Father, Forgive Me, For I Have Sinned...

If I don't control myself, Facebook will be the death of me.  Well, it'll be the professional death of me.  And I say this because I WILL NOT achieve ANY of my professional goals if I don't stay OFF Facebook and direct the time I'm ON Facebook towards procuring the kind of work I want to do:  tv hosting, voice-over work & Q&A panel moderating.  Talking to people I don't know is at its very core a COLOSSAL TIME WASTER!  NO Facebook for more than 15 minutes per day till I  get a full-time gig I LIKE and/or LOVE!  Oh, dear God, gimme strength.  Please gimme strength!

Thar She Blows!

Over the past few days, Hurricane Irene has blown through eastern states, leaving a trail of destruction and up to 40 deaths in her wake.  My dear friend, Madeline, in Fairfield, CT, is lucky.  She only experienced cable outage for the most part.  Cities in NY and VT and VA and other eastern towns were beaten up pretty badly.  Here in southern California, we didn't have Irene to fear.  But it was plenty hot.  Despite all these acts of nature, I'm STILL happy to be here to experience them.  And, Irene let it be known that Mother Nature can be one, onerous lady!!!!!!!  God bless those who made it through the storm.  And God bless those who didn't!!!!

The Voice Of An Angel

I came across this young boy on my Facebook page.  When I clicked onto the video I didn't have any real expectations.  But I sure as heck didn't expect to get what I got!  This little boy's voice is truly the voice of an angel's.  It's clarity, power and range are awe-inspiring!  He goes by the name, JOTTA A.  And he's Brazilian.  See, Brazil is known mostly in this country for being the home of a plethora of beautiful men & women.  Now, I see it has at least one, incredible vocalist, too!  I can't get enough of this boy's voice.  Thus, I listen to him over and over again.  Day after day after day after day!  God bless him!!!  And God has blessed ME to hear him!!!!

He Knows Not

I don't think my friend truly and fully knows how POWERFUL and MAGICAL and PHENOMENAL and BLESSED he is.  But I know.  And because I know, I make sure to tell him EVERY chance I get!!!!  Amen.

Yessssss!

I'm gonna moderate SAG Q&A screenings before too long.  You just watch me!  Where there's a will, there's a way!  And there's most definitely a will here!!!  When I moderate my first screening, I'm gonna thank God for the opportunity, then I'm gonna ask the questions I've wanted answers to for ages!  Hollywood producers/writers/actors, CAM Jr is comin'!  Get ready!!!!!!!!!

The Songwriter

Yesterday, famed songwriter, Nicholas Ashford, passed away.  He was 70 years old.  When I read his age, I was taken aback.  And I don't really know why because he's been around since I can remember.  It's sometimes hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that I'm almost 50 years old my dang self.  So, that makes folks who were well into adulthood when I was a kid even older.  News reports state that he had throat cancer.  He is survived by his wife and former songwriting/singing partner, Valerie.  And his daughter.  Wherever his spirit goes, I hope it still cranks out the incredible tunes he's known for!!  God bless him.

Disney's Universe

I spent the entire last weekend, working for DISNEY at The Anaheim Convention Center.  It was the second, annual Disney 23 expo!  And it was grand and energetic and PACKED!  The weekend was filled with panel discussions, entertainment performances and merchandise on top of merchandise!  My job was to demo Disney's new, video game, Disney Universe.  At first, I was a little apprehensive about the gig, but, as usual, I became quite aplomb at instructing folks how to play the game!  I am truly a natural at speaking to "strangers." --- I shall always remain appreciative to Disney for hiring me.  And to Jason Hayes for driving me down there all three days!  It was a blast!  :)

45 Years HOTTTT!

Halle Berry celebrated her 45th birthday this past weekend by frolicking on the beach in Malibu with her daughter and friends.  And, for what it's worth, she looked RIDICULOUSLY HOT doing it!!!  My, my, my!!!!!!

Common Denominator

All my life I've upset folks because of something I've said to them.  In my youth, I intentionally made comments to hurt feelings.  Back then, I did it as a defense mechanism; because kids made fun of me with "sissy" taunts more than any other.  Anyway, fast-forward to my adulthood, and I still manage to tick off folks with a comment or two.  I have to ask myself:  do I intentionally mean to hurt feelings?  The answer is, no.  Of late, the people who have gotten upset with me are people I genuinely adore.  I now see that I can no longer pass off their anger as "their" problem.  'Cause, clearly, my words are the common denominators in all the ill feelings.  From this point forward, words CAN'T leave my mouth unless they're intended to UPLIFT, EDIFY or ENLIGHTEN.  Simple as that.  So let it be written.  So let it be done.

