The F.U.C. Show

I had a great set in the F.U.C. show (Funny Underground Comedy) at Broadway Comedy Club on Saturday.  My "penis-free zone" absolutely rocked the room.  The natural high that puts me on lasted through much of the next day.

I liked knowing two of my adult students and an adult daughter of one of 

them were in the audience (wish we had taken photos), and I enjoyed watching and meeting a couple of comics I never knew before.

Several of that night’s performers are not in these photos.  From left to 

right:  Nichole Spain, Chris Vaccarelli, Mindy Matijasevic, Aaron Smith, and Joe Cuomo.

Many of you may not know this, but whenever I am going to perform 

(whether as a stage actress, a storyteller, or a comic), I am quite nervous.  Doing stand-up has made poetry readings feel easy.  Different challenges with each thing.  Great satisfaction with each as well.  I still find comedy the hardest because the writing is my own, I’m up there alone, I have to have all the material in my head already, and I’m expected to be funny.  So when I hear the laughter, it is an amazing feeling.  But hours before, when I am agonizing to some degree, I ask myself why I do this and remind myself how no one is making me do this. 

After the show, I was talking with one of the comics who I had found hilarious.  I told him about what I go through.  He said he had just done the same that day.  He had asked himself why he does this.  Then when the laughter happens, he is answered.

  

Hair; Here; Hear

Sunday morning after having breakfast with my best bud, I went home and did something I never did before.  I gave myself a haircut.  I didn’t see the back of my hair.  I did it by feeling it.  I’m still not sure how it looks in the back.  I have my doubts.  My hair was at my shoulders, so I cut a lot off.  I might dye it.  My short hair was so easy to wash.  What a load off.  I am still not sure if I like how I look though.  I managed to take a pic with my flip phone.  But now I forgot how to get it on the computer.  Oy.

On Monday, I wrapped a colorful scarf around my head and went to work 

like that.  I still haven’t dyed my hair.  When I got home, I took the scarf off and began to like my hair better than the day before.  I snipped some more that I could see needed it.  But as far as the back goes, I’m concerned I gave myself a patch shorter than all the rest.  I think I will not cover my hair when I go to work on Tuesday.  No guarantees though.  I could change my mind.

This evening, May 22^nd, I’m going to see Bronx Tales – the storytelling 

event produced by Lehman Stages, directed by Dante Albertie.  It is free and at 7pm at the Studio Theatre on the campus of Lehman College on Bedford Park Blvd. in the Bronx.  This time, I’m not in it.  I’m going to watch it.  No anxiety.  I’m going to sit back and be audience.

Saturday, May 26^th at 6:30 is the Funny Underground Comedy Show at 

Broadway Comedy Club.  I’m on the line-up.  I would love to see you and hear you laughing.  

Cheaper to get tickets on line than at the door.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/funny-underground-comedy-krew-supershow-tickets-45476651890

Come On Out And ...

Hello, readers.  Come out and see me sometime. 

On Saturday, May 26, 2018, I’ll be part of the Funny Underground Comedy Show at Broadway Comedy Club.  Arrive at 6:30 for seating and ordering drinks (plus I heard it might start a little early even though it is advertised as starting at 7pm).  On-line tickets are a bit more economical than at the door.  However, there’s a possibility for a two-for-one deal if you buy a full price ticket.  People who want to take someone out for a fun evening, this is a good deal.  2 drink minimum.

https://www.facebook.com/events/228495764365096/

I hope to hear your laughter.  The weather is … well, I never really know, 

but it isn’t winter.  That should encourage you to come out for some funny.

Behind the scenes:  I sat at a meeting for two hours in an air-conditioned room and was then sick for over a week.

I’m getting observed in my math class next Wednesday which makes me 

feel sooooo uncomfortable.  The way I get through it is by pretending it isn’t happening.  I remind myself that if I’m going to get disapproved of, let it be for who I really am and not for trying to please the observer.  I have to remind myself that my students are my true boss.  If they are feeling comfortable, accepted, appreciated, nurtured, and are learning, I don’t want to worry about administrators.  But it’s not always easy. 

I typically do better with students than with administrators.  

Administrators are often pressured with demands from funders that aren’t typically in sync with what works for me and my students.  Plus there are often the latest trends which I typically don’t jump into.  I like to learn about newer ideas, but I consider it a choice what to implement.  I don’t toss out everything old because, to me, old does not mean bad.   As many of you know, thinking for yourself is not approved of in many parts of society (jobs especially).

I’m glad that the warmer season is here (even if it isn’t acting normal).  I 

look forward to the beach.  

However, I’m still very disappointed that varicose veins are not yet in style.

  Mindy

Some Things Go Well; Others Are Inside-Out

Hi folks.  

I had a ball last Wednesday night on the Funny Underground Comedy show at Broadway Comedy Club.  I knew a good friend, Liz McCall, was coming to the show.  The day before was when I learned that a friend from the NYC poetry circles, Fred Simpson, was coming to the show and planned to bring a friend.  But what I didn’t know was two former co-workers from my miserably married days when I worked 12-hour night shifts on the weekends as a proofreader, Lia Young and Cicely Brooks, were going to surprise me.  They have a tremendous sense of humor.  All of them except Liz had never heard me do stand-up before.  Fred had heard my poetry which is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, usually touching.  Liz had come to a Divorced Divas of Comedy show a few years ago.  Lia and Cicely mainly had heard my misery.  It felt sooooo good to have them hear my comedy.  It felt sooooo good to hear them all laughing.

The reunion had made a big impact inside me.  I was feeling it for days.  

There was something very special about Lia and Cicely hearing me make comedy from my misery.  They are each married now, and I’m gratefully divorced.  Whatever works for ya.  We all seemed content.  That’s what matters.

I loved sitting with Liz.  An awake woman who hears and sees and feels.  

We were able to look at each other when comedy and misogyny get confused.  That alleviates a lot of the difficulty of being a woman in comedy.  I also loved making Fred laugh.  I enjoyed the night a whole lot. 

…..

This Friday night at the Cornelia Street Café at 6pm, there will be a 

tribute to Jackie Sheeler who touched so many lives.  Her death has had many heads spinning.  I’m not good with this part of life.  I often do not attend these things, and I keep the person alive in my head.  But I do want to be there.  Jackie was a great talent.  She also was a giver.  She was the poet laureate at Riker’s Island.  That should tell how special a human she was.  I once did a voice over for a one-woman show she was writing.  She had me play a heroin addict pleading for ‘works.’  I’ve never done heroin (thank God), but I know addiction.  She was so happily surprised with my first take.  She said, “You nailed it!”  She paid me with a Betsy Johnson suit that she couldn’t fit into.  I wore the jacket to my divorce.  My lawyer was shocked that I had a designer jacket on when I could barely get carfare together.  That is just one memory.  Jackie was amazing.  In my head, she lives on.

…..

Do you know what Saturday is?  The Cannabis Parade!  You don’t have to be a marijuana lover to be there.  You just have to want people who smoke weed to not waste away in prison and people who suffer with PTSD, cancer, and other conditions to get relief from it.

https://www.facebook.com/events/254003415125240/

…..

For those who would like to attend the next Funny Underground Comedy 

show, please get your tickets here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/228495764365096/

Aaron Smith (the producer) has a 2-for-1 special going on!

I will tickle your funny bone.

…..

At some point yesterday, I discovered I had put my panties on inside out.  

Yes the cotton crotch faced the outside.  It was too late to take off everything to fix that.  I had to get to work.  And that’s how yesterday went.