Fall in Michigan

Last weekend, this guy came to visit!

I told him about the awesome vegan wraps my law school's coffee shop serves, so he flew up to check them out for himself.  How fitting that he wore a shirt with the words "East Lansing" on it.  He likes to wear the name of the place he visits.  Exhibit B.

Norway in Norway.

Perhaps I should give him a shirt that says Australia as a hint for him to go there with me.

Since Drew now lives in Texas (he's getting his PhD at Rice University), he really misses Michigan falls.  So we decided to do "fall-ish" things.  This included eating foods with pumpkin in them and going to the cider mill.  Maybe we should have jumped in some leaves and frozen our butts off while we were at it?  Those two things always remind me of fall in Michigan.

Our trip to the cider mill was fantastic!  Not only did we discover that the apple pie-type thing they sold was vegan, but the owners let us walk around the orchard for as long as we wanted.

When we returned home from the cider mill, we stuffed ourselves with comfort foods (and wine!).  Gluttony is "fall-ish" too, right?  That's sweet potato/lentil/rosemary loaf with mashed potatoes and green beans.

P.S. You're damn right I class up my kitchen table with $1.50 Glade scented candles.

And for dessert?  The aforementioned apple pie-type thing, which was HEAVENLY!

On Friday and Saturday, I worked at the Holly Hotel in Holly, Michigan.  Two of the shows were sold-out!  I opened for Dan DeCapua, and I was so excited to see him since it had been years since we worked together.  Drew and I also enjoyed some killer Long Island Iced Teas there.  My only complaint?  Drinks larger than my face aren't nearly big enough. 

World Farm Animals Day

Imagine living your entire life in a cage so small you couldn’t lift your arms, or turn around. That is just one part of the Hell that is life for approximately 65 billion animals killed to produce meat, eggs, and dairy. Most of these animals are raised on factory farms, where they are confined in small cages or jam-packed sheds, mutilated, and raised to grow so large, so quickly, that many of their limbs are crushed under the weight of their bodies.  When they have finally grown large enough, animals raised for food are crowded onto trucks and transported over many miles through all weather extremes, typically without food or water, to the slaughterhouse. Those who survive this nightmarish journey will have their throats slit, often while they are still fully conscious.

This year, on October 2nd, World Farm Animals Day seeks to expose this needless suffering.  Held annually since 1983, the day celebrates the lives, exposes the abuses, and mourns the slaughter of billions of sentient animals raised for food.  

Not only does factory farming hurt animals, but it is also harmful to human health.  A study of more than 120,000 people by the Harvard School of Public Health confirmed once again that meat consumption raises the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Further, Director General of the World Health Organization Margaret Chan, warned that routine use of antibiotics to promote animal growth in factory farms is causing “the end of modern medicine.”

Additionally, factory farming causes devastating environmental consequences.  Many leading environmental organizations, including the National Audubon Society, the Worldwatch Institute, the Sierra Club, and the Union of Concerned Scientists have recognized that raising animals for food damages the environment more than nearly anything else that we do. Whether it's the overuse of resources, global warming, massive water or air pollution, or soil erosion, raising animals for food is wreaking havoc on the Earth.

Luckily, there is an easy solution: adopting a vegan diet.  Whether you go vegan for animals, your health, or the environment, you have the power to change the world, simply by changing what's on your plate.  World Farm Animals Day is an excellent day to try new vegan recipes and start reducing your consumption of animal products.

When you add up the damage that the meat industry does to the environment, animals and human health, the question isn't really "Why should I go vegan?"—it's "Why wouldn't I go vegan?"

  
Regular entries about running and drinking will now resume.

Raising funds and having fun and trying to think of clever blog titles

This week was mega-busy, but very fun!  In addition to studying and playing Candy Crush for 16 hours, I did a bunch of shows and participated in the Walk for Farm Animals (I also found time to eat copious amounts of Taco Bell as well).

On Wednesday, I worked with Norm Stulz at a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club.  I absolutely love Norm!  Not only is his energy fantastic, but he has stage presence that would make any theater major jealous. 

