She So Funny

 

 

 

    The poetry reading last Sunday lifted my spirits.  It was a small-ish turnout, but high in quality.  Plus I got to see and hear the work of my friend, Mindy Levokove.  Michael Graves curates this part of the Phoenix Series, and he was so encouraging to me.  I appreciate him very much.

    The weather was delightful.  But still I was late.  My #4 train stop was being bypassed by downtown trains due to track work.  I had to take the train uptown to go downtown.  Then, at 42^nd, I had to switch to the #6.  I have seen too much local news and find myself afraid of being in the subway.  So I had anxiety the whole way down about that and being late.

    But the atmosphere felt so good, the people so accepting.  They appreciated my poetry and verbalized it.  It’s a nourishing feeling, different than other kinds of nourishment.

    The Monday before, I spent the eclipse with my two closest friends.  We went to the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn and observed the eclipse from there with our special glasses.  Mainly, I loved the three of us being together.

    Tuesday, 4/16, was my best friend’s birthday.  He and I got together for the evening portion of his birthday.  Went out for Indian food (he treated), and we hung out talking.  I had a zero-budget situation, so I made him a very personal card that only ‘besties’ could do.  It caused a LOTTA laughter.  He appreciated that very much.  On zero budget, it was a goodie.  But it will have to go in a hidden file.

    This Saturday, 4/20, I will be part of a reading at the Thompkins Square Library, 331 East 10^th Street, NYC.  Evie Ivy put together an anthology of poems during COVID and is curating this reading and selling copies of the anthology.  It’s at 1:00pm and is FREE.  If this appeals to you, come on over.

    If you need a unique gift for a male or female who this applies to:

please let me know.  My email is mindyinthebronx@gmail.com.  They are Hanes, size XL.

 

 

 

 

A lot has gone on in the past few months, but I’m focusing on the positive for now.  I’ve had some acting work during that time.  Most were brief parts that paid money.  But the most enjoyable and interesting role did not pay money.  I did it anyway, which is rare these days.  I’ll be getting a copy of the film, and the experience was very uplifting.  After the audition, I felt I had it.  The only times I have felt like that, I did get the role.  I’m not overly confident in general.  As a child, I never said, “I failed the test” and then got a 90%.  I usually have a pretty good idea of how I did.

After the on-line audition, I wrote this poem:

 

For a Woman

 

So many parallels to my life

as I auditioned for the role

of a divorced woman

a woman who left her husband

for a woman

except the woman

I left my husband for

was me

 

(c) Mindy Matijasevic
February 2024

 

 

     I have some things coming up that might interest you.

• ·        Sunday, April 14^th at 4pm.  Poetry – $5 contribution.  This reading will take place in a poet’s apartment.  If you are interested in attending, let me know so I can ask her about giving out her address.
• ·        Saturday, April 20^th at 1pm.  Poetry – FREE. Tompkins Square Library, 331 East 10^th Street, near Avenue B.  Book party for an anthology of COVID poems.  Copies will be available for purchase.
• ·        Monday, May 6^th at 6:30pm.  Poetry and Prose - $5 donation.  Phoenix Reading Series at Shades of Green, 125 East 15^th Street, NYC.
• ·        Wednesday, May 8^th at 8:30pm.  Comedy Show!  FREE.  Randy Epley’s show at the Selina Chelsea Hotel, in the HOWM Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, 518 West 27^th Street, NYC.
• ·        Friday, June 14^th at 8pm.  Comedy Show!  $15 cover, no minimum at The Artist, 249 City Island Ave., City Island, Bronx, NY.  Featuring Tom Brennan, Paul Hallasy, and Joe Fulton; hosted by me.  Laughter guaranteed!!!

Have a safe eclipse! 

With constant love to CGG-M  ❤❤❤

Mindy Matijasevic, April 2024

This Friday night!!!  8pm  

These women are bringing it for International Women's Day!

249 City Island Avenue/ BX29 bus stops a half block away.  Cover only $15.  Light fare (vegetarian-inclusive) and delicious desserts by Jenny's Sweets available for purchase if desired; not required!  You may even BYOB.

For tickets in advance: March 8th Comedy Show

Hilarity guaranteed.  Hope to see you.

Mindy Matijasevic / March 2024

With constant love to CGG-M  ❤❤❤

 

 

 

For those of you who write poetry and/or appreciate hearing other people’s poetry (especially short poems), I am part of the Brevitas Festival this Tuesday evening, Nov. 28, 2023, 6pm, at The Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, NYC.  Everyone is welcome for only ten dollars which includes a copy of the Brevitas anthology! There will be many readers, and then an open mic for you to share a poem of 14 lines or less if you wish to do so.

