Still Hopeful in Spite of So Much

Just when I was feeling like nothing was happening for me, things began to change. 

I was asked to audition for a role in what promises to be a meaningful and artful film.  As far as money goes, there will be some.  Just don’t know how much or little. 

Then I received an email to please hold a certain day free to possibly be in another film.  It’s a one-day commitment and pays enough to help me get through this month.  It’s just not confirmed yet.

Isn't all this financial uncertainty so much fun?!

Now I have an opportunity to do a 2-minute clean set for industry.  I hope 

I can pull out 2 clean minutes from my material.  I hope I deliver well and do my best.  That’s what I want from myself – my current best.  Then if I don’t get whatever I’m going for, I am not upset with myself. 

A writer friend and I are going to attend a workshop on applying for a 

certain grant.  This is a grant I won in 1999 for nonfiction literature and in 2001 for poetry.  In recent years, everything became computerized.  Submissions have to be on line along with a bunch of other specifications.  I know it is supposed to make things easier, but for me it was a barrier.  I haven’t applied in several years.  So I’m hoping very much that this workshop removes barriers for me.

I will update you on these happenings.  I very much appreciate your 

interest.

I’ll not get into all the things I am panicked about at the moment and, instead, leave this on a note of hope. 

Where Acting and Real Life Meet

Remember several blogs back when I shared 

about an acting gig where I felt therapy came to me?  Well we worked again.  It was a scene with my actor ‘son’ and the man who was intervening and me.  My ‘son’ and I talked and cried during a scene.  I had real anxiety to do this scene.  The actor is actually 32, older than my real life son.  The actor is also a parent and can see the challenges on both ends.  He cried.  I cried.  He recognized that even if I ‘the Mom’ didn’t always know what to do, I did love him.  In the scene, it suggested we would repair our relationship.  We were going to have dinners together and each go to counseling.  In the scene, the actor ‘son’ and I were able to get further than my real life son and I have been able to get so far. 

There is so much heartbreak.  Life is hard, but I hope I live a long time 

and that my real life son and I see the sunrise again. 

When we were done with the scene, I told the actor that his pain feels so 

real to me and makes it easy to react to.  He assured me his pain is real.  We shared personal stuff.  Acting is so much more real than many realize.  This actor is so good because he can access his pain, his love, and other feelings.

Emotionally, it is exhausting and exhilarating.  I actually had a couple of 

positive dreams since then.  Life is full of surprises in terms of what will help healing happen and where it will come from.

The comedy show I did in Brooklyn – the audience, which was small in size, 

made up for it in spirit.  I had fun.  A former co-worker, Meghan, attended with her partner, Dave.  I like both of them.  We hung out afterwards and talked about many things.  It is comforting to be with people who feel to me like they are on the same planet as I am.  It helped me to talk about the job where I was kicked to the curb.  It always helps to talk to people who can see.  Talking to the willfully blind is just frustrating and angering.

I’ve been hearing from former students via email, texts, and phonecalls.  I 

sent some a comedy clip.  One wrote me back that she didn’t know I had it in me.  LOLOL  Another wrote me back that he was sad.  Some students just don’t get why some of the best teachers and the counselor were let go.  That’s because it doesn’t make actual sense. 

Even if I weren’t let go, I know I wouldn’t be able to tolerate the new 

sheriff in town and her deputy.  I am welcoming whatever my next chapter holds for me.

Comedy, Poetry, 110 Vaginas

Those of you who find it easier to get to a comedy show in Brooklyn than 

most other boroughs, I will be doing a guest spot in the Laugh-tober Comedy Show at the Eastville Comedy Club this Friday evening, 7pm.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laugh-tober-comedy-show-tickets-51121173807?aff=efbeventtix

If poetry is more your thing, I am one of the readers in the 4 Horse 

Poetry Reading curated by Bob Quatrone on Saturday, November 17^th at 6pm at the Cornelia Street Café on Cornelia Street in the Village.  Only ten bucks which includes a drink.  The line-up is typically one of which I am proud to be a part.

If vagina is more your thing, either as an owner or an admirer, mine is one 

of the 110 vagina portraits in this exhibition on Saturday, December 8^th from 4 to 8pm at 40 Ludlow Street.  Photos by Alexandra Jacoby.  And it is free! 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/normal-is-diverse-how-you-are-is-how-youre-supposed-to-be-tickets-50572670218

The normal is diverse exhibition takes place on Saturday, 08-Dec-2018 from 4-8pm at Ludlow Studios, 40 Ludlow Street, NYC 10002.

It's free, but space is limited. RSVP to reserve your space.

There is more to share, but for now I’ll leave it on the note of 110 vaginas.

Sometimes It's Hard to Find the Funny, But I Try

Be assured I have hardship, strife, aggravation, money troubles, stress, and mother-fuckers in my life.  However, I’m going to share some good stuff.

My Facebook friend Danielle Ryer works at a college radio station.  

https://www.facebook.com/Danielle.Ryer 

She tends to focus on mental health and wanted to include some of my comedy.  I’ve been a social worker, a teacher, a daughter, a granddaughter, a mom, a friend, and a person in pain, so mental health is definitely something I care deeply about.  When my comedy can help, I am thrilled.  Slightly over a minute here:

  Mindy Matijasevic Comedy Set - Friend Down Ther...

I performed at Otto’s Shrunken Head and at MNN since my last blog 

entry.

My Divorced Divas of Comedy show on 9/30 went well at Cornelia Street 

Café.  Debbie Bazza, Rhonda Hansome, and Taffy Jaffe joined me in delivering a very fun show to a wonderful audience. 

This Friday, 10/12, I am scheduled to be on Aaron Smith’s podcast, “Aaron Smith Can’t Lose” somewhere between 7pm and 9pm. 

The following Friday, 10/19, I am on the line-up for a comedy show in 

Brooklyn.  Come on over. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/laugh-tober-comedy-show-tickets-51121173807?aff=efbeventtix

I did background work on the new show “Manifest.”  Seems like an 

interesting show.  I watched the first episode. 

I did a scene for an NYU student where I played a homeless woman (see 

previous blog entry).  It wasn’t for money, but it is good to exercise my acting skills and to show range. 

I did receive my first unemployment check.  It allowed me to eat and pay 

one small bill. 

Friends have taken me out to dinner a few times, some from the job where I was let go.  From what I’ve heard, the sleaze factor is very high there now.  I’d have never lasted.  I can’t spend my days being part of sleaze just to earn a barely adequate paycheck.  However, being unemployed at this point in my life is scary.

On my way to Broadway Comedy Club on Friday night, a former student 

entered the train.  We sat together and talked.  He may not realize this, but he made me feel good.  He said, “What? How could they get rid of perfection?”  He may not have academic excellence, but he has innate awareness.  A long time ago, he was my math student.  I eventually promoted him.  One day his teacher had to be out, and I took that class combined with my class.  Many in the other class were former students of mine.  It was like a reunion.  On the break, this guy and I smoked a cigarette together and talked.  He told me I should move up with them and continue to be their teacher.  I smiled.  I told him that when a new bunch of nervous people enters the program, I need to be there for them.  He thought for a while.  Then he said, “You should stay where you are.  ‘Cause if you were at the top, we’d never get there.”  And that is his intelligence.

It’s too bad that those with all kinds of degrees don’t see what he can 

see.  Working with the educated to help those in need of education has been a sad and eye-opening experience.  Those who are often in charge do not understand the people they are professing to help.  They let go of the people who do.

Not sure I can find the funny, but I try.