I don't know why I get nervous when I do college shows sometimes. I guess because I feel a bit of pressure. But usually (like tonight) once I get the first few laughs, I get the feel of the crowd and the pressure is off.

I'm a little bummed now. It's stupid really, but I feel...I don't know. Long story short, there was an opportunity that at first, I didn't think I could do. Then I realized that I can make it happen and I was just waiting to hear from this person to see if the opportunity will come through now. Well I got an email from somebody else basically telling me that they were offered this opportunity.

And they didn't email me to rub it in my face; this person's a friend of mine and I don't even think they knew about my situation.

So I just feel bummed; plain and simple. And I have a feeling some other people involved will be bummed as well.

And don't get me wrong, this has happened before and I'm sure it will happen again. I guess I'm upset because I thought that this thing would happen for sure. But the good part is that I am still have other opportunities that I don't have to cancel.

...in case you can't tell, the "opportunities" are gigs. I thought I was going to be booked for a gig (if so, I had to cancel some other gigs), but I heard from a buddy that he got the gig.

Anyway, enough of the negative.

I'm going to try to get some rest now...even though it's only 7:45 LA time...and that is Los Angeles, not Louisiana.

Bada-Bing!

Night.

1/22/09
God I'm bored. That's part of the reason I haven't been blogging. I've just been bored and blah...

I'm also a bit upset right now; nothing major. Basically Pablo is going back to Europe in March & April and I didn't know about it until a few weeks ago. I'm already booked and I think it's too late to cancel my gigs. But I think they wanted me to go back with him...and I really do.

This may sound silly, but I don't want my...excuse the egotism...fans over there to forget about me. I know, I know, it sounds selfish and stupid. I'm just that paranoid.

Shit, I've really got to stop doing that to myself.

This is a new year, there is a new President, this is a whole new era. I think it's time I start acting like it with myself.

I need something to shake my life up a bit. I need to do something drastic...I just don't know what yet.

Either something with my career or something with my body; being more physically active. Something, just something.

Fuck, I'm feeling myself slipping and I don't know what I'm slipping into.

I feel too complacent with everything.

I'm not saying I want something tragic to happen, but rather something exciting. Something that will push me out of this emotional funk that I'm in right now. I wish I knew...actually, I think I kind of know the reason.

There are some people who used to be very important people in my life who are now...well, not. They are not in my life nor are they very important to me right now. Yet I find myself missing their energy. I guess missing their presence.

Not missing them as people, but them as a constant. I didn't think I would.

So maybe that's part of the reason.

It's like missing a few pieces of a puzzle that you've had for years. It's just weird.

Tonight was fun, I was at the Improv (shocker) and I ended up hosting the second show. I wasn't supposed to but the original host didn't know that he was hosting (he thought he was just doing a spot) so I said, "Dude, I'll go up and host." And, bada-bing, I'm hosting. And it was Drew Carey and his friends doing improv. Very funny show. Sadly, it was only half full. Seriously, Drew Carey (along with some cast from "Who's Line...") and it was half full.

I was going to rant some about how comedy is starting to slip, but it's 1:15 in the morning, I'm tired.

G'night everyone.

1/9/09
I know it sounds impossible, but I am in Vegas and I'm pretty bored. Before you say, "What the hell!? It's Vegas! How can you be bored????"...keep this in mind: I'm not a big gambler (I've lost about $30, that's how much I gamble), I can't see any shows since I have to work every night, and I don't do coc (that's cocaine, not coc"k"...I'm not gay) and I don't use hookers (again, not because I'm gay, because I'm cheap).

And I've been to Vegas before, so I'm a little over the sites around here...and to be honest I'm not in the mood to go driving out and seeing other sites. I know, I know...that just makes me lazy. If I just got off my ass and drove somewhere, I might not be bored anymore. It's a double-edged sword.

So I'm just hanging around the hotel mostly.

To tell you the truth, I just want to get back to LA and relax. I literally flew in from Florida, had less than a day in LA to get my shit together and then I left the next day to drive here.

OK, now onto something a little more interesting.

