“KITTING AROUND”
BLOG 285—HUMOR AND COMEDY (what’s so funny?)
Don’t sleepwalk through life.
I hope to illuminate your Life with my Words.
The Wanderings of Kit (Do you wander or wonder?)
I WANT TO INSPIRE YOU TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY OR BETTER!
*** This blog looks best when viewed on a laptop or desktop computer.
*** The joy I experience in life is a wondrous thing!
*** I was hit by two different trucks, but I remain happy.
*** Going through a 37-day coma–Yikes!
*** What do you want to accomplish before you’re dead?
*** If you read this through Facebook, see kitsummers.com/blog
*** I lived in my van for six years, visited all US national parks, and met Beth.
*** Beth and I married on 2/22/22 at 2:22.
*** I will have places to show you and tales to tell.
*** You will find secrets to unfold and good news!
*** What are you passionate about?
*** Have you seen >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFC5vLPDWRo
BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES!
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WHY I WRITE THIS BLOG
You will have many in your life who assist and teach; I am helping to guide you. Coaches like me wish to lighten your path toward excellence. It is up to you to make your journey toward merit. I’m not trying to show you “the way”; I am trying to help you find “your way.” Writing this blog each week is new and different for me—I love it!
I WANT TO INSPIRE YOU WITH MY WORDS –
WORDS HAVE POWER!
Are you accomplishing what you want before your eventual death?
You can (and should) make changes to improve your life–at any age.
Start today, and you can build the life you desire.
YOU ALREADY KNOW
You already know much about what I write, and I want to remind you of these ideas and show that my views can provide additional thoughts, along with yours, to help you. 
MY EXPERIENCES
Much of what I write about is taken from my experiences.
I have gone through much.
I hope to spread ideas so that you can live a better life.
Remember, only you know what is best for you.
EVEN IF YOU START LATE,
ARE UNCERTAIN OR DIFFERENT ––
YOU CAN STILL FIND SUCCESS!
Don’t forget–you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind!
HAVE FUN!
Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive, and always reach for more advancement.
VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE!
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TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK — HUMOR AND COMEDY (What’s so funny?)
Comedy, humor, and play often connect people and act as ways for satire and social commentary, offering humorous critiques of contemporary society and its conventions. Comedy should be playful and open people up.
As a performer on stage, I have done comedy on and off stage for many years. When headlining at Ballys in Atlantic City, I often tried new comedy and new routines. If it worked, I would keep it in; if not, I would try to work with the idea to make it work.
Have you seen >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZALVajgH6Q
Laughter can increase oxygen intake, reduce stress hormones, lower your heart rate, and help with your blood pressure. It can also help you relax and boost endorphins, known as “feel-good hormones.” Comedy aims to connect people and/or make the audience laugh. It achieves this through a wide range of strategies. Most comedians place everyday characters in unusual or amusing situations.
People often mistakenly assume that comedy—because it is funny and entertaining—is unsuitable for communicating about serious issues or that it can distract from significant problems. However, research shows that comedy can engage and motivate people around challenging issues because it is witty and delightful.
Comedy can, through its impacts on audiences, help contribute to social change by drawing attention, disarming audiences, lowering resistance to persuasion, breaking down social barriers, and stimulating sharing and discussion.
You don’t have to be a comedian on stage to be funny.
I try to bring comedy into many situations, which drives Beth crazy sometimes.
In addition to its effects on individuals, comedy can have broader cultural effects, shaping news coverage and social media discourse, providing visibility to alternative ideas and marginalized groups, and serving as a resource for collective action. Given comedy’s potential for social influence, activists and advocacy organizations increasingly use it in their strategic communication efforts.
Comedy pulls people in and creates a positive emotional connection, which can, in turn, inspire engagement and action later. The closer you are to others, the better you can communicate. It is a way of connecting with your audience, however big that would be.
JUST DON’T BE SO SIRENESS.
Humor can be one of the best ways to speak truth to power while forging connections. As a standup comedian, my goal is to give a gift: Their audience’s ability to distill everyday truths into bite-size, hilariously relatable anecdotes about topics that might be difficult to broach.
