this November is turning out to be as wonderfully exciting as I had hoped. I wrote a blog post about it over at Hotel V, because I have been looking forward to November like a kid waiting for Christmas….one month early.
So much has been happening!
You see the thing about Amsterdam is that you have to participate to really reap the benefits. There is so much happening all of the time, but if you sit at home and never leave, then you miss it all. And really what’s the point then of living in a great city like this?
There is a long-standing joke with several friends of mine who are under the belief that I don’t ever leave my house, and don’t ever leave the street where I live. To be fair, I don’t call it The Mighty Mighty Overtoom for nothing (look ! Webcam!)- it is a fantastic street to live on and has everything that I could ever want in a street. But this joke started when I worked from home years ago. So I worked for 8 or 9 hours on the Overtoom, went to the gym on the Overtoom, and drank in my favorite bar (R.I.P. Tig Barra- gone but not forgotten!) on the Overtoom, walked my dogs on the Overtoom, and rested my head on the Overtoom.
But now I work across town, and tend to throw myself into the deep-end of what’s going down in Amsterdam. So much so that my home time is precious to me. More precious than gold and diamonds. I need that quiet home time to gather my strength, and I take it and cling to it whenever I can, which isn’t much lately! But sssshhh, don’t tell those friends! I wouldn’t want to spoil their joke!
So, for the announcements:
First-
If you want to see a handy guide of what’s going on in town each month, I write one up over at the Hotel V blog in the “See/Do” section. So if you’re missing my writing (you know you do) or want to know where to find me (you know you do!) then check there for both!
Then-
My good friend John from the blog John Does Amsterdam and I have started a blog together. This is something that we have had endless conversations about over the last half a year over endless lunches of bagels and soy lattes and endless mojito dates. And we finally got off of our bagel-loving-and-mojito-guzzling asses and set it up! So please head on over and check out The Colours of Amsterdam. Here you will find our special way of honoring this city where we live and love- through the medium of colour! Enjoy!
www.thecoloursofamsterdam.com
Next-
This Wednesday I have the absolute joy and honor of reading some passages from my teenage diary during a special evening session of DocLab called ‘Stories We Love to Forget’ during the International Documentary Film Festival that is in town right now. That’s right, my 14 year old awkward self is having her 15 minutes of fame! On stage! In the Tuschinski! Kill me now!
You might remember back in 2009 when a few passages of my teenage diary were published in the book Cringe. Well, here I go beating that dead horse again! (Not really- no horses will be harmed during my reading.)
Also reading, hosting, or telling their own stories that night are author Paulien Cornelisse (the brains behind this event and this monthly event), comedien Micha Wertheim, and comedy actor Kevin Allison. Oh, and in case you were wondering, I’m the one credited as “someone reading an excerpt from their adolescent diary.” (Mother, I’ve made it! I’m “someone”! It says so in the description!)
These are like…real people, real funny people. I’m nearly afraid that they are going to find out that I’m just an angsty, hormonal 14-year-old stuck in a 31-year-old’s body, reading from my diary, and try and keep me from getting on stage. (Sshh don’t tell them until it’s too late! I won’t go down without a fight!)
What really tickles me, however, is that Kevin Allison, for those who don’t know, used to be in The State, that somewhat short-lived comedy show that was on MTV back in 1994/1995. The irony of all of this, is that me and all of my friends (like all other suburban American adolescents at the time) were quoting that show constantly during 1994 and 1995. And the diary that I am reading from just so happens to also be from 1994/1995. And now here, some 17 years later, one of the actors and I will be sharing the stage! Isn’t that a completely rad coincidence?
Maybe not for Kevin Allison, I’m sure he doesn’t give a damn, but holy shit man, my head is spinning over this!
Anyway, a few of my friends will be there to support me (laughing WITH me of course, NOT AT ME) and if it weren’t for them I don’t think I could do this. I’ve never been on a stage or read to a large audience before, EVER.
Anyway, if you are in Amsterdam and want to join us, please feel free! More info here on tickets and whatnot. Just remember- it’s okay to laugh. My therapy has gotten me through the worst of it!
OK that was it for the announcements, but I will be back after Wednesday to let you know how it went!