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  1. Campaign Fatigue By Rhonda Hansome

    Thursday, October 27, 2016



    I thought I had Campaign Fatigue.

    It's really Cognitive Dissonance in disguise.



    Festinger's (1957) cognitive dissonance theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and beliefs in harmony and avoid disharmony (or dissonance)





    Dilbert offers an example of Cognitive Dissonance: 


    It's no secret the DNC stacked the deck against my original choice. 

    Thanks a lot!

     I struggle daily to maintain the delusion, illusion, magical thinking that my part in the
     American Electoral Process
    means something.

    Day by day the Wikileaks drip, drip, drip makes me feel like I can't defend my lesser of two evils.

    Sisyphus had it easy compared to what this electoral cycle has done to my psyche.


    I'm simultaneously in on and the victim of a national election joke.

    I'm not for a candidate I'm against the other.


    Without enthusiasm, I say vote.
    In the throes of Cognitive Dissonance I will hold my nose and mark my ballot.


    I majored in sociology. It haunts me everyday. 


    When will my head explode?

    Find out this week

    One place or another

    8:00 PM Fri. Oct. 28th @ Broadway Comedy Club


    5:00 PM Sat. & Sun. Oct. 29th & 30th @ Don't Tell Mama


    10:45 PM Mon. Oct. 31st  @ Theater For The New City - Cabaret 




    Posted by RHC at 8:29 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , | 5 comments | |

  2. Who You Gonna Call? By Rhonda Hansome

    Thursday, October 20, 2016


    It is a living nightmare to be mentally ill.
    It is an  inferno of internal suffering to be in the throes of emotional turmoil.
    No doubt the multi-layered issues of caring for a mentally ill loved one can test the mettle of the strongest among us.

    Consider that you and your emotionally vulnerable relative have lived your entire lives subject to the implicit racism of every authority figure encountered.

    Implicit racism, broadly defined, refers to an individual’s utilization of unconscious biases when making judgments about people from different racial and ethnic groups ... implicit racism is an automatic negative reaction to someone of a different race or ethnicity than one’s own.

    If your disturbed relative erupts in a violent episode, where do you turn to deescalate your overwhelming situation?

    If your first thought is to call the police, I question your understanding of implicit racism.
    I wake weekly to the traumatizing news of police excessive force. The solution eludes me.

    Produced by the Frank Silvera Writer's Workshop, Baton explores intimate relationships in the storm of police abuse of power.

    7 PM Mon. Oct 24th I direct the FREE reading of  Baton, by Deneen Reynolds-Knott, in the Skylight Gallery, Bed-Stuy Restoration Plaza, Fulton St. Between Brooklyn Ave & New York Avenue.
    Featuring 
    Marki Michelle, Daniel Carlton, Carter Winter, Helene Galek, James Joseph Aquino, Will Young, Althea Vyfus, Dorie Casper with assist by Gaynelle Jasper.



    Rhonda Hansome is an actor, coach and stand-up comic who directs as Passion



    Posted by RHC at 7:05 AM | Labels: , , , , , , | 4 comments | |

  3. 3rd of the Good Karma Series & Other Stuff

    Tuesday, October 18, 2016





    So this is a bit late – I guess I took an unannounced, unplanned vacation from blogging.  I left you after two parts of a sort of good karma series.  The last slice is this.  I planned to cut off my long hair and return to a simpler life of short hair.  I figured I’m not going to grow it long again.  (If I move up the financial mountain significantly and can afford others to deal with my hair, I’d consider it.)  So this was my chance to donate my hair to a place that makes wigs for cancer patients who can’t afford wigs.  There are many places, and they have different requirements.  I sent my braid to the Angel Hair Foundation in Oregon. 


      
    And now I look like this…        
                                                          

          
    Before going to get my hair cut, I played a game of Quick Draw and for hitting none of the numbers, I won five dollars. 

    The homeless man in the park, the pigeon on the train, my hair off to Oregon -- all followed by some monetary luck – seemed so connected to me. 

