My fellow improv agent, Todd Gutnecht, called me up  this afternoon offering his condolences on my recent automobile accident. Wondering if I needed any help, I quickly responded with my need to meet with the Orthopedic personnel at the University of Iowa Hospitals to fill my prescription for a larger foot prosthesis. The prosthesis they fit me with on Monday evening did not have much ankle support and was making it difficult to get around, even on a pair of crutches. Todd voluntered to give me the necessary lift around Iowa City adding, “No problem. I just need to finish my grocery shopping and I’ll be down in a half hour.”

It didn’t take long to get fitted, which suprised me as it appeared there were many people waiting in the reception room. Below is the ‘BOOT’ they fit me with. It is SO much better than the flimsy sandal I was wearing previously.

Das Boot vs. Das wimpy sandal

Dennis reflects on his near-fatal accident

Sigh. Heading to Iowa City after work and traveling south-bound in the slow-lane on I-380 from work behind an 18-wheeler. All of a sudden, brake lights EVERYWHERE. Took my foot off the gas, slowed down, looked for traffic on my left and in the blind-spot. When I looked forward, the truck ahead had stopped, leaving me no room to go anywhere. Hit the brakes again really hard, locking up the tires. Steered right and clipped the rear passenger-side bumper, tearing up the driver-side of the Nissan. Spun counter-clockwise into the ditch and landed facing the road. Panicked. Yanked-off seat belt, opened the door but couldn’t get out. My feet were stuck under the pedals. Ouch. Pulled my feet out of my shoes, but couldn’t stand up. My left foot was broken.

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Mark Salisbury (President of the UI COGS), along with a team of additional graduate assistants, is assembling a series of fund-raising performances for the Artists’ Recovery Fund (ARF). The fund is designed to help local musicians and artists recover nearly $200,000 worth of instruments, tools and materials lost in the Iowa Flood of 2008 in Iowa City.

The first in the series will be held Oct. 23 at Old Brick near downtown Iowa City. The performance will feature graduate students in the UI School of Music, along with improv comedy troupes Comics In Action and Paperback Rhino.

The second Old Brick performance will be held Nov. 13th at 7:30pm; featuring singer/songwriter Greg Brown, along with local musician Nikki Lunden, improv comedy troups Comics In Action and Paperback Rhino, and the UI Juggling Club.

Check out the following links for ticket information:

• School of Art and Art History
• Graduate Student Senate
• Press Citizen (link is broken)
• Comics In Action

My friends at Riff Raff Theater are at it again. This time, they’ll be lampooning arguably one of Will Smith’s worst movies (outside of Wild, Wild West) that is causing Isaac Asimov to spin rapidly in his grave: i, Robot. Believe me. You’ll wish James Cromwell (that’ll do, pig) had a more prominent role in this flick.

Sponsored by M. C. Ginsberg and hosted in Iowa City on Friday, August 15th at the Englert Theatre at 8PM.

I’ve sat back at a couple rehearsals for the upcoming show and I swear to god: This show will ROCK!

Monday night at 8:23pm, in the Palliative Care section of the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, my mother, Mary Albers, slipped quietly from our world and into God’s hands. It is difficult to moment to describe, but was certainly the weirdest, yet most awe inspiring moment I have ever witnessed…and one will never forget.

Mom waged a long battle with congestive heart disease, following a bout of Rheumatic Fever brought on by an untreated case of strep-throat back in the late 1950′s. Rheumatic Fever is responsible for many of the cases of damaged heart-valves worldwide, of which the late Lou Costello was also a victim. Mom had elected for open-heart surgery nearly six weeks ago, but her physical strength was not enough to allow her the opportunity to recuperate. She was simply too weak.

This will be a difficult time for surviving family. Although we have always lived our lives with Mom’s serious health issues hanging above our heads, we had all (including Mom) chosen to do so to the fullest regardless. Her absence will be sorely missed, yet will be a continuing testament to those who refuse to sit on the sidelines and allow life to pass them by. I pray that we all have the opportunity to be that strong in our faith.

NOTE: Funeral arrangements have been finalized for Mary with visitation set from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24th at Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone and the Funeral at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Van Horne at 3:00 p.m on Friday, July 25th.  The Committal Service will be at the Keystone Cemetery after the Church Service and a lunch will be provided back at the Church following the Committal Service.  Further information may be found on Phillips Funeral Home web site!  Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

We thank all of you for your continued support

My good friends, Chris, Dave and Todd will performing this Friday night (June 27) at 8pm at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City. This time, Riff Raff Theater will tackle the movie that drove Sean Connery into retirement: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. This is the movie that had so much potential that even critics unaware of its legacy couldn’t come up with enough accolades to give this film a more than a ‘mediocre’ rating. Now I love Sean Connery, especially since he is THE best James Bond so far. Not only that, he gave the movie, Highlander, the much needed boost it desperately deserved.

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The horror continues for those attempting to salvage their lives following the major flooding of the downtown Cedar Rapids area. My good friends, Dave and Heather Atwater, have been working their collective butts off trying to do just that. While me and my kids are here in Iowa City, safe and sound, several of my friends have been trudging through the muck. It’s difficult to fathom the monetary damage done by the latest bout of flooding. Even though I can drive through downtown Cedar Rapids along I-380 and barely make out what has been damaged, my com padre’s in the surrounding downtown area tell a different story. My only hope is that Dave (aka Agent Danuuc), Heather, Jenny and Bob can come through all of this OK. I may be asking a lot, but it sure would be nice for people who certainly don’t deserve this kind of hassle.