After our show, we had some fun in the photobooth. The prompts:
1. You just got booked in Vegas! 
2. Turns out it's a one-nighter in a bowling alley. 
3. Where some really creepy weirdo hits on you. 
4. Oh well, at least you won fifteen bucks on the penny slots.

On Friday and Saturday, I worked at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase.  I really can't say enough about how awesome this place is!  This is the club where I started, and the place I spent most weekends of my twenties.  They're moving locations, and while I'm sad that I'll no longer worker at the old one again, I'm excited to see what the future holds in an even bigger, better venue.

On Sunday, I headed up to Grand Rapids to participate in the Walk for Farm Animals.  Not only did I get to see this adorable pig, but I also joined nearly 100 other activists to raise money for Farm Sanctuary.  If you haven't heard of Farm Sanctuary before, pop on over to their website (and while you're there, if you want to buy me a logo hoodie, I certainly wouldn't mind).  Their work is nothing short of incredible!

The walk took place during Art Prize, so we took full advantage of the captive audience and leafleted our little hearts out.  Overall, the walk was pretty easy (especially when compared to my half marathon the week before), and we managed to beat the rain  And best part?  We only got heckled once.  Way to not be rude (at least for the most part), western Michigan!

Telling jokes, raising money, and running like the wind (or a very slow breeze)

This weekend was definitely a special one.  Not only did I get to perform with some fantastic women on a benefit show, but I also completed my second half marathon!

On Saturday, I did a show to raise money for the Michigan Animal Adoption Network. It was the first time I got to try out my animal attorney jokes, and they went over really well!  Not sure when I'll ever bust them out again, but it was good to get them out.   I performed with some awesome women: Leslie Ann Thompson, MaryAnn DeMoss and Laura Witkowski.  And, as an added bonus, my good friends Angie and Kellie stopped by the show. 

Us collecting money (i.e. the best part):

After the show, I drove back home and got a few hours of sleep before heading out to do the Capital City River Run Half Marathon.  When I signed up for the race, I made a concrete training plan that supposedly would make running 13.1 miles feel as easy as crossing the street.  Too bad being a full-time law student got in the way.

Not only did I not stick to my training plan, but I only ran once a week for the past month or so, and none of those runs was over 4 miles. 

So, on Sunday, I decided to pack my bus pass along with my gels and Swedish fish.  I figured I would run until I got tired and then take the bus home. I mean, it wasn't like I was going to win the thing, so they not just have fun and enjoy the free t-shirt?

Speaking of which, here she is:

I started off with the twelve minute mile group and felt pretty good for the first couple of miles.  Then, I had to pee.  Bad.  So I left the group and waited in the line at the port-a-potty. I made a feeble attempt at catching up with my group, but to no avail.

So I decided to run my own race.  I'd walk when I needed to, take in the scenery (the course was along the river) and blast New Kids on the Block through my headphones (per usual).

To my surprise, I felt great until mile nine.  After that, I hit the wall runners always speak of, and by mile ten, I was ready for the race to be over.  But, by that point, I figured I might as well finish.  What's another three, if I had already made it ten?  Plus, my bus pass was so covered in sweat that I'd be too embarrassed to use it.

My legs and stomach cramped pretty bad, but somehow, I pushed through. When I spotted the finish line, I could not stop smiling (that and because I was listening to New Kids).

That's one of the things I love about running: it makes you push yourself to places you never thought you'd be able to go.  And when you finally reach them, the feeling is overwhelming!

After crossing the finish line, I practically limped to my car, treated myself to some Taco Bell and a nap (not at the same time) and studied the rest of the night.

As much as running 13.1 miles hurts, it's still a lot more fun than homework.

And now, onto the pictures:

I'm blaming my slow time on stopping to pose for pictures like this along the course:

Full Circle and Ann Arbor working the streets

 I took a break from cursing doing homework to head down to Laugh Comedy Club in Mishawaka, Indiana this weekend.  I performed on an all-women's show that featured several hilarious ladies!  Not only were they super funny, but they were all incredibly nice. It's rare to work with fellow estrogen-producers, so whenever I do, it's a real treat.  Plus, the staff was really nice and awesome!

