For The Dog That Has Everything

Does your dog have a problem with blankets and shirts just aren’t warm enough?  We’ll now you can make Buster look like a douchbag by getting him a Dog Snuggie…

It’s only $20 and look how happy he is.  Tell him you love him with the blanket shirt.

Awkward Celebrity Moment…

The reason it was awkward is because I WAS THE CELEBRITY.  It was not because I wanted to be or asked to be I just was.  So here’s how it went down. Let the record show I do not and maybe never will consider myself anything of a celebrity.

As you might know by reading this I have been working in the radio industry in some capacity for the past 10 years.  During the final years I worked at Talk/CFUN 1410 and I produced the afternoon show.  I have also been performing stand up comedy on and off for the past 5 years.  I never saw myself as anyone of notoriety by any means.  Lately, I’ve been told I look like Jon Gosselin but that’s about it.  Earlier this week I attended a training session for a new job I just got with a marketing company.  I drove downtown and we all met in a meeting room at the Holiday Inn.  The first part of the meeting involved us introducing ourselves and say something interesting about us.  I told everyone that my name is Art and I was a finalist for Canada’s Next Top Comic.  Some people thought that was cool but of course they had no idea what it meant so whatever.  About halfway through our orientation we took a break and I walked into the hall to check my phone.  As I’m scanning through my Facebook page I get a tap on the shoulder by a 19-year-old Chinese kid who I remember saying he’s been with the company for almost a year.  He says “hey, you’re Art Factora…  my mom was a huge fan of your radio station.  She’s was so mad when your station changed formats and she’s going to freak when I tell her I met you.”  At first you have to think this kid is on drugs or maybe he’s slightly ADD but I chatted with him for a bit and told him why the station changed and what that meant for most of the staff.  I knew he was for real when he explained that he’d be in the car when his mom would listen to the Joe Leary Show, Patrick and Val Show and she’d keep it on for Dr Laura.  This kid even came to a comedy show over the summer that Patrick and I did together.  There I was chatting up a fan of the show who knew more about me then I’d ever know about him.  I can see how stars would be really freaked out by fans.  The goofy smile and glazed over eyes made me realize that meeting me actually made his day.  It’s a very uneasy feeling.  But of course it got a little worse.  The kid asked another person in the room to take a picture of us together “for his mom”.  That almost went overboard for me.  His phone now has photographic proof of our interaction.  I kept telling him how awkward this was but as he put it…  “this isn’t awkward at all – you’re a local celebrity.” WOW…  he needs to dictionary.com celebrity and realize I don’t feel that category.

Final thoughts – I think everyone who believes they have some sort of celebrity status hope they would be recognized coming out of a limo, maybe walking out of a nice restaurant or perhaps cashing a million dollar cheque for spending money.  I’m positive not one person wants to be recognized at a new job’s training session by a 19-year-old kid who’s now your superior.  This must be how OJ felt like during his first day in prison.

(Bradley – if you’re reading this.  Thanks for the self esteem boost don’t be offended by my post.)

Kittens Inspired by Kittens

I know these videos maybe old to you but they’re new to Sarah and me and they are hilarious.  I guarantee you won’t watch either of these videos only once.  These 2 videos are the Lays Chips of Youtube kitten videos.

See I don’t hate cats.  I think kittens can be super cute but then unfortunately, they grow up and end up looking like this.

Ain’t nothing sexy about that…

Jennifer Thomson Benefit at Darby’s Pub

After a few months of preparation it finally happened.  The demand for the show was so much that Patrick decided to have 2 shows in one night and he gave me the opportunity to close out both shows.  The night was hosted by the always entertaining Patrick Maliha and the cavalcade of comics included Mikey Wolfe, Greg Kettner, Colleen Brow (morning co-host at Shore 104), Sean Proudlove (Comedy Now), Carter Hortie, Peter Kelamis (actor/Just For Laughs), Jane Stanton, Dr Russ Kennedy and Marke Driesschen (CTV weatherman)

It was a very supportive crowd and I understand we raised close to (or maybe over) $2000.  That should be able to feed Jenn’s drug problem for at least a week or two.

The best part of the night for me was being able to chat with some of CFUN staff who I may not see again. I found out that night that Val Cole has packed up her family and moved back to Ontario.  Happy trails Val, Steve and baby Solana.

You can check out more pictures here

Reza Peyk Unleashed

okay…  I promised to update my blog on a regular basis and I haven’t kept up my part.  So here we go.  I’m going to bang off a bunch of things (that’s what she said) that have gone on in my life for the past few weeks.  Seriously, though..  why am I so behind?  It’s not like I’ve got a job keeping me busy.

So back on Friday, November 20th I was part of a great show at the Kay Meek Theatre in West Vancouver. The show was headlined and put together by Vancouver top Iranian comedian Reza Peyk.  He probably also wins the title of Vancouver’s more ripped comedian.  While most comics spend their down time getting high and watching Sponge Bob, Reza can be found at the gym bulking up so he can compensate for his lack of height.  (just jokes…  no jihad)  Also, on the show was Kwasi Thomas, Jy Harris and Sunee Dhaliwal.  It was a great show and everyone knocked it out of the park.  I think the Kay Meek holds about 400 people and the final audience total was about 375.  The ethnic breakdown was bout 374 Persian and my buddy Ty. 

