Tuesday, March 23, 2004
7:41 PM
This will be the John and Erin entry. John is a friend I met while at Joliet Junior College back in '93. We both studied journalism and wrote for the student newspaper, The Blazer. Shortly after graduating, John and his parents moved to Arizona and set up shop just outside Phoenix. He enrolled at ASU and the next summer I came out to visit, loved the area and moved to Phoenix in January of '97. While I was there, I crashed on John's futon for 8 months and eventually got my own room in the same apartment. I also landed John a job waiting tables at Lonestar Steakhouse & Saloon where he met his wife, Erin. They married April 15, 2000 and now live in Phoenix - after brief stints in Los Angeles, Chicago and Las Vegas - again. Although we had some rough times as friends some years back, we've moved on and have all become great friends, even though John's a loyal White Sox fan. They've opened their home to me many times, taught me a great card game, supported many comedy shows, have great cookouts and most of all, they have the coolest cat of all time, the Himalayan honey, Bailey.

In San Diego at Dick's Last Resort.... At Phoenix Municipal Stadium, saw the A's beat the Padres 16-10.

Look how cute Bailey is, almost as cute as Erin's wig. ... Erin dons a white boa while I wear the Marvin the Martian foam helmet.

John and I enjoy cigars on Coronado Island. ... Erin and John watch on as I jump in their freezing cold pool.

I'm not really sure what Erin's doing here, which can be expected when drinking all night. ... John tries to flex in the Phoenix shadows.

Yet another shirtless shot of us, this time after hiking Squaw Peak Mountain. ... With John and Mark, a very funny guy who I briefly lived with in Arizona. They came to see a show in Tucson.

5:30 PM
At times I think life sucks, comedy stinks, money's no where to be found, family's rotten and more. Just then I spend some time with great friends who shine bright light on an otherwise overcast outlook. Two such friends are Tony and Angelica, who now reside in Phoenix and let me stay with them during my most recent trip. I first met Tony when I lived out in Phoenix back in '97. Then, he was a waiter and an ASU student and I was also a waiter and a very new standup comedian. Tony then moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee where he became a consultant for his mom's home-based computer consulting business. Once I learned of his computer knowledge, Tony offered to help me out with this Web site. It was on many of comedy tours down south that I stayed with Tony and Gellie. We often times had great dinners at Tony's mom's as well as those made at home by Gellie. Life can be quite lonely on the road, but friends like Tony and Gellie along with his mom, Pat, and step-dad, Don, make the time very enjoyable. I can't thank them enough for all their support and generosity in offering me a place to stay as well as their genuine friendship.

They take a close-up shot outside their Phoenix apartment. ... An interesting look in between playing cards on St. Patty's Day.

At the Bamboo Club in Tempe after a great dinner on Tony. Thanks! ... Their cats, Domino on the left and Mia on the right - sisters from the same litter and my purrfect friends when I visit.