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By Popular Request: I’d Rather Have a Root Canal

I have given up all hope of convincing people I really am sane.

I have two stories that are requested the most, Fisher’s Of Men, and this one. I pulled this one because I was afraid it was too far over the top and to be honest, I’m not happy with it yet. To me, it is still just in the premise stages.

There is also the possibility, now that I have local readers, that my doctors will see this and think they need to sedate me. Please remember, all comedy has it’s hyperbole. I have a son with special needs, I’ve been dealing with doctors for well over a decade. I am on a first name basis with most of them. I like my doctors. –

I learned last fall that I need to be better prepared when performing. Not all comedy sets work for all audiences. I’ve killed on stage, and I’ve died on stage. Performance art is a journey and rarely is there a definitive destination.

I take that back – My own special on Comedy Central would total rock.

Several people have requested that I put this particular piece back up and add it back into to my set when performing for female audiences.

So dear readers (and writer’s group) here is a glimpse into my strange mind.

I would rather have a root canal than go to the gynecologist:

  1. I get to keep my clothes on.
  2. I can watch TV
  3. The dentist has better drugs.

Not that I don’t like my doctors I do. I just don’t like being there. I am a social bug, yes. A social bug who likes to stay fully dressed. I’d rather host one huge barbecue in my back yard, have them all come over, serve beer and brats and call it good until next year.

I realize I should put on my big girl panties and deal with it, and I would if they let me keep them on, but they don’t. Let’s face it, we will burn our bras in public, let our bra straps show in the summer, even throw our panties on stage at a rock concert, but the minute we undress in the doctor’s office we hide our underwear. Why? Because we want to keep that Victoria a secret, that’s why.

I do not know a living soul who wakes up and says “oh boy I get to go for my Pap Smear (or colonoscopy or mammogram) today. Hurray!” No one in their right mind thinks that. To make matters worse, I am a redhead and I blush when people say hello, add naked to the equation and I look like I fell asleep in a tanning bed. Even if the doctor are brilliant, the office is clean and efficient and the staff is super nice, we’d still rather be elsewhere.  This is the one place where wham-bam-thank you ma’am could be deemed acceptable. Unless of course something is wrong and we wish to dialog. Then we want them to listen and take their time.

Some doctors like  to converse during exams.  It’s their way of gauging our emotional state as well as trying to put us at ease; only it doesn’t work does it? Whilst I am normally fond of warm, intelligent conversation, their conversational style can seriously mess with my dis-associative groove. I’d rather close my eyes and run my to do list through my brain than make eye contact while pretending I can follow our conversation.

And yet, we talk. Or rather they talk. I ramble incessantly about God knows what. My neurosis factor increases exponentially with the realization that well… I am at my gynecologists office. My brain is so deep in denial that when they ask which doctor I am seeing, I can never remember his name.

To call me an introvert would be a kindness.

To be expected to carry on a full conversation with a doctor, complete with eye contact, while sitting naked on a table, holding my gown closed with my hands, needs more Valium than their office is willing to provide. Personally, I am all for sedation gynecology.  Knock me out and wake me when it’s over.  It’s not like it’s a new thing my dentist offers sedation dentistry, it could happen.

Left without the comfort of clothing, or drugs, I grab the only shield I can reach – my gift of sarcasm.

  • You want to screen me for colon cancer? – That’s gonna cost you a roofie.
  • When was my last breast exam? Last year. I always fail those even though I cram all year for them.
  • Every day I gather up the twins and cram them into a wonder bra.
  • Raising teenagers feels like I’m walking a high wire, I need all the support I can get.
  • Do you know why they call them wonder bras? Because without it we spend our day wondering where our breasts went.
  • I know where mine went, they are hiding in my arm pits, they don’t want to be here either.

They’ve added a new trick to their trade by the way — a two for one deal really, you can now get checked for cervical cancer and colon cancer all in one visit. REALLY? Now I know why my dogs hate going to the vet.

Not only are the new tests rude, some doctors talk  more during our exams than our husbands do during sex. Why can’t they all be Woody Allen?

Some days going to the doctor is more than a girl can handle. Granted after dealing with me, I’m pretty sure it’s my doctors who need Valium.

Have a great week everyone and remember you are amazing! Nobody can take that away from you.

My Face is as Red as Half of My Hair

“You look a lot younger on your profile picture than in real life.”

Thank you?

