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    Showing posts with label best friend. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label best friend. Show all posts

  1. Comics Doing Poetry, etc.

    Tuesday, April 16, 2024

     


     

     








        The poetry reading last Sunday lifted my spirits.  It was a small-ish turnout, but high in quality.  Plus I got to see and hear the work of my friend, Mindy Levokove.  Michael Graves curates this part of the Phoenix Series, and he was so encouraging to me.  I appreciate him very much.

        The weather was delightful.  But still I was late.  My #4 train stop was being bypassed by downtown trains due to track work.  I had to take the train uptown to go downtown.  Then, at 42nd, I had to switch to the #6.  I have seen too much local news and find myself afraid of being in the subway.  So I had anxiety the whole way down about that and being late.

        But the atmosphere felt so good, the people so accepting.  They appreciated my poetry and verbalized it.  It’s a nourishing feeling, different than other kinds of nourishment.

        The Monday before, I spent the eclipse with my two closest friends.  We went to the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn and observed the eclipse from there with our special glasses.  Mainly, I loved the three of us being together.

        Tuesday, 4/16, was my best friend’s birthday.  He and I got together for the evening portion of his birthday.  Went out for Indian food (he treated), and we hung out talking.  I had a zero-budget situation, so I made him a very personal card that only ‘besties’ could do.  It caused a LOTTA laughter.  He appreciated that very much.  On zero budget, it was a goodie.  But it will have to go in a hidden file.

        This Saturday, 4/20, I will be part of a reading at the Thompkins Square Library, 331 East 10th Street, NYC.  Evie Ivy put together an anthology of poems during COVID and is curating this reading and selling copies of the anthology.  It’s at 1:00pm and is FREE.  If this appeals to you, come on over.

        If you need a unique gift for a male or female who this applies to:





    please let me know.  My email is mindyinthebronx@gmail.com.  They are Hanes, size XL.

     

     

    Forever love to CGG-M  ❤💜💕
    Mindy Matijasevic
    April 2024

    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 11:51 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , | 1 comments | |

  2. Comedy Shows and an Early Birthday Gift

    Monday, November 8, 2021


     








    I was without the luxury of the internet for a couple of weeks.  I’m glad that is solved. 

     

    The autumn comedy show at The Artist had a great line-up.  In that sense, it was very good.  However, we didn’t get as much audience as I’m accustomed to.  I hope we can get back up to the pre-pandemic audience size.  Back then, Elliot (the owner) said he’d be glad to get more chairs if necessary.  It was that packed.  If you were not at the 10/22 show, these were the funny folks you missed.


    Pudge Fernandez

    Jean Kim




    Linda San Lucas


    Hosted by yours truly...       


    Mindy Matijasevic


    Audience members and some comics connected after the show.  That warmed me.  Several friends and I went for drinks afterwards, and I heard so much great feedback about the comics’ performances.  I’m usually proud of the line-up, and this was no exception.


     .....


    Again I’m guilty of watching The Bachelorette.  Now I know what I like about it.  I see how women get rid of a man when they see red flags.  I wish I’d seen that in my teens.  Unfortunately, I tended to consider other people’s pain more than my own.  I did things all wrong.  Very wrong.  My body spoke to me – pain in my chest, throat, inability to eat, crying often, etc. – but I didn’t listen.  Can’t get the years back.  I’m just relieved to be on my own.  Good friends have given me more happiness and real love than any romantic relationship ever has.  And I have not seen anyone else’s marriage/romantic relationship that I would want to be in.  It may work for those in it, but I wouldn’t feel good in it.


     .....


