Glad to say I’ve had several
affection sessions recently with my feline girlfriend, Mustache.When it’s been a few days without a visit, I
miss her.I miss pure, four-legged,
furry love.So when we see each other,
it’s intense.She’s talking up a storm
(in cat talk), and I tell her, “I know.I missed you too.I come here and
wonder where’s Mustache?”The
worker who doesn’t like me probably feels nauseous when he hears us.LOLThe
owner and son of the owner appreciate my loving relationship with Mustache, so the
negative guy can go … be with himself.
When I performed in Paul Hallasy’s
fundraiser for Kamala comedy show at Pangea last month, I was so fortunate that
more people, who I invited, attended than I expected, and one of them, Cicely
Brooks, shared a bit of video she took.Here it is:
Between several poetry pals and the Bronx Council on the Arts,
my evenings
have been enriched with zoom workshops and classes (memoir and poetry).And it is thanks to friends that I have a mic
and camera which allows me to participate.It is so uplifting to my spirit.
Upcoming events:
Saturday, Oct. 26th at 7pm – Dance of the Word –
produced by Evie Ivy.There will be
poetry, music, belly dancing, wine, light fare.353 Studios, Studio 1, 353 W. 48thSt., 2nd fl. A train to 42nd St., 44th St. exit, or E to 50th St. Join us for a fun evening. $15 at the door. Refreshments, wine and cheese, etc. I'll be sharing poetry.
Sunday, Oct. 27th at 1pm – Artemis – produced by
Diana Gitesha Hernandez. Reading series at One + One, Nexus Lounge, 76 1st Street (off 1st
Avenue), NYC.I’ll be one of the
features sharing poetry.$5 donation and 1 drink minimum.
Saturday, Nov. 2nd at 9pm – Eat Drink Laugh – another
fundraiser for Kamala’s campaign comedy show! Produced by Paul Hallasy. Ticket sales for this show go to Act Blue.Pangea, 178 2nd Avenue, NYC.
The “Listen to Your Mother” show was a very good
experience.One of my favorite humans
attended the afternoon show.I did not
know that she had been there until the next day when she emailed me. Thanks so much, Jaye. The hardest part for me
was saying goodbye to the cast.They
came from all over the United States and Canada.We all appreciated each other so much.Not only our stories, but our spirits.
For those of you in NYC on May 5th, 7pm, I will be
sharing my poetry at “Dance of the Word” – an event by Evie Ivy that includes
poetry, prose, music, and belly dancing.Plus there will be wine and light fare.A beautiful way to spend a Friday evening. 353 W. 48 Street, 2nd floor, Studio 3, NYC. ($15)
These short videos have lifted my spirits recently and I hope
they do it for you, too:
And on Tuesday, May 16th at 6pm, the “Prosettas,”
of which I am a part,will be giving aprose reading at the Jefferson Market
Library, 425 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011. Powerful short prose pieces by a diverse
group of voices. FREE.
I’d LOVE you to mark your calendars for June 2nd,
8pm, to get your behinds to my comedy show at The Artist on City Island.It’s the most reasonably priced comedy show
in NYC.($15 cover; NO minimum; lots of
laughter.)Details to come.
Life continues to be interesting – full of surprises, some
good and some not.I had a very good
evening with a cousin who’d been trying to get together with me for many
years.I had felt unable to do it for so
long, not because of whom he is but more because of a very problematic family
history.Fortunately, he never gave up.I also knew if I never gave it a chance, I’d
regret it.
We got together last Friday night.He treated me to dinner and drinks.We talked for about five hours.We both learned a lot of what we’ve each been
through.At no point did he deny my
reality which had been a big concern for me.Now I am looking forward to our next time getting together.
Now, for those of you who enjoy all kinds of art forms, I’ll
be sharing my poetry at Evie Ivy’s “Dance of the Word.”There will be other poets, possibly some
prose, music, and most definitely belly dancers.I love watching belly dancing.I find it meditative.Here are the details:
Friday, Feb. 10, 2023
7pm
353 W. 48 Street
$15 includes wine and
light fare
Time permitting, an open
mic where you can perform!
