ON MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

The improv troupe I am a part of took second in the first-ever "Best of New England" tournament at the Providence Improv Festival! We're very excited, seeing as how we've existed as "SkyPunch" for about two months, and put on one of our best performances in recent memory in the semifinals.

That having been said, I am a leetle disappointed that we didn't perform better in the finals. I woke up early this morning and couldn't fall back asleep, wishing I had performed better; not that I did terribly, but I wish I had been funnier, or a better actor, or more handsome. Anything that would have helped us win. I realize there is nothing that could be done, and that, from a personal point of view, four shows in 25 hours took more out of me than I thought it would.

It's been said that golf is a game of "almosts." If a golfer gets a birdie, he (or she) will forever think about how they "almost" got an eagle. That's how I feel about last night. I'm glad we got into the finals; heck, we were all elated to make it to the semifinals, and over the moon to make the finals. But to get that close, and then not perform as well as we could...that's what bothers me. It's an "almost" - we left the eagle putt a foot short.

It's still nice to have a birdie, though.

Also a benefit - we met a LOT of people who are also into the improv scene in New England. Some really talented, funny, great people. So to get second out of a group of 24 talented groups - maybe it's not as bad as I thought it was this morning.