I'm no more on the shore...and so the dream moves onto Chapel Hill

Big times a coming!!!

2010-02-22T20:36:00.002-05:00

I am doing the Carrboro art walk and I lovin it!
It starts in March...ut oh!
Come check it out and then come see me on Friday, March 12th, at The Beehive in Carrboro.
The Beehive is located across the street from Weaver Street Market at 102 Weaver Street.
919.932.4483

http://www.thebeehive-salon.com

stay tuned for more details to come.....hey does anyone blog anymore?
I mean I know as of late I have sucked at it!
Michelle

Cave Open Mic this eve, Tuesday Dec 1 babies!

2009-12-01T08:56:00.003-05:00

Come laugh at the Cave with me this eve. I am hosting the best Open Mic in town kids! Mr. Johnny Cook started this show and it is still kickin! Come ring in the best month of the year, December! Come watch, laugh, tell a joke, drink and be merry! Please....(that was me begging - it is a work in progress)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

2009-10-13T23:10:00.002-04:00

A show. be there. Want to know more? go here...http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=2894655&id=144184901031
this URL ain't pretty, I know, but you sort of want to go there and see if there is something pretty yez? I dare you.

I've been bad

2009-09-22T20:23:00.003-04:00

and lame...not written in a long time. be back soon with magic. or at least a story.
Happy Fall, Ya'll!

Yeah. Married

2009-08-13T13:15:00.004-04:00

In honor of Mr. Hughes, gosh darn rest his soul...and well me getting hitched...

[Jake rings doorbell at Samantha's house]
Long Duk Dong: Okay. I'm comin'.
[opens closet door]
Long Duk Dong: Hello? Jeez, this place is so confusing. Okay.
[opens front door, screams and shuts door]
Long Duk Dong: Go away! I call F.I.B. I call police! Go away!
Jake: Open the door.
Long Duk Dong: No way, Jose!
Jake: Open the door.
Long Duk Dong: You beat up my face.
Jake: You grabbed my nuts.
Long Duk Dong: [looks through frosted glass on door] Is that you?
Jake: Yeah, that me.
Long Duk Dong: [opens door] Oh, I'm so sorry. I thought you my new - new-style American girlfriend.
Jake: Forget it, man. Just get Samantha, all right?
Long Duk Dong: She not here.
Jake: Don't jerk me around, man. Where is she?
Long Duk Dong: She got married.
Jake: What?
Long Duk Dong: She at the church. She getting married to oily bohunk.
Jake: Married?
Long Duk Dong: Married.
Jake: Married?
Long Duk Dong: Yeah. Married
[closes door]
Jake: [turns around, under breath to himself] Married?
Long Duk Dong: Married! Jeez.

Jeez! That is what I say!

me, Brando, parents, Angus, wine and wedding planning!

2009-08-04T15:18:00.003-04:00

Femme Fest is here kids!

2009-07-31T13:42:00.003-04:00

Come on down to the Cave this weekend for Femme Fest!
Femme Fest is two days of entertainment at the Cave (Chapel Hill's oldest music venue) and Mansion 462 (Chapel Hill's newest music venue) showcasing women in music. A donation will go to the Girls Rock Camp of NC and the Rape Crisis center of Chapel Hill. This year's Femme Fest is hosted by comedienne Michelle Maclay.

more shows....see me, love me!

2009-07-10T10:11:00.003-04:00

July 15th, The Blank Slate Comedy Show - July edition
The Fuse in Chapel Hill
http://www.f-use.com/

July 17th, Ultimate Comic Challenge
The Idiot Box, Greensboro
http://www.theultimatecomic.com/

then another on July 18th, keep scrolling...you need the exercise!

check out this show! please

2009-07-10T10:07:00.000-04:00

music and laughter, yez!!!

Check it out! Free SHIT!

2009-06-16T09:23:00.006-04:00

Sure you cannot technically take it home with you, but when you wake up in the morning on Thursday with a smile on your face, you will know all is ok...at least till you get to work.
come see da show!
this is our flier for the Fuse show and this is me dancing last weekend at the fuse. All coming together...

returning to the cave tonight!

2009-06-02T11:33:00.003-04:00

come with me! The Cave Comedy open mic is this eve, 7:30pm.
http://www.caverntavern.com/

sad yet ok!

2009-05-29T13:30:00.018-04:00

that phrase will be on my next t-shirt. My pal Mary Beth and I are planning a t-shirt party, very soon!

A "sad yet ok!" t - shirt will definitely be a product out of that party!

That is exactly what I said and truly felt after I heard, officially, that I had not made it to the final round of the DSI Carolina's Funniest Comic contest last weekend.
I was so ok yet a tad sad, but that is normal I think. In fact I was so ok that as the third person, aka friend, was in the middle of telling me how wonderful I was and that it was all going to be ok, I said, "Yep. I know. In fact upset is over there across the bar and I am way over there outside. That is how far I am from upset" I have good friends, honest ones most importantly.

I was a tad sad only because I essentially lost, and all of us, no matter what we say, want to win or at least we don't actively seek to lose. I was ok because I had a strong solid set that I was very proud of and I made a large number of people (not just my friends in attendance) laugh. Amazing feeling and why we do what we do up in here in da comedy world. And even better I honed one joke I just wrote and had been working on for a week prior...and it killed. That alone is worth all of it, for reals! Anyone out there that writes this crap, ah magic, and performs it knows what I is talking about.

Here it be,
"I have come to feel that the decision to have a kid or not to have a kid is a big, or can be, a big dilemma for women these days. Do I have a kid, do I not have a kid? Just last week I had this overpowering feeling that yes I do want to have kids. But then I realized I was just hungry. Uh, dilemma solved...for this woman."

I will tell you a real dilemma I do have - the spelling of that word. I was originally taught to spell it, "dilemna" but if you google it or do spell check it is spelled, "dilemma" Perhaps from here on out I should just call it a quandary. Hey look at that...quandary solved.

Thanks DSI Carolina's Funniest Comic contest for being in existance so that I could a)make some people laugh and b) for providing a positive performing environment in which to better my material ultimately then making me a better, stronger comedian.

"Sad yet ok!" Me likie.

First round DSI Carolina's Funniest Comedian

2009-05-21T14:07:00.002-04:00

In second round this Friday.
I plan to kill, or be killed. Will step it up from this one.

I ate today, so therefore I am...

2009-05-14T12:12:00.002-04:00

A banana
Many grapes
A little dish of tuna fish salad
half a small bag of fritos (I threw away the rest...wasteful yet better in the trash can than in, ah on my tummy)
10 sesame low fat crackers or it was a piece of paper, not sure
1 medium cup of coffee with a whisper of half and half

and for dinner? salad...one ice cream cone, no booze, seltzer water, and The Office

Is it Friday yet?

May 23rd, On da shore I will be!

2009-05-08T10:37:00.001-04:00

Join the Fun at The Bear & Cub in Pungoteague
A night of comedy & coffee with Michelle Maclay

“365 days older, a few pounds heavier, and more tears shed”
I’m Back!

Saturday, May 23rd

Door Opens 6:30 PM - Show starts at 7:00 PM

Admission: $15 (includes small treat to eat)

Additional refreshments available for purchase.

30241 Bobtown Road, Pungoteague, Virginia

Call 757-442-7222 anytime & leave a message

Or email bearcubscoop@verizon.net

next is good!

2009-05-05T17:10:00.009-04:00

"No, really, seriously, man, dude, I made it past the first round in DSI's Carolina's Funniest Comic Contest this last Friday!"

I am now onto round 2 that takes place Friday, May 22nd, 7:30pm.
Me and 7 other mooks muking it up for your votes.
It is personal now!

And I love that Zach, the owner, decided to call it Carolina's Funniest Comic contest. Someone asked me last week how the name came about and how did the contest end up at DSI? As if someone, some group had decided...I said, "Ah I think that is what it is called." nice. Step up. I am a comedian pretty much cause I call myself that, introduce myself to people that way. You gots to think what you are and that is what you will be, are.

Not like that weird stuff, Splenda. "It starts with sugar. It tastes like sugar. But it's not sugar." Ah....then what the hell is it?

I met a guy the other night in a bar. Asshole. He started out as an asshole. He acted like an asshole all night. He is an asshole.

Just saying, in a nice way....

See ya'll Friday, May 22nd, 7:30pm, DSI Theatre, on the loading dock behind Harris Teeter
http://www.dsicomedytheater.com/news/article/180/funniest-comic-round-1/
Vote it up!

Funny Contest

2009-04-23T21:16:00.002-04:00

come check me out and 15 other very funny kids contest it up!
Friday, May 1st, 7:30pm
DSI Comedy Theatre

See you there,
Me

http://www.dsicomedytheater.com/shows/details/carolinas-funniest/

I know I know

2009-04-14T18:51:00.003-04:00

I have been lame. here and across most of my life over the last few weeks, ah maybe a month. But...if you come to The Blank Slate Comedy show April edition this Wednesday then I promise to write, write!
Wednesday, tomorrow, 8pm
The Fuse on Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill.
FREE.
A host, comics, and drinks. A good trifecta!
See you there

voted the best short joke

2009-02-27T09:03:00.000-05:00

3-year-old boy examined his testicles while taking a bath. 'Mom', he asked,
'Are these my brains?'
'Not yet,' she replied

ok come on....

2009-02-25T14:27:00.002-05:00

is he the cutest pop a gal could ask for? the appropriate answer is YES!
Happy Wednesday. I know I have been slack in the posting lately...been sick, working, and tired. I am back on it starting next week, March 1st...along with getting my jiggly butt off the couch and out on the road a running.

The Blank Slate Comedy show this week!

2009-02-16T20:03:00.003-05:00

Come to the Fuse and see a great comedy show!
Wednesday, February 18th, 8pm
A fantastic host, five very talented slightly insane comedians, and a Carolina Basketball game humming in the background.

FREE.

Come on!

Feb 09 in North Carolina

2009-02-03T10:18:00.008-05:00

Operation Get my shit together...develop better habits...save money...not sure what to call this "plan yet"
So far so good...meaning "so good" as in sub par and all such references.
The plan for this morning?
Get up at 6:30am (normally I get my 40 something ass out of bed at 7:15amISH)
Crank up some coffee.
Turn on laptop.
Write for 20 minutes.
Shower. Dress. drive. bus ride. work. be productive.

So far the plan?
Woke up at 6am, alarm did it.
Hit snooze till 7:16am.
Turned on laptop. Listened to NPR news.
No TV, no Today Show - that in itself is good - I mean really what is the purpose of that show but to make people that are NOT Ann, Al, Matt, and Meredith feel awful about themselves? That is rhetorical people...I know, stay positive, after all Feb is only 28 days. Hey wait a minute is that the average length of days, of stay for rehab? interesting...
Laid in bed and THOUGHT about writing for 20 minutes...
No coffee.
Showered. Got dressed.
First outfit placed on body went with - another unusual feat.
Started car. Defrosted windows (ice is sticky people...open the door damn it!)
Got to bus stop for 8am bus.
Coffee at fav coffee shop, chatted and laughed with friend that gave me free cup.
At desk just before 8:30am...whew!
Working. Actually being focused...well...ah...ok sort of.
It is the little things people. Baby steps. Wahhhhhh....

Tomorrow awaits me. Perhaps, up at 7am, coffee, turn on laptop, open up new word doc. then Thursday. all in a plan, all in a day.

2009-01-20T08:42:00.003-05:00

It is snowing, snowing, and snowing at my house this morning.
I made an attempt to get out of my driveway to go to work earlier today.
3 inches is what I was able to accomplish.
Back out of the car, into the house, covered in white dust.
And still now, 3 hours later, still snowing. it is so beautiful.
so clear, crisp and clean. A day to stay inside, in long johns, fire a going
and the inauguration activities streaming on my television at low volume in the background. perfect Monday, finally. I guess it is a perfect Monday due to the fact that it is Tuesday.
Work will now be hectic tomorrow and for the rest of the week since I am not there today. It is worth it.
I did cry this morning as I was watching a story about Obama and his path to where he is now. The first time I have done so through it all. It came out of nowhere and did not last long, just a few tears. No words to describe the feeling, none that would do justice I think. So I shall continue to be here inside warm, sipping coffee, writing, and feeling so healthy and hopeful. Ah crap, how am I suppose to write funny stuff now?

Always learning, growing, living

2008-12-18T09:16:00.003-05:00

a friend o mine recently told me that he is a vegetarian. not a strict one though. as he is more concerned with eating healthy and if meat happens to play into that then that is just fine. Some meats are leaner, healthier than others. I know I know that is not the meaning of the word...I did say to him, as he used the word multiple times, "you know, you keep using that word, vegetarian, and I do not think it means what you think it means" - Princess Bride.
So anyway, he has decided then that he can eat, will eat, only meat that has wings. So turkey, chicken and of course angels. So you can imagine my surprise when a few days after he shared this information with me, he said to me as we said goodbye after hanging out one evening at da bar, "See you later and you know I have to tell you, you really are an angel"
Happy Whatever You Believe In babies!

