Bored On A Wednesday...

What to do when you're bored on a random Wednesday? Invite all your creative friends over to read sonnets!
...There may have been some light drinking involved!



I think my friend and brilliant comedienne Amy Claire nailed this sonnet:

My Drug of Choice-

I'm thrilled that Nurse Jackie is back!
The show is outstanding.
The writing is brilliantly delivered by an all-star cast!
Nurse Jackie is a narcotic and I'm an addict!

I'm Obsessed with TwitVid's!

There is no denying it! I'm officially obsessed with TwitVid's! Clearly it's true. I'm using a made up word to make it sound like it's a normal thing and everyone should start doing it!
Not in a crazy "drug pusher" kind of way- I just believe it's where society is headed.
Obviously I'm correct in thinking so.

People like Charlie Sheen, James Franco and Kirstie Alley are on board, so it must be a good choice. Once the crazy celebrities, gays and Scientologist are involved it's a sure thing!

Not to mention my friend Brooke just got back from SXSW and she said that the buzz on the scene was that Tweeting pictures: TwitPik's and Tweeting Videos: TwitVid's is going to revolutionize the entertainment industry and social media will rule the world!

(I'm not sure if that was her exact quote, but it was something like that...)

And trust me, Brooke knows her shit! So I want to get in on the ground up...

Even if it is driving my friends insane! What's a little insanity in the name of building an empire?

Take my friend- Former celebrity and future Reality TV star:

Michael Cornacchia- he understands the importance of social media:

Of course not everything may be worthy of a TwitVid...

Fortunately, Michael is a professional- so he's always got a great story up his sleeve to bring the crowds back around...

There's no telling how long this infatuation I have with Tweeting short videos that have no point is going to last. But I can promise, like any great addiction, I'm going to enjoy the hell out of it! Filming random drunk moments, celebrity encounters and every other fabulous opportunities that arise in Los Angeles... and I vow to share only the best of the best at FunnyShaffer on Twitter.

Tug of War! A Puppy Ballet

Some dogs enjoy performing ballet...

...others enjoy sleeping through it!

Family Feud

I started the following entry three nights ago, after a phone conversation with my mom went down hill, fast. I've spent the past two days in a gloomy state of mind and really want to move past it!

When I originally sat down to write the blog entry I was unable to completely explore my feelings. They were too fresh, and I was too upset at the way I handled the situation.

Now, I realize I have no desire to rehash the conversation that took place.

Regardless of how hurt I was at the decision my mom made that lead to the blow up, I wish that I would have swallowed my words and let it go.

The bottom line is, I love my mom. She has been so wonderful and supportive of my journey in life. Of course there are things that I wish were different in our relationship. I'm positive there are personality traits that we share that add to both the brilliant parts of our bond- as well as the negative elements.

3.19.11

It's seems no matter how old I am or what I've accomplished in my life, I cannot escape the habit of reacting to my family like my former fourteen year old self during family conflicts.

Despite the fact that I'm extremely talented in the art of war- I hate to fight!

I loath the headache that follows almost instantly.

I despise the empty pit in my stomach.

And instantly, I'm sad and depressed about the way I talked to whomever I was in the fight with.

I spend the following days, reenacting the moments in my head. Playing out each of the beats, in search of the second where my tongue betrayed my heart.

So here I am, three days later and ready to move on. I'm not sure if there will ever be an opportunity to completely work through this particular issue that I have with my mom. I guess at a certain point in life you focus on appreciating the amazing aspects of the relationships you have with your family members and you learn how to accept the dynamics that might not ever change.

Crazy Thought On An Airplane...

I'm sitting on an airplane on my way to San Francisco.
In the aisle seat next to me is a beautiful older lady. If I had to guess, I'd say she was in her late seventies.
Her face is worn and full of lines in all the place I imagine you get lines when you spend a lifetime laughing. She is wearing just the appropriate amount of foundation, powder, eye makeup and the perfect shade of red lipstick.
It's very clear that she was a gorgeous woman in her prime.
I would describe her now as elegant and well groomed, with a magnificent spirit.
She sits with her friend who is around the same age.
It's clear, from spying on their conversation, that they've been friends for many years.
I was struck by their bond. I was intrigued with their (still) very youthful energy. I was excited by their devilish attitude.
As I sat and continued to secretly eavesdrop on their exchange, I imagined what my life would be in forty years.
Will I be sitting on a plane with one of my oldest friends heading to a city for a weekend of delicious food, theatre and shopping?
What stories will we look back on and laugh at?
But what I wondered most of all-
Will I still recognize my hands?
I know it seems like an odd question, however I couldn't get past this woman's hands.
She was so full of beauty and humor, yet her hands looked aged, abused and full of pain.
It made me incredibly sad.
Which is crazy- because she was extremely happy...

