She So Funny

September always has that back-to-school feeling to me.  My part-time job leading a creative writing class will be starting up again in a couple of weeks.  Last year was a good experience.

Plus, I am very excited about a class I’ll be taking at the Bronx Museum of the Arts.  It is FREE, and it’s for people over a certain age.  It’s abstract figurative painting.  A totally new experience for me.  Besides being free, the museum will provide the materials needed.  This is exactly the kind of opportunity I need.  It will be 8 sessions over 4 weeks.  The schedule does not conflict with the job.  I am so grateful and excited.

Now, for comedy – I urge you to enjoy City Island while the weather is so pleasant.  Check out the quaint little shops, the restaurants (sea food and other), the view of the water, the seagulls, and then come to see the Almost Fall Comedy Show at The Artist (formerly the Starving Artist Café), 249 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY.  $15 cover/ NO minimum.  You may BYOB.  There is a menu of light fare and delicious desserts, tempting but not required.  The show is on Friday, September 18^th at 8pm.

The line-up: Jose Angel Diaz, Debbie Bazza, and Paul Hallasy, hosted by me. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DU78ET9zh/

The very next night, Saturday, September 19^th at 9pm, I will be in Paul Hallasy’s EAT DRINK LAUGH show at Pangea, 178 Second Avenue, NYC.  Advance tickets ($10 + 1.90 fee) here: https://cur8.com/23871/project/141030

$15 at the door. Pangea separately has a $20 minimum.  Let me know if you are interested in a comp'd ticket; the minimum still applies.

Big love to CGG-M ❤💕❤

Mindy Matijasevic

September 8, 2026

"Are those shoes comfortable?"

Psychopaths Regret Nothing

Were you bullied in school once, weekly or daily? My 8th grade bully sat 2nd row, last desk. Taller than David Whitson and wider than Santos Rivera, Edwina Prescott was right behind me.

The design of our old-style floor bolted desks gave Edwina the perfect target, my butt. I don't know why it started but Edwina Prescott and her protractor point were relentless. There was no way to combat her unseen poking without calling attention to myself. If you've never been subject to Catholic Elementary School disciplinary threats, you have no idea what I risked when I turned and whispered, "Stop it!" Her quiet response was a protractor poke.

Annoyed, distracted and sore, I couldn't endure another week of torture. When Sister John turned from erasing the blackboard, I raised my hand and slowly approached her. Quietly, calmly I explained my plight and asked if I could change my seat? "No, do you think you're in a restaurant?" Puzzled, I returned to my seat remembering the only time I'd been to a restaurant. I'd climbed the dank stairs to Chop Suey* on Fulton St. at Franklin Ave. and never ordered Egg Fu Yung again.

Six rows of eyes watch me sulk back down the aisle and slide into my desk. When I offered nothing else to see, as if on cue all eyes turned away. I considered a swift back hand to Edwina's big smirky grin. That satisfaction would leave me subject to suspension and my straight A "conduct" record besmirched. I couldn’t defend myself against Edwina’s protractor point poking. It continued until…I imagine it ceased to entertain her. My bully's ability to inflict harm extended as far as I allowed and Sister John ignored. I don’t know if she intimidated anyone else, protractor or no. After graduation big back Edwina shrank shadow thin to occasionally haunt my hall of would a, could a, should a.

I marvel at (and possibly envy?) those who give no thought to “authority” or consequences. My big faced, broad backed, buxom 8th grade nemesis was a child out of control. Was she emotionally disturbed, chemically unbalanced or just living her best life?

Edwina Prescott didn’t call me a racial slur, knock me to the ground or punch me in the stomach. She never spray-painted graffiti like KKK, kill all blacks, H^il Hitler or niqqer**. From elementary school to the day he died Austin Metcalf did ALL THESE THINGS AND MORE, yet his physically intimidating character and chronic anti-social behavior was NOT allowed as evidence at Karmelo Anthony’s trial for defending himself against a notorious bully. Would a, could a, should a.

*Yes that was the real name!

**You know what these are.

Rhonda's Here:

Tuesdays 2 PM Weekly: The John Fugelsang Show - SiriusXMProg & YouTube

9 PM Sat. Sept. 19th: Pangea Eat Drink Laugh - A Standup Comedy Show

5 PM Sun Sept 20th: The Armenian Power Hour - A Storytelling Show

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#NinaSimoneOfComedy #NotYourGrandmasComic #Politoonitics #AgingMagnificently

People, if you want to enjoy a show full of laughter, I have two shows coming up in September.  Always wonderful to see friends in the audience.  😄

          Friday, September 18 at 8pm is my Almost Fall Comedy Show at The Artist, 249 City Island Avenue, City Island, Bronx, NY.  The BX29 bus gets you there.  Cover is only $15, NO minimum!  There is a menu of light fare (vegetarian inclusive) and delicious desserts that is tempting but not required.  Plus you may BYOB.  The welcoming staff will supply glasses, ice, and a corkscrew if needed.

