Perpendicular Projects

Thursday October 6th, 2010 - Wisconsin Dells, WI

   If nothing else in life, I’ve experienced variety. Sometimes I think it’s a little too much. I’ve been getting into the groove of doing the ‘Schlitz Happened!’ show and having a lot of fun doing it, but today was a completely different turn of events. The Ho Chunk Casino near Wisconsin Dells, WI has finally started doing a comedy show and it started tonight.

   Of all the casinos in the Midwest, this is one that has never tried comedy of any kind to my knowledge. I’ve approached them more than once over the years, but never too hard. I never really had a desire to be a booker of shows until many of those who do specialize in that started running their business into the ground. Necessity is the mother if invention.

   The guy who finally landed the account happens to really like what I do, so he offered it to me on his opening night. It’s in a sports bar area and will need a little nurturing to work in the long run, but it totally could. The guy in charge was very supportive and I was able to bring my friend Steve Purcell from Madison to be the opening act. The show was fine.

   The audience sat far from the stage, trickled in late, and most had no idea why there was a guy standing on a stage talking at them in the middle of their evening, but nobody had a problem with it. After a while they started laughing as a group and I know they enjoyed it.

   What a difference there was between having to do this gig and the ‘Schlitz Happened!’ show on back to back nights. It was night and day. They weren’t rude tonight, but I had a major effort to stretch time doing material I haven’t been focusing on at all for months.

   I pulled it off, and nobody else had any clue how different it might have been or cared a half of a rat’s fanny. My job was to do what I did tonight, and I did it. Case closed. I’ll get paid by mail, but I know I will. Steve and I got to hang out and that alone made it worth a three hour drive. Steve is a great guy and super low pressure to deal with onstage and off.

   After the show I stopped between Milwaukee and Madison to visit with my good friend Don Reese from Iowa. What a wonderful soul Don is, despite his very distinct look. He’s about 6’4” with a shaved head, and always wears black. He intimidates people but is one of THE nicest humans anyone has ever encountered. He’s been a road act for many years.

   Don and Dan Still from Milwaukee are good friends, and they both know Dwight York out of Minneapolis. They asked me to help them promote a comedy tour with those three guys last fall, but I didn’t have time to devote to it. Now, I have even less free time to put into a project like that, but I’d really like to do it. Those three guys would rock the house.

   There aren’t three funnier or nicer guys anywhere, and together they’d make up a visual freak show that I think could really sell. They’re all seasoned performers and would love to work together on some kind of a tour. Seeing them being booked in nice venues would be a personal reward for me because I’ve seen how all of them have been treated for such a long time. Like me, they’re plugging away anyway and I think they deserve a lot more.

Posted via email from Dobie Maxwell's "Dented Can" Diary

Gratitude Adjustment

Wednesday October 6th, 2010 - Milwaukee, WI

One thing I never EVER want to be known as is ungrateful. I don’t deny my laundry list of faults is long and well defined, but I am doing my best to improve myself in every way. Sometimes I tend to beat myself up and I know I’m my harshest critic, but when someone supports me I always appreciate it. Tonight I had a room filled with people there for me.

What a fantastic feeling it was, knowing when I really needed it most I could count on a number of people to show up and make my event a resounding success. Dented cans tend to have a lot of issues with abandonment and trust, so when someone actually does put in an appearance as promised it means a whole lot. Tonight meant more than I can describe.

It’s always been difficult for me to ask for favors. I give them out like water, sometimes too much. If someone else’s car breaks down at 4am, they know they can call me and I’ll be there to help them out. And I will. But who do I call when I need help? That’s been my hardest question to answer. Too many times when I really needed it, nobody showed up.

That wasn’t tonight though. I put the word out I needed people to attend a free taping of the ‘Schlitz Happened!’ show for the local PBS TV auction in Milwaukee on Channel 10, and exactly the right number of people showed up to make it a grand slam success event.

