Bob Dylan for President


Nobel Gold Medal

We need an intelligent president. We should raise the qualifications to run for President of the United States of America. All we need to do is add one more criterion. All candidates must have won the Nobel Prize. Nobel Prize winners are intelligent. We have so many American Nobelists who are scientists and economists. I’m sure any Nobel Prize winner would make a great president.

I would nominate Bob Dylan, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 2016. He would be prepared to answer any question.

“Why should we vote for a musician?”

“The times they are a-changin’.”

“How does the campaign trail make you feel?”

“Like a rollin’ stone.”

“How unhealthy is our air quality?”

“The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.”

“And what do you think of our current president’s direction?”

“Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door.”

“What would you say to personal attacks by a female politician?”

“Lay, lady, lay. Lay across my big brass bed.”

“When you win the election, what will you tell your supporters?”

“We did it! Everybody must get stoned!”

DDR

Still Not Friday


December 15, 2022

I was asked to do standup comedy at the Two Brothers Roundhouse. This is quite an accomplishment for me. After three years of my comedy comeback, I am improving. I don’t feel as nervous as when I first started, even though people tell me I look very nervous.

I enjoy performing and hearing laughter. Sometimes, people approach me after a show and tell me that they really like my act. I always say, “Thank you!” because I really love the recognition. I hope to keep improving.

When I started back up, I told myself that I would that I would keep going to open mics even if I never progressed beyond the open mic level. I am now one notch above the open mic level. And I’m starting to feel more comfortable on stage.

The first few times I tried to make a comeback, I was so nervous that I chickened out. Then, I told myself, “Just go see an open mic.” Even just watching the show I felt the looming stagefright knowing that I would soon perform. One open mic I went to observe, they offered to waive my cover charge if I would perform. I was to scared to accept. Once the show began and saw some of the first-timers, I knew I had made the right decision.

The next week, I go to the same comedy club with the firm belief that I will go on stage for the open mic. I tell them at the ticket office that I will perform, and they let me in without paying the cover charge. Well, just my luck, now that I’m ready to perform, the emcee announces that the open mic is cancelled because that weekend’s headliner showed up early and wants to try out some new material. In a way, I was disappointed. But on the other hand, I was relieved and no longer nervous as I watched the headliner.

That was too bad because it took me another ten years to attempt another open mic!

DDR

Byer’s Brewery


I performed on Saturday, November 5th, 2022, at Byer’s Brewery in DeKalb, Illinois. The stage was in the storefront of the brewery and you could see cars on the street behind the performer. The traffic was very distracting. The audience consisted of college students from Northern Illinois University. They did not laugh that much and any of the comedians. The most important thing was that we all got that much needed stage time.

DDR

Teaching online


I remember when I used a blackboard!

Well, I survived the first week of the semester. I was looking forward to teaching face-to-face in the classroom again, like I did last semester, but UIC decided that we should have classes online for the first two weeks. I miss talking to my students in person. On the plus side, I don’t have to commute 45-90 minutes each way. I took advantage of the situation on the first day of class by teaching in my pajamas. Not the loud Christmas pajamas I saw entire families wearing at the airport on my flight to San Diego. I don’t think anyone realized they were pajamas. At least, I hope not!

It’s great teaching online. I wake up; I take a shower; I eat breakfast; and I fire up my computer. University students adapted easily to online classes, but would rather be in class. They miss the campus activities. And so do I!

DDR