I have no idea why but it fits, and i like it

2008-12-16T10:35:00.004-05:00

Every day I get an email from this dude, George Mateljan, well it is from his foundation to be 100% truthful. it is whfoods.org and they claim to have the world's healthiest foods...or promote them, that way of eating, anyway.
Each day he sends me an email with a daily recipe and food tip.
I don't often make the recipes...correction, ah I have never used any of the recipes in the emails. But I do open up each one, read through it as well as the tip for the day. For some reason it comforts me. That even though I don't actually cook the recipes, I know they exist, that they are out there. I am trying to be healthier and some how this is a step in that process. I am becoming healthy through osmosis. I have no idea why but it all seems to fit.

My mom called me this morning around 8am. When I saw the call come in and knew it was her I was ready. When I answered I said, "Don't sing!" She did not sing, she laughed and laughed and I then laughed and laughed. It was somewhere in the area of a 2 to 3 minute laugh fest! it was the best. a perfect present for today.
I've included the recipe and food tip below for your enjoyment, in whatever form that works best for you.

And in the true spirit of my bornday and the holidays now upon us, and as I heard a kid exclaim in the early morning Christmas Parade I witnessed this last Saturday (more on that surreal experience later...much more indeed),
here's wishing you all a very,
"Happy Whatever you Believe in!" this season.

Today's Recipe
If you don't know what to have for dinner tonight ...
If you want to enjoy great flavor along with an excellent source of vitamins, K, A, D, tryptophan, selenium and protein then try this easy-to-prepare recipe that creates a delicious broth, which you will want to savor to the very last drop.
Poached Halibut with Fennel & Cauliflower

Ingredients:
1½ lbs halibut cut into 8 pieces
1 TBS fresh lemon juice
1TBS + 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1 medium sized onion cut in half and sliced medium thick
1 large carrot, turned about 1½ inch pieces
1½ cups cauliflower florets cut into quarters
1 medium sized fennel bulb sliced medium thick
5 medium cloves garlic pressed
salt and black pepper to taste
chopped fennel green tops for garnish

Directions:
Slice onion and chop garlic and let sit for at least 5 minutes to bring out their hidden health-promoting properties.
Rub halibut with lemon juice and season with a little salt and pepper. Set aside.
Heat 1 TBS broth in a 12 inch stainless steel skillet. Healthy Saute onion in broth over medium heat for 5 minutes stirring frequently.
Add rest of broth and carrots. Simmer on medium heat for about 10 minutes covered.
Add cauliflower, fennel, and garlic. Place halibut steaks on top and continue to cook covered for about 6 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper
Serve halibut with vegetables and broth. Sprinkle with chopped fennel greens.
Serves 4

Is one type of sweetener better than the other for my body and the way my body processes them?

Your question can be answered in a variety of different ways. First, in terms of overall nutritional quality, it's always better to get your "sweeteners" as part of whole, natural foods rather than separately purchased products that you add to your food.
I realize that many people simply have a "sweet tooth" and are accustomed to sweetening a good number of foods and beverages. However, the routine use of added sweeteners can sometimes detract from the naturally sweet flavors of foods.
Carrots, for example, are a naturally sweet vegetable. They're about 15% sugar in terms of total calories; they contain an array of sugars including sucrose, glucose, and fructose. However, to many people carrots do not taste sweet, and the reason sometimes involves the total amount of sugar to which a person has become accustomed. A large carrot will contain about three-quarters of a teaspoon of sugar at most. If you're accustomed to one to two teaspoons of any added sugar in your coffee or tea, or as an added glaze on an entrée, your carrot may no longer be as enjoyable to you because it may seem non-sweet by comparison.
Second, in the same way that I prefer natural foods as a source of all dietary sugars (please see the carrot example above), I also prefer natural sources of extracted sugar products. For example, agave nectar is a sweetener extracted from the agave plant, and it contains a variety of nutrients that are naturally found in the agave plant. While these nutrients are found in relatively small amounts in agave nectar, this sweetener is still a better nutritional choice because of this natural diversity. Agave nectar is about 70% fructose in terms of its sugar composition. However, this abundance of fructose is not the reason I favor its use as a sweetener for individuals who have decided to use added sweeteners. The reason I favor its use is because agave nectar is more natural and less processed than many other available sweeteners. Table sugar, for example, provides no nutritional variety whatsoever, even though it originates in a natural plant (sugar cane).
Your best choice of sweeteners always involves those sweeteners that are most natural and least processed. This is the reason I like whole, natural foods as the source for sweetness in a Healthiest Way of Eating. However, for individuals wanting added sweeteners, my top choices would be honey and natural nectars, including agave nectar. I strongly recommend the purchase of organic honey, since bees can inadvertently pick up pesticide residues and other potential contaminants while gathering pollens in any pesticide-containing environment. Organic agave nectar would also be my recommended choice for this sweetener. Other sweeteners that I also like are organic maple syrup and organic blackstrap molasses. If you need to use a product that acts like regular sugar, then I would suggest organic evaporated cane juice, since it is less processed than refined sugar and contains more nutrients.
When it comes to dietary sugars, the key to supporting your body's metabolism is moderation. Any dietary sugar can disrupt your body's metabolism if eaten excessively. I don't believe that the research supports intake of any added sugar in large amounts, regardless of its "naturalness" or degree of processing. I also don't believe it makes sense to focus on the exact composition of sugars within a natural food or within a natural, minimally processed sweetener. Different foods have different sugar composition, and I believe that these differences are healthy provided that the foods are organically grown and are consumed as close to their whole, natural condition as possible.

say hello to my new little friends...

2008-12-11T16:51:00.002-05:00

they got me through the day today.

Wedsnesday, a big day

2008-12-10T14:42:00.003-05:00

I have decided the following:
1. this birthday, soon upon me, is the birthday where now i am forever here on out to remain the age I am now...or I am whatever age people tell me I am.
2. that it is very cool when a dude you like calls you sug or babe.
3. i will never get enough sleep
4. i love facebook
5. it is ok that i record Bad Girls reality show - they really are not that bad. Just bad at not drinking too much and getting in fights, getting kicked out of bars in LA. But hey what is youth for anyway?
6. even when i don't "nail" a performance i still really love being up there in front of the mic
7. my current lip gloss feels like fly paper on my lips and I am hesitant about wearing it outside of the office...
8. bacon cheeseburgers ARE always a good idea
9. i simply cannot go out and have just ONE beer. Not 12 necessarily, but never just ONE. I was good last night. Had three and was in bed by midnight.
10. i love hot water

The Christmas Story quotes & ah Ralphie is aging nicely don't ya think?

2008-12-08T13:17:00.002-05:00

• "I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!"

• "You'll shoot your eye out, kid."

• "Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian."

• "In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan."

• "Only one thing in the world could've dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window."

• "Now it was serious. A double-dog-dare. What else was there but a 'triple dare ya?' And then, the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare."

• "Scut Farkus! What a rotten name! There he stood, between us and the alley. Scut Farkus staring out at us with his yellow eyes. He had yellow eyes! So, help me, God! Yellow eyes!"

• "He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny."
"He does not!"
"He does, too, he looks like a pink nightmare!"

ah the holidays are upon us...

2008-12-05T09:08:00.007-05:00

i really do love this time of year. i am in a new place this year. well new after a long time being gone. the air is crisp, a light breeze, and it feels like snow is just around the corner. It is not NYC yet I like it here now at this time of year. There is a different sort of noise in the background than NYC. No horns, sirens or clamping of feet...all good in their own way, truly. But now for me it is the swoosh of my car wheels on the blacktop, the rustle of tall trees in my back yard talking, the crunch of brown leaves under my black boots (you can take the gal out of NYC alas NYC, a tad of it, always stays within the gal) in the driveway, and the echo of a neighborhood dog announcing the day to come. Now back in the area where I grew up I am constantly flooded, at times overwhelmed, with memories, flashes of the past moments of my life. Mostly good, some not so much bad as they are complex. For the first time in a long time I am confident in my choices. The choice to move back here for a better job, to be with family, to pursue my writing is the best one I have made in a long time, maybe ever. Solid ground beneath my legs I can see and feel and that is priceless. This time of year also makes me think about a trip taken a long time ago around this time of year. I was 18, it was 1984 (please don't do the math!), with my parents, little brother, to florida to see grandparents, and this car! A 1971 Buick Special Stationwagon - can you imagine? Good times and Happy Holidays to me! It is the canvas for my Holiday from Hell story I am sharing with people this coming Tuesday at the Monti. http://www.themonti.org/
It started out as a trip from hell, for an 18 year old at least it was, and then turned into something amazing...when one least expects it...
I will post the story here someday...I have to tell you the writing of one's past, reliving and investigating one's past is so interesting, scarey and comforting all in rolled into a big ole emotional ball of craziness. I am liking it. Happy Holidays!

Rainy Sunday in North Carolina

2008-11-30T15:03:00.006-05:00

coffee shop

I'm here at a coffee shop.
coffee in a to go cup.
I'm staying. I'll go eventually.
I'm sure it pisses off the young, sullen, struggling kids behind the bar.
That pleases me.
I smile.
They frown.
At last, an expression, movement.
My work here is done.
I shall go now.
More coffee?
Sure, why not? Pour it into my to go cup.
Afterall, I can be green too.

Happy Gobble Gobble to all

2008-11-26T10:47:00.007-05:00

Here is wishin you all a very happy and splendid Thanksgiving.
Whether you are with family, friends, pets, the television, in the country, in the city, eating dinner at 2pm or 6:30pm, I so wish you all the ability to give true thanks for all you have or for that matter do not have. I am truly thankful for you, this blog and my life right now. It is not anywhere near where I thought it would be at this point or even at all imagined yet here I am and therefore I am thankful.
Eat it. Sleep it. Thank it.

psst...as a side note; doesn't my head in this picture look like it has been shrunk and put back on my body? And are my arms on steroids? Still thankful. Hey, I got arms!

It's been a good Tuesday, for a change!

2008-11-25T15:57:00.010-05:00

an email I got today from the O camp that I wanted to share...

Friend -- (that is me! I know that this is a mass email that went out to all supporters of the O, but it is still cool to see my name in print)

Today and yesterday, President-elect Barack Obama announced key members of an economic team tasked with creating jobs, stabilizing the economy, and getting our country back on track.

Barack is bringing together some of the best minds in the country to make swift progress on the economic challenges we face.

Timothy F. Geithner, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, will serve as Secretary of the Treasury. Lawrence H. Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton, will serve as Director of the National Economic Council.

Christina D. Romer will serve as Director of the Council of Economic Advisers, Melody C. Barnes will serve as Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Heather A. Higginbottom will serve as Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council.

Peter Orszag, currently Director of the Congressional Budget Office, will serve as Office of Management and Budget Director, and Rob Nabors will serve as Deputy Director.

Michelle Maclay, currently a Public Communications Specialist at the UNC School of Medicine, a part time writer and comedy open mic host will serve as the White House in-house clown, chick of all laughter supplier, new puppy petter, and all around representative for good times in the new administration. She will stay in Chapel Hill, NC and visit the White House on the weekends and via satellite when needed, on call so to speak. During the month of December Michelle will be hiring various staff to support the funny. Do not look for her in any pictures as she will be keeping a low profile and is not interested in stealing the thunder of the First Michelle.

Barack's economic team has already begun work on a recovery plan, and he'll provide progress updates in the coming weeks. He'll also provide their initial recommendations to the incoming Congress.

You'll be instrumental in generating support to pass legislation that puts America on the road to recovery.

While we can't underestimate the challenge we face, we also can't underestimate the opportunity we have to bring the change our country needs.

Thanks,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

this weekend I heard and I liked...

2008-11-24T09:04:00.002-05:00

1. "I'm desparate, that doesn't make me wrong"
2. "Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever."
3. "see you sug"
4. "that is the zesty BBQ sauce"
5. "Nice to meet you all, well I didn't meet you, but I am sure you are quite lovely."
6. "Santa beer? Ok sure why not."

This week we give thanks to...[insert what you are thankful for here]
Think on it as I am sure there is plenty to fill in. I know for me there is...

there is always one in the crowd...

2008-11-21T09:03:00.001-05:00

i am pretty sure she has been to one of my shows!

Tuesday tatter...on a Wednesday. That is just like Tuesday!

