Improv of Chicago Round 2: A Mildly Sappy Post

A year ago today at 12:00pm I called my friend up asking if he wanted to come up north with me to see some comedy show that another friend had invited us to. I didn’t really want to go up there by myself and since we both had nothing better to do, he agreed.
 

A year ago today at 5:15pm I picked him up and we got a ride from my mom to the end of the red line. It was dark already and he asked me more than once why we were going so early, that it wasn’t going to take that long to get up north. I responded with something akin to “shut up, I do what I want…..plus I don’t want to be late.” We put money on his CTA card (boy do I miss you CTA) and got on the train.
 

 A year ago today at 7:15 when we got off the train at Belmont (after a long exaggerated “I told you so” from the idiot standing next to me), we decided to kill some time by stopping at the Walgreens to fulfill our end of the BYOB.

 You know the story of our first show with, what we now call, the Boys but what you don’t know is that it was the breath of fresh air (or as my father likes to say, the new 'one thing that you have to do every week'.) that the #trainwrecks seriously needed. We were in a rut. To be honest, we were in lots of ruts. A social rut for sure, where we were almost exclusively socializing with each other and in #Trainwreck HQ. We were both also, although individually, in a work rut. I was in a job that I had fallen into a few years before but lately with my hours being cut in half (and all of the crazy), the bads were starting to outweigh the goods. And Katie will be the first to admit that while she liked her day job, it wasn't what she had gone to school for and she was severely lacking a creative outlet. 
 

After we met the Boys, everything started to sort of fall into place. She got to talk up being a stage manager to people who actually needed one (and ended up being James Franco) and I fell down a flight of stairs and quit my job (and although the Boys had nothing to do with it, it was wonderful to quit in January knowing I was going to go laugh (and, yes, drink) about my mildly insane former employer the next day).
 

 I've now got a lovely day job that I truly enjoy almost every day. And again, while the Boys had nothing to do with that either it's just really great to have a place to celebrate in (and people to bake for, who actually eat anything I make.) Katie ended up stage managing for them and leaving me to drink by myself throughout the show, where are you #trainwrecks? Come keep me company. She also ended up at Second City, The Public House Theatre and some other places all because these guys gave her a shot.

We've also got, what I'm pretty sure every 23 year old wants in life, a bar where everyone knows our names. Seriously. And it's a silly tiki-bar at that. But you know what world? It's our silly tiki-bar. And I wouldn't trade it for the world.
 

So at this point, we would just like to thank these Boys, even though they will deny it all, they deserve it because they got us out of our rut and to this point in our lives. We owe them more than they know and that they'll admit, and the least anyone can do is stop by, give them $7 and become a potential friend.
 

I don't really have anything else to say other than, if you have no idea what i'm talking about come by Studio Be (3110 N Sheffield) on a Tuesday night around 8pm (doors open at 7:45), bring your $7 and your B (as in BYOB) and stay for the funny jokes, and a free beer at the bar down the street.

 

 

You can find them on Facebook, and on Twitter

 

And make sure to follow your favorite #trainwrecks (that's still us, right?) on all versions of social media.

Twitter: Andimatrainwrec (Katie), npalmerco08 (Nora)
Tumblr: Aaanndimatrainweck (official),  kahildreth (Katie), stillnuttypony (Nora)

 

 And yes we did just re-read that and said, "Who let's us talk to people!"   

Children of the Revolution

What can I say, I was having a Moulin Rouge moment as I was simultaneously thinking of a title... But that's not (unfortunately) what I'm here to talk about. Maybe next time. Regardless, i'm definitely ready to start a revolution. But first some background...

Let's Get Down to Business...

...no, not to defeat the Huns. That just happened to be in my head at the time. In all seriousness, #Trainwrecks, it's time for a little bit of Real Talk. For a few years (Two for me and four for Katie) #Trainwreck HQ was actually in the city of Boston & on Monday, I could have had 1000 people come up to talk to me, and I wouldn't have noticed. Instead, I was glued to Twitter, and Facebook where my friends were all checking in with one another.  Boston was home, and I really fell in love with that tiny, adorable city....lack of grid system and everything. : ) Which is why, when I heard this on the radio I just had to share it with all of you.

This is the National Anthem being sung at a Bruins/Sabres game at the Garden, this is also the first major event since Monday so just watch what happens.

Now, the video quality isn't the best, (go on HuffPost if you want the 'official' video) but even if you close your eyes and just listen, you can hear 17,000 people (and fans of two Hockey teams who were about to play against each other) coming together in a way that was just so pure and heartfelt  I definitely felt it, and I hope you do too.

My last note is just to say once more how much I love that city, my home away from home. I know deep in my soul that you'll stick together through all of this and come out wiser and (if possible) stronger than before.

Hey guy's, Katie here now. Nora pretty much said everything I wanted to say. Boston is my other home. I don't like to say second because I love it there as much as I love it in Chicago. It is the place that gave me a wonderful and weird family that I will have in my life forever. I truly do not know what my life would be without that place and those people. Boston made me a stronger and better person and I know that they will come out of this stronger and better than before. I want to tell all those miles away that I miss you dearly, and love you all, and that I am always in Boston in spirit.

Also, to all you readers out there, April 19th is "Wear 'Boston' Day." Someone, who I do not know, created an event on facebook and invited as many people as possible. Right now more than 75,000 people are said to be participating. Feel free to RSVP here. The event is basically saying to wear anything that says, "Boston" or that reminds you of Boston to show your support. It is just a small way to show unity and, as Patton Oswald put so nicely, "The good outnumber you, and we always will.”

As for us, We'll just be sitting 1,000 miles away trying to be Boston Strong <3