Whether you’re joking about a partner’s annoying habits or the current political climate, comedians can pierce the truth in thought-provoking and eye-opening ways — which makes sense, given the unusual premise of stand-up comedy.
What’s So Funny About Making People Laugh? Stand-up comedy is a peculiar performance art form. The comedian is the only one facing the wrong way in a people-filled room. He’s also the only one who isn’t laughing. For ordinary people, that’s a nightmare, not a career aspiration.” Do not be ordinary!
The history of standup can be traced back to turn-of-the-century variety shows in New York City, which introduced comedians into the mix. Standup comedians geared their material toward immigrants and blue-collar workers at that time. Comedy has since evolved into a performance art that appeals to various folks, with common themes including taking down the powers that be and observing everyday phenomena.
If you’re the class clown, office cut-up, or life of the party, then you’ll enjoy being onstage and/or connecting well with people. If that doesn’t describe you, and you don’t excel at making people laugh in a social setting, you’ll probably hate trying to make strangers laugh while at the head of the group and sweating under a spotlight.
HOW ABOUT STAND-UP?
Stand-up comedy is an emotional experience. You feel like you’re on top of the world when you get many laughs. But, if you don’t get any laughs, it’s a soul-sadening experience you’ll never forget.
THE KEY IS TO GET OUT THERE AND DO IT!
When your comedy does not work, it can knock you down; I have to warn you about the possibility of bombing and how awful it feels. With that out of the way, let’s get started.
Stand-up comedy is an art form that can be simple or complex. Luckily, the basics to stand up are universal. This is going to be an involved guide, but the basic steps are:
1. Collecting Funny Ideas – To develop the material, you first have to collect all of your funny ideas and save them in one place.
2. Turning Ideas into Jokes – Take your list of funny ideas and start developing them into short jokes with a setup and a punchline. Try this short idea on friends and enemies to see how they work.
3. Creating a Set List – Organize your list of jokes into a “set,” a prepared list of jokes that can be organized by topic. Your show should build to a big finish.
4. Rehearsing – Practice, practice. Take your set list and perform your set in the car, in the shower, while out walking until you have it memorized and solid in your mind.
5. Performing – Get on stage and perform your rehearsed set whenever you can.
6. Improving—Fix what’s broken and improve what works for your next set. Try everything; you can do it!
HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED:
Funny ideas won’t always come to you, but you’ll think of them here or there. Ideas will come to you in the shower, while out walking, driving in the car, practicing your juggling, or even when you’re just daydreaming.
Start collecting funny ideas that you can build from >>
Newspapers are like physical web pages that never get updated.
Prison inmates should be allowed to use DoorDash.
Urinals that generate electricity from your pee?
I stubbed my toe yesterday and made a sound that woke up my roommate.
Yes, start jotting all of these ideas down. Any method is acceptable as long as you save the idea somewhere. When you think of them, write them down as soon as possible. Try these new bits out on friends and family.
The criteria for collecting funny ideas is simple: if an idea, experience, or someone makes you laugh, it could be a part of your stand-up. If you think of something that doesn’t make you laugh, then it’s no good. Yes, you could go onstage and try every idea you come up with, but the odds are good that if you’ve already laughed at it, someone else will. If you didn’t laugh at it, other people probably won’t laugh either.
Inspiration for comedy bits can come from anywhere, so it’s a good idea to read the news, read books, listen to podcasts, watch movies, listen to stand-up comedy, eavesdrop on conversations, and always be on the lookout for your next idea.
What’s something you’ve never heard a comedian talk about? That’s an excellent jumping-off point for creating ideas for your stand-up—time for you to get up there.
Although this is the first step, it’s the most essential and the one you’ll need to devote the most time to. You may spend weeks piecing together and refining funny ideas into jokes. The writing process is the heart of stand-up comedy; write everything, and the rest will come quickly if you focus your effort on the jokes.
Your Ideas are Unique to YOU. Half the battle of stand-up comedy is getting the audience to pay attention to what you’re saying. Open-mic audiences get bored when they keep hearing the same types of jokes on the same handful of topics. Being unique is the best way to stand out at an open mic.
Don’t try to “fit in,” follow popular comedy trends, or sound like a famous comedian. Talk about your ideas, experiences, and observations — and present them uniquely.