    On a very happy note:  My best friend, who is very talented in fixing, building, all kinds of stuff most of us do not know how to do, fixed my malfunctioning toilet tank today (about three hours of skilled labor) and bought the parts needed, etc. as an early birthday gift.  This was a great gift.  I now have a flushing toilet again.  For quite a while, I was using a water-filled bucket to flush.  One of the best parts of this gift is I don’t have to have people in here, that I don’t know, to do it.  I think I need a dog again.  I used to get people (either to install cable or whatever else) who would ask me to lock up the dog in another room.  I remember thinking and realizing that one of the benefits of having a dog is protection.  I’d say, “No.  He will only smell you.  The only reason he would ever attack someone is if they were trying to hurt me.”  That was accepted, and I felt good about not caving.  My dog Luigi (2000-2015) was someone I felt 98% sure of.  I can’t say that about most humans.




    .....



    Next comedy show I’m having at The Artist (249 City Island Avenue) will be December 17th at 8pm.  Hope you’ll put that on your calendar and get yourself to City Island.  It will be another great line-up.  You can’t typically get this kind of live comedy and funny at these prices.  $10 cover; no minimum (though you will be tempted by the light fare and delicious desserts by Jenny's Sweets); you can BYOB; contributions requested for the hilarious comics.




     



    Much love to CGG-M  💕💕💕


    Mindy Matijasevic

    November 2021

     

     

    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 7:33 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , | 7 comments | |

  3. Men and Bugs

    Tuesday, August 17, 2021


     




    A few days ago, I awoke due to my bladder.  Opened my eyes and saw a dark moving thing on a box.  It was a water bug.  Before I could scream, the phone rang.  It was my closest friend who is a man and doesn’t share my hysteria.  I gave him a play-by-play as I picked up a fly swatter and smacked the water bug.  It landed on the floor.  It was on its back and struggling to live.  As it moved, I screamed while holding the phone and the swatter, “It’s trying to live!”  I felt so awful as I hit it again.  It shot across the floor near a pile of my poems.  It looked dead.  My friend and I hung up since I had to pee so badly. 

     

    When I returned from the bathroom, I didn’t see the corpse where I left it.  Now I was worried that it was crawling around somewhere.  I put on my sneakers and got dressed.  I decided I had to stomp and let creatures know I am the boss here.  Then I saw that water bug crawling again in my foyer near the bathroom.  I couldn’t believe how strong this thing is after being beaten.  I took a wine bottle and put it on the water bug.  The bottom of the bottle isn’t flat.  It curves up and makes an air bubble.  I then felt awful that the water bug was going to suffocate to death.  But I couldn’t deal with any other way of handling it.

     

    Later, I saw my buddy and updated him on the water bug situation.  He laughed and asked if it will stay under the bottle for a year now.  I said, “No. Just until you come up and get rid of it for me.”  He laughed and said that he will. 

     

    20 seconds and hilarious!








    Love to CGG-M  ❤❤❤

    Mindy Matijasevic

    August 2021

    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 8:36 PM | Labels: , , , , | 4 comments | |











  4. One evening, after several glasses of wine and feeling it, I went to pee.  I pulled my pants down like they were sweatpants.  When I was pulling them back up, I realized I had on jeans, not sweatpants.  I had to laugh at myself.  But what is really amazing was that my pants were able to go down and up without unzipping or unbuttoning them.  It means I’ve kept off the seven pounds it took so long to lose.  I’ve got more to try to lose, but just not gaining those pounds back is an accomplishment.



    The other night, I went to my 24-hour Arab bodega.  The man behind the 
    counter is my favorite of all the people who work there.  He asked, “Where’s your mask?”  I said I didn’t have one, and I held my scarf across my face.  He reached down under the counter and offered me a mask.  It was a gift, not a sale.  I put it on but not as well as it needs to be on, so he reached over with his gloved hands and arranged it for me.  He’s young and married; this is not flirting.  He’s a warm, loving, sensitive, decent person, and it felt so good.  In terms of kindness, I was melting. 



    My friend Judy texted me that the Department of Education has 
    extended their free meals to adults (whether they have children in school or not).  Monday through Friday 11:30 to 1:30, we can get three free meals to go.  I checked the Dept. of Ed. website, and there are several schools near me doing it.  Guess where I’ll be on Monday.  My friend Jaye emailed me about Chefs for America.  They are also giving free meals.  I have to check their schedule again.  There’s one of their locations in my area.  I have to check that out.