What kind of statement is that? I mean unless it’s retro week or something, I do keep my profile pics up-to-date. I tell people I have a 21-year-old and a 18-year-old. Unless I gave birth pre-puberty, I would think my age is self apparent. Apparently not to some. I do consider the source. The person in question was a 20 something comic who’d not yet met me in person and chose to believe I was younger because I was just starting out in comedy at the time.

Fast forward two years and add a lot more grey hair to the equation and I start believing in better living through chemistry. Clairol chemistry to be exact. Looking in the mirror while at the lake on April 1, I see more grey hair than I do red and the first thing that pops into my mind is, “Oh my gosh, I cannot meet John Branyan looking like this! I have to fix this, now.”

I packed my bags and left my family in the proverbial dust as I raced home to color my hair.

I didn’t have a lot of time. It was already 2 pm and the doors opened at 6 for the comedy concert.

I hit the drug store, bought a new shade of red that promised to cover the grey in 25 minutes and headed home.

I parted, combed, colored, covered and waited for Clairol to work her magic. The end result was splendid in my opinion. By the time the boys got home from the lake, I was sporting my new do. I even curled my hair and put on make up – just to meet John. It was almost 4:30 by time the guys made it home. We rushed out the door to go stand in line for good seats.

The show was wonderful.

Meeting John Branyan and Tim Hawkins (both fellow CCA Comics) afterwards was a huge treat.

John was gracious and kind and said he’s looking forward to seeing me again in Nashville in June at our conference.

Watching Tim lay his head on the table when my son asked him to autograph his butt was truly priceless.

None of that however compares to 24 hours later, at my son’s soccer game when I turn to my husband and ask, “Is it me or are people looking at me funny?”

“They aren’t looking at you funny, they are just smiling.”

“Why are they smiling?”

He is in the danger zone and he knows it. Pausing for wisdom – or an earthquake to eat him whole – whichever comes first, he finally fesses up.

“Well, I’m curious. Did you mean to only color the front of your hair?”

“WHAT?”

“I mean it looks great, it’s just that you missed the entire back of your head, that’s all.”

NICE.

I called my girlfriend Michele, who was also at the concert to ask her if she noticed. She did. She thought I did it on purpose and didn’t say anything.

I let her live because in all fairness, we were already there – what was anyone going to do? Still – I went out in public looking like a middle-aged punk rock, 80′s flash back wanna be with big hair and NO ONE TOLD ME!

Alright ladies and gents. Your turn. While I’m shampooing with Prell to strip this back out and try again, I’d love to hear about your fashion catastrophes. 

Tim Hawkins and John Branyan are Coming to Broken Arrow

The screaming you heard on Saturday afternoon was my 18-year-old son finding out that I have purchased tickets to see his all time favorite comic, Tim Hawkins. I totally rock as a mom sometimes.

When: Sunday, April 1, 2012 7:00 pm

Where: Grace Fellowship on Garnet and 91st Street in Broken Arrow

 

If you’ve never heard of Tim, check out his video clip. After that go thee to HERE and order your tickets today before they sell out. I pretty much guarantee these guys will having you laughing so hard you’ll have tears running down your legs.

John Branyan on Adam and Eve

And guys and dolls, as always no goods or services were given to me in exchange for this endorsement. I’m just taking my kid someplace cool and wanted to share it with you before time runs out.

Have a great Monday and remember – There is no kill switch for awesome!

Love ya!

A Tail as Long as a Kite

My present to my family this year is the gift of presence. While I’m away, I’ve scheduled some posts for your reading enjoyment. I hope all of you have a blessed Christmas. Be in the moment. Look people in the eyes. Be still. Listen and enjoy each other. Life is short. LIVE the moment.

I’ve directed my share of Children’s Programs. We all know they never go quite right. Please enjoy this short clip of comic Tim Hawkins and Christmas Songs.

 

For more videos from Tim Hawkins, click HERE.

No Longer a Vagabond

A New Beginning. It still needs paint and such, but what a great start.

“If you are bored with life, if you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things – you don’t have enough goals.” Lou Holtz

My husband surprised me this weekend by emptying the spare bedroom where he keeps all of his music gear. Once the room was empty he ripped out the carpet and laid new flooring. This will be my new office / art studio and the front living room will be our new music room; complete with french doors and eventually a baby grand piano.

For those of you who don’t know, J-man is a VP for a national telecommunications company by day and a musician by night. In other words, he’s an artist who can afford to eat.