2008-11-19T10:11:00.009-05:00

Tuesday is…Tuesday is that day where things seem to come, to happen all at once.
Monday was ok cause the residue of the spent weekend has not quite yet seeped into your skin.
Then here you are…the second day of the work week and all is crashing down.
Wednesday seems too far in the future and that leisurely, blissful Sunday afternoon is now lost way back there in the past.
Off from the day you go to the place where it can all be made better, for a while.
That local pub, bar, gathering house.
You walk in and people smile, greet you, say, “hey” and call you by name.
A beverage is had, and a friend asks you, “How was your day?”…and they truly want to know.
A college basketball game is on the small screen. The team you loved as a child and that team is winning; killing the other team.
It gives you solace and you purr deep down inside as you listen to the announcer scream in the background while you laugh, give a high five to that gal pal you just met.
Another beverage is consumed and a squeeze, a smile from that handsome man you think is cool continues your therapy onward.
A heated interesting discussion with a Brit inspires you and in the back of your mind you write another chapter to that book that is still cataloged deep down in your soul.
Standing by the back door you and two strong women you think a lot of debate, dissect and laugh on a common problem. And your therapy leaps upward and onward.
Then you must go home, to eat some late dinner, go to bed for the next day is soon approaching.
You lay your head down. Within minutes the alarm goes off. Light shoots through the blinds.
Up you rise, rinse and slurp the first cup of java for the day. Thankful that even though you did live yesterday as if you would die tomorrow, you are not dead.
And as you park your car, lock it up and stroll to that bus that will take you to your next work day you say under your breath…
”Well hey it’s Wednesday, Friday is just around the corner and ain’t that grand?”
Then you touch your head, actually feel the headache on your finger tips from the Co2 of last night liquid and it hurts, but you don't mind. You just get on that bus and you go.

Monday wisdom

2008-11-17T14:01:00.002-05:00

Getting a permanent job with health insurance isn't really about me and making sure I have coverage in case something happens. It is more realizing, acquiring the knowledge that now I have no burden of being a burden to those that love me. That is what health insurance insures for me.
And then in turn, that realization is actually a sign that I am getting wiser...not more mature necessarily (as if, ga, for reals, awesome!), only gaining a broader perspective and getting more little bitty lines around the eyes and mouth. Yet being ok with those lines...most days.
I did decide this morning, as I realized that my birthday is now less than a month a way (barely), that from now on out I am the age I am now, from here on out till I actually look like that age. Or until people consistently guess my correct age.

Random things I heard on Friday night...

2008-11-16T10:09:00.004-05:00

"pick a card"
"shit you are the funniest chick in chapel hill I mean really!"
"it is not real, I mean damn you all are being fooled!"
"nice shot!"
"another PBR please"
"this is my down fall, Michelle, really"
"the internet is out for sure. and now the television? can we turn off that snow?"
"i remember my mom letting me stay home from school for a mental health day"
"you wanna again?"

Yipeeee!

2008-11-06T16:54:00.000-05:00

I had a feeling even back then...

2008-11-05T09:10:00.002-05:00

well more than likely not. That night was probably focused on trying to make people laugh...but at least I had enough sense to have my pic taken as I am under the right sign! This is me on the shore way back in the beginning, at First Wednesday...so wonderful, so fantastic. see Virginia, Hope is a good thing.

this just in

2008-11-03T06:55:00.003-05:00

michelle seen buying a bumper sticker. michelle seen estimating placement of said bumper sticker on back bumper of car. oh my. michelle seen not following through and actually sticking it on the car bumper. michelle seen getting into back of car and placing bumper sticker strategically just above the back break light - not sticking it mind you, placing it. when she presses on the breaks it will light up. michelle seen smiling at her success. she is making a statement yet at any time she can remove that statement. michelle seen realizing she likes that. she is confident that she can make a statement, it can mean something yet she doesn't have to stick it to her car! the bumper sticker?
"read my lipstick. I vote democratic"

2008-11-02T09:44:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I went inside a booth, filled in some circles, took a vote.
A short amount of time in my day yet a large impact on my life.
I had forgotten how amazing it was to vote. It is a feeling of such
hope and power. I felt empowered and invincible. My headache of the
night before filled with beer, whiskey, and ghoulish figures seemed to dull, to fade and float away.
If I owned a cape I would have tied it on and worn it with pride all day.
I just walked right into that place, gave my name, confirmed my address
and they handed me a ballot, a pen and said, "over there, that one is empty"
And just like that I struck a pose and cast my opinion, my right I did express.
A gift I've been given, bestowed to me simply due to my birth in this vast land.
To take that for granted, to not do it, would be, is so much a crime.
I want this change badly and feel our country's heart is literally breaking.
Inside of my chest, down deep inside of me I can completely feel my soul shaking.
I am sure it is quite obvious who I am for, who I know can lead us and start the mending process of our country that is truly falling apart. Yet I am not here to tell you who to vote for, who to choose.
I am only telling you to go out, get off your couch, get your cape on and vote!
Do it for you, do it for me, do it for us all, just do it.
For I fear if you do not, we all lose.

Take a few minutes to read this important, not funny (ack), message on PBs!

2008-10-31T09:09:00.005-04:00

Dear Anyone Reading my Blog today,
I need my polar bears for my set...seriously without it I am dead on stage. Plus they are so cute...from a distance of course. thanks. Michelle

Our polar bears are threatened with extinction, and the next presidential administration may well determine whether or not they disappear forever. Yet Governor Palin has tried to eliminate protections for threatened polar bears a move that could lead to more polar bears dying of starvation and drowning, and more being killed by wealthy trophy hunters.

Please urge Governor Palin to stop siding with Big Oil, and start protecting polar bears today!

According to the Anchorage Daily News, Sarah Palin covered up evidence from her own scientists showing the need for polar bear protections. Now she's listening to the oil companies and trophy hunters, suing the federal government to stop the listing of polar bears as a threatened species.

As governor, Sarah Palin has failed to help polar bears, wolves and other wildlife. A heartbeat away from the presidency, she could do more harm to our wild animals – unless we let her know how important it is to protect America's endangered wildlife before they are gone forever. Please take a moment to sign the petition to help protect polar bears
Read the petition
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/606862690?z00m=17604613
(if you are not able to click on this link then copy, paste in browser and go!
There is a video too.

Urge Governor Sarah Palin to Protect Polar Bears
Take Action!
Unfortunately, Governor Palin has opposed the listing of the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act, despite the fact that Alaska's top marine mammal biologists agreed with the federal scientists who believed the bear should be listed.

Now....come see one of my shows this weekend! I may not be dressing up but I am sure I will be scarey funny!

"You look tired"

2008-10-30T14:05:00.011-04:00

why do people say that to you? I mean I am so it is good that my face matches my insides but alas why do you have to announce it? Yes, I got three hours of sleep last night. Therefore, ergo, I am tired. And apparently some pretty sweet baggage am I a carrying under my eyes. I don't like it when people say, "Wow! You look so pretty today!" As if it is a feat, I was mugged by The Extreme Makeover crew the night before on my way home...and the last two days previous apparently I've looked like shit. Actually, who am i kidding? I love it when people say that to me.
I love it when guys in bars, especially when I am bartending, ask, "how old are you?" and as a side bar a question for them, for all, when the fuck did this become an acceptable question to ask a lady. (tee hee. I referred to myself as a lady!) I guess I can now approach men and ask, "how's it hanging there big fella?" [A pause], response of "It is good" Me - "Ah, no really how is IT hanging?" I need the info if we are to proceed any further. I am feeling dirty today. Oh good...nice mood to be in when in a few hours set to take the stage and do some funny shit in front of paying customers.
A dude asked me that very question last night. So, I then asked back, "how old do you think I am?" To which he replied, after a few minutes of close observation, "27, 28"
[Fighting off laughter], "Oh honey, are you drunk? It is pretty dark in here!" He said no. That was nice. I mean I am sure the objective was not to exchange beauty tips but more to exchange something else...who knows. nice guy. not dating material, but a nice guy. I was flatterd actually. And it made me remember what I already know and believe: it is just a number. none of it means anything. Except of course when it comes to breaking the law. There are some pretty cute 16 year olds running around town...no, I mean 18 year olds, wait...ok never mind. And since I act way below what my age is SUPPOSE to act like (whatever that may be), and along with my good jeans I was blessed with (my mom's name is Jean -that is eery!), I know that makes me come across to people as younger with a certian air of wisdom, and I like that. I just read that 50 is the new 30. Therefore, maybe what people are really saying to me, instead of "You look tired", is "You look 50" and it means I look great! Or instead of the question, "How old are you?" they are really asking, "When do you turn 30, for the 20th time?" If you don't get my drift I have to assume that you have not yet "hung" around quite long enough.

i think this helps...really you are still undecided, voting for the gnome?

2008-10-29T12:04:00.003-04:00

mav·er·ick (mvr-k, mvrk)
n.
1. An unbranded range animal, especially a calf that has become separated from its mother, traditionally considered the property of the first person who brands it.

2. One that refuses to abide by the dictates of or resists adherence to a group; a dissenter.adj.
Being independent in thought and action or exhibiting such independence

Perhaps a dictionary should have been on Palin's shopping list last week.
Oh jeez, you betcha.

I could not have said it better!

2008-10-24T16:25:00.000-04:00

gosh he is good, so dead on! Love it.
I am voting next week and I am so excited!

“I look at these people and can't quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention? To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. "Can I interest you in the chicken?" she asks. "Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it? To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked."

- Author David Sedaris, on undecided voters

i just registered to vote in NC baby!

2008-10-09T08:57:00.005-04:00

click on the image to make it bigger so you can actually read it. I know just enough of the blog world to be dangerous i mean er ah annoying! Who has the time?

and it is a good thing. One vote WILL count!
argh!

"no mom I said lamb, not lame!"

2008-09-15T09:47:00.012-04:00

Tell me what "classic" film that is from and a big prize you shall get from me!

Ok, so I have been lame as of late in the blog writing area...just busy and lonely all rolled into one. How can that be? She is busy and lonely? Does not make sense. I know on the surface it doesn't make sense but dig deeper and it sort of does. And to tell you the truth I am liking it. I have no explanation as to why. Yet just feel it is where I am suppose to be right now. Figuring it out, getting on track, blah blah, and doing it alone. Even though I am alone I feel extremely connected to people, to the world right now yet very much outside of it all and myself. I have out of body experiences throughout my the day almost every day. Not scary experiences only experiences that actually provide clarity and comfort. Very real. Tangible, palatable really. Like just this morning on my way into work, deep in thought, on autopilot when this woman walking behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me, but ah..." I was so startled that I stopped walking. I assumed that she was simply trying to get past me on the walkway. I said, "Oh I am so sorry. Were you trying to get by me? Was I walking too slow, perhaps zig zagging?" (on a side note: my walking has become a little "all over the map" lately.)
"No", she said, "I just want to know what perfume you are wearing. It smells so good" Nice. Even though I am alone and plowing through it all right now I can at least pull it together enough to smell good.
I watched a new show last night. Called, "Priviledged" and there was a line in it that I loved and sums up how I feel right now. "The appearance of not being insane is what is key, what is truly important" Yes, yes it is. I am a little insane right now. Insane in a good way, for a good cause...me. And that ain't lame at all.

i am thinking...

2008-08-25T20:02:00.001-04:00

I am the only over 40 gal watching Gossip Girl. And you know what? I don't care cause I love it. Oh commercial over...

a voicemail message from my dad this morning

2008-08-20T08:16:00.003-04:00

"...all these guys dying lately...Bernie Mac, Carlin, Isaac Hayes. Don't know what is going on. Just remember, you can be young for a while but you can be immature for your entire life."
There is a wise message in there somewhere I am sure of it. Not sure how it relates to the dudes that have been passing on as of late yet my dad seems to have something going on. I had to share. I think I have a new mantra. One that apparently I've been living already. Perhaps that is why I feel and look younger than I am in actual years. go immaturity. be immature today. It will keep you young in the end. plus it seems to agitate the "old" folks. A bonus.

here is the deal

2008-08-15T10:12:00.006-04:00

I been thinking that I need to give more thought.
Specifically in my blog entries.
I fought for a long time to not do a blog. Cause it seemed that everyone else was doing it. It wasn't that I was afraid my parents would find out it was just...i don't really know what it was just that I felt this strong paltable feeling that I did not want to do it. Then I did. Sort of the same process as when I got a tattoo. I did not want to for a long time. Violently against it. (hee. why did I say that? It is not as if I went around randomly performing acts of violence in the name of NOT getting a tattoo). I suppose it is said so to convey the conviction of really being against something. I do recall that at that time in my life i did feel strongly that tattoos were wrong, for me, only. I am not sure if I would have actually been violent or not in regard to tattoos. Yet I will never know cause the conviction was never tested. Never was I walking in the park and a random person flashed past me and tattooed me. Alas, we never really do know our values till they are tested. Hence why I now have a tattoo, two tats to be precise. I did not want one, was against them and then one day I was not and wanted one.
When I got my first one I was 30. I came home to visit my parents just after I had it done. Showed my dad to which he replied, "I don't understand. You are 30. What are you rebelling against again?"
"Ah, but isn't it cute? They are frogs"

Now I have a blog, as you know...right?

