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    Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
  1. Happy Birthday Judy & Other Things

    Tuesday, November 16, 2021

     









    Happy Birthday to my wonderful friend Judy!  Looking forward to celebrating next week. 




    Friends for decades.


    I went into the discount store to use the ATM, and who was sitting on top of the ATM but Mustache (my feline friend)!  Made my morning.  We had our little love session.  Did us good.

     

    I need to find a place to get my booster shot.  Then I should re-subscribe to Backstage to get acting job listings.  I have been so on-the-fence about working on a set with others during this COVID time.  I’m fully vaccinated but need the booster.  I also need to make money.  I am glad that bosses are required to see that everyone is vaccinated.  Yes, I need money, but I also need to and want to be alive. 

     

    I’m still struggling with the f’in’ cigarettes.  Geez, I hope I win this battle.

     

    Those of you who enjoy comedy shows, I’m having a show on Friday, 12/17/2021 at 8pm (7:45 seating) at The Artist, 249 City Island Avenue, City Island, Bronx, NY.  So put on your laughing shoes!  The hilarious line-up will be:

     

    Me

    Rob Santos


    Debbie Bazza


    Ken Watter

     

    The Artist is a warm, welcoming place.  Parking should be easy in December.  Only $10 cover, no minimum (though the light fare -- vegetarian-friendly –-from The Artist, and the delicious desserts from Jenny’s Sweets will tempt you), and contributions are requested for the very entertaining comics.  The Artist does have beer and wine, but still, you are welcome to BYOB.  They are that cool.  BRING YOUR VAX CARD!  They also care that we live, and they have to follow the guidelines.

     

    249 City Island Avenue

     

     

    My love to CGG-M ❤❤❤

    Mindy Matijasevic

    November 16, 2021

     

    P.S.  There’s a mouse in my apartment, and I’m trying to not be hysterical.  Oh my, oh my, oh my.  Shit!

     

     

     

     

     


  2. Friends, Haters, & Funny

    Thursday, September 23, 2021


     







    I finally saw “In the Heights” this past Saturday night at a friend’s house.  Originally, four of us were supposed to get together.  One woman went to her car and discovered it had been towed.  She canceled.  So it was my buddy Judy and I going to Steve’s house in New Jersey.  He cooked lots of delicious food, we brought wine, and Judy also brought pastries from a bakery.  I stayed with food and wine, while they also had mixed drinks.  Judy is not the drinker she used to be, so she slept through most of the movie.  Steven and I watched the movie.  I did have a small non-speaking part in it.  Several people had written to me when it first came out, “Did I just see you in ‘In the Heights’?”  I was background but was placed next to one of the main actors, so I was clearly seen in the rally scene.

     

    It is a good story, but way too much singing for my taste.  I liked the cast and many things, but it could have been shorter.  My “LA Law” heart throb, Jimmy Smits, was in it.  

    This was him back then ...


    Though he had no idea of my relationship with him, I was glad to see him again.  😊  


    I have a feeling the show might have been better as the play it originally was.  I do think it was important, and I am glad I saw it.  And though my role was only background, I am glad I was in it.

     

    On a totally other subject:  I want to give credit to this man, Katt Williams, who helped me survive at times on a former job.  It’s less than a minute.  Use headphones if you are at a job or near children.  Enjoy.

     


    https://youtu.be/0OO80m_qzNo

     

    For more funny, mark your calendars for my fall comedy show at The Artist on City Island on 10/22.  (Must bring vax card.)  I am proud to announce that the funny will be brought to you by Pudge Fernandez, Jean Kim, Linda San Lucas, and me.

     

     



    Heartfelt love to CGG-M ❤❤❤

    Mindy Matijasevic

    September 2021


  3. Runaway Princess & Other Things

    Thursday, August 26, 2021


     







    If you’ve never heard of Dr. Ramani, you might want to check out her videos on youtube.  I knew of her for over a year but just began to listen to her videos.  A lot of clarity for free.

    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dr.+ramani 

     

    My buddy/brother, Bob, did come up and get rid of the water bug for me (for those of you who read my last blog http://www.shesofunny.org/2021/08/men-and-bugs.html).

     

    I am happy to share that I had a very fun night with a friend and former co-worker, Steven, when we went to see a one-woman show at The Artist on City Island this past Saturday.  The show is definitely worth seeing, and The Artist plans to have the show again at some point.

     



     

    My friend didn’t realize that for me to get there meant 3 buses.  We agreed to meet there.  But the plus side of having to take 3 buses meant I was in air conditioning and where I cannot smoke.  The show did not disappoint.  I always am very curious how someone puts together a one-person show.  Mary Goggin did it successfully.  I’d like to be able to do that.

     

    After the show, Steven and I went to the bar nearby.  It was raining, so we couldn’t sit outside.  We had to be inside; again in a place I can’t smoke.  So each inconvenience actually turned out to be a positive.  I smoked less that day than I did in each of the prior 21 days.  When we were in the bar, I did step out a couple of times to have a few puffs, but, in total, that was a half of a cigarette.  This is still quite a struggle, so I am grateful for that day.

