She So Funny

 

For those who attended the Almost Fall Comedy Show at The Artist on City Island, I’m glad you enjoyed.  For those who wanted to but couldn’t, plan now for December 9^th, 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 Words or 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 show I’m having at The Artist on City Island is Friday, December 9^th.  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 30^th, 6-8pm.  This event offers poetry, prose, music, and belly dancing.  353 West 48^th. 

 

Hope to be in touch again next week.  😊 😁 😃 😄

 

 

Love to CGG-M ❤ 💕 ❤

Mindy Matijasevic

October 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few days back, I received an email inviting me to submit poems for the anthology they put out yearly.  The deadline is June 11^th.  Normally I’d probably be scrambling on June 10^th, but I was busy procrastinating doing something else that was due immediately, so I sent my poems.  The person wrote back thanking me for my promptness.  I had to chuckle.  Meanwhile, I had allowed something else get to a point of almost missing out on something important.  How you see me really depends on how, where, and when we meet.

 

A friend from when I was 15-16 years old, a senior in high school, who I have been lucky to reconnect with in the last decade or more, ordered several of my ‘divorce’ t-shirts, and then instead of just paying for the shirts, sent more than double the bill.  I shake my head even as I read what I just wrote.  I was raised to not feel very deserving.  Experiences like this thankfully interfere with my brain’s wiring or something.  Mainly I find myself shaking my head in disbelief.  I thank God/dess for the angels on Earth.  I don’t yet have words for how deep this goes for me.  On a practical note, it means my phone is still in service.

 

One of the craziest things I’ve read lately:

https://bronx.news12.com/private-florida-school-won-t-employ-vaccinated-teachers

 

Like the crazy man whose orange ass occupied the White House, they seem to think “medical freedom” means you have the right to make others sick and to discriminate against sane people. 

 

In my life, I have often felt like Marilyn in “The Munsters.”  When a malignant narcissist is in a position of power, the entire country becomes sick.  Good is bad, and up is down.  The people who actually care about others are seen as the problem.  (At a former job, “nice” and “sincere” were used as insults, so what made me a hit with students caused conflict among some staff.)  It happens in unhealthy families, in unhealthy job settings, and now on a much larger scale.  To all the Marilyns out there, I appreciate you.

 

 

 

So much love always to CGG-M ❤❤❤

 

Mindy Matijasevic 

4/2021

 

Wow!  People were dancing in the streets for days!!! 

I’ve even seen an increase in my neighborhood peeps wearing masks.  Connected?  I don’t know.

 

My buddy set up my laptop.  It didn’t go totally smoothly because of many technical things that are beyond my ability to re-tell.  For the first time, I was able to attend the Wednesday night poetry workshop where everyone was able to see and hear me as I see and hear them.  That was fun.  However, I did have to put on a shirt, look decent, etc.  J  I was also able to fully participate in a poetry festival this past Sunday.

 

My secret angel made this all possible.  The laptop with a webcam and mic was a gift that boosts me into this era.  Amazing.  One never knows where blessings will come from next.  This person wants to remain anonymous.  Whatever he wants in that regard is fine with me.  I’ll just say he is from the writing community.  My jaw is still hanging.  Oh, in case anyone’s thoughts went there, no, he’s not trying to sleep with me.  He is happily and committedly partnered up.  He’s seen me at poetry readings where I read my stuff, he’s been to a few comedy shows where I performed, he’s heard some memoir pieces of mine, he reads my blogs and knew I lived without certain things, and he wanted to help.  He really stepped me into this era.  I have often said in previous blogs that I so appreciate the angels on Earth who remind me of certain things… like God/dess hasn’t forgotten me.

 

As evil as the human race can be, it is also magically humane.  I’ve seen both and experienced both.  Both amaze me.

 

And since this is a comedy-related blog, I will share something that made me feel good in that part of my life.  On 12/21/2018, a week and some days before Cornelia Street Café had to close, I was in a variety show there, produced by Kathryn Adisman, where I did comedy.  Kathryn recently came across a review by Sarah Dowson in the West View News.  We were not aware that there was a reviewer in the place.  This is what Ms. Dowson wrote (I am mentioned in the third paragraph):

 

Villagers Speak as Cornelia Street Café Curtain Comes Down

02/04/2019

Ghost City Cabaret

 

Friday night, December 21, 2018, 50 or so poetry and Cornelia Street Café lovers turned to the light for winter solstice and a final evening at the café, due to close in several days. Years ago, when I wrote poetry regularly, I attended and read at open mics at the Cornelia Street Café. It was a wonderful space for people to gather, express opinions and make friends. In her introduction to this solstice evening, Ghost City Cabaret’s Katherine Adisman (“K”), verbalized the concerns of many in attendance about the closings of reasonably-priced gathering spaces in Manhattan.