And as one that has a blog I tend to read other blogs. Some are good, truly. And others, most, are not. It hit me yesterday that the ones that are good...
Good being - to me that is -
Blogs that actually say something, entertain me, keep me there, are honest, not self promoting (well blantantly that is - because hey it is YOUR blog so that kind of covers that area, I believe), and just overall simple, basic.
The ones that are good appear to be blogs where thought and time is put into the entries. not just slapped up there in a few minutes. entries just up to say, "hey look at me! look at me!" I have written several (probably more) that I am sure fall into this category. That is what got me to thinking. I need to spend more time on the thought and writing of each entry. Well maybe not EACH entry but most.
I think I need to give more thought in other words.

Interesting. When I started writing this particular entry I pictured one or two lines telling, saying that I was going to think more and put more into my blog. Huh. It is like the behaviour change has already started. WOW! That doesn't happen much...to me anyway. It feels nice.

"these are some of my favorite things..."

2008-08-13T12:55:00.001-04:00

on da shore!

baby steps

2008-08-12T19:25:00.004-04:00

I ran after work today. first time in months!. i ran for a little bit. gots to start somewhere. i am out of shape. it felt good. i skipped after i ran. that felt great. i danced and spun around as i listened to my iPod. that was fantastic. i am getting older. and with that comes the realization that each time i get back into exercising it is a wee bit harder, takes longer and feels a tad bit more strained. i always get back though. yes i am getting older. alas, what also comes with that is the realization that i sitll can do it, still get back in shape, if i so choose. oh and i can skip, dance, spin around and sing out loud and truly, absolutely and positively not care what anyone, anything thinks.(lots of deer and other critters here in my hood - well their hood, i am just visiting, technically). and i am not just saying it, i means it! that makes me young. ah ha...i found it! and that is simply brilliant.

do you remember? I do....

2008-08-12T09:06:00.001-04:00

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/08/12/wacky.packages/index.html

Friday, what a day so far!

2008-08-08T08:29:00.009-04:00

two pieces of information to share with you today -
1. I quite possibly, figuratively and literally, am falling in love with Lewis Black. I am reading his new book, Me of Little Faith, and loving it. I am laughing out loud on the bus, missing my stop on the bus since so into it, and feeling a real connection to him. He gets me. Where are you Lew? (that is what he calls himself in the book when telling a story - I feel that since I am half way through it we are close enough that I can now call him Lew). Lew, call me. I can easily check your touring schedule on your website to know where you are - but I think it would be better and more healthy for our future relationship if you call me. Starting a romance with a stalking never works. Or so I have read.

2. This morning while getting my coffee at the Express Oasis (said, "OWAAASIS") I glimpsed a headline on a magazine that threw me for a loop da loop! It was an animal lovers magazine. A picture of a very cute kitty on the cover. A close up actually. Nice headshot. And the line was, "Feline Crisis in America; The cat has become a second class citizen"
Let me preface the next statement, my response to seeing this sentence in print (published print)with the following caveat...I love kitty cats. Adore them and quite frankly think they are well, ah, the meow! But ah, "WHAT THE FUCK?"
When did felines become citizens let alone first class and now second class? And this is a dilemna for us? Well of course it is! I am not shocked by that part of it. And now where does that place women, black people in the line of citizenship just as a few examples?
I did not read the article. Had to continue onto work, no time. So the actual crisis or the definition of their now second class citizenship, for now, will remain a mystery to me. I can only imagine, conjure up a story. I am fine with that. Material potential for future sets. "You can use that in your act!" As everyone seems to say to me whenever they have a story to tell me, or a joke. Since we all know that using other people's established jokes or stories is what is acceptable for comedians to do. Ah crap...I got off on a tangent again. Drat. Ok, back to kitties!
Perhaps it is the beginning of a new Republican campaign to find more voters...or we have just finally run out of news, information to write about and the animal magazine is the only news source that is willing to stand up and say it! Push that envelope with your kitty paw! Either way, for whatever reason drove the headline and the article to be written, it made my Friday. Thanks random animal lover magazine.

hello car 54 where are you?

2008-08-07T08:08:00.001-04:00

moving, car lag from NYC trip, busy at work, writing show for October, creating show for Apex theatre, writing material for stand up set next week, securing a perm position at work so to get health insurance, running, new commute to work pattern, and budgeting money. What the hell do all of these things have in common? Me! I be back soon with insights and ramblings. Sit tight, get up, run around, take a nap, put your pants on, eat a snack, slug down some wine, just do something and be patient.

so right i am numb.

2008-07-30T08:54:00.012-04:00

This is me, my brother, his bowtie and my big mouth out on the town...well he is bartending and i am drinking, on the town.
moving to NC, here, to Chapel Hill, has been so amazing. It has been a long long time since I have made a decision that was so right, so on, and felt so good and healthy. A move that truly started with deciding to move to Virginia, to rest and take a sabatical on the eastern shore, living with my parents. I am awfully grateful. Thanks to all the little people and things for making it happen...those would be,
Angus the big headed red dog, the lovely older couple in Virginia, New York City, credit card companies, ESO Theatre, Amy Ingram, Tasha Space, Heather Goff, the godfather and his lovely baby bird Katherine, beer, pork rinds, coffee, creative property development, Lara Wollman, Nicolle Smith, Kellys Gingernut Pub, First Wednesday Open mic show, tope colored Maxima car, All of Cape Charles, Cape Charles Coffee House, Sierra Nevada (the beer not the location), Nathaniel John, Dave and Duff, Dead Mule Club, The steph aka dirty whore, The Comedy Social, Sophia, Ann C, DSI Theatre, 806 Old Mill Road, Coastal Roast on the shore, the stuffed monkey Earl that lives in my car, The Bear and Cub coffee shop, Tempsations, Bucher, Starbucks, Theron Steiner, Weehawken, Greenwich Village, Judge Craters, Kevin, candles, hope, Dr. Daddy, ECU, french fries, Frasier, Samuel, good genes...and the trait that no matter what is happening, if I am not happy (in a relationship, a location, a job...) i do change. Strive to be happy. I can own that if nothing else. And I DO mean nothing else. Nice. Very nice. I am sure i missed something or someone - you know who you are!

i am such a slacker

2008-07-29T09:40:00.006-04:00

No quotes, no words for some time now. A quick update:
Heading to NYC this Thursday for a wedding in the Brooklyn.
Set at the Cave on last Friday? Outstanding! I hit one out of the park, truly. It felt fantastic. The crowd was on, I was on, the beer was flowing and so was my wit. I don't remember most of it but that I had a blast and we were all laughing. And to think I almost didnt go? I felt poopy pantish but bucked up and went, made a committment sort of dealo! So glad I did.
Moving to my new sweet pad next week. My landlords are fantastic...a second set of parents it is lookin like...but I will have a garden to call my own - all that know me commence shuddering! I will try. I will try. With the way things are going it will be handy to know how to grow my own food.
Thinking about getting a kitty but nowhere near "on the fence" about it. More looking at the fence, on the side of not getting a kitty, and checking the fence out.
Looks like I will be producing again. A variety comedy show in Apex North Carolina. Very excited about it. A over 100 seating theatre, true blue stage and sound system, for reals dressing rooms, and getting paid. That is right! Nice. Stay tuned...
Ah what else? Dabbling in the boy area. Getting my toes wet. Working just fine, just fine, for now.
Day job a rockin still. Septemeber will have health insurance. Can go check out that slight pain in my foot...wait what? there is no pain in my foot, ssshhhh!
Gas prices is going down a tad. My broken toe is finally completely healed.
Kelsey Grammer was hospitalized after feeling faint, just a precaution.
Salmonella now limited to Mexican peppers. University of Florida just rated #1 party school in US. Spencer Taylor of Michigan was arrested while wearing full Joker regalia after he attempted to steal movie posters and memorabillia at a showing of Batman. Really? Low blow dude. And last but not least Oprah does it again! She has divorced kids talking about their pain...
have a day.

It was great!

2008-07-23T08:21:00.003-04:00

Quote for Wednesday, July 23rd
“The greatest stories are those that resonate our beginnings and intuit our endings, our mysterious origins and our numinous destinies, and dissolve them both into one.” - Ben Okri

The Monti was fantastic last night...in spite of me being in it. Wow. I had a great time and my story did pretty well. I got a little teary eyed in the middle of it, forgot a section of it, and then went a tad over my time...but so did all the story tellers. You have to check out this show! it is a gem, a rising star my friends. If you are not on the train now...

i had two glasses of vino to celebrate. but sunday and monday nights? no booze. so hey it seems as if i am actully ahead of the game. nice. bartending this eve and doing a stand up set on Friday. So you know what that means?...me liver does. It says, "yipppeee, no booze for 48! Nice, very nice." Ah your liver talking to you? time to go. I am out.

A clarification

2008-07-18T12:26:00.004-04:00

Quote for Friday, July 18th
“When someone is impatient and says, "I haven't got all day," I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?” - George Carlin

just a quick clarification....when i say "Hooch" i mean as in Hooch: a colloquial nickname for an illegally distilled corn or grain-based alcoholic beverage, also known as moonshine, PGA (pure grain alcohol), or creek water. It is a general reference to booze. I got tired of using that word over and over. I have not given up drinking creek water since I don't actually drink creek water. I have to say though that if I was in fact drinking creek water I would be completely fine giving it up, for more than two weeks even. Although if you are one that does dabble in the drinking of creek water I suppose the idea of quitting it would not enter your realm. Just a guess.
I did not want to confuse people into thinking I meant any other sort of Hooch than the alcohol kind.
As in...
Turner and Hooch (not booze but a good movie none the less - ah come on you know you watched AND liked it! "what exactly does that do for you?" Turner to Hooch)Hooch's name is actually Beasley.

Or as in the Hooch: a single pont foundation, pre-fabricated tensile structure
OR as in a Hooch: a minor character from Scrubs television show.
Or lastly as in a Pieter de Hooch: a painter during the Dutch Golden Age

Day Four operation no hooch

2008-07-17T12:50:00.005-04:00

Quote for Thursday, July 17th
"That would be a good thing for them to carve on my tombstone: Wherever she went, including here, it was against her better judgment” - Dorothy Parker

wow oh wow i slept great last night! Only 6 hours, which actually is a lot for me. It was that sort of sleep where you sleep so solidly, so like in a dream state - not dreaming - and you wake up, sort of, once and think oh no is it really 4:40am? You look and it is something like 1:45am...YES! So excellent. this no hooch dealo is really working well so far. my body feels so rested! by the way, you all know that when this one says, "NO, none, zip zilch" she means "one per day"? Hey me and the cold turkey have never been friends. Wait, don't smirk or call me a player...yet...Because i set in motion the idea in my head, in my routine NO booze for these two weeks I have been very conscious of it all and only HAD one drink a day. And that is the truth! I had a glass of wine Monday night (mostly to clear it out so not to be tempted! - ah...logic may not be my friend either), one beer Tuesday night, half a beer last night (it was skunky smelling so I tossed half of it out), and this eve I will have one drink...my brother's new bar is opening so I have to celebrate with him. Technically not his bar as in ownership, name on legal documents, large amount of money invested into...but his sweat and many tears definitely into it and that often counts more, in my book!
Then it is operation "michelle and her The Monti Story" for the weekend. Eat, breath, drink and sleep my story I am telling on Tuesday, July 22nd at The Monti in Chapel Hill.

day one of operation no hooch for 2 weeks in full swing

2008-07-15T15:17:00.002-04:00

I feel sort of outside of myself today. as if i am walking a few steps behind me. nice butt. no not really. but more just in and out of it. Tuesdays have an odd affect on me. or it could just simply be the onion rings i had for lunch...and then some pepper and sea salt potato chips. my body is screaming for veggies! keep on toots. off to work on my story for The Monti - Tuesday, July 22nd. Be there! Me, microphone, telling a story of my childhood...what could be better? Don't answer that. Simply say, "goodnight Gracie" and close out the window.

my liver, my weight, my wallet

2008-07-14T10:11:00.017-04:00

That is the theme for the next two weeks kids.
My liver, my weight, my wallet.
I have a lot coming my way for the next two weeks (all good)and i need to focus, work my butt off and make it all happen, and happen well!

so for the next two weeks (from now till week of July 28th) no booze. I am doing this cause i think i have a problem. I am confident in stating that I don't have a classic alcoholic problem - and i would never make light of such a disease, ever. alas, when it comes to booze, really just beer - been a while since i have done shots, etc on a regular basis...it does cause me problems. Oh there are many days I don't drink, i never get up in the morning and drink, and when i drink it is always about happiness or celebration, to relax after work, but i honestly feel not as an escape or due to pressure. But, when I do, the aftermath, the hangover, the next day, causes me to not be productive, get things done and just overall it zaps me. it is the mixture of getting older (not old by any means) and beer that does this to me. my recovery time becomes longer and longer as i add years onto my life. the aftermath of it is my problem.
I just feel that at this time out of my day job, the bar job and writing, performing, and drinking (goin out, socializing) something has to give. And I choose beer.
I have some very fun and important shows this month I want, need to focus on em! That means doing the work (ack!) and getting sleep. When i drink, even just a beer, i don't sleep or sleep well! so there. i said it, wrote it.

my goal? no drinking of the beer or any other alcohol till end of July. I am giving it up for two weeks and see how it goes. I am thinking that maybe i then need to look at caffeine consumption. But that is just too overwhelming to even fathom, today or at all, right now!
I have a wedding to attend the first weekend in August in the BIG Apple, a good friend taking the plunge! A lovely time to celebrate with a beer.

