Corey & Mo’s comedy duo, The Union, got a terrific review for their performance last week at the Milwaukee Sketch and Improv Festival. The Shepherd Express reviewer Russ Bickerstaff said:

George Burns and Gracie Allen. Harry and Bess Houdini. Siegfried and Roy. Bonny and Clyde. Chicago sketch comedy pair The Union is the next in a long tradition of performing couples. Corey and Monique reached for comic brilliance in a number of skits. Sharp writing was delivered impeccably. In one skit, they’re discussing the genetic flaws in their family in anticipation of a baby. In another, they play dummy and ventriloquist in a piece that is tastefully twisted on many levels. A husband and wife comedy act runs the risk of being extremely cloying and tacky, but Corey and Monique stay a comfortable distance away from anything like that. There wasn’t a good enough rhythm to get the recurring pet homicide segments to work all that well, but the dialogue-less comedy bit featuring two nervous kids at a high school dance was delivered in a way that made it seem remarkably fresh. Again, it’s it’s the simplest stuff that ends up working the best . . .

Congrats on the great notice Corey & Mo - I hope I get a chance to see the show soon.

Monique’s salon is now open for business. She got a great website describing her services, complete with a portfolio of examples of her work and glowing testimonials from clients. My favorite testimonial comes from Kathleen O’Shaughnessy, who says, “When I’m rich and famous, I want her in my personal entourage.”

I think that says it all. If you’re looking for a stylist, and you’re going to be in the Chicago area, give Monique a call!

No, really. She’s got a new gig. She starts rehearsals next weekend with a group that does improvisations of fairy tales for children called Hogwash.

Mo’s doing “theater work” (acting, hair, and makeup) full time now. Her new daytime availability is perfect for work with this group.

Happy 36th Birthday Corey! When you were born, the US was singing “Joy to the World” (that Three Dog Night song was top of the charts in the United States when you were born).

You share your birthday with Jack Klugman, Casey Kasem, and Ace Frehley.

On the day your were born, Apollo 16 returned to Earth. For your 1st birthday, Royals pitcher Steve Busby threw a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers. On your 18th birthday, the 50th Annual Barbershop Quartet Singing Convention was held in Michigan. And on your birthday in 1995, Coors Field opened in Denver.

Hope you have a great birthday!

More good news from Corey & Mo (continuing a string of recent successes that include getting cast in several short run productions, wedding hairdressing opportunities for Mo, and Corey’s music video gig). They’ve both been cast at Chicago Comedy Company, a short-form improvisional company out in the Chicago ‘burbs in Schaumberg. It looks to be a great opportunity for them - consistent stage time with an established theater (that actually PAYS), and is now under new ownership/management by a veteran Chicago improviser who has worked with i/O and Second City.

Congrats Corey and Mo - keep the good news coming!

Corey and Mo recently got the opportunity to work on a music video with their good friends, Blackpool Lights. Mo did everyone’s hair and makeup, and Corey was the only non-band member to appear in the video. The video is a lot of fun, and the song, called “Empty Tank” is excellent.

Sorry I’ve been so remiss about text updates to the blog lately. I have added lots of pictures - check out the January album in the Photo Gallery. There’s not a lot of big news to report. Jonathan is doing great. He’s still on the “small” end of the growth chart, but he’s healthy and putting on weight as expected. He’s started to try and mimick us when we make faces at him - he sticks his tongue out when Miriam blows raspberries at him (though he doesn’t quite get the “blow” part yet) and will purse his lips like an exaggerated kiss for me.

Mikaela is also doing well. She’s been disappointed by all of the Monday holidays lately, as that means she misses both swimming and dance class at school - her two favorite things. She works really hard at being a good big sister to Jonathan. The other day she insisted on helping to change his diaper.  She got frustrated when his squirming legs made getting the diaper on more difficult than it is to put a diaper on her baby dolls. She said, “Hey, baby, quit movin’ around like that!” She also likes to help give Jonathan his bath - she’s an expert at rubbing the shampoo in his hair without getting any in the baby’s eyes.

It seems Miriam and I are perpetually tired, but that’s to be expected at this point. Miriam is starting to s-l-o-w-l-y transition back to work.  She’s taking care of a few things that can be handled by phone and Email. But it will still be a while before she’s back in the office. I enjoyed getting to spend extra time with the kids, thanks to all of the Federal holidays at the end of December/beginning of January (including the Presidential funeral day). I’m getting back into the regular swing at work myself, though luckily it doesn’t look like I’ve got any travel coming up soon.

In extended family news, things have been pretty busy over the past month or so. Corey & Mo went on their cruise - I hear they had a great time, and I’m sure they’ll have pictures to share soon. Matt, Sarah, and Samantha moved into their new place in Raymore. Larry had surgery that ended up being more complicated than expected, but he’s home and recovering well. Ben & Shirley moved to the Atriums and sold their house - I helped them with the mezuzah hanging at their very nice new apartment. Steve & Sali will be moving soon as well - the destination depends on where Steve’s new job takes them. Gabe continues to travel around the country performing, and Eli is awaiting news on research funding for a graduate school project.

Happy Turkey Day everyone! I started Thanksgiving in the traditional way - by heading to the Shawnee Mission East football field for the Turkey Bowl.

Discretion was the better part of valor this year. With the new baby arriving soon, I decided I couldn’t really risk an injury. So I brought Mikaela and Spike and my camera to the game, and enjoyed the beautiful weather from the sideline.

Mikaela enjoyed playing with Aunt Mo and with the other kids her age.  And Spike enjoyed hanging out in the sun (right up until she got into a little altercation with Steve Jones’ dogs - luckily, none of the dogs or their people were hurt). It’s almost time for Thanksgiving Phase II - Dinner and Grandma Marcia and Zaydie Larry’s house. Later, the Chiefs-Broncos game will be on TV.

Mikaela called Aunt Mo last night, to ask her if she would cut Mikaela’s hair while she’s in town for Thanksgiving (Mikaela explained that she wanted Mo to “put things in my hair”).  Mikaela proceeded to chat with Mo and Corey for a solid 15 minutes - possibly a new record for her.  Of course I could only hear one side of the conversation, but one thing in particular cracked me up.  Mikaela was explaining to Mo that she had a present to give to Mo for Chanukah - a rock!  Mikaela thought this present was very exciting, and (once I explained to Mikaela that Mo couldn’t SEE the rock through the phone) Mikaela described it to Mo in great detail.  “Its smooth and black and do you know it’s shaped like?  A heart!” (Well, sort of.  Maybe more like kidney shaped, but to a 4-year-old that’s probably close enough).  Then came the best gem of all.  Mikaela explained to Mo that when Mo came to visit, they could go “Chanukah Treating,” and people would give them LOTS of candy!

I guess Mikaela still has Halloween on the brain.

So I was catching up on some of the things that my TiVo had recorded for me while I was out of town and/or busily getting ready for the next trip last night, and imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon:

That’s right - circled in the bottom right-hand corner of this frame capture from last Saturday’s Saturday Night Live - that’s my sister-in-law Monique.  She was visiting her sister Briette in New Jersey, and they snagged tickets to the SNL taping courtesy of old Kansas City ComedySportz collegue Jason Sudeikis.  Thanks to the surprise visit to John C. Reilly’s monologue of Will Ferrell and his James Lipton impression, Mo briefly appeared on national television.  I guess adding “appeared on Saturday Night Live telecast” to her acting resume would now technically be true.