One after another, people I’ve known for years showed up and I felt like I was attending my own eulogy. Mark and Amy Krueger showed up, and they’ve always been there to see just about anything I do. Amy has had some health issues, but was feeling good enough to come out tonight and they showed up early to get a good seat. That alone was a success.

Steve ‘The Homer’ True and his lovely wife showed up, and he’s another supporter that always shows up when I need him. Not coincidentally, they sat at the same table and were talking with the Kruegers, having fun before the show. I knew then I’d be in good hands.

That wasn’t nearly all though. My cousin Wendy brought a table of six people, and that made a big difference. We were in a tiny place called Sherman Perk, a converted old gas station on Roosevelt Boulevard which barely sat 40 people. Every seat had a butt for it.

Natalie from Jokerz Comedy Club showed up with a car full and that was unbelievable. Most club people would NEVER do that, and I will never forget it. Robert Deglau came back with a crew of people, and he was just in Hartford. I totally didn’t expect that either.

Mike Pavlovich showed up from Stadium Sports Stuff, as did the brother of comedian Pat Duax. Pat lives in Florida, but his brother is in Milwaukee and he brought a carload to see the show. Brendan O’Day, Cliff Baer and Chris Barnes showed up, fellow comics all.

Mike Staral came out, and I went to kindergarten with him. I hadn’t seen him in so long I barely recognized him, but I did. Ron Lee also showed up, he’s the person that hired me for my first paid gig way back when. The room was packed with my biggest supporters.

Randy Kosanke showed up with his wife, and they’ve always been there for me. Randy is a huge fan of comedy, and has dabbled on and off with both writing and performing in the past. If nothing else, he knows how difficult it is and always shows up to support it.

Chris ‘CP’ Peppas and his wife Mary Lynn showed up halfway through, but that’s still a positive with me. They live way out in Brookfield and had trouble finding the place, but it still counts that they came. Hell, I had trouble finding it too and I grew up in Milwaukee.

Karen Uchima and Grant Wylie are psychics from Chicago. They didn’t get a whole lot of the references, but I still am glad they came. I’m glad everyone came, and if the names don’t mean anything to anyone else, they sure mean the world to me. THANK YOU, all.

I’m still blown away by all the people that came out to see me at the Schauer Center last Friday night. John O’Brien and his wife Gail came up from Wilmette, IL and John took a week of vacation just so he could be off for the show. I still can’t believe he’d do that and I’m flattered beyond words. That’s the kind of stuff I’d do, but I don’t ever expect it back.

I sure hope I didn’t miss anyone, but if I did it doesn’t mean they weren’t appreciated as much as any human could appreciate anything. I’m not used to this kind of support so it’s extra sweet when it actually happens. Being a dented can sometimes makes it too difficult to just sit back and enjoy it when things go well, as too often they don’t. Tonight they did.

Unfortunately, now it’s all over with. Quite honestly, if I had to fill up any joint even a little bigger than the 40 seat Sherman Perks room, I’d be out of luck. I called in my favors and they came running in. Great! Now I have to do real business and sell some tickets.

I’m not going to kid myself and think the show is anywhere close to being ‘there’ yet. It isn’t even close. It sure has a ton of potential, but I’ll need to do it at least a hundred times or more to really develop an actual structure. I know that, but fortunately the audience has no idea. They’ll enjoy it all the way through it’s evolution, as it speaks directly to them.

I’m talking about deep seated memories, most of them very good. Times are still tough and not getting any easier, so it’s a mini escape to go back to the care free memory zones I’m referring to in this show. It’s nostalgia fine tuned to a very focused niche market, and those who will get it will go nuts for it. Those who don’t will think I’m talking Chinese.

That’s totally ok. I’m not going to get greedy and think I can reach everyone. I can’t and won’t even try. This is a specialized market, and I’m looking to open a successful ma and pa establishment that locals know and love. This isn’t a national franchise and never was.

