Monthly Motivational Quote:
“Inhale Life, Exhale Pain”
– By Spencer Patterson
Hi Guys,
Feels like it’s been ages since I’ve written to you, and as usually, tons have happened.
Hope you all are enjoying your summer so far.
Okay, so last I left you….I had just spent a night in a haunted castle and was traveling around the country doing spokesperson work for Auntie Annes Pretzels.
Now here’s my new format:
Bullet Points of Update
Some people have said they would like me to put a quick summary on top of the update before the details…so here goes:
QUICK SUMMARY OF UPDATE:
1) Did 17 television shows for Auntie Anne’s tongue twister contest in the month of July – combination Morning News Shows, Talk Shows and Evening News shows. Comic comes by and insults pretzels.
2) CBS Morning Show asks me to come on and insult people.
3) Online article chronicles my latest adventure.
4) Working on a new world record…more on that in another update.
5) Moving as of August 19th – will send out new address in separate email.
Cell phone number and 718-738-5390 number remain the same
6) Am breaking up with my fiancee after 6 years – trial year is over.
(blog on that at http://www.beloblog.com/mysweetconnection/)
7) Still looking to sublet my Howard Beach Apartment…so if you know anyone.
8) Will be Judge of fast talking contest for Chock Full of Nuts Coffee on August 23rd.
9) My son graduated high school, got a business scholarship to Iona and started own webdesign company.
10) Did my latest Adventure in Georgia…spent a night in a tree.
11) Am selling greeting cards of Kilimanjaro and my book signing with company Kiwi Publishing to raise money for African Village.
12) Still doing weekly blog for WB called Fran’s World at http://www.beloblog.com/mysweetconnection/
Pictures are on the blog.
1) Did 17 television shows for Auntie Anne’s tongue twister contest
As you know I was flown around the country doing tv shows talking about my fast talking and the contest, eating tons of pretzels, and signing autographs for kids. The big winner of the contest will be announced on tv the week of August 18th.
One funny interesting incident occured… I was in a mall in Atlanta, Georgia signing autographs. I had my son, Spencer with me because after this event we were heading off to do an adventure in Georgia.
Just as the mall event is winding down I hear a deep male voice, “So can I get a free pretzel?”
I look up and it’s none other than Richie Vos (one of the comics that was on the first episode of Last Comic Standing). Richie and I have known each other for over 15 years.
He’s known to be very insulting on and off stage. So after we greet he says…”So what are you doing here?
“I’m the spokesperson for Auntie Anne’s Pretzels?” I say.
“They any good?”
“Yeah, they’re delicious.”
“Ah, you’re brainwashed.”
“No, actually they are really good.”
Meanwhile the store owner, Marcy is sitting next to me in the autograph both.
I introduce her to Richie. She says…”I saw you on tv”.
Richie smiles…”I was only kidding about the pretzels I know they’re good.”
Marcy then goes on…”Yes, we have all kinds of pretzels, we serve them hot, and the thing is…”
Richie cuts her off…”Okay lady, calm down you’re not curing cancer or anything.”
The poor lady didn’t know what to say.
I chime in…”You gotta understand Richie, as long as there are any lights on in a place he thinks he’s onstage.”
Richie smiles…”So where are they putting you up?”
“At the W hotel.”
“Man, I was put up at the W hotel when I was on last comic standing, now I’m back doing comedy and I’m at the Holiday Inn Express.”
We talk some more…and then Richie says…”So why don’t you come to my show tonight.”
“I can’t…I’m sleeping in a tree tonight with my son.”
“I thought they were putting you up at the W.”
“They are….but I’m sleeping in a tree instead.”
“You’re nuts, I think you ate too many pretzels”
We all laugh. Marcy hands RIchie a card for a free pretzel and before he even says goodbye he runs over to the store like a kid and gets one. He waves over his shoulder with his mouth full….”Thanks Fran…glad I saw ya…enjoy your tree.”
2) CBS Morning Show asks me to come on and insult people.
So I get a call on a Thursday evening asking me if I would go on CBS morning show and insult the anchors. The premise of the show was…”How do you insult someone, and what do you say or do if they insult you.”
So now I’m on the phone telling the woman everyone I ever insulted in my life.
