Tag: comedy

That’s a Wrap!

~ Jim Flanigan

Filming finished last week on the set of 32 Degrees, the comedy short film that used me as an extra. I didn’t get much screen time the first day, so when I reported to the director for the second day of filming, I requested he highlight my best side. He agreed and promptly positioned me with my back to the camera. But, I did get to turn around to react appropriately when something happened in the film.

And I got to turn to the side (my one semi-good side!) to pretend to speak to someone else at the table who was off screen. We pretend-spoke about alien abductions in case you are interested.

Once the extras were done filming, we were dismissed way too early for me to stuff my pockets with snacks. I did snap this selfie for my memory scrapbook.

Continue reading “That’s a Wrap!” →

Mite Be Funny #286

~ Jim Flanigan

Do I Make a Fashion or Political Statement?

~ Jim Flanigan

I’m scheduled today to attend a family gathering where a very conservative family member from out-of-town will also make an appearance. How conservative? He made it clear at a past family reunion that he believes Democrats are evil satanists while I was standing right there. I reminded him that our family are loyal Democrats. He gave a bit of a harumph and said something like, “Present company excluded.” I don’t think he was sincere. It reminded me of Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack when he was railing about a hat in the golf pro shop in front of Ted Knight who was wearing the exact hat.

So, I don’t want to be wearing anything that reminds him that I’m a baby-sacrificing, blood-drinking Democrat, or do I? Speaking of blood, it’s bloody hot today, so I’m wearing a light t-shirt. Do you think any of these may make a fashionably political statement?

We always tell our kids to make good choices. I may want to take my own advice as I dress myself.

Forgotten One-Hit Wonder – Feeling Lucky?

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 2 Comments

I’m taking a real deep dive on this one. This song did chart on Billboard back in 1997 and was nominated for a Grammy in 1998, but I’ll bet you have never heard it. It got some radio airplay in Chicago and the Midwest along with some MTV and VH1 exposure, but was largely ignored.

You can also ignore it. If you do, you’ll be missing a tight, snappy, catchy pop tune that will threaten to take up residence in your head for days on end. I know it has squatted in mine after I rediscovered it, but then again, there’s lot of room in my big noggin for a song to rattle around.

Abra Moore was with Poi Dog Pondering when the band formed in Hawaii. After Poi moved to L.A. and then Austin, Texas, Moore went solo before the band moved to Chicago. I guess I should say “Abracadabra” as I make Abra Moore’s forgotten semi-hit “Four Leaf Clover” magically reappear.

Lights … Camera … Inaction!

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 4 Comments

After several attempts, I finally made it onto a movie set last night … and I didn’t sneak in. I was there to be filmed and likely turned into a matinee idol and overnight sensation. No, it isn’t a major motion picture. It’s a short comedy film that will undoubtedly net me an Academy Award nomination for Best Background Extra Who Can Barely Be Seen.

Upon arriving on time to the movie set in a Chicago restaurant, I sat for an hour. It turns out that there’s lots of sitting around on movie sets waiting for something, anything to happen. Fortunately, there were plenty of snacks for us extras to gorge on. Sure, we are unpaid extras, but do you have any idea how many bags of fruit snacks I can cram into my pants pockets?

The set looked something like this.

In fact, it looked exactly like that … except when there was a giant 8 foot tall polar bear in the shot. Then it looked more like this.

Continue reading “Lights … Camera … Inaction!” →

Am I a Bad Golfer?

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 1 Comment

One week ago, I golfed for the first time in 23 years. I sometimes ask in posts on this blog if I’m a bad guy. I didn’t think I needed to ask if I’m a bad golfer. I was a bad golfer 23 years ago. Why would a 23 year abstinence change things? But I surprised myself that I hit more good shots (for me) than terrible shots. I was feeling pretty confident about my golf game. As I walked the fairway with another golfer from my foursome, I mentioned that I hadn’t golfed in 23 years and that he is welcome to deliver a punchline. I fully expected him to say, “I can tell.” Instead, he said, “In that case, you’re playing well after all these years.”