That being said, the work is just starting. I need to start really laying down some written essays about the things I talk about. I’m just riffing off the top of my head now, and I can get away with that because I know the material so well. I lived it. That won’t last forever, and now I need to create a real tangible product to sell. I need a logo, a website, a sponsor (or several), and a place to do it regularly. Tonight was a blast, but now the work starts.

Posted via email from Dobie Maxwell's "Dented Can" Diary

Evolving Doors

Tuesday October 5th, 2010 - Lake Villa, IL

   As life on Earth as we know it continues to evolve, so does the entertainment business. Nothing is cut and dried anymore, and whatever was ‘normal’ just a few years ago is now in a state of chaos and dysfunction. Anything goes, and that’s just the way things are now.

   Power bases are constantly shifting, and rules are becoming obsolete by the day. I don’t know where it’s all heading, but I do know I need to get a handle on my own life and find a system of survival. That’s difficult to do when the parameters of everything are unclear.

   I had lunch with Vince Vieceli today. Vince is a very intelligent guy who performed for many years but his heart is in writing. That’s what he loves. He used performing to add to his income, and I personally have always liked him. He’s honest and ethical and wouldn’t hurt a flea. Unfortunately, that’s probably why he was one of the first to get weeded out.

   Vince lived in Los Angeles for a while the same time I did. We used to have lunch out there too, but that was part of the problem. We already knew each other. It was all of the bigwigs in the industry that we didn’t know. Cracking that inner circle is a job in itself.

   We discussed that today over a plate of barbecue and agreed that times are changing so quickly, it’s difficult to keep up. Vince wants to focus on his writing and has originated a website called ‘The Eighth Muse’ which is worth checking out at www.eighthmuse.com.

   The point is, each of us are trying SOMETHING. Whatever ‘traditional’ ways standups used to be able to make a living are fading faster than an Earl Scheib $89.95 paint job on a summer day in Arizona. We all have to add an additional hat to our already large mix of performer, writer, editor, sales person, marketer, travel agent, manager and accountant.

   Now it seems like we’re required to be a visionary. Technology is causing a major shift on many playing fields, and in my opinion just being a standup comic is asking for a one way nonstop bus ticket to oblivion. There are too many of those, and nothing stands out.

   The more I think about it, the more I’m intrigued by the whole concept. I have a chance to cultivate a following of paying customers that I can serve myself and not have to stand in line for the approval of some imbecile I don’t respect, just because he or she has a base of perceived power. That’s how it used to be, but only a few ever really benefited from it.

   Now, it’s everyone for him or herself and lone wolves like me can have a chance to be a viable entity that brings in money rather than labeled as a kook and ignored. Sure, I admit I’m crazy. All the good comedians are to a certain extent. Who said it’s necessarily a bad thing? The eccentricities are what make for the interesting artist, but not always at first.

   I still love a quote I heard but haven’t a clue as to who said it. “Talent is reaching goals others can’t reach. Genius is reaching goals others can’t SEE.” I love that. Maybe this is a chance to finally go around the people who keep creativity down. I see where I’m going.

Posted via email from Dobie Maxwell's "Dented Can" Diary

Baby's First Steps

Monday October 4th, 2010 - Lake Villa, IL

   I’m running all over the place day and night between Milwaukee and Chicago and every place in between - and I’m loving every single minute of it. I’m in a great space right now and I’m claiming it. Too many times in life I’ve been wandering aimlessly, but not now.

   This ‘Schlitz Happened!’ show has been the best thing I’ve done in many years. I’ve hit a nerve, even though it’s not all that original. It doesn’t have to be. It just has to be in the public’s wheel house and for once I think I’ve finally found that. It’s taken long enough.

   Ray Kroc was in his fifties and stumbled upon McDonald’s because he sold Mixmaster milkshake machines to the McDonald brothers. He saw an opportunity and went all out to chase it. That’s what I’m doing with this, and I can feel it being worth every bit of effort.

