Performing in California for the first time!

When I first started doing stand-up, I made a goal to get paying gigs in all 50 states. Consider California officially crossed off the list. This past weekend, I performed at Pechanga Casino in Temecula, California. The property was absolutely gorgeous, and the crowds were on fire! Even though I was horrendously sick with a nasty sinus infection (the worst one I've ever had in my life, actually), I still had an awesome time.

On Friday, I lost my voice from said sinus infection. Luckily, the crowd was super understanding and forgiving, and they even gave me an applause break when I thanked them for listening to someone who sounded like a chain-smoking Marge Simpson for thirty minutes.

I figured that the warm weather would help my immune system (and also dry up some of the junk in my nose). So, on Saturday, I decided to park it by the pool and listen to podcasts (I'm currently obsessed with Up and Vanished). 

P.S. This is what happens when you're from Michigan, and you think mid-60's is pool weather: you get the place to yourself.

Silly me ended up falling asleep at the pool and getting a wicked sunburn.

So, between my bright-red skin and snotty nose, I was a hot mess.

Doing my best impression of a lobster.

Luckily, my voice came back a little bit by Saturday's show. Phew.

After the show, I treated myself to vegan sushi in my hotel room.

Also on the food front, on my way back to the airport, I had to stop at Veggie Grill (this is a requirement if I'm within 200 miles of one - the food is that good!). I pretty much always get the same thing (vegan mac and cheese and Caesar salad), but this time I added mashed potatoes and gravy to the mix.

I took a red-eye flight back home, but my rental car was due at noon. So, I sat my butt in the Virgin Lounge at LAX, took advantage of all the free food and drinks, and generally felt like a VIP. Well, a VIP who probably alienated all the other passengers by coughing and hacking up phlegm near them. Hey, at least I got a row of seats to myself. Plus, I got to watch the planes take off, which was quite interesting.

My flight home was long and turbulence-filled, and I was so very happy to get home to my own bed. Other than being sick and losing my voice on stage, I had a blast of a weekend!