Nicaragua - Day 2

We woke up and took advantage of the hotel's free breakfast.  I was so excited for our trip that I barely slept (despite being up for nearly 24 hours) as my under-eye bags indicate.

At breakfast, we met a few fellow Americans who lived in Leon, and they gave us some great tips for how to get there as cheaply as possible.  We ended up taking a cab to the UCA bus station where we picked up a microbus to Leon (I believe we paid less than $2.00 per ticket). 

We arrived in Leon and took a cab to our hostel.  Our cab driver was quite the character.  He drove like a maniac and tore through the cobblestone streets like a bat out of hell.  He couldn't find our hostel, so he threw a coin at a man hanging out on a street corner (the said man then quickly pointed us in the right direction).  Thankfully, that's not how he handled our change when we paid him.

When we arrived at the Latina Hostal, we were greeted by Aleska, who worked the front desk.  She couldn't be sweeter and quickly showed us our room and gave us a tour.  We also had the pleasure of meeting Chela, the dog who lived at the hostel.  Our room wasn't fancy, but the bed was comfortable and the bathroom (which we had to ourselves) was close by.

The bathroom didn't have hot water, but since the weather was in the 90's everyday, the cold water was actually quite refreshing. 

Our first order of business was to check out the sites of Leon and hit up the city's vegetarian restaurant, Cocinarte.  So we walked around for several hours, worked up quite an appetite and then chowed down on some amazing vegan curry.

I was intrigued by the revolution monument (the one that features the red and black FSLN flag), and I look forward to learning more when we take our tour of the revolution museum. 

In the evening, we met Alejandro, who works maintenance at the hostel.  We ended up sitting in the courtyard chatting for hours in Spanish.  We missed a lot of what he said, but the fact that he could understand us when I spoke back made me feel quite pleased (and that my time pouring over my google translator was worth it).

A major portion of our conversation revolved around what happens when one consumes too much alcohol.  Perhaps this is why we understood each other.  After all, acting our vomiting is probably quite universal.

Nicaragua - Day 1

Right after my show in Michigan's upper peninsula, I rushed home (okay, fine, I went to the buffet to take advantage of the free food first) to make my flight to Managua, Nicaragua.

We got the tickets for free (praise be to the holiness that is a frequent flier mile) and enjoyed two fairly painless flights there (the first was from Detroit - Fort Lauderdale, and the second from Fort Lauderdale to Managua), thanks in part to having Bud Light on the plane.

Happy that we crammed all our stuff in carry-on luggage and didn't have to pay fees!

Once we arrived, we made it quickly through customs and headed to our hotel (which was conveniently located right across the street). 

Since it was 3 am by the time we arrived, I took advantage of what would be my last hot shower for the week (more on that later) and quickly crashed.  What a wild first night! 

I'm escaping this Michigan winter (at least for seven days anyway)!

Headed to Nicaragua for the week. Hasta luego.

America's Got Talent

A few days ago, my friend (and fellow comic) Keith Lenart, told me that America's Got Talent was holding a mass audition in Chicago.  Since it was on the way home from Decatur, I thought, "why the heck not at least stop by?"

So that is indeed what I did.

I picked up my number.

Filled out a bit of paperwork, and headed into the room filled with hundreds of other performers.

Once in there, I quickly realized the show should be renamed America's Got a Craptop of People Who Think They Can Sing.  I felt like I was at a giant Glee audition...that is, if everyone trying-out was a junior high school choir-reject. 

I did see some interesting performers though: a four-year-old break dancer (who was so cute that I actually contemplated kidnapped him), a giant cat puppet that coughed up a giant hairball, acrobats, a Michael Jackson impersonator (who kind of resembled an old, creepy child molester; perhaps he had similar feelings with regard to the break dancer) and a sword-juggler.

