Super Fond Heroes

Whether you know them as Bruce and Dick or Wayne and Grayson, I'd say these two are hella fond of each other.  :) :) :) :)

His Priest, His Friend

Father Michael Reding

One of my most beloved & cherished friends, FATHER MICHAEL REDING, has left his parish of 13 years and moved on to another one.  One of his parishioners wrote the most amazing tribute to him.  And that doesn't surprise me a bit because Mike (as I know him) is a PHENOMENAL MAN!!!

I wish him the very best as he embarks upon this new chapter in his life.  He will never know how many lives he has touched, nor how many lives he CURRENTLY touches.  I love you, Father Reding.  Always have.

And always WILL!!!!!  

Pure HATRED!

This kid (and those CHEEKS) would absolutely HATE me!!!!!!  :) :) :)

Angelic Anniversary

Two days ago, June 25th, marked the four-year anniversary of FARRAH FAWCETT's death.

I'll always remember being a skinny, junior high kid who was madly, madly in love with the gorgeous blonde actress from the hit ABC series, Charlie's Angels!  Ahhh, those were the days!

God rest your soul, Farrah.  You've not been forgotten.

Big Brother Watching

Last night was the season premiere!  I'm gonna check the CBS website in just a few to see if it has posted yet!  I'm soooo anxious to see what happens with the contestants this season!!!!  Soooo anxious!

Drop a HOM(E)A on a DOMA

There goes another one!!!!!  :)

Eight-Pack Jack

Who said six-packs are hard to get????  :) :) :)

He Said, She Should Have Said

I know Paula is in self-preservation mode now and can't think clearly when she's asked questions by reporters, but oh how I wish she had turned the table on Matt Lauer yesterday morning when he asked her about saying, "nigger," 30 years ago.  I wish she had the forethought to ask HIM:  "Have YOU ever used that word in reference to a black person?  Have you ever heard your MOTHER or your FATHER or your GRANDMOTHER or GRANDFATHER use it?"

The hypocrisy of this whole debacle is almost LAUGHABLE to me!  I know in the confines of my own home I have heard AND SAID some pretty HORRIFIC statements against others.  I'm SURE I'm NOT ALONE!  Nor is Paula.

I'd LOVE to give her a big ol' HUG!

Same Love

I rarely listen to rap music.  To tell the truth, I only hear it if it's on a radio station in my rental car.  And, even then, as soon as I hear it, I immediately change the station.  Well, today I stumbled across a rap song that I suspect deeply moves me because of its accompanying video.  Wow!  The imagery in the video is simply WOW!  The song's lyrics are terrific, too, but watching those lyrics come to life via video is incredible!

I tip my hat to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis & Mary Lambert.  And I say, "Wow!"

Hitting The High Note

My good friend, Gregor, always says it's probably harder to have "made" it and lost it than to have never "made" it in the first place.  OPRAH, Dr. Robin and I sort of agree!!!!  I mean, we think it's probably emotionally more healthy not to try to repeat a particular success and simply concentrate on making another one.

Fitness B-E-A-S-T!

STEFAN WILLIAMS is a true-blue fitness BEAST!!!  I'm working on developing this kind of strength!  God bless him!!!!

Stefan on Instagram!
Stefan on Herbalife!

Simply SPECTACULAR!!!

God bless you, young lady.  'Cause He has certainly blessed US with your voice.

The KING And I

Even the KING of the Jungle knows when he's at a crossroad in his life and doesn't know where to turn, he should simply look UPWARD.

My Favorite Time Of The Year --- E3 Entertainment Expo!

It's BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!  And tomorrow night, it's over!  :(

For the past, three years I've looked forward to working for Disney at The Los Angeles Convention Center during the colossal E3 Entertainment Expo!  I just LOVE it!  This year, I'm working in the Disney Infinity area, helping folks get photos taken in Cinderella's carriage (which just happens to have monster truck tires on it these days)!

Working this event isn't working for me.  It's simply me being me.  A fella who absolutely loves meeting new people.  I actually upset some dude today, but God knows my intention came from a place of love, so what will be, will be.  Heck, tonight I even washed the two shirts I received from Disney to wear during the event, because I plan to give away one of them tomorrow!  I'm sure one of the expo's patrons will appreciate it!  See, a brotha sure loves to make others feel good!  :)

Big City Of Dreams

Last night, I returned back to Cali from my week-long visit to NYC!!!  And boy, oh boy, did I have the time of my life!  I touched down at JFK Airport last Saturday morning @ 5:48 AM.  I hopped onto two trains and wound up at Grand Central Station.  From there, I walked to my friend's co-op in Union Square where I was to stay.  When she opened the door, I hugged her as tightly as I could!  She's a doll.  A true, living doll.  Since it was so dang early, we both went back to bed.  When I awakened, we went to eat at the hip, Union Square restaurant, Republic.  The place prides itself on combining a variety of ingredients, spices and cooking methods from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and China.  The seating was communal and my friend and I enjoyed our meal!  Immensely!