I spent the past
weekend working on an application for a grant for my memoir writing.There are so many details to the applying
process, and at times I felt like giving up.I kept asking myself how I’d feel if I didn’t even enter the ring.So I kept marching on.I am so glad I did.But it wasn’t stress-free, that’s for sure.The winners will be announced in May.
Each time I push
through something, I feel more capable for future opportunities.I was left feeling proud, relieved, and
mentally exhausted.It also provided a
justification for not doing housework that is piling up.But the next day I needed to recover from
lack of sleep.
On February 10th,
I will be featured at Evie Ivy’s “Dance of the Word” in midtown, an event that
has poetry, prose, music, and belly dancing.
On February 26th, I will be one of four features reading
memoir at Michael Graves’ series at the Bus Stop Café in the West Village.Both events include an open mic portion of the
evening.Feel free to come and share
something with us.
The next comedy show at
The Artist on City Island will be in March.I will update you on the date and other details.I hope the almost spring weather will make
folks want to come out and enjoy.
For those who attended the Almost Fall Comedy
Showat The Artist on
City Island, I’m glad you enjoyed.For
those who wanted to but couldn’t, plan now for December 9th, 8pm.It’s a very
fun time.
Health and financial issues are still happening, but so are
blessings.A long-time friend made me an
offer I couldn’t refuse.It’s a loan
with no deadline other than when I can.It got me out of a hole I was sinking into.It also has given me a chance to get acting
work again.I wouldn’t even apply for
things since the pandemic, but now that the situation is more under control
(aside from West Nile, Polio, Monkey Pox, new strains of Covid), I HAVE to earn
money again.My friend saw that it
couldn’t happen if my internet and phones would be shut off.That motivated her to offer me a life
vest.I was not happy to need it, but so
grateful to her.
A couple of months ago, my tv set lost the picture.So I’ve been listening to tv sometimes the
way we listened to the radio.Some shows
are still good enough without the picture.Family Feud and 25 Wordsor Less are
still enjoyable to me.Sometimes I
listen to reruns of shows I’ve seen and characters whose voices I know.Since I have bigger problems, I haven’t done
anything about it.It didn’t make the
top five list.Well, the same angel who
gave me a loan has a niece who was getting rid of a working tv.My friend took it home and when we get
together, I’ll have it.There are many
ways I feel blessed.
The idea of a tv with the picture seems luxurious at this
moment.I look forward to it.
The apartment building where I live has had no gas for a
couple of months now.It may not for a few
more months.Having a flame from my
stove would feel like luxury also.When
you don’t have something you want or need for a while, it’s a real good feeling
to have it again.
Speaking of good feelings, the next comedy showI’m having
at The Artiston City Island is Friday,
December 9th.If at that
time, you are still holiday shopping, there are lovely shops on City Island
with unique gift items.Plus I’ll be
bringing some of my remaining inventory of this unique, unisex, gift item:
If this appeals to you, I’ll be sharing poetry
and/or short prose at Evie Ivy’s “Dance of the Word” event on Sunday, October 30th,
6-8pm.This event offers poetry, prose,
music, and belly dancing. 353 West 48th.
Thanksgiving Hanukkah My Birthday My Son's Birthday Christmas New Years sprinkled with birthdays of loved ones who have passed and anniversaries of the passing of loved ones --- enough! Enough I say. I wrote to reconnect with an aunt who then called me, and her tone of voice reminded me of why there had to be distance to begin with. Ugh.
One of the nice parts of my birthday was the break from winter weather. That felt like a gift. The best part of my birthday was my best friend. I am very grateful. We both chuckled at this.
Honestly, I have so much digging out to do still -- in many ways -- and I don't really have any readiness for all this. The only evidence of holiday in my apartment this year is a display of the cards I received and a couple of rolls of wrapping paper for my son's gifts. I am glad I have been able to cover my bills without borrowing money so far. My evening job stops for a few weeks, so while I welcome the time to do other things, I am on less income for the month. I am glad my son is doing some purposeful things with himself. My old and wonderful dog is hanging in there. In the fall, I was upgraded on my day job. Earlier in the year, another poet whose work I like a lot asked me to collaborate on a chapbook of poems set in the Bronx. There are very good things happening that matter to me. But in many ways, I still feel like I am dragging bricks inside. As a result, I'm not as far along in some areas as I expected to be (the apartment is a big example). End of year time and birthdays and holidays just seem to highlight all of that because of the expectations that come with those special times.
Along with all of it all, I truly enjoyed performing stand-up at the Grisly Pear on 12/19. One of the show's producers is someone whose warmth has from time to time made me want to treat him as my pillow. But he is not available for pillowing. He is married, and by that I mean he is a husband. By comparison, I realize I had been married to the anti-husband. The show was on a Thursday and wasn't as well attended as I'd have liked. A co-worker/friend came to the show. The audience that was there was attentive. The other comics were attentive as well. In that sense, it was a supportive atmosphere. Plus it was special because one of the original producers of the show, who left to live in California, was visiting and performing. It had been a while since I was in a show doing stand-up. It meant a lot to me to do well not only because my co-worker was there, but I wanted the man who booked me to not regret it. He makes me feel accepted and appreciated. That helps me relax in a way where I can make off the cuff comments from stage, and they work. I feel proud that I finally have a bit about teaching. And it went well.
I was the only female comic that evening. It was a decent bunch of people, and at no point did I have to say "Eeeeuuwww." I appreciated the gay comic, Nick Haby, who helped open things up by asking the audience who takes it up the ass. I love the courage -- both to take it up the ass and to ask the audience who among them does.
The day before the show, I had to remind myself that no one is making me do this. I do this because I want to. The day after the show, I felt the experience was confidence building. I knew I would continue with this. I wish I had measured each life step that accurately.
For my birthday, my best buddy offered to do whatever might make me feel good. We worked on a part of my apartment mess, I donated two bags of clothes and shoes to a nearby shelter for women and children, and I finally opened a package containing a coat I had ordered for myself but never took out of the package. I tried it on and was pleased. Forty-five minutes after my birthday was technically over, I received a birthday text from someone I love dearly. However, I didn't see it until the next day. Still good. It's quite complicated and involves my son, his dad, and a whole lotta stuff. Not for blogging... at least not under my real name.
The day after my birthday, I was part of Dance of the Word, an Evie Ivy production at the Cornelia Street Cafe.
Sunday, Dec 22 - 6:00PM DANCE OF THE WORD, HOLIDAY EVENT Alan Baxter, MC Evie Ivy; Austin Alexis; Gordon Gilbert; Mindy Matijasevic; Robert Gibbons; Peggy Fitzgerald; Fred Arcoleo; Hau C Le
Ringing in the HOLIDAY Fun! with special poetry, music, comedy, and dance Performances by: Evie Ivy, Austin Alexis Gordon Gilbert, Mindy Matijasevic Robert Gibbons, Peggy Fitzgerald Fred Arcoleo, with guitar and song & Hau C Le on classical guitar in a special dance number with Evie $15.00 includes a drink http://www.gander.tv/event/cornelia-street-cafe-dance-word-holiday-event-1222-6pm-8pm
It was fun. Fred Arcoleo involved the audience in music-making. He gave out all kinds of percussion instruments and rocked it. He teaches high school, so he is more than qualified to get some audience participation going. Robert Gibbons delivered his poem part speak/part song. I love when he does that. There were a number of performers, poets and otherwise. I was scheduled to read poetry. One that I shared is a sonnet I was once asked to write where each line was to be one syllable.
Women Do Tell
She
said
he
pled
for
some
more
from
'tween
her
mean
fur.
Got
hot!
(c) Mindy Matijasevic 1996,2013
Though I made my selection that morning, I thought that since it was a holiday show, I should have something holiday related. So not in the spirit this year, I had to start from there. This is what I read.
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