I waited for nearly five hours before I got my 90 seconds in front of the producer.  In that time, I ran into several comics I know (the always funny and super nice, Warren B. Hall, who you can see in the above picture, up-and-coming comic Nate Armbruster and as previously mentioned, Keith).  So while the wait was long, we definitely kept ourselves entertained (mostly by playing the game "which one of these 'talents' would you least want to be stuck in a room with?").

When I finally got my chance in front of the producer, I think it went well in that I had a good set and he laughed at my jokes.  But, who knows with these things?  I mentioned both an STD and crystal meth during my set, so I'm not sure that my act is exactly tv-friendly. 

Overall, it was a fun experience, and if I get a call-back, great. And if not, at least I can say I've seen a toddler who can do the worm. 

Performing at an airport for the first time

This weekend, in Decatur, Illinois, I performed at an airport for the first time. It was significantly better than playing at a Greyhound Bus Station because the Decatur crowd actually had teeth.  Okay, so I haven't really performed at a Greyhound Bus Station (not unless you count hiding from crazy people as performing), but I did take a three week bus trip this past fall, which you can read about here.

Hanging in the green room/boarding area.  To pass time before the show, I didn't know whether to go over my notes or go through the body scanner. 

I ended up having such a great time at the show!  Working with Floyd and Brian is always fun, and Chris and the rest of the staff at the Main Hangar couldn't have been nicer!  They even hooked me up with this to-die-for vegan pizza (P.S. If you're ever in Decatur, go see the folks at the Main Hangar!  The food is amazing!  Tell 'em Kate Brindle sent you.  That probably won't get you anything, except a quizzical look and a "Kate who?," but tell 'em anyway). 

It was definitely cold there.  This was the Main Hangar's front door (note to self: secure bookings in Florida immediately):

But, I managed to warm myself up by running at 121 Fitness.

A liquor store next to the gym? Illinois makes it so easy to "rehydrate" after a workout. Tequila = the new Gatorade.

Not only was the food great, but the Main Hangar had sold out shows both nights!  And to make things even better, Bud Light sponsored the show!  If there's one thing about Kate Brindle, it's that she loves Bud Light.  So it was quite nice to always have a bottle in at least one of my hands. 

My year has been made!

Imagine my delight, when I saw this:

For those of you who don't know, I am an NKOTB fanatic!  I've loved these guys for 24 years, and I don't see myself stopping any time soon.  Evidence of my obsession:

-I've driven over 12 hours to attend a concert.
-I've worked my magic (ahem: begged, pleaded and internet-stalked) to meet my favorite kid, Joey McIntyre, five times.
-I've dropped money to go on their cruise.
-I have framed pictures of them in my living room (and bedroom).
-I may or may not have made everyone I've dated learn their dance moves.

Last night, I even had a dream about them after I heard about the View announcement.  But, given my luck, it wasn't a dream where I got to do something cool, like, oh, I don't know, hang out with them.  Nope, I was a video editor who had the task of telling the director that I found their video concept strange.

Fingers crossed that in my next one, we're actually in the same room together.

So in honor of their announcement, here are some pictures of my obsession throughout the years:

A red-haired me after I internet-stalked my way into meeting Joey McIntyre for the first time. New York City, 1998.

When we met again in 2007.

Before a concert in Missouri in 2008.

 Showing off my NKOTB buttons and shirt after a 2009 concert in Richmond, Virginia.

2009 concert in Richmond, Virginia.

At the 2009 Virginia Beach meet and greet (I'm in the back, by the "C" in service).

 

Wet from the rain, but still super pumped to be in the FRONT ROW!

NKOTB cruise 2010.

Petting them on the 2010 NKOTB cruise. I desperately need one of those cardboard cut-outs for my house.

More cruise.

Meeting yet again (this time with my mom) on the cruise.

Stopping at the gas station before heading to a 2011 Detroit concert.

Yes, I wear my NKOTB shirt in public (quite frequently, actually). For you foodies out there, that's vegan mac and "cheese" with broccoli.