So I was just checking my email and I got something sent to Skippy Greene's email. I basically got a "cease & desist" order from a company. (this is pretty funny) Apparently there is a company called Skippy Inc. and I got an email from their lawyer saying that my use of the name "Skippy" is basically infringing on theirs and that they don't appreciate how my character is using the name to defame their character.

Yeah, I found out that there is a sweet cartoon character named "Skippy" (www.Skippy.com) who was created in the 1930's by a man named Percy Crosby. I honestly had never heard of it until now.

So they want me to stop using the name. I think this is really fucking hilarious.

First of all, my character is named "Skippy Greene", not "Skippy Inc." (as they said it was being used) or even just "Skippy". I am always billed and brought to the stage as "Skippy Greene".

Secondly, isn't there Skippy brand peanut butter? Uh, yeah, there is. Also, there's a comedian (and friend of mine) named Marc Price who played the character of "Skippy" on "FAMILY TIES" in the 1980s and he is sometimes billed as Marc "Skippy" Price.

But I think that the most important aspect of all of this is that anyone who confuses the sweet, childlike "Skippy" with my filthy, adult-like "Skippy Greene", well, they're idiots.

Seriously, who is going online searching for Skippy, seeing my characters' website and saying, "Wait a minute, this is the sweet Skippy I've heard so much about????" C'mon people!

As a matter of fact, I just googled "Skippy" and the first listing is the peanut butter, they are listed as #4...SKIPPY GREENE ISN'T EVEN LISTED ON THE FIRST PAGE! The first listing for Skippy Greene comes on page 5.

These people are insane.

But, if they want to fight, I will fight it baby...hell, I'd love the publicity.

Alright, time to get offline and wander aimlessly throughout Vegas. Maybe I'll go to Ceasers Palace and play some cards...or maybe I'll get dressed up as Skippy and start yelling, "Whores! Whores! I want whores! And I'm not the lovable 1930's character! Whores..."

1/5/09
I'm sitting at the Houston airport on a layover back to LA. I am so fucking ready to be back.

This always happens when I'm on the road for a substantial amount of time; I get antsy to get back to LA. And granted, I did get to spend time with my family and friends, but I'm really ready now to get back.

I had a 7:50 am flight out of Lauderdale, but luckily I got to sleep relatively early so it wasn't that bad to wake up. I did get some sleep on the plane though.

There's nothing worse than sleeping on a plane and then having your head fall forward and waking you up...but you're still kind of sleeping so don't have the strength to pull your head back up. Like you're aware that your head is falling forward, you can feel the pain in your neck...yet, your body is still so weak and tired that you have to muster up all of your strength and will power to move it.

I've always had this "condition" my whole life where I end up in that place between awake and asleep. I guess it's the R.E.M. state...that's Rapid Eye Movement, not the cool band...but when most people are in REM, they're not aware of it. I sometimes am. I remember as a kid I would find myself in this state and not being able to move...and it would scare the living shit out of me.

It's incredibly frightening to be in place where you're aware of things, but you can't move. I can only imagine what people who are paralyzed go through. Actually, I can't.

So anywho...

When I get back to LA today, I'll have a few hours to get my shit together then I have to go to a rehearsal for my sketch show I'm doing (very excited about that) and then tomorrow...I get to drive to Vegas!! Woo-hoo! Should be fun.

I'm actually looking forward to the drive. I love going through the desert.

Well I'm going to put on a movie to kill some time. Hope '09 is treating you fine. Hey, I rhymed...Ooo, again. "Nine"..."Fine"..."Rhyme"?

...No?

OK, new years resolution #1: No more stupid jokes. Ah...who am I kidding, they'll be plenty of them.

1/3/09
OK, it's really late and I'm really tired but I had to jot this down.

So I had my last real late night in Ft. Lauderdale on this trip. I met up with some folks in downtown for a few drinks. It was fun, but to be honest, I wasn't thrilled about staying out late again. I've been doing this too much lately.

Plus when I got there, I saw a sign at a parking lot that said, $5 to park. I'm thinking, "Fuck yeah!" As I pull in the guy says, "Well it's $5 for the first hour, $15 all night." That mother fucker. But I had already parked so I was kinda stuck.

So, again, going into the situation I was already in a funky mood.