 

 

Friday, December 8, 2023, 8pm, at The Artist, 249 City Island Avenue on City Island, Bronx, NY, brace yourself for hilarity at the Almost Winter Comedy Show hosted by me and featuring TJ Meyers, Joanne Filan, and Ken Watter.

 

Only $15 and NO minimum!   You may BYOB.  The wait staff will happily provide a corkscrew if needed, glasses, and ice.  A menu of light fare (vegetarian inclusive) and a selection of desserts from Jenny’s Sweets might tempt you.   Jenny's Sweets

 

On Saturday, December 16^th, I’m doing stand-up in a talent show (mostly rappers performing, I believe).  Details to come. 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Love always to CGG-M ❤❤❤

Mindy Matijasevic, November 2023

 

 

 

Hello everybody.  Do you ever feel like killing someone or something?  Please focus that impulse on these:

https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/spotted_lanternfly/SpottedLanternflyAlert/Pages/default.aspx

 

I try to kill each one I see, but some leap and get away.  I do get many, and I realize that having something that I’m encouraged to kill (and am not totally grossed out by, like waterbugs, roaches, rodents, and some so-called humans) can be kind of cathartic.  So people, I encourage you to kill those mf-ers.

 

On to more pleasant kinds of killing, my next comedy show at The Artist on City Island is Friday, December 8^th at 8pm.  The holiday season on City Island is beautiful.  Nice to spend the day, visit the shops, dine on some seafood (or other options), and then come to The Artist, 249 City Island Avenue, for comedy and dessert (from Jenny’s Sweets).  You are free to BYOB.  Laughter guaranteed.  For those who plan ahead, mark your calendars.

 

 The hilarious line-up:

 

TJ Meyers

 

 

Joanne Filan

  Ken Watter

 

 

And me of course!

 

Quality comedy for incredibly reasonable prices.  $15 admission and NO minimum.  Laughter guaranteed. 

 

 

 

 

Deep love to CGG-M  ❤❤❤

Mindy Matijasevic

November 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was a middle school boy in a scene from Greg Fuchs’ play “School Drill” in the BOOG City Arts Festival two Tuesdays ago.  It was fun for a few minutes to be a boy.  That night of the festival was in Bushwick, Brooklyn.  It is an interesting neighborhood.  To me, it seemed like a blend of the Bronx, the East Village, and the West Village.  Many food trucks, much colorful artwork on the brick buildings, and very lively. 

There’s no pay involved, but it was fun.  The weird part was I hadn’t realized this was for the BOOG Festival until I was there.  When I was asked to do this, though it was by the man who runs the festival, I thought this was a separate thing.  I was under the impression a friend of his, who teaches middle school in the Bronx and works with particularly challenging students, needed actors to perform in a play that he and his students wrote, but I didn’t connect that it was for the festival.  His class had read Anne Frank, the play, and then wrote their own scenes tied to confinement. 

 

Though I have not been accepting unpaid acting jobs due to my pathetic financial situation, this touched my heart.  I’m a Bronxite.  I spent several decades teaching adults who weren’t able to complete their basic education for many very different reasons.  One year, we also read Anne Frank.  It was very eye-opening for many.  So I agreed to do it.  I wanted his students to feel the magic of their words being acted out on stage.  I mistakenly assumed we were performing in the school for the students, parents, and staff.  However, there were no rehearsals, and it was being done in Brooklyn.  I was very puzzled.  

I tried to dress as a 12-year-old boy using whatever items I owned.  I even brought a jacket to cover any sign of boobage.  When I left my house, I realized I forgot to wear sneakers.  I had sandals on and red toenail polish.  I worried that middle school boys would torment their peer for looking like a girl.  I didn’t go back upstairs because I was afraid I was running late.  It turned out that I worried about many unnecessary things.  It was not at a school.  The play was written several years ago.  No middle school students would be there.  It was at a lovely performance space, IVY HOUSE STUDIO on Troutman Street, where most performers shared poetry and music.

 

That evening of the festival was hosted by the talented and beautiful Didi Champagne who also performed later with her band Blueberry High Heels.

 

Regarding health concerns, the specialist I met with was wonderful!  He introduced himself as Marc.  That was a first in my experience.  I am grateful he was who I saw.  Seemed like a beautiful human being.  The next step is I get another CT scan in February (instead of in a year).  Then we look at it again and decide if a biopsy should be done.  I am okay right now.  So let’s keep on having a good time as much as we can! 

 

 

Tremendous love to CGG-M  ❤❤❤

Mindy Matijasevic, September 19, 2023