She So Funny

    Hi people.  Puh-leeze mark your calendars for a very funny show on September 12^th at 8pm on City Island – a lovely place to spend the day and then come to THE ARTIST for comedy and dessert!  The show features Mike Hernandez Vacas, TJ Meyers, Linda San Lucas, and me of course.  Tickets may be bought in advance or at the venue.  (Link to come in the near future.) 

    I was supposed to be a reader at the Poetry Festival on Governor’s Island on July 13^th.  I felt honored that Diana Gitesha Hernandez asked me to read at her portion of the festival to represent her reading series, Artemis.  Unfortunately, I was not feeling well from the night before, and though I remained hopeful, I was not feeling better by the next day.  Diana was very understanding.  I was grateful for that.  It was my loss. 

    I continue to sell items from my buddy’s mother.  One day, my best buddy hung out with me during that time.  He helped me so much to get things downstairs and back upstairs.  Four tops and a necklace sold in a half hour.  That allowed me to get a slice of pizza and a bottle of Cabernet.  Even when I only make a little bit of cash, it helps me get through the day.

    Now for the disgusting events.  While the pizza shop boss was bringing my slice out of the oven, he kept looking at something on the other side of the store.  Then he left my slice, grabbed a broom, went out from behind the counter, and was banging something that was under a table.  I couldn’t bear it and closed my eyes.  He returned and bagged my slice.  I wish I wasn’t there for that moment.

    When I got home, I went to the bathroom, and there was a water bug in there.  DAMN!  Though I managed to wash my hands and leave the bathroom, the thing is still alive somewhere.  I’m not okay. 

    Tuesday I went with my buddy to his mom’s apartment again to get through more stuff.  My apartment looks like a hoarder’s place since I’ve been bringing stuff from her house.  It already had too much stuff, and now it is beyond that.  I hope I make more money from all that inventory because I sure need every dollar.

    I was hired to teach a creative writing class for retirees of a labor union.  It will begin in September.  I haven’t been in a teaching position in a few years, and I’m excited about it.  I expect it to be an enjoyable experience, and the money will definitely help my situation.  My best bud told me he'd love to have me as a creative writing teacher.  That melted me.

    Did you mark your calendars for lots of laughter on September 12^th?

Tremendous love to CGG-M ❤ 💕 💜 
Mindy Matijasevic
July 2025

Since I was last in touch with you, I enjoyed being in Randy Epley’s Comedy Dungeon show.  A friend, Vincent, who left NJ years ago and moved to Florida, was visiting his NJ and NYC peeps, and he attended the show.  That made it special for me.   

Vincent also attended Paul Hallasy’s Eat Drink Laugh show two days later with our darling friend Judy.  I had a great experience in that show.  I always have a great experience in Paul’s show, not only performing in it but watching it as well.  Vincent, Judy, and I hung out afterwards which I love.

        Then on June 20^th, at my show at The Artist – the comics were wonderful.  I just wish more people had attended.  By the end, a small group assembled outside and were laughing and cheering at Paul Hallasy's comedic song.  But, they weren’t paying guests.  I’ve got to get the audience numbers up again.  Before the pandemic, the place was packed.  My next show at The Artist will be on September 12^th at 8pm.  Mark your calendars now, please.

Blocking my fatness is Paul Hallasy, to the right of me in the photo is Rob Sajous, Elliot Glick (who welcomes our show in his venue), Debbie Bazza, and our wonderful waitress.

On June 27^th, there was a book launch for the Bronx Memoir Project, vol. 9.  It was held at the Poe Center at Poe Park (where Edgar Allan Poe’s cottage is preserved) in the Bronx.  Two of my short-short slices of memoir are in that anthology.  I was one of the readers at the launch, and it felt fantastic.  I received so much appreciation.  It still feels good.  https://www.amazon.de/Bronx-Memoir-Project-J-F-Seary/dp/B0FDKSQW4R

I’ve mentioned my buddy/brother Bob here before.  His mom was days away from turning 103, but passed on five days before her birthday.  She still had a lot together at 101, but after that, it seemed it was more medical issues than joy.  I’ve been with my buddy through a lot of it.  It’s been an intense few years.  Now we are working on clearing out her co-op apartment.  Like many adult children find, there’s LOADS of stuff to go through.  Bob found his baby pictures, photos of his mom when she was a hot-to-trot young woman, and his father’s poetry.  There are tons of things to sort through.  His mom had a shopping jones.  There are many things she bought but never wore – shoes, handbags, clothing, and jewelry – which still had tags on them.  Bob was happy to let me try to sell many items.  Yesterday, I made a little over eighty bucks.  That helped me.  I hope she’s smiling.  Knowing her, she might be saying, “Charge more!”

Esther Cohen was quite a woman.  I hope she sees what’s going on down here and has our backs.  We need all the help we can get.  

Loads of love to CGG-M  ❤ ❤ 👪👪 ❤ ❤

Mindy Matijasevic

July 6, 2025