My Big Fat Trip Out West

In April, I performed in Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Nevada for the first time. My friend, Steve Sabo, and I took my trusty Honda Civic all the way to the Pacific Coast to bring the haha to the masses (and by masses, I mean seventy-four people per show).

The drives were fairly brutal (being a Midwesterner, I forgot that even though states border each other, towns within them can still be at least ten hours away from each other), but the shows were a lot of fun, and I got the chance to see a lot of famous sites that were on my bucket list.

We started with a gig in Janesville, Wisconsin, and then we had a few days to make our way to Montana. So we decided to take our time and do some touristy things.

First up: the world's only corn palace. That's right - screw the Galápagos Islands or Egypt, my dream in life is to visit a building made entirely out of corn! Okay, so that's not actually true, but when Steve and I saw that the corn palace was on our way, we figured stopping there was a must.






Look at the excitement on his face!



A view from the inside:


Aw, Steve gave birth to a corn baby.


Of course, we couldn't help ourselves, and we insisted on making way too many corny puns during the entire time we were there (for example, apologizing to the tour guide for following her too closely and "stalking" her).

After leaving the corn palace (AKA the world's largest bird feeder), we headed to Wall Drug. For years, I had seen Wall Drug bumper stickers, and I had no idea what or where it was. Well, I soon found out.

It's definitely a cheesy tourist trap, but I was most impressed that they served veggie burgers and sold JASON personal care products (a great vegan brand). Not that many stores carry JASON, and I was lucky enough to score a bottle of body wash for $2.00.



Steve and I also scored rides on a variety of inanimate objects including a barrel and a jackalope (For the record, jackalopes are not real, despite several employees trying to convince me otherwise).




After Wall Drug, we headed to Mount Rushmore. It was so foggy on the day we went! When we first arrived in the park, we saw this:


I then stopped by the bathroom, and by the time I exited, this is what we saw:


Luckily, the weather cleared up again.



I'm not super keen on celebrating men who advocated for slave-ownership, but I will say that the craftsmanship of the site is quite incredible, and I definitely recommend stopping by if you're in South Dakota.

Our first gig after leaving the Midwest was in Lewiston, Idaho at the Red Lion Hotel. I didn't take any pictures from the show, but I did get some proof that I was actually in Idaho.



Oh, and I got this picture from a bathroom right near the state border. What a classy place! Welcome to Idaho!


After Lewiston, we performed in Butte, Montana at the Mine Shaft Lounge.


And then we made our way to Billings. I must say, Montana is quite beautiful, and the shows were a blast! At the Billings show, we ended up heading to the bar with the MC, Lukas Seely, and some other local comics and audience members.

They're into big beer in Montana, which makes it my favorite state of the trip!

After our shows in Lewiston, Butte and Billings, we had the weekend off, which we decided to spend in Missoula. I had heard great things about Missoula, and I was not disappointed. It reminded me a lot of Ann Arbor in that most of the people look like they're prepared to simultaneously research their dissertation and go on a five-mile kayak ride.

We walked around downtown a bit, and decided to eat at the Old Post, which was fantastic. I was very impressed by how vegan-friendly it was, and I had a yummy hummus wrap for dinner.


The following day, Steve and I actually went hiking. And it was his idea. Can you believe it?

A view from the hike.

You can definitely tell why Montana is known as 'Big Sky Country.'

Me on our hike.


During our hike, it quickly became apparent how out of shape we are. This became glaringly obvious when we were passed on the trail by a four-year-old wearing pajamas.

After spending the weekend in Montana, we headed to Portland, Oregon, where I went to the vegan strip mall (as soon as I exited the car, I swear I could hear angels singing) and the vegan strip club (yep, there is such a thing). If you haven't been, I recommend trying both. And if you can't make it to Portland, some of the stores, like Herbivore and Food Fight, have websites. It truly is like a little slice of paradise out there.

Our drive to the Oregon coast was absolutely beautiful! Plus, the vegan rice crispy treat I purchased at Food Fight and noshed on during the drive was most delicious!





Once we got to the coast, we performed at the Mill Casino. I was surprised as we did two shows on a Wednesday (which is quite rare), but both shows were fairly full, and the audience members were great laughers! Plus, the best part was, I got a $100 tip after the first show!


After Oregon, we piled back into the car and headed for our next gig (located at Winners Casino in Winnemucca, Nevada).





Unfortunately, Winners did not live up to its name as I didn't win a cent. But, the show was fun, and we got to meet audience members with t-shirts like this:

In case you're completely dense like I was, that's red neck, white trash, blue collar. It took me a minute to fully grasp his shirt, and during the show, I just kept asking him why he was wearing a t-shirt that said "neck trash."