I wasn’t quite sure how to react. Maybe I am a good golfer. A few days later, I received an invitation to today’s golf date. I mentioned how surprised I was to get another invitation despite my atrocious golf game. Rather than another compliment, I heard, “It’s not about the golf.”

So, I am a bad golfer after all. But I’m also okay with that. It truly isn’t all about the golf.

Mite Be Funny #285

~ Jim Flanigan

A Feline Laundry Edition of … Am I a Bad Guy?

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 1 Comment

I like to try and help out around the house when I can. If I see the remnants of a bowl of soup on the kitchen table, I’ll grab the spoon and rinse it off. If I see a pen sticking out from under the desk that it’s fallen from, I’ll kick it all the way under. If I see that the garbage can is full, I’ll let my wife know. I’m that type of guy.

My wife is fostering 5 kittens that are not yet litter-trained, so it’s been a challenge keeping up with all the smelly laundry. Consequently, when I saw a stinky laundry basket on the floor …

Well, how was I supposed to know that this load was hand wash only and air dry?

Am I a bad guy?

Editor’s Note: No kittens were harmed in the making of this blog post.

Roll the Film and Tumble Dry

~ Jim Flanigan

My 14 year old daughter and I took another road trip before she has to head back to school. The place we are staying offers a lot of amenities. I was intrigued when I saw this sign.

I was confused when I saw the movie scheduled for tonight is Avatar. What does that movie have to do with laundry? I was expecting maybe a movie about money laundering (Trump bio pic?) or perhaps even Car Wash.

I understand that the logical choice is this movie.

Continue reading “Roll the Film and Tumble Dry” →

Halfway to France

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 1 Comment

Well, I’ve made it over halfway to France as I attempt to swim the equivalent distance of the English Channel this summer.

If I flounder now, it’s on France’s shoulders to come rescue me. Who knows what my French rescuers may throw to me as floatation devices in case I am in distress? Maybe empty champagne bottles and merveilleux fromage français (or wonderful French cheese for our English-speaking readers). The French have so much cheese that they use for so many things that I just assume that they also use it for water rescues. But will it float? Fortunately, we have an expert on the buoyancy of cheese (good name for an album) standing by who can answer that question.

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Op/Ed Piece on … Am I a Bad Guy?

~ Jim Flanigan

It was probably easy for readers to shout “Yes!” the last time I asked the question “Am I a bad guy?” I get it. I wanted my wife to not take in 3 week old homeless kittens found abandoned in a cardboard box in a parking lot so that I wouldn’t have to wipe down the shower after taking one. And the gif I used for the post was disturbing at best.

Well, just to put your minds at ease, here’s a quick video taken in my living room.

Cute, huh? And just the perfect size and weight for one of my favorite hobbies.

Am I a bad guy?

Mite Be Funny #284 – Just Joshin’

~ Jim Flanigan

A Feline Edition of … Am I a Bad Guy?

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 1 Comment

I had strategically snuck in to take a shower before my wife did today. Why was it strategic? Because if I shower first, immediately before my wife, then I don’t have to squeegee down the shower walls and door. That could give me 1 or 2 minutes extra time during the day to waste.

My wife was waiting for a call back from the local animal shelter. She mentioned something about kittens needing a foster home as I headed toward the shower. When I got out of the shower without wiping down the walls or door, my wife told me that she was headed to the animal shelter to pick-up 5 kittens to foster for a week or two. No, she would not be taking a shower. I looked back at the shower where water slowly dripped down the walls and glass door. As I reentered the shower and grabbed the squeegee (not a euphemism), I wanted to tell my wife that I was allergic to homeless kittens (good name for a band) and that she should cancel with the animal shelter. Am I a bad guy?