I generally only do things are stage when people are annoying but of course…there are times I’ve thrown a few good barbs at my boyfriend…like the time we had the choice of using our mileage to either upgrade to first class or get two free coach seats. I told him it was more logical to get the two free seats. On the plane ride he kept complaining…
You see if you would have listened to me we would have had much bigger seats.”
I said, “Yeah, well if you lose some weight the seats would seem a lot bigger too.
“Nasty!” he said. We both laughed.
I didn’t mean it to come out…but it just did. To this day he never lets me forget it.
Anyway, bottom line, they decided to go with a psycologist instead of a comic instead. I had suggested Lisa Lampernelli and Richie Vos anyway…just in case.
3) Online article chronicles my latest adventure.
One cool inteview was done on me on line at a site called, BellaONLINE, talking about all my latest stuff undertakings:
Here’s the link:
(http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art44092.asp)
4) Working on a new world record…more on that in another update.
The only hint I will give you here is it is LITERALLY a BIG one…waiting for approval to see if we are going to do it.
5) Moving as of August 19th – will send out new address in separate email.
Cell phone number and 718-738-5390 number remain the same and I can always be reached by this email.
Yeah, well this ties into number 6. I will be moving out of my place with my fiancee in Westchester to a house on the lake in Putnum Valley. It will be a big change for me….its really the country there. The other day I saw a fawn and a rabbit on the lawn. Hello Green Acres. I did hear though that Judge Judy, Dr. Ruth and Roy Schneider(of Jaws fame) live there also, and the Sopranos filmed an episode there last week…so it should be interesting…I can get sex advice, hire a hit man, throw him to the sharks and then get arrested all in one breath.
6) Am breaking up with my fiancee after 6 years – trial year is over.
(Complete blog on that at www.mysweetconnection.com)
Fran’s World
Blog #14
The Decision
When I wrote the first blog I mentioned that I had a one year “trial” living arrangement with my fiancee. We have been together six years, engaged for three (remember the Harley was my engagement gift.) Anyway, after a short break up, we decided we really loved each other and needed to make some changes. So my son and I, moved into Steve’s condo in Ossining, New York. Steve and I figured we do this to either move ahead and get married or break up. I sublet my Howard Beach apartment as my escape route just in case things didn’t work out. Hey, a girl has got to plan…..
(Continued on blog site)
7) Still looking to sublet my Howard Beach Apartment…so if you know anyone.
Howard Beach, Queens – 35 minutes from midtown NYC by train
2 Family house – Upstairs apartment
3 Bedroom, New Kitchen, Dining Room, Living Room 2 bathrooms, balcony, AC
$1500 to rent entire apartment (Plus utitlities)
$1200 to rent everything except master bedroom & 1/2 bath. (plus utilities)
Furniture stays or goes optional
Cats okay…
call 917 975-2149 or email FranCNY@aol.com
8) Will be Judge of fast talking contest for Chock Full of Nuts Coffee on August 23rd.
I’ve been asked by Chock Full of Nuts to Judge a fast talking contest in NYC on August 23rd. They may be even naming a coffee after me as well…one that peps you up in the morning. I will be appearing on Scott and Todd morning radio show that week as well to announce the contest.
9) My son graduated high school, got a business scholarship to Iona and started own webdesign company.
Well time sure goes fast. Can’t believe my son just graduated from high school. I cried as he walked in his cap and gown…where does the time go?
I was very proud of him. He got offered two scholarships.
An acting scholarship to Manhattanville college and a
Business scholarship to Iona college. Since he still does acting on the side, he chose business. I’ve very proud of him. He also started his own web design company..www.prowebchoice.com….his prices are affordable…so if anyone is interested…let him know.
10) Did my latest Adventure in Georgia…spent a night in a tree.
Blog #15
Fran’s World and Welcome to it….
A Night Up a Tree
When you run around like crazy sometimes even though your mind is willing, your body just says STOP. So, in between my trips to Columbus, Ohio and Dallas I caught a nasty virus. I rushed over to Dr. Forim, my family doctor, to get a quick fix so I could hop on a plane and continue my spokesperson work. As always, his wife Miriam, who also doubles as his secretary, saved some back copies of National Geographic’s Adventure Magazine for me. I flipped through the pages feeling too congested to get enthused about anything…that was until I spotted the words…Adventure in Georgia – Swing from the Treetops. I perked up. I was heading to Georgia the next week! This would be perfect. “Hey, Dr. Forim, the medicine you are going to give me, will it make me better by next week?” He just looked at me. I smiled.
