Last night, I had chance to do up Boston College, which I feel like I hit up once every two years or so. It seems like it’s a completely different group of students every time i go back there. I mean, I guess it basically is, since that’s what happens in college, people graduate and other people matriculate…

Anyway, this was the Opening Ceremony for APAHM. Last year’s keynote speaker was Phoebe Eng. The year before that: Gary Okihiro. So of course, the natural choice for this year would have been, you know, someone prominent. Instead they asked me. Their subtle message to me was: “try not to eff this up kid.”

It was a dinner event, and seated directly in front of me was Dr. Ramsey Liem. So right after I had conquered my nervousness of following last year’s keynote speaker, I developed a new fear that I would make myself look like a fool in front of a distinguished Asian American Studies professor like Dr. Liem. So I had that going for me…

Anyway, after an amazingly long and stressful work week, there wasn’t much I could do but let loose. So I tried my best to just keep it flexible. I usually predetermine the order of every single thing in my set, but last night I just kind of scribbled some notes down and did what I do. I haven’t done that “flying without a net” type of show in, well, probably years, so it was cool. I guess I wasn’t even sure if i could still do it. Who knows if I pulled it off; regardless it was fun.

Oh, and weird how this happened: I’ve been joking with folks recently that I should start demanding clothes from every school I perform at. Then BC presents me with a huge gift box after the show and - voileezy! - a Boston College zippie. Say word!

I must give a lot of thanks to Missy for hooking up the gig and working with me to make sure I knew what the deal was, as well as Caroline for running around and troubleshooting and just generally being ridiculous as usual. And then to Jane who co-chaired the event with Missy for putting the energy into it. Also to Dr. Min Song, who introduced me once again and said some very kind and mostly true words about me and my work.

Tonight I’m at Northeastern doing some more craziness. Until then.