GALA TO REMEMBER

I'm slowly, very slowly, coming down from last night's gala, Montreal: An Intervention, which turned into one of my favourite Just for Laughs nights ever. As previously noted, I was a last-minute addition to the bill, but am grateful the chips fell the way they did.

For starters, I got to room with very funny, supportive, friendly guys who made loosening up for the occasion an easier matter.

Speaking of loosening up, my introduction was given by "The Bachelor"-winner (and Montrealer) Vanessa Grimaldi, who told me a minute before going on that she'd say my name, wait for me and we could give each other a quick hug and pecks on both cheeks (she demurely stipulated "Not on lips"). I was able to roll with the pretty unexpected format and got a laugh for my awkardness (as is my wont) off the top, setting the stage for what was a really fun and fancy-free set. So good show, Vanessa.

The audience was very giving, the staff were great, the comics were fun, and the 2017 Just for Laughs Festival was closed out in style.

Thanks very much to the festival for letting me be a part of it all. When I was offered the gig 10 days ago the part of me that says "Don't do it, you won't be ready in 10 days" was squirming away in my brain. Very glad I denied ol' Squirmy the last word. It was fun. Probably a moral in there somewhere.

Oh, and added bonus, my wife bypassed the babysitter option and brought our 7-year-old daughter to the show (our boy is at camp). Her favourite act was the choir at the end. She didn't get many jokes (thankfully, in my case...can't believe the first time she sees me live is when I'm wheeling out the "trigger warning" bit). But I'm glad she's seen me at a high point.

Happy 375th Birthday, Montreal. Thanks for inviting me to the party.