Nothing Is As It Seems

JERRY PERDOMO

Over the past week or so I've been really interested in the Missing Person case of a handsome, married firefighter from Florida.  His attractive, young wife told authorities he had driven to Maine to help a friend move.  Well, it turns out that that wasn't exactly why he drove to Maine.  And the facts of the case have only come out into the open after his dead body was found in a wooded area in Maine.  The dude had a wife and young child.  And a girlfriend in Maine.  And was pushing drugs.  I mean, damn, the folks in Florida who thought they knew him now realize they didn't.  If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, the ONLY person on this planet we'll ever TRULY know is ourself!  And that's just the way it is. --- Read the firefighter's story HERE.    

Ladies & Gentlemen...Mr. Tyrone Smith

TYRONE SMITH

Just now, I stumbled upon a video of a 70-yr-old fella named, TYRONE SMITH.  And, you know what?  Looking at and listening to him speak about activism against AIDS makes me damn happy to have stumbled.  Tyrone is living proof that the nice guy doesn't always finish last.  Happy to have "met" you, sir!!!! --- Tyrone's story and many others by valiant people, who just happen to be gay, can be found HERE.

Golden Brown Globes??????

VIOLA DAVIS

I forgot to mention this when I first saw this a couple of weeks ago:  Viola Davis at the NAACP Image Awards.  Wow!!!!  She's usually dressed down in every, friggin' film role I've seen her in, but, when she dresses up, fuggedaboutit!!!!  She's on FIRE!!  And what a pair of NAACP trophies she's got on her!  :)

LENT: Day Four

And I'm holding up just fine!!!!!!

If You Live Long Enough

If you live long enough, whenever you go out for a meal with a SIZZLIN' HOT-LOOKIN' young person---regardless their gender---you WILL have to PAY!!!!

MyLand

Over the past, couple of days I've caught up on all the episodes of my favorite, scripted, television show, SOUTHLAND.  Since I don't have cable, I have to watch it online.  Last season, I could watch the show online without any difficulties.  This season, the kind folks over at TNT want me to watch it via a cable company's website.  Uh...I watch it online because I DON'T have cable, TNT!  Well, I figured out a way to get around their request, so I'm back to watching the show.  And, boy, oh boy, is it as terrific as ever!  I'm tellin' you, REGINA KING is one hell of an actress!  Who knew that the little girl from 227 would grow up to be such a talent?  I sure didn't.  Anyway, there'll be only 10 episodes for the season, so I'm looking forward to the remaining five.  The show truly gives me the impression that someone has a hidden camera, filming real cops. That's a testament to the sheer realism of the actors' performances.  

I Am That I Am

Each day, nothing pleases me more than to be a blessing to others.  I know that sounds all "pie in the sky," but it's what I truly feel.  Today, I helped a friend who is in the early stages of divorce, find a temporary place to crash.  It worked out just fine, 'cause the guy I hooked him up with was in dire need of a roomie to defray costs.  I also helped an aspiring actor make a business decision today.  No, I won't be paid for any of my assistance.  Well, not monetarily anyway.  My payment is simply being a blessing.  And, quite honestly, that's just fine with me at the moment.  What I know for sure is that the most assured way of being GRANTED a blessing is to BE one!

40 Days & 40 Nights

Beginning at midnight, I will give up Facebook & alcohol for Lent.

No, I'm not Catholic, but I'm gonna adopt this practice nonetheless. I'm addicted to Facebook, so this could potentially be pretty rough. I really like alcohol, but I feel confident I can live without it. At least for the next 40 days.

I have never participated in any kind of fast. Well, that is, if you don't count staying away from apples while I wore braces. Anyway, I'm looking forward to this challenge. Mind over matter, right?

And the time I'm not on Facebook can and will be used to create a screenplay! So, there!

I'm ready.

And I WILL be successful!!!!!

If I Could Turn Back Time

If my phenomenal daddy was still alive, he would have turned 88 yrs old yesterday, February 18th!!!  I hope & pray he's up in Heaven with his parents and my mama, laughin' and drinkin' all the beer he desires!!!  Happy belated, 88th, Mr. Charles!!!

On Notice

After today's church service, I have officially put my life's dream crushers on notice.  Facebook, idle chit chat chums, etc., you can NO LONGER steal the time I need to fulfill my life's destiny!  This won't be easy.  But it'll be worth it.  I know I possess the strength to accomplish WHATEVER I set my mind to.  What I'm hoping and praying, though, is that I EXERT it!!!  I pray for everyone and everything.  Amen.

Heaven, CAM Jr Here. "The Voice" Has Landed.