    I miss everyone.  My best friend and I speak on the phone, but I’m not 
    much of a phone person.  The last time we saw each other in person was for less than five minutes in front of my building.  Before that, we met on Mosholu Parkway and sat at opposite ends of a bench to talk. 



    When I went to meet him and entered the park area, several men on two 
    benches greeted me by offering me to share their blunt.  I had no interest in sharing germs, so they may have assumed I disapproved of smoking weed.  One said, “It’s natural.”  I loved the smell and turned to him and said, “It’s beautiful.”  He thanked me for saying that.  LOL  I overheard one saying that some woman had told them they were ruining the quality of life.  They were not near any children or playground.  They were not harassing people or littering.  They were four grown men sharing a blunt.  I don’t think smoking in a park is ruining the quality of life.  I think letting people die from COVID-19 and getting angry at governors for asking for help is ruining the quality of life and the chance of living.



    Please consider virtually attending this event of a variety of talent where I am included:

    https://www.facebook.com/events/s/a-sketch-of-new-york-actors-re/203320440952840/

    The producers of A Sketch of New York are trying to help us performers out during this time.  It’s Wednesday, April 8th, 6-7pm livestream.  Thank you.





    Much love to CGG-M ❤







    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 6:05 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , | 6 comments | |

  5. ain't twenty no mo'

    Tuesday, June 4, 2019













    Did a ten-hour day doing background work for “In the Heights.”  I’m glad I did it, but man, it’s hard on the body.  Arrived before 11am.  Went to wardrobe, hair, and make-up.  Hair people liked my hair the way it was.  Make-up people too.  That felt good that I do some things right on my own.  The wardrobe people gave me a t-shirt more suitable for the scene.  I was a protester at the way refugees are being treated upon arrival in this country.  But after hair, make-up, and wardrobe, I waited all day in a cold, air-conditioned auditorium, in seats that were hard to sleep in, before we finally shot the scene in the early evening.  It is known as “hurry up and wait.”  They fed us breakfast and snacks (we went out for our lunch).  But this went on for about eight hours before shooting.  I felt it.  I need the money and like the film and the people I interacted with, but dayam, it was hard on my body.  I ain’t twenty no mo’.


    The director was a nice man.  He seemed very fair and a people person.  
    When we were shooting and doing run-throughs, he and all the assistants were good to work with.


    The mob show I’m cast in lost their cinematographer due to a personal 
    emergency requiring him to leave NYC, and things are on hold for the moment.  I believe he was the camera man at the audition, and the vibes were really good.  Sorry he won’t be the one I’d be working with.  I am looking forward to playing Gina Ferrari when things are rolling again.  A Brooklyn Italian who probably voted for the orange one.  I love an acting challenge.  Plus the truth is that the things she says are things most of us have unfortunately heard in our youth.  Someone’s got to play that character, and I’m glad to be cast.  I hope things get rolling again soon.  It’s so much more interesting to be a character than to be background, but I do what I have to. 


    That photo shoot I had two weeks ago was pleasant to do, but I don’t love 
    the results.  I think she does, but her needs were different.  In photos, I don’t love my hair.  In person, it looks silvery.  In photos, it looks white.  Maybe if it didn’t have other meaning, I’d feel differently.  This one is one of the better ones and is acceptable while small.  I received it larger and saw every single flaw.  She didn’t want me to wear much make-up and she wanted my hair the way it is because she was going for mature.  I guess I have an image in my mind of how I look and don’t easily accept the effects of aging. 