   I’ve got a TV taping on Wednesday in Milwaukee at a place called Sherman Perks. It’s a remodeled gas station from what I hear, located at 4924 West Roosevelt Blvd. It’s going to be taped for the Channel 10 Auction, and hopefully raise funds for Public Television.

   The producer of the show is a nice lady named Susan Borri, and she asked that I be the one to round up an audience of about 40 people. That’s not an easy task, especially on a Wednesday night. Yes, it’s free - but explaining what it is to people can be a bit difficult.

   It’s not a traditional venue, especially for a product like this so I have to explain myself very clearly to everyone I tell - which was everyone I could find on my list who’s lived in Milwaukee even a short time. I called some, emailed others, face booked still others, and it took a lot of work. I loved every minute of it because I knew I was working for myself.

   Most people were very kind to forward the message to some other people in town who they thought may enjoy the show. I totally appreciate that and won’t abuse the privilege. I will give those who come out my best, and hopefully have them on a list for shows in the future. That and word of mouth will be my best forms of marketing this to build a base.

   The bulk of the work is done, and I have had nibbles from people who say they’re going to show up. I believe most if not all of them will. I don’t ask for many favors, and this is a fun one. Sit and enjoy a free show isn’t that difficult, and it’s a good test to see if I can get people to come out to an event no matter what the cost. This is all a test run for the future.

   Saturday night in Saukville at the Railroad Station will be another test. It’s not nearly as nice as a venue as The Schauer Center in Hartford, nor as organized as far as having a list of subscribers to contact letting them know of the show. Again, that’s another good thing as it tests the ability to draw people into a venue not usually known for live entertainment.

   The project has already been a raging success in that it came to life from a single idea to packing the Schauer Center last week. It got me on TV, radio and I think it’s only starting to take shape. These are my creative baby’s first steps, and I couldn’t be any more proud.

Posted via email from Dobie Maxwell's "Dented Can" Diary

More Than Cereal

Sunday October 3rd, 2010 - Lake Villa, IL

   Life is short. Life is precious. Life is more than a brand of cereal. It’s half over before it sinks in with most of us, but I grasp the concept loud and clear now more than ever. I can see my own mortality, and I can live with it. For a while. Then I won’t have any choice.

   Old age is not something that’s run deeply in my immediate family, and at least on my grandfather’s side it hasn’t been pleasant. He was one of seven brothers, and six of them died of cancer - including him. The oldest brother drank himself to death and died at 48.

   One of my grandpa’s brothers had a son I was close to, and he died of cancer at 44 back in 2001. We used to talk about it freely, and knew it was predisposed in our family and it had a good chance of getting passed down to us as well. Sure enough, he was having back pain of all things and headaches, and he went to have it checked and they found cancer.

   It shocked everyone, and he eventually died a slow painful death. It was a horrible way to go, and I can still remember the look in his eye the last time I saw him. He was near the end, and couldn’t speak anymore. He looked up at me and just shook his head. I told him I loved him and we both started to cry. I never saw him again, and that’s an ugly memory.

   I’ve been having some back pain and headaches myself lately, and couldn’t help but to wonder at least for a second if that’s the reason. Who knows? Nothing would surprise me at this point, and all I can do is live the best I can. I know I haven’t been drinking enough water or eating as well as I should be or exercising regularly, so I’ll start by trying that.

   I’ve been having some hellacious headaches in the last few weeks, and that’s something I never had in the past. I’ve been pretty healthy actually, but eventually it catches up with us all. The fresh bounce of youth is gone forever, and now I have to take much better care of myself. My cousin was only 44 when he died, and it’s not impossible in my case either.

   Another thing that made me think of this was I heard Paul Lane, the owner of the Funny Bone in Des Moines, died this week at 46. I knew Paul, but not on a friendly basis for the most part. I didn‘t have any flaming arguments with him, but we weren‘t buddies either.