Depending on who you are and where you are in your life this may or may not be a big deal. It’s a big deal to me though. I left Corporate America back in the 90′s to raise a family. That was a huge life change for all of us. I was raised to have a career, not raise a family. While that choice meant great sacrifice for all of us, being there for our kids while they grew up made the sacrifice worth it. This sacrifice also allowed him the freedom – and motivation – to pursue his career and take it as far as he is able. He works amazingly hard and does well, and I’m very happy for him.

Contrary to some people’s belief that I am “basically retired and living a life of leisure,” I consider being a stay home mom a full-time commitment and a job in itself. I am by no stretch a Martha Stewart. There are many women who do far better at this domestic goddess role than I. This explains why even as a Mommy Blogger I rarely wrote about domestic things. So not my forte’.

On top of being a SAHM, I’ve spent the last 14 years volunteering throughout the community and in school, as well as continuing my education. I even held a few part-time positions when certain financial needs arose. Our oldest is a junior in college and our youngest is a senior in high school. They are wonderful well-adjusted young men and I am proud of them both. While I realize this isn’t the choice for everyone, we as a couple, made the right choice for our family.

This season is coming to an end and it is time to look forward to a new beginning.

With corporate a distant memory, I’ve chosen to gather together the things I do well such as speaking, writing, and art and start my own company. Jeff bought me a laptop three years ago and I’ve been a writing vagabond ever since. I take my computer with me where ever I go. This has been wonderful so far but is also constraining. I need my own space to breathe, write, and create.

Even if he is getting another room down stairs, giving me his music room is no small feat. This is a tangible act of love and faith. Being married to a man who not only believes in me, but follows up on that belief with action is priceless.

This post written by Deana O’Hara for Redemption’s Heart. All rights reserved. 

Breaking the rules.

“Let’s face it, I’m at that age where the only way I can lose weight is to either cut my hair or shave my legs.” — Deana O’Hara

If you are looking for a what not to say to an audience of mostly men, I can give you a list.

There are three things men cannot easily recover from.

Sex.

Childbirth.

Hormones.

The rules for this particular night were simple, keep it PG. I played by the rules and stumbled upon an unwritten understanding that women shall not tell the truth in front of men. Out of 7 comic only 2 of us were female and neither of us made the finals.

There is a difference between killing on stage and dying.

I died Saturday and I’m okay with that.

My set isn’t for men, it’s for women. The judges were male and they did not like me.

While a more experienced speaker will look at their audience and adjust accordingly, I chose to  stay the course and be myself. Was that the right call? Not if I wanted to win. Fortunately, I didn’t go there to win a contest. I went there to defeat fear. In staying the course I beat the voice in my head that insists that if I continue being myself, I’ll be alone. Misplaced safety nets are detrimental to my well-being.

Just as a child cannot receive self-esteem by being given A’s for effort alone, neither can I. Confidence comes only as an after effect of facing down my fears and doing the unthinkable.

Being fully me sometimes comes with a price, like losing a contest. And yet the joy my inner woman shows every time I allow her to be heard is priceless.

Put Some Tigger in Your Step

 

 

I want to be a (Fill in the blank) _____________________________ (in my circle these days the blank is usually comic, but anything can go here)

what is the best advice you can give me?

My advice? Cheesy as it may sound, Be More Like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.

  1. Be one of a Kind.  - Find whatever it is that makes you uniquely you and bring it with everything you have.
  2. Be a real Friend. – He may have gotten on their nerves a time or two, but in the end they celebrated friendships together. Don’t let petty squabbles, busy schedules or misunderstandings get in the way of friendship.
  3. Be willing to try new things. – Tiggers definitely don’t like honey, but he did at least try.  Who knows by trying new things, you may surprise yourself by finding new things you do like.
  4. Be able to Bounce. – The ability to bounce, whether it be forward, backward, up, down or just bouncing back is vital in this life. There will be obstacles to bounce over, disappointments to bounce back from, and goals that may require some bounce to reach.
And most importantly I leave you with this thought, it’s not what you do for a living that matters, it’s what you do for a life.
Live it with bounce.
This post written by Deana O’Hara, for Redemption’s Heart, August 14, 2011. All rights reserved.

Ode To Steve Martin

One of my favorite comics of all time, Steve Martin, has been traveling the country with a blue grass band called the Steep Canyon Rangers. My Lutheran pals might have heard them on  A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers are coming to Tulsa on August 24 to perform at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. My more astute friends purchased tickets on time.