After we ate, I hustled back over to Grand Central and hopped yet another train to Fairfield, CT.  You see, one of the main purposes of my visit was to attend the high school graduation of my godson.  Once I arrived in CT, my godson's mother (who just happens to be one of my best friends) met me at the train station and walked me back to their lovely & comfy as heck house!  I helped the man of the house move some backyard lawn furniture and the such, then my friend, her two sons and gentleman friend walked a couple blocks to dinner.  Yes, I ate again within a four-hr time span.  Sue me!  :)  We ate at Joe's American Bar & Grill.  And they chose that spot because I love, love, love the restaurant's bread and frozen margaritas!  Our table just happened to down two loaves, thank you very much.  The place never disappoints me.  Absolutely never!

The next day was graduation day.  The ceremony was held in a gymnasium that doesn't have air conditioning.  Needless to say, folks were on fire!  Although a tad long, I enjoyed the pomp & circumstance.  My godson looked as handsome as handsome can look in his white tuxedo, red cummerbund and shiny black, patent leather shoes.  I took tons of photos, so I'm looking forward to seeing how they turned out when his mom sends them to me. --- She prepared one heck of a delicious feast for the after-graduation celebration.  We all ate like dogs!  Haaa!  Yes, breaking bread with my friends and family is what I enjoy doing more than any other activity on this planet!  Seriously!  --- Being reacquainted with everybody was a joy.  I even got a chance to have some really personal conversations with some of the guests.  And, yes, per usual, I learned everything about them and they learned very little about me.  Just the way I design like it.

The next day, my friend and her boys simply lay around the house, watching television.  I really liked that, too, 'cause I felt like we were just a little family.  And that's saying something because one of the boys is 21 and my godson is 18.  The fact they wanted to hang out with us "old" folks made me feel pretty special.  As 21 Jump Street was nearing its end, I had to bid everybody adieu and head back to Manhattan.  Spending quality time with my friend, her significant other, my godson and his brother made my weekend.  Honestly, I'd STILL be at their house if I could be!

Back in Manhattan, I headed back to Union Square, then went to Macy*s Herald Square to see if I could visit with former coworkers.  I saw three of them and enjoyed chatting with them.  They told me to come back a day or two later to see all the others.  --- I walked uptown to 48th & 3rd Ave so I could surprise another friend at a restaurant.  And surprise her I did indeed!  I had arranged with her hubby to bring her and their delightful, young daughter to the restaurant, then I'd pop in on 'em.  When she saw me she was shocked!  We then ate our faces off, of course!  Food just makes me soooooo happy!  :)  And we talked!  And we laughed!  I told her I'd visit with her mother the next afternoon.  So, she called her mom and arranged it.  I also agreed to meet up with her and her family again the next night for dinner.  She and I have ALWAYS enjoyed each other's company over a hot plate of some delicious goodies!  :)

Walking through Central Park, I discovered sights I had never seen the entire 12 years I lived in the NYC area.  The remote controlled boats in Conservatory Water.  The Bethesda Fountain.  Sand volleyball courts.  The carousel.  And a few other attractions.  I simply loved my time there.  I didn't rush a thing.  Just sat, people-watched and gave gratitude to God for allowing me the opportunity to be there.  And the gift of simply BEING.

I went to Dallas BBQ and sucked down a Texas-sized margarita!  Yum, yum, yum!  Heck, I even went back the following day to have another one!  I didn't eat the second time, though.  I had to accept the fact that I won't be going back there for the food.  Only the margaritas!  'Cause the latter taste waaaayyy better to me than the former!  :)

I capped my dinner outings at Rye House with one of my beloved friends.  She told me she's getting a divorce and starting anew.  Strangely, though, my heart doesn't break for her.  Instead, I simply and wholeheartedly and rabidly wish the best for her.  She's a true lady.  A class act anyway you view her.  At 45, now is as good a time as any for her to forge ahead and live the life she truly WANTS to live.  With someone who TRULY and LOVINGLY and DEEPLY wants to live his with HER!  Bravo to her, I say.  Bravo for FINALLY putting HER needs ahead of his!  I'm 100% sure she'll THRIVE now beyond her wildest imagination!

I'm back in CALI and am happy to be here.  But, despite what Tony Bennett has to say on the matter, I left a piece of MY heart in...