Other than the residents all seeming to hate Ann Arbor (more on that below), I totally fell in love with Mishawaka.

On Saturday, I even got to make friends with the law.  And by the law, I mean a male stripper.

I'm pretty glad none of the cops I've been pulled over by do this. 

After our shows, we headed over to watch Full Circle play at the bar across the street.  If you haven't seen them before, and you live anywhere near Northern Indiana, check them out!  I first met them when we shared the stage back in June.  I was totally impressed then, and I was so excited to see them again.

Before they took the stage, the bar broadcast the Michigan/Notre Dame football game.  Such hostility!  Yowsa!

In fairness, they do take football very seriously:

 

And now I'm home and back to cursing doing homework.

First week of law school!

So...I survived my first week of law school!  And guess what!  I actually really enjoyed myself.  I was definitely quite nervous, as evidenced by my face on the first day.

But, everyone was super nice! My professor was engaging and informative, and I quickly felt at ease.

It was a busy week and my new schedule is going to take a lot of getting used to, especially since my old schedule went something like this:

9 am - wake-up, head down to continental breakfast before it closes (note: I did not mention 'get dressed' as putting on pants that aren't pajamas doesn't really happen until after noon)

9:05 am - go back to sleep

11 am - wake up (for real, this time), waste time on Facebook and blogs

2 pm - make lunch

3 pm - think about running, try really hard to run, give self a pep talk and (on some days) actually run

5 pm - shower and get ready for show

7 pm - tell jokes to random strangers, attempt to sell merch and drink free beer

midnight - stumble back to hotel room, watch free cable

Rinse.  Repeat.

So yeah, this whole, being at school for nearly 12 hours and then having homework on top of that is definitely going to be an adjustment.  Luckily, much like some of the hotels I stay in, they have free breakfast on some days.

Sadly, I don't think my law school considers pajama pants to be appropriate dress.

So instead, I wore this:

Sugar and Slingblade

Sadly, I didn't take any pictures in South Dakota.  I think my motivation had something to do with being terribly sleep-deprived and not wanting my under-eye bags to be recorded.

I worked at Rookie's Comedy Club in Sioux Falls with the hilarious Vince Morris, and we had a lot of fun closing the bar down two out of the three nights we were there.  What can I say? I'm a sucker for good conversation and free popcorn.

I also took part in/overhead the following conversations:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Setting: Rookie's Comedy Club, after Friday's late show.

Audience member: C'mon, you guys gotta hang out after the show.

Vince and me: We're pretty tired, so we're probably going to leave.

Audience member: But, it's 50 cent nelly night!  You can't leave!

Vince and me: What is a nelly?  Some sort of shot?

Audience member: (repeats "but, it's 50 cent nelly night" nearly ten times before finally concluding) You know, the rappers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Setting: Rookie's Comedy Club, after Saturday's early show.

Audience member 1: Do you know what ever happened to Amanda from high school?

Audience member 2: Oh, she got knocked up by a carnie and now she works at McDonald's

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Setting: At my hotel, afternoon.

Random, strange, rednecky-looking man who spoke with a Slingblade-style accent: (after looking me up and down for easily a minute upon noticing my PETA t-shirt) You with PETA?

Me: I used to be, yes. Now I just volunteer for them.

Random, strange, rednecky-looking man who spoke with a Slingblade-style accent: (with utter disgust and an eye-roll) Oh.

Cut to awkward silence as we rode the elevator together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Setting: Taco Bell drive-thru line.

Taco Bell employee: I assume you want the verde sauce?

Me: I've actually never had it, but sure, I'll try it.

Taco Bell employee: Well, it's our green sauce and it's healthy. 

Me: I see.

Taco Bell employee: (as he hands me an order of cinnamon twists and jumbo-sized Pepsi) I just assumed since you ordered a veggie burrito, you must be really healthy.

Ah, yes, sugar - the fifth food group.

My drive back home was long, but uneventful.  I got home around midnight and hopped right into bed so I could be well-rested for my first day of law school.

Cue excitement and terror.