Comedian Jamie Lissow on what it means to be a stand-up: "Once I was performing at a college in Georgia. It was a very warm night and when I got to the school they told me they had some bad news. The air conditioner in the building was broken. A lot of students left, but about 30 stayed. It was getting really hot so they opened all the windows to let in some air. So it’s nighttime, all the windows are open, it’s a small crowd, I’m up on stage and every time I tell a joke and it doesn’t get a huge laugh… I actually hear CRICKETS."

Welcome. Today is May, 14, 2006, Thursday, and, it's a good day to go ahead and stop groaning after having read those corny jokes I shared a couple of days ago. I want to be clear regarding those so-called jokes. I read a lot of them, mucho, in fact, and I chose what I thought were the best. I actually test drove them by the wife of my youth. She thought some of them might be worth sharing in our lifegroup, made up of mostly senior adults or old people if you prefer, and, when the wife read them she actually laughed. Out loud. At least one or two times. The rule for a headline stand-up comedian is to connect and have acceptance for at least 3 to 4 jokes per minute. That's why they are headliners and I am a backroom blogger hiding behind my computer screen. Ha! We watch a lot of the YouTube videos that feature clean comedians. Most of them were recorded during a performance before a live audience. We typically do not wait to see if they will get better later. We go to the next one fairly quickly, maybe after the first couple of minutes. That tells me that stand-up comedy is very very difficult. It is known to be emotionally demanding and it does carry a high risk of failure. Speaking of high risk, changing the subject because I thought of something. High Risk. What in the world are we going to do with these ever increasing home insurance prices? Please let me know if you have any good suggestions in how to deal with this expense. I thought last year it surely couldn't go higher, but, we just received our new projected price and guess what? It did go higher. And, that my friend is why comedic relief helps a wee bit in a momentary escape from these types of challenges. Yes. We can pay the increased amount. Or, at least we can from our savings and I am thankful for that, but, home insurance has become a car note. It has, it really has, and that's not a joke. 

 

I do enjoy the company of our Lil Miss Biscuit. But, there are some days when she can be hard to deal with, she can be stubborn, and, she has perfected the 'I can't hear you' approach. I know what some of you are thinking. Why in the world did I not send her to obedience school? To tell the truth I thought I could do it myself. Not so fast Bucko! I watch these videos of dogs doing amazing things and then I watch Biscuit as she keeps on sniffing and snooping around even after I've called her a dozen times. Okay. I will date myself here but I do remember that corporal punishment was the main way dogs were taught, at least, the ones I saw in my formative years as a kid. This is how I roll: When she refuses to do what I tell her after I've called several times, truth is, I would like to beat the living daylights out of her. But, I don't, and, at the end of the day, I won't. Not just because we have neighbors looking, but, it's just not in me. I care too much for the stubborn pup. I do. I really do. I've had good success in letting her run outside without her leash, but, it can be frustrating when cars come down the road and she continues her ignoring protocol while she goes here and there totally oblivious to the danger. I know inquiring minds are wondering: Who is training who? Oh well, it does help to fill in the day and I get a fair amount of practice hollering at her which might be helpful if I ever try to qualify for either a hog calling contest or a Ricola cough drop commercial. Now you know some of what I have to put up with. Ha! Y'all have a blessed day and remember to thank God for His provision. Amen.