Firefighter's Road Trip
I have been on a journey around the country having fun and visiting Fire Houses. I try to send a daily blog to some of my friends. Here is day 55 of my trip. I shall return soon to the regular format for Fire Talk entrees.
Day Fifty-five
I exercised, showered, and hustled over to the Venetian Hotel/Casino. Sharon, my daughter, was going home and I promised to drive her to the airport. I left my car in the self parking area and plunged into a crowded labyrinth of corridors, shopping areas, and restaurants. I was lost immediately. When I asked directions I found the people I talked to were also lost. I asked an attractive young lady how to get to the hotel lobby. “Before I tell you, I want you to look at this dress,” she replied. Her name was Moona. She had a small stand and was selling a new type dress. She demonstrated how the dress could be changed from casual to evening wear by rewrapping it on your body. I told her she was too late to sell me a dress. I needed one when I was passing through New Orleans during Mardi Gras. I eventually found my daughter and delivered her to the airport. I am going to miss her I had fun with Sharon and Brian over the weekend.
I spent the rest of the day at the poker table. One of the players was an engineer working on the F-35, which is America’s latest jet fighter. He was an interesting man. He described the amazing things our new plane could do. He was also a good poker player. I won $300. I am glad I quit playing tournaments. The pay offs are bigger but the odds of winning are slimmer.
Around 7PM I walked into the Comedy Club to watch the Coasters rehearse for their gig next week. I met Mary Wilson of the Supremes. Mary let me take a picture of her. She is a gracious beautiful person. I enjoyed listening to The Coasters do their rendition of Yakity Yak and Charlie Brown. I knew several street people in the 7th Battalion who I am sure those songs were written for.
The real excitement came after the super stars left. It was open mike night at the Bonker’s Comedy Club. Anyone with a two minute act could get on stage and do their stuff. On this road trip I have done Karaoke and Rap music. I figured what the hell I might as well try comedy. My Firefighter friends are always sending me Firefighter jokes, so I put together a short act. I am glad I made it short. I followed a very funny black comedian. I had stage fright and I found the material my buddies sent me couldn’t make a hyena laugh. I found I was better at rap than stand-up comedy. I think one of the jokes Pearn sent me caused the crowd to murmur once. It wasn’t a laugh, it was more like a growl. It was all in good fun. I guess I blew my chance to be a headliner in Vegas but I had my shot.
The performers were a mix of young and old. Some were good and some fit into my category. There were several people from Canada including an elderly woman. She was hilarious. If you remember me telling you about always finding a Firefighter connection with the people I meet, you will not be surprised when I tell you one of the comedians was a Firefighter from Thunder Bay Canada. He was good but not as good as my friend Dick Hoffman. Dick could have made a living with his material. Once on a trip to Las Vegas, Dick met Buddy Hackett. Buddy told him he was better than ninety percent of the comedians working at that time.
The Firefighter from Thunder Bay was Kevin Kennedy. His stage name is Doctor Funny Bone. He was there with a fellow comedian named Richard Kiss. Richard owns Thincat Productions and also does stand-up comedy. I think I am starting to network with show biz folks. I have included pictures with this blog. Dr. Funny Bone has the handle bar mustache and is sitting Richard Kiss. Richard said his name always caused him trouble when people used the more informal version of Dick Kiss. It was kind of like being a boy named Sue only worse.
I had fun last night. Day 55 will be hard to top.
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry