She So Funny

When I get my azz out there to perform, I feel so good from it.  Last week, at the AITB – Art in the Basin event at Mon Amour Coffee and Wine, I had a great time.  A poet I enjoy, Heather Archibald, was a feature, and I was asked to perform comedy as the other feature.  Additionally there was an open mic. 

Time was tight, so I ended up doing a shorter set than I was prepared to do.  That was fine with me.  I prefer being over-prepared.  It’s a hybrid event, so some of the audience is Zooming in on-line while others are right there in person.  

I was happy to be videotaped, but disappointed that the video didn’t pick up the audience reactions.  There was laughter throughout, and there was one attendee who had something to shout out a few times during my set.  One example:  When, toward the end of a bit about ‘no balls,’ I said that I like the way my jeans fit, he yelled out, “I like the way your jeans fit too.”  It all became part of everything, but when I watched the video, my voice was the only one heard.  Video aside, I had a great experience. 

I feel fortunate to have become to know Tim W. Brown and Amy Joy Robateau, who are such welcoming and supportive hosts and contribute loving vibes to the community.  God/dess knows, we need it.  I believe Ron Marc Trenkler-Thomson (Bronx Art & Fun Hub  https://www.facebook.com/bxafh) had something to do with the connection happening, then further supported by John A. Todras (half of the Elegant Ivory Duo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrHqQhJkUvs) – both extremely supportive people.

From left to right:  Tim W. Brown, me, Amy Joy Robateau, and Heather Archibald.

I had my annual lung scan yesterday.  That was the easy part.  On 2/21, I have to meet with the doctor to discuss the results.  THAT’S the hard part.  My buddy is taking me and will be with me.  I want to be on this Earth for many more years.  I finally got it more together than I had for so long, but health issues give me SOOOO much anxiety. 

Onto happier things – on Wednesday, February 26^th, I’ll be featuring as a poet at Evie Ivy’s reading series at the Green Pavilion, 4307 18^th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (F train to 18^th Avenue station, then a 2-minute walk).  Reasonable prices, well attended, and typically a very satisfying evening.  Evie is a warm and welcoming host.  Sign up for the open mic if you’d like to share something.  It’s a supportive audience.

By the way, if you are looking for a unique and unisex gift, and if this applies, contact me.

Mark your calendar for March 14, 2025, at 8pm for comedy at The Artist on City Island!  Only $15 cover and NO minimum!  You may even BYOB!  More details in the next blog.

Shout out to Jaye for warming my heart with a Valentine card.  This person has been a bright light in my life since I met her some years ago.  She lifts my spirits with each contact.  It seems amazing to me that whenever I’m thinking of her strongly, I hear from her the next day or two.  I feel like I pick up on her energy or she on mine. 

Constant love to CGG-M  ❤💕❤

Mindy Matijasevic

February 2025

My feel-good moment of the day was an email from Home Planet News letting me know that my slice of memoir “Not S’posed to Win” is accepted for publication.  I’ll share the link when I get it.  I wrote it to read at one of Kathryn Adisman’s events, What Were the Sixties Really Like?  It was well received.  I am unsure how it will come across from the page, but I am glad it will be in print.  Thank you, Frank Murphy, editor of Home Planet News.

If you know someone who is gratefully divorced, consider this as a unique gift.  Contact me in the comments or on Facebook or at mindyinthebronx@gmail.com.

I spent Labor Day afternoon enjoying and participating in this festival: Poetry on a Caribbean Breeze.  Curator Heather Archibald told us everyone was Caribbean for the day.  There was calypso music, workshops, featured readers, open mic, and snacks.  I was all set to join the haiku workshop, but then I saw lots of art supplies on another table for Comic Poetry.  I got seduced by the crayons and colored pencils.  I had no idea what Comic Poetry meant.  It had to do with drawing frames a comic strip would have with words, but it had nothing to do with comedy.  I like new creative experiences.  I do believe a certain part of the brain needs stimulation from time to time in order to get juiced up to create whatever one creates – poetry, music, comedy, dance, visual art, etc.

I also read three poems at the open mic.  They were all serious, but the third one made women crack up.  It was a wonderful way to conclude.  I felt good about that for days.  And to think, I almost didn’t go.  It’s been a struggle to get my self to places.

I am so glad that three friends and I are going to see “In the Heights” at a friend’s house and have dinner, wine, etc. this Saturday night.  I had a tiny part in the movie in the rally scene toward the end.  It wasn’t with lines or anything, but several people wrote me asking, “Did I just see you in ‘In the Heights’?”  Yes they did.  I haven’t seen it yet, so I’m looking forward to the whole evening.

Human contact.  Friendship.  Feels good.

Love to CGG-M ❤❤❤

Mindy Matijasevic

September 2021