STARING CATATONIC OUT THE WINDOW.

I think that I'm immensely grateful to be back at home.
Not that State wasn't amazing.
I'm just too compulsively depressing to shudder back into the light, explaining in all its wonder, the glory of State.
I really need to get back on track. Alright. I'll jump through quickly on a day-by-day basis:
---WEDNESDAY: Lost Elis. Found Elis. Rode on the bus. Arrived. Unpacked. Watched a series of terrible one-acts. Went to the hotel. Changed. "Gussied ourselves up," if you will. Trudged back to the TPAC. Spotted Mr. Don Jones, Man Of The Century. Drooled over Michael J. Higgins and his grey tux. Perhaps that was just me. Trudged back to the hotel. Slept.
---THURSDAY: Woke up. Went back to sleep. Woke up. Dragged ourselves out to the Convention Center. I auditioned. I sucked. Watched events. Went back to the hotel. Changed. Ran to the new "Upstairs Dining" at the TPAC curtsey of Don Jones. Don Jones bussed our tables. Leaped into "Nine Armenians!" Skipped (and jaywalked) to the Tampa Theatre for "The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man On The Moon Marigolds." Jaywalked back to the hotel, where I waited for the return of our other troupe members. Gathered in the Chaperone Room Of Death and gabbed about the evening's events. Got a call from Walt. Slept.
---FRIDAY: Woke up rather briskly. Paced to First Watch. Ate potatoes. Traveled to the Convention Center for the Cappies workshop. Won M&M's. Helped Backel win M&M's. Looked at vending tables. Bought $5 shirt for the sheer reason that it was black and had "HELL" written at the bottom. Watched events. Lots of events. Talked about Don Jones. Ran back to the hotel. Changed. Sat for two hours staring at the television, watching The Simpsons and That 70's Show. Held Kevin back from breaking into my room. Meandered to the Tampa Theatre for "Proof." Held a burping contest. No, wait, that was the row of girls behind me. Sorry. I was mistaken. Talked to Kevin about his Girl Problems. Talked to Bill. Made friends with Bill forever. Trudged back to the hotel. Slept. Got a bad call from Walt. Made a pot of coffee. Slept.
---SATURDAY: Yanked myself from bed. Pulled on Converse as I was walking out of the hotel. Sat at First Watch. Ate nothing, drank a Coke. Didn't have to pay for said Coke. Walked to the TPAC. Stood by the waterfront. Talked to Chaz about his Girl Problems. Watched "The Importance Of Being Ernest." Was locked out of "School House Rock." Was snuck into "School House Rock." Loved "School House Rock." Watched "Baby." Cried that I had to watch "Baby," which turned out not to be the musical version. Went shopping at the Center Store. Almost stole at T-shirt that read: "Trouble. Right here in River City." Ran to The Asian Chef (formerly Ho-Ho's). Reinforced Child Labor. Laughed about Child Labor. Went back to the Convention Center. Met up with Mary. Walked back to the Hotel. Changed, and took degrading photos of Elis covering me with makeup. Headed over to Ferguson Hall. Watched the Mime Showcase that contained only minor instances of Mime Technique. Jumped into Morsannni Hall. Watched the Critic's Choice performances. Wondered when the REAL Critic's Choice performances would begin. Was astonished when someone said "they already have." Cried. Swept into Closing Ceremonies. Realized that Don Jones was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Cried. Screamed after he performed "The Monologue" from "The Fantasticks." Talked to Don Jones as soon as the doors were opened for intermission. Hugged Don Jones. Went back inside Morsanni. Watched the Critic's Choice performances. Wondered when the REAL Critic's Choice performances would begin. Was astonished when someone said "they already have." Cried. Shouted for joy when the Amazing large group musical number took the stage and helped me remember what we were actually here to celebrate. Stayed for the dance. "Stood" in the dance tent, also defined as "dancing." Found help for an injured girl. Took her to Don Jones. Don Jones had everything under control. Went back to the hotel. Packed. Slept.
---SUNDAY: Packed. Cleaned the room. Headed downstairs. Got on the bus. Left Tampa. Cried.
Draining week? You tell me. I'm just not sure I want to go further into the State experience than I'm forced to. It's been difficult.