After returning from Jamaica, a lot of things deteriorated, especially the writing of the journal. I did write on very rare occasion, but nothing that could cohesively tell the story of what was happening, improv-wise, with me. Kissing George stuck around for a few more months, changing the name to Dirty Sweet when George quit and adding Ken Anderson and Mark to the regular cast. We worked with Rob Mello as a coach for a while, but the team wasn't strong enough to last the long haul. It was a disjointed ending to a good experience. It was also the ending of my role as an improv performer. My predictions about taking on more behind the scenes came true. The Director's Series, and productions in general, have been my main focus at the Playground. In August of 2000, the revival of Jason Chin's "Dinner for Six" opened and critical acclaim closely followed. I've produced three additional shows to date through the Series, including Rob Mello's "Drive, Andy Eninger's "Sybilization", and Peter Gwinn's "Faces in the Crowd". I now work as a member of the Playground's Executive Committee, heading up productions. I quit my crap-ass job at Northwestern University and now work for Playboy Enterprises (yes, that Playboy) as an internet researcher. I love my new job more than words can express. WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY FIRST YEAR OF IMPROV 1. You will meet and perform with a lot of people in the course of your improv career, some by choice and others by design. They are not all on the same path as you. 2. Improv is a hobby to most people that do it, not a career. 3. A training center is a place to learn and gain experience from, but it should be a transitory place for performers. Don't get stuck there... just ask Miles. 4. The best opportunities are those you make yourself, and that doesn't just extend to forming new improv teams. 5. The improv community of Chicago can be very supportive and friendly. It can also be really mean-spirited and filled with cliques. It's kind of like being in high school again. 6. Bitching about things and getting angry solve nothing except making the people around you think you're an asshole. Being bitter is not flattering. 7. Improv should be fun. Improv isn't always fun, however. 8. Don't talk about doing something. Do it. 9. Immersing yourself in improv 24/7 will not make you a good improviser. Having life experiences and interests outside of improv will help you be a better improviser (and a more interesting person). 10. Writing a journal was an excellent tool to learn and remember my experiences. And that's all I have to say about that.