So, it’s #TRUTH that I have not been on a stage doing comedy bits in many, many months. Almost a year actually. I still love to make people laugh, but I knew that the format through which I were to do that was changing and so I took a break.

It’s been a good break, but I got really excited a couple weeks ago when the inimitable Paula from DSI Comedy Theater emailed me to ask if I would be interested in being a guest for MISTER DIPLOMAT, the FREE flagship show at DSI. I jumped at the chance! I’m really excited to see old friends and hang out with funny people for an evening!

Now I just need some people I know and love to fill the audience and laugh / cry / show some sort of emotion when I tell my stories. They could be embarrassing, they could be endearing, suspenseful WHO KNOWS? So, are you going to come hear me tell stories? You should.

Here are the show deets:

• DATE: Friday, January 6th, 2012
• TIME: 10:30PM (yeah, I know it’s late… but we’re all still relatively young, right?)
• PLACE: The DSI Comedy Theater in Carrboro, NC
• COST: FREE!
• OTHER: The show is an improvised show, so the content cannot be guaranteed to be PG. Although my stories will be PG, you never know what may come out… with that being said, I’d leave the kiddies at home.

Also, there’s going to be a CHARITY aspect to the evening, too! So, you can help support a good cause in the process.

And, if 10:30pm is just too late for you, no worries, there’s TONS of great comedy at DSI all the time so you should check out one of their other shows including Ladies Night which kicks off tomorrow. We all know how I feel about funny lady comedians.

Anywho, I hope to see you in the audience or some other time. Let me know if you have questions.

xoxo

Molly

I’m going to try and keep this post as short and concise as possible, because there is a lot of information to update you on. But, because I enjoy writing, am long-winded, and digress excessively, that may not happen. Oh well. I do what I want, yo.

colette and i after the race with our medals!

oh wow. I ran the TarHeel 10 Miler.

And I finished it. And I didn’t come in last place! This wasn’t just a big deal for me, in the immortal words of our beloved Vice President of the United States, “It was a big f*****g deal.”

I went from being a horrible runner who would pass out after trying to run a half a mile to finishing and SPRINTING THE FINISH LINE of a 10-mile race. My first race, no less. It was hard. Definitely. I ran with one of my best friends (and FEMMEBOIS comedy partner) Colette, and I don’t think I could have done it without her. We really motivated each other, and when mile 8 on the Laurel Hill challenge came, she kept yelling, “KEEP RUNNING, MOLLY! You can do it!” All while my leg muscles were burning hotter than Justin Timberlake’s dance moves.

The two best parts of the race? Seeing the amazing DSI Comedy people cheer us on at the 6.5 and 9 mile water stops and sprinting the finish line in Kenan Stadium. Sprinting that last 1/4 mile stretch around the track in Kenan was so exhilarating. When we finally crossed the finish line, my adrenaline was pumping so hard that I just started to cry. I couldn’t believe it.

Regardless, in 8 days, I will run my first half-marathon, and only my (now) second race ever. I’m working with a bit of a knee and foot injury, but I know I can do it. 8 days. 8 days. 8 days.

In Memory Day

Some of you saw that I tweeted about having the opportunity to speak at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Foundation event In Memory Day in Washington D.C. Well, I spoke. I was (surprisingly) able to get off work for the weekend and take Monday off. I drove up to Herndon, Va (the town where I was born and raised) and spent Saturday with my best friend, Bec, before she left Sunday for Colorado. Spent some much needed quality time with my Dad, my friend Katie, and even got to see a friend and sorority sister of mine, Caroline. And yes, we ate at the Tortilla Factory in case you weren’t wondering.

I’ve written about my mom a lot more lately. A lot more than I ever have or used to, so I won’t go into the details of her story, her life, etc. Basically, In Memory Day is a ceremony that takes place at the wall in honor of those who served in the Vietnam War and died because of their service but do not qualify to have their names inscribed on the wall.

My mom was honored in 2004 and 2009. My dad spoke in my place in 2004 because I was in college. This year, I was given the opportunity to speak. I did it because it was important for me to spend that time with my dad, be able to talk about my mom, and hopefully keep her story going – because it’s one that should no soon be forgotten.

Well, footage of my speech is available online. You can see the ceremony in it’s entirety here with my speech beginning at approximately 26:45.

Senator Lisa Murkowski and I at In Memory Day

I was honored to be able to be a part of such an important day.

And last but certainly not least, the girl with 4 jobs, as of Monday, April 26th, will now have ONE.

You read it right. As of Monday, April 26th, I will be a full time employee of 1360 WCHL. A lot has happened in the last few months, and I’ve worked really, really, REALLY hard. Also, I’m really, really, REALLY burnt out. I sort of had a breaking point a couple weeks ago and realized I couldn’t keep working at the pace I’m currently working. No days off. 13, 14, sometimes 16 hour work days. No free time.

It seemed like so many things kept happening and finally I broke. It happens to everyone. Conveniently, at the time I figured out I couldn’t work this many jobs anymore, my part-time job at the radio station offered me a full-time position. Over the last four months at the station, I took the part-time position I was given, and treated it like a full-time position – giving it exactly what it deserves, going above and beyond my job description, and showing the station why I am an asset to the team. And finally, it paid off. And I couldn’t be more excited.

I will continue in my role as Sales and Marketing Coordinator, but I will also be expanding my role into commercial writing, editing, and production along with station promotions and initiatives. I’m taking the things I love to do, write, edit, create, and market, and I’m applying them to my job. I’m pumped.

Money is still tight, really tight, and I’ll have some serious budget re-working to do, but I’m excited to get somewhat of a life back and love going to work every day.

++++

I’ve learned a lot over the last few months and I know I have a lot more to learn. There’s some big stuff coming my way. I know it. I can feel it.

In the end, it’s all going to be okay.

I want to know, what have YOU learned so far this year?

Word.

ps: see? told you I couldn’t keep this ish short.

me (far right) with one of my English classes

Some of you know and some of you don’t know, that I was a high school English teacher for two years in Richmond, Virginia.

I didn’t go to college to be a teacher, it just sort of, well, happened. I stumbled upon it. (The explanation of how I really got the job is another story for another day).

Regardless, it was by far the most liberating, challenging, rewarding, fun, [insert other adjective here], experiences of my short life. Although I’m not teaching, nor am I living in Richmond anymore, the students that I taught for those two years had such a great impact on me – so much so that I still keep in contact with many of them.

When you spend as many hours a week with these students as I did, you learn so much about them and their lives. You learn who’s popular, what sports they like, favorite songs, boyfriend and girlfriend drama, who’s taking whom to prom, what their goals are, etc. For many of my students, in addition to being their teacher, I became a mentor and a sounding board.

There were countless students that I didn’t even have on my official roster that would come into my classroom on a daily basis and talk to me or just want to say hey.

Well, in the last month and a half, tragedy has struck the Hermitage HS community twice. Two students, both of whom made an impact on my life in addition to the lives of so many other students, passed away at two separate times. Knowing what death and loss feels like, I grieve along with the Hermitage community. Young lives gone too soon. To the friends and families of Jackson and Drew, know that I’m thinking about you. You will get through this.

In addition to teaching English, I was the photojournalism/yearbook teacher. At the end of the year last year, I wrote a “Farewell from the Adviser” note and published it in one of the back pages of the yearbook. I pulled my copy of 2009 Panthian out today, read it and I just cried. I needed that.

And so, I thought it would be fitting to share it with you, for no other reason than I felt it needed to be shared.

A FAREWELL FROM THE ADVISER… (Dated June 2009)

It’s hard to explain to someone on the outside, exactly what it is like to be a yearbook adviser. It’s hard enough explaining what it’s like to be a high school teacher, who looks like a high school student. My two years at Hermitage have been short, but I have learned more in the past 670+ days than I think I have in my entire 23 & 3/4 years of life. On the day of my interview for my job at Hermitage, Mrs. Saunders and Mrs. Montgomery said to me, “How would you feel about also becoming the yearbook adviser?” I had told them that I was on yearbook staff when I was younger and that I would definitely be interested in the position. Well, when I came into work on my first day, smack dab in the middle of my schedule I noticed that I had photojournalism 5th block. I was naive, idealistic, and frankly, had no idea what was in store for me.

Being yearbook adviser has easily been the most challenging thing I have ever experienced in my life. [Students: you have no idea how hard it is to create this thing you're looking at. Cherish it. Love it. Don't throw it away, please.] Hundreds of hours are spending designing pages, taking and choosing pictures, writing stories, editing captions, editing captions again, getting quotes, placing quotes, finalizing spreads, getting proofs, fixing the spreads again, and maybe having to fix the same spread a 7th time. The details involved in putting together a yearbook are innumerable. And that’s the easy part. There is also this “other” part of being a yearbook adviser that no one tells you about. The part where you have to train, motivate, educate, organize, and empower 24-30 TEENAGERS into making the actual thing. Nope, no one tells you about that.

Well, on a sunny day in September of 2007, I walked into photojournalism on the FIRST day of school, (also my first day teaching, ever) and I had no idea that already, every single kid in that room hated me. The yearbook had gone through a lot of turnover with advisers and I was predisposed to be Enemy #1. As I read my syllabus to the class, I could hear the grumbling and I could feel 25 sets of eyes rolling. As I continued to read, the class became more and more agitated and I had no idea why. Suddenly, two students walked out of the room. I looked up, and if looks could kill, I would have been about eight feet under by that point. I knew right away that what I was facing would be a challenge. I also knew that it couldn’t get worse… right? [BTW: of course they eventually grew to love me, or tolerate me. I'm not 100% sure which.]

I don’t want to ramble and rehash old details of yearbooks-past, but I do want to tell you what I’ve learned. I learned about people and how to cope with differing personalities. I learned how to take every moment in stride. I learned how to instill a sense of leadership in those who had no clue as to what being a leader meant. I learned how to take the bad and roll with the good. I learned how to accept me for ME. I’m young, I look young, and I love to laugh and make people laugh. I had accepted that and I wouldn’t want to be any other way. However, I also learned how to stand up when I know I’m right and accept it when I know I’m wrong.

To the faculty, staff, and administrators: thank you for supporting me. Thank you for letting me vent when I needed to vent. Thank you for making me laugh when I needed a laugh. Thank you for all the advice, mentoring, friendships, doughnuts, popcorn on Fridays, stepping, and lunches. You are all incredible educators and the students at Hermitage are blessed to have you in their lives.

To my students: thank you for teaching me. I hope that I have taught you a little something. Whether it’s what you should order from Chipotle [and that Chipotle is WAY better than Qdoba or Moe's], whether it’s how to navigate the subways of New York City, or how to “blend in” when creeping on people for a picture. In the end, it is my hope that I have taught you to never settle. Accept yourself for who you are and embrace every part of it. Don’t change for something else because you think you have to. All of you are incredible young adults: bright, funny, smart, and confident. Don’t ever forget that, because I will never forget you.

In the school of improv comedy [yes, I do comedy] we are taught the philosophy of “Yes, and…” – meaning to accept every offer by saying, “YES!” and then to build upon that offer with something new and wonderful. My time here at Hermitage has been one big moment of “Yes, and…,” and I will continue to “Yes, and…” every moment from here on out.

Go Panthers!

-Ms. Molly Buckley

Well, and that brings us to present day. Dear Hermitage, I miss you.

QUESTION: What event/job/experience in your life taught YOU the most?

Word.

Spring is finally here. I am in an awesome mood. I ran a total of 11.5 miles in the past 3 days. I had Chipotle for dinner. Hallelujah.

Meanwhile, Genevieve Wellington Mathers wasn’t feeling well today, so her “little sister” Leetha Wellington Mathers decided to take her place for an episode of Spam Story Hour.

I lurve comedy bits and I do what I want.

Werd.

I get a lot of really weird spam emails and spam comments. Some of them advertise the usual “enhancement” drugs, but others try to pretend like they are an actual piece of correspondence – yet, they fail to make any sense at all… or just sound ridiculous.

So, thus, SPAM STORY HOUR with Genevieve Wellington Mathers was born. Still some kinks to work out, but I enjoy my own comedy bits.

PS: Do you ever get those spam comments and/or emails that try to sound like actual comments or emails? Got any good ones? Send them to me! I’ll read them like a love letter for you.

Meanwhile, enjoy the first episode.

Word.

I know, I know. It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me. I’m sorry. I’ve missed you, too. As most of you know, I’ve been working a lot. But have no fear, I’m still here. (Oh, and I’m only working TWO jobs now!) But what many of you may NOT know, is that I am a proud staff member of the 2010 North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival (#NCCAF).

I was honored to perform at NCCAF (as a guest) last year in 2009. This year, I have the honor of performing again AND the privilege of serving on the volunteer staff. It’s been an amazing experience so far, and the festival hasn’t even started yet. I was charged with being the Sponsorship Coordinator. What does that mean? Well, basically, the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival (the largest comedy festival of its kind in the COUNTRY) takes A LOT of work to put on… and we can’t do it alone. So, I have been working with local media outlets, businesses, and individuals to coordinate sponsorships, coupons, and discounts for our over 500+ comedians that will be arriving throughout the ENTIRE month of February. This is one of those positions that is a lot harder than it sounds, especially when resources are tight… for everyone. It has definitely been a learning process, but I know that I’ve worked hard and represented the festival well.