The next night on Saturday, September 19 at 9pm, I will be performing at Pangea, 168 Second Avenue, in Paul Hallasy’s Eat Drink Laugh show.  It’s always a good time.  Besides the cover, there is a $20 minimum. I have two tickets that allows you in free but still the minimum applies.  So the first two to ask gets the complimentary tickets.  I’ll need to have your names on the list asap.  My email is mindyinthebronx@gmail.com. 

On another topic, if you are interested in purchasing my poetry chapbook, No One Called Him Topless, you may order it from the publisher.  Here is her contact info:  esther@purgatorypiepress.com  You can pay by check, Zelle, or Venmo.  Some of my poetry is humorous; some is serious. 

For those of you who know me mainly as a comic, I want to credit real friendship, memoir writing, poetry, and therapy with helping clear the way to my funny.  Additionally, and probably most importantly, my dear mother had a terrific sense of humor.  I just wish I had more quality time with her.

I appreciate your interest and support very much.

Love always to CGG-M 💜 💛 💚 💓 ❤

Mindy Matijasevic

August 23, 2026

People, the chapbook launch went very well on Sunday, July 26, 2026.  I thank Diana Gitesha-Hernandez for providing the venue and her voice (singing and speaking), her spirit, generosity, and encouragement, etc.

The backroom in Tio Pepe has a skylight and is quite inviting.  Diana really stirs up the enthusiasm.  Esther K. Smith, publisher of Klytemnestra Press, had many items to offer for purchase aside from my chapbook, No One Called Him Topless.  She was one of the featured readers along with Ron Kolm, Mindy Levokove, and Diana Gitesha-Hernandez.

Two women, who were in my creative writing class, attended the reading.  Some of my poems are not very teacher-like.  So I always feel a bit self-conscious in that situation, but that’s okay.  I grow a thicker skin.  And that is needed for my comedy path.  The women had no problem with my themes and language.  They enjoyed it very much.

Speaking of comedy, my next show at The Artist on City Island in the Bronx -- the “Almost Fall Comedy Show” – will be on Friday, September 18^th at 8pm.  Only $15 and no minimum!  You may even BYOB.  The terrific and very varied line-up:

Mindy Matijasevic  

Jose Angel Diaz                 

Paul Hallasy           

I am as excited to be an audience member as I am to be the producer.  I like my taste, and I feel good with my choices.  To top it off, those who run The Artist, Elliot and Monica Glick, are so welcoming and wonderful.  It is a performance space, not a comedy club. They do have a menu of light fare (vegetarian inclusive) and delicious desserts, tempting but not required.

If you like to plan ahead, mark your calendar for 9/18/2026 @ 8pm for hilarity!  I’d love to see you and hear you laughing. 

On another note, I have yet to step on a scale, but my jeans are sliding down.  I hope this means I lost a few pounds and not that I stretched out my jeans. 

With appreciation of you taking the time to read this,

Mindy

Major love to CGG-M  ❤ ❤ ❤

Mindy Matijasevic

August  11, 2026

    The poetry chapbook launch for “No One Called Him Topless” has been rescheduled and relocated!!!

Sunday, July 26^th from 1 to 3pm

Tio Pepe’s, 168 West 4^th Street, NYC

Back room with skylight!

    I hope everyone who was inclined to attend will read this updated info.

Constant love for CGG-M  ❤ 💖 ❤

Mindy Matijasevic

July 18, 2026

Hey people!  Hope life is at least okay-ish for you.

The end of June had some needed good times for me.  On June 25^th, students from my creative writing classes (from the fall session, the winter session, and the spring session) who chose to, gave a beautiful reading of their stories, slices of memoir, poetry, and a song.  They were wonderful, I was thrilled, the audience enjoyed, and my supervisor seemed very pleased.  It was so nice to meet the special people in some students’ lives.  I met the brother of one, daughters of others, wives of others, a son of another, a girlfriend of another – it felt so warm and good.  We had good food and beverages and great energy.  A success.  Plus, I was able to take home some food.

To top it off, my darling friend Judy, attended, enjoyed it, and then took me out for drinks after the reading. ❤❤❤  I had a great night.

