I remember doing so many local shows with Dick and he always had a smile and the best and dryest sense of humor. His act was so silly which was in direct contradiction to his persona. He was one of the first on-hand examples I saw of a comic who could do this. I was so hyper and energetic back then and it didn't occur to me that I could be the opposite of what I exuded. Dick showed me that you could.

Thanks Dick. You were one of a kind and though I hadn't talked to you in a long time, I will never forget you.

I remember one of my favorite jokes of Dicks:

"I have this Cuban friend of mine and I asked how his son is doing, he said 'Oh Dick, my son is at Yale', and I thought, 'What an amazing country this is. A man comes here with nothing and through hard work he was able to make a life for himself and now his son is going to the most prestigious school in the world'. And he said, 'No Dick, he's in yale for cocaine.'"

So fucking funny....hmmm, I wonder if I can use that bit now. Kidding.

So now I'm at the airport on my way back to LA. The show last night was really fun, much thanks again to SUNY Cobleskill. I actually came up with a funny line on the spot. A girl said she was from Brooklyn, I said I didn't notice an accent and she said that she lost it when she moved to Long Island. I said (sarcastically) "oh sure, Long Island doesn't have an accent at all. You can't say that one annoying accent was lost because you got a different annoying accent. That's like crapping your pants and cleaning it up with diarrea."

Well, it was funny last night. :)

OK, sidenote, I'm actually watching a man in a wheelchair blessing a woman who's kneeling in front of him. I don't know if he's a priest or something, but it was interesting. I think they're together (God I hope so, or else she's got great instincts) and she wanted him to...I dunno...protect her on the flight. Who knows?

I've always said that I never fault anyone for their beliefs; I have my own and I wouldn't want anyone to fault me for mine. But I always say that neither one of us are correct about our beliefs because all they are are beliefs, not the truth. That's why the word "lie" is in belief because it's not the truth. I know that has been hip lately to use that analogy (the show "The Event" uses it in the world "believe" as does Cris Angel with his Vegas show...though I think that's because he's calling it entertainment and that's a lie, BA-DA-BING!) But it's true.

Here is a great example of truth vs. belief. When I was single I was at this bar and I saw this hot girl at the bar. Now I was in a confident mood, I was looking good and feeling good, so I went up to the bar and all I said was, ?Hi, how are you doing?? She turned, looked at me and said, ?No shot? and turned back around. As I walked away I thought to myself, ?OK, now my belief was that I had a shot to get with her, but the truth was that she?s a fucking bitch.? See, we can believe whatever we want, but the truth is an unknown bitch.

OK, starting to board. Later.

And here are two videos of me on TV with Greg...God I'll miss ya:

9/29/10
I'm flying to Albany right now; literally I'm in the air on the plane. Figured I hadn't blogged for a bit, so this seemed like as good a time as any.

So I'm playing Cobleskill tonight (a college in upstate NY). This is my third time playing here; I always have fun. I just listened to the last time I was here, I realized I'm going to be repeating some of the same jokes, but I have new ones too. I like that. I give them some classics and new ones.

It's like going to see a concert and the band plays their hits and then new tracks off the new CD.

Fuck, hitting some turbulence. And we're in a little plane too. This sucks.

So what else to report?

Well first of all, a big thank you to Flappers Comedy Club in Claremont for a great weekend last week. This club is new and I got a last minute call to play it. It turned out to be a blast. Small club, but very intimate. I like it like that.

I got all of my travel plans done (except for some Nov. dates) for the next few months. I'm excited about Boston and visiting NY, even though it's only for 2 days.

OK, a lot of turbulence now...gonna sign off for now. Bye.

LATER...

Fucking Giraldo! I can't believe he's dead. Shit, this is so fucked up. First Schimmel, now Greg. I mean, what the fuck!?

They say he took an accidental overdose of prescription pills and that's what did it. I love Greg, but he was a recovering addict, you'd have to think he knows what too much is. I don't know. I'm not assumming anything; hell, this business is full of hearsay and shit. The only sure thing is that the comedy world lost a true hero. This just isn't fair, you know?

Greg was such a great guy. So nice and genuine. I remember I first met him in 1999 back at Uncle Funnys comedy club. I had never heard of him but was blown away by his act. You could tell he had that something that every great performer has. Where you knew he was going to be huge. And he was so on his way to becoming more than just famous in the stand up world. Damit.

Now I've got to get to sleep. Gotta get up early for my flight.

Thanks so much to SUNY Cobleskill for a fantastic show. You guys rock...and Sam, trust me, it will happen. :)

G'night guys.

Bye Greg. We'll miss you. R.I.P.

9/16/10
First of all, I have to apologize to Montana State University. The show last night was really fun, but I know there were a few jokes that I shouldn't have done. Let me explain why I did those jokes.

Y'see, there's a brand new joke/idea that I've been working on lately and, as a comedian, a new joke is like a new toy. You just want to play with it all the time. It's like when you're a kid and you get a new toy for Christmas or your birthday and you just HAVE to play with it all the time...even at inappropriate times and places. Like you take the toy to school or church and get in trouble for having it there. That's what it was like last night.

This new bit is on the edgier/dirtier side. It's a very tricky joke to navigate and I knew that it wasn't the right place to work it out...but that little kid in me kept saying, "but I want to play with it now!!!!" And so I gave in. I thought I could make it work. The show was going really well and I just figured that I'd be able to sell it. I was wrong.

It got awkward and quiet. Two things a comedian NEVER wants on stage...especially during a bigger show like last night.

So again, I am sorry for that. But we did have a fun time otherwise, right?

And I got a new nickname:

I've been called "Skip", "Trip" but "Slit" is a first.