“Look, it says right here in the magazine you gave me, ‘Spend a night in a white oak tree, Genevieve Summers, owner of Dancing with Trees, coaches her clients on the basics of roped tree climbing then guides them upward into the leafy reaches of a tree called Tonya…for the next 18 hours they’ll remain aloft, yielding plenty of time to star gaze.’ “
The print was accompanied by a photo of the sleeping arrangements, a four cornered canvas hammock way up in the treetops.
Dr. Forim laughed. I laughed back, “I’m serious doc!”
He said, “That’s the problem. I know you are. Just try and get some rest.”
“Come on…What’s more restful than a hammock?” He gave me my prescription and I was on my way. I could swear as I left I heard him singing….”When the bough breaks the cradle will fall and down will come Fran….”
That night I looked at the www.dancingwithtrees.com website. I saw that Genevieve had been in business since 1991 and that she not only got people ages 5 to 81 up in trees, but also those with special needs (blind, deaf and paraplegic). This was one lady I wanted to meet.
Genevieve had been featured in Disney Adventure Magazine, NBC Today, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian Magazine and even in a documentary movie called “Tickle the Sky”. Her love is twofold, a deep respect for the trees and to offer people an experience that encompasses nature and fun. The experiences range from a half-day to overnight adventure. Of course I was shooting for the full adventure. I guess my body wasn’t yelling “stop” loud enough.
I told my son, Spencer about it, got him excited to go, then called the number 706-778-8847. I set up a date with Genevieve for Spencer and I to do the climb after my last gig in Georgia.
We talked for a while, she asked if I had any disabilities she should know about. I mentioned my left shoulder hurt, but didn’t mention that it was actually torn from falling down the stairs five months prior. Why? Because as most women, we think we are superwoman and can handle it and I didn’t want her to tell me I couldn’t come. Satisfied with what I told her, she emailed me some release forms, medical forms, directions, list of local hotels, photo waiver and of course a supply list of what to bring which included a sleeping bag, loose pants, cameras, journals, hair bow for long hair and a spirit of adventure!
I had one final question for her, where exactly do we go to the bathroom when we are up in the tree? Spencer figured over the side, but of course for girls that is not an option. She informed us that both men and women get a pee jar. A Gatorade jar for the men and a wide mouth jar for the women. I debated about purchasing a Depends but she reassured me not to worry, that it always worked out.
(Rest of story at http://www.beloblog.com/mysweetconnection/ under blogs)
11) Am selling greeting cards of Kilimanjaro and my book signing with company Kiwi Publishing to raise money for African Village.
The owner of Kiwi Publishing saw me at a speaking engagement. I was doing my “Creativity in Marketing” lecture and talked about Kilimanjaro and the Titanic.
Turns out he climbed kilimanjaro too. One thing led to another and he asked me if I would be interested in putting my pictures of my booksigning on the cards and selling them at my lecture to help raise money for this small African school in the village of Tella. Turns out that he so far sold $1400 worth of cards. With that money the school was able to send 100 kids there for a year, buy blackboards, put running water in and electricity.
He is hoping to raise more money so they kids can get pencils, books, and maybe even a computer, etc.
I thought it was wonderful because you get to see the results of where your money goes. So the cards will be out in about a week.
12) Still doing weekly blog for WB called Fran’s World at http://www.beloblog.com/mysweetconnection/
As if you couldn’t tell – do you think I’m trying to get you to go there…Nah, not me!
Anyway, Blog number #16 just went up on my weekly blog about “What NOT to do in 100 degree weather.” A story of Murphy’s law in fixing up my new place, from working with an power shortage to screwing in a shade by the light of a keychain flashlight.
Please remember, if you like what you read, put a comment on the blog site…you know…they like to know you not only visited you were truly touched by the blog.
Well that’s it for now…next I write you I will be in my new place, my kid will be off to college and I will be single again….lots of life changes…but got to roll with the punches.
Till then
Create a great day
Fran:)