Parasailing, jet skiing and snorkeling OH MY!!

What a great month! I've had some really fun comedy shows and humor keynotes - from Massachusetts to Arizona and states in between. Some critical care nurses kicked it off early - they were a blast and I'd be happy to be in the ER with them any time. . .ok, not really, but if I HAD to go to the ER, they would at least make it a lot funner. I also got to have some fun with grocery store people (they weren't as large as I expected them to be - ha ha - I would be 3,000 pounds if I ran a grocery store) and apartment managers. . .my landlord was NEVER that much fun. . . plus a bunch more . . .

I also made it over to Cabo, Mexico for some fun in the sun. . .we did every thing from parasailing - in which i was NOT STRAPPED IN CORRECTLY. . .I'm on the left. In the U.S. they would NEVER have sent me up that way - I almost did some high diving into the water. . .luckily it was only 8 minutes.

And we did zip lining, snorkeling, dinner cruising, jet skiing and laying around with a frozen drink - a LOT of that actually - but we did get our exercise because we had to swim over to the bar!

What a great way to kick off the summer. . . my big challenge is to learn how to ride my motorcycle - I'd like to get it down to only 1 or 2 honking cars by the end of the weekend.

Have a great Memorial Day, and check out my animated video on YouTube - click on the link below!

The Funny Side of Working in an Office


Safe travels. ..

Jan
http://www.comedywriterblog.com/
http://www.theworklady.com/
http://www.comedyemcee.com/o

Parasailing, jet skiing and snorkeling OH MY!!

When I was 10 years old I told my parents that when I turn 16, I was going to buy a motorcycle, drive cross country from our house in Virginia to California and become a comedian. Well, I did it, albeit it took a little longer than I expected. I became a comedian in my 30’s, I moved to Los Angeles in my 40’s and just this week bought a motorcycle – in my . . oh, never mind! Yamaha 650 V-star for you bikers. I actually bought a motor scooter a couple years ago as a warm up… I bought it because that’s what happens when you wreck it on the test drive (true!). But I really did like it, and now I decided to move up, and my new goal is to now be able to get it into 1st gear without stalling . . . I’m sure it’ll happen. I went from 80 cc’s on the scooter to 650 cc’s. . more power baby!




My first ride this past Saturday was 2 hours and only one person yelled something at me. I’m pretty sure it was not that he liked my bike, but luckily between the engine noise and my helmet, I couldn’t hear him. I am having a problem with stalling out though. After trying repeatedly to get it into first gear, two 10-year-old boys asked me if I needed help. I said, that I’m fine, it’s just a new bike. They both gave the thumbs up and said “cooolll.” I’m not sure what type of help they could’ve given me. . .a ride on their handle bars.



ANYWAY.. . I’m off to ride this weekend. . .see my cool pics below!



Jan

http://www.comedywriterblog.com/

http://www.janfans.com/

http://www.comedyemcee.com/

o

Random Travels!

Today's blog is about nothing in particular except random travels.. .  .I'm getting more and more work on the east coast, which is great for frequent flyer miles, but not so great for my sleeping! I was just in D.C. doing my Finding the Funny in Communicaitons program (how to put humor into your business communications to get what you want) for some volunteer leaders, and it went great! They were very receptive to adding humor to their communications to get people to listen to them and get involved in their organization.

I also went to vegas - okay that was a few weeks ago. . .saw the sharks at Mandalay Bay, along with some cute fishes. . . though we didn't sleep with them. Get it? ha ha. . see why I'm a comedian. I met up with my sister & her family there. . .lots of fun - see a fish we met below. . .

 Ok, I've also been in Pennsylvania for 2 different groups and right now I'm headed up to Monterey this weekend.. .for fun. No one wants me to speak (unless spoken to I guess). OH, and the best news. . .which I will elaborate on when i actually get some things squared away here. . .I passed the motorcycle DMV written test today and passed the driving part the other week (actually I took a class that allowed me to waive the driving part if i passed. . .and I did). I ALSO had to take part of the drivers written test today because CA wants people to - instead of just blanketly renewing their license. I guess since my picture is 11  years old, they want me to actually look like it! That's fine, except i didn't realize they were going to take it today. . .so I'm now stuck with a crappy picture AGAIN. More on the cycle next week. I actually bought one, but i can't pick it up yet . . .I'm very excited.

I'm in town (LA that is) all of next week and then off to the midwest for some fun programs and to hang out with Kent Rader. . .the co-star with me in the Baby Boomer Comedy Show. . .more on that later as well.

Have a great weekend.. . life is great!

Jan

http://www.comedywriterblog.com/

http://www.comedyemcee.com/

o

Random Travels!

Hiking in Death Valley!

Okay, my 2nd favorite (old) sport is hiking the national parks. . last week it was death valley where it actually SNOWED in the desert! Very cool.. .or FREEZING I might add. But we hit most all of the major hikes in the 2 days before the snow, and then did a few in-doorish type things for the snow days.

We went to see Scotty's Castle (below) . .a millionaire guy befriended Scotty and made him a castle. . long story, that just makes me wonder why things like that NEVER happen to me (millionaire befriending a comedian???).