    But in general, I am financially f’d.  As I mentioned a couple of blogs back, my second job closed down.  The program doesn’t exist anymore.  And getting from paycheck to paycheck and not getting evicted or services turned off has been very hard.  By the time payday comes, I owe so much of my check to others who helped me get through.  Even carfare to go to free things is an issue.  Luckily I walk to my day job.  And since I work on a college campus, there’s sometimes free food to be had.

    So I once again ask my readers to keep me in mind and spread the word regarding:

    ·        Proofreading – I’ve worked on and off over the years as a proofreader for law firms, financial institutions, advertising agencies, and my favorite: individual creative writers.  I’m willing to pick up and deliver the work.

    ·        Artist’s model – clothed and nude for fine artists (those who paint, draw, sculpt). Photographers on a case by case basis. I’m not a Twiggy, and I’d be considered “mature.”


    ·        Paid comedy gigs

    ·        Paid acting roles

    ·        Paid poetry featured readings

    ·        Depending on location, I can attend to people’s cats while they are away. (I do well with cats and dogs.)

    On an exciting note, a while back I shared that I did a set for a taping of Comics Watching Comics.  I will be in episode 3.  I have no idea what the comics watching said or how they reacted to my stuff, but I know when I did it, the audience and I had a blast.  Episode 3 will be appearing in parts starting later this week.  I don’t know what part I’ll be in.  I’m excited.  I’m being very brave to share this when I don’t know what they said about my stand-up.  That’s a benefit of getting older – the oh fuck it attitude.  I’m looking forward to this adventure.

    https://www.facebook.com/comicswatchingcomics/


    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 12:00 AM | Labels: , , , , , , | 8 comments | |

  4. I'm Not Yelling by Rhonda Hansome

    Thursday, September 29, 2016



    Sometimes I hate Gloria, my GPS. On my way to work this morning she told me to get off 278 in Queens to make my way to the Pulaski Bridge. Too late after exiting, I realized Gloria was up to her old tricks. Gloria had placed me in the 6 lane midst of a less than 2 mile artery, not moving.

    NOT MOVING!
    Did I mention I was on my way to work on a TV show?
    Did I mention I got up at 5:30 this morning?

    I sat in traffic watching Gloria's screen increase my estimated arrival by the minute. 10 minutes later when the cop car in front of me peeled into the oncoming lane, I thought I should follow him, but I thought again and watched my ETA grow later and later.

    I surreptitiously dialed the "emergency number" and on speaker, advised the casting office that I was stuck approaching the bridge. I sat in traffic for another 10 minutes.

    When a random car peeled down the oncoming lane, I did the same and inched my way to the Pulaski Bridge and then Gloria instructed me to merge onto 278 to head into Brooklyn.

    BITCH, I WAS ON 278 WHEN YOU TOLD ME TO GET OFF!

    After the bridge and fuming at Gloria, I drove left, right and left, rumbling over cobble stones and found my way to the address where I was to park my "picture car" and told the 1st person I saw wearing a Walkie-Talkie that I was #10. I was almost a half -hour late and the Production Assistant I was talking to had no idea where I was suppose to be. With a heavy french accent the petite brunette, who looked entirely too good at 8:30 am, got on her Walkie-Talkie to find the PA who knew where I should go.

    When she got no response, I ambled over to the breakfast tent, where I decided to leave my Ketogenic Diet in the dust. I dug into grits and potato laden hash with gusto. More than 3 weeks of no alcohol, no bread, no sugar, no rice, no potatoes or ANY carbs, I'd lost almost a half pound?
    F#@k That Diet!

    Frenchie the beautiful PA, approached the array of chafing dishes on display and began to fill to-go plates. In between selections she checked her Walkie-Talkie, and eventually said a van would take me to a different location. Okay... I'm a picture car and a van is going to take me to another location?

    When the van pulled up, Frenchie handed me 2 to-go plates and says, "Give these to Sean." I got in the van. The driver got out of the van, telling Frenchie he needed to get breakfast. I sit in the van. The driver makes HIS breakfast selections and returns with a to-go plate. We rumble over a few cobble stones and he stops the van, gets on his Walkie-Talkie to whosoever, "Anyone else to pick-up?

    We sit in silence. 