   Comedians and club owners can clash easily and often do. The reason for it is we’re not in the business for the same reason. Comedians want to be recognized for our talents and get the love and acceptance we never got as children. Club owners want to sell whiskey.

   Most times they know nothing about comedy or the mindset of comedians, and to them we’re just interchangeable whores who can be used and abused at will. There’s always an inexhaustible supply of us near by, and like Kleenex - another fresh one always pops up.

   I knew Paul when he worked in South Bend, IN at the Funny Bone there. He liked to be a ball buster and have comics kiss his ass, which I just refuse to do. Business schmoozing is one thing, but with him I sensed it went deeper than that. I refused to play that game.

   The reason I refused was that I’d been playing it way too much in way too many places. Especially coming up, comedy is nothing but playing the ass kissing game. If it’s not on a club owner basis it’s with the bookers, and sooner or later it gets old. It was sooner in my case, and after a while I learned to go around people like Paul Lane to avoid the clashes.

   Paul eventually went to Des Moines and became the owner of that club. I happen to like Des Moines a lot, and would have loved to be a regular there. I think I could have built an outstanding following over time, but I never got the chance. I stopped in a few times to do guest sets over the years, and blew the doors off that place. But I never booked a paid gig.

   Every time I tried to do it, I had to play the phone tag game with Paul Lane. He’d be out more than he was in, and when he was in he was either on the phone or the old stand by - ‘in a meeting’. That’s my favorite. How many times have I been in someone’s office just hanging out wasting time when they tell someone else they’re ‘in a meeting’? Too many.

   I personally don’t have any ill feelings toward Paul Lane, but I know a number of other comics do. There won’t be a lot of tears shed by those people as word gets out, and I can already see the resumes being addressed en masse to be mailed to Des Moines this week to get in line for the next person who’ll be booking the club. It’s morbid, but very true.

   Outside people have NO idea how much petty politics plays a part in the comedy game. A lot of times the reasons we do or don’t work a particular town is how the club owner or booker feels about us personally. I work Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh a lot because those club owners know me and think I do a good job. If they sell their clubs, I’m out of work.

   Zanies in Chicago is another example. I’ve gotten a ton of work there over twenty years, mainly because I’m one of ‘their boys’. It’s not fair, it just is. Yes, I can do the job but so can a lot of others who don’t work there on a regular basis. I could kick major ass in Des Moines at the Funny Bone, but I never got a chance because I wouldn’t deal with Paul.

   No one club or booker needs any one comic to survive. There are plenty of acts on each level to book clubs for years and never have to repeat. There are also many clubs and gigs that need quality acts and will be glad to hire the person who just clashed with someone.

   I’ve had my share of clashes over the years, and it ended up causing me to learn how to go around the pinheads. I’ve found that’s the best way, as trying to go through causes pain and suffering that’s not really necessary. True comedians will outlast scumbag owners or bookers every time. It may take several years or more for it to happen, but it always will.

   The comedians are in it with their heart, while the bookers and owners are only thinking with their wallets. Hearts go deeper than pockets, so the owners will always lose a contest of endurance. Paul Lane has to answer for his own life, as we all do. I have enough going on in my own life to not point any fingers. We both survived the fact I didn’t get to work in Des Moines, and it’s no big deal. Now I might get that chance. Or not. Or my own life could end in an instant, or like my cousin. Life is day by day. I’m grateful for each one.

Posted via email from Dobie Maxwell's "Dented Can" Diary

Life Savors

Saturday October 2nd, 2010 - Lake Villa, IL

   Today was a day to sit back and savor all things good. This has been a year of all kinds of new things coming my way, and I think the reason for it is I’m thinking and doing a lot of things differently than I have in the past. For the most part, the results have been great.