 

Once inside after a wait in the bar/restaurant at street level, and finding a seat downstairs, I passed two tiny gender-neutral restrooms at right angles to each other, painted red. I remembered these, as well as the long, narrow room with tables and chairs and a bar at its entrance. Sitting comfortably was easier if one were small or thin. The cement walls were blue, and a red curtain hung behind the stage in front.

 

A capacity audience of about 50 filled the room. Several writers/performers gave presentations. My favorites: Mindy Matijasevic’s “Comedy for Grown Folks” and drummer Fred Simpson’s musical offerings entitled “Kindness” and “Goodbye, CSC” a tribute to the café. Su Polo gave an outstanding performance of her essay, “A Walk into Christmas” about a possibly lonely pre-holiday evening, walking her dog uptown from 27th Street to Rockefeller Center, and being suddenly surrounded by carolers (her dog in the center of their circle) and then being invited to sing carols: a festive, inclusive evening after all.

 

After an intermission, open mic performers raced the clock to give everyone a chance to perform, as the café was hosting another event shortly. Ghost City Cabaret has been at Cornelia St. Café for four years. It will revive, K said. “To be continued … in another dimension” the evening’s flyer assured.

 

— Sarah Dowson

 

 

 

Much love to CGG-M ❤❤❤

Mindy Matijasevic

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel there are angels on Earth.  They usually don’t make front page news as the devils do.  I would love for a particular angel to reveal her/himself to me.

 

 

Several months ago, when I returned home from the store, a big box was in front of my door.  I hadn’t bought anything, so I thought it might be meant for a neighbor.  I checked and it had my name on it.  No return address.  It was delivered by Amazon Prime.  On the outside of the box, it said, “lithium batteries.”  I was puzzled because the box was so large.

 

I then thought that maybe the landlord sent lithium batteries for the smoke alarm or something.  I let the box sit in my foyer for a few months.  Usually my buddy helps me with things like this, but I hadn’t had him or anyone in my house since the pandemic took over.  Since I thought it was batteries, it didn’t take a high priority for me.  Life went on with more immediate problems and issues, so I tended to forget about the box.

 

Yesterday (Thursday), my buddy was going to come over to help me with something else more pressing, and then I was going to go to his house to help him with something I had more patience with than he.  I remembered the box and asked him for his help with that also since he was in my apartment anyway.  He, too, wondered why a big box said “lithium batteries.”  He opened it, and surprise surprise, it was a brand new laptop including lithium batteries.  He said it might be a rebuilt laptop but it looked brand new.  There was no indication of who sent it.

 

I know in my blogs I have mentioned how acting gigs have been asking for videos in place of in-person auditions, and how that meant no auditions for me since I don’t have all that fancy technology.  Some might call me a dinosaur.  It has more to do with lack of finances than with being a dinosaur.  I’ve also mentioned that when I attend a zoom event, I can see and hear everyone, but since I don’t have a webcam or mic, I can only use the chat box.  So I am thinking it may have been sent from someone who reads my blog.

 

My buddy and I were wearing masks in the apartment which was uncomfortable, and we still had to get to his house to do what he needed done, so we put everything back in the box.  He will set it up for me in the near future.  He told me it has a webcam.  This is exciting.  However, it does mean I will have to be dressed and looking somewhat decent when I attend a zoom event.

 

This is no small gift.  I really want to know who sent it to me.  Several angels came to mind.  But it is very puzzling that the person didn’t ask me if I received it.  It was left by my door.  I am lucky my immediate neighbors on my floor are honest people.  But anyone else could have taken it, and I’d never know since I wasn’t expecting a package.

 

I’m so moved by so many who have helped me out since I lost my job and have been scraping by.  But this feels enormous.  Let me know who you are.  Please.  And THANK YOU!

 

 

Love to CGG-M always.  ❤❤❤

 

 

Mindy Matijasevic  

10/16/2020