Random Thought...

I often think about people who have had a deep impact on my life and are no longer in it.
It's strange how some people enter your life and become a part of it forever, and others stop by for a little while and then continue on a separate path...
I wonder if those people that are no longer a part of my life ever look back with fond memories like I do?
Do they think about reaching out, but don't?
I know I do... so it seems very likely that maybe they do too?
I think I'm going to reach out to an old friend that I never talk to anymore. Just to say hello, and let them know I still think about them and our fun adventures and wish them well!

Somewhere in St. Louis

Sitting in a theatre somewhere in St. Louis.
I just had an out of body experience. The kind where a version of me from the past is staring down on the version of me now...
My life has been full of wild adventures and crazy unexpected opportunities. It's surreal to me.
Overwhelming at times.
The dreams and fantasies I had as a child, have manifested into a reality that is twice as rewarding.
I never imagined that the journey that I'm on would be more rewarding than achieving those childhood goals.
I'm thrilled that I'm living the life I dreamed of-
I'm grateful that it's better than I ever imagined.

Customer Service... PLEASE!

Polygamy, Craft Fairs and Mormon Rap... It's Time For a Parody!

Introducing the latest parody from our creative team at A Group Production, LLC.

This time our camera's crash the compound of a polygamist family with a dark secret...

Proving once again, no matter how religious you are, there's always an outcast!

This is what happens when you parody the popularity of Bravo's Real Housewives franchise and splash in some Big Love!

Introducing: The Real Housewives of the L.D.S.

Time to Relax

Having a tough time switching my mind to "stand by."

Energy spinning and I feel the pressure to do more-

more. More. MORE.

The mantra in my mind: Balance.

There is a time to work.

There is a time to eat.

There is a time to create.

There is a time to sleep.

There is a time to relax and enjoy what you've created.

Struggling to take the weekend off.

Forcing myself to release the check list for the weekend,

I'm positive it will still be there when I look for it Monday!

Welcome March.

It's hard to believe that another Friday afternoon is here. With that,

the start of March.

It's true what my grandpa used to say when I was growing up, "The older you get, the faster it goes..."

I'm so grateful that I can still hear his voice in my head. In fact, he is one of the primary reasons I continue to push myself everyday to create and stay focused.

I remember having long talks with him in high school. He would remind me to use my time wisely doing something I love, and to enjoy every single moment! "...life is short Mattsky."

(Mattsky was my grandpa and grandma's nickname for me growing up.)

The beginning of this year started off rocky, but by mid-February I was able to snap out of my funk, and get back on track.

I had a blast shooting an episode of a new Disney television show, enjoyed creating another parody with my creative friends and last night I pushed myself back out onto the stage to do some stand up comedy.

I always forget how nervous I get before I do stand up... Honestly, I'm past the point of fearing what might happen. I get such a rush of adrenaline once I'm up there with that microphone. Of course I'm never at a loss for words. I'm happy that I decided to take another pass at stand up. It's so much better now than five years ago when I first started doing it.

I worried so much back then about being funny or what people would think of me and my stories. Now, I just stand up there and live in that moment. It's the perfect opportunity to express myself and share my craziness to a group of people who are ready and willing to laugh at our similarities and differences.

All things considered, I think my creative juices are flowing again...

I'm looking forward to the adventures that await me in March.

Please Stand Up.

Just in case I don't already have enough on my creative plate, I was talked into doing stand up tonight at the Comedy Shed in Los Angeles.

It's not that I don't have plenty on my mind to talk about:

Between Charlie Sheen's new found craziness to Whoopi Goldberg's bladder control issues, I'll have no loss for chatter!

I love an opportunity to get up on a stage and have people listen to me...

Let's just hope they like what they are hearing!

If not, oh well.

I'm on a mission to cram as much creative energy into every aspect of my life, so that one day I too will make as much money as Seth MacFarlane!

The man is a mega-millionaire genius... and he didn't get there by saying "no" to opportunity or making fun of untalented celebrities that have crossed into the land of Crazyville!