Dear 2024,
Imagine you’re in a vehicle driving on the interstate.
Maybe it’s a car, a truck, or heck, even a church van. The windows don’t open. The stereo doesn’t work. You’re in this vehicle traveling far. Hundreds of miles, multiple time zones. Sun up, sun down. Driving driving driving. No stops.
Feelin’ antsy yet?
On the road that is my life, you were my rest area, 2024. A healthy place to stretch the legs, breathe fresh air and let the mind wander. To refocus energy in a transitional space between what was and what’s to come.
Thanks for this area to rest, 2024!
Alcohol Out, Health In
Concerns for my health prompted me to stop flirting with sober-curious and start living sober-serious. And so I did, 2024.
There was no alcohol, slips or spills, in 2024. And oddly, it wasn’t a big deal.
Yes, there were a handful of times in 2024 where I felt the urge to imbibe. Usual suspects: St. Patrick’s Day, a birthday, Thanksgiving… Exploring the expansive world of non-alcoholic options, talking through the urge, and reminiscing about negative drinking experiences helped refocus the energy to keep the momentum.
Within the first 10 – 14 days of not drinking near the end of 2023 I felt a haze lift. A mental and emotional fog evaporated. I felt present in life in a new way. In short: an excellent way to end 2023.
The examples of others who’ve walked this path before inspired and called me to action. Their encouragement and support helped me navigate the day-to-day. Creeping on Reddit’s StopDrinking community and downloading the free I Am Sober app made all the difference for me in 2024.
While I continue this journey without anything in my glass, there may come a day when I decide to fill it. But until that day comes, I will not drink with you today. #IWNDWYT
Helpful Sibling Rivalry
A debt of gratitude is owed to my younger, fitter, cockier brother, Daniel. Here he is helping a fish straighten its spine in Alaska, 2024.
For years, especially at holidays, Daniel would enthusiastically produce the bathroom scale and encourage all others present to hop onboard.
“Get on the scale, fat ass!” -younger fitter cockier brother
Naturally, for decades, Dad was heaviest. Followed by me, then Daniel. Almost predetermined and acceptable for our respective weights to descend in order like our ages, heights, and levels of maturity.
But in 2023 there was a shift.
It was me who earned the heavyweight title — weighing a full bag of potatoes more than Dad!
This year, 2024, I was ready for my brother’s ribbing. The thousands of calories I would’ve consumed drinking were wiped away by nine cords of wood split in the backyard.
When Daniel called me to the scale in front of family on Christmas, I acted like I was going through security at the airport; shoes off, empty pockets, belt in the bin, and off with the bulky holiday sweater…
Lots of “smart talk,” laughter, and anticipation filled the room.
But the numbers didn’t lie.
In 2023, my younger brother and I were separated by 30 pounds (480 ounces).
This year, 2024, we were separated not by pounds, but ounces! Four ounces, to be exact.
I’m proud of myself for the healthy choices I made in 2024. Not to solely lose weight, but rather eating mindfully and finding exercises to make working out less about “work” and more about joy.
Ultimately though thanks goes to my first friend and little brother, Daniel, for keeping me on my toes. I hope to do the same for you, but with nicer words.
Directing Highlight
If you weren’t able to attend Rubber Chicken Theater’s Chicken Hat Plays in June, you missed theatre magic. In less than 24 hours, eight plays were written, rehearsed, and staged.
It doesn’t sound possible, but it happened. And you missed it.
Don’t be sad. Let me catch you up.
During the week leading up to the Chicken Hat Plays, Brian Matuszak (the producer) needed to fill one more creative role: show director.
As an actor I’ve appeared in 10 different Chicken Hat productions. When I was aboard and couldn’t appear in person, I wrote for Hat twice. This is how I learned acting is fun and writing is…more challenging.
But I’ve never directed for Hat; so, directing was a mystery I volunteered to solve!
On Friday evening — the day before the show — each Chicken Hat Play writer drew three community-generated prompts providing a who, what, and where.
Our writer, Tammy Ostrander, pulled the following prompts:
- WHO: ballet dancer
- WHAT: watered down drink
- WHERE: Valhalla
Grandpa Venske used to say, “It’s funny how things work out.”
