For The Movies

For The Movies                           8176  (1396)

Friday, June 29, 2007-8:00 A.M.

Where does the time go?

I'm in Fort Myers, Florida, at the beautiful Crowne Plaza hotel, my home-away-from-home provided me by the Laugh In Comedy Cafe.  Just thought I'd pop a little update in before my radio call-in to WCMF back home in Rochester.

Sunday at Howl At The Moon in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was great, I worked with Kris Shaw from Indianapolis, Indiana, who I'd communicated with online but never worked with before.  The Howl crowd was packed, and there was a youngster named Dennis Hooten who got up and warmed up the crowd before I took the stage.  He had only been on stage twice before, so he was as new as new could be, but he did a fine job.  I had an above-average show, pumped up from the events of the day which I will not go in to, but I will only say check the paper supply before you do anything in a McDonald's bathroom, and what am I going to do with my one remaining white tube sock?  I promised myself I wouldn't tell this story, but I opened with it on stage at Howl, so I guess I'm not keeping any secrets here.

My last few days with my mother were good, I helped her paint a cabinet that she'd had the supplies for but kept putting off (over a year, by the date on the receipt in the bag with the brushes, stir sticks, etc.) and on Wednesday, I went and saw the Fantastic Four movie with a friend of my mom's who also collects comics and wanted to see it.  It wasn't great, but it was better than the first film.  I gave it a 7, whereas I gave the first film a 4.  If you really want my full review, write me and I'll break it down.

Packing was a bummer, and I got on the road yesterday bright 'n' early, but a 4-hour car ride turned into almost 6 courtesy of an accident on I-75 that sent me detoured to the west.  Also, Fort Myers is currently on fire, actually, Cape Coral, Florida to our Northwest, and that has traffic diverted in places.  Fun, fun fun!

I wound up headlining the Laugh In last night as the headliner wasn't scheduled to come in until today...must be nice being a big star.  His name is Al Romero, and I've never met him but heard good things.  Anyway, I rocked out a 40-minute set and got a good response....the manager of the club actually asked me how much time I had....I do 40 when I'm supposed to do 30 all the time!  Not that that's a good thing....

Today I'm probably going to catch the Michael Moore film "Sicko."  There's a movie theater in the same plaza as the hotel I'm staying in, so it's a short walk.  That ought to get me fired up, I think....the movie *and* the walk.

Two more days and I hit the trail to head home, and I would be lying if I said I'm not dreading the 1,500 mile drive, which I'll split up into two days worth, but I would also be lying if I said I'm not looking forward to seeing Pam and Harmony again after a long month away.  Also, I'm looking forward to a full week of headlining at my home club, where I'm going to be taping my first full-length CD, "Tetta-fensive."  I'm pretty excited about that.

I'll check in again before the weekend's up.  Have a good one!

Ralph Tetta

Rochester, NY