Stand-up comedy is an elevated version of a conversation you might have — but with all the boring parts cut out. What are the things you are obsessed with, annoyed by, or worried about, and what’s a funny way of expressing it?
Here’s a list of things that you could make a stand-up bit about:
I grew up poor/I grew up rich.
I spend all of my time with friends, and I spend all of my time alone.
I watch way too much TV/I rarely watch TV.
I have a lot of social anxiety/I feel a little too confident around others.
I drive my car too fast/I drive my car too slow.
I have a terrible memory/I remember everything.
I love TV theme songs, but I can’t stand TV theme songs.
I have trouble sleeping, and I fall asleep in a split second.
What’s something about you or your life that’s already a little funny that you can express in an even funnier way? Write a list of topics about your day-to-day life and think of ways to turn them into jokes.
Comedy Line Examples:
“I spend much time alone, so I don’t dress up often.”
“I got invited to a wedding and showed up in what, I thought, was a pretty fancy pair of sweatpants. I was like, “What’s the matter? I took them to the dry cleaners and got them pressed!”
“Out of 500,000 sperm, YOU had to be the strongest swimmer!”
“Your wits are too much for me; I never was very good with fractions.”
“This must be a proctologist’s convention; just look at all the assholes.”
“Let’s play catch” (to deal with a heckler while juggling machetes.)
“You can fool some people sometimes, and the rest will make fools of themselves.”
“Why aren’t you out ripping off cars where you belong?”
“If you repeat everything, will the show be twice as long?
“Here is living proof that cousins do marry.”
“It looks like the only thing you exercise is your tongue.”
“Come backstage after the show, and we’ll have an excellent man-to-jerk talk.”
“Is that your face, or did your neck throw up?”
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Your comedy must be you.
Try out different bits.
If they work, keep them.
If not, try something else.
NOW GET OUT THERE AND BE FUNNY!
BE THE LEADER THAT YOU ARE!
YES, YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO FIND YOUR SUCCESS!
THINK — AND THEN THINK AGAIN.
WHAT NEW STORIES ARE YOU READY TO WRITE?
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WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU!
Inspirational quotes and sayings have a unique ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thoughts. They are attractive, challenging, and essential on our path to joy and happiness and finding ways to inspire ourselves and others.
THE BURST!
Inspirational quotes and ideas give us a quick and timely burst of wisdom to regain our focus, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion. I hope the words below bring a smile to your face and drive you to make this day and every day a fantastic event.
BE POSITIVE!
Just as positive words can make someone smile, and a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control! You have complete control over only one thing in the universe—YOUR THINKING!—and that’s where motivational quotes come in!
“YOU”
How you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible, determines everything in your life, and it all derives from your quality of thinking. Use quotes to move ahead in your life.
SELF-TALK IS SO ESSENTIAL—THINK RIGHT!
To stay motivated, you have to use each day as an opportunity to improve and get closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it! Motivational words, yes, are just words. But they are positive words; they will keep you on track.
QUOTES WILL BENEFIT YOU!
Positive and inspiring quotes can be like sunshine on a cloudy day. They inject optimism into our thoughts, brighten our mood, and help us focus on the good in life. They remind us that even in the face of adversity, we can see the silver lining and embrace a positive attitude.
PEARLS OF WISDOM
In a world filled with challenges and indecisiveness, the power of inspirational quotes cannot be exaggerated. These pearls of wisdom uniquely uplift our spirits, can spark positive change, and fuel our motivation often when we need it most.
I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS ADD TO YOUR LIFE >>
“Always borrow money from a pessimist.
He won’t expect it back.” – Oscar Wilde
“Don’t be so humble — you are not that great.” – Golda Meir
“Before criticizing someone,
you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you criticize them,
you are a mile away from them,
and you have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
“The elevator to success is out of order.
You’ll have to use the stairs… one step at a time.” – Joe Girard.
“I find television very educational.
Every time someone turns it on,
I read a book in the other room.” – Groucho Marx.
“It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by then I was too famous.” – Robert Benchley.
