I am victorious

A few days before I had to leave on my grand adventure with Second City on Norwegian Cruise Line, I got an email from the Ministry of Government Services asking for some more information about my complaint against Premeire Fitness. I couldn't supply them with the contract I signed, but offered to fax all my other back up. And then completely forgot.

To my amazement, I got a call from someone at Premiere this week - they left a message saying I could come and pick up...


wait for it...



MY REFUND CHEQUE!!


I did it! I beat 'em!

Now I just have to get them to mail it to my home address. Crazy ass bitches.

Packing... packing... packing...

http://highseahilarity.blogspot.com/

That's my new blog - where I'll be posting musings about life at sea.

My sister, mother and myself spent the long weekend in New York City, shopping up a storm. I found a great dress that I will use for the shows, but am having a harder time with shoes. I hate shopping for shoes. I have one foot that's exactly half a size larger than the other, so there's always a problem. I want something classic and simple, but not clompy or dowdy. I'm actually considering a pair of ballroom dance shoes. They look comfortable, sturdy, quiet, easy to move in, and some of them are really nice looking. There's something about a flexible sole that I like.

We went to the opera and also caught a Broadway show (25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee - very funny!), ate some cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery (the cupcakes at The Cupcake Shoppe in Toronto are better!), my sister and I got manicures, and did a bus tour around the city. Very full agenda.

Now I'm shifting belongings from one suitcase to another, trading sweaters for tank tops. Hoping that I remember everything, wondering if I really should bring some scrapbooking supplies (I'm really tempted, I'll have a lot of time on my hands...). Trying to keep the balance of 'excited' and 'sad' working in my favour.

More packing. More laundry. Dinner with Greg. To bed early, and to the airport by 6am. What a weird turn of events.

Crazy, scary, exciting

So it looks like I'm facing another summer without the use of my poor, beloved Vespa. But this time it isn't due to an epic struggle between good and douchery. No, this time the motivation is a positive one.

As you may or may not know, Second City has been providing entertainment in the form of a "Best Of" revue for several of the Norwegian Cruise Line ships.

As you may or may not also know, I have been a member of Second City Touring Company here in Toronto. Twice. That's right. I've been hired and fired by them two times. I have always said I wanted to go for the hat trick.

Ladies and gentlemen. That time is now.

Starting May 28th, and for two (possibly four) months, I will be a member of Second City Boat Co, providing HI-larity to the HI-gh seas.

It is not an opportunity that I pursued, or thought I would even take "if it were ever offered to me". I didn't think I'd be so crazy as to quit a respectably paying job with full benefits for nothing more than the guarantee of four months of work as an actor, and all the food I can eat.

Apparently I am SO that crazy. It took me 24 hours of being assured by everyone that I love, that was not an opportunity that I should pass on. I knew I really wanted to do it, I just wasn't sure if it was a logical decision. Well. Fuck logic.

I asked work for a leave of absence, which they couldn't give me. But I was welcome to return when I came back, if I wanted to come back to a bank job. Ok. Great. I quit.

Scooter Bing Bong is not so crazy about the idea, but he'll be happy when I return with cookies from every corner of the Caribbean.

This last week has been a whirlwind of trying to squeeze every last drop out of my benefits, and trying to think of everything that has to be arranged before I head to Chicago for rehearsals on the 24th.

I'm freaking. But in a good way.

And for those of you keeping track at home; Yes. Pictionary is one of the sketches we're doing.

What have I been up to?

Funny you should ask. Before I let this blog drift too far down the "crotchety consumer" path, I'd better rein things back in and remember why I started this in the first place.

Why was that again?

Oh, right. To write.

I could spend the rest of my days shaking my fists in the general direction of a suck-ass fitness club, populated by crooks and motherfuckers, I really could. But that's just a mumbling shuffle-step away from that crazy cat lady, and I'm already far enough down the scrapbooking road that I don't want to tempt fate.

I bought a circle cutter. Because apparently hand cutting circles is soooo passe. I'm still trying to convince myself that I only bought all this stuff to make nice scrapbooks for my family to commemorate our recent trip to DisneyWorld. I just read that over and realized that it makes things worse, not better.

And so I breathe, close my eyes, and release the Hulkian Rage. Ok, maybe I don't release it. Maybe I just ball it up a little tighter so it fits in a corner. Best not to throw that away, may need it later. Let's just leave it at "Fuck Premier Fitness".

I will gather my thoughts, and photos, and post later about being in the middle of 400,000 marching immigrants in Chicago.

Premiere Fitness - sucking to the bitter end

Amazingly, they've denied my request for a refund again.

This is such great service. I can't wait to recommend this gym to my friends and family.

I can't even begin to express how insulting it is - you'd think that if you're denying a person's repeated request for a refund, you'd provide them with some sort of explanation. I'd be happy enough if they'd just say, "we're not refunding you, and here's why".

Instead I get the brick wall of "No".

It's not like I NEED the $20 bucks back, but dammit, it's my $20. I'm tempted to just let it go, but now they've got me peeved. It's so effing random.

I've left a message at head office, and told Danielle that I want an explanation in writing.

Fucktards.

Rewind

In the spirit of Spring, I have restored my blog to it's former glory.
All chapters of my Scooter saga are now up and available for reading again.

In the spirit of generosity and with a tip of my hat to karma, I've removed the names.

ScooterBingBong

Complaint sent to the Ministry of Government Services. Should hear from them in about a month.

Had an amazing weekend - Neutrino had Kurt up from New York to run us through intensive rehearsals. A lot of "Ah Hah!" this weekend. I think the show just took a huge leap forward - especially in terms of the shooters and the actors ability to anticipate each other and communicate.
We had MTV Canada at the show on Sunday, so look for us on the new network. Aurora and I did our story with the MTV folks Gilson and Diane - they did a great job.

I'm looking forward to the Fringe. I have a feeling that doing that many shows in one week is going to push us to take some crazy risks.