     

    My last update is I finally got a date of expected payment from the IRS.  Hallelujah!  I still can’t understand why it took so long.  But it’s not here yet, so I’m not considering it a done deal until I can pay my backed-up bills with it.

     




     

     

     









    My love to CGG-M ❤💕❤

    Mindy Matijasevic

    August 2021

     

     



  4.  







    The show last Friday on City Island turned out very well.  The people who run The Artist make me feel so welcome and appreciated.  It’s a great way to start the evening. 

     

    My buddy Bob and friend Ilona drove me to the place.  Otherwise it would have been a 3-bus, stress-filled trip.

     

    I was honored to be joined by these folks:  Joanne Filan, Jose Angel Diaz, and Leighann Lord.




     

    Plus, we had a Columbia Journalism student, Isabel, interviewing and taping Leighann Lord and Joanne Filan for a documentary she is doing for school.

     

    I was very honored by surprise gifts sent to me at the place – an amazing bouquet with vase, water, and flower food plus a bottle of champagne.  The flowers live longer in my house than the champagne.  Lilies are still opening and making me smile whenever I walk past the bouquet.  The person who sent them told me she couldn’t be at the show but would be there in spirit with a cocktail in her hand and a smile on her face.  She did more than that.  It was amazing.  I’m not used to the royal treatment.  It feels good.  I should get used to it.

     

    Audience members teased that it was from a man.  I announced, “Actually, it’s from a woman.” 

     

    After the show and the hugs (yes, I hugged people!), my friends Judy and Steven and I went to a nearby bar at their outdoor seating.  The weather was perfect.  We hardly get to hang out together, so it was a treat.  To our surprise, many people we don’t know came over to us to talk about all kinds of things.  One yelled from across the street to a man outside the bar about a woman who left the bar, “She wanted to s—k your d—k!”  Then he saw my bouquet and us and came over to apologize for his language and went on and on about how he loves his mother, etc., etc.  More things like that went on.  By the end of the night, I told my friends, “I now officially consider City Island the Bronx.”  We closed the bar.  Judy drove me home at about 4:00am.

     

    I truly enjoyed the entire night and, unlike when I was younger, I was tired for the following two days.

     

    My next show at The Artist will be Friday, October 22nd.  Mark your calendars.  Another line-up I’m proud of.  I’m so glad to be doing this again.


    Constant love to CGG-M  ❤❤❤

    Mindy Matijasevic

    August 2021



  5.  






    The two co-editors of a publication requested a new poem of mine for their November issue.  That was my high for the day.  What an honor.  We belong to the same on-line poetry community/workshop where we aim to share a poem twice a month.  We sometimes get feedback.  This time I received such a wonderful request.  I haven’t submitted poems to journals on a regular basis in a long time.  I hadn’t submitted to this one either though I like it.  So to be asked felt so special.

     

    It also is like a loving smack in the head.  Get your shit out there, woman!  Whattaya waitin’ for?!

     



     

    As far as my battle with cigarettes goes, I’m still doing better than I had been before attempting to cut down.  I hope I can eventually do better than now because it’s not really good enough.

     

    Aside from eight mosquito bites, I had a wonderful day with two long-time friends on Friday.  We went to the Village of Sleepy Hollow and spent the day and evening under a gazebo in Rockefeller State Park (or right near it).  We each know each other well and accept each other as we each are, flaws and all.  No matter have much aggravation we might be having in our lives individually, we end up cracking up laughing over so many of our life experiences.  Deep laughter is so good.  Really helps endure the pain.

     

    When we were up there, we stopped in a couple of food stores before going to the park.  It was wonderful to see that the supermarket there carried Bronx Hot Sauce.  It is the only hot sauce I ever liked.

     



     

    I once worked at a job that, as a bonus project, had developed a garden where they planted peppers (among many other things).  The peppers were grown for the Bronx Hot Sauce company.  They supported us and we supported them.  Several teachers, a former director, and many students are due the credit for that work.  Though I was barely involved, I encouraged my students to get involved.  Many came from countries where they farmed, so it felt like a bit of home for them.  They’d get to take home many of the vegetables they planted.  In many ways, it was a good adult education program though there was room for improvement.  When the third administration team came in, it became a whole different program.  The garden, the dedicated counselor, the most popular teachers, gone.  Other good people left on their own.  It takes so many years of hard work and evolving minds to build something great, and so little time for the narrow-minded to destroy it.  One of my former co-workers told her therapist what was going on at that job.  The therapist believed that the new director got rid of those she felt threatened by because she felt they knew more than she did. 


    It echoed of the previous White House administration. 

     


    Constant love to CGG-M ❤ ❤ ❤

    Mindy Matijasevic,  June 2021


  6. Not to Ruin a Beautiful Day

    Tuesday, August 25, 2020

     




    I had a different and much needed day yesterday (Monday).  My buddy/best friend/unofficially adopted brother decided to get me out of my apartment and get me moving.  We’ve begun to ride in his car together recently after lots of isolating.  He removed any financial obstacles – treated me to brunch and dinner and brought other treats.  We went up to a park in Tarrytown where there was a stream.  We enjoyed being outdoors, in nature, and with our feet in the stream.  The sound of the water running over the rocks was so peaceful.

