Sweet Sixty-Three

If she was alive today, she'd be celebrating Easter and her 63rd birthday!!!!  "She" is my oldest sister, Deb.  She's been livin' and lovin' up in Heaven since 1990!  So, here's hopin' she's still havin' a great time!!!!!!!!  God rest her beautiful soul!

Going To The Chapel

Yesterday, I attended the wedding of Dr. Nyasha Scott and Jonathan Serrano.  The ceremony was held in a stunningly beautiful garden on the grounds of the La Canada Flintridge Country Club in La Canada, CA.  Honestly, it was one of the most beautiful ceremonies I've ever seen.

Nyasha is a 5'10", statuesque beauty whose very presence commands attention.  Her smile, alone, could light up Times Square.  Pure radiance.  Then, there's Jonathan.  All 6'6" of him!  Their kids are gonna be giants!  Giants among men, that is!  'Cause Nyasha and Jonathan are born leaders.

I loved talking to many of the guests, asking them their connection to the couple.  Meeting their parents was the best, too.  Nyasha's dad seems to be quite a character.  Great sense of humor.  He is of Guyanese heritage.  I chuckled when he spoke of Guyana, 'cause, having lived in New York City for so many years, all I knew about Guyanese folks was how they'd call half Indian folks, "Coolie!"  Lol!  Jonathan's dad is of Dominican heritage.  He reminded me of the older guy at the barbershop whose tales are so colorful and interesting that everybody listens to him with rapt attention!  The couple's moms are cuddly ladies you just wanna hug.  So, I did!  :)

I wish immeasurable JOY & LAUGHTER for the couple until the end of their time on this planet!!!!  

Happy Resurrection Day!!!

Good Friday

I'm simply thankful for being alive.  And that is all.

If You Have Nothing Nice To Say...

With the invention of the internet, one thing I've noticed over and over again is that people write some of the unkindest comments about others.  I mean, hypercritical to a fault.  Apparently few people believe if they don't have anything nice to say, not to say anything.  Well, I won't let those folks get the best of me.  I'll just keep on livin' and lovin' and believin' that sometimes, the kindest and most loving comment to say to or about someone else is simply...nothing at all.

Eternal EQUALITY

If you wanna get married---to WHOMEVER you want to marry---it's all right with ME.  Equality for ONE should be equality for ALL.  So let it be WRITTEN. So let it be DONE.

The Circle Of Golf

Everything old is new again.  Tiger Woods has regained his #1, world ranking after winning the title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.  He hasn't held that spot since October 2010, which was a month before his ex-wife went medieval on him with one of his golf clubs!  Bravo, Mr. Woods!  Looks like you've got your mojo back.

Moral of story:  DON'T be married while playing professional golf and you'll WIN!  :)

T.G.I.S.

Today I had a pretty darn good day at my volunteer gig with the elderly.  At lunch, I sat with one of my usual, ol' gals and met two, new ladies.  My usual gal is having memory issues, but the two, new dames were sharp.  I enjoyed talking with all of them.  I try to be helpful during lunch by filling and refilling water and coffee cups.  In fact, when I arrive to the dining room, I walk from table to table filling glasses so I can have some kind of interaction with everybody.  One of only three black residents wasn't there today.  I would have sat with her.  She's in the hospital, I believe, being evaluated to see if she can still live in the home.  Turns out she walked out of the home a week or so ago and could have gotten herself injured.  Her memory isn't the best, so she's being checked out to see if she needs to be in a place more supervised.  I wish her the best, 'cause based upon everything I've read about her online, she sure was one heck of a lady!!!

THOMAS - The D. L. Chronicles

Gabriel Corbin

Last night, I attended the premiere of, THOMAS, an episode from The D. L. Chronicles.  It was showcased as Friday night's closing presentation for the Outfest Fusion Film Festival.  Despite the fact that the copy of the piece submitted by its producers wasn't 100% compatible with the theater's system, I STILL loved what I saw.  Writer/Director/Producers, Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear, sure know how to write stories about real people.  Yes, their real people almost always happen to be more stunning-looking than most real people I know personally, but their trials and tribulations are still the same as we "regular-looking" folks.  Lol!

Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre was the site of the premiere!  I always enjoy seeing premieres there.  I just take the train two stops away from my place and I'm there!  Easy breezy!  Anyway, I met up with the talented actor/writer/producer, Ulrich Que (creator of new, web series, The New Reality).  He was the star of The D. L. Chronicles' episode, MARK.  In fact, seeing that episode was my introduction to Ulrich's colossal talent.  He was simply sensational.  But back to, THOMAS.  The performances in this piece were terrific, too.  I have neither heard of nor seen any of the lead performers in anything else, but I hope to see more of them in the future.  The lead performer, GABRIEL CORBIN, has one helluva presence.  It'll be interesting to see what the future has in store for him.

Check out a sneak teaser below!

The Power of LOGIC!!!!!

Jelani Omari Gibson a.k.a. "Logic"

This youngun here is no joke!  He was in Hollywood for a minute, hoping to do the "actor thing," but soon realized that life was passing him by as it does to sooooo many "actor types."  So, he packed up and moved back to San Antonio, TX.  And, there, my friends, is where his life TOOK OFF!  Teaching children, photographing folks and riding his Harley make for quite a phenomenal life.  The good part is...he ain't even HALF done with all that he'll accomplish in the days, months and years to come!

JELANI OMARI GIBSON, I SALUTE you!  Your SPIRIT, DRIVE and THIRST FOR LIFE are worthy of EMULATING!  I possess the utmost RESPECT & ADMIRATION for your existence on this planet!!!!

Keep LIVIN' the life you desire, my friend, 'cause just like a few, other folks I know, your future is so bright it BURNS MY EYES!!!!!

"Logic is not a body of doctrine, but a mirror-image of the world.
Logic is transcendental." --- Ludwig Wittenstein

Yes, I Did!

Less than an hour ago I submitted my original, comedy script to a contest sponsored by a Hollywood titan and his business partner.  My script is based, in part, on my experiences as a volunteer at a residence for the elderly.  No, it isn't the standard, sitcom screenplay of a sitcom on network television.  Instead, it's more along the lines of Sex and the City.  All I know is I'm just dang happy to be done with it.  On the plus side, I now have another writing sample that didn't exist this time last week.  Heck, or this time yesterday for that matter!  After I submitted the screenplay, I recorded a voice-over audition.  I hope and pray I book BOTH endeavors.  Goodness knows I'm lonnnng overdue!  If not, this ol' boy is gonna simply keep on keepin' on!!!!!

DAYUUUUUUUUUUUUUM!

Back in her day, RAQUEL WELCH was simply, indisputably, unbelievably DROP---DEAD---GORGEOUS!!!!

And, TODAY (at 72 yrs old)...she STILL is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

81 Reasons To Love

St. Patrick's Day has always been a special day to me because it is the day of my mommy's birth.  Miss Juanita hasn't been here on earth to celebrate her birthday since 1985.  28 yrs ago she ascended to heaven.  Back then, I was heartbroken.  But, the strength she instilled inside me kept me going forward.

Technically,  yesterday was her birthday.  But I neglected to post something until now:  some 13 minutes into March 18th.  Well, what I wanted to say yesterday, I'll say today.  Right now.  Miss Juanita...Mama...Mommy Dearest...I love you.  Always have.  And always will.  Happy Birthday, Mama.  I sure wonder what you'd be like today if you were here.  It's hard as heck for me to believe you'd be a mind-boggling...

Where I Wanna Be

CeCe Winans

It's almost 1 AM and I am about to hop into bed and watch an episode of, OZ.  Later today, I will be elbow-deep into my sitcom script.  For sure.  At this moment, though, I wanna be in the presence of God.  Just Him.  And me.  And CeCe.  Interestingly enough, when CeCe released her debut, solo album, I wasn't knocked out by it because she wasn't belting out the songs.  Instead, she sang prettily and softly.  Today, I realize I simply wasn't mature enough then to appreciate what she was doing.  But now, I fully appreciate and almost maniacally love it.

Today.  Right now.  At this very moment.  I am releasing worries thoughts about all I am not.  And choosing to celebrate all that I am.

One can only learn to do that, you know, when he is...

Amen.

Word One

As I sit here in front of my computer, procrastinating preparing to begin writing my 30-minute sitcom script, I feel as lost anxious as I always do before starting a project.  It's a well-known fact that, for many writers...

...to write is...

So, I'm gonna write the first word this very moment and get it over with!  Say a prayer for a brotha, please!!  Pretty please!!!  With a...

