(DATES MISSING)

Although I worked nonstop through 2003, I mainly did ships for Carnival. One cool land gig, however, was opening for Engelbert Humperdink in September at the Palace Theater in Cleveland.

In early 2004 I got cut from Carnival's roster and found myself struggling for work through most of the spring. After my car's engine blew up in Indiana, I borrowed enough money from my parents to buy a used Grand Prix. Even though work started picking up in April I spent a lot of time trying to create new opportunities for myself.

On July 3rd, 2004, I performed my last stand-up gig at a club called Casey's in Lorain, OH

July 5th, 2004, was my first day as a staff writer for the Alternative Cards Department of Cleveland's American Greetings Cooperation.