     



    We talked, which is one of our favorite sports.  We’ve been friends for over 40 years.  It is such a pleasure to be together and talk as freely as we do.  We understand each other deeply.  It is wonderful. 

     

    A friend shared this with me, and I know you will LOVE this.  It is just a couple of minutes, and it will have you smiling for sure.  ð‘ ‡☺

    https://www.facebook.com/TV8it/videos/1448821471972915/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDQ1NjcxMjU5ODo0NTc4NDQ2NzgyMTgwNTAw/

     

    I tried to watch the Republican National Convention, but the dishonesty was ruining my mood after such a nice day.  I switched to game shows and later to Mannix.  He was one of my many crushes when I was a teen.

     



    I’ll watch MSNBC and see the clips they air of the RNC, but it is hard to watch RNC lying filth. 

     


     

     

     


    So much love to CGG-M  ❤💛


  7. Stretched Out the Penis?

    Sunday, March 10, 2019













    Well folks, I had fun on NY’s Got Talent.  I was thrilled that friends Judy, Meghan, Steven, Jaye, Gordon, and Kathryn (plus a friend of hers) came to the show. 


    I arrived to learn I would be up first.  As comics know, it’s not easy to go 
    first in terms of the audience not being in laugh mode yet and having not even gotten through their first drink yet.  Yet it was good for me to not have too much time to anticipate and get nervous.


    I was pleased with my performance.  That’s all I have control over.  The 
    host was funny.  The 3 judges consisted of a young male comic, a woman who is a producer and has projects going on, and a woman who sounded British who also has projects going on.  The comic was very positive in his feedback.  He acknowledged the difficulty of going first.  He thought I had a theme throughout my set and that I did a good job.  The next judge was on the same page as I am.  She told me I have balls and that I spoke on much of what the world needs to hear.  She credited me for being female and doing this in such a male-dominated field.  She said she’d like to hear more from me.  (I’d love to work on a project with her.)  The British one thought I “stretched out the penis” too much.  Is that even possible?


    Then I sat with my friend Judy and enjoyed the rest of the show.





    I was the only female in this round of comics.  One of the comics went way over the time we were given.  Nobody said anything about that.  I found some not that funny.  Some were funny.  What became clear as we listened to the feedback from the judges is that the women who were producers seemed to have an idea in mind of what they were looking for.  One mentioned someone’s set being good as sitcom material.  


    The audience was told to vote for two people.  The ballots were collected, 
    and convening happened in another room.  During that time, I walked over to the different tables where guests of mine were seated.  As I did, audience members were high-fiving me and giving me compliments.  I got the feeling my friends were not the only ones who voted for me.  I was feeling hopeful and then caught myself.  I was in a similar situation a couple of months ago.  And I had to learn that there are other factors not shared with us.  I can’t be whatever I’m not.  I can just work on being funny.  I was.  That may not be the deciding factor.  I don’t know what happens with the ballots.  We don’t hear numbers.  I didn’t want to get too hopeful because I didn’t want to look disappointed when they announced the winners.


    The host, Cooper, returned and had us come back up on stage.  He did a funny recap of what the judges told each of us. 








    Winners were announced.  I wasn’t one.  I agreed with one of their 
    selections.  If I could have voted, I would have voted for him and for me.  Two of my guests were at a table with two people who didn’t know me.  My guests told me that those guys voted for me.  In terms of the audience, I did my job. 


    Whatever the agendas, I wanted the judges to have a way to remember 
    me for future possibilities.  I made sure I gave each of them my card.  They thanked me.  I maintained my professionalism.  It all was cordial. 


    Four of my guests and I went out to a good Irish Pub afterwards that had 
    food (I was soooo hungry), and they knew how to make my Long Island Ice Tea.  The five of us do not get together regularly, so being together and sharing stories and laughing and all of that was sooo much fun.


    I felt so appreciative of those who came to the show (I had other friends 
    who wanted to come but couldn’t, and I appreciate their desire and their good wishes very much).  I felt very good about the night. 






    Now, moving right along, on Tuesday, March 19th at 8pm, I’m in a show 
    called “Own the Stage.”  There is a variety of talent – singers, comics, poets, rappers.  There will be two rounds.  Everyone will perform.  Then the audience decides who goes on to the second round on the same night.  So some will perform a different piece/set in the second round. Then a few judges will decide on one winner.  I am in it to be in the show.  I have no expectation of winning.  The group producing this is Char’Actors.  The winner will get $250, 4 months of free acting classes, and a role in their upcoming film.  Again, there will be people in the audience (the judges and others) who could be influential in one’s path.  If this appeals to you, here’s the link.


    https://www.eventbrite.com/.../own-the-stage-tickets...


    It will be at Taj II Lounge
    48 West 21st Street
    Doors open at 6:30
    Show at 8pm
    (no matter what the Eventbrite says)