Willard.

So after three bouts of renewing and diligent laziness, I am finally 1/4 of the way through the book I've been reading. Luckily, I have two 2-hour long bus rides planned this weekend when I venture to Philly to visit Lisa, my friend of 19 years and 8 months (and 10 hours and 3 seconds). Hopefully I will finish the book, or get some reading done, or draw a cartoon and put on makeup--which is what I accomplished last time I took the bus to Philly.

As I figured it would, the book is having a strong effect on me. Okay, maybe not strong, because I read about 2 pages every 2 weeks. Compelling book. No really, it's a great book of interviews describing the history of The Second City. Recently though, it's been getting really good . . . I'm in the 70s now and Bill Murray just signed on. They've also started telling stories of a former player, Betty Thomas. You may or may not know her. Anyway, here's a little bit of a story about the kind of woman she was, which I absolutely adore. I just cannot wait until the part when Gilda Radner and Catherine O'Hara join. These are some of the women who have always inspired me over the years and keep my belief in comedy as a high art form strong and alive.

Here's what they had to say about Betty:

Excerpt from The Second City Unscripted by Mike Thomas:

Jim Staahl

I remember we were doing some stupid-ass thing backstage, and people were arguing, and David Rasche was disagreeing with Betty [Thomas] about something. And Betty stands there and goes, "All right, I'm done with you. You think you're such hot shit. Okay, whip it out. Show me your dick." And then we're all looking around like, "Holy crap!" And I swear to God, Rasche unzips his pants, holds out his dick, and she's like, "You call that a dick?"

David Rasche

I would do that today.

Mert Rich

When you were a new guy, you had to show her your dick. Betty said it had to be done. "Come on. Show me your dick."

I laughed out loud when I read that. Sigh. I wish my typical day was creating shit at an improv theatre instead of doing whatever the hell I do at this 9-5.

Sorry--I'll try to end on a more positive note. Pirates! Churros! Baby donkeys! UNT