I’ve: started doing a “Best of” post for the past few years, so here it is for: 2009. You can read the entirety of 53 weeks of posting in the pdf of Redefine-2009.
Best Monthly Focus – Improvise
My favorite monthly focus was back in July when I did something improv related every day of the month. It led to over 90 hours of improv, 23 shows seen, and 7 performances.: It was a blast.
Best Weekly Project – Solve a Rubik’s Cube
Ok, so maybe I’m a geek, but one of my favorite things from this year was learning to solve a Rubik’s Cube.: Why? Because it provides a mental challenge (and something I can do on conference calls at work), fills a childhood dream, and attracts the ladies… one of those might not be true.
Best Decision – Shoot from the Hip
It was a close call for the best decision of 2009; there was the AIN conference, the goal to improve my tastes, and of course having Chick Fil A for 3 times in one day.: But ultimately it was my decision to the do the Shoot from the Hip project that I think was the best.: Not only did I get a chance to learn more about film, play 2 major characters in a movie, and have an absolute blast, but I also decided to take Magnet Classes as a result where I’ve met some amazing people and really grown as an improviser.
Best Personal Development – Tasting More
I’ve had the same general tastes in food for my whole life.: The practice to try more foods and drinks has led to some interesting revelations, wider variety in food options, and a few gross faces.: Say what you want about my eating habits, but at least I’m trying, right?
Best Travel – Milwaukee
2009 was another year of fun travel.: I went to Cincinnati (no surprise), Philadelphia, DC, Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, Portland, and upstate New York.: Of all the trips, Milwaukee was my favorite as I was able to do non-stop improv at the ComedySportz tournament and meet some awesome, like-minded people.
Best Improv Show – BASH
I’ve seen a number of amazing shows this year, but the most impressive was definitely the one-man improvised musical starring Blaine Swen.: It was hilarious, heart-felt, and incredibly inspiring.
Best Improv Performance- Duo Show at The Creek
I was fortunate enough to perform a lot this past year.: Some shows went well, others not so much, but my favorite show I performed in this year was a duo show with Woodruff at The Creek.: I might have had funnier shows, but it was the most fun and showed I could rebound from one of my worst shows (which took place about an hour earlier).
Best Movie I Saw – Avatar
While it may not be the most original story, Avatar is a great example of original storytelling.: Fusing real life and CGI, the movie takes you to a new world that you feel apart of.: Definitely my favorite of 2009.
Best Book I Read – Story
I got through a number of good books this year (Outliers, In the Blink of an Eye, Sorrows of Young Werther to name a few), but my favorite was Story my Robert McKee.: It changed the way that I watch and understand movies and anything else with narrative structure.: It’s a fascinating perspective.