“The difference between genius and stupidity is genius has its limits.” – Albert Einstein
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
“I am an early bird and a night owl…
so I am wise, and I have worms.” – Michael Scott
“The way I see it,
if you want the rainbow,
you gotta put up with the rain.” – Dolly Parton
“In real life,
I assure you,
there is no such thing as algebra.” – Fran Lebowitz
“If you don’t have wrinkles,
you haven’t laughed enough.” – Phyllis Diller
“Never follow anyone else’s path.
Unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and see a path.
Then by all means follow that path.” – Ellen DeGeneres
“Do not take life too seriously.
You will never get out of it alive.” – Elbert Hubbard
“If you want something said, ask a man.
If you want something done, ask a woman.” – Margaret Thatcher
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last.
Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar
“Hating people is like burning down your own home to get rid of a rat.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick
“I’m in shape. Round is a shape.” – George Carlin
“My therapist told me the way to achieve inner peace is to finish what I start.
So far, I’ve finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake.
I feel better already.” – Dave Barry.
“People say nothing is impossible,
but I do nothing every day.” – Theodor Rosyfelt
“Bad decisions make good stories.” – Ellis Vidler.
“Always be nice to your children because they are the ones who will choose your rest home.” – Phyllis Diller.
“It ain’t over til it’s over.” – Yogi Berra.
“Rice is great if you’re hungry and want to eat 2,000 of something.” – Mitch Hedberg.
“You get no 401(k), no co-workers—you’re just in solitary confinement all day long with this human Tamagotchi that doesn’t have a reset button, so the stakes are extremely high.”
Ali Wong
“Here’s all you have to know about men and women:
Women are crazy; men are stupid.
And the main reason women are crazy is that men are stupid.”
George Carlin
“I used to work at McDonald’s making minimum wage.
Do you know what it means when someone pays you minimum wage?
Do you know what your boss was trying to say?
“Hey, if I could pay you less, I would, but it’s against the law.”
Chris Rock
“I never feel more alone than when trying to put sunscreen on my back.”
Jimmy Kimmel
“When I asked my trainer at the gym which machine I should use to impress beautiful women, he pointed outside and said, “The ATM.”
Trevor Noah
“Usually, when someone in the public eye gets pregnant, there are rumors about them for a few months. “Bump alert! Uh-oh!” I was well into my second trimester, and not one … rumor about me. Nothing. I was photographed belly out, and they were just like, “There’s Amy!”
Amy Schumer
“I think “Employee of the Month” is a good example of when a person can be a winner and a loser simultaneously.”
Demetri Martin
“My psychiatrist told me I was crazy,
and I said I wanted a second opinion.
He said, “OK, you’re ugly, too.”
Rodney Dangerfield
“I don’t identify as transgender.
But I’m gender, not normal.
I don’t think even lesbian is the proper identity for me.
I don’t.
I might as well come out now.
I identify as tired.
I’m just tired.”
Hannah Gadsby
YOU IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR THINKING,
YOU CHANGE YOUR LIFE’S DIFFERENTIA—SOMETIMES INSTANTLY!
COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!
YOU CAN TURN THINGS AROUND FAST AND ACHIEVE YOUR
WILDEST DREAMS NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE!
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MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>
Each week goes by so quickly, don’t you think?
It seems like time is going by faster and faster.
You must live joyfully, daily, for each day!
Do you know what you did last Monday?
Do you remember what you ate for dinner last Thursday?
Keep track of your doings for a few weeks; you will see your time differently.
Remember, the quality of your life depends on what you do each day.
8/10–Up early, as usual. I worked on projects around the house; there was little to write about. I did clear the chicken hutch area. The roof I built in the past had fallen in and needed a more robust roof, so I played my part.
Beth’s birds are a whoot (get it?) 
She had her birds loose in one of the bedrooms able to fly all around. They had a good time (as did Beth!)
8/11–Whoops. I was painting the spare bedroom and kept a cup of paint on the ladder. I thought the paint was safe up there with me connected to the ladder, but suddenly, the ladder spread a little apart, and the cup of paint fell to the floor. There’s no need to tell you; it made a mess of paint in the entire corner of the room.
Most of the rest of the day was spent cleaning up the paint. Fortunately, the floor has a coating that prevents the paint from sticking. I used my fingernails and thumbnails to scrape the paint off. I left two main puddles of paint to dry; later, I will peel up the dried paint.