A Hot Concert

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 1 Comment

We attended a concert last night that was really hot – literally. It was quite a warm night in Chicago as my 14 year old daughter and her friend accompanied me to see Jeff Tweedy of Wilco in a free concert yesterday. We took the train, and I occupied myself on the ride looking for places alongside the tracks where I could live/survive if I was homeless. I can’t explain why I do that, but it’s just kind of my thing.

Anyway, on a more positive note, the concert was quite pleasant. And did I mention free? I figured it could go one of two ways. I thought Tweedy could just play lots of favorite Wilco songs, or he could play none. He chose the latter with the exception of “California Stars.” If you read down in the comments under that YouTube video, you will learn that the lyrics were unrecorded Woody Guthrie lyrics. A nice homage to Guthrie!

Here’s his full setlist from the show if interested. To get the full flavor of the concert, take a listen to “Evergreen,” the first song from the show. That’s the vibe I got from the show – a pleasant blend of folk, country, and rock. Here’s how another song looked and sounded in person.



Maybe one reason he didn’t roll out Wilco “hits” is because he doesn’t think they exist. He told a great story about that which I will try and recreate.

Continue reading “A Hot Concert” →

Jim’s Poetry Corner

~ Jim Flanigan

I was going to warn you that you may not find this blog post humorous, but I am sure that regular readers are used to that by now. I had planned to enter a poetry contest, but decided against it. Great story, right? The contest was sponsored by Rattle.com, and while I didn’t enter their contest, I did submit my poem to them for publication consideration. Pretty smart, huh? I can still be rejected while saving money in the process.

So that you, the reader, can feel like you’re part of the rejection process, I will share with you my poem below. It’s titled “I Did Not Win The Masters.” Now you can read it and pass judgement on it, too.

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Mite Be Funny #282 – RIP Ivana

~ Jim Flanigan

Forgotten One-Hit Wonder – Underwater Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

After swimming this morning, I found it coincidental that a song by Jellyfish came on the radio as I headed home. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, “Jellyfish are saltwater creatures, and you swam in a freshwater lake.” Well, it turns out that there is a type of freshwater jellyfish, so I feel justified with the continuation of this blog post. Ha! Good try to preemptively kill this post, but on it goes. Sorry.

Jellyfish had a short five year run through 1984 as a cult favorite band. They had limited chart success, but I think this song of theirs still sounds fresh and not waterlogged.

And the reason I picked an obscure band with a quasi-hit to resurrect this always unpopular blog feature? I enjoy the song and hope you do, too. That is why.

Channeling

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 4 Comments

A while back, I foolishly proclaimed in a blog post that I would be swimming the equivalent of 21 miles across the English Channel this summer. With the calendric summer half over, let’s take a look at where I’m at.

Well, that’s not far enough. At this rate, I will be at just under 17 miles out by the end of August. I will be too far from Dover for the British to mount an ocean rescue, and the French simply won’t care.

The reality is that crappy weather got me off to a late start swimming this summer, and I strained a knee ligament during my first open water swim which has slowed me a bit. Oh, and I also injured my butt when I had the “brilliant” idea to try jumping part of the way across the Channel.

I’ve been trying to split my swims between pools and open water. At this point, I have 5 miles of pool swims in with 3.4 miles in open water. Getting in the open water swims has not been as easy as I expected.

I had hopes of cycling through fields of Purple Coneflowers and Black-Eyed Susans to get to a secluded, illegal swimming hole, which is typically the best kind. Well, the flowers didn’t disappoint.

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My Apple Watch Review

~ Jim Flanigan

If you recall, I got a totally free Apple Watch that I must wear in exchange for a company using the data from the watch to study my brain. Yep, you read that correctly – my brain. I absolutely got the better end of that deal.

It’s worked out okay so far. I had no idea how many people wear Apple Watches until I started wearing one and noticing others wearing the same. I feel like I’m sort of in a club now, like a biker gang. You know how bikers signal each other when they pass?

Well. I’ve started signaling to other Apple Watch wearers. I think this signal is subtle, but effective. Take a look.

Continue reading “My Apple Watch Review” →

Mite Be Funny #282

~ Jim Flanigan