So the night goes nice, had some drinks, some laughs but by 2:30 am, I'm ready to gooooo. (that was "Go", not "Goo")

I get in my rental car and turn on the included Sirius radio. And as I look at the display, what do you think I saw?

Flip Schultz
My Ex

Yup, I heard myself on satellite radio.

Now a lot of people have told me they heard me on it, but I never did...probably because I don't have satellite radio. But what are the odds that I am going to hear myself at all?

I mean even though I've had this rental car for about a month...I'm not in it all the time and I can't listen to the radio every time I'm in the car.

Yet tonight, well, there it was. My name, and the track from my CD SuperDork!

That was the reason I was out so late. That was the reason I went to downtown. Don't get me wrong, hanging out with my friends was fun and all, but experiencing that was the cherry on the sundae...the icing on the cake...the reach around on the second date. Just perfect.

ME ON SIRIUS RADIO

1/1/09
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!! Welcome to the first day of 2009. Fuck, 2009. Insane.

Well my new years eve was quite...what would the word be...dizzying, I guess.

Basically, because of circumstances beyond anyone's control, for the first time in 12 years I didn't work on new years eve.

I'll try and give you the nuts and berries of what had happened. Well I'm still in south Florida, but I was originally scheduled to go back to LA on Dec. 23. I wasn't booked for new years at the time and didn't think there was going to be too much to do down here, so I might as well go back to LA.

Well I called the Improv's down here to see if there was an opening for any of the new years shows. Low and behold they said that the (new & improved) Improv in W. Palm Beach is going to re-open on new years and they didn't have a feature (middle) spot. I said I'd do it. So I changed my flight and extended my rental car agreement.

So I'm in a good mood and grateful because this would have made it 12 years in a row ringing in the new year on stage. That really feels amazing to do that.

Then a few days ago I find out that W. Palm isn't opening and that I'm now not working. So I'm disappointed and (rightfully) pissed because I spent money to stay here. I know it's not the Improv's fault (something happened with the city and approving licenses or something), it's just shitty circumstances.

Well the owner of the clubs down here calls me and tells me that he feels horrible about everything and offers me a chance to work at one of the other clubs. The only problem is that the headliner on the other show wants it to be only a 2 man show and if I took the gig, someone else would lose their gig. I know how much that sucks, so I asked if there's a way to make it a 3 man show. He said he'd find out and let me know.

So....yesterday he calls me and says that he hasn't been able to get ahold of the headliner, but to just go there and do the 3 man show. I said great.

So I am now working again on new years...last minute gig too. My friend comes and meets me and we are about to drive there together...

When...

My cel phone rings and I see that it's the club owner. I'm thinking, "Fuck". He tells me that the headliner wants to keep it a 2 man show and that I am off of the show. But he is incredibly apologetic about everything and he even offers to compensate me. He really is a true gentleman and friend. I thank him for it and we wish each other a happy new year.

So the good news is that I'm not going to lose money...but what sucks is that for the first time in 12 years I'm not going to be working on new years. That put me in a weird funk. Most people relish having new years off, I love to work it. To me there is no greater feeling than to be doing what you love and being up there while the countdown is going on and then to have all of that energy fill a room of hundreds of people.

So my friend and I went out to get a drink at a bar and we had a nice talk. Then we went to a party at my brothers' house. And while I was there, I started to forget that I wasn't working. I started to just enjoy myself and not think about it. And what was weird is that I didn't have to force myself not to think about it...I just didn't. I realized that I was having a great time with my family and friends. I was still ringing in the new year in a room full of great people and a lot of energy.

Granted, it wasn't hundreds of people, but it was still a fantastic night.

My friend was telling me that this is just a change in my life; that something good is coming. I was having trouble believing that something good is coming from a shitty change. How could the fact that I'm not working mean good things? But now I'm seeing that even though I loved working new years, the fact that a cycle has been broken; that (for lack of a better term) a vicious circle has stopped, maybe the level that my life has been at (both personally and professionally) will stop too. Not that my professional life sucks, but that this year I might hit that next level that I've been trying for so long to reach. Maybe my personal life will change in that I'll start to get more serious with certain aspects of my life.

So I'm looking at 2009 now with more confidence and excitement than I did on the last day of 2008. Amazing what family and friends can do for you, no?

Happy new year!