AND we went to Death Valley Junction to the Amargosa Opera House (below) to see Marta Beckett. She moved there like a million years ago and fixed up an opera house so that she'd have a place to perform in. It was my 4th time there (Ron's 5th) and Marta still gets on stage once a week to do a show... though at 80+ years old, she actually did sit down theater (the opposite of standup comedy). We also stayed in the haunted motel .. something that needs fixing up. . .and we got room 9, which was the most "active." We met some ghost-busters who came in to our room at 3 a.m. to do a reading. And YES, we heard a ghost tell us to "get out."

If I did it right, I've got pictures up on Facebook of our experience. . .what a fun trip!

More later on the ghosts. . .oh, and by the way, if you didn't know, death valley is in Nevada. . .how do I know that. . . ???

Take care!

Jan

http://www.theworklady.com/

http://www.comedywriterblog.com/

http://www.janfans.com/

o

Hiking in Death Valley!

My new favorite sport!

I went snowshoeing for the first time ever this past Sunday - WHAT A BLAST!! We (me, Diane and Sharon) went up a tram in Palm Springs to the top of the mountain where they had 3-4 feet of snow at least. There were tons of trails, and even though by my calculation there had to be at least 3000 people up there (tram holds 80, goes up every 10 minutes startign at 8 a.m.), we really didn't see many people at all. The day was gorgeous - it said 18 degrees, but it was definately warmer than that and no wind.

None of us had ever done this before, but it didn't take any instruction to figure out. . .it's just hiking with big pancakes on your feet. Now I've got a new sport that I can spend my $ on. . .though if you buy the shoes, you can probably snow shoe on mountains for free.

The tram in Palm Springs (not free!), was fun - it rotates around so you can see 360 as you go up and down the mountain. Click on the link above. . .they've got a webcam.  We snow shoed for 3 hours and then had fries and beers in the cocktail lounge - we didn't go to the restaurant because as Sharon pointed out "cocktail lounge implies no kids!"

Okay, just thought I'd point out my fun weekend. I'm off to Death Valley at the end of the week. . .2 complete ends of the spectrum!

Jan

http://www.theworklady.com/

http://www.comedywriterblog.com/

http://www.janfans.com/

o

My new favorite sport!

It's still freezing in the midwest! And more

Okay, I experienced another "control" situation at the airport today. . .actually on my flight. I LUV Southwest airlines, but not today. I'm sitting in the exit row, and the flight attendant came by and forced all of us to take the safety instructions out and look at them. I said I've read 'em already. He said I had to take it out. . Which I did. . Then he said "open it". . Which I did. . Then he said "look down at the page and read it".. It was ridiculous! I said I read it. . .you can't FORCE someone to read. BUT more importantly does he think I don't have a vested interest in knowing how to open the door? If we crash, I want out of the airplane toooo. It totally wasn't a safety thing with this guy, it was a control thing. And it was stupid.


ANYWAY. . .I'm here in Kansas - actually Missouri. . Headed to Nebraska tomorrow for a show and then back home to the heat. But tonight I'm visiting my friend and colleague (he's a comic too) Kent Rader here in Liberty, MO. Kent has 6 cats, so he is close to being a cat hoarder. Here is a picture of me and one of his cats - Ellen - named after Ellen Degeneras.

Facts about Liberty, Missouri:

Þ This is the town where Jesse James robbed his first bank. He made off with 30 bucks - which is the same amount as my first paycheck. JOKING. .. i only got like 20 bucks.

Þ William Jewell College is here - it's a liberal arts college founded by Jesse James' dad - the inventor of doppler radar, Harold Brooks, went to school there too. And we all know how accurate that is!

Þ The liberty jail is here - that’s where Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormons, was jailed.

Þ Independence MO (right down the street) is where Harry Truman's presidential library is located.

Þ A lot of trails started in Independence. . Santa Fe, Oregon, CA trails. .. A lot of people trying get out.

So now you know!

Jan


http://www.comedywriterblog.com/
http://www.theworklady.com/o

It's still freezing in the midwest! And more

Traveling on the COLD Circuit!

Yeah, I'm in Nebraska! And it's COLD. . .though not as bad as I thought it would be. I wore my ugs (are they still in style - i don't care) and it turns out i wished I'd brought my sneakers. My feet are so big (12 AAA) that I can't pack both sneakers and good shoes for the show, so if i wear boots, i have to choose. the good shoes won and the sneakers stayed home. BUT after i came out of the restaurant last night, i really wanted sneakers to work out in, so i popped into a Goodwill and bought a pair. . .Asics or some really good brand for 8 bucks. Now I've got to try to re-pack everything.

Anyway, i digress. . .Nebraska is cold. I was in Buffalo on Monday and it was actually colder. . .got out right before the snow hit. I did a programon humor in communication for 9 people at an offsite event. . .they did a cooking teambuilding thing first (see pic below) and then me. It was fun and it was the smallest group I've ever been in front of. One time i did a show for 12 board of directors and they had me first pretend I was a cheesy motivational speaker. . .I started out with all those horrible rah rah sayings "you know the difference between ordinaray and extradinary? it's that little "extra."  get it. . yeah, after a couple minutes, i stopped and said "am i the worst motivational speaker you've ever heard?" They agreed and I went into my comedy act. . .very fun.

So this week is cold. . next week I'm back in Nebraska. . cold again. . .and after that' it's Illinois. . . I'm happy for the work though and am having a great year. Now I've got to run off and buy some new shoestrings for my sneakers - which will probably cost more than the sneakers.



here's 9 fun people and me - cooking!

Stay warm!
Jano

Traveling on the COLD Circuit!