Trick Or Treat

Trick Or Treat                           5862 (1922)

Monday, October 16, 2006-9:00 P.M.

Well, it's official....I saw my nutritionist today, and for the first time in over 15 years, I am under 300 pounds.  I weighed in today at 295 and a quarter, and I gotta tell you, it feels great.

I've been watching my sugars and starches, and getting light exercise in whenever possible, and although the results are coming slowly, they're coming.  I was 329 lbs. only six months ago, so at the current rate, I'll be at my recommended weight of 190 pounds in no time.

I think one of the components of my weight loss has been the unemployment that's been plagueing me these last couple of weeks, although last week didn't turn out half bad.  Instead of hosting at the Comix Cafe on Thursday and Sunday, I featured, and Sunday night I sold a good amount of product.  Then on Friday, I picked up a gig from Danny Liberto (mentioned in the first previous blog) as his headliner, one Danny Pordum from Buffalo, New York, was trapped in the Queen City due to the freak blizzard that hit.  There was speculation going around (and I add, unproven speculation) that he was called upon by Jr's Last Laugh, the full-time comedy club in Erie, Pennsylvania, to fill in, and canceled Danny's one-nighter, using the snow as an excuse, but for whatever reason, I was happy to pick up the work.  Danny hosted the room, and our feature act was Joe Cumbo, a student of mine from way back when I taught the fine art of standup comedy to starry-eyed dreamers.  We had a leisurely ride to Oswego, New York, only about two hours away (if that), and got ready for the 9 P.M. show.

I considered the show to be decent, if under-attended.  The crowd seemed to like what I was doing, although they got to be a little chatty, and I'm still battling an upper respiratory illness, bronchitis or something, and I told them flat out that I would not be able to talk over them, even with the mic.  I finished fine, and sold a couple of CD's to some army guys who were loud, but enjoyed the show.  They even mentioned that even though our politics were different, they liked what I had to say.  That felt good.

Wednesday, I have a one-nighter in Blacksburg, Virginia, a gig I picked up to go along with my Harrisburg, Pennsylvania weekend that is now not happening.   I'm probably going to do no better than break even on the gig, depending on the price of gas on the way down and back.  Still, it wouldn't be very wise to cancel with such short notice, especially since the booking agent has been very good to me in terms of passing work my way on my request.  Big ups to Chuck Johnson at Summit Comedy, Inc!

I got word today that the check I've been waiting for should arrive tomorrow or the next day, and not a moment too soon; this time off has been whittling away at my reserves.  Tomorrow is car inspection day, and I'm bracing for a kick in the nuts in that respect, depending on what my faithful Toyota Corolla needs  to be considered up to speed.  Time will tell, I'm sure.

I'm picking up readers to this blog, which originates under AOL: Journals as Ralph Tetta's Comedy Roadtrip, and is cross-posted to MySpace blogs under www.myspace.com/rabidralph and at www.comedysoapbox.com.  I'm always flattered when I find out someone I know is a regular reader, I wish I was as good at cultivating actual real-life friendships as I am at attracting blog-audience.  Either way, I'm thankful for the attention.

Today's joke, came up with it in the car the other day with Pamela...

"I love Halloween, everyone gets into the spirit of the holiday with their lawn displays.  I saw one lawn with all sorts of homemade wooden crosses, I thought it was a graveyard, until I realized it was just a really bad curve in the road."

Hoping you get more treats than tricks...

Ralph Tetta

Rochester, NY