My one middle eastern joke of the night went as follows.  “Wow, look at all the Persians out here.  That explains why the parking lot is half BMWs and half taxicabs.  Who’s driving around all the drunk white people tonight?”  It got a lot of laughs but I’m not going to lie to you.  I got Ty to start my car after the show.

Click here for more pictures from the show.

Another Day At The Park

Castle Fun Park that is.  I tried to cross out a Bucket List item the other day but it seems in order for you to try and play ice hockey you actually have to know how to play ice hockey and have the equipment to play ice hockey.  How the hell does someone who just wants to try it out for a couple hours get to play? But it was not a complete loss.  Instead Ty-gantic and I decided to relieve some stress by hitting the batting cages.  If you have little to no hand-eye co-ordination or skill its best to find the slowest speed and the largest softballs. (I says pardon!) Trust me when I say once you get into a rhythm you’ll be hitting those balls downtown.  I felt like a Asian version of Alex Rodriguez…  Asian-Rod if I may.  If you don’t believe me here’s the proof.

Here I am setting up in proper batting stance.

It pays off…  back, back, back, back annnnddddd GONE!

This is the best picture of the day in my opinion.

Random Thoughts… Nov 15th

H1N1 is messing with Santa.  Maybe this is the year we don’t allow kids to sit on the lap of a stranger and whisper in his ear what they want for Christmas.

Sheriffs like the ladies.  They only got a slap on the wrist when  I bet what they really wantedwas  to be spanked.

Born, not made? Sprinters have longer toes than other runners, study finds.  My own personal study shows that universities are spending too much time on useless studies.

Oh Jon Gosselin…  please stay in the public eye for awhile.  I my set needs you as a punchline.

For The Person Who Has Everything…

With Christmas is just around the corner, I saw this product and I wanted to share it with the world. Do you have a loved one who respects the real estate genius of Donald Trump and Jesus.  Well, here’s the gift that keeps on giving.

You can find BibleOpoly at the 7 Oaks Mall.

Wine On The Mountain 2009

The 4th annual Wine on the Mountain was set atop beautiful Grouse Mountain in the Lupin Room, this evening offered a wine and food pairing with world-class wines and exceptional Sommelier talent. Highlights will included live music, amazing hors d’oeuvres, fantastic auctions, the back by popular demand “wall of wine,”.  Global TV’s Chris Gailus and Senator Larry Campbell were the hosts for the evening.

Sarah and I spent the night taste testing wine, appetizers and chocolate.  I think I won a couple of auction prizes also. 

The event was all to help out the Adoptive Families Association of BC.

Check out my pictures from the event here.

The Bucket List

I first want to say thank you for all the support I’ve received over the past few days.  I know some of the radio gossip websites are focussing on the CFUN on air staff being let go but overall 23 people lost their jobs on Thursday.  I hope they aren’t mad but I wanted to recognize all (most of them) because I worked with them in some capacity and I hope for the best for all of them.

Talk 1410 – Stu Ferguson (program manager) John Nicholson (sales manager) Simi Sara (host) Dave Brindle (host) Nikki Renshaw (host) Renee Lukacs (producer) Libby Herman (producer) Ryan Houdayer (producer) Alex Ovies (sales) Olga Edwards (sales) Laura Simpson (sales) Gary Fix (sales)

QMFM - David Milne (middays and traffic announcer) Shelley Joyce (afternoon drive announcer)

Beat – Ben Soldinger (morning show sidekick)

Team – Paul Carson (sales)

Support staff – Janeen Lyons (traffic) Robin Hagenbuck (production)

I know there’s more but I’m working off memory.

So now I begin the search for what’s next in my life and my career.  I was driving in my car with my man-panion Ty and I decided to come up with a basic BUCKET LIST for the next short time in my life.  All these people are telling me to sit back and relax.  Take a few weeks off and just watch TV and get lazy.  This is your chance to do what YOU want to do.  I’ve got to be honest.  It’s only been 3 1/2 days and I’m already bored.  After 8 years of working Monday to Friday I’m not sure I’m looking forward to have tomorrow off and the next day…  So hopefully, this list will keep me focussed on just keeping busy and not letting this time off go to waste.

Here’s it is in no particular order.

1. Lose weight (20lbs would be nice)

2. Work in a kitchen

3. Play ice hockey

4. Trip to Las Vegas

5. Work in a casino

6. Finish a pilot script I’ve been working on with Ty

7. Open a comedy room in the Valley

8. Creatively write something for 30 minutes a day

9. Update my blog on a regular basis

10. Enjoy life!

I’m open to more ideas so please let me know what you would do if you had some time off.  Keep checking back for updates and other blog posts.  I promise to do my best to keep it interesting.