Today was Whitney Houston's funeral.  It was streamed live over the internet and on various, television networks.  I wasn't able to see it real-time as I was en route to a gig!  Luckily for me, though, it's being rebroadcast all day on People.com.  Thus, I'm watching it as I type.  Thus far, it's a beautiful ceremony.  I've already read that it was four hours plus.  I can clearly see that the musical performances were out of this world!  Donnie McClurkin.  Kim Burrell.  Alicia Keys.  Stevie Wonder.  Marvin Winans.  BeBe Winans.  Carvin Winans.  And the love of my life, CeCe Winans.

Although I'm sure Whitney's family, friends and fans wish she was still here, I won't be selfish and, instead, give gratitude to God for ending her pain.  She obviously wasn't strong enough to shake that monkey off her back.  May her soul finally know peace.  I loved her voice when it was at its peak.  And I always will. 

My Friend, FAITH

As I do things I didn't do last year to take me to places I've never gone I hold steadfast to one, unseen entity:  FAITH.  Something tells me that, together, my Friend and I are gonna move mountains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Movin' Larry Down The Highway

Larry Ulrich

My friend, LARRY ULRICH, has FINALLY made his television, commercial debut!!  Okay, the commercial hasn't yet aired, but we found it today on the website of the production company that created it.  I suspect one day he'll even receive his pay for filming it!  But, that's neither here nor there at the moment, 'cause he's just ECSTATIC to see the finished product!  It wouldn't be kind of me if I didn't share it with the WORLD.  So, here goes.  And take a listen to Jim Croce's, "I've Got A Name," which is the soundtrack to the RE/MAX "Twins" spot!  Um...why didn't this run during the SUPER BOWL XLVI!!!!!!!

The Glow Of Love

Goodbye, My Friends

Every time I walk into the assisted living residence where I volunteer, I wonder who will still be there. 

And who won't.  

Today, I found out that two of my favorite residents passed last week: John and Martin. Both were so incredibly kind to me. Both enjoyed working out with me and the exercise leader, Jennifer.  

At lunch today, I sat at John's table. In John's seat. All of us at the table briefly discussed what a great guy he was. I never had a chance to sit with Martin during lunch because he always sat at a table for two and was joined by his caregiver.  

I'll miss 'em both.  

Because both were true gentlemen.  

I'll see ya when I see ya, my friends.  

Where Do Broken Hearts Go?

Yesterday, February 11, 2012, will go down in Hollywood history as the death of one of America's greatest, singing voices.  The death of, Whitney Elizabeth Houston.  My "love affair" with Ms. Houston began back in 1985.  I was blown away by her beauty and her soaring soprano with its blood-tingling, gospel riffs.  I bought all her records during the '80s and '90s.  I was always ecstatic when she performed on awards shows.  My sister, Nay, and I would comment on how the woman didn't need to lip-sync like so many other recording artists 'cause she could sing the phone book.  One of my most favorite performances was when she sang, How Will I Know, on The American Music Awards back in 1986.  She looked stunning and sang that song with more sass and power than the original recording.  And another performance that slayed me was All The Man That I Need on Arsenio Hall's defunct, talk show.  Her vocal range was ridiculous that night!  I could go on and on with endless, other examples of her vocal mastery.  But, I won't.  Instead, I'll apologize to her for never really seeing her as anything other than a phenomenal voice.  I didn't really care about her life outside of singing.  I just wanted to hear her sing.  Over.  And over.  Again.  By the time she married Bobby Brown, I guess you could say I was a little surprised; based upon their diametrically opposing, public images and all.  At the time I wasn't Hollywood-savvy enough to realize that their public images were just that:  well-crafted, public images.  Who they really were only they and those close to them knew for sure.  Well, fast-forward fourteen or fifteen years later and she divored him.  But only after becoming addicted to cocaine and whatever else.  Her well-crafted image was shattered.  Her stunning beauty faded.  And her jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring, golden vocal chords were severed beyond repair.  It was then that I truly realized that it was only her voice I loved.  Because I never knew the woman.  The living, breathing human being.  All I knew and loved and adored and was interested in was...her...voice.  And when she lost it, I lost interest.  In fact, I couldn't bring myself to listen to her perform live after Bobby because the voice just wasn't the same.  Not by a long shot.  --- Now that she's gone, though, I wish I could've spoken to her one-on-one.  I have seen her only once in person, at The Costume Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  But that was back in the '90s when she still had a voice.  If I had met her within the past, two years or so, I would like to have asked her how I could help her feel good about being alive.  How I could help her mend an obviously broken heart.  Yes, I wish I could have had such a conversation with her.  But she's gone.  Thus, I can't help her in any way now. --- Her death has undoubtedly broken a lot of hearts.  So, God, I ask you with all due respect:  where do broken hearts go?  Can they find their way home?  I hope so.  Honestly, God...I hope so.

