Things have been extremely busy lately and extremely great. I’ve been working a lot and when I’m not technically working I’ve been hitting the open mics pretty hard. Some people wonder why I do as many open mics as I do and it really is because I have to keep working on new stuff. I mean how would you feel if you came out to see me twice and saw the exact same set each time. It would be kinda’ lame in my opinion. I am blessed enough to have this be what I do for a living I might as well put the maximum effort into it. I am currently downloading a bunch of clips from my flip so that I can put something new on my YouTube. I don’t really like to put a lot of my stuff on YouTube because I feel that if people really want to see me they will make the effort. I’m sure I will be coming to a comedy club near you in the next year so don’t be lazy.

Speaking of schedule I put some other dates on the other night and will be putting more up in the next couple of days. I DON’T put EVERY SINGLE THING I do on because some of the shows I get asked to do are loooooonnnnngggg and boring and I don’t want to put the people I invite out through that kind of punishment. I know that might sound kinda’ rough but I DO this shit and sometimes I find it rough to sit through the number of comics they’ll put on a show. It’ll really cure you of any love you had for comedy.

The Jo Koy shows I usually tip you off to because I know you’re gonna get a quality show in a quality venue. Anyway, I hope you all had a good holiday and that you aren’t too stuffed. I’m gonna start small and promise to update this tomorrow. Let’s take it from there

about updating my blog and for that I apologize. Between Facebook, Twitter, Myspace (making a comeback) and my website, it’s all been hard to keep up with. I’ve been traveling a lot lately. Went to Guam with Jo Koy that was SUPER DUPER fun and then did the Improvs (Brea and Ontario) w/ Jo Koy and Adam Hammer and then, most recently, was in South Texas (headlining) with Chris Storin as my feature. It was a good time but I didn’t want to fly so we drove. On the 29 hour ride home I really began to regret that :-/

I had a GREAT time there and even got a standing O in McAllen, Texas at the Cine El Rey. Shout out to TABLE 3 Super Rowdy bunch at table 3 but had such a good time with them and they really made it fun. I did do a bit of drinking that night after the show but I thought it was a good time to celebrate and the following nights it was business as usual.

We were trying to make it home after the last show in Brownsville on a Friday night to do my friend Sqweek’s Birthday show that I was supposed to be headlining. I figured with the time change and everything it should be possible but in the end it was not. I was able to warn her in enough time that she was able to get a replacement but really wish I coulda’ made it.

As for what’s going on right now, we got back on Sunday morning and I’ve been in Oakland since. Tomorrow I will be staying in the city (San Francisco) where I will be featuring for Russell Peters. I believe it is 9 shows we are doing and they are ALREADY all SOLD OUT. The guy is absolutely amazing and I am glad to be working with him.

For any of the new friends and comedy fans I have met don’t worry there is more stuff with Jo Koy planned. He is a really good friend of mine and I absolutely love working with him.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention, I was on Comedy Central’s Live At Gotham this past Friday and am getting some really good feedback on that. I’ve got A LOT of stuff going on and really could go on and on but I’m kinda’ tired and should probably get some sleep now. Check out my schedule (www.thairivera.com), it has SOME of the stuff I have coming up and I’ll be adding more in the coming days weeks and months. Life is great and I thank you all for reading