basilwhite

20 years ago, to the day, almost to the minute, I was... handing in my cap and gown after my high-school commencement from Subiaco Academy, where I was beaten and humiliated for four years with no intervention from the faculty.

10 years ago I was a new Federal Employee, in graduate school working on a MA in Science Writing From Johns Hopkins University with my now-wife and alumnus vikingsparrow, wrapping up work to head down to my 10-year high school reunion.

5 years ago I was hosting the DC/Baltimore Standup Showcase, hosting at Wiseacres Comedy Club and opening for the Wiseacres manager on the road.

3 years ago I was struggling to move from being a feature act to being a headliner.

1 year ago I was headlining and recording shows for my first CD (http://www.basilwhite.com/media/basilwhite.rss), sending copies of the joke book that published my first jokes in print, taking a lot of leadership classes, teaching my "Standup Comedy Secrets Revealed" class and learning to cook without fear thanks to Alton Brown's first book.

So far this year I planned vacations and business travel for the year and taught my "Standup Comedy Secrets Revealed" class again.

Yesterday I punished the travel staff at work for their lack of clear travel software instructions, made spaghetti with marinara sauce and garlic bread and learned Texas Hold-Em with vikingsparrow from the Wikipedia listing.

Today I fixed my travel records and downloaded a free audiobook called "Truth-Driven Thinking" (http://www.truthdriventhinking.com/tdt.xml).

Tomorrow I will kiss my joke-book editor's butt, show her around town and drive her to her class at the Writer's Center on how to get advance money for a book that hasn't been written yet.

In the next year I will hang out with my son, go to my 20-year high school reunion, headline at Wiseacres, record another CD, and visit Yellowstone National Park while I accompany vikingsparrow to a quilting ranch overrun by bunnies.

And I STILL feel lazy and unmotivated.

basilwhite.com