I get it. We’re well into 2020 by now, and I should have done this earlier in the year, but I’m not giving up on me, and the end of 2019 was rough, so just let me do me, OK? OK.

I’ve found tremendous joy in 2016, 2017 & 2018 writing my Year-in-Reviews and I don’t want to miss the boat. And hell, why not feel like it’s January again and not like 2020 is taking off like a rocket into the future and we have no control over it. That reminds me, my Lighthouse Word this year? NOW.

NOW…

In 2019 I…

• had a continued run of successful Guess Who’s Coming to Improv? shows with amazingly talented special guest improvisers at Comedy Bar, allowing more opportunities for improvisers to share the stage with the improvisers to whom they look up.
• Completed the Harold Studio Series at Bad Dog Theatre.
• Released 7 new episodes of The Constant Struggle Podcast with my brother Nick.
• Performed many fun sets as Semper Pie with my wonderful improv partner Alicia Douglas, including a few rounds at the World’s Biggest Improv Tournament and on the Stupid Good Comedy Show.
• Continued writing and performing sketches in The Utilidors with my sketch partner Dave Lahti.
• Continued seeing a counsellor to help manage my anxiety.
• Had a super successful monthly run of Improv Fallout with Improv Niagara at Mahtay Café in St. Catharines.
• Was invited to be a guest judge at the Brock Improv Summit.
• Got a fun Valentine’s Day make-over on the Marilyn Dennis show with Dan.

• Continued run of successful POPAGANDA shows at the John Candy Box Theatre with the amazing faculty members of the Second City Training Centre & other awesome local improvisers.
• Taught my first (couple) Level C class(es) at SCTC.
• Was asked to be the special guest in a few improv shows.
• Improv Fallout celebrated its first birthday with a sold out performance, fun prizes and a special toast.
• Changed my phone number. (Real-talk: I never liked the 647 one)
• Survived another year around the sun.
• Got to reconnect with an old pal & former roomie who lives far far away now.
• Got back into stand-up comedy, performed all around Toronto & Niagara.
• Opened an improv studio for Improv Niagara. Promptly closed it after 6 months because of its drain on resources.

• Was asked to guest on a few podcasts.
• Got a callback at Generals!
• We released the series of informational videos about recycling for the Niagara Region.

• Performed narrative longform for the first time with Improv Niagara in St. Catharines’ In the Soil Festival.
• Played another season in the Toronto Comedy Softball League. The Jokebox, my team, took home the championship again, although I missed the finals. 😢
• Performed in the Toronto Fringe Festival for the first time with the awesome KidsFringe show: BOY VS FLY

• Ran a few improv & mental health workshops for women with Fantastic Funny Folks (Candace Meeks & Alicia Douglas.)
• Survived a Twitter ban.
• Had a blast hosting a fundraiser show for my buddy Dan Rosen.
• Survived my car trying to kill me on College St. Subsequently got a new-to-me car.
• More auditions this year than ever before. (Thanks Samm!)
• Went camping for the first time in a long time with Dan under the craziest, brightest Full Moon.
• Booked my first commercial!

• Taught stand-up at Second City for the first time.
• Met the Mayor of St. Catharines at a flag raising ceremony for Culture Days, in which Improv Niagara participated for our 2nd year in a row.
• Took a really cool photo I hope to be able to share with you one of these days.
• Made it to our 3rd wedding anniversary with my love, Dan.
• Took an improv workshop with the former Artistic Director of the UCB, Shannon O’Neill.
• Made it to Tribal Council in Outlaugh Toronto.
• Celebrated Guess Who’s Coming to Improv’s 5th anniversary! Brought the show down to Niagara for the first time.
• Performed with a new improv duo partner, Andrew Lizotte, in a fun project entitled High Status Idiots.
• Voted in another Federal Election. (My guy didn’t win.)
• Sold a friggin’ house & moved into a new home.
• Raised 150lbs of food for needy people in our community in Niagara.
• Nous avons dit adieu à ma très chère grand-mère, qui nous a quitté à l’âge de 99 ans.

So probably the end of the year is why it took me so long to write this year-end post. I realize that now. However writing it now feels very good, very cleansing. My grand-mother was full of joie-de-vivre and a very funny woman. I’m certain she would want me to continue doing a similar path.

Que la santé, l’amour et la réussite vous accompagnent dans tous vos projets. Bonne année!