   My financial situation has really taken a turn for the better, and that’s been huge. It’s no fun to have to worry about each and every month’s rent, and that’s where I was for a long time. Now, I’m in a much better position and it really wasn’t all that hard to do. I made it happen by intending to make it happen, and as simple as that sounds it really does work.

   The cruise ships were the main reason I was able to get out of my money hole, and even though I had some rough times at sea it was still worth doing. I opened myself up to a big new source of income, and after taking a break I’ll be going back out there to do it again.

   No matter what happens, I’ll be in a much better place to deal with it because I’ll know more of what to expect. It really was a major adjustment the first time, but now I have the initial shock out of the way and can deal with things accordingly. I’ll shut my mouth and buckle down to get some work done, all the while socking money away to protect myself.

   I’m still savoring the positive vibe of last night’s show at The Schauer Center. It wasn’t the actual show that did it for me, but the interaction with the people who showed up. I’ve always been my hardest critic, and in my mind the show part was nowhere near the level I know it could be, but I knew that going in. I have to work out the bugs and polish it up.

   One thing that did make me feel better was I couldn’t hear the audience’s laughter from the stage and really thought I was eating it badly. I talked to several people today that told me it was a solid show, so that made me feel a little better. I didn’t want to beat myself up more than I needed to, so I accepted the compliments with sincere gratitude and a smile.

   I’m glad I have higher standards. It’s good to want to get better. I’m not a perfectionist, but I am an improvementist. I want to be the best I can be, and I’m still a long ways off on this particular project. Sill, I feel like I’m on to something with this idea and will stay the course and breathe life into it. It’s already come from just an idea to selling out last night.

   Part of the reason it sold out was I was able to get local media coverage. I think there’s still lingering bad blood from a few of my old rivals, but that’s not my doing. I don’t have any ill will toward them, and wish them nothing but happiness. It’s not about being angry or sticking it to anyone anymore. I‘ve really grown past that and hopefully they will too.

   There are still SO many things I’m behind on, but today I thought about none of them. It was a thrill to do that show last night, and instead of hanging on to what I thought wasn’t up to my standards I just thought about what went well. The line of people who came out to support me was very touching and really made me feel like I actually do mean at least a little something to someone in this world. Back to work tomorrow, today was to enjoy.

Posted via email from Dobie Maxwell's "Dented Can" Diary

A Golden Schauer

Friday October 1st, 2010 - Milwaukee, WI/Hartford, WI

It only took twenty-five years of hard work and flop sweat, but I finally lived to see my dream come true of being a big star in Milwaukee. I’ve had some other fantastic moments in the last few years, but today as a whole was right up there with any one I’ve ever had.

First, it was up early to be on ‘The Morning Blend’ TV show on Channel 4. That was a blast, as the hosts really did a fantastic job of doing their homework and asking intelligent questions. I’ve been on a lot of local TV in my life, and often the hosts are just eye candy.

Not today. They were two ladies named Tiffany Ogle and Molly Fay, and yes they were quite nice to look at, but they were both real people and made the whole experience worth getting up so early. As soon as I got off the air my phone started ringing with friends who had seen me and said it came off very well. I knew if they’d seen it, strangers did as well.

That’s the kind of exposure local comics never got when I started. It felt great to have a spot on a legitimate TV show, rather than appear on some horrific cable access debacle at 3am, six weeks before the show I was trying to promote. This was a day of the show spot on a prime channel at a good time. I was the first guest and had a nice chunk of air time.

After that, it was off to be on the air with ‘The D List’ on ESPN Radio 540 with my old friends Drew Olson and Dan Needles. That’s like hanging out on my couch, and it’s great fun to be able to stop in whenever I want. They give me walk on status, and I appreciate it very much so I don’t abuse it. If I have something to promote, I try not to beat it to death.

Everyone at the station treats me like a king, and who wouldn’t enjoy being around that kind of vibe? I love Drew and Dan, but Steve “The Homer” True always pops in to shoot the breeze for a bit and the producer Matt ‘Fish’ Salmon has clips of my past appearances cued up to play at will. Even the owner Craig Karmazin pops in to smile and say hello.