I am excited about this because it will be good for my liver, my weight (I am not fat but the beer does add a few pounds on that if not there would allow me to fit into a few of my jeans...jeans I love and I don't have any extra dough to buy new ones)and it will certianly help my wallet usuage.

ok thanks for reading kids. and if you are around the area check out the following shows where I will be performing -

DSI Comedy Theatre
Carrboro, NC
Thursday, July 17th, 8pm
Stand up spot
http://dsicomedytheater.com/

Spice Street
Chapel Hill, NC
The Monti
Tuesday, July 22nd, 7:30pm
Telling a story
http://themonti.org/

The Cave
Chapel Hill, NC
FEMME FEST Finale
Friday, July 25th, 7:30pm
Stand up spot
http://www.caverntavern.com/

the blogging may be low over the next few weeks...check my links on this blog for other good stuff to read, blogs to check out.

see ya!

not much today but...

2008-07-10T13:27:00.007-04:00

Quote for Thursday, July 10th
"Hold the dates!" - Me.

I am doing two shows soon...

A stand up spot at DSI Comedy Theatre in Carrboro
Thursday, July 17th, 8pm
http://dsicomedytheater.com/

A story telling spot at The Monti in Chapel Hill
Tuesday, July 22nd, 7:30pm
- super excited about this one cool cats!
http://themonti.org/

Then I am doing another stand up set, they say, the headliner, gulp!
At The Cave in Chapel Hill (psst....look to the right for details)
Friday, July 25th, earlish...7pm, 7:03pm....

Just when you think you can't go on and wonder where i am...POOF! There I am performing somewhere. Just stand in your dwelling of living, close your eyes, whisper POOF! and there you will be and there I will be. "Hello!"
If not, go to plan B. Drive, walk, take the bus...see ya there.

a quick update to my day...

2008-07-09T12:01:00.003-04:00

This is where i live people...ah man, just when i said, "ok this eve I am NOT going to have a few beers while writing..." I saw this article off of our intranet.
Now? Well I don't want to get depressed, voluntarily!

I like the mice vow to voluntarily drink for 28 days. You had me at, "establishes a casual link..." I mean who doesn't enjoy a casual link every once in a while...or every other 28 days. A thought...isn't 28 days the standard or average length of time for rehab? Ok, now I gots it. I am riding all the wheels now. All you people just off of rehab and want to drink? Maybe you are onto something.

But wait! Then just at the end, so as not to encourage drinking, they wrap it up in a nice little bow, "The study also found that treatment with an antidepressant drug during abstinence prevents the development of depression, a statement says."
Who this hell is this statement dude?

Oh well, all ok, all good again. And just think only a tree was wasted in this story! (tee hee)

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 - 2:56 PM EDT
UNC study links alcohol abstinence with depression
Triangle Business Journal

Cutting back on drinking could possibly lead to feelings of depression, according to findings from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

UNC researchers at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies announced the results of their study Tuesday. The findings appear online in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.

Senior study author Clyde Hodge, a psychiatry professor at UNC, says the research "establishes a causal link between abstinence from alcohol drinking and depression." In the study, mice that voluntarily drank alcohol for 28 days exhibited depression-like behavior 14 days after they stopped drinking.

"This research provides the first evidence that long-term abstinence from moderate alcohol drinking - rather than drinking per se - leads to a negative mood state, depression," Hodge wrote in a statement.

UNC researchers postulate that the abstinence from alcohol after drinking somehow impairs the brain's ability to create new nerve cells. Recent studies show that the development of the nerve cells could regulate people's mood; thus, UNC says, impaired creation could lead to feelings of depression.

The study also found that treatment with an antidepressant drug during abstinence prevents the development of depression, a statement says. The authors of the study say their work could help lead to better treatment options for people who quit drinking.

UNC's research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

some decisions to be made

2008-07-09T09:10:00.002-04:00

Quote for Wednesday, July 9th
“I think that somehow, we learn who we really are and then live with that decision.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

I am in the middle of a few things right now.
Decisions to be made – from big ones to very small little ones!
I have to make a decision about a place to live in the fall.
I have found two places. Both have great attributes with small disadvantages.
Truly, not complaining here. I have options and that is wonderful. Yet with options come headaches. Careful what you wish for.
I often think of Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinny…he and the lovely Marisa Tomei enter a diner in the small town where he has just arrived to defend his cousin in court. Oil has come to water town – the basic premise of the movie. With a very big dash of funny added!
Anyway…they enter. Sit down. It is a dive. A small town dive diner – ah yum!
Joe asks for the menu.
The greased up rather large older cook hands him a small menu, grunts and turns his back to the couple.
The camera moves down across the menu, giving the audience a view of what it has to offer.

MENU
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Camera up, Joe’s close up, he says,
“Well I guess I will have the breakfast” Smirk and all.
It might be nice for it to be that simple.

My great “Day job” has real potential to be a career – gulp! Good yes.
A decision to be made? Yes!

Do I work at the bar this eve? – in at 9pm, out at 3am – up at 6am Thursday for full time job.
Tired? Yes. Make money so I can eat out with friends Thursday night? Yes.
If not work, allow more time to work on story for show? Yes. If work, have to work on story after day job, before bar job, cutting out nap? Yes.

Some weighing has to take place. I suppose it is better that life is heavy than not weigh anything at all. Yes. Sigh.

2008-07-08T19:27:00.002-04:00

Quote for Tuesday, July 8th
“The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” - Mark Twain

Jesse Helms died on the 4th of July

2008-07-07T12:50:00.006-04:00

Quote for Monday, July 7th
“Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things” - George Carlin

Jesse Helms once said in response to North Carolina wanting to build a new Zoo, repair the existing one, in the town of Asheboro, "Well, you don't need to do that. Just put a fence around Chapel Hill and call it the NC Zoo."

Rest in peace Mr. Helms, honestly, I wish you peace and rest.
No hard feelings. I actually like the zoo, always have, always will.

And afterall, Bono liked you...have not always appreciated his music, or been a big ole groupie of U2 overall, yet I do so admire him as a person for his beliefs, convictions and the ability to follow them to the end, for himself and for others.
If you, Jesse, had this cat in your corner well you must have been doing something right. Beliefs, convictions and the strength to follow them to the end has to be admired whether you agree with em or not.

I would say that completes "the three" (Russert, Carlin and Helms) but really don't like groups of three people die every day, all day long, here, everywhere? We just don't know their names and they are not famous.

4th of July eve

2008-07-03T13:23:00.003-04:00

Quote for Thursday, July 3rd
"Books are a narcotic" - Franz Kafka

a day off, a day to read, to relax, do laundry, have a beer, watch USA network, ponder on some story ideas, drink some coffee, rejoice in not taking a shower, savor freedom to do nothing.

Happy day before 4th of July.

It's my friday, ya'll!

2008-07-02T13:31:00.001-04:00

Quote for Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008
"The simplest answer is to act."

new site to check out

2008-07-01T12:27:00.003-04:00

very funny, very talented guy

http://www.peteholmes.com/

did a few shows way back with him...go see, read, learn, laugh. be.

again, really? it is Tuesday already? darg!

2008-07-01T09:29:00.005-04:00

Quote for Tuesday, July 1st
“Wha?” – Me, waking up this morning remembering my early morning dream.

I woke up this morning around 4am. Padded off to the bathroom. Sleep peed. Scuffled back to bed. Smiled due to the thought I had two more hours to sleep…well till the snooze ritual was to commence at least. Fell right back to sleep and dreamt the following…

I was on a bus trip to somewhere (been there several times, I like it). Andrew Shue was sitting next to me for the trip. Andrew Shue of Melrose television show fame or you might know him of LA Galaxy Major League soccer team fame. We hit it off, chatting and giggling the entire trip (yes, giggling, not laughing – a difference as you well know). We get there. It is the bus station, old and no longer in existence at this location bus station, in Chapel Hill – where I currently reside…and drink. I put on my coat, Andrew helps me, then pulls out my cross necklace (ah?) that is stuck in my coat. He smiles. I smile. My tummy flips. Me likey. That part of dream then over. Flash forward to me in the streets of NYC, a specific street I recognize but don’t have a name for. There is a movie being made. I am in the middle of it. I am walking through the set. People every where. Noise, loud, like on a set when not filming. Andrew is there, I can sense he is, but I cannot see him. I am walking yet very slowly and I cannot seem to move any faster. I am struggling to take a step, to move down the street. People are whizzing by me. Every one else is in regular motion, speed and I am in definite slow mo. I am unable to get to the end of the street. I then pass, finally, a table of scripts…of the film being made. Then I hear “Feel the vibration” being sung by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Ah, snooze begins. Hit it, open eyes, look around for Andrew, see he is not there, and then…”Wha?”

What does it mean? Well here is what is happening in my life right now…see if this sheds any light…

Transitioning into a new, more responsibility, a tad bit more money job at UNC, looking for an apartment for August, September (just found one that is amazing – no really – but a tad bit more than I want to pay…gulp!), struggling on this book thing, working at a pub a few nights a week so up late causing sleep lose, debt debt debt, boys boys boys….not exercising, eating OK, but not great…

So what does that dream mean? More than likely? Not a damn thing…yet I cannot help but think something. I checked, Andrew is still married and living in LA so a literal translation of that part more than likely not there. I am not in NYC, in a film there currently and I seem to be walking in regular motion today, so far. So no literal on that part. Mmmmm…..maybe, ah, well, no ok ah perhaps….symbolism. Ah I want to be head over heels in love, I am not sure where to live so I am dragging my feet (I did turn down a good place, in my price range with what seemed to be a cool roomie just yesterday), I am not writing as much as I should be, I had a great successful set the other night at a club (has not happened in a long time – and no notes!), I am meeting with a producer of a story telling show, a successful one here locally, this week and I got no ideas - now - and I still truly want to be a live performer yet have not found my niche. Or…I am lacking sleep and it all means nothing at all. Or it is just Tuesday. Yep, that is it more than likely, just a Tuesday. darg!
But...if a Mr. Shue happens to read this and is interested...I am more than willing to re-evaluate my interperation of this dream.

Monday, Monday, a day a day

2008-06-30T13:34:00.004-04:00

Quote for Monday, June 30th - the last day of June...for a while that is!
“I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one” - Mark Twain

If you live on the Eastern Shore of Virginia...

2008-06-27T08:45:00.006-04:00

or are planning to be there this weekend, June 27th weekend, please go and check out this event in Belle Haven, Virginia! It is for a VERY VERY good cause and it will be a great fun show.

ESO SAVE OUR SCHOOL

“pay what you can” BENEFIT CONCERT
Bring the Family!
June 28, 2008 6 – 10 pm

MR. ‘B’ & the Boys
BLACK ELVIS
PATSY “CLINE” GOARD
MARGOT’S ANGEL

EASTERN SHORE’S OWN, INC.
http://www.esoartscenter.org/
KING STREET, P.O. BOX 147
BELLE HAVEN, VA. 23306
757-442-3226

pssst....he won't be there...so the coast is clear for you to support the arts and have a good time and he will never know!

Thursday, still love them even though...