    It’s not just the hair; it’s the weight gain and extra chins and warts…  At 
    this point my best buddy would say something like, “Great personal ad.”  And I’d say, “Call me,” and we’d both crack up.  








    love to CGG-M <3 

    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 11:49 PM | Labels: , , , , , , | 13 comments | |

  6. Anticipation

    Friday, April 19, 2019













    People, I am so anxious to hear the decisions of that audition I spoke of in the last blog entry: http://www.shesofunny.org/2019/04/panic-hope-waiting.html and I have not been able to put it out of my mind.  I don’t remember feeling like this before over a role.  Anyway, I found out that they made their decisions this past week and will be making contact with those they decided to cast this weekend.  I feel so hopeful.  It’s the timing that would be sooooo good.  I’m concerned at how disappointed I will feel if I didn’t get cast.  I usually take these things in stride because I can only control my behavior and performance.  I have no control over who else they saw that may have been more right for the part or anything else.  I just hope I don’t take it too hard if I’m not cast.  I want this!







    That pain in my foot I mentioned last blog is gone.  I’m glad about that.



    The man who planned to set fire to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and then travel 
    off to Italy was an on-line adjunct at Lehman College.  Thank goodness, he was only there for one semester.  Lehman is in my neighborhood and is where I got my BA many years ago.  I’ve also worked there and performed there.  It’s very sobering to think such a person was teaching young college students (giving grades and stuff) and was so near.  I’m more used to the more obvious kind of criminals.  I live in a loud neighborhood.  People talk to their friends about their arrests, parole, and such, and it’s not in a whisper.  The recent thing seems to be stealing electric bikes from delivery men (who barely make a living).  So far, that’s mainly happening a train stop away from me.  I don’t know which is scarier.



    The weird thing about the attempted arsonist is he got in trouble with the police in NJ recently for refusing to leave a church and he even fought with two officers.  Yet he was freely going about his business.  I don’t think that would have been the case if he were brown.  I could be wrong, but fighting with officers is usually a very bad path no matter what shade of skin one has.  So I have to say I am very glad the NYPD got him in time.   



    I was honored to spend my best friend’s birthday with him.  We mainly 
    spent it walking on trails in the part of Van Cortland Park that's in Yonkers.  We always have much to share.  So there was hours of talking.  I loved the day.  I had made him a very personalized multi-page card which captured part of his life journey and caused us much laughter.  We needed it.






    Oh people, I hope I have great news when I share again.  I need it.









    Happy 4/20 everyone.


    Love to CGG-M









    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 8:47 PM | Labels: , , , , | 4 comments | |

  7. Laughter and Gratefulness!

    Tuesday, June 12, 2018








    People, I’m the dose of estrogen in this Friday’s F.U.C. show at Broadway Comedy Club.  Tickets are a bit cheaper on line than at the door.  If money is the obstacle, please talk to me.  You can contact me at Mindyinthebronx@gmail.com because I might be able to get you a complimentary ticket.  The two-drink minimum would still apply.


    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/funny-underground-comedy-krew-starring-hector-luis-tickets-45627459961


    Come see my haircut that I gave myself for the first time in my life.   




    Come have a couple of drinks and some laughs.  Great way to start the weekend. 


    I’d love to hear you laughing in the audience.  I might even have you 
    gasping for air.  Proud to say that happened at the last show.




    Also, I am going to get the Divorced Divas of Comedy shows happening 
    again.  I have to.  I’ve been reminded of why I started it.


    I really need to commit harder to my show biz paths.  The day job, while 
    wonderful with the students, is becoming less and less secure.


    My best bud, Bob, helped me with things in my apartment over the 
    weekend.  It is a great feeling that someone in the world wants to help me make things better.  I’m truly grateful.


    Later this month, my poetry pal Barbara is going to pick me up in 
    the Bronx and drive me back to her place in Wayne, New Jersey for a few days at what feels like adult day camp.  She has a pool.  Another poetry pal, Patrick, will join us, and we will write and share poetry, play Scrabble, create art – whether by jewelry making or something else – and have a great time.  And Barbara is willing to do all that driving.  She will get me home too.  As someone who rarely has 'vacationed' due to lack of money, this is a real treat.  Again, I am grateful.





    I just wish I could share these blessings with my son. 












    (Love to CGM) 




    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 9:13 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , | 3 comments | |