Just Like Mimi

Some 20 years ago, I spoke on the phone to an aspiring, recording star who was in a Manhattan recording studio at damn near 2 AM, working on her first album.  One of her friends, who was also her former employer, let me listen to one of her songs before the phone call.  I was blown away by the power of her voice.  So, her friend decided to call her at the studio so I could tell her myself.  Well, the singer got on the phone and I told her how much I enjoyed the song I heard.  I asked her to just sing a little sample of it.  Reluctantly, she did.  Several months later, I was listening to the radio and heard the aspiring singer's song.  The song was called, Vision Of Love.  The singer:  Mariah Carey.  Fast-forward to last night and I was on Lankershim Blvd and saw a young brotha walking toward me, listening to music and rapping along with it.  I stopped him and wound up talking with him for almost an hour.  He let me listen to a couple tracks he's recorded.  And, honestly, they were pretty dang catchy.  I told him that he'll wound up being my second, Mariah Carey story.  So, just so everybody knows I'm tellin' the truth when he blows up, his name is, Mario.  But his rap group's name is, Paper Mates.  The two songs he played for me were:  I'm A Star and California.  I liked what I heard, so I sure do wish him well!!!!

The Hunt Is On

Today marks Day One of my new resolve to exercise every morning AND to hunt down a new gig!!!!  I began the day at the park, exercising.  So, that portion of my "new" life has begun.  And, now, I'm online, scouring job websites for a new job!!  So...all's well that begins well!!  I'm gonna SOAR like an eagle before too long.  Just watch me!!!!

There's A Thief Among Us

After I attended a volunteer's meeting for the HollyShorts Film Festival, I walked back to the subway.  Before I got there, I stopped and ducked into the entry way of a closed theater to talk on the phone with my boy, T.Y.  I plopped my day planner onto a top of newspapers so I could sit on it.  After I was done talking, I got up and headed toward the subway.  I stopped and talked to a kid who had just walked out of Katsuya Restaurant after his job interview.  Anyway, I talked with this kid for twenty minutes or so before I realized I had forgotten my day planner in the entry way of the theater.  I immediately stopped talking mid-sentence and ran back to get the day planner.  However...it was GONE!!!  Can you believe that?  Somebody stole the darn thing!  What would they want with MY day planner?  What a bummer.  I have things written in it that I'd like to keep, but, alas, it's gone.  So, I hightailed my butt over to Target and bought a new one.  A much smaller version of mine.  But made by the same company.  Moral of story:  DON'T sit on my day planners anymore!  Geez!

I Honestly Can't

It's 11:56 PM.  I'm 47 yrs old.  My apartment is furnitureless.  I'm not happy.  I love and am loved in return so the foundation on which to build happiness is in full effect.  Going to bed each night and awakening the next morning with no joyful expectations has gotten waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay old.  In fact, I can't take it anymore.  With all the power I possess inside me, I am BEGGING God & His Universe to allow me to awaken tomorrow with a clearer mind and a focused resolve to CHANGE my life into the life I was BORN to live!!  Please.  And, yes, I accept responsibility that the change I seek begins with ME!!!!!

The Elaborate Entrance Of... Rylan Williams

One of my fave actors, RYLAN WILLIAMS, has booked the understudy role of, "Chad Deity," in the Geffen Playhouse premiere of, THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY.  The play opens in September.  I can't wait to see it.  I've never been to the Geffen.  I hope & pray Rylan gets to go up at least once.  Perhaps weekend matinee performances!  Well, the play looks like a hoot.  So, I'll just wait till it goes up and see what I think first-hand!!!!  Congrats, Mr. Williams!

25 Yrs Ago

This past weekend I had the honor of breaking bread with a fraternity brother, Zaheer Ahmed Shan, his lovely wife, Christine, two of his beautiful children and his younger brother, Tanveer.  We dined at the star-gaving, sushi joint, Katsuya.  The food was fine, but the company was exceptional!  I have Facebook to thank for reconnecting us.  We hadn't seen each other since college graduation, 1986!!!  Yes, we've changed in appearance:  me---bald and him---not as thin as he used to be.  But boy oh boy has he thrived professionally.  Me?  Not so much!  But I'm here.  And I'm healthy.  So, there!  :)  --- After dinner, we walked the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.  I hope everybody had a blast.  Zaheer and Tanveer came out to take the California Bar Exam.  It still impresses the heck outta me that Zaheer can have a thriving, medical practice and STILL manage to graduate law school, too!  You talk about an over-achiever!!!!  What a great family!  I hope & pray he knows how blessed his life is!