    I check my watch. It's almost 9 am! He checks his Walkie-Talkie. Thank goodness there's no one else to pick up and we proceed left, right and left over cobble stones. I think if my Mother was alive, she'd never believe that I showed up for work almost a half-hour late; not HER Rhonda. I look at the 2 to-go plates on my lap and ask. "Where's Sean?"  The driver doesn't know, wouldn't know, shouldn't know because he's a DRIVER. He pulls up by a fence and points to a PA, "Ask HIM where Sean is."

    The PA happens to be holding a to-go plate, "Do you know where Sean is?" He responds, "Sean who?" Of course, I don't know Sean who, Frenchie didn't tell me... "Can you call for Sean on your Walkie-Talkie?" "No, I'm with the 1st team." 

    "I just want to make sure anybody looking for #10, knows I'm here in the van." 
    He says, "You don't have to yell at me."

    But I wasn't yelling 
    I was too tired to yell
    Too anxious to yell

    I know I wasn't yelling because when he said, "You don't have to yell at me.", I really wanted to 
    YELL AT HIM!
    I didn't.

    The rest of the morning in an empty dusty warehouse in Redhook, I changed into and had my picture taken in 3 different coats while I waited for yet another PA to summon me into position as ambiance, what I call background or what you might call "extra" work.

    I was never positioned on camera and we were dismissed by 1 PM. 

    Not a bad day after I stopped beating myself up for not leaving earlier than 7 to get to Brooklyn from the Bronx by 8 AM. But I had to write this blog to stop thinking over and over, when I yell - 
    I YELL!!!
    I wasn't yelling at him.

    I love being on stage at Broadway Comedy Club, but I canceled my midnight spot there tonight, because I have a 5:30 AM report time as background on a movie shooting in Queens tomorrow. 

    I'll have to leave home at 4 AM and go to sleep right now. 






    Posted by RHC at 7:57 PM | 2 comments | |

  5. Gun & Sugar Tricknology by Rhonda Hansome

    Saturday, September 24, 2016



    Tricknology alert!

    Do you visit or live in 1 of the 45 states where 
    (with or without a permit & or license) 
    of a gun  is legal and you carry a gun?



    If you are Black and visit or live in an open carry state, 
    Please Don't Carry The Gun! 
    There is NO WAY a black person with a gun (some might add candy bar, football, bible or Skittles) in an open carry state, can have an encounter with police, over zealous neighborhood watch P.D. wanna be, or fellow gun carrier & have it end well. Okay, maybe 1% of the time all might walk away unharmed... in my dreams.

    Speaking of tricknology, I'm currently on a "fad" diet. I know it's a fad because it was promoted with rows & rows of butter, 

    (Yes I Said Rows) 
    of butter, cheese & meats on a "YOU CAN EAT THIS" list shown on the Dr. Oz Show.

    For 2 weeks I've consciously eaten No Sugar. 
    I say consciously because SUGAR IS EVERYWHERE, even in bacon.

    So give me a shout if you know a good sugar-less bacon, because on Keto I can eat handfuls of that! 

    In the past 2 weeks 
    I've eaten more meat than I've had this entire year. 
     I've had No Starches like pasta, rice, potatoes or legumes
    sometimes known by their less exotic name - beans. 

    On this (Ketogenic) plan, no "diet" or "low-fat" food is allowed & carbs are kept low to none.

    For the past 2 weeks I've consumed Eggs, Cheese, Butter, Olive Oil & Coconut Oil - purported good also for hair & skin BTW; Meat & Fish cooked in/with Butter, Olive or Coconut Oil, String Beans, Leafy Greens & Asparagus dressed with Olive Oil; even Coffee WITH Coconut Oil, Butter & Heavy Cream - AKA Bulletproof Coffee.

    I'm a gullible naive victim of tricknology... for at least another 2 weeks because I'm giving this crazy diet a month.
    Yes that's me on the train eating 
    cream cheese stuffed celery.

    Anyway...
    Leave the gun at home when you come to see me tomorrow - Sunday at Don't Tell Mama








    Posted by RHC at 9:05 AM | Labels: , , , , , , | 3 comments | |



  6. One night I had a wonderful dream.  My son and I were being affectionate, hugging, snuggling cheek to cheek, and he said in my ear, “I love you, Mom.”  I felt so happy.  It felt so real. 