Look, I know all about mispronounciations, but who in their right mind wouldn't ask twice about someone named Slit? "Yes, my name is Slit. This is my brother Gash and my sister Deep Wound. C'mon!

Anyway, I'm at the airport about to board, so I'm gonna sign off now. Later.

9/15/10
Y'know, since landing back in Burbank on Monday, I couldn't stand being away from the airport for more than a day, so now it's Wednesday and I'm back! Yay! God, I wish there was a sarcasm font.

Anyway, I'm getting ready to fly to Billings, MO. for a college show tonight, then back home tomorrow. These short trips aren't bad; mainly because I don't have to pack that much and check any bags. It's such a relief to just walk on and off the plane with all of my luggage.

So what's been going on lately? Well, I had a meeting with my manager yesterday and he had suggested something a bit different for me and my act. He basically said that as funny as my act is, it's not getting the attention of the "industry". So he suggested that I start moving my material to an edgier place.

Oops, boarding.

OK, I'm on the plane now and boy does this suck. I'm stuck by the window; which I fucking hate! I feel so cramped and trapped. But joy of all joys, there's a little shit of a kid behind me and guess what he likes to do? That's right, he likes to scream! And kick the back of my fucking seat! Oh, thank you Jesus for seating me here. You rock.

Luckily this isn't a long flight; but it still sucks.

Anyway, back to my first thought in the blog.

So my manager wants me to write a little edgier. And I'm totally for that. I've found myself writing more personal material lately. It's been mostly about Ally and our sex life (cause that's what's new in my life) and as graphic as it has been; it's also been working really well. I think I've gotten to a point to where I know how to write for me perfectly, but also how I can present any kind of material (that I'm comfortable with) and get away with it. I'm likeable & quirky which seems to give me a sense of trust with an audience.

So with that idea in mind, I started talking stream of conscience to myself (my usual way of writing) about various subjects and I came up with some really interesting and (hopefully) funny bits. They're literally in the infancy stage, but I think they've got real potential. I'm very excited about it.

I'd love to try some of it tonight, but I wouldn't do that. Not at a college and not when they're paying me. This is material to try at the open mikes and clubs in LA.

Well, my computer's almost out of battery so I'm signing off. Later.

9/8/10
I'm still in shock about Robert Schimmel. Like at this point the "idea" of him no longer being here is something I've accepted, but now actually "facing" the reality is another thing. Like when I'm on the road and I don't see his picture as an upcoming event, or now when I talk to comics about him, it's going to be in the past sense. It's just so sad.

And I really feel bad for his daughter. She was driving the car that got into the accident. She wasn't drunk or anything like that, she was just swerving to avoid another accident. Anyone else would've done the same thing. It's just bad luck that it happened the way it did. But no matter how many times people will tell her that it wasn't her fault, she's going to live with the fact that she was driving that car. The poor girl. And I know Robert really loved her and wouldn't blame her for anything.

God, he was a stellar guy.

on to more positive things.

Well, I'm taking today to get ready for my trip tomorrow with Ally back to Florida. It's Lily's birthday! I'm so excited...Oh, and it's also my aunt and godson Max's birthday this weekend too. So many birthdays, so glad to be there.

I was supposed to be shooting something for Skippy today, unfortunately the equiptment we were going to use suddenly became unavailable. So we're hoping to reschedule for a couple of weeks; I'm still waiting to hear. The show idea could really become something. I keep saying that when it comes to Skippy projects, but I always mean it. Skippy is going to hit; I know it. There's no time limit to success, so I shouldn't be impatient.

I was talking with a buddy of mine last night about this business and he had said that there was a time he was feeling down about himself or comparing his career with other comics who started after him. How he started second guessing his decisions. But how he came to an understanding of himself and this business and he's now more motivated than ever. And I tell you, it felt great to hear someone else (not to mention someone who I respect in this business) say they've felt the same way I've felt recently. It's like, "Whew, it's not just me."

Things are going to be great.

OK, off to shower and launder...that would be laundering my clothes, not money. Though I would love my quarters to be shinier.

9/3/10
OK, I don't know what's going on right now.

I just got a call from a comedian friend telling me that Robert Schimmel has died. I can't believe it...and frankly, I don't know if I should believe it.

I've been doing some research online and it seems that he got into an car accident a few days ago, but there are different articles saying different things...obviously. Some say he died, some say he's in critical condition. Either way, it's so fucked up.

First of all, Robert is one of my favorite comedians there is. His act is raunchy and filthy...but so clever and so "matter of fact". I've always described him as that dirty uncle everyone has, but loves none the less.

But above the respect I have for him as a comedian, I considered...consider him a real friend.

I meet him a little over 10 years ago in Florida when I was working as an MC at my home club. Robert came into town and I was lucky enough to open for him. I picked him up at his hotel and he was nice, gracious and funny as hell. I just couldn't believe he was in my car. Later on that week, he got my number from the club, called me and asked if I wanted to hang out. I was too cool.

I had a great time with him that week, and that began a really good friendship.

Now I don't want you to think that we were best buds or anything; just comic friends. We'd work together quite often, or if we were in the same town, I'd go see him and he'd give me stage time and we'd hang out. One time he took me to a big Warner Bros. party in Miami and we saw Bette Midler.

Jesus Christ, he can't be dead.

This is a guy who battled cancer and won! He became the comedic voice of it. And he really lived each day to the max. He looked death in the face and laughed. And what always kept him going? Comedy.

I can't believe it. No fucking way. He's still alive in the hosptial. Until I hear solid proof, I'm not believing it.

I'm going now to make people laugh...

Please God, say it's ok.

UPDATE: It's confirmed; rest in peace my friend.