2008-06-26T08:23:00.006-04:00

Quote for the day Thursday, June 26th

"My man" - Denzel Washington, American Gangster
My Thursday you ask?
Growling stomach
large bags under eyes, almost kissing my cheeks bags
3 hours of sleep under my belt
89 bucks richer in my pocket (pulled a bar shift at the Dead Mule Club)
cramps a creeping...I just know it
Material running through my head for set tonight
Humidity hanging on me like a hyper little kid
Broken toe almost healed
New blister on top of other toe from flip flops
Coffee breath
I am pretty sure a pimple developing...inside my nose - really?
thong on...no time as of late to do laundry
Running on fumes
Knowledge I can do this

And you? Have a day.

oh and this is a cat named Michelle

no title today, only words

2008-06-25T08:42:00.009-04:00

Quote of the day for Wednesday, June 25th

“The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.” - George Carlin

This morning as I got my coffee and bottled water (i buy yet still cannot believe that i pay for water - not angry at the end result that i buy "tap" water in a bottle, more miffed that i did not think of it FIRST...or did something about it first!) I noticed a family eating breakfast in the dining area. I work in a hospital. Before I even saw what they were eating I made an assumption, a judgement I guess you could say, think. From their appearance, stature, I knew they were eating large amounts of eggs, bacon (or some other meat product, maybe multiple other meat products), biscuits, gravy, more than likely drinking a diet soda of some type. As my eyes moved from the family to the food in front of them I was taken aback. it was worse than I suspected. the parents were indeed eating large amounts of the above mentioned items but the kids? one was eating sugar coated, artificial colored gummy worms and the other kid was eating chocolate covered pretzels, both had their hands on a soda product. what the fuck? and we are in a hospital. I know we have a fat problem in this country, we are obese, we don't eat right as a general population, we don't exercise regularly (shit, I walk to the bus every morning, 5 minutes, and that is my exercise - weak!), and all of that crap, but I just could not believe what I saw. I really don't have any commentary on what I saw, but that for I am writing this I suppose is just that, a comment. I am not the best eater that is for sure and to be honest I have been blessed with good metabolism, I am yes what you would call average. I am not my ideal weight yet I am nowhere near overweight, this is true. So I do feel lucky, I guess blessed that I can eat poorly at times and not exercise and still stay relatively thin, well not thin, I am not comfortable saying that word when talking about myself, but I am not fat. That works. I am not fat. I just was so taken aback on what they were eating to start the day off. That the parents were letting it happen. They purchased it for them even. This incidence is not a big deal in the realm of all the world and its problems yes this I know. Yet I cannot help but feel maybe it is indeed a big deal, bigger, more reaching in the result of this small happening in an average day here at the hospital. I paid for my coffee, my bottled water, walked down the stairs to the lobby, sat down, finished my current book, cried at the ending (yes it was good!) and then proceeded off to my office. Another day. Another observation.

well you ain't no Wednesday, thats for sure

2008-06-24T08:53:00.004-04:00

Quote for Tuesday, June 24th

"It's absolutely stupid that we live without an ozone layer. We have men, we've got rockets, we've got saran wrap - FIX IT!!!" - Lewis Black

Tuesday is here.
Uncanny how it arrives directly on the heels of Monday
Etching pictures of events to come upon my brain
Securing a weekend now gone
Demanding a decision for the future ahead
Ackwardly prepelling me forward
Yearning for its partner the big W

Tuesday is here. Tuesday will be gone. Tuesday.

I forgot about this one...had to share

2008-06-23T21:02:00.003-04:00

thank goodness that video, cd, film, television, box sets, YouTube, Google, Barnes & Noble, VHS, LPs, Larry King, HBO...(ok you get the idea) exist. Because as long as all that crap exists, we have him. I forgot how much i love this routine. I share with you, you share with someone else, and so on and so on....

George Carlin - A place for my stuff
Actually this is just a place for my stuff, ya know? That's all, a little place for my stuff. That's all I want, that's all you need in life, is a little place for your stuff, ya know? I can see it on your table, everybody's got a little place for their stuff. This is my stuff, that's your stuff, that'll be his stuff over there.That's all you need in life, a little place for your stuff. That's all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn't have so much stuff, you wouldn't need a house. You could just walk around all the time. A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. You can see that when you're taking off in an airplane. You look down, you see everybody's got a little pile of stuff. All the little piles of stuff.
And when you leave your house, you gotta lock it up. Wouldn't want somebody to come by and take some of your stuff. They always take the good stuff. They never bother with that crap you're saving. All they want is the shiny stuff. That's what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get...more stuff! Sometimes you gotta move, gotta get a bigger house. Why? No room for your stuff anymore.
Did you ever notice when you go to somebody else's house, you never quite feel a hundred percent at home? You know why? No room for your stuff. Somebody else's stuff is all over the goddamn place! And if you stay overnight, unexpectedly, they give you a little bedroom to sleep in. Bedroom they haven't used in about eleven years. Someone died in it, eleven years ago. And they haven't moved any of his stuff! Right next to the bed there's usually a dresser or a bureau of some kind, and there's NO ROOM for your stuff on it. Somebody else's s--- is on the dresser. Have you noticed that their stuff is s--- and your s--- is stuff? God! And you say, "Get that s--- offa there and let me put my stuff down!"
Sometimes you leave your house to go on vacation. And you gotta take some of your stuff with you. Gotta take about two big suitcases full of stuff, when you go on vacation. You gotta take a smaller version of your house. It's the second version of your stuff. And you're gonna fly all the way to Honolulu. Gonna go across the continent, across half an ocean to Honolulu. You get down to the hotel room in Honolulu and you open up your suitcase and you put away all your stuff. "Here's a place here, put a little bit of stuff there, put some stuff here, put some stuff--you put your stuff there, I'll put some stuff--here's another place for stuff, look at this, I'll put some stuff here..." And even though you're far away from home, you start to get used to it, you start to feel okay, because after all, you do have some of your stuff with you.
That's when your friend calls up from Maui, and says, "Hey, why don'tchya come over to Maui for the weekend and spend a couple of nights over here." Oh, no! Now what do I pack? Right, you've gotta pack an even SMALLER version of your stuff. The third version of your house. Just enough stuff to take to Maui for a coupla days. You get over to Maui--I mean you're really getting extended now, when you think about it. You got stuff ALL the way back on the mainland, you got stuff on another island, you got stuff on this island. I mean, supply lines are getting longer and harder to maintain.
You get over to your friend's house on Maui and he gives you a little place to sleep, a little bed right next to his windowsill or something. You put some of your stuff up there. You put your stuff up there. You got your Visine, you got your nail clippers, and you put everything up. It takes about an hour and a half, but after a while you finally feel okay, say, "All right, I got my nail clippers, I must be okay." That's when your friend says, "Aaaaay, I think tonight we'll go over the other side of the island, visit a pal of mine and maybe stay over." Aww, no. NOW what do you pack? Right--you gotta pack an even SMALLER version of your stuff. The fourth version of your house. Only the stuff you know you're gonna need. Money, keys, comb, wallet, lighter, hanky, pen, smokes, rubber and change. Well, only the stuff you HOPE you're gonna need.
From George Carlin, A Place For My Stuff, Brain droppings, 2000.
Source Evolutionary psychology Humor Traveling light
2003-11-25 Jef Allbright's blog

one word, two words, a few...

2008-06-23T08:19:00.023-04:00

Quote for Monday, June 23rd

"bummer. shitty. unbelievable. stunned. weird." - Michelle, aka Me, reading of this news from Sunday.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/06/23/carlin.obit/index.html

I originally said there would be more later...that was a few hours ago. In those hours no new words, insights or revelations really have popped into my head about George Carlin's death. Nothing radical to say, to write lingering on my lips, at the tip of my chewed cuticle bearing fingers. Only one thought that keeps running over and over in my head, "it just doesn't make sense." Its like he is one of those people out there I thought would never die. I do realize that that thought is not based in reality. Still it is a thought that keeps running through my head. I just think he is that sort of person, could never die...and so that has thrown me for a loop. I am not delusional. Just having a delusional thought. There is a difference between being delusional and having a delusional thought. Take my word for it...that is based in fact. Sort of like the difference between skiing and being a skier...

I've read a few other blogs on George today. For as one can imagine, I expected, the comedy world is all a flurry and 100s, 1000s, millions of people are out there today busy posting on this subject. The ones I read so far, all different in content yet similar - enough - in theme or message; sad.

I ran into someone over lunch and we chatted on it for a few minutes. I told him my thought and how I was feeling. That I am in shock and just felt he was one person I thought would never die. I added that I knew that to be a silly emotion, delusional. See it is not so much that I feel sad it is that I feel weird and disoriented. And don't know why or actually if that is how I feel...as my friend walked away to go eat his lunch he did say something to me that makes sense and I feel does sum it up, explains a little bit how I do feel.

He said, "Oh no I do understand what you mean, get what you are saying. It's like the world feels like less of a place I want to be in now that he is dead."

Yep. That sounds just about Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker, and Tits right!

see, http://www.erenkrantz.com/Humor/SevenDirtyWords.shtml, for George's original comedy routine on the Seven Dirty Words

I love Thursdays

2008-06-19T13:26:00.018-04:00

actual yummy peanuts you can purchase at the DMC

Quote of the day for Thursday, June 19th

"Baby, even the losers get lucky sometimes." - Mr. Tom Petty

Nothing really to report today. My boss is out of the office and I am actually working...well not right now but outside of now I am, I am, I mean it. It is Thursday. I love Thursdays. More so than Wednesdays. Such potential and possibility does Thursday possess. What am I yoda now? Sometimes when I wake up in the morning and first look in the mirror I see yoda. But then after a hot shower, lots of age defying (yes, I am taking a stand on something!) lotion and some valuable Almay cover up, I look like me, only older. Better looking, I think, honestly, but older none the less. An older more mature better looking me. I ain't complaining...about this.

Worked my first shift last night at The Dead Mule Club - see this link for history, story of the dead mule http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E4D71F3AF930A25755C0A96E958260

very interesting and routed in where I now live and work!

and this first shift, this first time was fun, profitable and simply good.

Not sure about the rest of you but not three things I have been known to say after a first experience doing "something". Not many virgin experiences left.

As my best guy friend from college use to say, "I am a virgin every time my friend"

Pleads a true case for it really is how one CHOOSEs to see life, situations and their sexual history.

I am back there again this eve just to help out for a few hours. Mr. Ben Jones is there signing his new book. Mr. Ben is best known for his Cooter character (that was the character's name, ahem) on the Dukes of Hazzard televison show that ran from 1979 to 1985 - possibly one of my favorite shows in a whirlwind time period of good television shows!

His book is called, Redneck Boy in the Promised Land Confessions of "Crazy Cooter"

Check him out at http://www.cootersplace.com/- He has lived quite a life to date and is a still rockin on. He went to school here in Chapel Hill and hung out at an historic yet no longer there drug store called Jeffs for many of his wild years. I remember my pops telling tons of stories of Cooter, Aka Ben Jones, for he truly was, at that time, Cooter! They were good pals back in the day. Cooter says when he was a drinking, he has since become sober, he estimates he consummed around 48,000 beers...and other substances....I am sure my pop shared in a few of those beers...Anyway...if you live here come by the DMC and say, "hey", grab a drink and pick some pig. Like I said, Thursdays is just brimming with possibilies and I am filled with potential!

I don't care who you is, this is funny!

2008-06-18T09:54:00.004-04:00

Quote of the day for Wednesday, June 18th

DS Andy Wainwright: You do know there are more guns in the country than there are in the city.

DS Andy Cartwright: Everyone and their mums is packin' round here!

Nicholas Angel: Like who?

DS Andy Wainwright: Farmers.

Nicholas Angel: Who else?

DS Andy Cartwright: Farmers' mums.

I laughed out loud for an extended period of time at this one. Watched this movie last night with my roomies. It is a good one. Highly recommend it!

art is fun

2008-06-17T13:43:00.002-04:00

love it! It is Tuesday. Don't ask me nuthin! This is my new best friend. He is also my new spanish friend. My new work friend. Just an all around friend friend. He is creative and goofy. I am so lucky to have found him here. He loves his computer camera and now I have just learned he also is quite crafty with paint-by-number paint application. (I just made that up but in this day and age I am sure that is what it is, called at least!) Tuesdays for some reason are difficult for me. Much, way worse than Mondays. I actually like Mondays. So he sent me this picture and it not only made me laugh but it shot be right forward to Wednesday already. All is well and lovely.
p.s. i like is art work so much as you can see with the pic of me up top...from harbor party on the eastern shore a few weeks ago...my pulling beer gig.

A Day

2008-06-17T08:26:00.004-04:00

Pierre says, "The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” Well actually Dorothy Parker said it yet it sounds cuter from Pierre. It is that sort of day - this is the quote for the day by the by. till tomorrow keep on keepin on!

and this too....

Dr. Raymond Stantz: Everything was fine with our system until the power grid was shut off by dickless here.

Walter Peck: They caused an explosion!

Mayor: Is this true?

Dr. Peter Venkman: Yes, it's true your Honor. This man has no dick.

time is mine

2008-06-16T09:42:00.010-04:00

Quote for Monday, June 16th

"Ah man, I should have thrown the chicken bone on the boat!" - My brother, in the back seat, hungover, eating Bojangles chicken wings, me driving us to the eastern shore of Virginia for our cousin's wedding.