I apparently live under a rock and did not.

It’s probably just as well because just saying his name makes my vocal chords seize up and I squeak. It’s not pretty.

Being a writer, I thought it might be a good idea to process my grief through song. Not being able to play a banjo, which this song requires, is merely a small blip in the grand scheme of life. I’m sure everyone knows the melody to Oh Susanna, right? That is the melody for this song. And so for your reading amusement I offer:

Oh Steve Martin

(Written by Deana O’Hara)

I’ve searched high

and I’ve searched low

and every place in between

I’ve searched where normal people go

and places best unseen.

Oh Steve Martin

Is coming to the PAC

Tickets sold in just one day.

And there’s none left for me.

I’ve asked once

and I’ve asked twice.

I’ve even thrown some fits.

I said please

and shed some tears

and even flashed my……

Cash.

Oh Steve Martin

Is coming here with song.

That’s one show that I can’t see

and I think that is wrong.

I’ve held my breath till I’ve turned blue

I’ve sniveled, begged, and sobbed.

I even bought an old banjo

but my husband thinks I was robbed.

Oh Steve Martin

is coming to our town.

Ticket holders are happy now,

while I just have a frown.

————————————————————————————-

And now for you listening and viewing enjoyment, below is a video of Mr Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Enjoy.

This post written by Deana O’Hara for Redemption’s Heart. All rights reserved.

Pathetic whining pays off! — I get to go see them after all. It seems a friend’s daughter and son-on-law are unable to attend and I get to go in their stead. AWESOME!

It’s a Wrap: Movies, Mysteries, & Mercies Oh My!

See 2 Samuel 22

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece… but to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out and defiantly shouting, WOW WHAT A RIDE!

What a ride is right. Here is just a glimpse of what has been happening in our home life over the past 30 days.

Pictures were not allowed at Cowgirls N Angels Filming

1. I was cast in my very first movie ever. Being cast as an extra on the Cowgirls N Angels set was a thrill and a half for this woman. I spent two days in the blistering heat of Oklahoma with about 200 other actors/extras filming the rodeo scenes. I’m what they call “back ground” – and the truth is, you may or may not see me after the final slicing and dicing of the movie or with my luck I may wind up being the “woman in the porta john.” Either way, I know I was there and I have the sunburn, new friends, and paycheck to prove it. While being an extra may not be the same level of work as being the star, it’s still work. Paid work at that. Neato!

Gravestone Murder Mystery Dinner at OSL

2. Murder Mysteries are a riot and a half, especially working with this crew. Heather and Amy run a bible based fitness program at our church. Every year they host an awards banquet / fundraiser. This year they wrote a murder mystery and asked my hubs and I to participate. I got to play Kate: saloon gal, gambler, and girlfriend of Doc Galliday. While we did have a written script, most of our lines were improv. Kate is basically the life of the party and gets to flirt with every cowboy in the room. I learned a very valuable lesson that night. Being a church event and all, not all of the cowboys flirted back. I did eventually find a real live cowboy to play with and the results were hilarious. He is a local rancher and as he put it “Darlin’, you don’t want to start this with me, I know I can make you blush and I’m man enough to finish this.”  - he was right, how I wound up on that man’s lap is not real clear.  It all happened so fast, but I believe he had help as I seem to think I was pushed. I’ve never been so red in my life. Lesson learned: When doing improv with audience participation, be careful not to bite off more than you can chew.

Bon Fire at the Lake

3. My baby turned 18.  We celebrated our youngest son’s birthday with a bon fire at our lake house. Every one had a good time. I still cannot believe that he is 18, but it’s true. My mama bear days are over. It is time for me to step back, allow my son to be a man and make his own choices and try my best to stay out of things. That is not easy for me as my oldest can attest. I’m still prone to jump in, take over, and offer much unsolicited advice. My youngest has had a job for about year now at a local store. A store that I’ve never been fond of and his experiences there, just reinforce that gut feel. I cannot go into the details, but my blood is boiling. All I can do right now is dig in my gardens (with Oklahoma clay that is not easy), plant beauty, listen to my son, and pray.

Life is an adventure balanced with thrills, chills, and sorrows. The difficulties in life keep us humble and ever reliant on God. The adventures in life, hopefully keep us thankful.

Until next time.

This post written by Deana O’Hara for Redemption’s Heart. June 20, 2011. All rights reserved.