Comic Art

A couple of years ago a friend of mine, a comedian, invited me out to one of his shows and it opened up my eyes to a whole new art form. I watch stand up on TV and have been to other people's shows so the idea of someone telling jokes on stage wasn't new. It's the behind the scenes, heart and soul that goes into making it all that happen that I'd never really considered before being privy to the inside that I find to be so interesting. I became a 'groupie' although in the world of comedy I'm just called a 'regular' lol and I watch a lot of the same comics do the same routine week after week ....but never see the same show twice. It's really cool to see them rhyme off their jokes but then add a twist to it, give it alternative punch line or change it up just a little and get a whole different reaction from the crowd. That's talent. These guys and girls deserve a lot more praise and recognition than I can give them here on this blog post I'm quickly spewing off. There are far too many comic geniuses in my local area to list here and now but they are definitely worth checking out and if you follow me on Twitter I retweet show info when they post it. A few of the boys such as Javier Enrique, Anthony Mlekuz, along with fellow comedian friends/guests Manolis Zontanos, Patrick Coppolino and Clifford Myers do a Sunday late night Radio Show on Indi 101 called "Funny And Friends". They spend an hour give or take talking about the stories of how they came up with certain material, they share advice they have been given by other comics to improve making their sets as successful as they are and disclose things they've lived and learned on their comic journey. Usually there is a theme but whether or not they stay on topic all depends on the week. One thing is for sure though, they make me laugh as they they merge their 'totally on' comedian selves with their everyday realistic selves. They also spend a whole lot of time bantering and ranting about ....nothing. But it's funny nothingness so have a listen! And/or check out their web pages for show info and cool venues ....then go absorb some of that artsy energy these fine comedians will fill your soul with.

Vegan On A Budget NYC Weekend

Whale Saving!

My sister sent me this link and it brought tears to my eyes.... it's amazing, watch and see!

Those Were The Smurfin' Days

It just wasn't right watching 'The Smurfs' movie without my sister. That cartoon was a Saturday morning childhood ritual for us. She would come into my room, pull up my eyelids and say in her small Lindsay voice "Jenn, Smurfies are on!" My six year old self remembers every time she did that thinking 'I hate that she wakes me by pulling my eyes but I'm so happy to be up for this!' It all balanced out.

We would make our way downstairs quietly so we didn't wake anyone else up, first stopping at the living room where it was guaranteed there would be left over snacks sitting out. My parents would often entertain on weekends but wouldn't tidy up until the next morning, so Lindsay and I had a pre-breakfast smorgasbord feast of stale Chips, Bits & Bites, Crackers and whatever else was left out. It was glorious. The glasses would have dribbles left in them, mostly of melted ice cubes and backwash and I remember drinking them; taste buds shocked every time that it was booze....duh. We'd take our stash of snacks down to the basement always in time to hear the theme song play "La La La La La La, La La La La La" and happiness surrounded us for the half hour following. We'd have our miniature Smurf figurines lined up on the table next to us so they could watch themselves on TV. That was our time. Our magical time where we were absorbed into a world of little blue creatures who lived in mushroom houses and spent their lives avoiding and escaping the cruel hands of the evil sorcerer Gargamel. There was excitement, there was cheering and there was love. When it was over, my mom would call us up for a 'real' breakfast to start the 'real' day.

It was a short period of time in our week but we both looked forward to it . We knew when Dallas was on Friday night, that the next day was Saturday and we had to be up in time for The Smurfs. There are many things in my life that connect back to my childhood but The Smurfs relate back entirely to a world that only my sister and I lived in. Although I knew it then, I realize it more now that I Smurfin' treasured those mornings and am fortunate to have those memories that evoke the emotions they do when I Smurf back.

Our lives begin to end....

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" ~Rev Martin Luther King Jr

Killer Coke Stories

What I learned today from an email from watercheck.biz about The Coca Cola Company is sickening and sad. Read a copy of the email here for yourself. I could blog about my opinion on it all but instead I'll list the links and let you read the information written by those involved first hand:


Start with Killer Coke and you'll get the picture.


What was written on The Council Of Canadians astounds me. Damaged water supplies and more. 

The documentary The Coca Cola Case tells a man's story of losing his brother  in Columbia because he was a Union Negotiator.

The website http://films.nfb.ca/the-coca-cola-case/ has a quick video on what the story is about.


There is definitely more out there to be read, so check it out.

So Nice Top 20 Blogs To Follow In 2011

So I'm just discovering this now, eight months later but whatever, it's never to late to brag when So Nice mentions you! Click on the title and see.

Our Destiny Changes....

“Our destiny changes with our thoughts; we shall become what we wish to become, do what we wish to do, when our habitual thoughts correspond with our desires.”
— Orison Swett Marden


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Bertrand Russell Says....

“Those who have never known the deep intimacy and the intense companionship of happy mutual love have missed the best thing that life has to give.”
—  Bertrand Russell

Watermelon Smiles

I remember being a kid playing outside on hot summer days and almost dying of thirst but having too much fun to go inside for a drink. Sometimes my mom would call out to us to come sit at our picnic table out back where she'd have a huge tray of watermelon ready for us, all cut up into 'Watermelon Smiles'. The cold juice even felt good on my cheeks as I'd bite in the middle of the smile and the rind would curve up my face. I remember freaking out because I swallowed a seed one time and thought I would grow a watermelon inside of me if I drank a glass of water. My sister reassured me I'd be okay because I "didn't eat any dirt and to grow a watermelon you'd need soil with the seed and water". That was enough to calm my nerves and ease my
mind. (thanks again Linz) These are wonderful childhood memories for me. Something as simple as watermelon to my seven year old self is remembered as being brilliant. That I say, is brilliant in itself!
My kids have grown up with watermelon smiles but I buy the seedless kind so they don't have to fear a garden of watermelon growing inside of them. On busy weeks where I have to pack lunches for the kids a Watermelon Smile is just too big for the lunch pail. Instead I cut it up into cubes however, I know they associate this pretty pink juicy fruit with happiness and my Mommy instincts tell me they smile when they open the lunch pail and see it in there.

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