It doesn't make sense and that is why I like it. We said this over and over throughout the 23 hours, 32 minutes (ah yes!) that we were on the shore this weekend. We just made the 24 hour turn around time for the toll on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel - hey that is 7 bucks or more apropos; almost two gallons of gasoline! I am glad we went. It was a very nice, breezy, fun wedding. The band was good but stopped playing too early, as at most weddings. No sooner than you have consumed just enough booze to feel limber and talented to get out on the dance floor to boogie it up you hear, "OK folks we have to get out of here so here is one more song to get down to" "Boo"
Booing, which just so you know for the future is not attractive to the band and in no way then causes them to continue to play. In fact it seemed to speed up the packing up and getting the hell out of dodge process.
It was great to see the family, friends have not seen in a while. The bride Laura was beautiful - it was on the beach and very pretty. My favorite part? When the priest performing the ceremony said, "these two people have no idea what they are doing, getting into" Love it. It was a statement about all getting married and not totally specific to them. That no one knows what marriage really is, what it is truly like, until one is in it...and then it is too late As most events, relationships that one can and does enter into. He went on to say that for if we did know no one would do it! Sort of like eating Sushi, graduation from college and actually wanting to work, and body piercing.
I am tired today and I am sure it is because of lack of sleep, the drinking and the toll of driving on the bod...what I also am is happy that we went. It was worth it. I read today and I was reminded of something I have known and believe in for some time now; that every day, every minute of our lives we have a chance, an opportunity to listen, to see and decide how we will interpret an interaction, a situation, an occurrence. That it is up to us how we will take it in, feel about it and let it affect our lives. My bro and I decided around 1am on Friday night, I mean Saturday morning, to go to the wedding on Saturday. To leave Chapel Hill in the morning, drive the 4 and a half hours to the shore to attend the wedding that same day. To then have to come back the next day. Sure I am tired and I did not get the stuff done at my house I had planned to accomplish over that 24 hours. But in return I got to see my cousin come down the isle looking amazing, hang out with some good friends (hey Lara, Erika, Mom, Pop, Cousin Petey....) and laugh uncontrollably with my brother for 23 hours, and 32 plus minutes. I chose to say it was a good decision, a wonderful time and be grateful that I have such a family and area to call my own, to go to for just under 24 hours. Plus I love coffee and any excuse to drink as much of it as I can works for me. Peace.

It is Friday, June 13th, Friday THE 13th...

2008-06-13T08:14:00.005-04:00

This was my last show, last night at First Wednesday Show at the Chesapeake in Cape Charles, Virginia. Love that show, the people, the artists. Good times indeed.

Quote of the day for Friday, June 13th

“Oh yes! Oh hell yeah!” – Me, after the nurse, on the 8th time, and her big ass ear sucking instrument got all the wax out of my left ear! I did not even realize how much I was NOT hearing for the last 4 days. Sure it cost a crap load of ones but hey it is my health, my ear. And yes I do have two of em but there is a reason for that and I like em both in tact, working together as a team. Good to have ya back leftie, very good.

And check it out....the Google ad is now for ear wax candles...triple drat! If only I had known last night I would have gotten a to go bag.

So, it is June 13th…Friday the 13th…which means?

Tomorrow is Saturday the 14th. That is it. And then of course you know what that means? The next day is Sunday the 15th. There is a pattern here of some sort. I will figure it out soon.
So as I was lounging in the lounge of the main part of the hospital (where I work) it hit me how much I really like my “day” job. So much that I am starting to think of it as not a day job and maybe, ssshhhhh, a career? I actually pictured me being here for an extended period of time. A retirement package? Say what? I say yes! Have a nice paying job and write, and perform some funny stuff? Could it be? I can see, imagine that just maybe….again, ssshhhh don’t tell no one. I realized some of the perks of working for UNC, for the state, for a University hospital and here there be:
If I get sick, collapse, fall down, feel peevish at work I can just walk down the hall a few feet and there be a whole bevy of nurses and docs to take care of me…and get this, I would only pay 20% of it!
In the summer time every Wednesday there is a farmer’s market in the lobby. I mean come on!
Hot young, and some sexy older ones, doctors to look at. Sure most of them are married but all I need or can handle right now is to look anyway. I am sure there is a new class of students just on the horizon…some that dig older gals.
My co-workers are fun and treat me well. Odd I know.
After a certain amount of time, of service, you get a cute little pin you can wear on your lapel. I don’t really have many if actually any pieces of clothing with lapels but just knowing that if I did I could. And who doesn’t like free stuff?

There is more…or there will be more. For now that works for me. Potential is a good word, maybe even the best word. It has been a long time since I have felt so solid, even happy in a job, a geographical location and a mental state. Who knows what is to come? Today, for this time, I plan to linger here and let it all take place. And you know what that means don’t ya? Absolutely nothing. I like that. I like that a whole lot.

and the problem is?

2008-06-12T14:01:00.005-04:00

perusing the CNN.com as i finish my brownie from lunch (it was employee appreciation day in my office - yummy chicken salad, tuna salad, pasta salad, fruit salad...hey wait a minute!) and came across this diddy. Not P, but H...I really don't see the big deal! It is "news" (loosely used kids I know) like this that gives me HOPE. Peace.

http://www.ogpaper.com/news/news-02094.html

untitled

2008-06-12T09:02:00.007-04:00

Quote for Thursday, June 12th

“I don't have a bank account, because I don't know my mother's maiden name” - Paula Poundstone

Here is a thought I had today; what if someone wrote all of these things, tasks, activities, habits, etc down as if they were doing them but actually were not. Only doing them in writing? Just a thought...not related to me at all and that I am struggling with my plan...nope not at all related...oh look is that a shiny object? oohhhh....

P.s. Ear still clogged. Home remedy sorta working...drat. Health insurance does not kick in for another month. Don't get me wrong, very grateful it is a comin...can the hear hold out till then? wait, what did I say? I suppose that is my answer. drat, drat and double drat.

2008-06-11T08:37:00.008-04:00

Quote for Wednesday, June 11th

"If you pursue celebrity you will lose your soul. If you pursue creativity you will find your soul." -
Some well known actor that I cannot recall his name in a movie I randomly saw last night called, "Undiscovered", off of the hulu site. My new fave place. You can watch TV shows, movies...download em to your laptop. excellent! Even though Ashley Simpson was in this movie it was pretty decent. She wasn't the lead so her on screen time was limited...she is a good little lip sync er, I will give her that. Not that she needs anyone, especially me, to give her anything.

And I realized something this morning as I was at work getting my morning coffee...there is this great small coffee shop inside the hospital that I love to go to. Run by artists, people in bands, have tattoos, funky black clothes...my people...or at least the kind of people I like. They probably don't think of me as their people. But what they don't know won't hurt em. I am harmless. Most of the time.
Anyway, so it hit me as I was pouring my java flavor of the day. I don't recall it right now, not sure if I even knew it to begin with, I just order it and drink it. I am edgy like that. Oh is that an envelope? Cuse me while I go push it!

A phrase popped into my brain as I sipped the lovely hot delicious coffee; It is really, truly the little things in life. What prompted this phrase to appear in my tiny compact brain? I noticed that often I do not take a plastic coffee lid. I go without. And that has got to account for something, to help in some way, yes? Yes! So I started thinking about other little things I do that make a difference in the day of the life of the earth and the people here that inhabit it. I sat down, drank some more coffee and jotted them down. And now here they are for your approval, disapproval, or whatever oval you so desire.

Top five little things that Michelle Maclay does to help the environment, her friend da earf:

1. I don't blow dry my hair - I let it air dry, often, at least 4 days out of the 7 we are given

2. I add my half and half for my coffee FIRST, pour it in first and then add the coffee. Therefore, no need to stir with a plastic or wooden stirrer thing. This is good for my health as well; one less task, activity, to do with my wrist - hee -

3. 3. As noted before, when I get coffee I don’t use a plastic top…I go topless. Of course as a side note I always get a to go cup even if I’m not going. It keeps the coffee hotter. I suppose that cancels out the not using the top part? But really people I mean don’t you think you should have gotten to me earlier in the process of the cup making? The cup is there, already made. Me not using it is not going to help. Plus, I just left the house with wet hair. I have already sacrificed. Brave people need their caffeine.

4. I ride the bus to and from work each day. Saves gas, saves me money. Therefore, I have more money to spend on beer. That makes me happy and I am giving income to a local establishment. Giving back to my community.

5. I originally thought I would come up with 5 things I do to help out but then realized that 5 would take up more space on the paper then 4. So if I only write 4 then I am saving space on the paper, which means less paper used, so then less trees killed. Ah ha!

And you? What will you do today that will help the earf? Us here on it?

oh it is fine. afterall I've got two of em!

2008-06-10T09:25:00.001-04:00

Quote for Tuesday, June 10th

“Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please?” – Little Sam, my friend’s son, asking to go to the store to get a new video game, in the pool on Sunday.

The kid’s got staying power. No game was gotten but the effort was commendable.
We did some swimming in the apartment pool. It was hot outside. The water was pretty warm, yet cooler and just plain better than not being in the pool. We stayed in the pool till we were thoroughly pruned from head to toe. When I got out I had some water in my ear, left ear to be precise. I did the usual acts, tricks to get rid of the ailment. Jumping on one foot, head a tilt, shaking of the head - this cannot be good for many reasons the most critical being you, I rather, looked silly…nothing new so no worries. Thought problem solved. I felt the rush of warm liquid push out of my ear, escape, run down my neck; all good. Alas though not to be true. Took a shower and when the Q-tip ritual was over my ear was back to being clogged. Ah crap! Two days later still clogged. Wax build up I now suspect. It does not hurt much only feels clogged. It is an odd feeling to say the least. I feel as if my life volume dial has been turned down to three and I am unable to reach the dial to turn back up to 11. “But why don’t you just make 10 the highest?” [Pause, perplexed look], “but these go to 11!” I give ya a dollar if you can guess that movie. It is not hard. I took a trip to the drug store in search of a remedy. I found some ear wax remover…an entire system actually. Consisting of the ear wax remover solution (hee) and a cleaner outer thingy that is blue. I am not sure what to do with that piece yet…I think it is to wash my ear out with warm water if the four days of drops don’t work. I started treatment last night. Quite simple really. Place a few drops in ear, tilt head, let drip in, commence feeling of iciness, and stand still for 3 minutes. Lift head and hopefully dissolving of wax process begins. All through the night as I was in and out of sleepy town I did feel some opening. Today still clogged but I feel it dissolving. At least that is what it feels like and so I have decided that is what indeed is happening. It is to take fours days. So I will keep a positive attitude. Nothing is torn, punctured, and only clogged. And really is it not a great opportunity to pay more attention to my other senses? My other abilities that allow me to function properly in the world? It seems to be working as already today, this morning; I am very aware that I am more hungry than usual. Ah crap!

oh and the best thing happened to me this weekend!

2008-06-09T10:57:00.003-04:00

i had the best weekend. i relaxed...did laundry, sipped on yummy cheap red wine from Whole Foods, and watched television Friday eve. Got up early Saturday and went to the Farmer's Market in Carrboro, petted some newly born chicks, had delicious middle eastern food for lunch, found some good deals on clothes at two consignment shops with my god mother (which i love...having a god mother AND a god father, for reals!), lounged on the couch in air conditioning, trained as a bartender at this cool little pub called The Dead Mule Saturday night, got up early Sunday drove around, drank coffee, got a good deal on shorts at The Gap, wrote on my blog, paid bills (had the money in the bank to do it, nice, very nice), did some swimming in a pool, drank some cold cold brews, cooked out, got my fix of law and order CI (THE best one - a new new episode on USA where Goren is undercover...man he is sexy no matter what, crazy or sane!), and hung with my bud from high school and his son and then got some nice sleep and here I am Monday morning. And the best thing that happened to me throughout all of that lovely stuff? Every time i tuned in to the television all four of these movies were playing...four of my favs! It was outstanding!!! Completed an already brilliant weekend. Hot temperature wise and hot fun wise. me so lucky.

2008-06-09T09:47:00.002-04:00

Quote for Monday, June 9th

"Chaos in the midst of chaos isn't funny, but chaos in the midst of order is.” - Steve Martin

I had a deadline at the end of last week that I could have totally gotten done before if I had not goofed off earlier in the week. At first when I realized this (at 6:30pm still at work – I usually leave at 4:30pm) I was upset, a little bit mad at myself. Then after a few more minutes of obsessing on it I realized it was all ok. The time I had spent goofing off earlier in the week had totally been worth it. It made sense that I was now in this current position and it was not such a bad place to be really. Most people get out of work regurarly around the time I was leaving this one day, the first in my new job. I realized and comprehended that it all evened out. There was a balance. What was the big deal about having to stay a few extra hours today? I had no plans for the eve, still light out since summer and I get paid for the time. Ah ha! I felt very balanced and happy. It is the simple things in life after all…one just has to listen out for them, be open to seeing them.

obsession...another...

2008-06-08T13:30:00.007-04:00

Quote for Sunday, June 8th

Me: "So what kind of patients are on this floor?"
Co-worker: "Sick ones."