How many radio stations have I worked at that treat me like that? Let me count. ZERO. It’s a lot more fun to be an honored guest at a place that likes me than an employee at one that fires me without notice. I get to experience the good part of radio and not have to get nervous every time my phone rings. I know people listen and my time was worthwhile.

After the show I drove back to Illinois to put in my order for some ‘Schlitz Happened!’ t-shirts. I could have sold some in my previous trial runs, and I know I’ll eventually need them in the future if this thing even slightly takes off. It’s smart marketing and a business investment, and I want to have some ASAP. I won’t have them for tonight, but that’s ok.

Everything just felt right today. I loved being on radio and TV, and it wasn’t the scraps time slot on either show like I’ve had in other places. Bob and Tom physically threw me out of their studio, and I still don’t know exactly why. That’s their loss. I don’t care about being on the air in Wankerville or Tuscaloosa. I do care about being on in my home town. I never was able to crack that nut for years, but now I have and I enjoy every second of it.

I have to admit I was a little unsure as I drove to Hartford for the show. It started to rain as I got into Milwaukee and I hoped it wouldn’t affect the turnout. It made me arrive later than I wanted, and it was close to show time when I pulled into the parking lot. I did see a nice amount of cars, but I’ve learned from past experience they could be for other events.

I felt myself get soaked walking across the parking lot but I didn’t bring a coat. I walked in the Schauer Center and saw all kinds of friendly faces waiting for me and it was nice to see all of them. It was nicer still to see people sitting in the seats waiting to see the show.

One after another people came up to say hello. My friend Shelley showed up with some of her friends, as she grew up near Milwaukee in the suburb of Sussex. She didn’t have to drive all the way up, but she did. My friend Robert Deglau showed up with a bunch of his friends, and it seemed everywhere else I looked I saw someone waiting to come say hello.

Steve DeClark showed up, and he didn’t have to. He’s the comedian that set up the first show I did back in January. That was just a standup show, and this was a different kind of concept. I didn’t expect him to show up, but he did anyway. That really meant a lot to me.

It totally blew me away that my friend John O’Brien and his wife Gail came all the way up from Wilmette, IL for the show, so much so that I literally did a double take as soon as I saw them. THAT’S class, and I knew right then I was in a place that was in my corner.

I didn’t think my shock level could be topped after that, but then I saw my Uncle Walter walk up to me. That’s my mother’s brother, and I haven’t seen him in years. I don’t know him all that well, but he’s a very nice man and has always been supportive and knows the ugliness of my family situation. He said my mother is indeed alive and still living in WI.

Apparently, she’s once again involved with the Jehovah’s Witnesses as she has been for many years as I’ve always been told. When I did see her last I was about 18, and she told me that’s the reason I never got any birthday cards. Jehovah and his witnesses can all kiss my ass, but if that’s what makes her happy I guess I have to shut up and just let it all go.

I told Uncle Walter that, and he totally got it. He said that side of the family that I never knew is just as wacked out as the side I did, and that’s just how it is. I guess I didn’t miss much not knowing my mother all these years, but the damage is done. It is what it all is.

Then, to top it off even more, I was REALLY shocked when Jonathan Green of WTMJ radio walked up to say hello. He interviewed me many years ago when I left for Chicago, and I never forgot it. He’s been on the radio in Milwaukee for 40 years, and is retiring at the end of the year. I asked to be on his show, but they don’t do interviews like that now.

His show, like radio and life in general have changed completely, but to see him show up and shake my hand was just out of this world spectacular. He and his wife enjoyed the show, and I couldn’t have been more grateful for everyone who was there. This is a night that goes WAY past comedy. This was a night that pounded some dents out of my can.

Posted via email from Dobie Maxwell's "Dented Can" Diary