The next evening, Friday, June 26^th, I was part of a reading at the Bronx Council on the Arts.  It featured the authors published in the Bronx Memoir Project, vol. 10.  My buddy Bob came with me. ❤❤❤ That was thrilling for me.  He drove (which beats two trains or two buses).  They also had good food.  Bob knew what story I would read, but he had never heard me deliver it.  He enjoyed it a lot and told me so.  The executive director told me that I was “great.”  I had to hug him.  I am so happy to be connected with the Bronx Council on the Arts.  They have made an important difference in my life.  Plus, I was able to take home some food.

Now for upcoming stuff:

·       Sunday, July 12^th at 8:30 Randy Epley’s COMEDY SHOW at 13-02 44^th Avenue, Queens, New York

·       Monday, July 20^th at 7pm CHAPBOOK LAUNCH at One and One  (downstairs at the Nexus Lounge) at First Avenue and First Street, NYC.  Happy Hour all Monday day and night!  My poetry chapbook, “No One Called Him Topless” will be available for purchase.  Diana Gitesha-Hernandez’ beautiful jazz CD, Imbued, will also be available for purchase.

·        Friday, September 18^th 8pm Almost Fall Comedy Show at TheArtist, 249 City Island Avenue, Bronx, New York.  $15 and NO minimum!

So if you like to plan in advance, mark your calendars now.  I’d be glad to see you.

Poetry and comedy make life's challenges more digestible.  Come digest with me.

Constant, unconditional love to CGG-M ❤❤❤

Mindy Matijasevic

July 10, 2026 

Hey, everyone.  I appreciate that you are checking in.

Great poetry reading on 5/27/2026 at Evie Ivy’s series at the Green Pavilion.  My co-feature was an author with many books out there -- Ron Kolm.  I appreciate him as a human, a friend, and as a writer.

 

My experience at the Green Pavilion is always one I’m glad to have had.  If I lived closer, I’d be there a lot more often.

My forthcoming chapbook from Klytemnestra Press, No One Called Him Topless, will be celebrated on the evening of July 20^th, 7pm at One and One,  I’ll send out announcements, but pencil it in on your calendars.

Now get out your FLAIR pens to mark your calendars – JUNE 19, 2026, 8pm, the Almost Summer Comedy Show  at The Artist, 249 City Island Avenue, City Island, Bronx, New York.  Only $15, no minimum, though light fare and delicious desserts will be tempting and available for purchase (but NOT required).  You may even BYOB.  Glasses, corkscrew, ice, etc. will be offered.  A lovely family-run place.

The wonderful line-up for Juneteenth:

Rob Sajous, Leighann Lord, and Shelly Colman

Hope so much to see you and hear your laughter.

Much love to CGG-M  ❤💗❤

Mindy Matijasevic

June 2026

Hello loyal readers.

Well Mother’s Day was not easy – loving and missing my mother and my son. It’s rarely been an easy holiday for me due to many reasons I won’t go into here.  The candle for my mother is still burning.

Moving along … in the past week, I learned a poem of mine, On Virginity, would be published in “Remembering Hal Sirowitz.”  Also, a slice of memoir was accepted to be included in “Bronx Memoir Project – vol. X” and that slice is called, Big Butt; He Cannot Lie.

Good things happen along with difficult things – the ups and downs, the yin and yang of life.

I’ve needed to return to selling things.  In the cold and cool weather, I set up my table in my lobby.  That limits my customers to neighbors.  When it is warm again and I set up outside, I have the possibility of many more customers but also many more shady characters to deal with.  In the lobby today, I only made $4, but it is 4 more than zero.  Anything helps financially and helps getting things out of my overloaded apartment.

My creative writing class is going very well.  I judge it by how good students feel, what they say, the work they do, and how good I feel at the end of a class.  Similar to when I taught folks who wanted to complete their basic education, I find the students are so relieved when they realize the teacher is a regular person.  That’s my claim to fame – not coming from teacher-land.  Simply being the person I am.  From there, we do great work. 

It is really nice to be teaching again.  The subject matter is different from what I used to teach, so I have to work to come up with plans.  It varies depending on what each group of students hopes to get from the class.  I try to address most of what they want.  Sometimes, I write alongside of the students, and sometimes I also share what I’ve written.  We truly have a good time.  One student in the fall cycle said, “This was like a writing party!”  That felt great.

Now, for the funny – on Wednesday, May 20, from 6-9pm, Diana Gitesha-Hernandez is having her jazz show, Diva Dive, at Tio Pepe’s.  I am going to do 2 short comedy sets on their breaks.  They are at 168 West 4^th Street.  No cover.  No minimum.  Good food, good music, good comedy. 

Hope you’ll want to be part of the fun.

Mindy Matijasevic

So much love to CGG-M ❤ 💕 ❤

May 14, 2026