I am obsessed with thrift stores and refinement shops. Apparently I enjoy other people’s stuff. It is cheaper than me buying the stuff the first go round (not crap by the way, stuff). And since I now live in a very affluent area the stuff is great! It has allowed me to institute a new rule of shopping, purchasing for me. I am not allowed to buy any pair of shoes that cost more than 5 bucks. I have bought 3 pair so far all either at 5 or under 5 bucks. Well OK, you got me. Last weekend I bought a pair for $5.50! They were marked $11 and so of course after seeing that I placed them back on the shelf. Nope those are not the shoes for me. Alas, as I was walking around the store I overheard two lovely ladies chatting about the sale taking place that day in the store. Ears a perked and blood a flowing I casually sauntered up to the counter to inquire. “Buy one pair of shoes and get a second pair free”, uttered the young perky gal behind the check out counter. Well, well how grand is that? I whispered to myself. I tried to make another pair work but to no avail, no free shoes. And even though they were free I did not just take a pair – I purchased my one pair at $5.50. Why keep a pair of shoes from another person? To take something just to take it? I also found a cute summer dress for 3 bucks. To which I have already worn twice!

ssshhh....i missed yesterday. a quote for yesterday? well I cannot really go back in time, but if I could here is the quote I would use;

Quote for Saturday, June 7th

"I think about having kids. I ask myself often do I want kids? I mean sure. I like owning stuff as much as the next guy, ah gal." - Michelle Maclay, shopping, dodging renegade strollers.

planned thoughts

2008-06-06T08:11:00.005-04:00

Quote for Friday, June 6th, 2008

"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy." - Steven Wright

So today I thought again about my plan, my schedule that I have set up for myself. What I thought a lot about was that I am not following it. This is hard. I have realized, or it has truly hit home, that just saying you are going to change is not enough. That is only the beginning. Yes creating the plan and documenting is good, necessary even. Yet how does one then go about actually doing it. Getting it done. Making it a part of you. One step at a time. Do one thing on the plan. No matter how small. Therefore today I got up a little bit earlier than usual (about 10 minutes) and simply got out of bed, went to the kitchen, got a glass of water, and sat on the couch. That is it. Then after about 7 or 8 minutes I got up, proceeded to the bathroom and to the rest of my usual morning ritual. It was great. I felt different. I am trying to develop a pattern of getting up earlier so I can either run a few miles or write a few pages, a blog entry before the day gets started. Especially now that we are entering into the “fuckin hot” season of North Carolina. Best to get all outdoor, indoor, around the door, any, activity done before 9am. Remember just a step at this point is what is important and I need to focus on. The process and not so much the actual activity or task that eventually I desire to accomplish and shall do so in the future. And the next step? Well to get up even earlier of course! Extend it to 15, then 20. For 20 is the number I am shooting for to get in a run, a write, a blog entry. They say it takes 21 times of doing a new behavior before it becomes a habit, develops into a habit. Ah, excellent. Only 20 more times…of 10 minutes earlier. Then 21 times of 15, 21 times of 20 minutes earlier. At that rate I will be actually running and or writing by say end of August, the start of fall? Brilliant. Simply smashing to have a goal and fall seems just right.

perky married people

2008-06-05T08:22:00.007-04:00

psst...this is Pierre. He is not a dancer, but he plays one on TV.

Quote for Thursday, June 5th:

"When a dude in a pick up truck drives by you at the bus stop and honks his horn, smiles and waves at you does that mean he wants to date you or is he only acting out a scene from a movie he just saw?" - Michelle Maclay

good morning kids. hope all is well in your little worlds. i am back in the office world...in a hospital office world technically. I like my new job. I like the people I work with yet I have noticed that the married kids in my office, and I have to say in any office I have ever resided in, have some perks that us single kids do not have access to. This does not make me bitter. I just want the same rights. Example? If one is married and has kids one can say to their manager, boss man or lady (all equal employers I have worked for), "ah yes I have to leave at 4pm today to pick up my kids at daycare and they look down on me, frown you might say if I am late and they have to wait." Now you would never hear a single person say to their boss man, lady, "so yeah ah I have to leave at 4pm today to go meet my bartender at my local pub to get smashed and he looks down on me, frown you might say if I am late and he has to wait."
I am sure there are some perks available only, morally and legally, to single kids that are not to the married ones. Like being able to attend formal functions or any event and take a different date each time, sleep with them and then not have to go visit in-laws for Thanksgiving...and others that are not coming to mind. As Chris Rock says, “You are either married and bored or single and lonely.” It is good to be one and or the other for different reasons. The good news and why I am truly in the cat bird seat? I am single now, at times a tad lonely but mostly simply alone, but someday I shall be married and bored. Wait a minute that is good news? Ok so then the goal is to not be lonely when single and not be bored once married? I can do that. Oh look there is my manager, my boss lady, “Hey yeah I need to head out early today…

da plan

2008-06-04T08:34:00.007-04:00

George is back in my town baby! nice to have you back mister. now what are you doing this weekend?

Ok, so I have already strayed from my executive decision…argh! I missed one day. Here goes. I will get it. Damn it.

Quote for Wednesday, June 4th
“I’m single because I was born that way.” – Mae West

I love it. I am actually really liking being single right now.
I have a plan and I am sticking to it. Here is the brilliance; since not focusing on it ah hello getting asked out.
Now mind you I am not going out on these dates. Not part of the plan right now. I know it sounds dumb but hey I’ve never really had a plan before and I am starting to think perhaps that is the problem. Well not a problem just some things have not turned out the way I expected, desired or rather the way I planned them to come out. Could be cause I didn’t really have a plan. I mean even skinny white pretty girls have plans (not a reference to me at all. Sure I am pretty and white but since I moved here a few new pounds have arrived and taken up residence on my bod…not fat just perhaps a tad bit more of me to ask out)…the SWG plan you ask? To throw up. At least they got that, they know what they need to do each day. My plan now that I am further down south is to truly get this damn debt paid down, organized and to focus on my humor writing. The memoir that is drifting, floating weightless deep down inside of me. I did a 10 minute set the other night at a bar. A nice bar, very nice yet still not a comedy showcase location. A “professional” comedy show so they say… truly still an open mic. Which is fine. Some of my best shows have been at an open mic, ahem, but let’s call it what it is shall we? The kids are doing a great job and I am sure they will get there. Hey creating a good, high quality, funny (ah yes this takes work) long standing comedy show requires time, focus and quite honestly pain. Which is great, works out cause pain and struggle be quite hilarious...if delivered correctly of course.
So, while I was on stage at this show teetering dangerously close to bombing…tends to happen when one does not have any material and says, “ah sure I can just wing it”, gulp, hiccup, ah sure babe! It hit me. Not a tomato or a mean comment. The crowd actually enjoyed my struggle on stage and we had a good time together…I pulled it out you could say – finally I can say that phrase, pulled it out, and it is a good thing and not a line item on a police report. Ok, so there I was and a revelation hit me; the performing is the journey and the writing, the written product is the destination. What the hell is this gal speaking of now? Well the last few years have been about me working on, struggling with who I am as a performer, a comedian, an artist, etc. I love to perform live and be in the moment with the audience and quite frankly I am damn good at it. I am also not too shabby at the writing part. Yet for some reason the two together combined into a category called “stand-up comedian” just have not worked for me, clicked into place within my skeleton. I am starting to get it. Write this memoir, this story of you and your life, adventure in humor and perform it live, share it with others in a live, open, in the moment arena. Perform as you write yet view as fun, a tool to tweak and hone the writing. I love it. I sensed I was on the right track when I moved here and now it is confirmed. In this area at least. Men, owning property, investing in the future, health insurance and a work out regime, all the other "normal" crap? Still checking the signs, reading the map…get to that later people, truly later and really I will...or I won't. And I can honestly say looking back on all the experiences in stand up comedy in my past were all worth it. All of it. It got me here and that is brilliant all in itself. I also had that realization that all those years, shows and interactions with audiences and other comedians was so great, so wonderful and not a waste of time at all! - Whew I am spent for today. Plus my boss just got here and I have go do some executive assistanty stuff. Have a day.

Executive decision

2008-06-02T11:45:00.005-04:00

ok so my blogging lately is the pits. not the actual content but the actual process of WRITING on the damn blog! Which I guess if you think about it is also the content since you need the first part to then have the second part. a chicken and egg sort of dealo.

in the past i would do a quote a day either by someone famous or me. I liked the idea of doing a quote a day for many reasons. One by the off chance that I through the course of any given day thought of some insightful, witty or enlightening idea or phrase that I could then have a place to document it, share it. Another reason being that it encouraged me to write each day. It was working for a while but as of late, the last month, it has done the opposite. Taunted me and brought slamming to the surface that fact that I am not writing...as much as I should, could and need to be. Could be my recent move and getting settled has caused me to not write as much. Or that discovering and trying out new bars is taking way more of my free time than I originally planned. Who knows and really who the hell cares? The one time where the journey is NOT the important part and the destination is what it be all about! So here I am in the "not writing on my blog" land.

Therefore, I've decided that instead of having a specific area for a quote a day that now I will do a quote a day in my actual blog entry. That way I have to write everyday. I have to because for some reason I have to post a quote a day. Which actually now that I am here and thinking about my blog, that statement is not true. Since there have been many missed days of quotes. Ok, again, stop focusing on the journey, and get back to the destination.

Also, I am sure that my audience's ("hey, Lara, Chip, Deb S., Robin") lives have been empty these last weeks without my enteries!

So, my quote for today? thanks for asking...

"If you feel as if you are going through hell, keep going, you are on the right track." - Michelle Maclay.

And my entry for today? Ah hello, look up, return to top of page.

Peace and all that crap...till tomorrow.

P.s. a pic of me at my new job. Don't be jealous of my amazing desk...I know I am not!

P.s.s I love my new job...no really, I'm not being funny...or at least I'm not TRYING to be.

no mood to write but here a glimpse of a good weekend on the shore!

2008-05-28T19:42:00.003-04:00

i am here...

2008-05-07T10:25:00.000-04:00

i will write some this eve...just getting settled, working, writing, meeting people....ahhhh and loving it. lots of funny, interesting stuff to report! I be back!

I'm...

2008-04-26T19:15:00.003-04:00

missing. I am in missing. Out of it. Been out of commission here for the last few days. It is a true reflection of me, my life, my place in it right now. Moved here going on three weeks now. Went to the shore this week for a few days to get some more crap and see some people - it was good, familiar, odd, validating and just well it was. I love the shore, the water and that is truly the piece i miss in my new location down further south. Yet I have to say, to write, that as I was tooling along the highway to meet up with some cool kids for some even colder brews it hit me...I do so love this place and in that love I am happy I am not a resident here no more...for now. It did its job and so now must I. I savored that feeling, that revelation for the rest of my ride. It does not happen often I fear, suspect to me or to anyone much I am willing to bet; the grounding knowledge that a place you have been was good...so good that it is great you are now gone from it. It has let you go and so to it you release it as well. I am missing. I am missing that water, some people for sure. I am missing in action and that is just where I want, need to be.

sunday revelation #9

2008-04-20T12:18:00.001-04:00

i laid in bed till 10:30am today - missed my show - ack! so i came up with quite a few revelations. alas this one is the one worth telling, ahem, or ah me remembering....
why does one make their bed? you are just going to get back into it in about 12 hours. or maybe one makes their bed cause they think they will get lucky and not be back in their own bed till say 24 hours? me? today? aint making it. i'll be back there this eve...

get a wha?

2008-04-18T14:13:00.006-04:00

i got a job today! mommy gets to eat this eve. what a super day i've experienced so far and all cause i am employed. people i am pretty sure are nicer to you if they suspect that you have a job. here are a few examples to prove my point: the surly a tad bit overweight just out of the closet dude at the "we think we are in NYC but wait a minute we are not" coffee shop even smiled at me and gave me my coffee WITHOUT me asking twice for it. but maybe he was hungover or there was a cute stud boy with no shirt on standing behind me and i grabbed that gesture as if it were for moi sort of thing. i've discovered as of late that one truly does have to snatch what is out there and claim it for their own or nothing is what ya get. sort of reminds me of the old west where people raced on horses and stuck sticks in the ground and claimed the land for theirs - this was sorta like that, i think...or was that the rerun of Bonanza i just watched on TV LAND last eve? Which by the way was such a predictable show that my pop use to tell me he was one of the writers on it and to which my grade school i did ah carry such information to and share with classmates! Much to my dismay did not get me a seat at the popular peeps table but alas a piece of asphalt next to the "we smoke, wear black and we dont even like ya" kids...but alas as usual i have drifted way off of course of my story...so back i go! Then later in the day at the grocery story the little cute high school boy that bagged my fruit, TP, the mint 3 muskateers bar, and wine into one compact plastic bulging bag (the esssentials i likes to call em!) smiled at me sweetly and cooed, "oh miss (ahem) would you like me to carry this out to the car for you?" I declined for fear of akward conversation potential as we walked to the car in the early afternoon sun and then the "ah well shucks i cant seem to reach my purse for a tip" shuffle that i knew would take place. then again maybe he feared of my age that i was too frail to carry such a full bag? wait a minute no i am pretty sure that he was impressed that someone, I, who not yet showered for the day could look so stunning and exude such confidence! his thoughts i am sure ran there and then ended on, "yeah girl you got that job!" at least this is the story i am stickin with...that be my story morning glory. afterall attitude IS half the battle and i actually believe more than not over half the battle, maybe even 3/4ths but i am not ready to quite commit to it. till then i'll be here sitting in the sun, sipping on a cool Sierra Nevada, reading a good memoir (research indeed!) and figuring out how to buy some new clothes for my new job that starts in a week....stay tuned....