As I expected, I didn’t get a call back.

As I left the DC United game (Super fun! And they won! I must go to more games this season!), I looked at my phone saw two missed messages. I pushed a series of buttons to see my missed call log, and it wasn’t any unknown callers. I said to a friend, “OK, there’s still 9 more minutes before 10. It could happen.” I looked back at the phone eight minutes later. I watched as the time changed to 10 p.m.

Anywho, still proud of me. No way in 100 millions year would I have thought I would’ve tried to audition at this time.

Next time will be harder because I know I’ll want it more.

Last night, my class performed in the student showcase. All the various levels of WIT classes had their 10-15 minutes on stage in front of a lot of people, mostly other improvisers and friends and family.

Most of my worry before the show was about being able to find a time to jump in. At least 10 or so of my friends were there and I wanted to be able to do something to let them see me do anything.

Luckily, I had my chance, even though — like always — I didn’t think I was that great. But I am SO proud of my class and how far we’ve come in two months. I remember our first class where we could barely remember how to play word association games.

So it sounds like most of us will take 1B and do it together. That means eight more weeks of classes, eight more weeks to obsess about improving and eight more weeks until we get onto the stage again. Well, officially. In the meantime, our class is going to hold practices every Wednesday. Just to keep our gears turning and keep playing together. We’re a fun bunch, and I feel good about what we’ll be able to do in time.

In other news, less than a week until I’m in Mexico!

Friday night J and I went to see performances by Season Six and Caveat, two of the performing groups with Washington Improv Theater.

Funny? Of course. What was even better was seeing our teacher perform with Season Six. Seeing how he used all the different skills he’s teaching us (and seeing how he handled the slip ups) made for many aha! moments. And the four guys of Caveat — they really have their group mind pulled together.

J and I then went out with the improv people after the show, having a few drinks with them, doing a lot of shop talk and we closed down the bar with some of them. An Internet article I was reading stated how important it is to not eat, sleep, drink, obsess about improv–you have to have a life outside. And that makes sense for a few reasons–how can I create a scene when someone shouts out $65 million pants, if I’m not aware of anything happening outside of the world that I create.

But, oh man, right now it’s kinda tough not being obsessed. I really want to fast forward three years to the time when I’m in a troupe. (Who knows, it may be less than that, but i think that’s a fair time frame for somone who is still struggling with making something out someone’s simple pose.)

Improv Teacher said some great things, however. He seems to think J and I have some talent. I’m hoping that’s not false hope he’s spreading. I have admittedly had some good moments, but I’m so far from seeing myself as a real performer. But I really don’t think he’d just make it up to be friendly.

Oh, and one of the classes will be dedicated to storytelling, and he already gave me a heads up on the secret — the seven-line story. On Saturday, I kept searching around me for a random object or word and attempted to make seven-line stories based on something from the object. My first story–a shampoo scientist who followed his dream to write copy for cereal boxes. I even had a line about how the shampoo scientist crossed the picket line of a strike and was pelted by Grape Nuts.

A bit random, yes, it is. But it’s improv, so I’m sure working with the right partner or two, it could’ve really gone in some good directions.

Saturday was the kball mid-season party. The turn out was really light, but that was expected since the venue was unknown for so long and then changed at the last minute. Everyone seemed to have a great time (a teammate of mine had a bit too much fun). And Sunday was a slow-moving, late wake up day for me.

House/apartment hunting is not progressing very well. I have a hunch I’ll be trying to find someone for my extra room. Not that I can’t live with that. I just really wanted to move to Virginia. Ah well, there’s still time.

I made my first trip to Atlantic City this past weekend. Technically, I’ve been there before. I was eight or so years old, and I went with my grandparents and my grandfather’s brother and wife. A group of grown ups with a third-grader. They all took turns entertaining me for a few hours while they went into the casinos.

The Atlantic City field trip was the brainchild of Delta G, fun college friend whom I saw at the end of last year during the random trip to New York City. DG is the ultimate adventuring friend. She is so laid back, flexible and spontaneous. She always makes sure that her companions get to see what they want to see and do.

So I drove to New Jersey Saturday morning and met up with them at about 3 p.m. (Never take Route 40 to Atlantic City; they built an expressway for a reason.) We grabbed hoagies at White House for lunch. Good enough sandwiches, but actually kinda underwhelming. I’m learning that it’s tough to beat the sandwiches from The Italian Store in Arlington.

So the rest of the girl posse go outlet shopping while DG and I go back to the hotel and start having some tasty gin and tonics.

The Borgata. Wow. I don’t think the room was worth $400 for the night, but I’m kinda a frugal gal. I’m sure the $200/night places closer to the Boardwalk were just plain crappy. The hotel was really nice and I loved the food. The girl posse seemed to have a little sticker shock with food prices, but coming from DC, I wasn’t too surprised to see cheeseburgers cost $6. Although no one should charge $3 for a bottle of Diet Coke no matter the location.

Now, maybe this is because I’ve never been into a hotel casino before. So my little eyes were just amazed that one could walk into the hotel lobby, turn to the left and see rows and rows of flashing, dazzling technicolor slot machines.

I brought with me about $7 worth of pennies. Some rolled in wrappers, others just in a big change purse. DG said I could play the penny slots. She laughed at my stack of pennies. Five dollar bills are the smallest currency accepted in the machines. Sure, I could’ve exchanged the penny rolls for a voucher to play in the machine, but what fun is that?

The girl posse went to the club in the hotel, Mixx, where we drank overpriced beer, danced with guys attending a friends bachelor party. (Yours truly unknowingly danced and fell in love with the bachelor — I quickly broke up with him after hearing it was his party.) Oh, and Danity Kane made an appearance there after their earlier evening concert with Christina Aguilera.

I lost only $60 on roulette, slots and video poker. Of course, I only played $60 too.

I know AC isn’t LV. I know it’s got major redevelopment issues to face. I know it’s even a little cheesey. But it’s the perfect place to visit with a bunch of gal friends for a fun, spontaneous weekend.

Well, as it turns out, the dinner and dancing didn’t happen on Saturday. I got glamed out — even curled my stick-straight hair and painted my stubby nails — and took the J2 bus to Bethesda.

I got there and we went to the hotel bar to kill a little time while waiting for our reservatation. We then walked to Tommy Joe’s to get another drink. I was a little puzzled. I’m wearing a lacy black halter dress, my hair is curled, my nails colored mauvelous and we’re going to Tommy Joe’s?!?

There was no fancy dinner. Instead, a group of friends were there to surprise me. The party, complete with cake, a party hat for me (more like a Birthday Princress hat) and an over-sized card. Wooha was an accomplice to the scheme.

During the night, we went to three different bars and at each one I had to complete a party wish. Unlike last year when I had my friends do embarrassing things, this year they each made a request of me. I did jumping jacks, kissed a girl (her hand, sorry boys), had a conversation with an English boy about my favorite pasta (I had to say it’s mac and cheese with weiners), and I had to do as many shots as possible in 45 seconds. I did six melon balls.

Two days later and I’m still recovering. This is why we let 21-year-old kids do these kind of birthdays. They are more resilient.

Overall, it was quite the ringing in of a new decade. It was so great seeing so many people come out to Bethesda to celebrate with me.

For my real birthday, yesterday, it was really low key. I had brunch with Woo and we used a birthday gift card to get dinner at Macaroni Grill. I put up my Christmas tree and watched “The Sweetest Thing.” It was a good mix of being young and fun and yet still feeling like an almost grown up.