She So Funny

People, I feel so fortunate in some ways.  I’ve had enough creative projects going on recently (and it’s not over) to have me busy with work I want to do.  I don’t want to be misunderstood – my decades of teaching adults were frequent opportunities to be creative.  My students and I, for the most part, had a real good and growing time.  But recently, I’ve been engaged with other creative work – memoir writing, poetry writing, giving readings, producing and performing stand-up comedy, an upcoming off-off Broadway production of Listen to Your Mother in which I’m cast. 

Each event is its own kind of wonderful.  A few actually pay money.  Yahoo.  It’s so needed.

Art In The Basin booked me to read a half hour of whatever I wanted.  I shared short autobiographical stories.  I had a great time.  The hosts were soooo welcoming, the audience so attentive, the venue (Mon Amour Coffee & Wine) so accommodating. 

There was a hybrid open mic.  My buddy drove me there and attended though he was so very exhausted.  We are chosen ‘siblings’ for over 40 years. We go out of our way for each other.

I had a very encouraging experience doing stand-up (the art I find most challenging) at the International Women Artists’ Salon’s event.  It feels so wonderful when the audience is with me from the beginning.  It feels easy from there, but when that doesn’t happen … 

Also, I was able to sell some shirts at that event!

This Saturday, April 1^st at 3pm and at 7pm (and an option to livestream the 7pm show), I’m part of this unique production. Still some tickets available!  Listen to Your Mother

Much love always to CGG-M  ❤💕❤

Mindy Matijasevic 

March 2023

    For the past few years, I haven’t consistently kept up my appearance.  Of course when I am going on an audition or if I’m in a show, I do bother to look good, but in general when I go to the store or take out the garbage, I look bummy.  I think I went pandemic and didn’t come back. 

    Today when I was returning from two stores in my sweatpants, hoodie, dungaree jacket, mask, no make-up, no earrings, I was thinking that maybe my mood would be uplifted a bit if I bothered to put in some effort to look nice.  As I turned the corner, a man who appeared to be in my age range said hello and acted like he knew me.  I didn’t recognize him but in case I was mistaken, I nodded.  Then he came over to me and said, “You live around here, right?”  I nodded and thought he needed directions or something.  Well, I was wrong.

    “You give me fuck, and I give you money.”

    “Nooo.”  I continued walking away.

    “You have Tinder?”

    “Nooo.”

    I waited until he was far enough away before crossing the street to my building.  My head was spinning.  Is there someone on Tinder who looks like me, I wondered.  I'm not on any dating site.  What about me screams prostitute?  Nothing.  Even when I look bummy, this happens.  So do I really want to go out there looking good?  If I had looked good, I may have attributed this event as punishment for beauty.  After all, we are typically blamed for this kind of shit.

    I’ve known men who said that if they were women, they’d never be broke.  Yeah right.  Let them bend over for anonymous desperate dick and tell me what it’s like. 

    When I entered my lobby, I saw that some neighbor put out a bag of refundable cans.  I gratefully took the bag upstairs.  After returning cans at the supermarket, I can live with myself. 

    Geez.

    Now back to my actual life.  I’ll be sharing autobiographical stories this Tuesday, March 21^st, 7pm at Mon Amour Coffee and Wine, 234 West 238^th Street in the Bronx.  

    The event is free, whether in person or on Zoom.  It includes an open mic, so feel free to bring something to share.  Very welcoming atmosphere.  No one will ask you to fuck for money.  How refreshing!

Much love to CGG-M ❤💕❤

Mindy Matijasevic

March 2023

Just returned from Miami Beach last night.  While I was away, NYC had weather in the balmy 50s.  I came back in time for freezing 20s.  I was lucky to get such a vacation.  A poetry friend was given a trip for two to Miami Beach as a birthday gift.  She asked me to join her – airfare and hotel paid for.  I was treated to the meals.  It was a total indulgence.  Though it was very nice to be somewhere warm in February and to have housekeeping service, I am glad to be home.  Home is not at all luxurious, but it is home.

Now for local news:

Sunday, February 26^th at 7pm -- The Prosettas (a group of four talented writers of prose and memoir) will be reading at BUS STOP CAFÉ, 597 Hudson Street in the West Village, NY, NY.  The series of readings is curated by Michael Graves.  Admission is free though a contribution of $5 is requested.  This event includes a limited open mic.  Feel free to bring something to share and sign up for the open.

https://www.busstopcafe-nyc.com/contact-2

Friday, March 10^th at 8pm – Almost Spring Comedy Show featuring an all-female line-up for Women’s History Month at THE ARTIST, 249 City Island Avenue, NY, NY.  $15 cover, no minimum (though you might be tempted by the light fare and delicious desserts).  You can BYOB.  The wonderful line-up: Dara Jemmott, Jean Kim, Rachael Parenta, and me of course.  https://www.facebook.com/events/740061454358273 

Tuesday, March 21^st at 7pm – I’ll be sharing slices of memoir as the feature for Art in the Basin at Mon Amour Coffee & Wine, 234 West 238^th Street, Bronx, NY.  This event includes a rockin’ hybrid open mic!

https://www.instagram.com/artinthebasin/

https://www.facebook.com/artinthebasin/

Saturday, April 1^st at 3pm and 7pm – Listen to Your Mother at Theatre 71 just off Broadway.  152 West 71^st Street, NY, NY.

https://theatre71.venuetix.com/show/details/TqcmhvqRVhNOGJrWs7ZY/1680390000000?fbclid=IwAR14r5mWE4v4Ektkkly5IuFdsPkedDvu_ZgfJ7M-P-ZBhWjhOgaxWpNqtCE

https://www.facebook.com/events/1122380505126561?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22group%22%7D]%7D

Hope something appeals to everyone.  Would be glad to see you.

Constant love to CGG-M  ❤❤❤

Mindy Matijasevic

February 2023