The drive back to the good ol' Midwest was a long one indeed. We made a brief stop in Utah to watch the UFC fights (where, sadly, my favorite vegetarian fighter, Jake Shields, lost to Georges St-Pierre) and make fun of all the Affliction-clad dudes at the bar. Steve was a total trooper and drove the entire way home, which is not easy when you're going through terrain like this:


Once we made it back to Toledo (where Steve lives), my brakes were pretty much shot, so I had to get a $400.00 brake job. The good news is, it was originally going to be around $500.00, but I sweet talked my way into a deal.

I'm so glad I had the chance to go out west, but I definitely needed, like, fifty-three naps when I returned home.

Animal Liberation Project and Food Adventures in Milwaukee

Before I worked full-time as a stand-up comic, I used to be employed in the Campaigns department of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). I used to travel extensively with PETA, and I've often missed my time with them. So I was delighted when I got the opportunity to volunteer with their Animal Liberation Project at the University of Milwaukee Wisconsin. I was excited about sharing information about animal rights with the students there, and I was also quite psyched to eat at the veg-friendly restaurants in Milwaukee.

If you're unfamiliar with the Animal Liberation Project, you can check it out here. In short, it's an exhibit that looks back at history to show how we justified the abuse of humans in the past and continue to justify cruelty to animals today.

Drew (who used to work at PETA as well) and I made the six-hour trek to Milwaukee, where we were greeted by the co-president of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee animal rights/vegan student group, Amy. She couldn't have been sweeter and gave us both gifts and hugs upon meeting us.







For the following three days, we then staffed the display (pictured above) and talked to campus community members about the connections between human and animal oppression and suffering. We met a lot of receptive folks, and I even ran into a former PETA intern (Arizona) who I went on the road with two years ago. As I was handing out leaflets, I heard someone shouting my last name really loudly. I looked up, and it was Arizona! I was shocked seeing as she didn't go to UWM when I knew her. But, she explained that she had recently transferred there. It was a pleasant surprise to see her, and it was great to catch up!


Our uniform all week.

After a busy first day in which we acquired sunburns, Drew and I headed to Beans and Barley where we had the most delicious sweet potato/black bean burritos and some locally brewed beer.


That's Drew posing with said beer and sunburn.

The following day, the Wisconsin weather dropped at least thirty degrees and decided to start raining (grr!). Only in the Midwest can one get a sunburn one day and frostbite the next. We braved the cold and handed out leaflets as we attempted to stay warm in the frigid air. In the morning, Amy showed up with not only warm tea for us, but also vegan candy bars, scarves and hats. Could she be more awesome? I think not.

This day also marked my favorite person-on-the-street story. When you're leafleting, you never know who you're going to speak with. A lot of times people are very supportive. Sometimes they just want to take your information and not be spoken to. And other times, they want to tell you their life stories (complete with multiple quirky facts about themselves).

I certainly experienced all three during my time with the ALP. But, the story that made me crack up the most is as follows:

The ALP features pictures of humans and cows being branded to show the inherent cruelty in burning another being's skin simply to show ownership over her/him. Well, out of the blue, this woman walked up to me and flatly stated, "I was branded on my forehead. And I have a third nipple."

Uh, okay.

She then paused.

So I paused, thinking she was going to crack a smile or indicate that she was making some sort of joke.

Nope. She just stared at me until I said something. It was like we were at a stalemate, both waiting for the other to speak.

Frankly, I have no idea how to respond to someone disclosing that they not only have a branding, but a third nipple. So I simply said, "that's nice. Um, all of the literature on the table is free, so please take some if you'd like. And if you have any questions, just let me know."

She paused again, and then actually took a pamphlet.

In the evening, we warmed our bodies (and souls) by getting a fix of vegan junk food at Comet Cafe.


My yumlicious vegan meatloaf from Comet.


Arizona and Drew displaying the awesome food there.


Amy and me with more awesomeness.


And even more awesomeness.

Want even more food porn? Well, here you go.


On Friday, we said goodbye to the cold weather and moved the display inside. I think we reached even more people as folks didn't have to risk catching a cold in order to engage in conversations with us.



I left Milwaukee feeling really hopeful and inspired. The work the UWM student group does is incredible, and we talked to so many supportive people and folks who want to make changes in their lives to help animals. Plus, Amy (who plans to open a vegan bakery after graduation) filled Drew and me up with the most delightful vegan baked goods for the road. So my heart and belly definitely felt full!

God Hates Truck Stops

I just got back from a quick trip to Nebraska and Kansas. Despite having been there a few times before, I had never performed comedy there.

Keith Lenart (who headlined) and I drove together, and stopped at the world's largest truck stop.

Try not to be jealous!

We also were quite shocked to find that there's actually a trucker museum. Of course, we had to go in. After a quick walk around the antique truck exhibits, I had my fill. I did get a picture of the outdoor sign though.




Our first gig was in Norfolk, Nebraska at a place called TJ's Bar and Grille. I couldn't believe how nice the crowd was. Not only did they not heckle, but they also let me play with them and try new material quite a bit. They also put up with my smack-talking about being able to kick the arcade punching machine. And they were quite cool when they realized I could back up none of said smack-talking.

After much persuading and promises of free beer, I did end up kicking it.

Look at the determination on my face! Kate Brindle don't mess around, yo!

I got a whopping score of 330 (which equals roughly half the score an average toddler gets upon kicking the machine).


The next morning we headed to Kansas, and we made a brief stop in Lawrence.

Have I mentioned how much I absolutely LOVE Lawrence? Like, seriously, I would marry it and bear its children, that's how much I dig the place. There's something about college towns that just makes me happy.

This trip to Lawrence was significantly better than my last time there, when I crashed a wedding in order to avoid a tornado. Luckily, the sun was shining during this go-round, so I didn't have to interrupt any bridal parties in order to take shelter in the basement.

We performed for the weekend at Jeremiah Bullfrog's in Topeka. It's a great little venue that looks like a theatre (complete with stage curtains). I didn't get any shots of the inside, but I did take some of us outside (and with the official frog mascot).




That's Keith and me with DJ Biz, who runs the shows.


During the day on Saturday, we enjoyed the summer-esque heat and dodged screaming children at the hotel's pool.


We also went to see one of Topeka's finest tourist attractions: the Westboro Baptist Church. If you're not familiar with them, their leader, Fred Phelps, could be the mayor of Crazy Town. He's the one who runs the website, http://www.godhatesfags.com, and goes around protesting various events that he feels support "the homosexual agenda."

I was surprised to learn that his "church" is really just his house (complete with tons of security cameras, and a giant banner), which is smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

I'm sure his neighbors must absolutely love him.

Keith expressing our feelings about Fred Phelps.


If you'd like more information about Phelps (and you need some laughs), check out my friend, Brent Sullivan's, one-person show (located here) about him.

Nothing terribly exciting happened on the way home, other than us discovering an amazing iPhone app called Gas Buddy, which finds you the cheapest gas in the area. Mr. Buddy worked his magic, and we were able to score it for $3.49 a gallon.

Laughs and Hummus

What a full week I had! I wish I could say I'm currently catching up on sleep, but, alas, I am not. After all, I have important things like doing laundry and downloading the new NKOTB song (and dancing to it) to busy myself with.

On Saturday, my friend (and fellow comic), Mike Evitts, asked me to attend a rally to support funding for Planned Parenthood. The turn-out was quite nice, and I loaded up on feminist t-shirts, stickers and buttons. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many men there. After all, Planned Parenthood offers free and low-cost services for men as well as women. Moreover, if we're going to dismantle patriarchy and strike down laws that seek to control women's bodies and their access to healthcare, we're going to need people of all genders to do it.


After the rally, I headed over to South Haven, Michigan for a gig at the Old Harbor Inn. If you haven't been there before (I hadn't), I recommend taking a trip! It's right on Lake Michigan, and it's quite gorgeous.





This is a view from my hotel room:

This picture doesn't quite do it justice, but I was right on the water. And want to know the best part? My room was literally steps away from the performance venue. When the club owners and bartenders feed you free Long Island iced teas throughout the evening, that's a HUGE bonus.

The show was a lot of fun, and the venue was packed! I worked with Steve Bills, who I always enjoy. Not only do I appreciate his material, but his crowd work never ceases to inspire me. Plus, one of my parents' friends from college stopped by the show, and brought their old college yearbook with him. I was amazed by how much my dad looked like my brother. I can only imagine what's going to happen when my future children get their hands on my yearbook and see what a nerd-alert I was (that's right, I was on the debate team and in the science club, yo!).

On Sunday morning, I headed to the Laugh Detroit Comedy Festival. My good friend, Dave Moroz, puts the festival together, and he asked me if I would volunteer for the week. I jumped at the chance! Not only did I get to meet awesome comics from around the country (and Canada, too), but I also got my own studio hotel suite for the week (note - this beats the crap out of staying in my parents' basement).

I left the festival being exhausted, but completely inspired. It was so wonderful to meet so many new comics, and to also see all of their acts. I also took the Step Up Your Stand-Up workshop with Jeff Singer, and it was definitely the kick in the butt I needed to write more material. It's not that I dislike my material now, but I want to get more personal. More real.

I also ate more hummus than can possibly be good for one human being. You see, Garden Fresh sponsored the festival. So every night, after the shows, we would sit around, drink beer and stuff our faces with Garden Fresh hummus, guacamole and salsa. This, of course, translates to, every morning, I woke up with a tummy ache. But, oh my goodness, it was delicious! I think I need Garden Fresh to sponsor my life.

I didn't take many pictures during the festival as I was so busy. But, Kimberly, the official festival photographer, captured this one of Dave and me (sporting our supa-fly VIP passes):