I’m reminded of Grandpa’s words because it was by chance that Tammy and I were paired together again. We worked together for the first time nearly a dozen years prior. It was my first show then with Rubber Chicken and first out-of-the-hat experience. Might have been Tammy’s first go, too…
What I remember most from that first go/show all those years ago were Tammy’s monologues. She wrote so many monologues! Large swaths of the page consumed by one character’s dialogue: my character’s dialogue!
If you asked Tammy what she remembers about our first show, she might say the way her dialogue and my summarization of her dialogue collided with improvised flourishes desperate for a laugh.
What I learned in June 2024, however, was that this would be Tammy’s last show with the company as she and her husband were moving out west (Washington or Oregon). It was bittersweet to work with someone again and know it was for the last time.
The script Tammy wrote was funny and poignant too. Viking warriors arrive at Valhalla and a conversation and realizations about mortality unfold. Typically, shows in Chicken Hat Plays don’t always get so deep. It was an honor to open the second act. (You can hear a line from her play — shot from backstage — in the 1 Second Everyday video below; watch/listen for June 15 @ 4:03.)
This year the joy in this theatre-camp-like event came from collaboration. Luck of the draw produced a talented team of actors to bring Tammy’s work to life: Ehryn Summers, Hailey Eidenschink, Matt Luoma, and Paul Byrne.
Working together in the rehearsal room to determine choreography, blocking, and flesh-out character choices served as another reminder that working to solve problems creatively is a passion that will not die. Putting heads together, coming up with new ideas, trying things out, failing/succeeding — it’s all so invigorating!
One of the things I love about Rubber Chicken Theater’s Chicken Hat Plays is how at 8AM on the day of the show no one knows what play they’re in, who their character is, what lines to learn, what their costumes will be or where to enter, stand, exit, and bow…
Despite all the unknowns and fears the artists show up. These artists harness and explore fears, then use them as fuel for their creations. Ephemeral theatrical gifts, their creations — love — shared with an audience.
Less than 12 hours later, the audience is filling seats and a group of “theatre kids” have become a true company of Artists. Watch closely and see the learning, growing, risk-taking, scene-stealing, and all the real failures and successes that come from playing pretend in front of others. (It’s so cool! and I love it so much — I wish I could do Out-of-the-Hat every week!)
Check out these snapshots taken and stolen (with love) from Brian Matuszak featuring the cast:
Doggoneit Gone Got Dog
As a child I grew up with fish, cats, birds, and a bunny…
The only dog-experience I had was the kind I stepped in mowing the lawn.
I always wanted a dog, but the space and timing had to be right. The interior and exterior needed to be safe and free of renovations. So after finishing the first floor, fencing the yard, French draining, dry welling, and hardscaping in 2024, I was officially ready to welcome a creature…
In July, Louise, came into my life.
My only intention that day in July was to visit the Animal Humane Society. You know, to get a dopamine fix while seeing the puppies, feeding treats to the adult dogs… Just a visit to learn more. What are the options? What’s the process? Who needs a forever home?
At the Humane Society, the kennels were filled. Barking and a pungent sharp odor welcomed us as we visited briefly with each doggo. In one of the kennels, way at the back corner of the building, was a brown little puppy who appeared overwhelmed by all the noise.
I crouched down on the floor, mindful where I placed my hands, and scooched close to the chainlink gate. This skinny pup, Louise, flopped from the back of the kennel to the gate separating us.
Then Louise extended her paw under the gate as if to say, “I choose you to be my family. Will you be my forever home?” Staring back into her amber eyes, I nodded as I took her paw in hand. And the rest is history!
Well, not exactly…
I did take the paw-gate-thing to be a sign.
So I put Louise on a 24-hour “hold” to think things through while preventing another family from bringing Louise home. Sammi and I went to lunch to chat over the implications. As we talked I searched the Animal Humane Society’s website to find Louise’s profile.
That’s when I saw this:
When I read Louise was “no longer available for adoption” I became emotional. My eyes welled with tears.
Sammi saw heartbreak on my face and asked what happened. I blubbered something to the effect of “she’s gone” and passed her my screen.
Sammi laughed and said, “Louise is no longer available because YOU put her on a hold. She’s not available to other people.“
The emotional reaction confirmed a connection to the creature.
This is my dog now. Louise Velcro Dog.