The Terrible Awful

After shaving my face and head, I hopped into the shower.  I was prepared to just chill under the hot water for a few moments before I loofahed myself squeaky clean.  However, the tub had a different agenda.  I mean, as soon as I turned on the water, it was abundantly clear to me that I was about to face one of my all-time biggest pet peeves:  a clogged drain!  The water gathered around my ankles so fast it made my head swim.  Ohhhhh, I despise standing in a tub of dirty water!  Hate it, actually!  So, after I accepted that there was nothing I could do about the situation at the time, I continued to bathe, then jumped out as soon as I could.  I marched my butt over to the 99 cent store and bought some baking soda and vinegar.  I've since used the products on the drain and, in ten minutes or so, will run hot water down the drain to see if it's clear.  I sure hope so, 'cause I truly, truly, truly can't stand when the dirty water gathers around my ankles!  Gross!

I'm Walkin', Yes Indeed...

I'm headin' out of the house right now to do some walkin' in North Hollywood Park up the street.  The temperature is hovering somewhere around 80 degrees, so, why not????  

High Drama

I can't think of a more dramatic entrance to a house!  I mean, as soon as you entered the joint, you'd think, "Wow!"  At least, that's what I'd think!!!!

Just Sayin'!

I'm just sayin'!!!!!  Haaa!

Leave It To Niecy

NIECY NASH

Tonight's church service was a revelation.  The special guest speaker was actress/comedienne, NIECY NASH.  In all honesty, I am not all that familiar with her work.  In fact, I don't know that I've ever really seen her in anything other than Dancing With The Stars.  But, I'll tell you this, the woman's testimony was humorous and POWERFUL as heck!  She spoke about her rise in show business and how her connection to God has fueled it.  And supported it.  And sustains it.  Her candor was a blessing.  Although I didn't learn anything particularly new about the business from her discussion, it was still great to hear her.  She dispensed information that up & coming performers in this town could most definitely learn from.  She told us she has a new, reality show coming out on TLC.  It'll be called, LEAVE IT TO NIECY.  God bless her for taking the time to speak with us and share what she's experienced and learned over the years.  And God bless her for reaffirming for me my mantra:  "be a BLESSING!"   

Niecy Nash Speaks at One Church International from Touré Roberts on Vimeo.

On To The Next

Last Saturday I rushed around like a mad man to get a video shot of me auditioning to host a new, cable show, tentatively titled, AMERICAN EATS.  I used an old camera I borrowed and enlisted a friend to shoot me.  Well, the shoot didn't turn out as professionally as it should have.  I shot the darn thing at NIGHT!  Big mistake!  I needed all the light I could get.  Once I got past that faux pas, I made my way into the restaurant and felt much better.  I sampled a dish and gave my honest opinion of it.  The video footage is neither as crystal clear, nor is the sound as clear as it should be.  I paid a guy $50.00 to transfer the dang thing from the camera's mini-cassette to YouTube.  Well, I found out yesterday that the producers of the show have now decided they want a "beefy" host.  Someone who "looks" like he really enjoys food.  WTF!!!  I may not be a "beefy" dude, but I assure you, NOBODY enjoys eating as much as I do!!!!!!!  Oh, well, on to the next one!!!  THE perfect, hosting gig is coming my way.  Eventually!  I just KNOW it!

Super Duper Bowl

Yesterday's Super Bowl XLVI was a hoot!  I joined my friend, Ulrich, at a nice lil' spot, CHAYA, compliments of Anheuser Busch (and the generosity of Carlene Rowe).  We ate, drank and made merriment!  Of course, I was looking forward to the halftime show.  I was rooting for MADONNA to turn the place out.  And, in true Madonna fashion, she did just that.  AND some!!!  Her entrance to Vogue was SPECTACULAR!!!  And her performance got more and more interesting from there.  She was joined by a host of special guests:  Cee-Lo, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO and M.I.A.  They were all terrific, but I couldn't take my eyes off "The Material Girl."  I've loved the ol' gal since she was a young gal in the late '80s.  God bless her for still doing her thing!  All in all, the game was great and her performance was great.  Can't wait to see who is selected to entertain us next year!

Ringing In The New

A new month brings new adventures and new TRIUMPHS!  And, dangit, I'm lookin forward to the triumphs!!!  I feel 'em a-comin'!  And when they get here, I'm gonna SHARE 'em!  'Cause nothin' in this life is worth having if you can't share it.  Even our spouses!  Haaa!