    The next night I was going to a reading from the NYC Writing Project which is connected to the program where I work.  They had held a program for teachers who identify as writers.  At the end, they were having a reading at KGB Bar on East 4th Street.  I wasn’t part of the program, but I wanted to hear the writers and support the NYC Writing Project.  The reading was free.  That helps.  I invited a few people, but only one planned to join me.  Somehow from the way he expressed himself, I got the feeling he wasn’t that into going and would not show.

    I took the 4 train which is an elevated outdoor train in most of the Bronx before it goes underground at 149th Street and the Grand Concourse.  I texted my son and told him about the dream and how good it felt.  After I rode several stops, a woman ran on screaming and then ran out another door.  My heart started racing, sure someone was after her or that a rat was involved.  I’d be screaming like that if a rat was near me.  So I was frantically looking to see what the problem was.  She got back on and sat down.  Suddenly she was up and screaming again.  She went into another car of the train.  Next to where she had been sitting was a pigeon, alive and well.  I laughed with relief that it was just a pigeon.  It seemed harmless compared to what I feared.  I’m sure I wouldn’t have felt so calm if I were feeling followed by it, but compared to a human attacker or a rat, it seemed so innocent.  It chose to ride the train.  It walked around mostly under the seats.  I began to see things from the pigeon’s view and assumed the bird was scared.  The train wasn’t crowded, but things could get hysterical if the pigeon started flying around.  One man tried to grab it.  Maybe it was to set it outside at the next stop, but I didn’t know the man or if he’d hurt the bird.  I was glad he didn’t catch it.  



    At the next stop, the bird seemed confused by which side the doors opened on.  When people came in, the bird cautiously stayed away, so it remained on the train.  I was having anxiety for the pigeon.  I don’t love pigeons or hate pigeons.  I just didn’t want any sadness that could be prevented.  It was for my sake as well as the pigeon’s that I needed to do something.  It walked under the seat of the man who had tried to grab it earlier.  The man didn’t realize.  A woman near me laughed.  I told her not to let him know the bird was there.  The bird went to the door as if it knew that the door would open.  But I knew on Burnside Avenue the other side would open.  The bird seemed to be a walker, and I was afraid that the time it would take would get it caught in the closing doors.

    I got up and when the doors opened, I stood in the doorway holding it open and motioning the bird with my paper to come this way.  The bird decided to trust me, I guess, walked near me and out onto the platform which was still outdoors.  I felt good about that.

    One of the things that felt good was I felt I had power to do something.  I struggle with depression, so feeling that way is significant to me.  During my marriage, asserting my personhood would inevitably lead to an argument or some passive-aggressive silence.  After a long time, living like that takes its toll.  So this experience was not only good for the pigeon; it benefited me too.

    The reading was fantastic.  My friend didn’t show, but I was kind of ready for that.  The pieces shared were great.  One woman read about her mother’s thighs.  The closeness and love made me recall baths with my mother, me trying to count the freckles on her back.  The closeness with my own precious son.  I deeply miss the genuine relationship we had.  During the reading, I grabbed a napkin and my pen.  In the very dimly lit place, I drew.





    A few days later, at the subway station, I stood in front of the booth to add money to my MetroCard.  When given a choice, I still prefer a person over a machine.  At my feet was a crushed bill.  I picked it up.  There was no one on line in front of me, so whoever dropped it was gone.  It was a $20 bill. 


    See how connected this all feels to the last blog I shared?  More next week.



    FYI:  I'll be performing comedy Wednesday, Sept. 21, 8pm at the Village Lantern (NYC), 167 Bleeker Street, in Sarah Garner's show!  No cover charge. 1 drink min. Would be glad to see you there laughing if you can make it.


    Posted by Mindy Matijasevic at 12:00 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , | 3 comments | |

  7. Hair Today Gone Tomorrow By Rhonda Hansome

    Saturday, September 10, 2016


     I want equality with men,
    but not male pattern baldness!




    To See Rhonda Hansome  
    Tell A Venue Near You Or The Organization You Belong To
     To Book Her!





    Posted by RHC at 5:26 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , | 2 comments | |