...on top!  I sincerely appreciate the support!  :)

DORFMAN in LOVE

Tonight I went to a screening of a delightful new film, DORFMAN in LOVE.  I didn't know what to expect because I hadn't heard anything about the film.  So, I simply went with an open mind.  Boy, oh boy, did I have a blast, though!  The film was simply terrific to me.  So terrific, in fact, that after the screening, the writer, WENDY KOUT, director, BRAD LEONG, and producer, LEN HILL, spoke to the audience and took questions from us, too.  I was the first question, which actually turned out to be a statement.  I told Wendy that in a world of film & tv that is oversaturated with gun violence, it was soooooooooo dang refreshing to see a film that every, human being on the planet could see with his/her family.  I also told her that I'm writing my own family-friendly script for a writing contest.  Her wise words of advice were simply to be true to myself and to the story I write.  No wiser words from a writer have ever been spoken!

I thoroughly enjoyed this film and fully intend to tell the lead actress, SARA RUE, how much I enjoyed her performance.  That is, whenever I happen to see her out and about!  Ha!  Heck, the entire cast was stellar!  Every, last one of 'em!  Truth be told, I enjoyed the film so much I might even go back to see it when it hits the theaters!  Yep!  That's how much I liked it.  A good, clean story about a lovably awkward, young lady who found the love of a man and self-love in the same place!!!!

I'll Cover You

Michael McElroy

Years ago, while living in the NYC area, I used to dance my heart out at a club on W. 27th St. called, SOUND FACTORY.  My friends and I would arrive at 2 AM and carry on 'til 9 AM or so!  Sometimes, I'd even leave the club and go directly to work at MACY*S!!!!  Ahh, gotta love youth!

One night at Sound Factory I met a handsome, tall drink of water who wound up being one helluva singer and musician.  As I got to know him, I discovered he also performed on Broadway.  Well, tonight I was surfing YouTube as I'm known to do and stumbled across a video of him performing in the Broadway musical, RENT.  And, boy, oh boy, does he sound gooooooooooood!!!  I've watched the dang video a dozen times!!!!  I also reached out to him on Facebook, so I hope he accepts my friend request.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's my pleasure to introduce you to the smooth sound of the very talented, Mr. MICHAEL MCELROY!!!!!

Sunday Brunch

Ronnie

Yesterday, I joined my boy, Ronnie, for some delish, Sunday Brunch at a joint in Monterey Park called, LUMINARIAS.  Truth be told, the place wasn't any different to me than my fave, THE WAREHOUSE.  Only difference is that The Warehouse sits on the water!  Which, to me, gives it a nod over Luminarias.  Despite that fact, I still enjoyed myself.  Heck, I must have 'cause, by the time I exited the restaurant, it was four hours AFTER I had arrived!  Geez!

Ronnie wasn't so happy that the restaurant no longer warms up crab legs for guests.  Oh, well.  Nothing lasts forever!  :)  From now on, I suspect I'll just go to The Warehouse and leave Luminarias for other folks!!!  :)

Deviant Art

Art is a beautiful, beautiful thing.  What inspires some might disgust others!  Well, good ol' Facebook introduced me to this artist's outstanding artistry!  His name is, Evan Campbell.  And I suspect he has one hell of an imagination!  He refers to this sculpture as, "Funeral Meat."  He describes it this way:

"[This is a] carcass I sculpted and painted made out of gelatin.  It is the same type of gelatin used for making Jello but has a stronger tear strength -- similar to Gummie Bears.  Roma Plastalina clay sculpture, 3-piece Ultracal 30 plaster mold, cast in gelatin and airbrushed with acrylic, adhesive paints."

Freakin' PHENOMENAL!!!  And looks kinda tasty, too!  :)

What A Blessing

I'm soooo happy to be here to enjoy it!!!!!!  Gotta write today!  Write!  Write!  Write!

Thank, Thank, Thank You!

If I were a singer, I know PRECISELY what song I'd sing to my dear, dear friend, Father Michael Reding...

Return to OZ

For the past week or so, I've been curling up in bed, watching HBO's groundbreaking series, OZ, on the HBO website.  The show went off the air in 2003, but I figured, why not re-watch it???  So, that's precisely what I'm doing.  And, I'm tellin' you, the show is as entertaining today as it was all those years ago!

OZ:  it's NO place like HOME!  :)