Like her old man, apparently Louise, too, was a troublemaker. She was picked up by the fuzz in Saint Paul before extradition to the Animal Human Society. Not much else is known about Louise’s life before June 2024. Her guesstimated birthday is 8/19/23, making her roughly 500 days / 16 months old at the end of 2024. A puppy!
Let me tell you — as the “mother of the zodiac,” a Cancer — I’m exceptionally protective and never felt like a bigger Momma in my entire life. The responsibility of caring for another living being is immense and I don’t take the task lightly. How mother’s do this with children I don’t know.
From the time Louise joined our household in July to the end of 2024 things are mostly a blur. Focus rested solely on this creature and learning how to be a good dog owner. Figuring out schedules and food and temperaments…it’s exhausting.
We’ve adjusted and are quite content. Louise is a great dog. She’s a blessing in our lives and I’m so grateful for every day we have together.
1 Second Everyday Video Diary
In watching the clips captured in 2024, I’m struck by the amount of snippets — dozens — I’d classify as “favorites.” From the places visited to the folks that make those places special, getting to see so many family and friends sprinkled throughout the year fills me up.
I suppose that means 2024 was a good year. A happy year.
A favorite year?
Can’t be. The best is yet to come…
Please enjoy this snapshot of 2024!
Noted Happenings & Intentions Met in 2024
- Adopted a rescue puppy named Louise
- Lost 30 pounds
- Booked my first hand job as a hand model
- Finally got back into the saddle and rode 14 miles on a bike
- Appeared in the short play Fortune Cookies as part of The Remember Project
- Participated in the Voices of Isolation project as part of the Center for Creativity & Public Health
- Joined the Threshold Choir to provide comfort to the dying
- Left longtime day gig
- Worked on a short film
- Co-hosted WFNU’s gala and participated in its pay-the-rent radio-a-thon
- Auditioned for a handful of theatre
- Vacationed with friends in Utah’s Canyonlands where we played one of the world’s most extreme disc golf courses, Base Camp Adventure
- Submitted 25 voiceover auditions and booked not a one; submitted 14 on-camera commercial/film/industrial auditions and booked not a one
- Directed a play-in-a-day as part of Rubber Chicken Theater’s Chicken Hat Plays
- Provided production support to the Legacy Dream Space
- Celebrated nephew’s high school graduation
- Paid off credit card debt
- Continued to improve the homestead by removing damaged chimney liner, repairing/sealing basement walls, improving drainage on west side of property by installing a drywell
- Produced, hosted, and learned a lot from all the guests in the second season of Your Funeral Music
- Abstained from drinking alcohol (400+ days and counting)
- Celebrated 6 years as a non-smoker
- Saw OKGo in concert
- Watched Mikkel Beckman transform the humble washboard into a hip new jive beat machine to rock the whole body
- Promoted to precinct registration judge for the 2024 Presidential Primary, Primary Election, and General Election
- Listened to 2,122 artists and 3,701 songs totaling 40,979 minutes of music on Spotify
- The song listened to/sang the most was Jacob Collier’s “Little Blue – Mahogany Sessions”
- Only played 24 rounds of disc golf; average rose from 5.46+ (2023) to 7.62 (2024)
- Haven’t let Covid-19 catch me
- Split 9+ cords of wood
- Unsubscribed from bunches of email newsletters with glee
- 2024’s best guilty purchase? Nerds Gummy Clusters
Intentions In 2025
The early part of January is a special time for intention setting. There’s so much potential early in the year. Getting off to a good start means the doing starts when the year does…
Even if that only means reflecting on the previous year and continuing to build on earned victories.One of the silly intentions I set in 2024 was unsubscribing from email newsletters. I was successful in this intention.
Broadly in 2025 I want to continue focus on growth and continuing to build my business. Learning/doing new things in new places with new people. Connecting with strangers who become friends. I also want to get a bit better at tooting my own horn and celebrating my successes.
And I want to help my money go further by keeping the money in the community by supporting local businesses. This feels important given how billionaires have suddenly taken an interest in running/wrecking the United States government…
More than anything, I want to be kind. In 2025 it feels more important than ever to love others and be an example for others, prickly or not. Kindness connects.
Connection and community is what we need now more than ever. So I’ll practice being kind in 2025. Kind to strangers, friends, family, and yes, even myself.
Let’s do this, 2025!
THOUGHTS?