8/12–Mowed the lawn. I’ve written before about the electric mower I use. All my life I used gas powered heavy and loud mowers to take my grass down. I’ve written before about >> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JVQDKGK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
You need to get one if you don’t currently use a mower like this.
The powerful 11-amp motor of this corded push mower gives you enough grass-cutting power comparable to a gas-powered mower. It has a compact, lightweight frame and a convenient 16-gallon grass bag. This electric mulching mower is quiet and requires less maintenance than a gas-powered lawn mower. It is easy to use with its adjustable handle height and cushioned grip for your comfort. Cutting grass is easy with its single lever height adjustment that can adjust the grass cutting height from 1″ to 2.5″.
This mower also comes in a battery-powered model if that works better for you.
8/13–The paint I had dropped became solid so that I could scrap and peel it up, and it cleaned up nicely. The big puddles of paint scaped up, but there are smaller places where I will have to use my fingernails to clean it up.
8/14–Don Atwell, who lives down the street, had extra wood I needed for various projects.
I got quite a bit from him.
It will be great for building a shelf system for Beth.
I will build a stand to hold another water collector.
These will keep me busy for some time.
The extra wood in our fireplace will also keep us warm this winter.
And, of course, I am working on this blog. I hope you enjoy my words.
8/15–It seems that I go down to Augusta weekly for various things. I have a dentist appointment today at 1:30. I will stop by Lowes for some items and Costco for a few things.
The thing about Costco is that I can fill up on gas for a meager price. I usually end up there at about lunchtime (somehow). They typically have samples of various things to eat, which I do, and that is my lunch.
Madrid, Spain, May. 19 2022: View of Costco wholesale store in Las Rozas
8/16–There are many biting ants out on the front lawn, which I rediscovered this morning. They are everywhere. I hate to do it, but it takes wearing shoes and socks. I love to be barefoot in shorts, but I must face the ants (and uncles.)
Beth found a mouse in a new trap. Since this trap does not kill the mouse, I let him go out in the woods. I hope he or she finds a new home right away. We found this mousetrap on Amazon, here >>
https://www.amazon.com/Humane-Catch-Release-Mouse-Traps/dp/B09WRSK1W6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QHYFJ9FTL03C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.E9Fs7_1mUFg3Sd-LXfY9zKIMf-R8sWhot2xOsp0WlTRM7w8XItkAYFNWpRGBuTzSIe3vfeqM75CvSGYzo6RJKBj7dpxofHPMrvr78Q5er1FrdvMzsjyvSIyCVHNFT7yJW6GO536PqPzDZHaawZzJIMeaEHaGeZv_wW3lhlHFWrtl5DM4lUesB_UbOiMkvoAUa7iNYoL7k9dZUcyp4MV6tIuNZp9wAj9GGX_ZdMDsZClbPS00HMAHKFDq_vo1Q_wMjMJ_ov29_wW-dNBJkM_EGyiBxGqHi-F6ry2zkq_JzSY.7uH3SlO-Y1eIKghuPzbyU1Q_WcB-hpA2SRKx85uRKLU&dib_tag=se&keywords=humans+mouse+trap&qid=1723830476&sprefix=humann+mou%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1
I was on the phone quite a bit today. I am still working on getting the movie possibility through. Of course, I will let you know when things are happening.
DO SOMETHING NEW–DAILY!
THEN, KEEP DOING NEW FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
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THE GARDEN THIS WEEK
RASPBERRY PLANTS DOING WELL
A self-supportive life can be a better life.
A garden would be a part of that life.
You must look into it.
This week, now much with the garden.
I’m sending a few photos, though.
I look out my office window, where I do most of my typing and blog work. All I see is nature, the garden, growing things, and wildlife. What a lovely view every time I am on my computer.
START YOUR GARDEN TODAY!
IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR YOUR LIFE!
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ALL OUR LIFE, WE MUST CHALLENGE OURSELVES!
YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>
When did you last stand on your hands, with your feet high above you?
This week, at least once, work on standing on your hands.
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NEXT BLOG >> YOU ARE LOVED!
This next blog will help you realize this.
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AND WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING FOR YOUR UPCOMING WEEK?
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1 Comment
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Loved the blog!