What else am I excited about?

For those of you who aren’t familiar with NCCAF (formerly the Dirty South Improv Festival/DSIF) – this year is the 10th anniversary and it is bigger and better than ever. Executive Producer, Zach Ward has put more time, money, blood, sweat, and tears into this festival than you can imagine – all to make it what it is. A condensed timeline: (DSIF) Festival was started in 2001 showcasing ONLY improv comedy, went to TWO weeks in 2009 adding standup comedy, and in 2010 has added sketch comedy and film and video taking the festival to an entire month.

In addition to that, something that I had wanted to do for Zach and DSI for a long time also came to fruition this week. I spoke with both the Mayors of Carrboro and Chapel Hill and talked to them not only about how important the festival is for the arts culture in the community, but also the impact is has fiscally on local businesses. I wasn’t sure if they were going to be able to do anything, but I had high hopes. And then I got the good news. I take that back, AWESOME news. It’s OFFICIAL: both Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt of Chapel Hill and Mayor Mark Chilton of Carrboro have formally and officially proclaimed February 2010 DSI Comedy Arts Month in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. (And Mayor Mark Chilton will be at OPENING night this Thursday the 4th to read his proclamation before the start of the first show.)

Awesome.

Oh, and DSI won 2009 Small-Business of the Year last week. Pretty cool, huh?

We’re kind of a big deal.

Okay, okay. So why am I rambling and what is my point? My point is that this Thursday, February 4th marks the start of a HUGE month of comedy here in North Carolina.

Do you live in and around the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, and parts of Virginia area? Do you love comedy? Do you want to laugh… a lot?

Then you should come see shows.

Seriously.

Support you local, national, AND international comedy this month. Support your local comedy festival. Support #NCCAF.

Oh, and did I mention I’m performing? …Twice.

• Friday, February 5th, 7:30PM at the DSI Comedy Theater with DSI Witness News: (Facebook Event)
• Saturday, February 20th, 10:00PM at the ArtsCenter Mainstage with Made of BEES: (Facebook Event)

Want to know the rest of the schedule?

• Sketch Comedy – February 4-6
• Standup Comedy – February 11-14
• Improv Comedy – February 16-21
• Film/Video – February 25-27

I just want to reiterate how excited and how proud I am to be a part of such an amazing theater, company, and festival.

Questions? Let me know. Want to see a show but don’t know which one to come to? Let me know. Want to donate swag to performers in town? Let me know. Want to help out another way? Let me know.

I’ll make it happen for you.

Word.

If you know me at all, you know that I need a pair of these glasses. No questions asked. I want burrito vision. Thank you, Fashionably Geek (@NerdApproved) for introducing these to the world.

Need a gift idea for a burrito lover? Look no further.

Burrito. Glasses.

If you could create any “vision” of your own, what would YOU create?

Word.

There’s no secret about it. I love burritos. A lot. I would eat them every day if I could. But alas, I don’t. Thanks to @TedHobgood for passing along this amazing comic to me.

comic courtesy of buttersafe.

Word.

This is quite possibly THE most adorable thing, I have ever seen, in my entire life. Well, not my entire life, but it’s pretty adorable. Nope, not social media related. Nope, not comedy related. Just an adorable kitten. I had to share this with you.

Thanks, @woley for sharing with me. Enjoy.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Meow.

Some of you know that I write for a local news parody, Weekend Update style, show called DSI Witness News. In addition to writing for our own live shows at the DSI Comedy Theater, we write for a daily segment on a local station, WCHL 1360AM (every morning at 8:20AM and again at 5:55PM).

Well, some of you have probably seen these crazy Facebook phishing scams and viruses going around. “Test your IQ,” ‘I found pics of you,” and the newest, “Your friend’s booty looks GRRRREAT in the video.” Well, the booty virus hit local politicians and we were lucky enough to have THE Mayor of Carrboro himself, Mark Chilton, join us for a HILARIOUS episode on Tuesday.

(Click here if you can’t see the video. And click here if you want just the audio.)

Hilarious, right? Ahhh gotta love elected officials on Facebook. Thanks, Mayor Chilton for being awesome.

Question: Do YOU have a booty virus?

Word.